A Thai surprise - Thonglor Garden Restaurant

Thonglor Garden Thai Restaurant
108 Hoddle Street, Abbotsford 3067
Tel: (03) 9419 1268
Dine in and take-away
Visited for dinner (Friday 20 April 2012)
Verdict: Recommended



Spreets vouchers (http://spreets.com.au) recently offered a deal for Thonglor Garden Thai Restaurant. The reviews we had read on Urbanspoon were mixed, so we approached the restaurant with an open mind. We travelled by train to Collingwood Station, and the restaurant was only a couple of minutes walk away, just to the south side of Gipps Street in Hoddle Street.

This is a very intimate venue in an unlikely location on a major thoroughfare. The restaurant is small and has a nice ambiance, somewhat like a comfy home dining room, with subdued lighting and a black feature wall at the back with feature mirrors and a red couch in front of it. "Cool jazz" was playing (at just the right level) in the background. This soft easy listening music was a good accompaniment to the meal. There is a polished wooden floor and wooden chairs and tables. The chairs have comfortable cushion pads on them (perhaps in response to earlier comments on Urbanspoon).

The meal voucher included a glass of house wine as well as a three-course meal. There was a choice of red or white wine. The house red was light but very drinkable. The restaurant is also BYO and fully licensed. Glasses of water were also provided.

Seating inside the main room consists of six tables (2 x 6 seats and 4 x 2 seats) and there are additional tables out the front of the restaurant and in a small courtyard.

There was only one waitress, but she was extremely polite and helpful, and each course arrived in a timely fashion. The menu is presented in a charming small menu book with a traditional Thai cover and handmade paper.

There was a wide choice of entrees and main courses. The mixed entree ($11.90) consisted of two fish cakes, two spring rolls and two curry puffs (the latter two were vegetarian) and was served with a tasty sweet chilli sauce. The spring rolls had a lovely subtle flavour and finely julienned vegetables. The curry puffs had a light fluffy pastry filled with melt-in-the-mouth potato (and carrot) and a complementary combination of coriander and peas. The fish cakes were a bit chewy but had a zesty flavour with a spicy 'afterburn'.



The main courses sampled were Green Curry with Chicken ($14.90) and the house special, Karee Talay ($22.90), a yellow curry paste with egg, vegetables and seafood. The two curries complimented each other well.

The green curry had a thick, creamy, sweet, spicy and tangy sauce with moist and thinly sliced pieces of chicken and squeaky fresh sliced carrot, beans, zucchini, green capsicum and broccoli. It was a nice balance of flavours. It came with a large bowl of freshly steamed rice.





The Karee Talay came on a square plate, with garnishes of finely chopped chilli on one corner and fresh salad on the other. It was more subtle and gently spiced but with complex flavours and the chilli added a kick. In addition to the egg, the colourful vegetables included red and green capsicum, carrot, onion, zucchini, shallots and broccoli. There were two prawns, two calamari rings and four mussels. The mussels and prawns were nicely cooked and the calamari was "just right". (The only criticism would perhaps be that the seafood was a little on the light side quantity-wise.) This was definitely an enjoyable dish, and did not really require rice to accompany it (which was just as well as we had run out after eating the green curry!).



The dessert was a choice of vanilla sundae or banana fritter. Both came with vanilla ice-cream and strawberry sauce, but it did actually taste of strawberries. Not the finest part of the meal but it was a refreshing way to finish.





Just as a general comment, none of the voucher deals seem to offer tea or coffee at the end of the meal. This would be a nice way to round off the meal. However, peppermint tea at home was just as enjoyable as usual!

On the coffee trail ... Part 2

Foxy Brown Espresso
31 South Crescent, Northcote
Tel: 9481 4454
http://www.foxybrown.com.au/
Visited Sunday 15 April 2012 at around 11.00am.
Take-Away Cappuccino $3.70
Rating: 8.5/10

Close to Westgarth station opposite the Hurstbridge rail line, this converted Federation-style house has tables inside and out (on three sides of the building) and a verandah out the front. It appears busy and popular, and had a variety of breakfast/brunch/lunch options (including burgers and sandwiches), cakes and muffins. There was unpleasantly loud music playing when I came in, but this stopped abruptly.

Once again the froth had collapsed by the time I had walked home, but the coffee left behind was a milky rich inviting hue. Taste-wise it was smooth, soft and creamy with a hint of sweetness (perhaps both a benefit of unhomogenised milk) and a nutty almost tangy aftertaste. Sipping it created a warm and homely sensation, as if you were sitting around the kitchen table (or an open fire) savouring your coffee. Very drinkable but flavoursome and satisfying - no need to gulp!

(From "The Age Coffee Army Handbook 2012" http://coffeearmy.tumblr.com/)
Boy, are these guys into coffee: they have a custom espresso machine and source their own beans widely (PNG, Mexico, Honduras, El Salvador and beyond) and have them roasted by an independent specialist in North Melbourne. Ask for a "cortado" - a half-strength half-latte from a single-origin bean.



Penny Farthing Espresso
206 High Street, Northcote
Tel: 9482 2246
http://pennyfarthingespresso.com/
Visited Sunday 15 April 2012 at around 4.30pm.
Take-Away Cappuccino $3.50
Rating: 8.5/10

This tiny shop has seating inside and out, and has the air of a well-loved old fashioned kitchen with wooden furniture. It is open from breakfast until late most days (ideal if visiting the Westgarth Cinema). The service was very friendly and the barista seemed genuinely pleased that I asked about the coffee they were using.

