The final Work contract.In Tasmania of course.

[drron]

The time has come the walrus said to think of other things.Yes my working days will be coming to an end in December.I began my locum career on 16/12/06 and will finish on 18/12/21 just before my 75th birthday.As luck would have it I will be working in Launceston for that time.It will make it nearly 6 years that I have worked in Tasmania in those 15 years.
Hopefully a few more adventures before I finish this contract.I am looking forward to it.They are though used to me so tomorrow on my first day of this contract I go on call for the week.So not too much sightseeing this week.

I was for my sins flying JQ BNE-LST.There was a VA flight a couple of hours later but those were the only 2 choices I had to get to LST.The flight left at 1300.So mrsdrron originally said we would leave home at 1000.But as usual that became 0930 and finally it was 090 when we left.From Beerwah to Caboolture is roadworks all the way with an 80 speed limit.Traffic was heavy in both directions.arrived at BNE at 1040 then had to wait until 1100 for bag drop.

Through the JQ security as that has a body scanner so no wanding of my knee.Then headed to the QF lounges.Unfortunately being on a JQ flight even though for some reason I was booked on the QF codeshare it was the QP for me.What a sad place.Very few people there.Very littleTo eat - a small bowl of potato salad a small bun with ham and cheese,some vegie sticks and what was said to be corn and bacon soup.Definitely was hold the bacon.

Then tried to access the internet.waited 20 minutes for AFF and yahoo to load then gave up and went to the gate.If i only have a choice of the QP I don't think I would bother next time.

At the gate I looked around and picked out the pax I would least like to be seated next too.Turns out the fellow who was my least likely was in 3F and I in 3E.He had to have the arm rest down to sort of fit in his seat.I was dreading the next 2 hours.Fortunately there was no one in 3D so I moved.

The plane had been at the gate when i arrived so we got to board early.Last pax was on at 1240 but 1300 came and went.The Captain came on and said there was a problem with the baggage conveyor belt so it was taking a long time to load.At 1340 we pushed back.
On board the same JQ service I was used to.I had a 410 credit with the bundle so I said i would have the meat pie for the $10.It never arrived just like the last time I got this flight from BNE.

raining on arrival and I beat the rush into Tasmanian immigration going past a few as they didn't have their Tassie QR code displayed.I then had plenty of time to do the paper work for my budget rental.Yes JQ excelled again and my bag was the 3rd last out.
But Tassie really put on a typical Tassie day to welcome me.

 

[cove]

Interesting that you are near retirement @drron.
When i qualified as an accountant at 19 i grew a beard to look older. Now the beard is still there but the colour has changed.
Tasmania is certainly an interesting place but we overdosed on it from our 2 sons playing water polo championships down there.
The food and beer is pretty good and the scenery is brilliant.
Enjoy your last stint at work.

 

[MARTINE]

The time has come the walrus said to think of other things.Yes my working days will be coming to an end in December.I began my locum career on 16/12/06 and will finish on 18/12/21 just before my 75th birthday.As luck would have it I will be working in Launceston for that time.It will make it nearly 6 years that I have worked in Tasmania in those 15 years.
Hopefully a few more adventures before I finish this contract.I am looking forward to it.They are though used to me so tomorrow on my first day of this contract I go on call for the week.So not too much sightseeing this week.

I was for my sins flying JQ BNE-LST.There was a VA flight a couple of hours later but those were the only 2 choices I had to get to LST.The flight left at 1300.So mrsdrron originally said we would leave home at 1000.But as usual that became 0930 and finally it was 090 when we left.From Beerwah to Caboolture is roadworks all the way with an 80 speed limit.Traffic was heavy in both directions.arrived at BNE at 1040 then had to wait until 1100 for bag drop.

Through the JQ security as that has a body scanner so no wanding of my knee.Then headed to the QF lounges.Unfortunately being on a JQ flight even though for some reason I was booked on the QF codeshare it was the QP for me.What a sad place.Very few people there.Very littleTo eat - a small bowl of potato salad a small bun with ham and cheese,some vegie sticks and what was said to be corn and bacon soup.Definitely was hold the bacon.

Then tried to access the internet.waited 20 minutes for AFF and yahoo to load then gave up and went to the gate.If i only have a choice of the QP I don't think I would bother next time.

At the gate I looked around and picked out the pax I would least like to be seated next too.Turns out the fellow who was my least likely was in 3F and I in 3E.He had to have the arm rest down to sort of fit in his seat.I was dreading the next 2 hours.Fortunately there was no one in 3D so I moved.

