St Vincent's Hospital Darlinghurst - Male Nurses

Google Wave invites up for grabs

2009-11-05T10:30:00.001+11:00

Yahoo! I finally received my Google Wave (Preview) invite. It was ba da bing ba da boom, well almost, to set it up and get it running. The only hiccup was that I had to install Google Chrome Frame, an open source plug-in that brings HTML5 and other open web technologies to get it running on my browser, Internet Explorer 8.

For those unfamiliar with Google Wave, it is an “online tool for real-time communication and collaboration. A wave can be both a conversation and a document where people can discuss and work together using richly formatted text, photos, videos, maps, and more” and was developed by the Sydney Australia based Google team.

To find out more about Google Wave, please visit these links:

1. About Google Wave
2. The Complete Guide to Google Wave
3. Went walkabout. Brought back Google Wave
4. Google Wave Invites: How to Get them

Now, with Christmas just a stone’s throw away, I’m happy to say, “As part of my invite to Google Wave, I am allowed to give away 20 Google Wave invites. To be fair and equitable, I’m offering the remaining 19 invites only to people listed in my Blogroll. My apologies if I offend anyone by doing this.

So, if you’re interested just send me an email (see my address in the image above) with your email address, preferably a Gmail address, so I can add you to my list.

Note from the Google Team: “Invitations will not be set immediately. We have a lot of stamps to lick.” Another thing worth mentioning is that you must hold a Google account.

Why did I want a Google Wave invite? A: In for a penny, in for a pound, I say, in my quest to spread the word to locate my St Vincent’s Hospital Darlinghurst Classmates of August 1975 and to make it even more easier to converse with my friends. Well, it’s worth trying isn’t it?

To be continued…

Parental Censorship – An uphill battle

2009-10-31T10:28:00.001+11:00

For those of you who can remember, we were prevented from being exposed to media violence with all its extremes and graphic gory details, and, inappropriate behaviour by the use of a good old fashioned parental censorship technique called, turning off the television.

In the case of contempt, being sent to our bedroom to read a book or play with our toys, with no way of escaping to another world via the net, finally resolving the situation for our parents.

Well, hasn’t that changed! Sending children to their bedrooms now is akin to sending them to Disneyland, with all the mod cons of today at their disposal. Heaven knows what they get up to when away from parents prying protective eyes.

To cater for situations like this, some parents have even resorted to spy software to secretly record every detail of what their children do on the computer to keep tabs on them and the people they meet online.

Parental censorship is made even more complicated with the advent of live reporting from war zones on television, YouTube and LiveLeak to name just a few, all too real shoot’em up computer games, murders with their subsequent body dissections on shows like CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, computers in nearly every home and access to the net via cell phones.

With so many avenues to the dark side of life what hope do impressionable minds, both young and old, have from being desensitized to the things that should make us weep and or cringe in horror.

Exposing young minds to acts of inhumanity, foul language and sex before their time, also leads them into thinking all of this is quite the norm and acceptable which has far reaching consequences, not only for them but for their children when the time comes.

The legacy we leave our children is founded on our good character, good conduct, constant vigilance, the right teachings and a whole lot of patience and common sense, all of which starts from the time they are born up until they slip from our grasp when we take our last breath.

Having seen for myself what can happen to a human being, all I can say is, that no one should be unnecessarily exposed to life’s sad extremes if they want to remain completely sane and untouched by human indifference. As for me, U2’s words, “I’m not broke but you can see the cracks” describe me very well.

Yes, I’m all for parental censorship, up until the time our children are old enough to understand and know the difference between right and wrong, and, to put what they have learnt into practice; with us as parents always in the background ready to give a guiding hand and to help out when things go wrong.

So what do you have to say for parental censorship? What have been your successes and failures?

To be continued…

Skin Cancer Nose No Boundaries: Part II

2009-10-24T15:07:00.001+11:00

This is an update to my article titled “Skin Cancer Nose No Boundaries” that I posted on the 28th January, 2009. It entails the diagnosis of two basal cell carcinomas on my nose, subsequent treatments and then finally, Mohs Surgery.

To bring you up to speed, on the 12 January 2009 I had a bilobed flap repair to my nose immediately after the removal of a recurrent nodular Basal Cell Carcinoma.

After a number of requests to show how my nose looks after ten months of healing, I now present you with my new nose with a before and after view.

I am eternally grateful to “The Skin & Cancer Foundation Australia” (SCFA) located at Westmead, New South Wales, Australia for saving my nose.

Their practice, which I was referred to by my local skin cancer specialist, is affiliated with the University of Sydney, the University of NSW, St Vincent's Hospital, Westmead Hospital and the New Children's Hospital and are a specialised medical organisation dedicated to providing high quality services in the areas of dermatology and dermatopathology.

Links:

1. Skin Cancer Nose No Boundaries
2. The Skin & Cancer Foundation Australia

To be continued…

Family First

2009-10-18T10:26:00.001+11:00

Children, where would we be without them, I ask you? For better or for worse, for richer or poorer, they will always come first in our lives.

It seems like only yesterday that our three possums were running around in nappies, and the next minute, having children of their own.

Well, one of them that is, and who would have thought the middle of the three, and the smallest of the bunch, would beat his brothers to the punch!

A big thank you to - Matt & Kristin Olson - Dream Designs Online & Janeywan

Mind you, it’s taken him almost thirty years and heaven knows how long it will take the other two! They may well be in their late thirties or even forties before they start to replicate, if at all!