This coffee had a gorgeous complex sharp and inviting aroma and the flavour was correspondingly multi-dimensional but very distinctive. Closing my eyes and tasting the nutty bitterness conjured up thoughts of hot steamy climes and rich brown colours. Very smooth on the palate with a gentle aftertaste. Another one to savour and enjoy.

Update: Monday 5 November 2012 at around 3pm.
Based on my previous positive experience, I met a friend here for afternoon coffee. Our coffees were served in a cup and saucer and beautifully decorated (see photo). Unfortunately they were only lukewarm on this occasion. However, my cappucino was beautifully flavoured, with a strong, dark and smooth taste which made me think of tropical rainforests, and there was some natural sweetness added by the milk. There was a subtle aftertaste which reinforced the flavour.

My friend ordered one of the home-made sultana and fig muffins, which was generously sized and a rich golden colour in appearance. It was pleasant enough taste-wise, but unfortunately a but overcooked on the outside and very crumbly.

Table service is provided if you are 'dining in' and was friendly and attentive. A carafe of water was provided on the table. More substantial food is also available for the hungry diner. There were several people in the cafe sitting alone using computers, so this is obviously tolerated if you buy something.

(From "The Age Coffee Army Handbook 2012" http://coffeearmy.tumblr.com/)
Brothers Trevor and Steve Simmons roast, brew and retail coffee from this quaint Northcote shopfront, including a single-origin decaf and their Vintage Espresso blend featuring Sumatran, Colombian, PNG, Guatemalan and Brazilian beans.

On the coffee trail ...

With the success of the Melbourne Age newspaper's "Coffee Army" campaign, a two-week half-price offer for some of the coffee houses rated as finalists was too good an opportunity to miss!

Therefore this undercover agent offers some humble opinions on the coffee sampled (both take-away and in-house), and a bean review for some new coffee beans that I have just bought..

The Espresso Room
410 High Street, Northcote
Tel: 9489 4000
Visited Saturday 7 April 2012 at around 2.30pm.
Take-Away Cappuccino $3.50
Rating: 9/10

Although the froth had collapsed by the time I was able to get the coffee home and drink it, it had a beautiful aroma, lovely smoky and nutty taste and a smooth flavour with a delicious slightly bitter aftertaste that lingers on the tongue. You can only conclude that you have had a quality coffee. I didn't feel the need (as with a lesser product) just to gulp it down in order to quench your thirst, but rather it was something to savour and enjoy. Very satisfying - one for the connoisseurs!

The service was great and the cafe itself has a very pleasant ambience, with tables inside and out and jazz playing in the background. It was quite possible to have a normal conversation over the top of the music. The menu offers a wide selection of freshly- made food at reasonable prices (breakfast/brunch/lunch). I would definitely come back to eat here. It is obviously popular with what I am told is "MAMILs" (middle aged men in lycra) enjoying a well-earned treat whilst out cycling.



Three Bags Full
Cnr Nicholson and Mollison Streets, Abbotsford
Tel: 9421 2732
http://www.threebagsfullcafe.com.au/
Visited Sunday 8 April 2012 at around 1.30pm.
Take-Away Cappuccino $3.70
Rating: 6/10

I'm sorry to say that this was a disappointment. Obviously this converted warehouse is a hugely popular establishment, with a packed dining area and a queue of people waiting to get in and eat, and there was also quite a long wait for the take-away coffees. Loud repetitive rock music was playing in the background, and conversation was not possible without ramping your voice up several notches. The food on the tables from the breakfast/lunch menus appeared fresh and appetising and the diners seemed to be enjoying it.

The coffee itself had a dark bitter flavour but was bland compared to the silky complexity offered by The Expresso Room and lacked the same degree of aftertaste. I wouldn't go back, either for the coffee or the ambience.



IKEA Richmond
Victoria Gardens Shopping Centre,
Cnr Victoria and Burnley Streets, Richmond
Tel: 8416 5000
http://www.ikea.com/au/en/store/richmond
Visited Sunday 8 April 2012 around 3.30pm
Mug of Cappuccino $2.50 or free for IKEA Family members (bottomless in either case)
Rating: 6/10

Although this is not a recognised coffee house, it is a pleasant enough refuge for those after a quick caffeine fix in the midst of more stressful activities such as shopping!

IKEA uses UTZ Certified fair trade coffee and commercial coffee machines offering a limited selection e.g.: Cappuccino, Latte, Long Black. On the plus side, the coffee has a pleasant strong bitter flavour and a good aftertaste. However, there is probably a bit too much froth on top, and it tends to go cold quite quickly. Still an enjoyable cup of coffee and despite the barn-like ambiance it is quite possible to find a quiet corner and take advantage of the free Wi-Fi or alternatively the reasonably priced food offerings. The enormously popular breakfast special (bacon, sausage, scrambled eggs, tomatoes and hash browns - side serving of baked beans $0.60 extra) remains amazing value ($2.95), particularly on Wednesdays when it is cheaper still ($1.95).

Bean Review Harris Reserve Colombian High Altitude Grown 100% Arabica Coffee Beans
Sustainable coffee - UTZ certified
Strong - 4 bean rating
Verdict: Recommended

When you first pick up the bag and smell the aroma, it has a certain 'wow' factor, so I couldn't wait to try it. The beans were finely ground in a 35 year old Moulinex coffee grinder and made up with freshly boiled filtered water in a Pyrex coffee plunger. I first tried it black, and was struck by a gorgeous aroma and the complex dark nutty flavour that also has a hint of smokiness about it and also lingers almost as a tingle on the tongue long after you have swallowed. It is strong and unapologetic but oh so good! The caffeine levels didn't take long to start helping my headache to reduce in intensity so it is also therapeutic!

