Ater the very hectic shift, i decided to play golf today. Had a really great day, walking in the open hitting fabulous shots. My putter was a magic wand and short game fantastic. made a new record score of 88. Not bad considering ive only been playing for just under a year.
It cleared my mind from the emotional day I had had.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
36 hours of hell
On Monday morning, I started a 36 hour shift. 24 Hour on Monday was my normal shift, 12 on Tues was Overtime. Now, normally these shifts are pretty decent. Being in the position I’m in, I don’t need to go out to all cases that occur in the area. We don’t have a dispatch centre and no callout criteria as the Emergency Services do. Market the hospital, liaise with the ambulance services and assist wherever possible. Sounds relaxing and easy? Should be and normally is, except this Monday Murphy decided to play with me. Monday started off decent, a few cases here and there, nothing to hectic. Then the sun went down... well! I was called for assistance at a motorbike accident. When I arrived the rider, early 20’s, was very critical (P1). As we started treating, his injuries, flail chest, amputation just to mention a few, was too great for him, and he “crashed”. Despite very aggressive resuscitation, he died on scene.
From there, raced out to the highway, where I found two cars had collided at high speed. Two P1’s entrapped in one car on one side of the highway, and two P1’s on the other side. With two ambulances on scene, and 4 very serious patients, I decided to call the heli. Fat chance... usual red tape and beaurocratic nonsense saw these patients going by road to hospital. So there I was cleaning VERY dirty equipment at the hospital, to be called out to yet another serious accident. I arrived there to find 5, yes, 5, P1 patients. Give me a break PLEASE... So after serious stress and hard work, this lot won themselves a ticket to theatre and ICU.
The next morning started out with two more MVA’s (Motor vehicle accidents) with P1 patients at those as well. If you start a morning like that you know that Murphy is without a question a wake and planning to “play” with you. Sure enough, I get called by plenty panicky people to go out to a motorbike accident. The patient (16 yrs old) ended up in the resus bay at hospital after colliding with a truck. Without revealing too much, we worked our asses off to stabilise him, to no avail, and ended up dying two hours later. Very emotional for all involved, and I commend all involved in the management of this young man, as we really worked hard.
So I thought that we were over. Say what... not so fast. Three P1 cardiac patients and a P1 poisoning to finish the day off. I was very glad to drop the car off and go home.
From there, raced out to the highway, where I found two cars had collided at high speed. Two P1’s entrapped in one car on one side of the highway, and two P1’s on the other side. With two ambulances on scene, and 4 very serious patients, I decided to call the heli. Fat chance... usual red tape and beaurocratic nonsense saw these patients going by road to hospital. So there I was cleaning VERY dirty equipment at the hospital, to be called out to yet another serious accident. I arrived there to find 5, yes, 5, P1 patients. Give me a break PLEASE... So after serious stress and hard work, this lot won themselves a ticket to theatre and ICU.
The next morning started out with two more MVA’s (Motor vehicle accidents) with P1 patients at those as well. If you start a morning like that you know that Murphy is without a question a wake and planning to “play” with you. Sure enough, I get called by plenty panicky people to go out to a motorbike accident. The patient (16 yrs old) ended up in the resus bay at hospital after colliding with a truck. Without revealing too much, we worked our asses off to stabilise him, to no avail, and ended up dying two hours later. Very emotional for all involved, and I commend all involved in the management of this young man, as we really worked hard.
So I thought that we were over. Say what... not so fast. Three P1 cardiac patients and a P1 poisoning to finish the day off. I was very glad to drop the car off and go home.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Golf weekend
I recently joined Glengarry Country Club, situated in the Drakensburg Gardens Golf and Leisure resort. I needed a golf handicap, and just wasn’t willing to pay + R 7 000 a year for the average course in JHB.
So I joined Glengarry, which is cheaper due to its location. We went there over the Easter weekend for the club champs. Booked into the hotel for the weekend, what a fantastic place.