Bearing in mind what my grandmother used to say, “Different strokes for different folks. Usually up and down!” why is it that some couples start having children early in life, or, leave it until later on in life, or, decide not to have children at all? It can’t be all about money, can it?

For us, having started our family with next to nothing just a few short years out of high school, we may, touch wood, live long enough to see our great grandchildren or even, great great-grandchildren if luck continues to be on our side.

To be continued…

Windows Live Writer - Learn to republish without losing comments

2009-10-08T12:26:00.001+11:00

This is a simple step by step, unheard of until now, Windows Live Writer solution to republishing a post to your blog without losing comments.

After a member of the Windows Live Writer team contacted me via email stating this functionality wasn’t available yet, I set about coming up with my own solution for my Blogger Blog problems. To my surprise and delight, it didn’t take all that long.

A word of note: All testing was done on my test blog, so please be advised to do the same thing in order to make sure this solution works for you.

Please, click on the images to view the enlarged snapshots of the whole process.


Step 1: Select post	Step 2: Retrieve post & update

Selecting a post to retrieve is as simple as clicking on the post title, as seen in the “Step 1” and “Step 2” enlarged images. After the post appears make all necessary amendments.


Tip 1: Don't save local draft	Tip 2: Pick a date

The tip here is NOT to utilise the “Save local draft” function as seen in the “Tip 1” enlarged image, as in my testing this will remove your comments if used. The “Save local draft” function is used to save your work prior to publishing.

The other tip is to select a post date, as seen in the “Tip 2” enlarged image. Making it the same as your original posting doesn’t seem to make a difference when it comes to keeping or losing your comments.


Step 3: Republish	Step 4: Post

Once you have made your amendments, select “Publish to blog” as seen in the “Step 3” enlarged image or click on the “Publish” button at the top of the page under the name “File”. Just be careful not to click on “Publish” before you are finished as I did while making this post. Sorry Guys!

The final step as seen in the “Step 4” enlarged image is where Windows Live Writer republishes your post. With all my testing to date, I have managed to save my comments.

Again, just a reminder, DO NOT utilise the “Save local draft” function as you will lose your comments and we don’t want that, do we?

To Max, thank you for the inspiration to write this, as no one would have seen the “Skippy the Bush Kangaroo” YouTube video if you hadn’t mentioned that it wasn’t working.

Useful link:

Windows Live Writer Download Page

To be continued…

Do you remember Skippy the Bush Kangaroo?

2009-10-01T00:43:00.000+10:00

After recent gobsmacking news you can’t blame me for reminiscing about the things I got up to when I was just knee-high to a grasshopper.

One of my favourite pass times as a kid, besides giving grief to my younger sister, was getting stuck into a bread roll filled with nothing more than Smith’s Potato Chips and a very good splash of tomato sauce in front of our black and white television watching “Skippy the Bush Kangaroo”.

Amazing enough, several days ago a documentary on the making of this Australian TV series "Skippy the Bush Kangaroo" popped up on the television. The series ran from 1966 to 1968 with the support of James Packer’s grandfather, the late Sir Frank Packer, who was one of Australia’s first media moguls.

This YouTube video may jog your memory – Google Reader’s etc click here

What I didn’t know until the doco showed up was that the series was taken up worldwide, with the only exception being Sweden. Apparently the powers to be didn't want their ankle biters watching it because Skippy may have given them “a misleading impression of an animal’s abilities”.

You see, Skippy the Bush Kangaroo could talk, just like Flipper. Not that I could understand them of course, as it all sounded like gobbledygook to me, but at least I could play a mean gum leaf just like Garry Pankhurst who played the young boy, Sonny Hammond in the series.

Mister Ed, the talking horse, however was an entirely different matter as he spoke the Queen’s English with an American accent!

Now that you have read one of my “from the womb to the tomb” stories, what more can I ask of you? Well here goes, ”Do you remember Skippy the Bush Kangaroo?”

To be continued…

Where Have All The Good People Gone?

2009-09-26T23:34:00.001+10:00

Once upon a time in a land not so different from yours, I stood in front of a man of note and heard him say, “Never expect to be thanked for doing your job”.

How wrong could he have been, for the words, “You’re doing a great job, Thank you”, drives us all on and motivates us to do better.

Those in management who uphold this thankless theme are under the misguided perception that highlighting only the negatives, which are most likely arse covering tactics, will drive their workers on to greater things.

Well, have I got some news for them! This tact will inevitably lead to dissent, low morale and poor self-esteem amongst their workers, loss in productivity and for some unfortunate souls, depression that will take them years to recover from, if at all.

The sense of worthlessness created by this thankless society, coupled with the current global financial crisis and the increasing expendability of workers, are pushing many including industry, to the brink.

Even Nursing, once a long-term employment opportunity, is under threat by the current staff freezes and voluntary redundancies here in my home state of New South Wales, Australia.

So, Is it so hard to give thanks for a job well done?

No, it’s not, and it’s about time the belligerent who are hell bent on thanking no one and cutting costs to the bone, changed their tune before they start asking the “yes men” that surround them, “Where have all the good people gone?”

The morale of this story: Thanking the ones that make others look good is what it’s all about.

Before I go, I’ll leave you with this quote from Albert Schweitzer:

”At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.”

To be continued...

The Dark Side of Nursing

2009-09-20T12:44:00.001+10:00

It would be fair to say that most people outside of nursing would have a fair idea of what a nurse gets up to during a shift.