Darkness and Light - The Great Easter Triduum at St Francis' Church, Melbourne

St Francis' Choir, Melbourne, Australia

Eastertide is one of the great joys of life for the chorally inclined, and so it is for St Francis' Choir, Melbourne.

St Francis' Church is the oldest church still on its original site in Melbourne, with a history stretching back 170 years, and is under the pastoral care of the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament. The choir has been part of its history for much of that time, and the modern mixed choir is one of Melbourne's finest liturgical choirs, with a repertoire stretching from the Middle Ages to the present day. The choir normally performs at the 11:00 mass on Sundays as well as at all the additional major celebrations during the year, and on these latter occasions is often joined by soloists and orchestra or brass.

The Easter season begins with Palm Sunday and progresses through Holy Thursday, Good Friday (Commemoration of the Passion in the afternoon and Tenebrae in the evening), Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday (with brass) and lastly the morning of Easter Sunday (with orchestra and soloists). This year the Choir undertook a selection of music that was beautiful, inspiring and challenging but rewarding. It is always somewhat ironic that whilst the majority of the population is enjoying a lengthy secular break, for those who celebrate the underlying meaning of Easter, it is the hardest-working period of the year.

St Francis' Choir, Melbourne: http://www.stfrancischoir.org.au/

St Francis' Church, Melbourne: http://www.stfrancismelbourne.org.au/

Holy Week & Easter
April 1 Passion/ Palm Sunday	C. Willcock G. Malcolm J. S. Bach	Trocaire Ingrediente Domino Crucifixus
April 5 Holy Thursday (6.00pm)	R. Heagney J. Kuhnau O. Gjeilo T. L. da Victoria	Missa Castanea Tristis est anima mea Ubi caritas Tantum ergo
April 6 Good Friday (3.00pm)	J. S. Bach P. Casals C. Mawby A. Lotti	Crucifixus O vos omnes The Reproaches Adoramus te, Christe (No. 1)
The office of Tenebrae will be celebrated at 8.00pm
April 7 Easter Vigil (8.00pm)	H. L. Hassler H. L. Hassler A. Scarlatti	Missa octo voci Laudate Dominum Exultate Deo
	(with Canzona Brass)
April 8 Easter Sunday	W. A. Mozart W. A. Mozart G. F. Handel	Missa brevis in D, K. 194 Laudate Dominum Hallelujah!
	(with the Chamber Strings of Melbourne)

Disaster Evaluation - Terror strikes at the heart of Norway

As someone who has lived in Norway for a time and still feels close to this wonderful country (having returned twice since), my heart went out to the Norwegian people when the whole world was rocked by the July 2011 twin terrorist attacks which shattered so many lives in this peaceful land.

In December 2011 as the final assignment for the Disaster Evaluation subject which formed part of the Monash University Master of Emergency Health program, I applied a disaster evaluation framework to this tragedy. The topic and Introduction appear below by way of background, but if interested the entire paper can be downloaded from: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/30234302/Disaster_Evaluation_Norway_Dec11.pdf.

Topic: Select a ‘crisis event’ and prepare a framework for an evaluation proposal using a framework or frameworks drawn from the Unit resources. Discuss your choice of framework/s and evaluation method.

Introduction

The selected ‘crisis event’ is the terrorist attacks in and adjacent to Oslo, Norway on 22 July 2011. A précis of the event and its aftermath is presented and its characterisation in terms of disaster terminology is considered.

A variety of evaluation modalities and timings are presented in the literature, and the suitability of these for evaluating this event is discussed, as is the importance of understanding the context and, in these particular circumstances, undertaking longitudinal evaluation.

A framework for an evaluation proposal has been synthesised from a combination of the ANLAP Guide[i], the reporting frameworks developed by Kulling et al[ii] and Bradt[iii] and the 2003 EU Workshop Report on ‘Lessons Learned’[iv] (“the Stockholm Report”). The applicability of this proposed framework to the Norwegian event is examined, together with some key contextual evaluation issues, likely key stakeholders and sources of information.

The event and its consequences have wide-ranging implications for the Norwegian authorities, those affected and Norwegian society in general, including in the areas of security, health and multiculturalism, and will play an important role in shaping Norway’s future disaster management strategies.

[i] Cosgrave J, Ramalingam B, Beck T. Real-time evaluations of humanitarian action. An ANLAP Guide. Pilot Version. Overseas Development Institute; 2009. (Hard copy distributed to students in MEH5060.)
[ii] Kulling P, Birnbaum M, Murray V, Rockenschaub G. Guidelines for Reports on Health Crises and Critical Health Events. Prehospital and Disaster Medicine 2010; 25(4): 377-383.
[iii] Bradt DA, Aitken P. Disaster medicine reporting: The need for new guidelines and the CONFIDE statement. Emergency Medicine Australasia 2010; 22: 483-487.
[iv] European Union. Report: Disaster Medicine Lessons Learned. EU Workshop Stockholm; 18-21 September, 2003. (Electronic copy distributed to students in MEH5060.) Available from: http://ec.europa.eu/echo/civil_protection/civil/prote/pdfdocs/sv_report_en.pdf. Accessed 29 November 2011

UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Melbourne

I have been fortunate recently to undertake a couple of shifts as part of the on-site medical response team at the training sessions for the UCI Track Cycling World Championships at HiSense Arena in Melbourne. Apparently the world class wooden velodrome is permanently in-situ, and seats are dropped down over the track for entertainment events. The steepness of the track makes much more impact in real-life than on television, and in Melbourne is banked to 42 degrees at both ends. It was very interesting to watch elite athletes from around the world going through the different aspects of their training, including riding training bikes on a set of rollers before and after going out on the track, and both the teams and individual sprinters going through their paces. We were stationed right next to the Australian team, which had a large support team of coaches and mechanics for their amazingly sleek track bikes (with no brakes!). The only team member I recognized was World Champion Anna Meares, but it was certainly a privilege to have an insight into their world. In that setting you do not actually want anyone to get injured or require treatment, so we had a good day both times in that no one came to grief and we had a lot of convivial conversation between ourselves, the team of paramedics from Ambulance Victoria and the official UCI doctor from Holland. The competition will be shown on SBS2 over coming days from Wednesday 4 April and promises to be very exciting!

http://www.2012trackworlds.com.au/

A massage at last - Inversion Body in Fitzroy

www.inversionbody.com.au
Goodlife Health Club, 41 Johnston Street, Fitzroy, Melbourne. 1300 474 155.

