Baggas’ Blog

• Was checking out the new QANTAS frequent flyers scheme… lots more ways to use points. Looks good.. #
• Listening to a new bluegrass CD, “Secrets” by Sierra Hull. Young girl with a sweet voice and plays a tidy mandolin too! #

• Finally fixed some longstanding syncing issues I had with contacts between my Windows mobile phone and my Mac. All working sweetly now #

• At Owen’s soccer game. We are winning 4 nil in an enjoyable game. #
• A new record for me - just cost $270 to fill our Prado with petrol! #
• At Koorong bookshop - between us all we have a very full basket of books as usual #
• Dinner at an Italian place in Mt Lawley, after being turned away from 2 other empty restaurants because we didn #
• Just realised that I already own a Jim Wallis book I bought at Koorong - for some stupid reason they changed the name of it for Australia #

• Lunch at the tavern again. A nice steak today with a glass of red. Nice quiet place and good food #
• Listening to a crappy dance song where the singer uses the phrase “Voodoo Child” - No one after Hendrix should be allowed to use that phrase #
• Listening to Bowie LP - Ziggy Stardust… very cool #

• Just got a package and I have no idea at all what’s in it - I like surprises #
• The package was nothing exciting - just free samples of kids vitamins I faxed off for a week ago. At least I know my new home fax works now. #

• Just had my 7th baby born for the week. Fortunately this one was born at a decent hour, unlike the babies on Mon, Tues, Wed nights. #
• No drug lunch today and I have some free time so I’m at the pub for lunch - Dutch Smoked Chicken #

Miss Mia’s first travel booking

Originally uploaded by baggas

For some reason I thought this was cute, seeing Miss Mia’s name in print like this

Jennifer and I are going to Adelaide in September for our anniversary for a few days, and Mia will be coming along for the ride.

• Awesome. Finally got an email back from James Cook University and I am in! Will be starting my Masters degree in a few weeks #
• @obrienmb just threatened to shave Luke’s curly hair. His response : “I don’t want to be the pastor!” Sorry mate :o) #
• Lunchtime - Phad Thai noodles today #
• A couple of Amazon boxes always brightens the day… Got some CDs and Books… #
• CDs : Israel Houghton - New Season (still not convinced I like this guy’s style all that much but I’ll give him a bit more of a chance) #
• CDs : John McLaughlin - The Essential (awesome 1970s onward guitarist/composer - rock/jazz/blues/ethnic fusion - brilliant stuff!) #
• CDs : Eddie Vedder - Into The Wild Soundtrack (bought this on iTunes last year and had to own the CD - fantastic acoustic style album) #
• CDs : Sarah McLachlan - Mirroball - The complete concert (this one is for Jen, although I quite like Sarah too. Nice) #
• Books : Bob Sorge - Exploring Worship (this was recommended at a recent music workshop we had at church) #
• Books : A few on Burma, where I have volunteered to go to help out… unsure if that is going to happen or not?.. Lonely Planet Guide #
• Books : Thant Myint-U - River of Lost Footsteps (Burma history); Aung San Suu Kyi - Letters from Burma (from the Nobel Peace prize winner) #

It’s been over 8 years since I’ve been at Uni, and over 5 years since I’ve done any serious study ( that was for my surgical training) - I’ve done my Obstetrics and GP qualifications in the last 6 years but I wouldn’t rate them as being too strenuous.

Well today I received an email confirming that I have been accepted into Uni next semester (starting July - August). I will be studying part time towards a Masters degree in Public health & tropical medicine (MPH&TM) at James Cook University in Townsville, Queensland. For non-Aussies, Townsville is a city in the tropics up on the far north east coast of Australia. It’s diagonally opposite Perth on the map 3391 kilometres away (as a rough guide imagine the distance from LA to Washington DC in the United States). Mostly I’ll be studying at home but will probably have to go over there once or twice a semester for short stints. I guess if you have to travel anywhere for study, a tropical city on the Great Barrier Reef is not a bad choice

As for the degree itself the Master of Public Health & Tropical Medicine covers a range of units relating to medicine in the tropics and the developing world. This will help me on future medical missions like my trips to Uganda over the last couple of years to actually have a more solid knowledge base behind me (instead on just winging it!). Also it means I will be qualified to move more into the field of Travel Medicine as part of general practice here in Australia. If I ever get tired of regular GP work and my obstetrics I could go and work full time in a travel clinic. Short of that it’s definitely an area of practice that I want to build and expand as time goes on. Thirdly this degree would be a useful qualification if I was to ever move into more serious or full time international medical, relief or humanitarian type work. From what I hear it’s actually quite difficult to get jobs with the big aid organisations so if I ever went in that direction this degree would be valuable.

