Could be worse

Well, we sat with the man who knows all about beasties and ghoulies and fungi and yeasts and bacteria: he doesn't think it's any of those.
After two spinal taps (I learnt that they did a second while I was in surgery) he figures the spinal fluid would have given him some indication.

He was interested in the fact that the brain lining, the meninges, is inflamed.
That could lend itself to exploring the idea of cryptocuccus meningitis: a rare form of meningitis caused by a yeast found in Murray River Red Gum, ie/ firewood. It's a wee beastie that Melinda and Wayne had a long and difficult battle with a few years ago.
BUT: I'd have had crippling headaches, and it would have shown up in my spinal fluid - and would have been a lot more aggresive than what's apprently there.

More needles, more blood tests - but he doesn't think it's his department.

There's a few crew working on it he assured us - fascinated apparently.

I've decided I'm getting on with life: let them scratch their heads.

Dave, Bolivia in November is a distinct possibility for the World Rangers Conference with the Thin Green Line Foundation - and altiplano meandering time.

... and things could be worse anyways: here's a snapshot into Bennie P's backyard from his birthday gig - Once Was Home Brewer. Sad.