Almost a month in...

Lots to catch up on here! We have travelled, hiked, made new friends, Adrian has started taking call, the girls have started school and I am back in the gym!

So the travel - We spent a great weekend in Havelock North where we stayed on a working apple farm in the orchard in a two bedroom cottage. The photo is the girls sitting on our back deck watching two free range chickens. They had

quite an interest in Abigail who normally has no fear but does not apparently like to be checked out by two chickens. The screams were unlike any I had ever heard! There was a great front porch on our cabin - an olive tree, grape vines growing for privacy and a bird nest with two babies! The mama bird had no problem bringing the babies food while we sat on the porch so we got to know the bird family quite well. The babies were flapping their wings and pushing boundaries preparing to leave home. Adrian and I both encouraged them to stay in the comfort of their nest as the world is big and scary sometimes... Kids never listen... We went to bed with them in the nest and the next morning they were gone! We hope they are safe and happy little birds enjoying their freedom.

It was so pretty there and we had nice weather - which in Palmerston North is really not so common. Apparently in the Havelock North/Hawkes Bay area it is a lot more common. We may have to go more often if this cold and rainy business does not clear up! This is not like any summer I have ever seen, but I digress...

So Hawke's Bay and the surrounding areas are nice - wineries, beaches, parks, good food - all of which we tried. We went to an olivery - a first for all of us - very interesting. Telegraph Hill is the name if you want to check it out on the web - http://www.telegraphhill.co.nz/

We also went on a trailer ride, pulled by a big-wheeled tractor

on the beach below Cape Kidnapper's Golf Course. Our mission was to see the world's largest gannett colony - a gannett is a bird that was very interesting to hear about. They are born and raised by parents who mate for life - unless one is late coming home - and when they are in their teen years they take off for Australia where they stay for about three years. They tire of that and home they come. Back to the place of their birth where they hang around the fringes until they choose their mate and then the cycle begins again. We came to the end of the tractor ride at the very tip of the cape and then hiked up a very steep hill - seemed like a mountain! - to the actual colony. There were hundreds of birds! We stayed for a bit and then hiked back down to have a picnic and play in the surf. Back on the tractors and headed back to the car park. The whole trip took about 4 1/2 hours. Well worth it.

The cliffs have obvious fault lines - some had shifted as much as 9 meters (29.5 feet). We learned that this is a very young country - geologically speaking. But enough of that - if you want more info of this sort, look it up! Just kidding - call Adrian!

We went to a winery where we had a tasting, made some purchases and had a bite to eat. There were lots of recommended wineries but with kids in tow it did not seem right to drag them from one vat to the next and as neither is old enough to drive we opted for the water park instead. We spent the day floating on the lazy river, riding in the bumper boats and took a train around the park - they had some giant water slides but we were not brave enough. It was a fun day and we all slept well that night.

We played golf - my first time in over 10 years - thankfully we were alone on the course. Adrian was very patient and encouraging. I hit the big ball under the little ball only a couple of times and I remember how much I enjoyed the game. I hit a few good shots and look forward to playing more! I will never be as good as Adrian or Timi but I look cute in my new golf shoes that match my bag holding all my pretty new clubs especially my favorite hot pink hybrid club...

An avid hiker with whom Adrian works gave us directions to a place to hike. It was about an hour and half drive and at the end of a really long gravel road. Along the way there were fields of sheep, red stag deer, cattle, sheep, creeks, sheep, rivers, sheep... There really are A LOT of sheep here! Colin's jokes are warranted.

So we arrived at the beginning of this trail and were not disappointed. The trail was at times hard to see and other times under water but it was gorgeous. We ended on the shore of the river among the river rocks and then hiked back to the car park (parking lot for you Americans!). Did I mention that there was a metal swing/suspension/foot bridge - it was swinging way over the river - and it was small and it was high and I was super nervous! The kids and Adrian went right over, no problem. I had to go but I was not happy about it. We all crossed safely both times but my palms sure were sweaty - heights and bridges are NOT my thing.

We stopped on the way back at a Model Railway Museum and cheese shoppe. The proprietors with whom we chatted were retired and made a modest living having guests view his lifelong collection of model trains and enjoy her homemade cheese. It was quite a collection of trains and delicious cheese. We were able to pat (and be licked by) the cow who produced the milk from which our cheese was made. We were making memories as my mother would say...

On Sunday we wanted to hike, "tramp" as the NZ'ers say, close to home so we found a spot and off we went. We thought we had arrived and so headed in at the sign for the scenic route - up the mountain we went, winding and winding - remember that Abigail suffers from motion sickness - until we topped the mountain and amazingly the wind farm was there - Te Apiti Wind farm - The windmills are huge! There was a gate so out I hopped to open and close the thing and I was not sure that I was not going to get blown away! The engineers were right on when they chose the top of that mountain. Roughly 4% of New Zealand's power is generated by wind mills. Their goal is to make that 20% in 20 years. There are a variety of sizes and a variety of designs but all are really cool to see. We knew they were big but really had no idea until we were at the base of them. Awesome!