Situated in the Underberg area (southern Drakensburg) 628 km from Johannesburg. The resort specifically caters for families and has all the amenities necessary. Playgrounds, tennis courts, squash courts, badminton, horse riding (trails into the mountains) hiking (naturally), trout fishing and of course, golf on a championship 18-hole course.
The course is amazing, nestled in the mountains, with quite a few elevated tee’s, in fact one tee (6th hole) you need to climb a bit so you can tee off a cliff down to the fairway.
I thoroughly enjoyed myself and came 1st in the B division and 5th overall. 
So I joined Glengarry, which is cheaper due to its location. We went there over the Easter weekend for the club champs. Booked into the hotel for the weekend, what a fantastic place.
Situated in the Underberg area (southern Drakensburg) 628 km from Johannesburg. The resort specifically caters for families and has all the amenities necessary. Playgrounds, tennis courts, squash courts, badminton, horse riding (trails into the mountains) hiking (naturally), trout fishing and of course, golf on a championship 18-hole course.
The course is amazing, nestled in the mountains, with quite a few elevated tee’s, in fact one tee (6th hole) you need to climb a bit so you can tee off a cliff down to the fairway.
I thoroughly enjoyed myself and came 1st in the B division and 5th overall.
Erin helping daddy cleaning clubs before holiday
view from our room
elevated 10th tee (dogleg to left)
Unfortunately due to me playing the whole weekend, i couldnt take many photo's.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
The great exodus
This weekend our very close friends Greg and Taneth Cox and our beautiful god daughter Kelly emigrated to Australia.
Greg is an experienced and excellent Advanced Life Support Paramedic and Taneth a Radiographer. Yet another scarce skill leaving the country as our country has NO IDEA how to look after it skilled workers.
Greg and Taneth are the god parents of our Erin, and I know that we will all miss each other’s company so much.
Greg and I first became friends a few years ago. I was working at Netcare 911 in Durban, having recently relocated from JHB. Greg moved down from JHB as well, and ended up on my shift. As colleagues and friends we became close and then our friendship extended to his wife Taneth, whom he married only a month after the move. Our friendship continued with me moving to ER24 and then back to JHB. In fact, it has been one of the closest friendships I’ve ever had.
They came to JHB from Durban this last week to say goodbye and fly out, and Erin and Kelly really had a good time playing.
Kelly is four, a cute tiny little one, who is not much taller that Erin.
They are moving to a town about 1000 km from Brisbane, on the Great Barrier Reef, how cool is that.
We went to Australia in Jan 2006 for 2 ½ weeks, one of the best holidays I’ve ever had. I certainly wanted to move there after our visit.
Then we have the Kerfoots. Andy was a fireman at the time I was working at Benoni Fire. Many years later we ended up working together back in Benoni, him at ER24 and me at Glynnwood hospital. An excellent rescuer and fireman who is taking his family and talent to Perth. His oldest daughter, Keena, goes to the same playschool as Erin, and there youngest, cute little Gaby, is under a year old.
Greg is an experienced and excellent Advanced Life Support Paramedic and Taneth a Radiographer. Yet another scarce skill leaving the country as our country has NO IDEA how to look after it skilled workers.
Greg and Taneth are the god parents of our Erin, and I know that we will all miss each other’s company so much.
Greg and I first became friends a few years ago. I was working at Netcare 911 in Durban, having recently relocated from JHB. Greg moved down from JHB as well, and ended up on my shift. As colleagues and friends we became close and then our friendship extended to his wife Taneth, whom he married only a month after the move. Our friendship continued with me moving to ER24 and then back to JHB. In fact, it has been one of the closest friendships I’ve ever had.
They came to JHB from Durban this last week to say goodbye and fly out, and Erin and Kelly really had a good time playing.
Kelly is four, a cute tiny little one, who is not much taller that Erin.
They are moving to a town about 1000 km from Brisbane, on the Great Barrier Reef, how cool is that.
We went to Australia in Jan 2006 for 2 ½ weeks, one of the best holidays I’ve ever had. I certainly wanted to move there after our visit.
