Regular readers: I’m sorry this one has taken so long to appear. The website was broken and I was having trouble fixing it. I’m not sure why it is working now, but, on with the story…
It was maybe 8pm by the time we got word that Andrew Hodge was on his way. The team of doctors and nurses that were now constantly surrounding Trenna started moving her bed to the lifts to take her to … Read the rest ... “Trenna’s Heart Valve Replacement – Part 2”
By Greg
I thought some readers of this site may find this story interesting. In it I tell you about Trenna’s surgery to have her aortic heart valve and ascending aorta replaced. I intended it to be a stand alone story, but it turns out the memories of those times are still pretty clear in my mind, and a lot happened, so, here is Part 1 of what has turned out to be a two part story of medical success … Read the rest ... “Trenna’s Heart Valve Replacement – Part 1”
Mainly by Trenna
As I am writing this it is my birthday. 66 today. 66!
Back in 1998 Trenna, as usual gave me a birthday card, and in it was a poem she had written for the occasion. I really appreciated the effort she put into it.
Just for some context, we both turned 41 in that year, Trenna a few months before me. We would have been married 9 years by then, and we were living in … Read the rest ... “An “OWED””
Photos played a very big part in Trenna’s life, especially in later years as her mobility decreased. She spent hundreds of hours sorting, scanning, dating and captioning photos stretching back to her very earliest days.
I therefore take quite a bit of time and care in choosing the photos I use on the site.
Below is a gallery of all the photos I have used so far. I have also created a page that displays all those photos. You should … Read the rest ... “All Photos Published on the TrennaMahney.com Website”
Scene Setting by Greg, Then an Extract From Trenna’s Gardening Diary
This post is just a bit of whimsy
This post is just a bit of whimsy I have decided to do on the spur of the moment. Today (16th December 2023) is one week before the third anniversary of Trenna passing away. And of course Christmas is approaching and a few days after that will be my birthday.
It is a time of mixed emotions. Don’t get me … Read the rest ... “24 Years Ago in our Garden”
by Greg
Regular readers will know that I have recently returned from a holiday. I went to the UK, with a side trip to Budapest. The whole trip was great.
Whilst away I checked and approved comments submitted to the website, but didn’t write any new posts. That worked fine, my spirits were high and I was busy every day. I also kept a bit of a journal … Read the rest ... “Kangaroos Having Fun”
I am very conscious that I haven’t added a post to this website for a couple of weeks. This is very unusual. Since I created the website 19 months ago I’ve contributed every week, and on average about two posts per week.
As I have written previously (for example, HERE), the TrennaMahney.com website serves many purposes. One of those is to help me in the grieving process.
Intro and extra clarifications by Greg, the rest by Tren
As I’ve said previously … In Trenna’s iPad she has written summaries of each year. As you will see from what she has written she has gleaned the information retrospectively from a wide range of sources.
As I reproduce them on this site I’ll take the opportunity to clarify and expand on some of the stories. Trenna wrote these summaries (and there … Read the rest ... “1991”
Intro and extra clarifications by Greg, the rest by Tren
As I’ve said previously … In Trenna’s iPad she has written summaries of each year. As you will see from what she has written she has gleaned the information retrospectively from a wide range of sources.
As I reproduce them on this site I’ll take the opportunity to clarify and expand on some of the stories. Trenna wrote these summaries (and there … Read the rest ... “1990”
By Greg
The FREE e-book I refer to is a copy of the autobiography Jack’s Luck by Jack Mahney (written with assistance from Trenna). There is a download link to it at the bottom of the page.
Some time around early 1997 my parents lived in a retirement village and on a weekend we would often visit them. It was nice place with plenty of gardens and lots of … Read the rest ... “Jack’s Luck (and a FREE e-book!)”
By Greg
This post has a connection to the Menu Diaries series. If you aren’t familiar with the series, a good place to start would be HERE.
Some of the items and practices I discuss here are mentioned in the series of posts in which I explain some of the mechanisms Trenna used to cope with her Marfan’s Syndrome. That series starts here.
As I have explained a few times, meals and their preparation were central to Trenna’s … Read the rest ... “Tales From Trenna’s Kitchen”
If you haven’t read The Darwin Letters yet, what are you doing here? The Darwin Letters start here.
