Drron goes viral.

[RooFlyer]

Brisbane Times today =
EXCLUSIVE - Qld doctor to run pop-up hospital in coronavirus-hit Tasmania

Ah! So its QLDMAT, not AUSMAT.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the Queensland government was more than happy to help its southern counterpart.

“Queensland has so far done an outstanding job of containing COVID-19, thanks to an excellent response by authorities and the community in general,” the Premier said.

“That’s why we can help a state in need like Tasmania, where coronavirus has impacted an entire region’s health system and led to the closure of two hospitals.

“When it comes to responding to disasters, Queensland is one of the best jurisdictions in the world – we do it regularly in the wake of cyclones and floods and we do it well.”

Thanks, Premier! If she hears about drron, she'll be taking credit for keeping the entire Launceston General Hospital afloat, too.

 

[drron]

I will email Annastacia in the morning.
Actually this week I am heading an all QLD team.My registrar is a locum from the Gold coast and my intern was at UQ.

Now to work.For the first 2 weeks I am actually an extra as there had been no Covid admissions in Launceston.However I was still busy.One of the medical units had 36 patients so I went in as the second physician on the Unit.Was quite busy.At the end of the week the first Covid patient was admitted and after a day went to ICU.

Of course the end of the week was Good friday.I was not on over the weekend so it was 5 days of lockdown for me.The boredom only relieved by the Harvest Market online delivery.It was nearly 1700 when the delivery came.Oh the excitement.So some of the stuff I got-
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So able to have a bacon butty for brekkie on Sunday.
The diced wallaby was turned into a massaman curry
The salmon rillettes is one of our favourites.

The second week was busier as virtually all of the NWRH patients were transferred to Launceston.It meant one of the surgical wards which was empty was turned into a medical ward.The new unit had 40 patients so that is where I was sent.
The designated covid ward now had several Covid positive patients.It has 2 separate sections with one section used for those who have symptoms and waiting for test results.All those from the North West in that category are now sent to Launceston.They are trying to keep the Mersey hospital covid free.

When a Covid patient is moved from ED to the Covid ward the corridors around ED are closed down.the Covid ward is just across a corridor from ED.

 

[drron]

So time for the report of the third and 4th week of my stint here in Lonnie.
the third week was a little quieter as Monday and Tuesday were both public Holidays.But I was also released from isolation on Tuesday.Not a great difference but at least I was able to go for a walk after returning from the hospital.however most days it is very cold and it is starting to get dark early.

One benefit of being out of isolation was that I didn't have to have my Harvest Market online order delivered so saved the delivery fee and picked up my order at their warehouse in Invermay.I am buying things I normally would direct from the suppliers so cheaper than the supermarkets or Delis.Some of the weeks delivery.
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Some heirloom chillies and the basis for my spicy wallaby Bolognese sauce.

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Nice bacon.I really like the 41 South hot smoked salmon.They are located a little out of Deloraine so can't get there this trip.

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So thought I would try this.Quite bland and I would not buy it again.

On my way back from Invermay I stopped at the Bizzy bakery at Invermay to see if they had a scallop pie.Knew it wouldn't be the best as the Tassie scallop season was cancelled due to the virus.When I had their offering before it tasted good but the sauce was a little sloopy and the pastry thin so a little messy.This time thick pastry and stodgy sauce.And only 3 scallops.So they are frozen and reheat 2 at a time only.Not going to have another from here until times are normal again.
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Sunday went to the supermarket at Kings Meadow which is the best Coles around here.Also dropped in at Shiploads for a couple of cheap kitchen knives.

Had an early night on Sunday getting ready for week 4.

 

[drron]

To the 4th week I was on call.Even before my first night on call it was much busier mainly because of a lot of admissions from the North West.I started Monday with 30 patients of which 14 were new.many complicated.But I had a great team.I was allocated a second registrar and intern.Even so the round finished at 1730.

What stood out about this week was seeing the effects of lock down.Of those 14 new admissions 2 were due to worsening of chronic liver disease due to increased alcohol intake.One was alcoholic hepatitis,one overdose.
And 2 sad cases.both older women.One with a history of mental illness who had a great network of friends who visited her regularly.that stopped so she was found in the street Sunday morning having gone out,didn't know where she was and nearly succumbed with hypothermia.
The second was a woman who lived alone.normally visited regularly by family and Community Nurses.Community nursing has had to reduce the frequency of visits and family didn't want to put her at risk.Unfortunately a fall soon after daughter left and 48 hours on the floor suffering rhabdomyolysis with acute kidney failure.She did survive but will have a long stay in Rehab.
And 2 older fellows with known mental illness who took to the drink and went off their meds.

We are paying a big but virtually silent price for these restrictions.

