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Quite possibly insane.

The Big Seven O!

Had my 70th birthday on the 4th. Was in two minds about it as I hate the thought of getting old - don't feel it! Anyway, I was going to ignore it but my eldest son rang to say that he and his wife would take us both out to a celebratory dinner - me to pick and book the restaurant. I chose Biviano's at Top Ryde - I had been there before and had enjoyed the food.

My youngest son and partner came along too, which was great. Unfortunately my daughter couldn't come as they had just returned from Brisbane late that afternoon and were exhausted from the long drive.  Also they didn't have a babysitter and the boys were also tired and cranky - not the best time to try to make them behave in a restaurant!

We had a lovely Italian dinner and I received some excellent presents. Andy gave me a Pandora bracelet, Michelle gave me two tops and two bottles of wine, Chris & Vickey gave me 2 Gold Class tickets to the cinema. Mel came over later in the week and gave me 3 beads for my Pandora bracelet and 2 tickets to a Beatles show at Star City.

All in all, it was a most enjoyable day !

I wish I'd known more

My father passed away over the weekend after being diagnosed with cancer 6 months ago, a disease that spread rapidly and had affected many of his major organs by December 09

I'm publishing this, not to be morbid, but so that if you go through something similar to me, you are informed.  We had a wonderful nurse in the PA hospital who let us know about the different stages that dad was going through as his body shut down.  I've found some good links that offer more information, I just wish I'd read them before dad passed away.  Sadly we just knew he was really sick, but did not realise how close to death he was.

• Amitahba Hospice, Signs of Dying
• About.com: The Dying Process
• What to Expect
• Care for the dying.

I'm also going to depart from my usual state of being a Christian fangirl, and say that many Buddhist hospices have excellent information.  If my memory serves me correctly from when a family friend passed away, Buddhists have a focus on palliative care and supporting families with terminally ill loved ones as they believe that the process of going from this world to the next is important.  As such, it is not good to have an untimely death or put a person at risk of suicide.  The first link in particular is quite good, and after seeing my father die, I do share the idea that the dying  process is the process of gradually going from this life to the next.

New Year's Eve

Last night I caught the train into town with a friend to watch the fireworks. We had to walk from Wynyard as the trains didn't run to Circular Quay that night. There were extremely large numbers of people, family groups as well as lots of young people, all heading in the same direction.

When we arrived at Circular Quay about 11pm, we found that many areas had been barricaded off and only those who had arrived prior to 6pm were able to get close enough to have a good view. There were lots of security guards at each possible entry way to stop people sneaking in. One of the guards told us that he could let people out but not in, even if there wasn't anyone in there, which seemed rather stupid to us.

We finally found a position where we could see most of the bridge but not the pylons, while peering over the heads of those in front of us. It was quite an interesting sight but I personally didn't think it was worth all the money that was spent. I would rather the money was spent on our run-down hospitals.

We had a great cup of coffee afterwards from one of the vans parked near the Quay before heading back to Wynyard - one of the best I've ever had! I was prepared for a crappy cuppa but was pleasantly surprised. The crowds, both coming and going, were all good-humoured and I didn't see any bad behaviour.

 In fact, the only thing that left a bad taste in my mouth was when we were buying our tickets at the railway station - we were forced to use the ticket machine as no one was on duty at the ticket office - we noticed that the young people in front of us in the queue ALL bought a single child's ticket! Says a lot for their honesty! If the Rail Authorities had paid someone double wages for the night, they would have easily recouped the extra money and made a big profit!  And of course there weren't any ticket inspectors on the trains coming home or at the ticket barrier at the station. A lost opportunity to make the railways earn some much needed cash!

