Kate is 11

I traveled down to Kate's birthday tea last night. We had her favorite meal Roast Lamb and a Strawberry swirl cake. All delicious!
I gave her books 3 & 4 of Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants and a bracelet.
Last week she broke her arm (tiny hard- to- find- crack) It's not clear if she broke it on the Rip Stick (Nick's) or when she tripped on her shoelace and fell as well! It's her right arm so very inconvenient. She can't be too traumatized by it as she is thrilled by her rip stick for her birthday!
She is wearing the clothes given by her grandmother
The message reads I LOVE ME. "Very egocentric" Nick says!! He is telling us about his high school program

The Hospital Progresses

The new hospital is moving along at a great rate But it is much bigger than first appeared from the road. They have glass on many sides and the ward areas looking to the park are all closed in.
The tall white tower is at the entrance of the Hospital which is called Main Street with services off to the sides, The Aquarium will be there as well

The Final Step.

It seems appropriate with all the terrible heat we have had lately, to get air conditioning as part of the 'renovation'.
I had gone, on Andrew's suggestion, to The Good Guys, as he knew someone at another store and could get a good price for me. The local store had a deal on till Sunday night (I was there Sunday) so when I rang Andrew and said what the price was and I suggested I could get it at Preston. The installation was cheaper by $100 than Andrew had, so when I got off the phone the guy ( a good guy!) went to the manager and gave me a further $100 off.
So today they came and installed it above the dining (now living ) room window where it is unobtrusive, but in a good spot. They were in and out, cleaned up, showed me how to use it and put the outside unit out of the way of the climbing rose, all in 2 hours. Impressed, I was!
Took a photo to show , but as it is above a window the light coming in won't take a flash photo so will wait till dark!

JB Sailing

Well the old team got back together for the Club Championships. Amber (my replacement with Bernard and Jason) is pregnant and suddenly become very big and while hoping to last till the end of the season, is very pregnant looking now at 26weeks.

Bernard asked me last week if I would sail with them for the 5 races on Saturday & Sunday.
I have really lost my confidence over the last years or two and feel VERY anxious when the wind picks up.
With Bernard and Jason while feeling anxious I know we will be OK as we work well as a team and seem to be able to respond quickly if there is a problem.
While we were sailing Bernard said that years ago he had said to Graham (major Jolly boat club guy) that Michele was anxious in wind and he said "well just get rid of her!" "Well he had to eat his words Bernard" I replied. (as we beat him and won Championship and races on many occasions!!)
Saturday dawned dull and overcast with a 20Kn (strong) wind predicted I had not looked at the forecast as I felt I would not have slept!
When I got to the beach it was about 10 Kn but by the time we rigged and got dressed it was 15 and rising. We had 5 races altogether two Saturday and 3 Sunday.
I quickly fell into the pattern of sheeting, balance and chat as we headed out.
We had a good start and the wind was rising to 20K as were the waves. Being the main sheet hand I lean out, Bernard sits in a bit and Jason is higher up on the trapeze wire. So as the boat races through the waves, I get a face full of wash; I can understand the theory of water-boarding.!! I needed to look backwards to be able to breathe at times especially on the Reach with the spinnaker up.
A few times as we hit the waves I was the brace to stop Jason getting knocked off the wire. He said he usually knocks Amber into the boat!
I usually keep a foot under the toe strap, but one time we hit a wave and I levitated about 30cm and with no brace , just holding the main sheet: I was worried where I would land, hopefully not in the middle of the boat overbalancing us, but luckily another wave bounced me back down on the deck. We used to do well in heavy weather as Jason is so heavy on the wire we don't need to ease off all the time. This proved true again as we came 1st and 2nd in the two races.
Sunday again I ignored the forecast. As we were pulling the boat out Bernard said, had I heard the forecast I said No and he and Cliff both said "Good!!"
We were to start at 1100 and do one race have lunch then 2 more .But the forecast was for 15k rising to 25-30 in the afternoon So we had the 3 races back to back!! Even now at 6pm the front has not come through But it meant we finished at 4pm and I have been able to pit my tens machine on my aching back.
Today was PERFECTION!! we never used to do very well in light weather but Bernard says he has done some tuning and it is OK .
We certainly were!! With Mild weather and 10-15 knots slowing rising over the 3 races. we had 1st 1st 2nd.
Aching all over and will have trouble going down stairs tomorrow but I had a great weekend!

Parenting Matters

Today was the first official launch of my new Private Practice business called Parenting Matters.
I had spent January getting organised and last week sent out some packages to the medical practice that often referred patients to me.
One of the most supportive of these is Julian Kelly Pediatrician at RCH who sent me the patient I saw today. A 12 month old with slow weight gain, allergies, and mother needing to stop breast feeding. She has lost over 10kg under her normal weight because of a strict exclusion diet of allergens for the baby who is now 12months.
This sort of case is bread and butter to me, so while I was a little nervous it went well;And she was happy to pay!!!
I am using a consulting room at the home of my friend who runs a Bed wetting treatment program from there as well. The room is free on a Friday so that works out for both of us. The room is in North Balwyn, so convenient to most eastern suburbs.
I developed a flier and business card and have it on my laptop so portable documentation.

I have an education session for Maternal & Child Health Nurses planned for next Friday in St Kilda. I am doing this with Helen Stevens who runs a sleep & settling program. The seminars are sponsored by Dermaveen,(skin care) so the Councils don't have to pay for it, just give staff time off and provide a venue.
They are talking about sleep for the under 6 months and I am doing one called the "Fussy Feeder Under 6 months".
I have developed (from my master's research) a handout of Managing the Fussy feeder, one for staff and one for parents. I decided to do this with a copyright sign on it on letterhead and they can copy it in total. I am hoping from these talks, that I will not come across more babies like H.P. last week, who had been force fed for 2 MONTHS!
But MCH nurses do not have long consultation time after they have done all the check lists they have to do, so I hope to generate referrals from these forums.
As well next week I have another patient, a 4th old baby of one of the past Registrars from the Hospital.
A good start!

Step 2

This is the 2nd step of the fire replacements. The workmen had not finished the 2 fires on their first visit, so I had not paid the bill, and when the office re-opened after the holiday on 2nd Feb they came the next week.
This time they arrived on time and were finished by 1200. The result looks good but I couldn't work out how to turn it on; again in 36 degrees who cares!!
But today it is 22 and I thought I would try again.
Just a matter of pushing in the right hand button:
result? Lovely!!

masters and Fences

I was thrilled to open a letter from Melbourne Uni on Thursday (I admit when I saw it I muttered "what do they want now!") Turned out to be announcement that I have passed my Masters in Health Sciences (Parent & Infant mental Health) and can attend a Graduation in March. It has been a long saga and I had all but forgotten about it!!
I have also spent today in hot labour trimming any overhang of foliage from the fence line for my neighbour. I have decided she suffers from Triffidaphobia. A morbid fear of plants!
Where I have to trim she does not walk or even approach. It seems to be the encroachment that she doesn't like. I hope she doesn't want me to take the high stuff
There are a lot of branches at the front as well where I had to trim the Lilac and the Mock Orange, so will get someone in to take it away.
Saturday was the Top of the Bay Regatta at Port Melbourne and in true Top style it blew a gale.
I wisely decided not to even try, so enjoyed a day of watching and treating injuries fortunately all trivial.
Next week I am sailing with Bernard in the Club Championships. Amber is pregnant and suddenly very big so can't manage any longer. He could sail with anyone but he likes to win and he sees us as a winning team! It's 2 races Saturday and 3 on Sunday. I will be knackered Sunday night!! And Monday!