The plane had been at the gate when i arrived so we got to board early.Last pax was on at 1240 but 1300 came and went.The Captain came on and said there was a problem with the baggage conveyor belt so it was taking a long time to load.At 1340 we pushed back.
On board the same JQ service I was used to.I had a 410 credit with the bundle so I said i would have the meat pie for the $10.It never arrived just like the last time I got this flight from BNE.

raining on arrival and I beat the rush into Tasmanian immigration going past a few as they didn't have their Tassie QR code displayed.I then had plenty of time to do the paper work for my budget rental.Yes JQ excelled again and my bag was the 3rd last out.
But Tassie really put on a typical Tassie day to welcome me.View attachment 256742

well done @drron and enjoy this next phase. Time for you to collect the memories and start writing that memoir ‘@drron (un)masked’
…think of all the other things you could do e.g.
with your wit, flair with words and experiences you could also score a paid side hustle as JQ advertising copywriter
Enjoy

 

[somebol]

congratulations @drron enjoy your retirement. Here is hoping that come December borders are open and you are able to continue your adventures overseas.

 

[Pushka]

Enjoy your last stint as a Dr Drron. And by hell we will all be travelling where we want to go when you've finished!

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

Meanwhile I am home alone .... with no one to boss around .....

 

[Pushka]

Meanwhile I am home alone .... with no one to boss around .....

May I suggest that when drron is retired full time then that period will take adjustment given his frequent trips away. Unless of course you are doing what you are supposed to be doing at this stage, which is travelling.

 

[jb747]

I’ll be looking forward to seeing that caravan, with the “Travelling Doc’s” logo on the rear.

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

The plan is I will have a few weeks at home, then a few weeks in LST. Repeat. That was the plan we had for Rons last contract in LST. That didnt work out so well, with Colonel Clink ( aka Gutwein) and Crazy Annastacia slamming the borders shut everytime someone farts or sneezes.

 

[drron]

Thanks for all the comments.
@cove I also grew facial hair when I started work but at the ripe old age of 23.It came off once when I was advised it wasn't a good look when doing my final specialist exams.It started growing again the day after.

And yes we do intend to travel again and by hook or by crook in mid February 2022.However @jb747 a caravan is not part of those plans.

@MARTINE I had decided to add a few little stories as this report unfolds but I was a little taken aback by some of the comments in the covid threads about doctors workloads.Well this doctor went into the profession with his eyes wide open.I was not thinking there would be an easy workload and a stress free existence.So I decided to give my history.

I decided to do Medicine on my way to enrol in Electrical Engineering at Sydney University.I had a cadetship with AGL to cover my costs.But I decided I wasn't a practical guy and didn't want to go into Engineering so signed up for medicine instead.I had easily qualified for medicine.

I was a shy,nerdy 17year old with no sporting skills but pretty fit as I walked everywhere,usually by myself.In first year you shared lecture rooms with others doing science engineering etc depending on the subjects.Mine were a pretty non medical lot-Maths,Chemistry,Physics and Zoology. I fell in with a crowd who were similarly shy,nerdy who also loved walking so we became avid bushwalkers.Deciding we needed to do something to give ourselves more confidence we joined the Sydney University Conservation Society at it's inception.It worked.We got to know some giants including Paddy Pallin and Milo Dunphy-both senior and Junior.They soon got us involved with quite a few politicians.I finally got over my shyness and ended up co chairing a Symposium on the GBR with Sir William McKell.Then chaired a debate between the Premier of NSW,Tom Lewis and the C'Wealth Science Minister,Malcolm Fraser.

We had several projects in that time.My Particular two were the Myall Lakes Society-we won that one.And fighting for the clean up of coughle Creek.Well that battle was finally successful but after my time.

My next soul searching or unmasking post will be on my time as a medical student.But a few on Tassie before that.

 

[cove]

You may be able to come over to WA sometime too. Better hold your breath…..

 

[MARTINE]

You may be able to come over to WA sometime too. Better hold your breath…..

From one medico to another if he needs to hold his breath to get there - a ventilator will be required

 

[drron]

After arraiving a quick detour to the hospital to pick up a bag I had left and to Wollies topick up some breakfast supplies.leaving the big shop until Monday when the 5 times points offer comes in along with the 5 times points as well for $20 of fresh meat.Then to my accommadation.not the best but is available for the whole stay and does have a bath.It's called Aphrodites.
.
.

And the bedrooms.First where I am sleeping.
.

And the second bedroom.rather cluttered.

 

[drron]

The rest of the house.The lounge room.
.
.
.

The bathroom with a spa bath.


An old kitchen with the washing machine and dryer hiding in the cupboard.
.
.

And off the kitchen an enclosed verandah.However you need thermals to go out there.
.

All a little bit OTT.

 

[drron]

So Monday and back to work.The same ward as I have worked on in the last 2 3 month stints I have done here.Everyone seemed happy to see me.

I felt happy as it was lunch at Kosaten which is just 1 block from the hospital.I really enjoy their food.First the salmon sahimi and fried oysters.
.
.

Then the miso marinated egg plant and chicken karaage.
.
.

Washed down with a Kirin beer.
.

 

[jakeseven7]

You may be able to come over to WA sometime too. Better hold your breath…..

Yes, WA could double their locum numbers by adding him to their roster

 

[drron]

I have done 4 stints in WA.Geraldton and Kalgoorlie.Interesting places.

 

[OATEK]

The rest of the house.The lounge room.
View attachment 256817.
View attachment 256818.
View attachment 256819.

The bathroom with a spa bath.
View attachment 256813

An old kitchen with the washing machine and dryer hiding in the cupboard.
View attachment 256814.
View attachment 256815.

And off the kitchen an enclosed verandah.However you need thermals to go out there.
View attachment 256816.

All a little bit OTT.

I like the pressed metal ceilings. Doesn't look too bad overall.

 

[drron]

Back to the career.tonight my trip through Medical School.
In 1965 I moved on into Second year medicine.now lectures were only with those doing Medicine and were held in the Old Medical School -the Anderson Stuart building. The students were broken up into groups in alphabetical order which is why a lot of my medical friends have surnames beginning with B,C or d.Later on we moved to the New medical School or the Bosch building opened in 1965.We had some brilliant teachers who were mostly down to earth and humble.

The one I remember fondly was the Professor of Preventative Medicine,Sir Edward Ford.He was an interesting fellow who seemed unflappable.he had apparently mellowed as he could be quite outspoken.A conversation he had with General Blamey fits that description-

After being lectured by Ford for about an hour on the history and dangers of malaria, and what needed to be done, Blamey said: "I think I understand you, Colonel Ford. If I don't do these things, my troops will suffer." "What I have been trying to tell you, Sir," Ford replied, "is that if you don't do these things, you won't have any bloody troops to suffer."

Edward Ford (physician) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

I set out in my career to get 1 High distinction.I thought the competition would be less in the subject of Preventative Medicine so worked hard.Sadly failed by 1 place to achieve my goal.Sadly there were 2 very keen students who both became prominent epidemiologists.One at Oxford and is now a real Dame.The other at University college London who is now a knight.

Life was not all study and no fun.In 1966 with 2 mates we set off on a drive in an old Valiant to Adelaide for a Medical Students convention.The organisers obviously were well organised and got the 2 brewery's in a bidding war to see who would donate the most beer to the Convention.That along with dozens of bottles of wine.Naturally a Drinking competition and yours truly won by the proverbial country mile.The only problem was that it was held on Tuesday night.I remember being declared the winner but my next memory was waking up in a flat at Glenelg shared by 4 female med students.I am sure I had been the perfect gentleman.

The next year the convention was held in Dunedin.So i and the runner up in our competition went over to defend australia's reputation.Those crafty kiwis changed the rules but no worries I retained my crown.
The highlight of that visit was a late night drinking session in a pub in Dunedin with most of the All Blacks in attendance.Yes there was 6pm closing and the cops did come around at 7pm but came back and joined us when they went off duty.Even then sporting teams had privileges.The reason i was there was because i had been boarded with the All Black's reserve hooker who was a med student.

So there I was at the bar in earnest conversation with Ian Kirkpatrick who had not long before played his first test.Two stunning blondes entered the room and headed straight for us.naturally i thought well that's the end of my time with a star.But no they came straight to me and said -"hello Angel Eyes."You could have knocked me over with a feather.It wasn't until later that the name was taken from one of the characters in the film - The Good,the Bad and the Ugly.Naturally Angel eyes was the ugly.

In the last 2 years apart from my conservation activities I mainly worked hard.
The next episode will start on my history after doing my final exams.

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

I like the pressed metal ceilings. Doesn't look too bad overall.

I will reserve my judgement till later in the month when I see it in person !