Hospitals - Not bad but could do much better

I’ve heard it said in political circles that women my age and older care fairly passionately about the health system, as we are finally exposed to it, having not normally needed to access hospitals much during our late teens and twenties.  How true this is.  And I am saying this, not because I have children, which is more common, but because my family has had something of an annus horibus with respect to health.  I’ve torn my calf muscle, my grandfather is finally too frail to look after himself and another close family member was diagnosed with a terminal illness.  I have to say overall that despite the bad press and the horror stories from both the press and my personal circle, we seem to have a good system here in Queensland, but there is much need for improvement.  When you’re dealing with sick people and their families, you really can not do enough for their comfort and information.

My first big gripe is actually our private health care system.  Private hospital costs are fairly well covered by private health care and Medicare still covers much of it.  But private health insurers really are selling us short by not covering doctors fees at all or the fee to be admitted to Emergency in a private hospital.  I was several hundreds of dollars out of pocket last year when I had surgery – my doctor charging almost twice the Medicare fee and only 75% of anaesthetic costs ever covered between Medicare and private health.  My terminally ill relative also decided to take a chance on going private with treatment for a bit this year after getting a wee bit fed up with the public hospital, and is still paying off the charges – pretty rich for someone who is on 75% of their income.

Coordination of treatment seems to go by the wayside when someone is being treated by a team rather than just one doctor as has been the case with both my relatives, and this was also the experience of a close friend of mine who had a parent pass away from cancer this year.  I have spent hours and hours frustrated and on the verge of tears trying to find out what was happening with my relative’s treatments and then trying to co-ordinate with more than one hospital is enough to make me want to take up Voodoo and curse the lot of them.  However I have discovered just recently that once someone gets into palliative care for their pain, that the communication between practitioners does get a little better.

And on a more practical note, hospital parking is a b!tch.  The last thing you want to do when you are visiting a sick or dying relative, or having someone visit you is to be hit for $12-$15 parking!  I can wear it as I work and I think my relatives are worth it, but I can imagine most people who have to be treated in the public hospital system may find it a stretch if they are visiting frequently.  And the thing is when someone is sick, they do need frequent visits.  Hospital is a miserable place, and I imagine it’s quite lonely sitting there by yourself in pain with little other than the telly to take your mind off it – if you want to pay the $10/day to watch.  I’ve been hit up twice today as I needed to go home for lunch and to sort out some other stuff I’ve got going on, whilst I am still on holidays.  The other thing that drove me nuts this week when taking my relative in to be admitted to the PA, is that once you drop someone off in Emergency, there is no where within an easy distance to park, meaning it’s at least 20 minutes before you can get to your seriously ill family member or friend.  That being said, whilst my family member was pretty sick and was admitted straight away, there did seem to be a lot of people in the waiting room who did not look particularly sick or injured (except the woman who was having her hand strapped up by the guy at the registration desk as he took down her details).  I realise the health system has to address people who turn up to hospital with ailments that could be addressed by GPs (upping the amount reimbursed by Medicare would be a good start), but having inconvenient parking and 2 hour time restrictions on parking in the area is not a good way to do it.  Also I find it a little disconcerting having to go through the pscyh ward to get to the main hospital from the car park.  I know that I’m safe, but I also know that that’s the ward that gives most of my friend in health care the most grief.  It creeps me out and borders on inappropriate planning.

And finally, a few points on strategy.  I can not believe how few (read: none) hospitals are going into new areas in Brisbane and other expanding areas in Queensland.  No wonder there is such pressure on housing and accommodation in older areas that are still well serviced – living in the outer suburbs you really wouldn’t want to risk something like cardiac arrest as you wouldn’t get into a hospital on time.  And secondly there really needs to be more done to address chronic illnesses before they set in.  And not just colour coding tuckshop food for children – seriously funding cooking classes, quitting smoking services, alcohol rehab, etc.

Update

Dear friends, who are still reading,

just to let you know that at the moment I am going through a wee bit stressful situation.  A close family member is quite sick (possibly terminally but I hope not), my grandfather is in hospital, I'm learning a new job and organising Christmas.  So, sadly, I won't be updating the blog too often.  But I will probably have some time to do some ranting after Chrismas and definitely in the new year.