Aside from nurses having to deal with things many people would find all too confronting to do themselves, there is another side of nursing that most people know very little about: what I like to call, “the dark side of nursing”.

It encompasses an extremely small number of:

Senior nurses belittling staff in front of colleagues and patients.
Highly skilled nurses looking down their noses at less experienced staff.
Senior nurses failing to help overburdened colleagues.
Individual nurses making frivolous and sometimes false complaints against another nurse.

So, why does it continue to happen?

Usually this type of behaviour is well entrenched with management either not knowing about it; turning a blind eye in the hope it will go away; or leading by example.
It prevails because no one has the intestinal fortitude to do anything about it.
Victimized staff see no other way around it.
Staff ignore it with a water off a ducks back attitude praying the main offenders get their comeuppance sooner rather than later.

Danger Signs:

High turn over in staff.
Jump in sick leave.
Low morale.
Increase in frivolous complaints.
Heated verbal arguments on the floor.
Frequent visible disdain aimed at the perpetrators.
Poor cohesion amongst certain nurses.
Roster changes to appease warring parties.

The Remedy:

Ongoing “Respectful workplace AKA Bullying in the workplace” awareness education and “Conflict Resolution” programs.
Anyone with a complaint should first take the person aside that they’re having issues with and voice their concerns.
Management to take a more proactive approach.
Periodic individual staff interviews with management.

It’s only common sense but does it happen? No. Most times it’s left to drag on until it boils over where the staff member throws in the towel and leaves or refuses to work there ever again.

Question:

Have you ever encountered anything like this and if so, how did you resolve the situation?

Does this type of behaviour happen outside of Nursing? A: Bloody oath it does!

To be continued…

Isn’t life just grand

2009-09-15T13:20:00.001+10:00

Another good news story! Mum and our first grandchild, Emmi, have finally arrived home from the hospital!

As you can see, my son Stephen is as proud as punch as he looks tenderly into the eyes of his firstborn while cradling her with all the gentleness he can muster.

These first time parents have certainly hit the jackpot and I can’t help but think, “It couldn't have happened to a more deserving couple than Nicole and Steve.”

They say, “A picture is worth a thousand words”, and I couldn’t agree more. Isn’t life just grand!

To be continued…

Thank God You’re Here

2009-09-12T13:54:00.001+10:00

Finally we are grandparents! Us, grandparents can you believe it? You could have knocked us down with a feather when we first heard news of this momentous event.

During the late hours of Friday, 11 September, 2009 our son’s partner in life and sweetheart, Nicole, gave birth to a healthy baby girl, named Emmi Scarlett.

Coming in at just over 8lbs (3.6 kgs), I’m sure Emmi will be a handful for these first time parents who have been together for over seven years and who now live in the top end of Australia.

Although obviously extremely exhausted, Stephen and Nicole are ecstatic with the birth of their first child and both look forward to getting a well earned rest and time to recuperate from a marathon delivery.

Yes, the birth of their first child will change their lives forever, and, as we look forward to grandparent’s day activities with our first grandchild, perhaps we may be forgiven for spoiling Emmi rotten every time we set eyes upon this beautiful creature sent form heaven.

Nicole, Steve and Emmi, we love you very much and you will always be in our thoughts. To Emmi, “Thank God you’re here!”

To be continued...

It’s Father’s Day but wait, there’s more

2009-09-06T01:05:00.001+10:00

On top of being Father’s Day in the land down under today, memories of holding my first born just over thirty years ago have again been reignited as we eagerly countdown the days until the arrival of our first grandchild.

The very image of our son holding his first child with his beautiful and enchanting soul mate by his side will be a sight to behold.

Having put aside all thoughts of actually being old for so long, I will abandon my vanity when this miracle occurs and proudly state thereafter, “Yes, I am a proud old grandad”.

So, to all the Aussie dads out there, I wish you a very happy Father’s Day. For those that will shortly be a father for the first time, I say, “Well done” and on the proviso that your better half agrees and that you can afford it, “May many more follow!”

Steve and Nicole, we love you so very much and are extremely proud of you both. May your life together be free of hardship, full of love for each other and hopefully one day, we’ll get to see a great-grandchild as well!

Nicole, on the day of the birth even though we will be far away, you will be utmost in our thoughts.

To finish off, just in case you’re wondering, the poll I had going came in 10 to 2 in favour of these two love birds having a little baby girl. We’ll all have to just wait and see, won’t we?

To be continued…

Do you know who’s who in your Hospital?

2009-08-29T11:20:00.001+10:00

Unless you’re a frequent flyer at your hospital you’ve probably got no idea who’s who when it comes to determining who’s a doctor and who’s a nurse. Even I have trouble at times and I’m a nurse.

Think about it, the uniforms worn by health care professionals range from casually to smartly dressed doctors to a plethora of different uniforms amongst permanent, casual and agency nurses; all of whom have nonexistent to very little clear visible means of identification.

Of course, we all have identification cards that hang down near our navels, but so does everyone else, and, if you’re anything like me you need to get up close and personal to work out who the hell you’re talking to.

Just in case you’re wondering, I always introduce myself to the patients I care for and inform them what my role is first time around; which is normally followed by the words, “Care for a cuppa?” But! Occasionally I’ve had to say to patients, whilst the doctor looked on slightly embarrassed, “I’m not your doctor, I’m your nurse.”