My first visit was originally through another ‘deal voucher’ (www.ourdeal.com.au) in mid-2011, but capable and friendly masseurs Carolyn and Pete offer a discount voucher for a return visit, so this seemed very worthwhile, although it has taken a while to arrange! On both occasions Carolyn has provided a very thorough and relaxing ‘toe to head’ remedial massage using essential oils and carried out in a very pleasant ambience with dimmed lights and background music. The experience itself can be highly recommended!

I would add a note of caution about parking in the Health Club car park next door. There is a lot of graffiti on the walls and pillars and my car bonnet was ‘tagged’ with graffiti during the visit. Fortunately the perpetrator used water-based paint so after some time and effort it was erased. It is difficult to understand the mindset of individuals who so readily deface the property of others who have done absolutely nothing to offend them, and it was a pretty brazen act during daylight hours. I also noticed later that one of my hubcaps had 'gone missing' in the absence of any recent jostling with the kerb, so it is more than likely that it happened at the same time!

There is some street parking available, but it is restricted at most times. However, the Health Club is close to the corner of Johnston and Nicholson Streets so is on a bus route and close to a tram route if public transport is a preferred alternative.

iSimulate Advanced Life Support Resuscitation Simulation Application for iPad

www.iSimulate.com.au

This amazing software was demonstrated at a recent Australian Resuscitation Council meeting and was developed by one of the ACT members of the ARC. It has a variable monitor display including an ECG trace, arterial line, etCO2, BP, SaO2 etc, and an inbuilt defibrillator function. The instructor can alter the ECG trace and students can then respond in real time e.g. to deliver a shock (without risk of harm to anyone) or commence CPR. Heavy manikins are not required so training can be delivered in any location.

There is a licence fee of $2,000 in first year and then $500 a year thereafter. It uses a wireless router for a LAN. They can also supply the iPads already set up (for an additional fee). There is additional information downloadable from the website and an email newsletter that you can subscribe to.

It is certainly an exciting development in resuscitation simulation training and apparently has been taken up enthusiastically by healthcare agencies around Australia.

Los Amates Mexican Restaurant

Spreets vouchers (http://spreets.com.au) recently offered a deal on a local Mexican restaurant, Los Amates, including margaritas, nachos and mixed enchiladas. The decor and the staff were genuinely Hispanic, and the food was excellent. For starters, both the lime and tamarind with chilli margaritas were flavoursome and refreshing. Although small, the nachos was delicious, with a tangy fresh tomato sauce, crunchy round corn chips and a beautiful guacamole with a refreshing taste of coriander. The melted cheese on top was a little sparse, but the black bean paste (a variation on the oft-used refried beans) was outstanding.

The final course was a mixed platter of chicken enchiladas with three different sauces - a light tomato and green chilli sauce, a thicker more spicy sauce and a chilli and dark chocolate mole sauce. This was accompanied by side servings of beans, a carrot-coloured rice dish with chunks of fresh tomatoes, and a lettuce and tomato salad with balsamic dressing. All in all, tasty, fresh and satisfying, but the main dish could have been heated up a little more as the cheese on top would have been better melted . It was just as well dessert was not included!

The service was attentive and quick, but this was in part due to needing to move customers through to make room for the later second sitting. The food and ambience seemed more authentically Mexican than chain restaurants like Taco Bill, and the overall experience can be recommended.

Scandinavian Crime Fiction

Most of my reading unfortunately is to do with medical journals and work materials, but I have developed quite an interest in Scandinavian crime fiction after watching the television series "The Eagle" and many episodes of both the Swedish and English adaptations of Swede Henning Mankell's "Wallander" in addition to the trilogy of movies based on Steig Larsson's novels, beginning with "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo".

Prior to travelling to Nepal late last year, I purchased a copy of the final Wallander book, "The Troubled Man", which I am sad to say I found rather disappointing. After ploughing through hundreds of pages, it was all concluded speedily and unsatisfactorily in the equivalent of the last five minutes, and I regret that I cannot recommend it. It almost seemed as if the author had become bored with the Wallander character and was merely 'going through the motions' to bring the series to an end. This speedy resolution of the storyline also tends to happen with the episodes of the television series, with varying dramatic success.

I did however enjoy "The Snowman" by Norwegian Jo Nesbø. This is cleverly crafted, and for the observant (who do not read in memory-challenging opportunistic and halting instalments as I must do) the clues to the resolution of the mystery are given at the beginning of the book. This one I can recommend, but it is rather gory in places and is not for the faint-hearted. I

I have also just seen the Norwegian movie "Headhunters", based on one of Jo Nesbø's other novels. This was entertaining and well done, with many unexpected twists and turns, including an unexpected final denouement. At times it did 'push the envelope' in terms of the willing suspension of disbelief, including several implausible escapes from certain death, and once again there was a significant amount of gore. Also not for the faint- hearted but nonetheless enjoyable! It would be interesting to know whether the gruesomeness is a common theme with Nesbø's works.