So that gets us current - this week we had the first day of school! The girls enjoyed it! They start at 8:55 and are through at 3:00. We walk to school and they found their classes just fine. They have a snack (brain food as it is called) break around 10 and then morning tea around 11:30 and lunch at 1:00 Several things are strikingly different - everyone is on a first name basis - kids call teachers by their first names - teachers and students alike do not wear shoes, the kids do lots of work in groups. Both girls are in tech classes which means that they will be using computers to assist in their learning process. Should be a good thing I think.

One of the mothers enlisted my help in handing out the school hats - floppy hats that the kids must wear when they are outside. It was a fun way to get to see the kids and meet some other moms. I look forward to helping out from time to time there.

I am not sure how much time I will have to volunteer with the golf, the gym and planning the weekend trips. I am working on next weekend's agenda for another three day weekend at Lake Taupo. It is the largest lake in NZ and in a volcanic crater so has hot springs that we will check out. You will have all the latest upon our return.

Oh I almost forgot - I DID IT!!!

Drove down the wrong side of the road! Yes I did! I knew I would... but did it have to be a very busy road - Main Street - not kidding! with a median and pedestrians... Only me... at least we were none the worse for it except perhaps the children who may have learned some new and inappropriate words!

Bye for now...

First Impressions

Adrian here, with some first impressions of living and working in NZ. Since I have been at work less than 2 weeks, these are very preliminary observations, so I reserve the right to change my mind! It has, though, been a remarkable change to move from working in a large group covering multiple hospitals in a fee for service environment to a single hospital practice in a socialized system. A truly upside down world! Here we are gatekeepers to the system with the incentive to do less and where radiologists say NO if they think the exam is inappropriate - and they do! Last night I was on call for the first time, with a very expert 3rd year resident riding shotgun. We did 1 US for possible torsion and 1 CTA for a cold leg. Both phone calls requesting the exams came from the attending physicians, not residents. The ER probably saw 60 people.

The hospital has 300 beds, draws from a population base of about half a million and is a regional cancer centre. Equipment levels are good, with 1 16 slice CT going to be replaced by a 64 slice scanner within the year, good US and the rest. Exams are heavily prioritized. There are x number of US spots on the schedule in a given session, half a day, and when they are filled, that's it, on for tomorrow. Everyone accepts this. You can wait a year for a non urgent US. CT waiting times are much better, now less than 2 weeks for non urgent cases. There are several locums who are here for a variety of reasons, mainly the adventure. There is a heavy sprinkling of Scandinavians (not much money in medicine in Sweden and Finland ) as well as another American, all with different skill sets. Most of the Kiwi radiologists work part time in private practise where they say they make only slightly more money but see a different case mix. One of these is a remarkably talented transplanted Englishman who is the best sonographer and interventionalist I have ever seen who has free rein to do whatever he wants. He was sclerosing varicose veins, injecting shoulders etc etc in the only US session I have been with him. The surgeons are only too happy, otherwise they would have to do it. There are multiple meetings with the clinicians every week with an extremely collegial atmosphere. Everyone is on a first name basis.

Work starts between 8 and 8:30 and continues to around 4:30 to 5 with an hour off for lunch. I walk home for lunch. I get 2 half days off a week. My education allowance is about US$ 13K, with most meetings held in Australia and the Far East. One of my colleagues is off to Cambodia next week for a meeting. Another is taking off 4 weeks to work as medical officer on a scientific cruise ship in the Antarctic. You only have to get special permission if you want to take off more than 4 weeks at any one time. It is definitely a work-to-live environment.

Palmerston North is the butt of some jokes in NZ, probably because it's not on the coast and is set in flat farm land. There is some spectacular scenery close by, however, with 2 mountain ranges within 45 minutes drive and a great beach 20 minutes away. It is the friendliest place I have ever been. We rented a cottage in Hawkes Bay last week and never did see the owner, who lived down the street. I called him  when we were leaving and asked him how he wanted to be paid. He laughed and said just leave it under the cutlery. The lock didn't work and wasn't needed.

So far, then, so good. There are not many negatives. The cost of living is high, with grocery shopping usually ending at the check-out with sweaty palms and anxious checking of the bank balance, but we are living a much healthier life style and feeling the better for it. Our horizons have expanded. My next CME will be in Sydney, our next holiday will be a 2 week trip to the South Island in April, with other trips to Cambodia, China etc in early planning. Oh, and my malpractice insurance is $1200. Whats not to like? If you are the kind of person who frets about not being able to find the right pumpkin for Thanksgiving, this is probably not the right place for you, otherwise it's fantastic mate. No worries! We're off and laughing! (Kiwi for everything's OK).

A week in...

We have been here now more than a week.  Adrian has started work. The girls and I are settling into a bit of a routine.  I have been driving without incident and this morning even looked right first instead of left and did not pull out into oncoming traffic.  I think the windshield wipers may make it!