This identification crisis wasn’t a problem in the 1970’s when nurses wore identical uniforms and doctors wore white coats; with patients knowing full well, who was who in the pecking order. While I’m on that, I can also remember being threatened to be hang, drawn and quartered by the St Vincent’s Hospital management team if ever I was caught wearing my nurses uniform out on the streets! How things have changed!

Yes, healthcare has come a long way in Australia since then but we seem to have lost the plot in regards to letting patients and visitors know who’s who in the hospital.

The current identification crisis in hospitals that has caused so much confusion and stress amongst patients, family members and visitors was recently brought up in the Garling Report. You may remember that I referred to this report sometime ago in my article titled, “Mixed-sex hospital wards”.

Commissioner Peter Garling makes a recommendation in his 2008 “Final Report of the Special Commission of Inquiry into Acute Care Services in New South Wales (NSW) Public Hospitals” to remedy this crisis but it appears to have fallen on deaf ears.

It’s now almost twelve months since he outlined in recommendation 62 (Volume 2, Chapter 15, page 564 onwards © State of NSW through the Attorney General’s Department of NSW) that:

“Within 12 months, NSW Health implement a state-wide policy ensuring uniforms or vests are worn by each health professional, identifying in large print the role of the health professional. The state-wide policy should:

(a) Designate a colour to each professional role and ensure that the colour is consistently adopted;

(b) Include a requirement for posters to be prominently displayed throughout NSW Health facilities providing a chart to indicate which uniform or colour is assigned to which profession; and

(c) NSW Health amend existing policy or develop additional policy to require the wearing of name badges (or similar, but not cards on lanyards) by each type of health professional, bearing in large print the person’s name and title or role.”

and as far as I can see nothing has been done to improve the system he deemed inadequate.

So, where to from here? Do we go back to the good old days, or, considering the poor financial state of the Health System, act on the recommendations when times get better?

To delay it any further, is to only confuse and stress the ones we have been empowered to care for even more; an intolerable situation.

(1) Has your hospital got its act together? (2) Do you know who’s who in your hospital? (3) Please let me know your thoughts on this.

To be continued…

Erin Brockovich goes into bat for Australia

2009-08-21T22:37:00.001+10:00

Erin Brockovich an acclaimed American environmental activist made famous by the actress Julia Roberts and a new recruit for the Australian Law Firm, Shine Lawyers, has gone into bat for Australia to save the “Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve” from being mined.

Set in Queensland’s Cape York Peninsula the wetland conservation property, which came to light with the assistance of the Australian Government:

“is home to a set of eight unique spring fed wetlands which provide a critical water source to threatened habitat, provide permanent flow of water to the Wenlock River, and is home to rare and vulnerable plants and wildlife.”

The “Save Steve’s Place” campaign, which is also supported by another high profile celebrity, Russell Crowe, is being led by the wife of the late Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin, Terri Irwin and her daughter, Bindi.

To date 208,426 individuals from Australia and overseas have signed the petition to prevent the mining of the 135,000 hectare (333592 acres) property.

As you may have noticed in my sidebar, (see Steve Irwin’s image with links) I have promoted this cause for sometime and given further support by signing the petition.

We often SPEAK about protecting the world’s natural wonders but how often do we actually do anything truly constructive. Now is the time to act! Sign the petition online now!

To be continued…

Blushing my way around douches to midwifery

2009-08-12T00:07:00.001+10:00

Blushing my way through three years of training at St Vincent’s Hospital Darlinghurst to become a male registered nurse (1975 – 1978), swapping douches for less embarrassing male-oriented procedures with female nurses whenever I could, you’d think that I would have known better to go into midwifery at Westmead Hospital, Sydney, Australia in 1980.

With the wife and I both nursing there for only a short time, I decided to try my hand at midwifery because it was the traditional thing way back then to combine this course with general nursing, as both went hand in hand if you wanted to get anywhere.

For the next twelve months I subjected myself to something quite extraordinary even though in the end, I wasn’t cut out to be a midwife. Having flunked the course by a whisker, I moved onto greener pastures.

Delivery, most favoured by me, neonatal intensive care was not far behind. Miracles abounded in both units and I am happy to say not once did I drop my bundle (baby that is).

The most traumatic of times were in the postnatal wards. I had cared for women in the past, but the daunting tasks that lay before me were totally alien to me. Trying to educate English and non-English speaking women on such things as breast feeding while their partners looked on with menacing brooding eyes was certainly challenging to say the least.

Was it my inexperience? Was it because I was a male? Was it my inability to control my blushing? Was it the eyes from both mother and father burning holes in the back of my neck that unsettled me so much? Most times I felt like a Christian about to be eaten by lions!

Heaven knows how the mums felt at the time. But I did try my very best attempting to put them at ease. For example, each shift, ray lamp in hand, my perennial checks were done utilising several towels so as not to reveal too much and in the process saving their modesty as best I could.

I will always cherish the multitude of special moments during my training, especially my first delivery and assisting in the delivery of two of my children at the same hospital.

Now this brings me to another point. Should fathers be allowed in the delivery room? If you asked my wife she’d say, “Why the bloody hell not!”. Having been present for all three of our sons deliveries, my wife wouldn’t have had it any other way. To cut to the chase, if the wife or partner wants the father in, so it should be.

There has been some talk lately here and overseas about this after the media quoted a leading obstetrician as saying “the presence of fathers in the delivery room is not only unnecessary but also hinders labour”. HIs reasons are many which I won’t go into here.