Having seen all three of the Swedish film adaptations of Larsson's Millenium novels, I was curious to see the Hollywood version of "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo". This was surprisingly good. However, both films have variances from the original novel which in my view detract from the storyline. Which one do I prefer? This is hard to say, but perhaps the Swedish version. Why? Well, it is Swedish, and I particularly like the 'ordinariness' of the appearance of the actors, which makes it more believable. It will be interesting to see if Hollywood proceeds with adaptations of the other two novels. The third movie was by far the best, and convincingly pulled together all the threads woven through the three books into a suspenseful and exciting conclusion.

The Power of One

Much has happened since I last wrote anything of substance, and I am still struggling to make sense of some of it. Sometimes we do not express what is in our heart as we do not know what to say.

I did travel to Nepal in late October last year with the intent of visiting Everest Base Camp, a lifelong desire, but through collusion of circumstances I was prevented from achieving this, and fell ill with altitude sickness and three simultaneous viral infections, including likely influenza. As a result, I was ill for some time after returning to Australia, and developed post-viral fatigue, which still lingers and hinders my activities some months later. I still do not know when I can expect to make a full recovery but feel that things are gradually heading in that direction. I still try to do as much as I can, but some days pay a heavy price for this.

Prior to travelling to Nepal I attended a series of meditation workshops presented by the Sri Chimoy Centre (www.srichimoycentre.org/au, http://au.srichinmoycentre.org/, http://www.melbournemeditation.org/). These were sensitively and thoughtfully presented, but my participation was cut short due to my trip. There is ample scientific proof of the benefits of meditation, but like all disciplines it requires commitment; something which I have not been able to provide. I find it ‘hard going’ as at present I have too much of a ‘monkey mind’ and too many intrusive thoughts. I wish that I were better at it, but of course that would only come with time and effort!

I have been able to resume my tutoring at Melbourne University Medical School, which is both challenging and enjoyable. I am also looking into various other options for part-time work in a mixture of clinical and educational areas. The legal case against my ex-business partner (for which I have suspended my full-time medical career for two years now) has failed to make any progress over the past twelve months, and indeed I have not even heard from my own lawyers since November last year. I have concerns about both the level and method of representation and their commitment to my cause.

I feel scarred by my experience last year serving as a member of a national ski patrol committee (due to the intensity of commitment and the level of bullying and harassment), and in common with 'aversion therapy', in truth do not know if I will be able to return to ski patrolling. This (in part) led me to withdraw from attendance at the FIPS Congress in France this year as an Australian ski patrol delegate.

Those of you who have seen the movie "Excalibur" or the final instalment of "The Lord of the Rings - The Return of the King" will recall quotes about how the age of magic has come to an end and the age of men has overtaken it. This is how it feels - that the time of those who fought for a better way is over and that we have not won. Furthermore, we are redundant and have no place in the future. We are like ghosts in the machine, but I have no desire for haunting.

However, I haven't lost my interest in undertaking some overseas research to benchmark best practice in pre-hospital care in alpine areas, but unsuccessfully applied this year to both the Churchill Fellowship and the Emergency Services Foundation Scholarship fund for a scholarship to conduct research in Scandinavia.

Having relocated from the country to fight the court case, I have been enjoying singing with my church choir on a regular basis, and enjoyed attending the ACCET Conducting Summer School in January (www.choralconductors.org.au). There are many studies to suggest that choral singing is good both for the soul and the immune system! We recently had a gruelling full-day rehearsal in preparation for Easter, but will be singing a lot of wonderful music.

ACCET Melbourne participants - January 2012

'Continuing Professional Development' is an ongoing part of life as a doctor, and out of the courses I have attended so far this year I can highly recommend:

• Paediatric Advanced Life Support (Critical Care Education Services: www.criticalcare.edu.au)
• St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne Annual Department of Anaesthesia Workshop
• Monash Disaster Resilience Initiative Forum - Learning lessons from recent disaster reviews (Monash Injury Research Institute: www.monash.edu.au/miri/research/research-areas/disaster-resilience/monash-disaster-resilience.html)
• The Australia Doctor Mental Health Seminar (http://www.australiandoctor.com.au/events) 

I am still trying to spend some time (with varying success) on improving my Swedish language skills to work towards eventually taking the TISUS test required for work purposes. I suppose it is still a dream to spend some time working as a doctor in Scandinavia (Norway or Sweden), but the pragmatist in me realizes that it is rather a ‘long shot’ to achieve this in practice. However, I will not entirely give up hope just yet!

2012-13 Calendar: Scenes from Arctic Norway Expedition Medicine Course

Polar Expedition Medicine Course, Alta, Norway (early 2010)

If you are interested in sharing the adventure of exploring Arctic Norway, I have created a multi-purpose Powerpoint calendar which can be viewed as a slide show, used as an easy-access ‘desktop’ computer calendar or printed out as a whole or a month at a time if you need an ‘instant diary’ for meetings, advance planning etc.

The Office 2003 version of the Powerpoint file is accessible from DropBox via this link:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/30234302/Alta_Calendar_2012_13nn.ppt

Warbird Flight

Belated birthday presents can be fun, and I finally caught up with one of mine recently - an aerobatic sightseeing flight in a WWII Chinese two-seater fighter trainer. http://www.flyingwarbirds.com.au/index.php

The flights run out of a hangar at a tiny airport at Barwon Heads, near Geelong. Actually getting there proved to be the biggest drama of the day. I allowed two hours to travel by car from Melbourne and was familiar with the old freeway to Geelong, having travelled it many times as a medical student, but it has been complicated by a new ring road, the exit signs for which had no mention of Barwon Heads. Travelling on through Geelong there was still no mention of Barwon Heads, only Ocean Grove and B110, which on my map appeared to be the feeder road. As Barwon Heads is very close to Ocean Grove, I took that exit, which ended up being the long way around, as you then have to cross back over the Barwon River. Apparently there is a signposted exit a couple more km down the road after the Ocean Grove exit! VicRoads has clearly failed on this one, so be warned if you are travelling from Melbourne - be sure to check the detailed directions first! On the way back from Barwon Heads I followed the signs to Melbourne via the M1 (rather than going into Geelong), which ended up being quite a long detour westwards which then connected with the new ring road. I guess you would need to look at a current map to appreciate which is the better option.

