The Grim Spot

Remarkable indeed

2007-05-11T07:57:00.000+10:00

Yello all.
I'm enjoying a bit of computer bassed downtime at the moment while Anna is sitting next to me in a web cafe in Queenstown, doing her ICU exams over the net.
Thrilling ain't the word.
Today is day 6 of holidays, and my favourite bit, the first day that is actually eating into my holiday leave. Gotta love RDOs and public holidays.
It's been a pretty non stop trip so far. we've always been busy so far, most;y due to the whim, which i have to thank.
We stayed two days in Te Anau, which is the last town before milford sound via the road. We had planned to fly in the second day, so had nothing planned for the first. that morning i decided on a whim to drive down to the southern lake (can't remember the spelling, manopouri or something like that), then up to MIlford sound then a afternoon horse ride. Due to the horse ride, the drive out to MIlford was rushed.
The scenery was mind blowing though. Unfortunately, my camera went flat at manapouri, so no fantastic 7mp photos of milford. Anna had hers though, so we're not completely bereft of piccies.
The next day it was windy enough to blow a goat off a mountain, so our flight was cencelled.
That resulted in an early drive to Queenstown and a visit to Glenorchy (LOTR homeland).
Yesterday was shotover jet day (river was raised due to recent rains, so it was extra bumpy and uber cool) and helicopter trip to the top of the remarkables.
When we drove into Queenstown, i almost drove our black outback into the lake numerous times. the scenery here is just awe inspiring. There was no snow however. yesterday morning howrever, when i opened the curtains to our room and looked across the lake at the remarkables, in between whisps of cloud, i thought i saw snow. two hours later when the clouds had cleared i was right. the when we flew up, it was like something out of the movies, landing on a little outcrop just below the snow.
Because the afternoon was so clear, we decided to try and sneak in an afternoon flight to milford, but alas it wasn't to be. Still to rough out there. The weather here is so narky and changable.
This morning it has been pissing down, but all of the mountains sourounding queenstown are now covered in the most pristine white snow i have ever seen. Just beautiful.
once Anna is fininshed her exams, we;re going to grab a bite to eat, and hit the road to mount cook. Sorry, but there'll be no photos til after i get back. I think i might bring the laptop next time as every hotel we have stayed in has had data ports with free web access... Next time, Anna won't be doing online exams though :P
Anyway, I might get back to distracting her....
Cheers!

Grim in NZ.

The Doctor and the Madass

2007-05-03T19:00:00.001+10:00

The Doctor and the Madass, originally uploaded by graum.

Mt Archer, Sunday afternoon.

Lisa and I

2007-01-28T11:16:00.000+10:00

Lisa and I
Originally uploaded by graum.

Hey look at that, someone has a camera pointed at us...

Rocky grad

2007-01-28T11:15:00.000+10:00

Rocky grad
Originally uploaded by graum.

Suddenly doctors, every last one.

The Cronins with adopted 'Unke Grim'

2007-01-28T11:13:00.000+10:00

The Cronins with adopted 'Unke Grim'
Originally uploaded by graum.

They drove all the way from Coffs Harbour, only to turn around and drive straight back after this photo was taken.
Thanks guys.

Dr Special; Or not so much

2007-01-28T10:29:00.000+10:00

It's been two weeks on the ward as a doc now, and it's been interesting. That is, when I have the time to actually think about it. Things are pretty busy up here in Rocky. I am the intern for the busiest medical team in the hospital at the moment, so I am rarely without something to do.
It's a bit of an emotional roller coaster, with the lows being all doubt ridden - I am a shit doctor, I can't even explain to someone what to look out for in renal failure. The highs are small, and mostly related to having a good laugh with your fellow paper monkeys whilst passing in the hallway. One of the small triumphs for me last week was finally getting an IV in and working in one of my demented old men. It's amazing what you get away with, with a smile and bravado.
One of the more uncomfortable moments, was on the first Friday. I had a patient with suspected neuro-syphilis. It's pretty rare in these post anti-biotic days, but if someone is going to show up with it, it'd be in Rocky...
The patient was rather unco-operative, which in the circumstances is understandable. So they were not quite lying on the edge of the bed, screaming at me, calling me a cunt and motherfucker every time I tried to sterilize the puncture site. Then they almost jumped off the bed when I only touched their skin with the needle containing the local. After 5 mins of this I threw in the towel and refused to do it. Next time I try to do a LP, it's going to be on a comatose demented patient. Not a foul mouthed alcho from down the road.
I am really learning to love my patients.

