Sunday, January 2, 2011
Pictures of Richmond
In these pictures you can see the old queenslander that is my temporary home, the two QLD health cars which i have for my use while I am here, the ambulance, the hospital and of course inside the living quarters...not too bad I reckon :)
RICHMOND QLD
I'm here In Richmond, it is nothing like i imagined, although very pretty and green- something i really had not expected. The flight from Townsville was an experience, the plane was delayed because of thunder storms and we sat in the airport watching the sky get greyer and nastier- not a very reassuring sight when you can see your plane sitting on the tarmac looking very very small! Anyway, I met the other two nurses who were flying in with me, somehow we all just identified each other-do nurses have a silent beam that alert other nurses? We got on very well and boarded our little plane- first stop Hughenden, about an hr and a half away. It was supposed to be a quick stop but as we sat on board we all looked uneasy as we watched the propeller start- then stop- start- then stop- eventually a cheery little voice says "all off ladies and gents, we are getting a message that not all is right"! Of course we clamber off and wait in the tiny prefab room which is Hughenden airport. Before we know it an old fella heads across the tarmac and says "Nothing a screwdriver cant fix eh". So on we hop and cross our fingers!
We finally arrive in Richmond and are met by one of the gardeners from the hospital.
My excitement was soon squashed and remodelled into fear. Apparently the nurses quarters has been inhabited by a Taipan and a King Brown snake! Now i know snakes are everywhere and i know there is a slim chance of being bitten- but hey- I just watched the movie "Jessica"...and SHE was killed by a king brown! The little matter of snakes has really taken the shine off this place and I am almost terrified to go out adventuring. You need to understand too that I am in long grass (because THAT gardener is away), I am near a nice cool water hole and I am living in a nice big raised Queenslander- and that means they like downstairs because it is so cool--AND there are frogs everywhere, snakes favorite food.
Not to be too much of a party pooper I agreed to head out on New Years Eve and walk- in the pitch black snake dark all the way into town- a good half hour walk with toads and frogs jumping out of the way! It wasn't too bad until we got home and the other nurse said that earlier in the morning, along the same little road we just walked, that two nurses had run over a massive tiger snake and now it was out there- and angry!
On a cheerier note, the living quarters are lovely, they are old, but clean and are very cool. It is actually a massive old Queenslander that has now got 4 units in its centre. The veranda is all fully enclosed and wraps around the whole house. You could hold a ball on the veranda! Each unit has 2 bedrooms, and is fully self contained except for a laundry- which is downstairs and no one will use because of S-----. The water is yukky bore water and stinks likes rotten eggs. I cant get over the idea of showering and smelling worse, or washing dishes that then stink! Oh well, it is clean and the locals reassure me it is all OK. Then there is the bed, it is massive- i think it is a king bed! But it is made uncomfy because here they have what the locals refer to as GIDGY bugs. In fact these are small, brown, horned, stink bugs, and they plague here for about 8 weeks- they should be gone by the time i go! Anyway, these bugs fall on you, climb down into your underwear and crawl over you as you sleep. If you squash it is smells like Poo! Ill try and get a clear photo of one for my next blog. Well for now I'm heading off to see what the others are doing, poor buggers- they had to start their shifts the day we arrived- mine is not until Tuesday and I shall be sure to let you know whats its like. Take care, Colleen.
We finally arrive in Richmond and are met by one of the gardeners from the hospital.
My excitement was soon squashed and remodelled into fear. Apparently the nurses quarters has been inhabited by a Taipan and a King Brown snake! Now i know snakes are everywhere and i know there is a slim chance of being bitten- but hey- I just watched the movie "Jessica"...and SHE was killed by a king brown! The little matter of snakes has really taken the shine off this place and I am almost terrified to go out adventuring. You need to understand too that I am in long grass (because THAT gardener is away), I am near a nice cool water hole and I am living in a nice big raised Queenslander- and that means they like downstairs because it is so cool--AND there are frogs everywhere, snakes favorite food.
Not to be too much of a party pooper I agreed to head out on New Years Eve and walk- in the pitch black snake dark all the way into town- a good half hour walk with toads and frogs jumping out of the way! It wasn't too bad until we got home and the other nurse said that earlier in the morning, along the same little road we just walked, that two nurses had run over a massive tiger snake and now it was out there- and angry!
