Thursday, June 12, 2008

Brisbane Update





My first couple weeks in Aussie have gone really fast
Attending to Nurse Registration, Engaging an Agency to find work
Getting compliant with Agency requirements
Sitting Modules on Line i.e , Medication , Law, Health and Safety,
Manual handling, Blood products, vena-punture. All finished now and thanks to Bev and Rachel for your help in understanding the formula for Intravenous Drugs and canulation

Not all work related though
Getting orientated to Brisbane , Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast
Have caught up with some old friends.
Don Robinson and his family. Went with Don to deliver Meal On Wheels around Sufferers Paradise. It was a great opportunity to get into the Million Dollar Homes on the Isle of Capri to provide the frail elderly with basic sustenance.
Warren and Liz Stewart. Both well and happy, They are into the caravan lifestyle on their weekends and holidays They planning a trip out to the Races, Birdsville, 1700 Km one way.

Met Michelle's friends from the Finnish community.
Invited to a Scandinavian evening and experienced the Northern European culture.
Each country from Scandinavia has its own society in Brisbane, to help new immigrant adjust to the Aussie way of life. Jyrki , Michelle's friend, sings in his Finnish societies Choir ( Six Pac ). The name indicated to me the groups integration to aussie culture.
Traditional food, Salami, Cheese , and unknown concoctions where available . Various artists performed songs and dances to entertain . It was only 12 months ago the I had travelled through Denmark Norway and Sweden so I was able to relate to the entertainment which reminded me of the spectacular MID SUMMER festival I was luck enough to experience in Sweden.

Attended the Camping and Caravan Show at the Showgrounds . This is Queensland's annual opportunity to see the latest and greatest for the great outdoors . I was impressed with the Camping Trailers used in the Outback, compact and versatile . The Live country music was high grade . I was sitting next to a women who was amazed that i had never heard of the country and western singer performing She told me she was "world famous", in Queensland.

Went to the Caboolture Show & Rodeo, another annual event. I renewed my interest in the animals and horses. Its great to get up close to docile Brahman Bulls that are 6 feet tall in the shoulder. I wandered the stalls which held little interest for me until i came to a display of reptile and snakes. Blue tongue, frill neck , and others i will no doubt get to know their names were in display . The Stall holders were making money by draping pythons around children's necks for a photo opportunity. I watched on, and videoed, in amazement as they wrapped an Diamond Python around a pre crawling babies neck . The child was mortified, realising the situation was life threatening. Mum and Grand mother barracked her name from the sidelines trying to get wee Georgina to change her anxiety and apprehension to "Joy and Ecstasy" for the photo Op. ( Child Abuse )

Cruise up the Brisbane River on Citi Link Ferry . Got on the ferry at my old haunt at Hawthorne . The Ferries have been upgraded to sleek, fast, powerful boat. Off Peak, I was able to travel upriver twenty miles or so return for $4.20. Great value to be able to see the CBD from the water and gauge the developments that have occurred over the last 15 years

Attending to some R & M for my sister at her house, Yard tidy, Car repairs, She has massive palms that shed their fronds at any time of the year and especially after wind and rain . They hang from the Palms in unsightly ribbons . It requires a long ladder a small handsaw and nerves of steel to remove the reluctant few from high up in the palms . Ants have sought their winter resting place in the warm damp folds of the rotting frond bases . Once the cutting and tugging commence the ants move to " whats going on here mode " and clamber up you holding on arm negating you ability to brush them off . I'm pleased they weren't the 'fire ants' which are real nasty biting ants which are reported around SE Queensland .

I now have two agencies offering work opportunities
either Nth Queensland Outback Moranbah CMH or Townsville IPU.

Decision time today.

I wonder what will happen next.




Alvin

1 comment:

Tamra Bell said...

hi alvin, seems like your enjoying yourself over there. keep putting photos on your blog.
Chris, Tui and I are doing fine.
Love ya
Tamra