Once Trenna arrived in Darwin it became apparent quite quickly that she wanted to write to family and friends to tell them of how different it was to Perth, and to tell of the adventures we had undertaken.
These days you would use Socials to get the word out, but of course in 1994 that wasn’t … Read the rest ... “Funny and/or Clever Newsletter Titles”
For an introduction to what these Menu Diary posts are about, please click HERE. And for the reasons why you really should read this series, please click HERE.
Wednesday 1 September. We started the month with one of Trenna’s Indian (mini) banquets. Lamb Kheema, Brinjal Bartha, Mango Chutney, Basmati Rice, Papadums. An excellent meal that Trenna describes as “Really fab! [I] put extra spices in [the] Kheema.” We had it again on the … Read the rest ... “The Menu Diaries No. 19”
For an introduction to what these Menu Diary posts are about, please click HERE. And for the reasons why you really should read this series, please click HERE.
Wednesday 4 August. We had our friend Ken (Eggs) over for dinner and had satays, which we would have made from scratch along with the Sambal Badjak – a chilli sambal.
Wednesday 11 and Thursday 12 August. “Bellissimo!” was the Neapolitana Sauce Trenna made to … Read the rest ... “The Menu Diaries No. 18”
By Greg
I think Trenna’s Darwin letters to my parents convey a lot of the colour and light of our two year stay at the top of Australia. If you haven’t caught up with them I suggest you start them HERE.
There were a few stories from that period that weren’t covered by Trenna’s letters, so I thought I’d cobble together a bunch of them in this post.
We moved to Darwin so that I could … Read the rest ... “The Green Salad Sandwich Maker, and Other Darwin Stories”
If you’ve missed it, this series starts here.
Tuesday 5 November 1996
20/288 Casuarina Drive
Nightcliff 0810
G’day Mum and Dad
Nov 96 Greg has accepted a job offer at Murdoch University, and has agreed to commence working there on Monday 2nd December 1996 – less than four weeks from today – YIPPEE!!
So we’re packing our bags, and aim to fly out on Saturday 30th November 1996 – 2 years, 2 weeks, and 2 days after the … Read the rest ... “The Darwin Letters – The Final Letter, No. 14”
If you’ve missed it, this series starts here.
Friday, 9 August 1996
20/288 Casuarina Drive
Nightcliff 0810
G’day Mum and Dad,
W
ell, how are you getting along down there? We hope you’re both fighting fit. We’re fine.
Thankyou for your letter of 21/7 Mum. It sounds like you’re getting some interesting items through your shop. Mum, keep your beady eyes off our breadmaker, we intend enjoying it’s yummy results for many years to come.
Of course Dad if you … Read the rest ... “The Darwin Letters No.13”
If you’ve missed it, this series starts here.
Saturday, 4 May 1996
20/288 Casuarina Drive
Nightcliff 0810
G’day folks,
How’s life down there in sunny Perth? We hope you are both well. We’re just spiffy. It’s “The Dry”!
There have been a number of unequivocal signs to verify this. Firstly, on Thursday evening 21 March our balcony was engulfed in a hovering swarm of dragon-flies which according to Margie is – a sure-fired sign that “The Dry” is on … Read the rest ... “The Darwin Letters No. 12”
If you’ve missed it, this series starts here.
[GM: Warning: This post does mention suicide.]
Tuesday 13 February 1996
20/288 Casuarina Drive
Nightcliff 0810
“ Birthday Greetings, Mum! ” G’day folks,
How are you both? Staying out of the hot sun no doubt! Sorry we missed you on Sunday, Mum. We’re well, although leading relatively mundane lives at the moment.
Notwithstanding Greg of course being extremely busy at NTU with enrolments – he’s at work by 8.00am and doesn’t get home … Read the rest ... “The Darwin Letters No. 11”
If you’ve missed it, this series starts here.
Warning: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are warned that this post may contain an image of a dead person (I don’t know if it does or not).
Tuesday 5 December 1995
20/288 Casuarina Drive
Nightcliff 0810
Dad , “ H a p p y B i r t h d a y t o y o u . . . ” Howdie Dad and Mum,
We hope you, and the … Read the rest ... “The Darwin Letters No. 10”