general news

Well life seems to get busier and busier and it has been hard to find time to blog. We are very short of staff at the hospital at the moment so I have been working lots (46 hours last week). Today I have a day off, although it is always possible the phone will ring if someone is off sick. I am planning to go for a swim in a bit and I never take the mobile out with me. We have an orthopaedic surgeon visiting for a week so we will have a lot of extra patients in for surgery this week. I am gradually feeling more confident and competent on the accute ward although I still have a lot to learn.

The weather has continued to be exceptionally wet and we had bitter southerly winds much of last week. However yesterday was calm and mild. I went to Surf Bay for a walk just as it was getting light but while a full moon was still shining and it was very peaceful and relaxing. Having been in work so much I felt the need to get out for an hour before going to church and then on duty. A lone gentoo penguin seemed surprised to see me and toddled down to the sea and swam away.

It is only 2 weeks now until our shortest day and the midwinter swim will be on June 20th. Why did I rashly say that if Simon ran the marathon I would do the swim? I am hoping that it will be a calm day as I imagine the wind-chill when coming out of the water could be fairly grim. Apparently you have to get your hair wet otherwise it doesn't count. Sponsorship would be welcomed. The proceeds are divided between the local sea cadets and the Lighthouse seaman's centre. This is a Christian mission and the centre is near FIPASS (the place where boats dock if they come into Stanley harbour). There is a cafe which is popular with people from Stanley as well as the seamen, internet and phone access, a shower, various games and a library, comfortable chairs to relax in and newspapers and magazines to read. It is managed by a Christian couple who are always available to listen, chat and provide whatever assistance is needed by visitors. There is usually a supply of warm clothes to be given to those needing them. Simon is now one of the trustees for the mission.

Progress in the garden has been very slow with a combination of lack of time and the weather. I am hoping to continue digging my extended vegetable plot today. A second rockery is definitely going to be needed soon as I continue to remove large stones. Last weekend we got some old sheets of corrugated iron (known here as wriggly tin) from a skip where someone was renovating their roof. I am hoping to cut them up to go around the bottom of the fencing around the veg garden to keep the geese out, replacing the piles of stones which provide shelter for earwigs. I have not yet worked out how I am going to cut them up though. The garden continues to supply us with plenty of greens and we still have a few carrots and parsnips.

Paul's flight was delayed on Friday so came in at 2am instead of 1:30pm. I went with Jackie (from church) to meet him so didn't get much sleep that night. He is going this morning to a memorial service at Fitzroy but the minister from the cathedral is going to pick him up and take him. Next Sunday is Liberation Day when there will be a big united service in the cathedral and then Monday will be a public holiday.

Simon's boss is away again at present and Simon is busy preparing papers to present at the executive council meeting on Thursday. The budgets were all recently presented. With the international economic situation and reduced fishing revenue belts are having to be tightened. The ilex squid have only come into Falkland waters in very small numbers this season so few fishing licences have been sold and refunds had to be given.

I have just had to pop out to take some papers to Simon's office that he had forgotten and it is very chilly out. Will wrap up extra warm before getting on my bike to go for a swim and visit the library.