Why not you say? Well my new acquaintance Ross, a male nurse from Queensland and the author and creator of “Nurse in Australia” writes in depth about this very issue in one of his latest well researched articles titled, “Should fathers be allowed in delivery rooms?”. I ask that you visit his site to take in what he has to say.

For those that have taken the time to visit here and at Ross’s site, whether you’re male or female, we would both like to hear what you have to say regarding this issue. I would also like to hear about your experiences with the male and female nurses that cared for you whilst in hospital having your baby. Father’s comments are also welcomed!

To be continued…

Macular Degeneration

2009-08-02T12:19:00.001+10:00

We take many things for granted and one of the most important is our vision, especially as we get older. Sight, amongst other things, enhances our ability to paint, read, post an article on our blogs, take in the faces of our loved ones and to see the glorious sights that lay before us.

It’s not until we become a statistic in our 50’s and beyond, if not earlier, that we look back to see if we could have done anything different to save our sight.

The leading cause of profound vision loss in Australia, macular degeneration (MD), sometimes referred to as age related macular degeneration (AMD) affects one in seven people over the age of 50. Globally, AMD ranks third as a cause of visual impairment.

Simply put, macular degeneration is a progressive incurable disease of the retina, particularly the macula, which destroys sharp, central vision. The macula is part of the eye that allows you to see fine detail and it is located in the center of the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye.

There are two types of AMD. Dry AMD results in gradual loss of central vision, with Wet AMD , also known as advanced AMD, being characterised by a sudden loss of vision. For many, it is possible to have AMD without knowing.

Although there is no cure, there are treatments available for the two forms of AMD (dry and wet) that can slow down its progression. The earlier it is detected, the more vision you and I are likely to hold onto.

However all is not lost as according to “Macular Degeneration Support”:

“You will not go blind from AMD, but you can, over a period of several years, lose your central detail vision, making it difficult or impossible to read, recognize faces, write checks, and drive. If this happens, technology and rehabilitation offer ways to either maximize your vision or replace it in non-visual ways.”

Personal stories from Australians living well with AMD can also be found at the Macular Degeneration Foundation. Well worth a read!

Now, in my endeavour to determine if I am suffering from the signs of AMD, besides visiting my eye specialist, I came across the Amsler Grid that I have used to access my macula.

The Amsler Grid should be used two to three times a week at home to check for changes in your vision. That’s not to say that regular visits to your eye doctor should be missed as you can easily miss signs that only a trained eye specialist will find.

Please follow the directions that are below this grid.

1. Do not remove glasses or contact lenses you normally wear for reading.
2. View the grid approximately 35cm (14 inches) from your face in a well-lit room.
3. Cover one eye with your hand.
4. Focus on the center dot with your uncovered eye.
5. Repeat with the other eye.

If you see wavy, broken or distorted lines, or blurred or missing areas of vision, you may be displaying symptoms of AMD and should contact your eye specialist immediately.

Note: Do NOT depend on the grid displayed for any diagnoses as only a eye specialist can confirm the diagnosis of AMD.

Tips for healthy eyes to help reduce the risk of AMD or to slow down its progression:

1. Have your eyes tested and make sure the macula is checked.
2. Don't smoke.
3. Keep a healthy lifestyle, control your weight and exercise regularly.
4. Eat a healthy well-balanced diet.
5. Limit your intake of fats.
6. Eat fish two to three times a week.
7. Eat dark green leafy vegetables and fresh fruit daily.
8. Eat a handful of nuts each week.
9. Provide adequate protection for your eyes from sunlight exposure.

Remember to consult your doctor before making any changes in diet or lifestyle.

The large majority of the information you see here has been gathered from sites whose sole purpose is to educate people like you and me about Macular Degeneration. For that, I thank them very much as up until this time, I knew little about Macular Degeneration. Finally, I implore you to visit their sites by clicking on the words underlined as well as on the images.

To be continued...

Good things come in threes

2009-07-21T11:35:00.001+10:00

Sometime ago I was apparently contacted by a representative from “The Fresh Air Fund”, who wanted me to promote their fund raising event for this year's New York City Half-Marathon on August 16th 2009 to help Fresh Air Fund children.

I say apparently because I don’t remember getting it in the first place. It was either that or not knowing them from a bar of soap, I hit the old delete button thinking it was most probably suspect. Heaven knows where they got my email address from!

Then a few days ago, I was contacted again! So I looked into the site and low and behold, I found it to be fair dinkum!

”The Fresh Air Fund is an independent, not-for-profit agency that provides free summer vacations to New York City children from low-income communities.

More than 1.7 million children have been helped since 1877 and nearly 10,000 New York City children now enjoy free Fresh Air Fund programs annually. In 2008, 5,000 children visited volunteer host families in suburbs and small town communities across 13 states from Virginia to Maine and Canada; 3,000 children attended five summer camps on a 2,300-acre site in Fishkill, New York; and the fund’s year-round camping program serves an additional 2,000 young people each year.”

So, if you’re from New York or just visiting for a couple of days, I’d say you’d better pull your finger out and help them out on Aug 16 by joining the Fresh Air Fund Racers team. If your not inclined to run their half-marathon check out their site to give a continuing helping hand for kids in need.

Another surprise lay waiting for me in another welcomed email. A new Australian nursing site called “NURSE UNCUT” has just been put up that is endorsed and supported by New South Wales Nurses' Association.

It has been created to provide a platform for nurses to share their stories of challenge and strength, experience and opinion on topics that are close to their hearts. Already a great many nurses have joined the site, including me. Doesn’t surprise you, does it?