Now it wasn't all work.I was able to drop into the Pinot Shop in Paterson Street Launceston near the Penny Royal Inn.Not just pinots but a varietal I enjoy-Dornfelder.I also was able to pick up a Tassie pinot I really like-Sailor Seeks Horse.
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I also dropped in to a local Deli-Alps and Amici.Picked up some nice Tassie bacon plus a tassie curry and some fresh Miso made here in Launceston.

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It does add some extra to scrambled eggs.

Sunday was my first visit to an Orange Zone patient.Meant to be symptomatic and very suggestive of Covid.So my first time totally dressed up in PPE.Face shield and all.However I had read the notes and I was confident she was in the wrong zone.She was also the only patient in the ED Orange zone.Basically she had been sent in from the North West as she was not coping at home.She had told the ED staff she had a cough,sore throat and breathless.But there was no evidence of having denied any symptom she was asked about.So I demonstrated my superior history taking by asking 2 questions.
Do you have severe pain in your big toes? Yes.
Did you have a bottle of champagne for breakfast today? Yes.However she had come in late the day before.

Despite being busy I enjoyed my week.

 

[RooFlyer]

I really like-Sailor Seeks Horse

Ha! That was one of my 'finds' years ago. Micro winery from the 'Channel' district south of Hobart.

Meant to be symptomatic and very suggestive of Covid.

I thought you weren't going to see those (even though this one turned out a no) ?

 

[drron]

The registrar did volunteer to go in alone but having read the notes I was confident things were OK.

 

[drron]

So to Week 5.A much quieter week though i did get Covid testing on 2 patients-both agreed to be infectious diseases but fortunately both negative.
My main observation this week was the deterioration in social distancing.not just in the general community but also in the hospital.For example twice last week and 5 times this week experienced one of my annoyances.When getting out of the lift people pushing their way in.

Also different this week I lead an all woman team-registrar,intern,IMG Observer and med student.And all are good at their work.My registrar was an intern I worked with for several weeks 2 years ago at LGH.Grown in confidence.One of the joys of my continuing work.

The number of Covid patients is slowly dropping with still one in ICU-a patient who returned there after seemingly improving.Someone I know to make it more personal.Just to correct the record I am not on the front line in this fight against Covid.however my presence has freed up others to be rostered to the front line.And it is not just hospital workers helping Australia's health needs.Community nursing and organisations like Meals on Wheels doing absolutely essential jobs keeping people out of hospital.

So to some of my local purchases this week.Able to get a resupply of my Tasmanian Wasabi powder.My secret ingredient for curries.
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Scottsdale bacon is pretty good.
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And a favourite of mine when mrsdrron isn't around.
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A must visit place just outside Ulverstone.Can't there this time but fortunately a few local shops have them.

Now to my cooking.I have been trying various uses for my local fresh miso.They have a few recipes on their website and I am trying a few.

Meru Miso | Premium Australian Made Miso

Our award-winning miso is made in Tasmania. Find our retail ranges across Australia and online. Our products are fermented, Vegan-friendly and made with organic or biodynamic ingredients.

merumiso.com

So I have tried it in scrambled eggs.didn'te a great difference but really like it with my fried eggs-just mix it with the melted butter before putting the eggs in the pan and it gets incorporated in the egg white and does really lift it.Has also worked well in my Bol sauce.

Off for the weekend but Saturday wet and Sunday cold.So only went out on Saturday to pick up my Harvest Market order and supermarket but did stop for lunch at Tinnies pies.They haven't changed their scallop pies.dearer but larger than most and this example had 11 nice size scallops.good sauce.
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The major event of the week was the Medical ward of NWRH finally reopening on Wednesday.A few patients able to be sent back.All of us at LGH were a little taken back by a press release from the Royal Hobart hospital saying they would be getting back to normal as they send back the 30 patients from the North West they had as inpatients.As the referral hospital for Tasmania they would have nearly that many patients from the North west in normal times.On that day LGH had 120 patients from the North West just under the Physicians.

 

[love_the_life]

Yes, I like the wasabi powder. I use it whenever I can instead of the green 'horseradish' supermarket paste.

 

[drron]

On to Week 6.Still the same team.Working well together.
The first 2 days were a bit of a chore.Usually a bit busier due to the weekend admissions but not helped by several patients being just misearable.

Fortunately things dramatically turned around on Wednesday/Some dramatic improvements in outlook.A woman who is very ill but incredibly anxious declared she was feeling much better and for the first time got out of bed and walked.
Another who had suffered from polypharmacy having been prescribed 6 different psychoactive drugs and had complained bitterly about us slowly reducing the dosage said she was feeling very much better and we were doing a great job.

But the icing on the cake was a severely demented woman who had no idea where she was or time of day when asked what day it was said Wednesday.And when I said I was feeling better because I am allowed out of the house now commented-tha's right we weren't allowed outside were wer.