On a cheerier note, the living quarters are lovely, they are old, but clean and are very cool. It is actually a massive old Queenslander that has now got 4 units in its centre. The veranda is all fully enclosed and wraps around the whole house. You could hold a ball on the veranda! Each unit has 2 bedrooms, and is fully self contained except for a laundry- which is downstairs and no one will use because of S-----. The water is yukky bore water and stinks likes rotten eggs. I cant get over the idea of showering and smelling worse, or washing dishes that then stink! Oh well, it is clean and the locals reassure me it is all OK. Then there is the bed, it is massive- i think it is a king bed! But it is made uncomfy because here they have what the locals refer to as GIDGY bugs. In fact these are small, brown, horned, stink bugs, and they plague here for about 8 weeks- they should be gone by the time i go! Anyway, these bugs fall on you, climb down into your underwear and crawl over you as you sleep. If you squash it is smells like Poo! Ill try and get a clear photo of one for my next blog. Well for now I'm heading off to see what the others are doing, poor buggers- they had to start their shifts the day we arrived- mine is not until Tuesday and I shall be sure to let you know whats its like. Take care, Colleen.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
WOW.....Townsville...
Hi Everyone,
Here I am, finally in Townsville- but only for a night. I feel like I have been travelling all day, a 1 hr drive to Newcastle airport, a tiny de havilland aircraft to Brisbane and then a bigger plane to Townsville. The dash 8 aircraft seemed to take forever and the second plane could not be quick enough. The reason being was that i was in a 3 seat row- in the aisle- next to a mother and daughter who would have to have been the dirtiest grubs I've ever seen. So much so i was tempted to ask if she had nits! From the minute she got on she was scratching and rubbing her nose right up her arm,,,the little girl was the same. Needless to say i have a stiff sore neck from trying to keep bent out into the aisle! Anyway, apart from that it was a safe and uneventful trip. Straight out to the balmy tropical weather of Townsville that instantly took me back to New Guinea. Oh how i love this environment. Jumped into a taxi and direct to the Mecure Inn, only about 5 minutes away and even they had me all booked and done- no problems!
Tomorrow is another adventure, I am off in a tiny little plane to a tiny little place- Richmond QLD. I shall be there for 6 weeks and cant wait to look around at the kronosaurus exhibits, the beautiful man made recreational lake, Lake Tritton and to discover what sort of accommodation i shall have as my home. So much to see and do...take care all, Love Colleen
Monday, December 27, 2010
Christmas Time and a new Job in the works.
Well, its a rainy, cold and dismal day here in NSW. I returned last week to have Christmas with my family and although it has been warm enough today is freezing and reminds me of why Id rather be north! Not long to wait though as my next post is supposedly at a place called Richmond (QLD). A small town east of Mt Isa and west of Townsville. In a few words- the middle of nowhere! I am really looking forward to the next adventure and strangely, cannot wait to be on the road again. At the moment it does not seem like I will be driving anywhere due to the heavy rains and flood situation all over Qld so I am patiently awaiting news from my agency to see if I am to fly up on the 31st. If this happens Ill be flying to Townsville and then by a small plane into Richmond---on NYE! Could be fun and certainly on my adventure list- but i do hope the cyclone has passed through by then :)
My new job is bound to provide me with blogg updates as it is a post where the RN role is varied and includes duties such as driving the ambulance, a tiny 10 bed hospital and no doctor- gulp! It's all terrific experience and I am careful to make sure the agency knows my limitations etc.
One real good thing about this year is that I am starting my Masters degree and more importantly majoring in remote and isolated practice. Woo hoooooo, by mid year I should be able to suture and manage in an outback emergency....hopefully. For this reason I have chosen to try and get a short 3 month contract at Charters Towers Hospital so I can work in a rural ED dept and gain some helpful experience.
Heres to an exciting and safe 2011....and many more stories/ pictures to blog about...
I hope the Christmas period has been kind to you and your families, Take care, Colleen xox
My new job is bound to provide me with blogg updates as it is a post where the RN role is varied and includes duties such as driving the ambulance, a tiny 10 bed hospital and no doctor- gulp! It's all terrific experience and I am careful to make sure the agency knows my limitations etc.
One real good thing about this year is that I am starting my Masters degree and more importantly majoring in remote and isolated practice. Woo hoooooo, by mid year I should be able to suture and manage in an outback emergency....hopefully. For this reason I have chosen to try and get a short 3 month contract at Charters Towers Hospital so I can work in a rural ED dept and gain some helpful experience.
Heres to an exciting and safe 2011....and many more stories/ pictures to blog about...
I hope the Christmas period has been kind to you and your families, Take care, Colleen xox
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