Another great benefit is that the wider community can also share their experiences working with the nurses in order to give them an opportunity to show their support for nurses who work tirelessly to look after them and their family.

So give it a go and visit “NURSE UNCUT”

Last but not least, is an interesting Australian Blog that has come to my attention. Titled the “PM’s Blog”, it is written by none other than our own Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd.

His first post, “Focus on Climate Change”, having been put up the other day, has already attracted 734 replies. Just goes to show that us Aussies are not afraid to speak out minds.

Taking a leaf out of President Barack Obama’s book, who has a plethora of social networking sites, Kevin Rudd is following suit by having not one but several sites of his own where he opens the doorway for us Aussies and the like to have our say and be heard!

If you’re interested or should I say game enough, Mr Kevin Rudd PM can be found by clicking on the links below:

1. PM’s Blog
2. Facebook
3. Twitter
4. MySpace
5. Flickr
6. YouTube
7. KEVINPM
8. Australian Labor Party Website

Well, that’s all folks!

To be continued…

Happy Birthday Robert

2009-07-07T09:16:00.001+10:00

If ever there were a bank of babies waiting to be deployed from above by way of the stork exactly thirty years ago today, we were lucky enough to receive the best of the bunch when Robert turned up on our front door step.

Today, 7th July, marks another birthday milestone in the life of our eldest son Robert, who was born to us at a time when we were only spring chickens ourselves.

With his thirtieth birthday, Robert remains steadfastly free-spirited and as laid back as anyone could ever hope to be. Our firstborn has surmounted a number of heart breaking obstacles that have been laid in his path with dogged determination and has come through with only love in his heart for the ones he holds dear, especially his mother!

Although his work life balance swings to one side because of his solitary nomadic work commitments that take him all over Australia, he still finds the time to party hard with just about anyone that comes his way and who can blame him.

An entertaining and thought provoking conversationalist with a passion for restoring his 1979 ZH Ford Fairlane P6 LTD and 1981 WB Holden Kingswood Ute and armed with a big heart, gift of the gab, laid back approach and quick wit, he wins many over, including those that we may find awkward to approach, with his unique, God love him, sense of humour.

When all is said and done, Robert is an inspiration to us all and a good man with a big appetite for all things that light up his life, including what’s put in front of him on the dinner plate.

Robert, we love you dearly and we wish you a very happy 30th birthday. May happiness follow you to the end of time!

Your loving parents,
Mum and Dad

To be continued...

David and Goliath

2009-07-01T04:40:00.001+10:00

Standing shoulder to shoulder, wide eyed warriors prepare to do battle with the Goliath that lies dormant not far from where they stand to attention in front of their two Generals.

With the war briefing not yet over and heads unturned, the combatant’s curious eyes suddenly snap right as devilish high pitched screams from nearby caverns draw their attention away from their masters and drain the colour from their faces in the process.

Barked orders quickly bring all eyes back to the battleground; a narrow, deep and steep sided ravine. Snaking down from high ground to low, it stretches as far as the eye can see and quickly fills with a deadly torrent.

Oh yes! The beast has been unleashed and awaits them all; ready and able to devour one by one or the entire battalion in one foul swoop.

Moving in single file, the warriors shuffle forward until they reach the point of no return. There they await the signal to march headlong into whitewater to test their metal against the foe that’s vanquished others like them.

Armed only with recent knowledge, helmets, lifelines from ashore, vests and stealthy bodies they’re optimistically prepared to take on David’s swiftwater Goliath.

The signals given, the race is on to stay alive! With state of mind all important, no military board will save them now. With limbs working furiously to stay atop of this giant, breaths taken whenever possible, any thought of staying on course shot to ribbons, eyes are constantly searching for any kind Eddy to rescue them from the abyss that awaits them.

The battle rages! First objective just ahead! Most make it, but a few are lost, as lifelines miss their targets! Picked up downstream they rejoin the others.

With the battle almost over, one last objective awaits them all. The final push will surpass all others as all and sundry will be needed to slay this widow maker.

This time around, jaw dropping chasms overflowing with ravenous spawn from this near beaten Goliath await the intrepid warriors to overpower, crush and send them all to Hades.

Knocked from pillar to post, bollard to bollard they make their way down to still bloody waters. Arriving battered and bruised but alive, they meet up with their Generals who stand firm upon dry land. Finally, thankfully, the beast is defeated! Victory is theirs!

As the slain Goliath lays motionless and bleeding on the ground, the last warrior to make it through gives thanks to his guardian angel and to his God for letting him and his comrades live to savour another day Downunder.

This story is based on a course I just (survived) completed.
Can you put a name to the course?

To be continued…

For Pete's sake leave Vegemite alone

2009-06-20T18:56:00.001+10:00

Struth! With tongue in cheek, I’m madder than a bag full of cut snakes and you want to know why?

The American owners of Vegemite, a famous Australian sandwich spread, have come up with the ludicrous plan of bastardising this great Australian national icon by combining it with cream cheese and a few secret herbs and spices for a new product to be released Downunder on July 5.

Yes, the original vegemite will still be available, but that’s not the point, Vegemite has been favoured by countless millions of Australians without complaint from it’s loyal followers since its conception here in 1922. So why play with it now? If it’s not broken don’t fix it and why re-invent the wheel, I say!

