Saturday, September 08, 2007

Last week I had Friday off school, so Brent and I decided to go to the beach. There were no waves anywhere (Brent had checked on the internet, as usual :), so we decided to go to Coogee Beach, which is the easiest for us to get to, but not very good for surfing. It was a beautiful day and we both brought lots of reading to do while we relaxed on the beach for the morning. We had some kebabs as a late lunch and then headed off on the Coogee to Bondi walk- which is a very popular 5km walk along the shoreline from one beach to the other. It took us about two hours since there is a lot of up and down and we stopped to take lots of pictures. It definitely doesn’t feel like you’re in Sydney when you’re on the walk!! I would highly recommend it! Friday evening, my friend Martha, from my clinical school invited Brent and me over to her place in Annandale for dinner. She made a huge Kangaroo salad for us which was just amazing. The kangaroo meat was SO good- I couldn’t believe it! It tastes like very tender beef- but better (and it’s healthier for you!). We ate in her backyard at a little table in the middle of a very cozy, beautiful garden that looks over the Anzac Bridge.
On Saturday, Brent and I decided to volunteer for Unimed for the day. The event we were working at was the ‘Eastern Australian National Drag Racing Competition’ held in western Sydney. It was an interesting experience and luckily no one got hurt- so we didn’t have to do any work. It’s always nice to go to things like that once in your life. He he he. In the morning they even had drag races for 8 to 12 year olds!!! I had a great day at the hospital last Monday, even though it was VERY long! At our clinical procedural skills we learned to take blood (venepuncture)! I took some blood from Nick and he took some from me (after practicing on plastic arms, of course). I only have a small bruise on my arm which isn’t unexpected since it was our first try! In the afternoon we got to see five different patients with different blood disorders and we got to ask them questions and examine them. We saw two patients with CLL (Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia), one patient with a clotting disorder and one with myelodysplasia. The last patient that my group saw was really neat! He had a kind of hemolytic anemia that was only activated in the cold! So, as long as he stayed warm he was ok. His doctors have suggested that he pick up and move to Queensland as a treatment. I wonder how Canadians with this condition manage to survive!?! Brent was disappointed when I told him that he couldn’t catch this disorder. Nick also managed to take his camera into surgery last week, so I thought I’d show you a few pictures from some of the things we get to see. This surgery was a facial reconstruction of a man who was in a plane crash and apparently “used his face as an airbag” (so the plastics doctors say). On Tuesday, Brent rented a car so that he could practice driving for his test next week. I had Grand Rounds at the hospital in the early afternoon, so Brent drove out to the hospital for some free lunch and for the Rounds. I think he actually thought it was pretty interesting! Hopefully he’ll come out for them again.

After the rounds, we decided to drive west (only about 15 minutes) to visit the Blue Mountains. We also went to the “Three Sisters” (which was only about another 30 minute drive away). It was beautiful out there, but VERY cold! We took lots of pictures and walked to a few different lookouts. The whole park was almost empty, so it turned out to be a GREAT time to go. On our way home we stopped at a cute little restaurant in Katoomba for some hot chocolate and dinner (that was recommended in our Lonely Planet guide). Tom will be happy to know that we have finally bought some bikes!! We had been to a few different bike shops, but hadn’t had any luck finding a reasonably priced commuting bike. Last week, after visiting a few bike shops (including one particularly sketchy one), we were approached on the street by one of the ‘workers’ at the shop who had followed us after we had left. He rode up beside us on his bike and said “Hey, can you guys kept a secret??” We stopped on the street and we didn’t really know what to say, so he just said “Keep walking!”. At the corner of the street he told us that he had some bikes, but that’s he’d lose his job at the bike store if anyone found out. Then he handed Brent a piece of paper and rode off!! We thought it was pretty strange, but we were pretty desperate for some bikes, so we ended up emailing him. Brent thought he seemed ok, so this yesterday we arranged to go out to his house in a western Sydney suburb to see his bikes… and LUCKILY it turned out to be just perfect. It really wasn’t sketchy at all. The guy actually rebuilds bikes from parts that he gets from old bikes or from a place that makes wheelchairs from recycled bikes. He also races bikes. Brent and I each found old road bikes (with thicker wheels) that we liked- so we got them (each for under $100). The guy also put on straight handlebars for me since I was uncomfortable leaning forward so much. PLUS, he even switched our breaks so that they would be ‘North American style’ and we won’t fall over our handlebars when trying to stop suddenly (and instinctively). He also gave us some free locks and tubes. We rode them back to Newtown from his place. Unfortunately, we have to leave our bikes locked up outside since I don’t have room in my place and the first night leaving them out, one of Brent’s wheels got popped (probably by the same kids who smashed the window of the Porsche that was parked beside our bikes). We’re hoping it’s not a regular thing.

Last night, Alice (Tom’s medical student) invited Brent and me for dinner at her place up in northern Sydney. Janice came too and Alice had a few other Med 4 friends there (as well as her boyfriend). The dinner Alice made us was just AMAZING. We couldn’t believe it. She made us homemade soup, some chicken wings and some HOMEMADE pizzas that were so good. She also baked some amazing brownies and sponge cake and even made us popcorn while we all watched a movie together. It was a great night! Speaking of Tom- he has booked a flight here for early November, so it will be great to see him out here! Hopefully Mom will be coming too!

I have been so spoiled since Brent has been here. When I get home from my long days at the hospital he always has an amazing dinner ready for me!! And sometimes even with wine and flowers! While I’m at school he usually spends his time running, swimming, and training. But, when I’m home he also does the laundry and cleans dishes and helps me with my studying! It’s just been great. And, I’m much happier of course! Tonight he made fresh tiger prawns, steamed broccoli, coconut rice and a great spinach salad for dinner (still with no kitchen)!! It was amazing!

Brent’s interviews for the Ambulance Service are this week, so we are both starting to get a little nervous- but I’m sure everything will work out ok. We’ll let you know as soon as we hear anything! Hope everyone is doing well. Miss you lots! xox