Also it looks like I might be able to get 12 points credit towards the course by virtue of having had over 5 years professional medical experience, which would cut a third off the degree. I wasn’t necessarily expecting that so it will be a big bonus if it works out that way.

Very exciting stuff. I can’t believe I’m so keen to get back to study again. After a 6 year medical degree and another 6 years of postgrad study in surgery, obstetrics, and general practice, I thought it would be a long time before I ventured into medical academia again. But I’m looking forward to it. The only question mark is how I’m going to fit this into my already busy life.

It’s been some time since I’ve posted any videos of Mia so here’s a quick clip of her from yesterday. Also enjoy the music, which Luke created (with a little help from me) using Apple GarageBand.

• Work is a little slow this morning, which is not a bad thing as I’m feeling kinda lazy #
• Checking out the new Foxtel HD service, but am hesistant to sign up as it looks like it won’t work with our multiroom setup #
• Note to self : must try and avoid reading Calvinist blogs #
• Nearly lunch time - Han’s Wok is calling… #
• Other people seem to be discovering my noodle place. It used to be quiet but now there’s always a line. Worth the wait though #
• Had to go to the bank but there was no parking - so instead I’m sitting at Waikiki beach with an icecream. Beautiful day! #

• My brother just came in to work and gave me a burger. Getting lots of unexpected food this week #
• Just about to watch Speed Racer with the boys #
• Speed Racer : a bit too cheesy although incredible graphics and pretty good action sequences. Lots of Australian accents surprisingly? #
• Also saw the preview for the new animated Star Wars movie which I wasnt even aware was due out. Kids (and me) are looking forward to that 1 #

• One of my patients just brought me a muffin! Yum #
• Listening to an Israel Houghton CD for the first time. After 2 songs all I can say is I hope this gets better… #

An artist has no need to express his thought directly in his work for the latter to reflect its quality; it has even been said that the highest praise of God consists in the denial of Him by the atheist who finds creation so perfect that it can dispense with a creator.

~ Marcel Proust

• Just mailed off my application for Uni - got tired of waiting for answers to emails. Hope I get a place… #
• Now it’s time for a long overdue haircut #
• Is it wrong to be secretly hoping my son’s soccer practice gets rained out? :p #
• Love getting packages, especially one I’ve forgotten about #

• Changed the colour scheme of my phone to red. Now it feels like I have a new phone. Amazing the difference a little change can make #

• Heading off to Owen’s soccer shortly. At least the weather is a bit nicer this week. #

• Getting mad about smoking & “smoker’s rights” http://tinyurl.com/4fkw4p Wish they would just make the whole stupid habit illegal already #
• Must stop looking at the James Cook Uni website. Frustrated that I haven’t had replies to emails & very keen to get my application in ASAP #
• Also must stop looking at eBay. I’m getting sorely tempted looking at the customized Fender Telecasters - just like the one Keef plays. Nice #

• Obama has finally claimed the Democratic nomination. Hope Hillary will now finally bow out gracefully and let him focus on McCain #
• Just updating my resume as part of my University application. Hard to get any replies to emails from these people though - frustrating #

• Awesome weather. Constant thunder,lightning, and heavy rain. Just wish I wasn’t on-call with 3 babies on the way this morning.. #
• Had to drive to the hospital in the middle of a thunderstorm for the first baby - two more still on the way at least #
• Crazy day! Hot water system died. Back fence blew down in the storm… and still waiting to be called out for 2 more babies to be born #
• On my way to 3rd delivery - C/Section this time. Looks like a section of fence has blown down at church also #

Our backyard

Originally uploaded by baggas

Major storms in Port Kennedy today. Constant thunder, lightning and heavy rain for much of the morning. And this is what happened to our fence..

Today’s been a crazy day in general. I’m on-call for the hospital. Have already had 2 babies delivered today with at least one more on the way, so I’ve been driving back and forth to the hospital in the heavy rain. Also our gas hot water system stopped working this morning so we had to call out the gas man to fix it in the pouring rain. Not looking forward to getting the bill for that.

• Spent some time down at pre-primary this morning doing a ‘doctor talk’ for the kids - lots of fun #
• Nothing worse than a bureaucrat who wants to be petulant - wasting minutes of my time and denying my patient her treatment Grrr #
• Just reminded of how much I like African people - there’s just something about their character that is cool #
• Parent-teacher meeting this afternoon. I can already predict what she’ll say “Owen is a lovely boy, well behaved, but has awful handwriting” #

• Sudden deluge here. Good weather to be inside. I love having the window open listening to the rain pour down. Just a shame I’m at work #
• Seriously looking into enrolling in Uni again next semester - just trying to ascertain exactly how much time and travel will be involved #

• Heading off to Baldivis church this morning for my nephew Seth’s dedication #
• About to watch the new Indiana Jones movie #
• Increasingly impressed with Ban Ki Moon - for a diplomat, he seems unusually effective #
• Trying to work out how to adjust the action and intonation on my bass guitar - tricky #

• Just had a music workshop at church - really worthwhile #
• Watching Deadliest Catch with Jen and Owen - great show #

• Feeling a bit crook today so staying home from work. Still have a patient in labour though so will have to go deliver a baby at some point #
• Watching “Metal : A Headbanger’s Journey” on Foxtel - still waiting for 2 babies to be born #
• Both babies delivered now. So I am officially off duty for the weekend #
• Just cost me $255.90 to fill the car with petrol… ouch! #
• @hismethod - Prado. 180L (2×90) tank. Plus I fill it with Ultimate fuel which adds to cost. But at least it’s only once every few weeks… #
• It’s a day for music docos today - now watching a biography of on of my heroes - Bono… #

• Had Owen quite sick last night with a nasty cough so he’s off school today. I have a little bit of it myself. #
• Playing with Netvibes - sort of like a meta aggregator for all your social networking/media sites : http://www.netvibes.com/baggas #
• Ok so netvibes might be useful - helps provide a nice snapshot of all my online stuff. I’ve added a link onto the top of the blog #
• Heading out to the Last Drop Tavern for my sister-in-law Sarah’s birthday dinner #

• Slow morning today. They booked me a half hour slot to excise a skin cancer which took about 10min. Gives me time for a coffee break though #
• Just watching our Prime Minister speaking Mandarin on the news - kinda disconcerting. And now the ongoing frustrating news about Burma #
• Economists are predicting the Australian dollar might reach parity with the US$ this year… wish I could take another trip to the USA.. #
• Drooling over Deano’s big iMac - beautiful #

P1040890

Originally uploaded by baggas

A while since I’ve posted any photos of Mia on the blog so here she is

Even this photo is a few weeks old. I’ll try and get some fresh ones onto flickr in the next day or so. It’s on my (new, paper based, super-functional and actually effective) to-do list.

• Nothing like an amazon.com box to brighten up my day #
• Finished for the day. Just testing Twitter updating via SMS #
• Now testing twitter via mobile web. This way is probably cheaper… #
• Played parents vs kids at Owen’s soccer practice. I scored 2 goals in our winning team but was exhausted afterwards. Really need to get fit! #
• Whose stupid idea was it that notes on the bass clef are different to the treble? It’s a pain to learn to read one sort of music, not two! #

Local shots 14

Originally uploaded by baggas

Well this is part of the memorial to HMAS Perth, a guided missile destroyer that served from 1965 to 1999, including distinguished service in the Vietnam war. Rockingham is the site of a major naval base, which is I guess the reason they put this memorial here. Also nearby there is a huge ship’s gun turret, presumably from the Perth.

In the background you can see the blue CBH grain terminal wharf, where I spent many summer days while I was in medical school. I had a job there most summers shovelling grain, unloading trains and loading ships. The top tower of that wharf has one of the best views around - was a great place to sit and eat my lunch or dinner, or just hang out when there wasn’t much work to be done.

I know, it sounds like something they might be teaching at a Calvinist college, but actually it’s my suggestion for a compulsory course at our local government high school - how to cross a road. I am tired of having to slow down or stop for these kids who blithely wander into the middle of a stream of traffic rather than crossing at the lights or crossing areas. It’s frustrating enough that traffic slows to a crawl through these 40km “school zones” but to be continually stopping to avoid running over teenagers is too much. I’m surprised no one has been seriously hurt already.

About a month ago, with the aim of working on my health and fitness, I visited our local bike shop and got myself a reasonably good bike. The last one I had was a cheap one that rusted from disuse a few years ago. Well I haven’t been doing so great thus far, being so busy that I’ve only ridden it 3 or 4 times, and only short trips.

Well tonight I went out for a ride along the cycle path near our house, and was well rewarded with some great views of a gentle sunset over the ocean. All too often we don’t appreciate what a beautiful place we live in. I need to work at getting out on my bike more often, and scenes like this are a great incentive to do so.

Local shots 12

Originally uploaded by baggas

Down the park near our house with the boys. Owen is practising his bike riding (doing pretty good too!)

… and flickr is still not co-operating with this blog posting.. the photos make it to flickr, but not to my blog. I have to take the extra step of blogging the photo from within flickr… annoying

• Watching SBS world news - there is no better news program on free or pay TV. #
• Doing something I’ve never done before - putting new strings on a bass #

• Just had my Thunderbird bass guitar arrive that I picked up cheap on eBay. Can’t wait to get it home and plug in #
• John Edwards has finally come out and endorsed Obama. Surely this should be close to game over now for the Democratic nomination? #

• I’ve finally achieved my century of eBay feedback - currently 104 not out with a blue star, though I really need to stay away from eBay… #
• looking at the Federal budget - our family loses a fair bit on this one. First time I can remember actually being worse off after a budget #

Local shots 10

Originally uploaded by baggas

This one’s from last week - Shoalwater Bay. My friend used to live a street back from this beach so we spent a lot of time down there as kids. I particularly remember one episode where we got freaked out by an angry seal when we tried to swim to Seal Island. We ended up turning around and going back to shore. Good times.

Time to update after a busy few days.

We spent the weekend down south in Manjimup visiting Jen’s brother. Stayed in a farm stay cottage which was nice for the kids, getting to feed and play with all the animals - donkeys, ponies, sheep, cattle, birds, an alpaca and others. Did a bit of four wheel driving in the Karri forrest down there and overall just had a good relaxing time. On the way back I trusted the GPS to take us the shortest route however this was not necessarily the quickest - we wound up driving along the “Blackwood River tourist drive” which was an incredibly beautiful winding drive along the river through hilly forest and farmland… but very slow. Lesson for the future : if the GPS says go one way and my judgement says go another, trust myself instead of the computer (assuming of course I have a fair idea of where I am and where I’m going).

The last few days have been busy with work and other things. Yesterday I got my car serviced and went to Perth to do a few bits and pieces. Sure glad I don’t live in Mandurah - the drive from Perth to Mandurah is just that little bit too long for my liking.

The other thing which may or may not be happening is that there is a chance I may be going over to Myanmar (Burma) soon to help in the relief efforts in the aftermath of the horrendous cyclone. Of course this is dependant on whether their government decides to issue visas for foreign workers to come and help. But my name is on the list with an organisation who are hoping to send a medical team in so we will see what happens. I would have mixed feelings about going and leaving Jen and the three kids including baby Mia, so it would necessarily be a fairly short trip but hopefully I would be able to do some good for people. For this sort of thing it’s Jen making much more of a sacrifice than I would be, by allowing me to go. So please pray for both of us, and the entire sitatuation over there.

Anyway for the time being there’s work to be done here and patients waiting to be seen, so I’d better get on with it.

Just waiting for my last patient to show up and then we’re heading off down south for a couple of days. Jen’s brother moved down to Manjimup earlier this year so we’re going down to visit them. We’ll be staying in a cottage on a “farmstay” type place which should be good for the kids - well the boys at least - even though this is Mia’s first holiday I doubt she’ll appreciate it that much. Look forward to getting the wood fire going for those cold nights. A cottage on a farm, wood fire, nice bottle of red - can’t wait to get going