So it’s little wonder that I’m as mad as hell. I can only imagine that it’s being done for the sake of the holy dollar and whoever came up with this head scratching decision should be asking themselves, “Do I have kangaroos loose in the top paddock?”

Sure, the unique recipe of Vegemite and a slab of good Aussie tasty cheese on bread has been passed down from generation to generation, but mixing cream cheese with Vegemite on a commercial basis, come on!

Have we become so lazy and so out of touch that we have to resort to the devious concoction being presented to us now?

Howard Beale a crazed television anchorman played by Peter Finch in the movie “Network”, sums up my sentiments exactly in regards to this new product with these passionate words:

“I want you to get up out of your chairs, open the window, stick your head out, and yell, and say, I’m as mad as hell, and I’m not gonna take this anymore.”

If you are as mad as hell like me, follow Howard Beale’s advise and head straight to the nearest window and repeat his words for all to hear, plus these choice words from me, “For Pete's sake, leave Vegemite alone!”

To be continued…

Deliverance

2009-06-08T11:15:00.001+10:00

Bombarded by irresistible deep rooted primal urges to deny one’s own frailty, I can no longer justify my insatiable appetite for euphoric relief.

Realising ignorance has set my destiny's course, triumphing in the face of adversity will be the ultimate goal.

Cowering no longer behind the steel apron called masculinity, I lower my guard to banish the dark force that has lain by my side for so long.

Anxious to come face to face with the one whose skilled hands will soothe the savage beast within me, I’m seduced by the first voice that greets me.

This unseen vision with the voice of a sultry siren and who promises all forms of pleasure and pain, beckons those like me no matter what the cost may be.

Flirting pleasantries aside, an appointment is made to enter the sanctuary of a mechanized house of horrors.

As the time approaches my heart beats ever faster at the mere thought that I will soon be in the gentle and caring hands of my deliverer from anguish.

Tick Tock! Now that the day has arrived my mind is racked with unimaginable thoughts. The fine line between pleasure and pain is just moments away from being drawn in the embossed non scented bib that awaits me.

Trembling, I enter the sterile confines that promise so much. Shadows and echoes of former clients can still clearly be seen and heard as I lay down before them.

Now that my smiling vanquisher stands before me the vestibule that comes between us, once moist, is quickly becoming desiccated as already heightened levels of near paralyzing fear and sullen anticipation grow even further.

As my eyes take in hers, with her filtered breath and seductive scent all around me, I close my eyes, clench my fists and give in to her ways. Forever thankful that this encounter will soon bring an end to my woes.

Now the challenge for you, besides passing comment on what you think of this story, is to answer this question:

What does my smiling vanquisher / deliverer from anguish do for a living?

To be continued…

Much Ado About Nothing

2009-05-31T21:50:00.000+10:00

“It’s all good”, I hear it all the time! So much so that it’s enough to drive me to distraction! Even Blind Freddy would agree with me on this one!

So why all the fuss over such an insignificant but popular catch phrase?

Well, it’s quite obvious as it’s said even when things are going down the gurgler. Similar phrases are just as confusing when they’re spiced with a twist. “It’s just another day in Paradise” is another one used when all around is turning to poo!

Unexpected tone of voice and gloomy facial expressions are a sure sign of what really lies behind these catch phrases with a lingering question mark separating the conversationalists.

This can either put an end to social intercourse then and there or tempt the confused listener to burst its bubble to get to the heart of the matter.

We can’t always tell what’s on the mind of others when they blurt these phrases out because the English language is so damn confusing.

No wonder we find it hard to carry on a conversation in the fear of hearing something we don’t want to hear or not knowing what the other half is trying to convey, blank looks and wide open eyes are all that’s left at the end of a one sided conversation.

Aussie colloquialisms especially, mystify and bamboozle the better English speaking people that have come here from overseas. English may be the dominant language here, but if you’re a newbie to this country, you better get your head around the Australian language real quick otherwise you will not be a happy little vegemite.

Whether it’s a case of deliberate deception, self-deception or just plan sarcasm it leaves most people with very little doubt that there is more to these catch phrases than meets the eye.

To be continued…

Living Will

2009-05-23T01:53:00.001+10:00

Making a living will has been in the back of my mind for sometime now, especially when seeing others anguish over the decision whether to continue life support by way of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in the hope that their family member will recover or to allow “Not for Resuscitation” (NFR) measures after being informed that any attempt to prolong life would be either futile or not justified taking into account the patient’s prognosis.

This decision is made even harder when the family member concerned has left no instructions as to what is to happen in such an event.

For the record I have decided to make a living will that frees my family from having to make that decision. I hope this advanced care directive will be respected when the time comes.

Simply put, my “living will”, will have documented that if a senior doctor considers resuscitation on me useless, no attempt should be made.

Why make this decision now? Good question. There are a number of factors involved in making this decision.

I can see the light at the end of the tunnel getting closer:

Yes, even though 50 something is the new 30, I realise my use-by date is rapidly getting closer. Touch wood, as I’m still in good health and being sound of mind, I know it’s best to make this decision now while I’m still able to.

My first hand experiences with life and death measures within and outside a hospital:

Knowing what I know, I don’t want to have to experience first hand what I’ve seen others go through when faced with death or living a life with absolutely no quality of life.

The only other thing I deem prudent in regards to this decision is that palliative care measures such as pain relief and basic patient care are to be carried out in order to free me from any discomfort.

I believe the right to live or die decision should totally lie in my hands:

And so it should be! As to live entombed within a lifeless body is one of my greatest fears.