The hospital is a short and easy walk from our home.  Adrian has a scheduled hour for lunch so is able to come home and eat.  The midday conversation is great!  He reports in at 8:30 and is off at 5:00 with the hour for lunch.  They schedule his time in a.m. and p.m. sessions.  The sessions are dedicated to reading out a specific modality - for example a.m.- CT, p.m. - US.  Very different from what we know.  There is a backlog of plain films to be read so he will surely be making a difference here.  There is Intervention with only one Dr. doing that - so those of you who are qualified need to COME ON DOWN!  I know a good tech who could help ;-)  There are lots of meetings throughout the day so he will not be reading the whole of the time there.  He has met most of the other Rads and there are more Dr.'s doing locums than not.  There are Swedes, a Fin, Americans - one Indian woman with whom we will have dinner.  He has not come to a decision about how it will be yet as he is only a couple days in and the indoctrination is long and involved.  I will let you know when he decides.

We have decided however, that this is a kind and gentle place.  The people are so nice.  The country is beautiful.  Since last I posted, we have been to the Rugby Museum, trudged along the banks of the Manawhatu River, watched a part of a Cricket match, checked out the girls' school - they start on January 30th - celebrated Abigail's 7th birthday, and spent lots of money on groceries!

It is very expensive to live here - gas is about $10 per gallon, garlic is about $5 per head, meat is outrageous and I have yet to get out of the grocery for less than $100.  There are some good deals on wine thankfully!!  We are happy though that we are eating in a more healthy way with good fresh fruits and vegetables.

We have a three day weekend coming so we are headed north to the most easterly shore - the Hawke's Bay area - wine country, New Zealand's National Aquarium, the land of honey and lavender and beaches.  Napier is an art deco town with lots to see and Hastings is known as the fruit bowl of New Zealand.  We are booked for a tractor-towed trailer ride along the beach to what is thought to be the largest mainland gannet colony in the world.  We will see Cape Kidnapper's golf course too!!  There will be photos up next week so you can check it out with us.

Here are some pics of our latest adventures - As always we think of and talk about all of our people frequently.

Contact Information New Zealand

Here is how you can stay connected with us:

Adrian.Lamballe@gmail.com
phone: 011 64 27 514 0251
skype: adriankl52

shannonr924@gmail.com
phone: 011 64 27 514 0250
skype: shannonr62

jgracek2012@gmail.com

landline:  011 64 6 359 3431

Now you just need to keep in touch!

Connected!

We have internet at home!  We are so excited to be connected via the big screen rather than our phones.

So we love the country we have seen.  Most noteworthy - the people!  So kind and smiling all the time.  "No worries" is the standard here.  Gotta love that!



We went to the Sale yards yesterday and saw sheep and cattle being auctioned to farmers.  Afterwards we went to the local diner for lunch - hot mince pie and coffee.  There were no open tables but an elderly man, younger man and son were leaving and offered us their table.  The father of the youngest boy, upon interrogation by yours truly, is a farmer and was selling cattle at the auction.  We chatted a bit and have been invited to his 3,000 acre ranch just on the other side of town.  They are just like that here.

My kind of place!

It is rainy and even though summer here, we had jackets on last evening for our walk to the playground.  This has become part of our day - the school has a nice playground and is a short walk away so after dinner that is where we go.  We all burn off a little energy and then home for games, reading, bath and bed.

We have been for some drives through the mountains and the countryside is spectacular.  We stopped on the road to watch sheep sheering and we have seen birds and trees and flowers that we are not at all familiar with.  We saw a red stag deer farm - really big stags being fattened for some rich hunter to come and kill, we think.  Needless to say we have lots of questions to ask and the people here seem willing to provide answers.

We walk to the grocery and to the market across the street for our daily newspaper.  We have not yet been here a week but have found our way around town and have run into Di, the woman from the hospital, twice!  Gotta love a small town.

We went to the local beach one day and played in the black sand.  The Pacific Ocean lapped at the beach and sun was shining - we all got too much sun so now we lather up with sunscreen before leaving home.  The beach was nice although very different than the white sands of the Gulf.  There was a bus from the "old folks home" parked on the sand.  After the elderlies reloaded into the bus the young woman driver became very stuck in the sand.  We tried to help push and dig the sand out and all the little old men were smiling and laughing and trying to push - I was a little worried about them making it through the exertion!  Eventually a little tow truck - mini-Tonka it said on the side - came and hooked a strap to the van and pulled them right out - the old folks will be talking about that adventure for some time to come!

A day or two prior to that beach day, we found Bethell's Beach - we drove and drove on windy, mountainous roads with no sign of water anywhere.  Gorgeous drive! But again no water in sight.  We followed some signs and parked in a parking area that was small and there was a path between two large hills, still no water in sight.  Then what to our eyes should appear - no, not reindeer - but a misty beach and rolling, crashing waves.  Gorgeous! Astonishing! Magical! Not to be overly dramatic - hard for me - but really we still cannot get over the wonder of that place on the Tasman Sea.

Adrian starts work on Monday at 8:30.  We will both be a little nervous about that as he will find out if it will be what he hopes it will be and I will find out if I can manage on my own while he is at work.  I have driven for two days and have navigated the roundabouts with only flipping on the windshield wipers instead of the blinker. Will soon need new blades with all the use!  Surely I will get used to that. We have decided on an automatic shift car because who can manage all that and find the blinker!

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