The proprietor/pilot was a personable young man. No special gear required, and as it was the first (and only) flight of the day we had to wait in the 'plane outside the hangar for about ten minutes while the engine oil warmed up etc. Needless to say there was a lot of fumes! My microphone was only working intermittently but it was deemed a case of 'see how it goes'. Eventually we taxied off over the grass onto a dirt track down to the runway. While we were waiting we could hear air traffic control chattering about a helicopter heading for the Geelong Hospital, which brought back memories of my days working there in the Emergency Department. After a while we taxied down the far end of the short grass runway, turned around, picked up speed and took off. After a bit of sightseeing up and down the Bellarine Peninsula west of Barwon Heads we tried out a few 'G-force' packing aerobatical manoeuvres including barrel rolls and loops. It was of course fun looking at the world upside down and hanging safely suspended from the four-point seat belt but there was no headrest and my neck was whipped back violently a few times (human neck muscles being insufficient to counter the gravitational forces). The headset also kept falling off my head! The pilot had advised me to clench my stomach muscles when going into a turn to reduce the risk of blacking out. I did this initially but then just concentrated on deep diaphragmatic breathing to control some feelings of nausea. I also instinctively found myself 'spotting the horizon' as a landmark during the turns.

Upon reflection I think the nausea was probably due to a combination of fuel fumes (quite strong at times), unaccustomed unnatural movements, the pressure of the headset around my face, and mild whiplash. At the time I was quite glad when the flight came to an end as I was not feeling that great but pleased there had been no hint of black-out and that I had not thrown up in the aircraft (a 'sick bag' is provided). After arriving back on terra firma and exchanging pleasantries I drove off but stopped for a rest at the first wayside stop as I was feeling quite drowsy and had started to nod off a couple of times whilst driving, which is never to be recommended! I think I actually went to sleep for a while in the back seat of the car and then received a lengthy 'phone call, so it ended up being a very long day by the time I got home.

All in all an interesting experience, but not for the faint-hearted, those with long necks or issues with fumes or travel sickness. I wouldn't mind trying out a jet flight if I ever get to be extremely rich one day but I think I would make sure it has head rests first and maybe consider some anti-nausea precautions!

An edited DVD of the flight and the scenery is available for $135 (takes ~6 weeks for delivery). When I received mine, I was able to see just how violently my head and neck were being thrown back and hyper-extended. No surprise that I became ill afterwards!

Footy at 'the G'

Spring in Melbourne means footy finals (Australian Rules Football) and the best place to experience this is the beloved MCG. The Melbourne Cricket Ground is famous for cricket (including the annual Boxing Day Test Match between Australia and another cricketing nation), football, sporting museums, the 2006 Commonwealth Games and the 1954 Olympics.

This time it was a Friday night clash between Collingwood (first on the ladder and 'minor Premiers') and Geelong (second on the ladder). Both teams have 'won the flag' (Premiership) over the past few years and are keen to do so again this year. Being a huge circular stadium (seating approximately 100,000 people at full capacity) it has a marvellous Colosseum-type atmosphere. As well as the two tribes partaking in the contest, there are also two bigger tribes in the ground - the Australian Football League (AFL) members in the semi-circular Great Southern Stand and the Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) members in the newer Northern Stand (officially the Ponsford and Olympic Stands). There is an excellent view from all sections of the ground and even when 'up in the Gods' in the top tier you still feel close to the action. Climbing all the stairs is of course beneficial for one's cardiovascular fitness and it is reassuring to know that the MCG has an outstanding record for response time and resuscitation for cardiac arrest.

Many games (such as this one) are played at night and with six massive light towers as well as the stadium lights the ground is very brightly and evenly lit.

The terms 'clash' and 'blockbuster' are frequently bandied about and Melburnians are certainly passionate about their football but with 17 teams around the country there is also a strong national following despite the competition from soccer and rugby.

Many supporters deck themselves out in footy scarves, hats and jumpers and wave team flags so the ground can be a riot of colour, and the roar that goes up when a goal is scored can be deafening!

One of the main attractions is that footy is a fast-moving and skilful game utilising handball, marking (catching the ball, sometimes in a spectacular fashion high in the air) and kicking (often long distances). Players can run up to 10km a game. In essence the aim of the game is pretty simple - to score points by kicking the ball through the big sticks (goal posts) at your team's end of the ground. The team with the most points at the end of the four quarters wins.

For the record, in this game Geelong won by a substantial margin (149 points to 53 points), attendance 85,705.

The finals start in earnest next week. If Collingwood wants to make it to the Grand Final it will have to do a lot better next time!

Winter ends early this year ...