Please take note that my views here are not advocating pro-euthanasia, as this is simply not the case. It is just my simple wish to die with dignity, unencumbered by someone else’s well intentioned decision making and to be remembered for what we were and not what we have become at the hands of others.

To be continued...

Mother’s Day Delight

2009-05-12T18:42:00.001+10:00

At births, deaths and marriages, oh! and Christmas too! is when you’ll most probably find this family all together as one. So as not to break with tradition and one day before Mother’s Day, we gathered for the marriage of the last child within the McCartney Clan to get married, as the whispered words, “About bloody time” echoed off the walls to my mother’s delight.

Kindred souls that met through friendship and then weathered tragedy, finally tied the knot on a glorious day bathed in sunshine and the Gong’s fresh ocean breezes. The roar of the sea and the calming sounds of nearby fishing boats as they bobbed up and down filtering through to the ceremony, as if in some form of bipartisan recognition that the great event that was about to unfold before them was orchestrated from heaven.

With the introduction of the new Mr and Mrs from Downunder, came the thunderous applause from the excited crowd that had come from far and wide to witness and take in something truly wonderful and special. Mind you, no one was more excited than my mother, who had looked forward to this day for many moons.

Known as “Margot” amongst her painting buddies, being 75 young is not a hindrance when it comes to enjoying moments with her four sons, one daughter, their better halves, a shipload of Facebook loving grandchildren and impressing her phooning friends by standing on one leg at the drop of a hat.

A keen painter and a lover of life, no obstacle is too high for her to hurdle and is always quick with a laugh and a smile. Even though I know that mum is getting on in years, mum will remain forever young in my eyes. Thank you for bringing me into this world with all the love and attention that anyone could give, and, even though we are separated by distance you are always on my mind.

In case I haven’t told you lately, I love you and will continue to do so for eternity. The same goes for my better half, the mother of three boisterous adult sons and the wife of a very, very grateful man.

Again, I hope you had a fantastic Mother’s Day and God willing you will have many, many more to come! To the bride and my new sister-in-law welcome to the family. Wishing you and my little brother all the very best and a long and happy life together. God knows, you deserve it!

To all the other mothers out there, I hope your Mother’s Day was as grand as ours; as to be in the company of the one who brought us into this world, is truly a blessing and a sight to behold.

To be continued…

Time for Change

2009-05-03T00:40:00.001+10:00

With the threat to our family and friends from terrorism, dependency on fossil fuels, pandemic diseases and the decline of the global economy, the ever growing costs of eternal vigilance are sapping our resources in terms of human life, natural resources and national wealth. As it’s time for change, where to from here?

It is frightening to think that the two world wars, Vietnam war, continuing conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan and the last great depression have failed to bring about everlasting peace and peace of mind, to a people tired of blood shed, terrible loss of life and for many a home that they can call their our own.

Has greed played its part in the global conflicts and economic spiralling downward trends that have seen governments pour millions and for some trillions in an attempt to stop the rot that is plaguing this world?

As millions die of hunger and disease, countless millions elsewhere anally analyse the stock market in the hope of staying on top during rough economic times. With millions losing their jobs, the high-ranking officials who once depended on them add millions to their coffers by way of unjustified bonuses and salary increases.

Our priorities seem a little mixed as our world is consumed by hate, lack of global affirmative action and whose occupants seem hell bent on destroying each other and the world we live in.

Fuelled by millenniums of cultural bigotry and ignorance, violent religious fanaticism, distrust, the endless exploitation of the world’s resources and living by the motto “an eye for an eye”, perhaps one day in our children’s children’s lifetime, the place we all call home, may no longer be able to support us and explode under duress.

My only fear is that by the time we realise this is about to happen and we actually start to make a real change it will be too little and too late.

Knocking heads together like prized fighters in a no holds barred confines of the bloody global arena that we live in today will certainly be our downfall.

I ask you, what will it take to turn this all around? Divine intervention perhaps, a timeline that will see this planet evaporate within the year, another world war with yet again no clear winners or losers or a pandemic event that will cut down on the number of warring factions?

Like naughty children sent to their bedrooms, we will all be sent to God only knows where, if we don’t all come together and do something NOW!

I ask you again, what will it take to turn this all around?

To be continued…

Anzac Day

2009-04-25T10:45:00.000+10:00

ANZAC Day, Australia's most important national occasion commemorated on the 25 April of every year, not only marks the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War at Gallipoli but also the day Australians remember those men and women who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations.


Private Ralph Cooke	Flight Lieutenant John McCabe

Two great Australians, my Great Uncle, Private Ralph Thomas Cooke who died on the 29 June 1916 at the age of 19 whilst fighting in Fleurbaix, France during World War One and Flight Lieutenant John Joseph McCabe, my late father-in-law, who served with the Australian Air Force during World War Two, are especially remembered on this day.

As I recall the “Ode of Remembrance” taken from Laurence Binyon's "For the Fallen" and recited at memorial services on ANZAC Day:

They shall grow not old: as we that are left grow old; Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them…Lest we Forget.

I also picture in my mind, my late Great Uncle Ralph and John McCabe playing “two-up” together as they wait for the rest of us to catch up with them.

To be continued…

References, Links & Related Posts:

ANZAC Day Tradition
ANZAC Day
Gallipoli Campaign
The Game of “Two-up”
Private Ralph Thomas Cooke
Private Cooke – Part Two
Private Cooke – The Gifts
The Australian War Memorial
The Last Post

ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps