The totally off-topic thread

[Buzzard]

I did 13.5 years in the petro chemical industry in Sydney. Loved the 12 hour shifts, 6 til 6 or 6 til 6. Week one you had Wed & Thurs off working every other day. Week two you only worked Wed & Thurs. Mind you, this did average out to be a 42 hour week so we got a flexi in the bank every month. Bang for your buck was then to take Wed & Thurs as your flex days.
Night shifts could be hard but overall it was a great lifestyle.

 

[JohnK]

If you are 50 or more there is now a Shingles Vax available in Australia for about $250. We had ours in the local Ralph's supermarket in Marina del Rey in California. It is good for 5 years the article in AFR says.

That could be a good idea. Now to check if I can get the vaccine for free.

P.S I don't know much about shingles but this time 3 years ago chicken pox was not fun. Still suffering the after effects today....

 

[Mal]

That could be a good idea. Now to check if I can get the vaccine for free.

P.S I don't know much about shingles but this time 3 years ago chicken pox was not fun. Still suffering the after effects today....

Yep when I got it about 5 years ago it was a total PITA. Need to research the shingles VAX....

 

[Flashback]

I'm glad I had it when I was younger then! I think I was 7 at the time. Of course, I had it during my entire school holidays so never scored any time off school :shock:

 

[cove]

I doubt there will be a free list for the shingles Vax as it has only just started in Australia. Try the DYKWIA approach and report it here!
Shingles can bugger up a person for weeks and sometimes months so I did not hesitate to get the shot in California.
I did get Ralphs bonus shopping points from the pharmac_ at the back of the store.
It took about 15 minutes to get the injection ready and the pharmacist handled the whole thing for $US180 each.

If you have never had chicken pox you would need to check if you need the Vax for shingles.

 

[JohnK]

I doubt there will be a free list for the shingles Vax as it has only just started in Australia. Try the DYKWIA approach and report it here!

You never know your luck in a big city.

I found out this year that I get the Flu vaccine for free.

 

[Julesmac]

Yep when I got it about 5 years ago it was a total PITA. Need to research the shingles VAX....

Can't you only get shingles once? It's the same germ as the chicken pox isn't it? Did I imagine the blood bank is happy to take blood when you are suffering/have just recovered from shingles, something about anti-bodies?

 

[JohnK]

Can't you only get shingles once? It's the same germ as the chicken pox isn't it?

Shingles occurs from the chicken pox virus that lies dormant in the nerve cells of the body and is rare to occur more than once.

But that one relapse could be very painful and may not completely heal depending on the severity of the relapse.

 

[bass_ke]

Dreamliner just departed OOL. I heard it called clear to takeoff from ATC and heard no engine noise at all, it's seriously more quiet than VA 738's and JQ A320's from my location!

 

[Simo]

Dreamliner just departed OOL. I heard it called clear to takeoff from ATC and heard no engine noise at all, it's seriously more quiet than VA 738's and JQ A320's from my location!

they will have nothing to complain about in SYD

 

[JohnK]

Dreamliner just departed OOL.

Those colours though.

 

[serfty]

...
Also in a not cool statistic QF497 is my most popular flight this year, not cool at all - very long days.

Back in the mid 90's, the last (10:20pm) flight to MEL was QF475. (Tagged from OOL-xSYD-MEL)

I had QP - it was located at what is now the 'curvey' gate lounge area for G16/G17. There were no domestic J lounge back then, but the catering was better than today's Domestic JL's often having morsels such as open prawn or turkey mini sandwiches ...

 

[Princess Fiona]

Can't you only get shingles once? It's the same germ as the chicken pox isn't it? Did I imagine the blood bank is happy to take blood when you are suffering/have just recovered from shingles, something about anti-bodies?

Agree with JohnK. It is definitely possible to have a recurrence of Shingles. There is conflicting evidence but a strong theoretical basis that cases of Shingles may be on the rise due to Chicken Pox vaccination in children. This decreases the circulating pool of active varicella in the community which in turn will cause a reduction in re-exposure in adults which is needed to boost their own immunity to the dormant virus in the nervous system.
I don't know much about blood donation sorry

 

[drron]

The Princess is right.Exposure to a child with chickenpox reduces your relative risk of shingles by 25%.Much cheaper than the vaccination too.The vaccine reduces your risk by 50%.

 

[Mal]

The Princess is right.Exposure to a child with chickenpox reduces your relative risk of shingles by 25%.Much cheaper than the vaccination too.The vaccine reduces your risk by 50%.

I believe I picked up my chickenpox in Singapore... (Pretty sure I've mentioned the story here before) . frequent trips back and to other countries are guaranteed to ensure I get exposure to it again.

 

[JohnK]

I believe I picked up my chickenpox in Singapore... (Pretty sure I've mentioned the story here before) . frequent trips back and to other countries are guaranteed to ensure I get exposure to it again.

So it would appear the general consensus is that re-exposure to chicken pox is a good thing!

I do not want to go through that again.

 

[Mal]

I do not want to go through that again.

Nor do I! I was just lucky that it manifested after returning, otherwise my vacation would have been extended!

 

[mono88]

they will have nothing to complain about in SYD

Never stand between a Sydneysider and a complaint. You will not look pretty!!

 

[JohnK]

Nor do I! I was just lucky that it manifested after returning, otherwise my vacation would have been extended!

Same with me. It took about 6 weeks before I partly recovered. Scalp and face still hurt 3 years later....

 

[cove]

I consider the Shingles Vax as good an investment as our 3 Life Memberships to the Qantas Club(between 10 and 20 years ago).
If you do still get Shingles after the Vax is administered the intensity of the breakout and pain are very much reduced.