Then we have the Kerfoots. Andy was a fireman at the time I was working at Benoni Fire. Many years later we ended up working together back in Benoni, him at ER24 and me at Glynnwood hospital. An excellent rescuer and fireman who is taking his family and talent to Perth. His oldest daughter, Keena, goes to the same playschool as Erin, and there youngest, cute little Gaby, is under a year old.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
I want to tell you lies!
I WANT TO TELL YOU LIES"
I want to tell that little boy his Mom will be just fine
I want to tell that dad we got his daughter out in time
I want to tell that wife her husband will be home tonight
I don't want to tell it like it is.....
I want to tell them lies.
You didn't put their seat belts on, you feel you killed your kids
I want to say you didn't ... but in a way, you did.
You pound your fists into my chest, you're hurting so inside
I want to say you'll be ok......
I want to tell you lies.
You left chemicals within his reach and now it's in his eyes
I want to say your son will see, not tell you he'll be blind.
You ask me if he'll be OK, with pleading in your eyes
I want to say that yes he will.....
I want to tell you lies.
I can see you're crying as your life goes up in smoke.
If you'd maintained that smoke alarm, your children may have woke.
Don't grab my arm and ask me if your family is alive.
Don't make me tell you they're all dead........
I want to tell you lies.
I want to say she'll be ok, you didn't take her life
I hear you say you love her and you'd never hurt your wife.
You thought you didn't drink too much, you thought that you could
drive.
I don't want to say how wrong you were......
I want to tell you lies.
You only left her for a moment, it happens all the time.
How could she have fell from there? You thought she couldn't climb.
I want to say her neck's not broke, that she will be just fine.
I don't w ant to say she's paralyzed........
I want to tell you lies.
I want to tell this teen his buddies didn't die in vain
Because he thought that it'd be cool to try to beat that train.
I don't want to tell him this will haunt him all his life
I want to say that he'll forget........
I want to tell him lies.
You left the cabinet open and your daughter found the gun.
Now you want me to undo the damage that's been done.
You tell me she's your only child, you say she's only five.
I don't want to say she won't see six..........
I want to tell you lies.
He fell into the pool when you just went to grab the phone.
It was only for a second that you left him there alone.
If you'd let the damn phone ring perhaps your boy would be alive.
But I don't want to tell you that.........
I want to tell you lies.
The fact that you were speeding caused that car to overturn
And we couldn't get them out of there before the whole thing burned.
Did they suffer? Yes, they suffered, as they slowly burned alive
But I don't want to say those words........
I want to tell you lies.
But I have to tell it like it is, until my shift is through
And then the real lies begin, when I come home to you.
You ask me how my day was, and I say it was just fine
I hope you understand, sometimes............
I have to tell you lies.
Am I preaching?
Am I nagging?
I guess I am just telling it like it is.......
Or I could just tell you a lie.
And the next time you hear a siren in the distance, don't just say a
prayer for the victims and their families. Say a prayer for the people
that face these tragedies every day and do the best they can to save
someone that is loved. We never see the tears of these brave men and
women, but God does.
--Author Unknown
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dedicated to all the Police Officers, Firefighters, EMTs, Paramedics,
Emergency Flight Crews who deal with the tragedies of life and death. The saddest of all, being those thatcould have been prevented. Wear your seat belts. Keep poisons,flammables, fireworks, etc. out of reach of children. Never, ever
drive if you've been drinking. Never leave your toddler unattended.
Be responsible drivers, obey all traffic lights , speed limits,
Keep your guns locked and out of reach.
I want to tell that little boy his Mom will be just fine
I want to tell that dad we got his daughter out in time
I want to tell that wife her husband will be home tonight
I don't want to tell it like it is.....
I want to tell them lies.
You didn't put their seat belts on, you feel you killed your kids
I want to say you didn't ... but in a way, you did.
You pound your fists into my chest, you're hurting so inside
I want to say you'll be ok......
I want to tell you lies.
You left chemicals within his reach and now it's in his eyes
I want to say your son will see, not tell you he'll be blind.
You ask me if he'll be OK, with pleading in your eyes
I want to say that yes he will.....
I want to tell you lies.
I can see you're crying as your life goes up in smoke.
