A Snap shot of me at work.  I look like a bit of a twit really.   a medical version of a great Australian inventor/bushranger.   I was being fitted for a Duckbill mask,  to keep me safe from airborne viruses such as swine flu or bird flu.   The process involves initial testing where you  are sprayed with a bitter aerosol just to chk that you can taste it.  This only takes a minute or two.    About an hour later  the testing resumes with a duckbill mask on.   The second session  takes about 7 minutes,  in which you are sprayed with bitter aerosol and asked to breath through your mouth and move you head as directed.   I must admit I did not really enjoy this,   the Perspex fogged up rapidly, and despite the open top,  it kind of felt like you had placed a plastic bag over your head.   This fitting and test is an annual event.    I look forward to next year.

Gaz

Roaring beach Tasmania.   This shot was taken before Summer and Will were soaked by a bigger wave.   Summer didn't like it.   Will didn't seem to care too much.     Roaring Beach is a seaside holiday spot on the Esperance Coast road,  between Geeveston and Dover.    It is a lot like Sandy Point in Victoria,   beautiful beach and not many people around.  

Easter Sunday in Dover.  Cool but Sunny at times about 15degrees.  The Dover Sailing Club were sailing Dinghy's off the beach.    Hardy souls in their wetsuits and life jackets.     

 I was rostered to work Thursday,  good Friday and Easter Saturday.   The unit has been quite busy,  apparently its not always like this.    I am beginning to gain some insight into the politics of the unit.  We seem to be frequently  short staffed,  resulting  in delays to elective surgery.   Every day I seem to get txt messages advising of Shifts available.     Talking to the other nurses they have said that shortages are common.   Oddly,  it seems that the last couple of years the Tasmanian government has not employed Graduate Nurses or run a graduate nurse program.    This resulted in most of the graduate nurses finding work interstate.   Apparently this was done as a budgetary  initiative,  a cost saving.   I wonder which public service DH thought that up.   His or Her logic is mostly sound.   If you don't employ people you don't have to pay them,  therefore making a saving.    I  guess its a good thing really,    plenty of OT if you want it.   An interesting fact I learnt at Orientation was that there are about 200 more administrators   employed than there are doctors employed.     It reminded me of an episode of Yes Minister except it's not funny.

Having collected the trailer 2 wks ago,  the kids have been keen for the tramp to be put together again.    These Spring free tramps really are  a clever design.   I took the time to put leather gloves on before starting to tension and click the fibreglass rods into place.      result : no blister,  no blood and no whining.  makes quite a change really.
In Mount Martha the tramp totally dominated the backyard.   Here is seems smaller and less imposing.