There has been so much going on since around Easter it has been hard to find the time to stop and write. Easter was very busy singing with my choir for the Holy Thursday, Good Friday (x2), Easter Saturday (Easter Vigil) and Easter Sunday services. (web) Since then there has been a hectic mix of Ski Patrol education and training services together with providing volunteer medical services at Mt Baw Baw, working towards completion of a Masters of Emergency Health this year and tutoring first year graduate medical students in both Case Supported Learning and Principles of Clinical Practice. Unfortunately there hasn't been much skiing this winter, just a couple of hours of cross-country and a couple of hours of downhill skiing at Mt Baw Baw. One of the photos of snow-laden snowgums under a blue sky I took out on the trails at Mt Baw Baw was used as a backdrop for the ABC News weather report two nights this week, which was rather exciting!



The weekend before last saw a trip to Mt Hotham, one of the major Victorian alpine resorts, for some Ski Patrol meetings and a bit of skiing. The long and boring drive up the Hume Freeway was shared with friends of a friend, and we all then shared a room in their lodge for the weekend. Unfortunately there hadn't been any fresh snow for a while, so conditions weren't that great. It was hard-packed/icy at the start of the morning then started to soften by mid-morning and then gradually turned to slush. However, it was a chance to try out my new telemark skis and boots, which have been a long time coming since winning a 'Patroller of the Year' award in early 2010. I first tried out telemark skiing during a trip to Kvitfjell in Norway in 2006, and really enjoyed it (with the free-heel technique like cross-country skiing). The new gear performed well. On Sunday we had the added bonus of a helicopter ride to Falls Creek for a Ski Patrol meeting there. It was a fine day and the view from the air was spectacular. Snow conditions were no better but I did take some lovely photos of the still water reflections on Pretty Valley Reservoir, and one of them was used for the Channel 10 weather report a couple of days later. It was a late night after the long road trip back to Melbourne and off to work as usual the next morning!

Slaughter of the innocents

Having lived in Oslo and regarding it as my second home and having been told “du er jo halv norsk” (a true half-Norwegian) I was desperately sad to hear of the recent tragic events in Oslo and Utøya and like many others find it hard to believe that these horrendous acts were committed by an ethnic Norwegian. I cried when I saw the TV news last Sunday morning and my heart goes out to the Norwegian people and their palpable pain. So many innocent lives lost and so many lives touched. I have friends who live near the site of the bomb blast and who minister at the Gamle Aker and Orthodox churches not far away. Fortunately they are all OK, but it serves to remind us of how fragile life is and how we should not take anything for granted. May all the lost souls rest in peace and their families and friends receive the love and support that the need in these dark hours. My experience of Norway is as a peaceful and safe country with a strong history of democracy, tolerance and respect, both for each other and for nature. I hope that these good things will endure and in time the scars will heal and a stronger and more united Norway will emerge.

The Last Samurai (Den Siste Samurai)

I recently caught the second half of “The Last Samurai”, starring Tom Cruise, on TV. I first saw this film (“Den Siste Samurai”) in early 2004 in Oslo, when I had not long arrived in Norway for a six-month stay as a medical student. This was the original English-language version with Norwegian sub-titles. However, at that stage I did not know very much Norwegian, and the not-infrequent verbal exchanges in Japanese were also sub-titled in Norwegian, so a certain amount of the storyline was ‘lost in translation’!

I remember being impressed with the film, despite not being a big Tom Cruise fan, and its themes of loyalty and honour and being true to oneself. The choreography of the martial arts scenes remains quite stunning.

It reminded me of another film which I love, “Dances with Wolves”, and caused me to reflect upon ‘why this is so?’.

Both carry the story of a ‘stranger in a strange land’, and the theme of redemption and enlightenment through becoming immersed in another culture which resonates with your soul more strongly than that which you were born into. Through a combination of adversity and necessity, the stranger integrates into a very foreign culture and begins to question why his own allegedly superior Western culture is hell-bent on destroying ‘the way of the warrior’.

This is a story which is in some way my own, and it is no surprise that I feel empathy for the key protagonists. The timing of my trip to Norway came at a very difficult time in terms of my personal and business situation, and I knew that by being away for an extended period I would become powerless to control the forces of darkness waiting in the shadows and it was highly likely that my worst fears of a disastrous outcome would come to pass. When I arrived it in Norway was cold and dark with a lot of snow on the ground. I got off to a rocky start accommodation-wise, and the silences and lack of cooperation from home were ominous. I felt torn and wished I could jump on a ‘plane and return home.

That all changed when I had a chance to take up cross-country skiing. I was living at Kringsjå, a student village on the edge of Oslo next to a large lake (Sognsvann) and the vast Nordmarka forest which extends into the hills around Oslo. Cross-country skiing was my salvation, and Nordmarka was my sanctuary, a place where a felt truly happy and free for the first time that I could remember. I started learning Norwegian, made some Norwegian friends, joined a Norwegian church choir (Gamle Aker Kirke Kor) and decided to embrace what it is to be Norwegian. I felt at home and at peace and as if I had finally found the place where I truly belonged. When the time came to leave I did not wish to return home to Australia and leave my new life, and there were plenty of signs that the storm clouds were gathering and that I was going to be dragged out of the Vortex into some sort of living hell. This feeling of impending doom proved to be uncannily correct.

Over the following years I began to wonder whether I had experienced a phenomenon often referred to as the ‘collective unconscious’. Ever since I was a child I had been fascinated by the Vikings and the midnight sun and Scandinavia was the one place in the world that I longed to visit, and a strong factor in my choice of university was whether I could learn Swedish there. After my late great-uncle died, I found a box of his photographic slides at my mother’s house, and amongst them were several slightly faded slides from his trip to Norway in the 1950s. I was told that the fjords of Norway were his favourite place, and I later learned that this feeling was shared by his niece, my late maternal aunt. Neither of my parents have been to Norway so I cannot say what they might have felt if they had also experienced Norway’s breathtaking beauty, but I hope that, like other members of the family, their genetic imprint would have caused them to experience the siren song of the land of the Vikings.

