December

A couple more piccies from the Christmas Dinner

Blimey, two weeks passed. Not sure where they’ve gone to.

So I got past the Christmas Party. I was working all week, the department’s getting busy again. I went out to Warrawong again, this time taking Ina to see the animals. More Possums this time, and the platypus put on a good show. So beautiful in the woods of the sanctuary at night, and the smell is unique. Actually it’s rained the past two days (yes, they do actually have water falling from the sky over here), and while the rain smells like it should when it starts, afterwards all you can smell is the eucalyptus, almost lemon.

Anyway, the few weeks before that had been v hot, the gardens wilting (I’ll replace those plants in the autumn when there’s a bit more chance of survival). I’ve even got a bucket in the shower catching water to go on the garden. Actually that’s more because the shower does cold or scalding and nothing in between.

I’ve actually had a couple of non-clinical days in the last couple of weeks, and it’s lovely to be able to take a bit of time at lunch. There’s a new café opened across North Terrace from the hospital (canny move, there – edible sandwiches, even if they are still practicing at the serving bit), and the botanic gardens next door. Almost how I imagine lunch-hour should be. Not having to stick a third of dinner back in the microwave ¾ hour after starting eating.

I actually had a weekend off last weekend (it doesn’t last – I’m off this w/end too, but on next Saturday). On Saturday there was a Salsa workshop (How to be ladylike – I thought I’d better go). Actually it was good, being shown what to do with your hands, and how to stand. Then I went to Marion (which is just like Meadowhell) to get a few bits. Including a tiny Christmas tree. Had to be done really. And the world’s most useless lights. Battery powered, which is good as there is a distinct lack of power points (see posts passim). But with about 30min life. Definitely to be kept specially for Christmas day.

Sunday I dragged myself out AGAIN in the morning to the rowing club. This time there was rowing – went out in a 4 with others who are learning. It was good fun, particularly when the timing was right. And great being out on the water, even if the boat (plank of wood?) lacked a big white flappy bit.

Sunday evening I went over to Brighton to Wendy’s house for supper, and a walk along the beach. That’s something I haven’t done enough of (been to the beach) yet. I had visions of all Aussies spending all their time surfing and running around on the beach playing Frisbee getting sun-bleached blond highlights. I think I’ve confused Adelaide with the rest of Australia. Anyway, it was a v pleasant evening.

Rundle Mall - People getting paid to make sandcastles. Are we in the wrong job?

Monday working – busy enough, then after Salsa class (thankfully at the stage where we were standing around talking afterwards), I got called back in. A combination of numbers of ambulances and a distinct lack of experience among the juniors that night. I’d have been tearing my hair out. Anyway, I got out at 9:30 so it wasn’t that bad.

The non-clinical days were spent sorting out paperwork. There are several different registration systems you have to keep current over here, and I’d missed one of them in September. Obviously no reminder letters sent (I bet if there was a charge attached to each, then a letter would be sent). It’s not like home where you start on a date and, providing you have a half-competent medical staffing dept, the paperwork is completed there and then. So even starting in July, the paperwork had to be re-done in September. There is no medical staffing / personnel dept here – it’s all done by the departmental admin staff.

Anyway, Wednesday was the consultant’s planning day and annual meal out. Obviously the evening shifts fell to the two Senior Registrars. (Strange how no fuss was kicked up this time about not having a consultant present, when they all want to go out). Another busy one – the dept running had been left to the Registrars during the day, and they don’t get a lot of tuition on how to manage the department. So when we walked in it was pretty ugly – 80 patients there. But we sorted it. (At least Conrad did – I was in resus ALL evening). Left at half one again.

Friday, back on the shop floor. Pretty unremarkable shift really. Intending to go home and change before going out, but I have no will-power, so I was in the pub at 5. One of the nurses has left – she’d been in the pub since 3. An “English pub”. Well it can’t be because the loos were clean and had locks on the doors. And you could walk around without sticking to the carpet. But the beer wasn’t too bad. At least by the 5th pint it wasn’t. Anyway we decided to eat at 9 and left to go to Schizo’s, sorry – Scoozi’s to get a pizza. Finally found one with enough chilli on.

Then yesterday we had a barbecue. Originally it was intended to be our Christmas meal, but expanded so we went up to Belair. It had been raining all morning, but the sun came out shortly after we got there and pretty much stayed out. Enough to get burnt playing cricket and rounders (which is “like cricket, but more round”) and Frisbee. Loads of food, too particularly as a lot of people didn’t turn up.

Afterwards we went up to see THE Adelaide Christmas attraction – The Lights of Lobethal. Well, that’s what the advertising would have you believe. It is signposted for miles around. I think the lights they actually mean are the red and white lights of the cars as they snake, nose-to-tail at 5 mph around the village. Oh, and a couple of the houses had Christmas decorations outside too. Two kids stood outside one house singing carols to all the closed windows of the cars on the conveyor belt. It was such a missed opportunity – close the road, make people walk and have a proper Christmas market and it could have been so much better. Poor Ina’s been invited up there again, too.

I made it to rowing this morning too. I can’t move now.