I'm in shock!

The most amazing thing happened to me today at work. Yes that's right another work related post. (And yes today was yet another awful shift, after all it is Monday).
For the first time in many many years I was actually thanked for the effort that I have put in at work.
I was stunned! I have been a nurse sine 1997 and in emergency since 1999. And I can honestly say that in all that time this is the first time that I have ever been thanked by administration.
It really makes a difference when you know that they acknowledge what you are doing.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Kaputar Place,Prairiewood,Australia

Angry Birds Party

It was my sons 5th birthday today. He decided that he wanted an angry birds theme. So we did. I made the cake myself. It turned out well (apart from my Kenwood Chief dying on me).

I got a whole lot of plates and stuff off eBay. It was a set and funnily enough I didn't end up using as much of it as I thought I would.

Mainly as he's now having two parties. I decided that the thought if twenty kids plus parents was just too much for my house. So instead we had family on the weekend and this weekend we are having a party at Monkey Mania.

Monkey Mania are supplying food and drinks, a cake and lolly bags. Plus the kids can then play until it closes. Perfect!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

It's an Emergency!

I rarely talk about work here, in fact I think I have only ever written one post about it. But after last night I need to write this.
To start with let's explain what an emergency department is. It's for emergency's that are life threatening. Life threatening! That's when you could die. And yes we will see you for any medical problems that you have. But life threatening takes priority.
But what constitutes 'life threatening'? Well for starters heart attacks and people who can't breathe top the list, it's seems that people don't understand that these can kill you. Sutures that need removal will not kill you. (No, I kid you not!)
I understand that people don't like to wait to see the doctor but we do not work like a GP does. You don't have 15 minute appointment times, and yes people who come after you will be seen before you if they are considered to be more unwell. And following on from the 'not a GP' comment, if someone has had a cardiac or respiratory arrest and we are trying to keep them alive then it will take more than '15 minutes'.
Do you know, if I had a dollar for every time I had to say this I would be a millionaire several times over. All emergency staff would be. It's frustrating!
And don't get me started on the amount of people who use their local emergency as a GP service. If they went to a proper GP it would help with waiting times, seriously.
Don't get me wrong. I can understand the patients perspective as well. When you are suck you don't want to be sitting in a cold waiting room, waiting. We would love to treat you as soon as you come in. But we just don't have the resources any more. Despite what all the politicians may tell you.
One of the most simple truths is that the population is increasing rapidly but services for that population have stayed the same.
Emergency staff, as well as the rest of the hospital, are doing the best we can with the limited resources that we have. Yelling and screaming, and threatening us is not going to make things go faster. Honestly all it does is make us that little bit less sympathetic to you.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Toy And Railway Museum

Today we went for a drive up to the Blue Mountains. It's been raining for the last few weeks and we were all going somewhat stir crazy. Then we had the great idea of a trip up to the mountains. From where we live its only a 90 minute drive. And our main objective was to go to the Zig Zag Railway.

We normally travel to the railway a few times a year, it's something both my husband and I did as kids. Though this is the first time this year that we have had the time to do it.

Along the way we saw a sign for a toy and railway museum at Leuralla, a historic house in Leura. It's amazing! We wandered around the displays going 'I remember that' a lot. It's got a really amazing collection of old toys as well as new. Did you know that they made Harry Potter money?

The picture above is on the grounds of Leuralla. It's got lovely gardens to walk through, with lots of old railway station seats. I wish I had taken a picture of one. There are also 2 miniature train set ups, one inside and one outside.




I didn't take a photo of the inside one just the outside mountain one.





There are 2 trains that run around this one. Plus water that flows when it starts. So cool. It definitely appealed to all of our inner child.

When we finally arrived at the Zig Zag Railway it was to discover that it is closed. Flood damage has damaged the track and its taking time to get everything fixed. Disappointing but it's a relief to know that they are going to reopen, and hopefully by the end of this year.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Food! Glorious food!

I have just realized that this is the first time, this winter, that I have had my slow cooker on. It's bolognase sauce, if you are wondering.

This led to another realization that quite frankly shocked me.

Most of our meals this year have been takeaway!

Not impressed at all. I really hadn't realized how much we were eating of it. By this time last year I think we had only had takeaway twice.

Since Easter we have been eating 2-3 times a week. Mainly as we have just not been home at weekends. We were leaving on Friday nights and going up to the hospital to see my father in law every weekend. Then taking the easy option during the week at home. Plus we spent 2 weeks in America.

And I have noticed that all of our health is suffering for it this winter. All 3 of us have colds that we just can shift. Last year none of us got sick.

So it's time to change things around. Starting with tonight's dinner, homemade spaghetti bolognese. And the advantage to this is not only is it healthy, easy to do as my slow cooker is doing all the work, but I will have dinner and lunches for work for the next week. I love batch cooking (another thing that I just haven't done this year yet).


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Late For School

                                  
                                                    
                                                                   Source

My son absolutely adores school (I find it weird but I am not complaining).  When we were in Hawaii we went to a luau, during it they asked if anyone had graduated from school. Excitedly my son jumps up and tells me that was him (he only heard school). So I asked him if he knew what 'graduated' meant, of course no.

When I told him what it meant, there was silence, then his lower lip started to tremble and he chokes out "But I like school mummy".  He was very very relieved when I told him he could still go to his. But I do  wonder how long he will like school for? Neither his father or I liked it.

Yesterday we had one of those starts that you often see in movies, where you sleep in then rush around like an idiot.

I forgot to set my alarm (he only goes 2 days a week). And J had gone to bed late, then woken up in the middle of the night and couldn't go back to sleep. He is normally awake at 0630 every morning, so of course he slept to 8 on a day we had to get up. Murphy's Law.

We threw ourselves out of bed and managed to get ready in about 15 mins, J ate breakfast in the car. And surprisingly we were only 10 mins late. But I really do not want a repeat of that.

I found that I was rushing from one thing to another for the rest of the day as a result.

Goodbye Leo

Today was my father in laws funeral. After 2 months in hospital, he died unexpectedly.

We will all miss you.