SHE.HER.

Thursday, November 27, 2008

You just gotta watch this. SUPERB!!!! XD

May blog about this during the weekend or so.... meanwhile, I gotta get ready for tute at 3pm. =P

Later!!!

Saturday, November 22, 2008

It's been unusually cold this week in Melbourne.

I found it quite pleasant initially - the cool winds meant there won't be any of those pesky Aussie bushflies in the first place, which is certainly a GOOD thing!!! =P

Yuen's been having second thoughts now though, especially when temperatures are starting to hit a low 11 degrees Celcius. =\ In summer, no less!

Apart from a 30-minute violin lesson at 3.30pm, I was at home most of the day - sheltered from a rather ferocious downpour outdoors. There were even a few bursts of hailstorms in the morning, but it wasn't too bad since they were half the size of peas anyway. Besides, it was nice watching the ice-specks pitter-patter against my window-sill. =)

Hoping for a clearer sky tomorrow. =) In the meantime, back to my books. *groans*

Two more weeks, Yuen. Just hang in there. =P

Labels: Melbourne, Random thoughts

Thursday, November 20, 2008

We need help.

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(Taken from Australian Red Cross - Blood Service page):

Low blood stocks new donors needed

17.11.2008

" The Australian Red Cross Blood Service (ARCBS) is urgently calling for new blood donors to come forward in every state and territory.

A severe winter coughs and colds season, combined with continued strong clinical demands, has impacted heavily on Australias blood stocks despite record levels of public blood donation in 2008.

ARCBS continues the gradual task of rebuilding the nations blood stocks to optimum levels, but is now calling on new donors to help in that task.

We are calling for all blood type donors.

A new campaign in the coming weeks will place special emphasis on encouraging 0+ and A+ blood type donors as they are the most common blood groups.

ARCBS urgently requires new donors to expand the existing donor base and help meet the needs of Australians for the remainder of 2008.

We are also encouraging existing donors who have not donated for sometime to come back and make another life-saving donation.... "

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If you'd like more information regarding the blood donation drive, click here

For potential donors in Melbourne:

You'll need to register (either online or call 13 14 95) and then make an appointment prior. As for the venue, you can check their website for the nearest blood donation centres.

If you're residing in the city, there is a large blood donation centre on Bourke St (add: Level 2, 360 Bourke St., Melbourne). The building is located at the junction of Bourke St and Elizabeth St (where Angus & Robertson's Book Shop is). =)

Labels: Events

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

I need to stick this article here =P:

From MSN News:

Man tries to pay bill with spider drawing

Below is the complete email conversation that Adelaide man David Thorne claims he had with a utility company chasing payment of an overdue bill.

From: Jane Gilles

Date: Wednesday 8 Oct 2008 12.19pm

To: David Thorne

Subject: Overdue account

Dear David, Our records indicate that your account is overdue by the amount of $233.95. If you have already made this payment please contact us within the next 7 days to confirm payment has been applied to your account and is no longer outstanding.

Yours sincerely, Jane Gilles

From: David Thorne

Date: Wednesday 8 Oct 2008 12.37pm

To: Jane Gilles

Subject: Re: Overdue account

Dear Jane, I do not have any money so am sending you this drawing I did of a spider instead. I value the drawing at $233.95 so trust that this settles the matter.

Regards, David.

From: Jane Gilles

Date: Thursday 9 Oct 2008 10.07am

To: David Thorne

Subject: Overdue account

Dear David, Thank you for contacting us. Unfortunately we are unable to accept drawings as payment and your account remains in arrears of $233.95. Please contact us within the next 7 days to confirm payment has been applied to your account and is no longer outstanding.

Yours sincerely, Jane Gilles

From: David Thorne

Date: Thursday 9 Oct 2008 10.32am

To: Jane Gilles

Subject: Re: Overdue account

Dear Jane, Can I have my drawing of a spider back then please.

Regards, David.

From: Jane Gilles

Date: Thursday 9 Oct 2008 11.42am

To: David Thorne

Subject: Re: Re: Overdue account

Dear David, You emailed the drawing to me. Do you want me to email it back to you?

Yours sincerely, Jane Gilles

From: David Thorne

Date: Thursday 9 Oct 2008 11.56am

To: Jane Gilles

Subject: Re: Re: Re: Overdue account

Dear Jane,

Yes please.