Regards

AJ

No state education for my hypothetical children!

I’ve just re-read an article about a child in a local school who was assaulted by another student.  Apparently the mother was phoned and told the child was involved in an incident which would be explained when her son was picked up.  Apparently the child’s father was at home but the school never called the home number.  When the child was taken to a doctor by their parents, they were told that the child was lucky to escape brain damage as the resulting concussion was so bad. 

Now the school is a state school, so short of lodging a complaint with the department, which will probably result in nothing, and raising the assault as a police matter, there really is little the parents can do.  And this has crystallised for me, why, should I be lucky enough to have them, I really don’t want to send my children to a state school.  You see if a private school does the wrong thing, they can be sued.  If a state school does the wrong thing, parents really don’t have much recourse.  And reassuringly, the courts do hold up the rights of parents when schools could improve their performance.  For example, The Southport School was sued by the parents of a boy who suffered severe brain damage whilst on school premises and was swept into a drain by flood waters.  He has been awarded one of the state’s biggest pay outs.  And that is reassuring, despite the fact that no amount of money that can bring back a child or their lost potential.

It all feeds into the fact that governments do need to be more accountable and possibly even liable for their decisions.  But I’ll leave that for another rant.

Open Letter to the Queensland Transport Minister

A poxy little flat,

Kevin Rudd’s Electorate

Qld

10 December 2009

The Minister for Transport

An office that is nicer than mine

Ipswich (a city that is not nicer than mine)

Dear Rachel Nolan,

Transport Minister, I am a firm believer in the decentralisation of government, I believe in it whole heartedly. I see absolutely no reason why hoards of public servants should clog up the central BUSINESS districts in capital cities, taking up office space, car parking and precious breathing space.  After all, thanks to the grossly inadequate transport system you’ve let your ministry preside over, we can hardly expect them to catch busses and trains like the rest of us.  

But I’m by no means an extremist.  When I talk about decentralisation I mean considering if new jobs can be based in regions and moving offices to places like South Brisbane, Spring Hill, Fortitude Valley or Milton.  Convenient, central but no-CBD locations.  What would be extreme, is say moving people to Pine Rivers, Logan or Ipswich.  Now I know you’re from Ipswich.  And I know it’s an area going ahead and I can understand you want to give local businesses a boost. It is your electorate after all. But I guess only ever travelling to and from Brisbane in private transport, possibly even with a very convenient diver so you can come and go as you please, so you won’t have noticed that it’s actually a rather difficult place to get to.  There is one train line and one main road.  You may have also noticed that the road is in rather poor repair and you might want to chat to your mate the Minister for Main Roads about that.  No wait, the Premier has made your depts join together.  So you’re responsible for that too.

All of this brings me to my point, which is your absurd idea of basing the HQ of the new Queensland Rail Government owned corporation out at your home town of Ipswich.  Why on earth did you decide to base it out there Rachel?  I realise that I personally may not end up out there, but I may.  And I’m not so happy about it.  For a start, when I decide to jump ship back to the private sector, how can I interview for jobs without chucking sickies all the time?

Also, I’ve had family members work out there, and besides having to regularly deal with the less socially proficient, a distinct lack of low-fat food and an hour commute, they’ve also had to face the train journey.  I’m sure our Operational staff know how awful the company is in the Ipswich station and on the train back to civilisation Brisbane, but do you know?  I’m not sure how many of the current employees really want to put up with that.

And as if facing the social problems is not punishment enough, Rachel, the fact of the matter is not all of your GOC employees live in a location handy to Ipswich.  Some for example live on the Sunshine or Gold Coasts.  And whilst that’s a long commute to Brisbane, it’s half a working day to get from there to Ipswich and back.  Are you serious, you want to ask your valued employees to give up their work life balance to give a few businesses in your electorate a bit of a boost?

