Frida?

Chilling at home tonight when a female voice called down the hallway "Um hello? Anyone home?"

Realising we'd left our front door open again and any random stranger could waltz in, I scurried out to see who was invading our den of masculinity (and uncleanliness). Turns out it was a visitor for my japanese flatmate, but someone who I also knew through mutual friends and who apprently my 'other' flatmate knew through aother circumstances. And so we stood around chatting about the random things that can really only pop into one's head when standing in the hallway.

"So you're wearing a T shirt that says "Minnesota"... you ever been to Minnesota?" asked our visitor.
"Um no not really, my sister used to be a nanny there for this guy who worked at Company-That-Makes-Medical-Stuff (CTMMS)"
"Oh really! Cos I work for CTMMS in Sydney and that's why I asked... cos I've been to Minnesota on business!"

Small world...

Turns out her job is to promote the new adhesive material we use to stick down our cannulas (drips) with. It sounds pretty cool. They're even making a see through type dressing so you can see how a wound is healing without havign to remove the dressing and risk infection/wound breakdown! How cool is that! (well I think it is haha - so I told her to send me a copy of her presentation)

Then we began talking about the strange English names that FOBs* take for themselves when they move to Australia. Such as "Wailee" and "Frida" and "Spanky" (what the??)

Anyways, in less interesting news, I am now working in "Geriatric Rehabilitation". And I've never been happier!** Ward rounds start around 8:45 and leisurely cruise up and down the corridor seeing our old bats*** and asking them the ever so delicate questions that distinguish geriatrics from other medicine:
"So who lives with you at home?"
"Have you opened your bowels today?"
"Who's the Prime Minister?"

My consultant is on a personal mission to rid the world of temazepam**** and in her crusade has declared our ward 'Benzo-Free' which means all the patients sleep terribly and look like zombies. But they're happy. Which means I'm happy.

Our ward was recently refurbished 2 months ago and is still looking brand new. We have a proper doctors office to hide in. We have lunch (being able to eat during the day is a cool concept!)

And the best bit is that at 4;59 I can start packing my bag and walk out the door at 5pm on the dot.

Some people say Geris Rehab is awful. That it's too boring and too much paperwork. Those people can have theri crazy hours on cardiology wards or early morning surgical ward rounds and days of holding retractors. I still get paid as much as they do whilst I gaze out the window and stare at the view of the Bridge.

*FOB = Fresh-Off-Boaters. Foreigners (usually Asians) who act so differnet they can be classed as having just hit the shores of Australia.

** Well working at least... med school was always a hoot... and maybe first term last year doing psych.. but I don't think that ever counted as 'work'.

*** On our geriatric ward we have 4 guys and 18 girls - who said there was a 'man-drought' in Australia?

**** temazepam is a benzodiazepine commonly used as a 'sleeping pill'