Regards, David.

From: Jane Gilles

Date: Thursday 9 Oct 2008 12.14pm

To: David Thorne

Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Overdue account

Attached

From: David Thorne

Date: Friday 10 Oct 2008 09.22am

To: Jane Gilles

Subject: Whose spider is that?

Dear Jane, Are you sure this drawing of a spider is the one I sent you? This spider only has seven legs and I do not feel I would have made such an elementary mistake when I drew it.

Regards, David.

From: Jane Gilles

Date: Friday 10 Oct 2008 11.03am

To: David Thorne

Subject: Re: Whose spider is that?

Dear David, Yes it is the same drawing. I copied and pasted it from the email you sent me on the 8th. David your account is still overdue by the amount of $233.95. Please make this payment as soon as possible.

Yours sincerely, Jane Gilles

From: David Thorne

Date: Friday 10 Oct 2008 11.05am

To: Jane Gilles

Subject: Automated Out of Office Response

Thank you for contacting me. I am currently away on leave, traveling through time and will be returning last week.

Regards, David.

From: David Thorne

Date: Friday 10 Oct 2008 11.08am

To: Jane Gilles

Subject: Re: Re: Whose spider is that?

Hello, I am back and have read through your emails and accept that despite missing a leg, that drawing of a spider may indeed be the one I sent you. I realise with hindsight that it is possible you rejected the drawing of a spider due to this obvious limb ommission but did not point it out in an effort to avoid hurting my feelings. As such, I am sending you a revised drawing with the correct number of legs as full payment for any amount outstanding. I trust this will bring the matter to a conclusion.

Regards, David.

From: Jane Gilles

Date: Monday 13 Oct 2008 2.51pm

To: David Thorne

Subject: Re: Re: Re: Whose spider is that?

Dear David, As I have stated, we do not accept drawings in lei of money for accounts outstanding. We accept cheque, bank cheque, money order or cash. Please make a payment this week to avoid incurring any additional fees.

Yours sincerely, Jane Gilles

From: David Thorne

Date: Monday 13 Oct 2008 3.17pm

To: Jane Gilles

Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Whose spider is that?

I understand and will definitely make a payment this week if I remember. As you have not accepted my second drawing as payment, please return the drawing to me as soon as possible. It was silly of me to assume I could provide you with something of completely no value whatsoever, waste your time and then attach such a large amount to it.

Regards, David.

From: Jane Gilles

Date: Tuesday 14 Oct 2008 11.18am

To: David Thorne

Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Whose spider is that?

Attached

Labels: Events, Just for fun/Meme

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Dear Yuen,

It's been six months..... why can't you just forget it and move on? ><"

Labels: Random thoughts

Friday, November 14, 2008

For more information regarding Operation Christmas Child, Click Here

May this box brightens a child's day somewhere in SEA/Pacific. XD

It was quite fun filling the shoebox up with Min!! The space was somewhat limited though, since there were simply so many things we wanted to throw in!! LOL.

Anyhow, Min's finally flying home for the summer hols. Man, I wish I could go with her too!!! *sniffs* (I'm sure gonna miss having that little bugger around. =P)

And so, to "celebrate" her last day in Melbourne (well not exactly last, as she's comng back next March....but you know what I mean =P), Min and I decided to do a little baking. Since it was her first time helping me out in the kitchen, the results were nothing short of hilarious. We were like kids in a candy shop - preparing, mixing the ingredients, forming dough, and shaping them into logs, all the while bantering and making one heck of a mess on the table (much to my uncle's angst!) LOL. So far, we've made a batch of hazelnut shortbread - it's my first go at the recipe too, so hopefully they'll turn out fine!!! XD The dough's in the fridge at the mo....will bake them once it's firm.

Love how my fingers currently smell of vanilla, butter and hazelnuts.... ^_^

Will be right back!!

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Few hours later.....

66% success rate (coz I burnt the first 1/3 of the cookie batch!!) LOL.

Labels: Leisure and pleasure

Thursday, November 13, 2008

If you knew you only have - at most - a few months left, how would you live your life?

To be slapped with a primary cancer is one thing, to be informed that you have disseminated mets is another....