And the worst part about this Rachel, is that we don’t get a say.  I have just found this out this week.  Government owned corporations are not owned by the people of Queensland like our government departments.  In the legislation to create GoC’s the owners, are actually you, the premier and the treasurer.  We get no say what so ever!  So if you want to make employees go to whoop whoop, there’s nothing in place to stop that. And I noticed that little clause about the ‘owners’ not being liable for anything.

But despite the fact that you can dictate what you like to GoC’s, please, for the love of all that’s good, don’t move us out to Ipswich.

Regards,

AJ

For the Investors out there

I'd just like to repost a press release from a friend:

INVESTORS BEWARE BRIAN CLIMO AND MERIVALE HOLDINGS LLC

Superior Care Group warns investors of the dishonest business practices of Brian Climo and his company, Merivale Holdings LLC, of 18 Shannonbrook Ave Ormeau and 51 Fallenstone Drive, Spring, Texas, and advises against entering into any financial transactions with either party. Mr Climo also works with an associate, Tony Edge.

Mr Climo promotes throughout Australia and New Zealand his service of procuring investment properties in Texas, USA. He does this by introducing investors to the business and investment climate in Texas and offering to select undervalued properties for purchase and subsequent renting out by the investor. Mr Climo charges the investor a fee of $US12,000 for each property purchased by the investor, offering substantial discounts if multiple properties are purchased. As part of his brokering service he offers to connect the investor to various suppliers of connected services to assist the investor in managing their investments: bank lender, Texas-based real estate agent, a letting agent, home insurer, title insurer, tax attorney and property maintenance contractor. Mr Climo is not a licensed real estate agent.

Mr Climo promotes the investments as yielding 12% but after taking into account taxes, insurance, maintenance costs and letting fees the investment yields 5%.

The investor is able to either buy properties on Mr Climo's recommendation sight-unseen, or the investor may travel to Houston where Mr Climo offers to take the investor on a tour of the city and show the investment properties to the investor on a no-obligation basis. If the investor chooses to travel to Houston they will be required to pay a $US5,000 security to ensure their bona fides in undertaking the trip. Mr Climo offers that if the investor chooses not to buy any investments the $US5,000 is fully refundable.

In the case of Superior Care Group, this security was paid to Mr Climo and a company officer traveled to Houston. No properties were purchased, however Mr Climo and Merivale Holdings LLC refused to refund the security on the basis of setting this amount off against other additional services supplied in Houston, without detailing any of the alleged services.

Mr Climo's promotion is fraudulent and his business dealing are dishonest. Investors are warned to avoid Brian Climo, Tony Edge and Merivale Holdings LLC.

http://www.superiorcare.com.au/media-releases.html

Movember is Upon us....

Hi,

I have decided to support Movember this year by signing up as an official Mo Sista.  

During Movember (once known as November), men put down their razors for 30 days and grow a moustache with the aim of raising funds and awareness for men’s health – specifically prostate cancer and depression in men. The role of a Mo Sista is to support the Mo Bros in their life – brothers, boyfriends, Dads, uncles, cousins, husbands – and help them to raise funds.

What many people don’t appreciate is that close to 3,000 men die of prostate cancer each year in Australia and one in eight men will experience depression in their lifetime - many of whom don’t seek help. Facts like these have convinced me I should get involved this year and I am hoping you will support me as I try and raise funds.

To support me and the Mos in my life, you can either:

•    Click this link http://au.movember.com/mospace/278646/ and donate online using your credit card or PayPal account
•    Write a cheque payable to ‘Movember Foundation’, referencing my Registration Number 278646 and mailing it to: Movember Foundation, PO Box 292, Prahran, VIC, 3181.

Remember, all donations over $2 are tax deductible.

Movember is now in its sixth year and, to date, has achieved some pretty amazing results by working alongside men’s health partners, The Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCFA) and beyondblue: the national depression initiative. Check out further details at: http://au.movemberfoundation.com/research-and-programs.

To find out more information on Movember, check out http://au.movember.com.

Thank you in advance for supporting my on my Movember journey as a Mo Sista.

Angela James