A colleague and friend once told me that this old scheduling email was the pinnacle of my writing career. Of course the subtext was that it’s been a long (hopefully slow) decline since – and I’m not certain it was even that good in the first place. However, positive feedback is always welcome so I was happy to take her “compliment” at face value.
From: Kirsty Jordan
Sent: Friday, 6 March 2015 1:25 p.m.
To: Wellington Anaesthesia All Staff
Subject: Even schedulers get the blues
Hi All,
Just a quick note this week so I can get to the inservice for a change.
Seems Will did a sterling job last week: the Production Planning girls loved having you back for a visit, Will. I’m all by myself in the office again this week, Chris off relaxing at an EMAC course. He’s had the gall to ask me a favour – I’m to mention the surfeit of Girl Guide biscuits he is trying to flog off in the anaesthetic department tea room. I refused, of course – advertising is against editorial policy. I do feel a little sorry for him, though. It brings back not so pleasant memories from my multiple daughters’ brief stint with the brown shirts several years ago. Not sure if anyone remembers the controversy a few years back about the taste of the biscuits? “Thar nowt loik when oi wuz a lad…” We couldn’t shift our allocation of stock – three daughters’ worth – for love nor money. Took us a year to eat our way through them. The girls discovered a way of covering them in icing to rob them of any nutritional value. It’s a bit similar now when the school tries to coerce you into helping out with the biennial gala. We’ve had multiple phone calls to the house from “friendlies” – career Mums – wanting to get me involved. Luckily I’ve been out every time. My husband was a bit miffed they never asked if he was free to help out – not that he would have, but it’s the principal of the thing. I mean, really – aren’t the astronomical fees enough?? It reinforces my feeling that the worst thing about having kids is other parents.
Thanks for asking – yes, Hawaii was awesome. I was impressed by the conference the first day, although sadly the standard of lectures slipped over the course of the week. The weather was balmy, you could see humpback whales swimming past from our hotel room, and even hear them singing when you went snorkeling. Food, company, shopping all great – highly recommended – although I would suggest skipping the local delicacy Hula Pie unless you are travelling with at least five other hungry persons. The highlight for Aruntha was managing to completely miss her own birthday – we left Hawaii on Friday and flew into Auckland on Sunday. For Kirsten it was a toss up between the Japanese style toilet seats in the JAL lounge and cornering Shane Warne in the Koru lounge in Auckland. He really does look like a Ken doll close up. Apparently. For me the JAL lounge was an introduction to real hardship – trying to keep up with the dramatic events in the cricket with only intermittent wifi cover was truly traumatic.
Sunday
Newtown festival. Enjoy but beware of traffic and parking. Sure to be more fun than the Marsden gala.
Monday
Aruntha is DA ( and she doesn’t look a day older… )
New regular Monday urology list which I have to somehow find staff for. Mark H…? Very pleasant, I’m told. Matt will look after him ( and show him who’s boss ), I’m sure.
A challenging case in radiology for Romilla and Jalal – fell off my list yesterday after my GDC spiralled past 3pm – and that was even after flogging off my MRI to Paul G. ( thanks again ).
Jalal and David P available in the pm so if anyone is in need of last minute OPD payback here’s your chance.
Tuesday
The liver I was expecting on the UGI list has been bumped by a more challenging acute, I’m told. I’m sure Cathy will be up to it.
Have just heard I’ve let myself in for a long day in neuro in 12. Girls will be taking the bus home from circus school.
Wednesday
Palmy Nth running SHO teaching; Paul D SIM, and Chris P a late ring in for part 2 teaching in the pm. Exam getting v close so be nice.
Thursday
I am DA – seguing into the pm acute session. At least it saves me the shame of handing over problems I haven’t solved over the course of the day to the critical eyes of someone cleverer than me at 5.
Gazza replaced by UGI – no longer “the twins”, I hear – must be a story there which I hope someone will fill me in on. I can be discrete! It’s just that sometimes I choose not to.
Vascular replaced by general, but only for the morning. Gyne have already snaffled the free pm in ENT, and sadly can’t be in three places at once.
Friday
A transphenoidal for AliG in OT12. Have given him a reg because I can. Similarly Nicola gets a reg, even though her FEVAR has morphed into an open AAA.
Heike will be doing something at kene, likely a combo of gyne and preassessment. Yay!
Rats, already 20mins late, do you think people will notice if I eat my lunch up at the back? Have to find my way there first…Oh, I’ve forgotten the Who’s Where When and the reg roster.. and I see AKS has emailed me… maybe I’ll get up there for the senior staff meeting…
Kind regards,
Kirsty Jordan.