Alkali flats Tvlle style

2006-11-23T13:58:00.000+10:00

Alkali flats Tvlle style
Originally uploaded by graum.

I took this photo at about 11am, after I had finished the climb. When I got back into the car, the thermometer in the dash said it was 38 degrees.
I believed it.

Magnetic Marlow

2006-11-23T13:56:00.000+10:00

Magnetic Marlow
Originally uploaded by graum.

On top of Mt Marlow, looking north towards Magnetic Island. Mt Marlow is on the north-western outskirts of Townsville, in the Town Common conservation park. The track to the top is at the end of 7kms of dodgy dirt track. The walk is 2.3kms and takes 30mins. Nice views though, as you can see.

Distant castle

2006-11-23T13:53:00.000+10:00

Distant castle
Originally uploaded by graum.

That's Castle Hill and Townsville around it in the distance. What a lovely day for a walk...

From whence you came

2006-11-23T13:51:00.000+10:00

From whence you came
Originally uploaded by graum.

It's a long walk home from the top, but at least the view is good.

AnnaandGraham(small)

2006-11-16T17:49:00.000+10:00

AnnaandGraham(small)
Originally uploaded by graum.

Taken by Kat
From the RMO awards series. The thing I love about this photo is that thanks to being caught in half-blink, it looks like I'm drunk. That's a Hahn light in my hand...
Oh well. Anna as always looks gorgeous.

MarceauGrim

2006-11-14T23:06:00.000+10:00

MarceauGrim
Originally uploaded by graum.

This photo was taken after we had finally finished all our rescue dive missions and were free to explore.
Praise Allah.

OKgrim

2006-11-14T23:03:00.000+10:00

OKgrim
Originally uploaded by graum.

What's that?
Tasty with a beard?
You betcha!

From the void comes a story

2006-11-02T17:28:00.000+10:00

Well it has been a long time since i've bothered to write. For that I am sorry.
It's been a combination of exam fatigue, new girlfriends, and post exam enuei.
Wow, that's about it really, not much news to add.
Well, that's a half truth actually.
I've been up to things here and there.
I went to Mackay a couple of weeks back, to see Jodi, Shane, Robbie and Lanni for a talk Jodi was doing about her expereince through doing her STEPS course. Long story short, she never finished highschool, but now she's a GP registrar in Coffs Harbour. And one of my biggest inpirations, as she no doubt is for almost any other person who gets to meet her.
Then last week, i met a couple who will be working here as interns with me next year. The thing that got me up to see them in 5 mins of hearing news of their arrival was the dropping of no other than Jodi's name. Turns out Rob had done his O&G term with Jodi as his boss. Small world.
I've moved most of my stuff into the new place with Micheal and Pete for next year. It's a nice house, a bit small, but really, I am begining to realise, it's everything we need, plus being pretty neat.
Best news however, is that yesterday I got my email from the University of Queensland telling me that I have passed all of my assesment for year 4 of medicine, and am elegible to graduate on Dec 15. Somehow, I have managed to do everything the uni requires of me to become a doctor.
Horray!
And yesterday, my preceptor allowed me to close in theatre. I sutured up a living person after a pelvic clearance. How cool?!
I have one more week left of my elective, in which time i have to also sort out my paperwork for registration as a doctor. Then off to Townsville for a week for the last time before Charmaine moves to WA with Todd.
Then Mackay for until Grad, then Mackay again, then Rocky to start work as an intern.
Fantastic. I can't wait to swap from student paesoes to doctor dollars.

Gemfields Oct 2006

2006-10-22T14:16:00.000+10:00

Gemfields Oct 2006
Originally uploaded by graum.

The girls after spending the afternoon looking for saphires. Anna found a really nice one which is being cut. Can't wait to see it.

Rural Exam

2006-10-05T11:44:00.000+10:00

Rural Exam
Originally uploaded by graum.

Our last exam as medical students
To the theme of Raw Hide!

Yeah!

Paeds & Med

2006-10-04T14:04:00.000+10:00

Paeds & Med
Originally uploaded by graum.

Written exam number two.
Not the worst exam I've ever sat, nor the best.
Counting down till the last.

Exam One - O&G

2006-10-03T14:45:00.000+10:00

Exam One - O&G
Originally uploaded by graum.