If you'd maintained that smoke alarm, your children may have woke.
Don't grab my arm and ask me if your family is alive.
Don't make me tell you they're all dead........
I want to tell you lies.
I want to say she'll be ok, you didn't take her life
I hear you say you love her and you'd never hurt your wife.
You thought you didn't drink too much, you thought that you could
drive.
I don't want to say how wrong you were......
I want to tell you lies.
You only left her for a moment, it happens all the time.
How could she have fell from there? You thought she couldn't climb.
I want to say her neck's not broke, that she will be just fine.
I don't w ant to say she's paralyzed........
I want to tell you lies.
I want to tell this teen his buddies didn't die in vain
Because he thought that it'd be cool to try to beat that train.
I don't want to tell him this will haunt him all his life
I want to say that he'll forget........
I want to tell him lies.
You left the cabinet open and your daughter found the gun.
Now you want me to undo the damage that's been done.
You tell me she's your only child, you say she's only five.
I don't want to say she won't see six..........
I want to tell you lies.
He fell into the pool when you just went to grab the phone.
It was only for a second that you left him there alone.
If you'd let the damn phone ring perhaps your boy would be alive.
But I don't want to tell you that.........
I want to tell you lies.
The fact that you were speeding caused that car to overturn
And we couldn't get them out of there before the whole thing burned.
Did they suffer? Yes, they suffered, as they slowly burned alive
But I don't want to say those words........
I want to tell you lies.
But I have to tell it like it is, until my shift is through
And then the real lies begin, when I come home to you.
You ask me how my day was, and I say it was just fine
I hope you understand, sometimes............
I have to tell you lies.
Am I preaching?
Am I nagging?
I guess I am just telling it like it is.......
Or I could just tell you a lie.
And the next time you hear a siren in the distance, don't just say a
prayer for the victims and their families. Say a prayer for the people
that face these tragedies every day and do the best they can to save
someone that is loved. We never see the tears of these brave men and
women, but God does.
--Author Unknown
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dedicated to all the Police Officers, Firefighters, EMTs, Paramedics,
Emergency Flight Crews who deal with the tragedies of life and death. The saddest of all, being those thatcould have been prevented. Wear your seat belts. Keep poisons,flammables, fireworks, etc. out of reach of children. Never, ever
drive if you've been drinking. Never leave your toddler unattended.
Be responsible drivers, obey all traffic lights , speed limits,
Keep your guns locked and out of reach.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Golf day
I played golf today at Benoni Country club. What a wonderful course. Very well looked after, greens immaculate, except for the springbuck hoof marks on them.
(photo with cell phone)
There are a wide selection of different type of buck roaming free on the course, in fact there is not a single hole that you dont see a herd of them running around, or just standiing in the way. At no time do you see anyone on the course, thats how well spread out it is. Its a bit tough compared to the other courses in the area, but I played fairly well considering i had never played there before.
Monday, March 9, 2009
IM BACK
Well im back... Three weeks ago inbred local indigent scum broke into my house and stole, amongst other items, my computer, thereby restricting my ability to blog, facebook or pretty much all else related to computers. And in this day and age, thats everything.
I was working over my birthday... what a weekend!!!
A mom and dad were walking with there 9 month old baby across a parking lot and a learner driver turned around into the lot, down the wrong way, and took out the pram.
Baby was still alive, barely, when i arrived, unfortunately all efforts were fruitless...... She was a beautiful little girl.
Then the next case was a 4 x 4 that rolled, ejecting a lovely little 3 year old girl that was sitting on mom,s lap (who had a seatbelt on of course) out the windscreen.
Nicole was working at A1 grand prix, and i was picking up broken children. Dont want a repeat of this birthday again, without a question the worst one i have ever hadf.
On a good note, the next weekend we went to my folks for a braai. Erin was able to see granny and Grandpa (whom she hasn't seen since Christmas)
she had sooo much fun, and played her heart out.
(pics by Avril de Montille)
Above is Grandpa and Erin playing in her sandpit. I hosted my Masonic Lodge braai at our house this last Sunday. Our lodge has been doing these monthly braai's for 35 years, without missing a single one.