Crouching tiger, hidden dragon …

Late on Friday 15th April I flew to Sydney with a colleague both to observe and act as assessors at a Sydney first aid course for ski patrollers. As the equivalent Melbourne course has been held recently this was a useful moderation exercise, and one that we hope to continue nationally over the next couple of months by visiting all courses.

As is often the case, it was a slow descent into Sydney after a bit of circling and waiting. We then caught a taxi to our accommodation at Avoca Lodge in nearby Randwick (close to the course venue). We were a bit surprised to find that this establishment was more like a youth hostel than a motel, with a tiny bedroom but a modern bathroom. We were also right across the road from one of Sydney’s major hospitals, so had helicopters taking off and landing at close proximity as well as the noise of heavy rain falling for most of the night. Having worked in emergency departments myself, I’m always conscious that the sound of a helicopter means that some poor trauma casualty or a critically unwell person is arriving at the hospital, and of course I feel sorry for the individual and their family. As there were no dining facilities, we went out to forage for food nearby, and found a pub and a number of lively restaurants, and settled on one of the Indian establishments, enjoying some Chicken Tikka Masala and Mango Chicken. A ‘Bollywood’ movie was playing in the background on a large plasma screen!

After a bit of a restless night we went out for breakfast to a local café, and unfortunately the available newspapers did not include the shining light of local journalism, the Melbourne “Age”. While we were there torrential tropical-style rain began and did not really ease off by the time came to walk to the nearby venue (perhaps a couple of km away). As a result, we were fairly well soaked by the time we arrived. Nothing like squelchy wet shoes and socks! Our welcome ranged through warm to conciliatory and lastly the cooler end of the traditional Melbourne-Sydney rivalry (which has survived unabated over two hundred and thirty years since European settlement!). One candidate was overhead to refer to us as “the Victorians”!

During the course of the day we observed some lectures (identifying issues for quality control purposes) and then assisted with some competency assessments during the afternoon and early evening. It was whilst we were doing some ‘unconscious casualty’ practical assessments in order to free up recertifying instructors to assist with assessing other candidates tomorrow that we found our ‘hidden dragon’, and it was certainly not short on firepower, leaving us slightly singed in the process. There was vigorous debate about the two main issues to arise, relating to a disparity between ‘on the hill’ practices at one of Australia’s largest ski resorts, and the official ski patrol teachings. These issues were “why should we repeat the ‘A’ part of ‘ABC’ if we can see that the casualty is still breathing?” and the use of a scoop stretcher as a ‘full body splint’ for an unconscious casualty rather than individual splinting of the affected body parts (in the assessment scenario a fractured wrist and a lower-leg fracture). We did not win any friends by insisting on accepted practices (as we expect from candidates Australia-wide, especially under an RTO structure) rather than these local variations.

The assessments were not concluded until around 19:30 and after one of our colleagues kindly gave us a lift back to the Lodge we went out to a local bistro for a meal and the opportunity to mull over the events of the day. There is clearly a lot of work to be done in terms of achieving national consistency and achieving reform of practices which do not adhere to the ‘gold standard’. I was reminded of the famous quote penned by J.K. Rowling for Albus Dumbledore in one of the Harry Potter books: "We have to choose between what is right, and what is easy."

Sunday was a busy day, and we worked on one of the unconscious casualty assessment stations for the whole day, and unfortunately no breaks were provided for. We finally finished about 14:30, and after missing breakfast and lunch were both hungry and tired. Our colleague again gave us a lift to the airport, and fortunately my companion had access to the Qantas Club so we were able to refuel and rehydrate whilst waiting for our flight back to Melbourne. It was a worthwhile exercise which served to reinforce the enormity of the challenge ahead and it will be interesting to see what the other courses are like over the coming months. Certainly we were pleasantly surprised by the relative quality of the Melbourne course and candidates.

Autumn ...

"Seasons of mist and mellow fruitfulness!"
Ode to Autumn
John Keats 1795-1821

Yesterday was the first day that I had noticed the autumn colours this year. It had been raining heavily and all the colours in the back yard were brought alive with that vividness that wetness brings. There was a moasaic of yellow, brown and green leaves on the ground and next door a silver birch tree was a shining beacon of gold in a burst of sunlight against the grey sky. There has been some snow on the mountains so the ski resorts are hoping for a good season ahead! (The official snow season does not commence until the 'Queen's Birthday Weekend' in mid-June.)

Carl-Einar Häckner's Swedish Meatballs

Last night I was the fortunate recipient of a complimentary ticket to Carl-Einar Häckner's "Swedish Meatballs" one-man show at the Melbourne Comedy Festival.

I haven't laughed so much in a long time. It was an hour-long high-energy performance, combining music, magic, slapstick and a high degree of plain craziness. There was a liberal sprinkling of humourous Swedish references and Ikea featured prominently in the props, which also included a non-disappearing Houndini, barbequed birds, knives and fake blood and an Elvis-style bell-bottomed white jumpsuit, which looked 'fetching' (apparently a word for which there is no equivalent in Swedish) on the tall slim Swede with the wild eyes and shoulder-length blonde hair. He has quite a pleasant singing voice, and it was a pity that there was not more of this in the show, but the transition from guitar to ukelele formed one of the early running gags.

You certainly don't need to be Scandinavian to enjoy this show - highly recommended!

Melbourne Comedy Festival:
http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2011/season/shows/carl-einar-hackner-s-swedish-meatballs/
Melbourne Herald Sun review 08 April 2011:
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/special-reports/review-carl-einar-hckners-swedish-meatballs/story-fn89fat8-1226036131127
Home page:
http://www.carleinarhackner.com/