Definition of cancer, from medline plus:

Cancer = a malignant tumor of potentially unlimited growth that expands locally by invasion and systemically by metastasis

It sure doesn't tell you the implications of being diagnosed with it now, does it?

Having to live.... with that constant, gnawing thought of something growing inside - not just any parasite, but what was once part of you - eating at your core.... slowly, surely - until you have nothing left to give......

It's difficult. So difficult to take in.

I've met so many, who fought long, hard battles with this affliction. A few victories were won - some of them were, sadly, temporary. A portion gave up midway, but most fought to the end.

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A few of my family members had cancer - three known cases on my mom's side, three on dad's. Quite recently, another two relatives were found to have pre-cancerous lesions. Two fell - Grandpa from oesophageal Ca in the 1970s, I gather, and Grandma from disseminated pancreatic Ca.

Dad was a resident in Adelaide, when Grandpa was diagnosed with terminal cancer. There wasn't a good palliative unit in Malaysia back then, so Grandpa came over to Australia - for palliative treatment. My dad's superior granted him a year's leave from work, so he could care for his father to the last moments of his life.

So he did.

Dad told me this story years ago, on one of our roadtrips back to Teluk Intan (Perak). I'm a bit hazy on the details now, but I remember him telling me Grandpa was feeling down and cranky at the end.

Grandma was some fighter when she was diagnosed in November 2005. I was already in IMU, knowing all too well the natural progression of pancreatic Ca. Oh, how she suffered. First the bloating, then the inability to keep food and fluids down. Then came ascites. Numerous taps she had, to relieve her of pressure. The pain did not leave her (although a cocktail of meds did help later on), yet she put on a brave front right till she passed on - as always for her in face of adversity.

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Palliative care has been quite difficult for me - not so much of its principals and management (on the contrary, what the palliative team has done is notably admirable) - but perhaps it reminded me of many things: my grandparents, people whom I have known and succumbed to their illness, of uncertainty, Death, grief & bereavement.

In spite of these, guess I can take comfort that palliative care seeks to improve a person's quality of life, without means of prolonging one's suffering.

"Thinking and talking about death need not be morbid; they may be quite the opposite. Ignorance and fear of death overshadow life, while knowing and accepting death erases this shadow."

-Lily Pincus-

Labels: Medicine/Hospitals/Medics, Random thoughts

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

In our line of work, too often am I reminded of how fragile human lives can be. This is perhaps even more evident now, being four weeks into RAPP (Rehab, Aged Care, Palliative Care & Psych of the Elderly). So many debilitated beings, so many fractured minds. Many a time I find it difficult, sometimes painful even, watching someone withering away.

At times I wonder which affliction is worse - to be so physically incapacitated (despite retaining a sound mind) that one loses his/her independence, or to be wrought with progressive cognitive impairment that one begins to lose the self, with devastating consequences:

I remember a patient (Mrs. S) whom I met six weeks ago. She is in her early 80s, of English background and highly educated - she held a few university degrees and worked as a nurse before turning to law. An extremely independent woman, she had her own law firm and was actually working until she was diagnosed with breast Ca in her early 70s. Things went downhill thereafter. She had an operation, which resulted in multiple medical and surgical complications. She had to stop working. She could no longer play tennis with friends. She also could no longer care for her husband who has Alzheimer's and Mrs S. had to eventually place him in a nursing home. With her frequent hospital admissions and declining health, her social circle gradually dwindled. Apart from her husband, Mrs. S has no other relatives to turn to - her son was killed in an accident many years ago, and her only sister had recently died. When I saw her in hospital, she was admitted for bone mets, under palliative care. I recalled her being somewhat deflated, overwhelmed by everything that has happened to her and was tearful at the end.

"You should have seen me during my hey-days. I was at the top; I was once in control.... I don't know what to do now...."

I cannot think of a particular patient at the moment, to illustrate my latter statement. There are however, numerous people I've met in the past four weeks, who were once so competent, now being exploited by many (mainly where finance is concern) because of their cognitive impairment.

Sigh.

In my rather immature frame of mind, being old sure sounds hard to me. I do need to consider, however, that what I've seen in health-care settings is just a glimpse of a certain cohort. There are others out there in the community - active, fit and well - perhaps even healthier than I am..... =P

Labels: Medicine/Hospitals/Medics, Random thoughts