Mom and dad came as well, much to Erin's delight, so and made use of the time playing with "gampa".
Nicole brother and his girlfrien joind us with their son Joshua, who coincidently was born and the same day as Erin, only a year later. 
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Another week gone
Well, its been a week since I wrote here. Work is picking up. We have had a s;low time recently, not sure if people have been too scared to drive in all the rain or what, but during the very heavy downpours nothing much happened.
Must admit, im lucky to be driving a All-wheel drive vehicle at Glynnwood. i was driving up a steep hill in Edenvale coming back from an MBA (Motor Bike Accident) when the heavens opened. The rain was so hard it was like a river flowing down the road. A vehicle in front of me started sliding sideways trying to climb the hill, luckily for me the Subaru's wheels gripped and pulled me up the hill. .JPG)
Luckily my golf lesson wasn't rained out on Friday. Had some more iron practice, then Rob assisted me with my fairway woods. By the time he was finished I was hitting a 3-wood + 220m STRAIGHT... oh man that was great. He really is a great coach, i can see why he made PGA pro of the year.
Erin vocab is really improving nicely. Recognising people and items and saying them without prompting. Saw a picture of her cousin Connor and said "Conny". Says "Elaine" perfectly when seeing pics of her Aunty Elaine.
We are going to Connor's birthday party tomorrow, she's excited about seeing her cousins again, she hasn't seen them since X-mas. Ditto for Granny Avril and Grandpa Peter, even though we live 70 km away, we haven't seen much of them.
Dad is in Hermmanus scattering Grandpa Roy's ashes, so he will miss her again. Pity... she loves her Grandpa so much.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
ENOUGH WITH THE RAIN!
Well, the rain let up slightly so i could have my golf lesson today. Was supposed to do bunkers, but they were under water, so Rob (pro at Benoni Lake) got me onto the driving range for iron's.
whew... a few changes to my stance, grip, chin and a few other key elements, and i started hitting like a pro!
These lessons really are great, and are helping so much.
was planning on playing a round afterwards, but YES... RAIN AGAIN!!!!!
Maybe it was a good thing, as my foot really started hurting by the afternoon, in fact i'm sitting here in agony. Common drugs., work now.
I was looking after Erin today after lessons, Granny Ally is sick so i needed to pick munchkin up straight after the lesson. She is soooooo busy, needing and demanding stimulation continuesly. But i so enjoy being with her, cant imaging life without her continuously laughing and funny quirks.
whew... a few changes to my stance, grip, chin and a few other key elements, and i started hitting like a pro!
These lessons really are great, and are helping so much.
was planning on playing a round afterwards, but YES... RAIN AGAIN!!!!!
Maybe it was a good thing, as my foot really started hurting by the afternoon, in fact i'm sitting here in agony. Common drugs., work now.
I was looking after Erin today after lessons, Granny Ally is sick so i needed to pick munchkin up straight after the lesson. She is soooooo busy, needing and demanding stimulation continuesly. But i so enjoy being with her, cant imaging life without her continuously laughing and funny quirks.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Trying out
Well, im trying this blog thing out, see if i can get into it.
im soooo annoyed with all this rain. Bugger this, its ruining my golf completely, i havent been able to play for two weeks. had to have my lesson posteponed from last week due to the water from the sky.
Next lesson is tomorrow, X fingers!
Had another appointment with physio today. i have a torn Facia on the sole of my foot. Damn its been sore few a few weeks now. Before physio started i couldnt even walk around the block. It seems to be getting better, seeing the podiatrist for follow-up next week.
im soooo annoyed with all this rain. Bugger this, its ruining my golf completely, i havent been able to play for two weeks. had to have my lesson posteponed from last week due to the water from the sky.
Next lesson is tomorrow, X fingers!
Had another appointment with physio today. i have a torn Facia on the sole of my foot. Damn its been sore few a few weeks now. Before physio started i couldnt even walk around the block. It seems to be getting better, seeing the podiatrist for follow-up next week.
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