The first in the exam fancy dress series.
It's nice to think that I got my $10 worth out of the pink shirt and got to ware it in public once more.

Welcome Home!

2006-09-19T21:53:00.000+10:00

Welcome Home!
Originally uploaded by graum.

Meet Rob Jr.
I just got him today, to the envy of many of the other students. Purple dragons are as rare as hen's teeth in these modern days.
Imagine my surprise to find him when i got home tonight, like this with the following note:
"If I can not be Leanne's, life is over.
Goodbye - Puff"
Too bad I've got a sense of humour little guy. You're mine!

Timing

2006-09-17T15:15:00.000+10:00

Hey there. It's going to be at least a few weeks before I resurface seeing as my finals start in less than 2 weeks. So I thought I should say hello and stuff.

Actually, I just want to brag and be happy.

I went on the first date I've been on for about 4-ish years on Friday night and I'm pretty sure we both had a good night.
I asked Anna out on Monday, and I've been bragging about it to any of you that will listen since.
So this weekend I have found myself happy, full of new music and pumped to get into my study and finish uni.

See you on the other side of exams.

Cheers!

Another Group Hug Gem

2006-09-04T22:56:00.000+10:00

"Did you know that you can make someone enormously unconfortable by staring straight into their left eye? Just the left one, not both or the right."

$237 000 for a degree?!!

2006-08-16T09:39:00.000+10:00

I was just reading the Australian website, as I like to do on mornings when I get the time, and I came across that tasty little bit of news. It got me to thinking about how much I owe, and will do at the end of the year. After 8 years at uni I will owe somewhere around the $45,000 mark for my degrees.

When I saw the $200k + figure, all I could think was, that is so not worth it. What does a degree really give you? I think the idealistic would suggest it gives you the knowledge to work in your selective career successfully. Personally, I think that's a load of bloody bollocks! None of the tuition I have received has had the slightest bit of use in my career. Everything that actually had an influence on my abilities in the workforce, came from getting unpaid work experience off my own bat.

Everything I am battling with doing my UQ medical degree now, is about hoop jumping. Learning how to answer pointless questions, that if I had access to the internet at the time I could look up in 6 secs. Who really gives a crap about essays on what it means to be a GP? How is that going to make me a more effective doctor? How does that teach me skills which will make a difference face to face? If it wasn't for the fact that I have been doing my clinical years in the rural school, effectively doing an apprenticeship, I think I would have spat the dummy a long time ago about being a Doctor.

How can any university seriously charge such ludicrous amounts of money when they are not delivering vital skills?

Every single person with a conscience who goes into medicine deals every day with the insecurity that they are going to be inflicted upon the community at some point, and they may kill someone. I might add that it has been a long held colloquial belief that the mortality rates at public hospitals always spike at the beginning of the year when interns start working. I believe that my hospital is doing their best to prepare me for the dramatic change of roles that await me in the transition from medical student to intern. I don't think that it is something that they should justifiably have to do. Good luck to them too, in succeeding in as little as a week of orientation. No, I think it's certainly time the education we receive is held accountable for it's shortcomings. There is no way the Australian health system can become one of the most admirable in the world if we continue to short change our young doctors.

We need more hands on, clinical one on one training. As long as senior consultants become disillusioned with the public system and universities, they will shy away from teaching and the quality of the knowledge pool will continue to dwindle. I would never accept paying over $200k for the degree I am about to receive. As it is I am seriously considering staying in rural areas for the next 5 years just to take advantage of a federal HECS reimbursement scheme to pay for my MBBS.

The time for a major shift in how medical training and the health system functions is drawing closer every day.

Round the RMO table

2006-08-13T15:57:00.000+10:00

Round the RMO table
Originally uploaded by graum.

House colours included, duch iris (dark blue), razzle dazzle (pink), staghorn (light green), poolside (light blue), amore (red), and clover leaf (dark green).

Everyone seemed to be up for a big night, and all seemed to have fun. I am still nursing my hangover...

The gayest picture of me ever

2006-08-13T15:52:00.000+10:00

The gayest picture of me ever
Originally uploaded by graum.

Nothing like a party. The idea is that each house had to dress in the theme of their door colour. Our door, it's "Razzle Dazzle Pink"

I think I make a pretty fairy though.

Saturday night fever

2006-08-11T19:03:00.000+10:00

Saturday night fever
Originally uploaded by graum.

Every single person in this photo is in varying degrees of doctorness...

Think about that next time you injure yourself ;)