Quite frankly I thought the reason was the weather.At 0800 when I left for the hospital the temp was 0.5C with a real feel of -1.5C.
The rest of the week went well.but another admission due to lockdown.Had been booked to have his carotid artery cleared at the beginning of April.Cancelled as elective.So now he has had his stroke.

So to the weekend.Picked up another order from the Harvest Market online.They say that next Saturday the real market will return.So got 2 nice blue cheeses from a local Lonnie producer.
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Also some kimchi and heirloom tomatoes.
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Then off to the supermarket with a stop at Scottsdale bakery's fairy Meadow branch for their scallop pie.
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Pastry too thick,sauce stodgy and 5 small scallops small and tough.Of course this year the scallops are frozen as the Tassie scallop season was called off.

I will come back and talk about Sunday as it was not a bad day with a high of 17C so I did go for a walk.Of course the minimum on the Sunshine Coast was a little higher.

 

[drron]

Sunday and a sunny day with a few clouds.Cold with max temp 13C but I put on my wind cheater and went down to the CBD and then the long way home.

Charles street which leads up to the LGH.On the corner an Ironmongers building.
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At the next set of lights where I go to buy my sausages.Really good and basically the same price as the premium snags from supermarkets.So i buy local.
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Over the road is Princes Park.Autumn is nearly over.But a rhododendron having a second life.
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[drron]

The fountain in the middle of the park dating from 1855 when it was exhibited in the Paris Industrial Exhibition.Bought by the Launceston council in 1859 it is said for 50 pounds.Erected here to celebrate the opening of the Launceston water supply in 1857.The Duke of Edinburgh visited in 1868 and planted 2 of the oak trees.

There are at least 11 other statues around the world made from the same cast including the Tourney Fountain in Quebec.
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[OZDUCK]

The fountain in the middle of the park dating from 1855 when it was exhibited in the Paris Industrial Exhibition.Bought by the Launceston council in 1859 it is said for 50 pounds.Erected here to celebrate the opening of the Launceston water supply in 1857.The Duke of Edinburgh visited in 1868 and planted 2 of the oak trees.

There are at least 11 other statues around the world made from the same cast including the Tourney Fountain in Quebec..

I do like the look and feel of Princes Square park but you have sent me on a so far fruitless quest I have seen and admired both this fountain and the one in Quebec City and didn't know of their connection. However, I have been unable to find the location of the other related pieces.

 

[sinophile888]

Sunday and a sunny day with a few clouds.Cold with max temp 13C but I put on my wind cheater and went down to the CBD and then the long way home.

Is Tassie a day ahead of the rest of us?

 

[drron]

No that was the Sunday continuing on from the Week 5 post.

For OZDUCK the other 10 fountains.

Salvador de Bahia, Brazil

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Mendoza, Argentina

Angers, France

Geneva, Switzerland

Troyes, France

Boston, USA

Valencia, Spain

Tacna, Peru

Soulac sur mer, France

 

[drron]

On the way back to the department I went through Civic Square.First the most recent building housing some Government offices.
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Does not match the older buildings across the road or Square.

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That is Macquarie house built in 1830.the stores for the Expedition to found Melbourne came from here.
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An old house survives but is now a Medical Centre.
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Then the Library building.
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[drron]

The last corner of Civic Square is occupied by the Town Hall which opened in 1865.A beauty not seen in many modern buildings.
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Over the road from the Town Hall is the Post Office opened in 1890 though the tower and clock weren't finished until 1910.Over the road from that is The Northern government offices which housed the post office from 1859 to 1890.
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And down the street from the Town Hall is my apartment.Top floor of the building with a canopy over the entrance.
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[OZDUCK]

No that was the Sunday continuing on from the Week 5 post.

For OZDUCK the other 10 fountains.

Salvador de Bahia, Brazil

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Mendoza, Argentina

Angers, France

Geneva, Switzerland

Troyes, France

Boston, USA

Valencia, Spain

Tacna, Peru

Soulac sur mer, France

Thanks for that, I hunted under the foundry name, artist name etc but for some reason could not locate them. I have now found the one in Troyes by looking 'down' on Google Earth and looking at the various likely candidates. This one is Place Jean Moulin, up he road from the railway station.

My mission for the next few days is to find the others by using Google Earth.

Edit: Now also found the one in Angers - in Le Jardin du Mail.

Plus in Salvador de Bahia on Largo Terreiro de Jesus

 

[Chicken]

I stopped at the Bizzy bakery at Invermay to see if they had a scallop pie.Knew it wouldn't be the best as the Tassie scallop season was cancelled

Scallop as in?

 

[drron]

As in shellfish.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Scallop as in?

English affectation for a scollap.