Which way does the water go?

A really fun evening with Megan, Joff, Kayleigh and Liz. The dominant conversation was about
whether water really does flow in a different direction in the nothern and southern hemisphere - and what happens if you are on the equater?! Of course we couldn't resist trying to test this theory - but it was inconclusive LOL!

Lots and lots of patients

After a presentation to the doctors about conditions to refer to us (OT and physio), we have had a huge increase in referrals (particularly out-patients). This is JT's cartoon of Bernard referrring the whole of male ward to us.

Tar, glorious tar!

The 2 and a half year long road project is almost finished! The tar was started just over a week ago. This weekend they started tarring right outside the hospital.

A humerous moment: Give beer to the poor

The lighter side of life is often experienced through our many psych patients. (Don't get me wrong, i treat them with absolute respect). So, there is one man who came with a sprained ankle in January. After JT managed to help him fix his ankle (which required nothing really), he was so appreciative that he came back to say thank you and present her with a whole package of presents: a puppy, a bunch of plastic flowers, a bar of chocolate, a box of Romany Creams, some weed, a photo of himself, and a 20 page letter. He is slightly obsessed with her and comes to visit our department from time to time.

On Friday, he came to visit (but JT had gone) and offered to help Marlie who was sawing a chair in half. She gladly gave him the saw. Megan's comment: "Is jy seker jy wil a mal mens a saw gee?" He managed not to cut the table or his hand - but it needed some prompting.

So, while he is sawing he tells us (in English because nearly all psych patients speak English - go figure!) that he has made umqombothi (Xhosa beer). But he assures us that he is not going to drink it because he is not a drunkard. He says he made it to give to the poor people, because the Bible says we should give beer to the poor!

I happened to read that passage a few days ago, so i knew where to find it. Written by crazy King Lemuel, and taken out of context, but here it is:

Give beer to those who are perishing,
wine to those who are in anguish;
let them drink and forget their poverty
and remember their misery no more
(Proverbs 31:6-7)

A walk on the wild side

It was a beautiful evening so Jess and Jack and I went for a walk. I had never actually been to the dam before so thats where we headed. It was bigger than I thought it was and kinda pretty. On the way back we tried to avoid the annoying dogs who really don't like Jack, so we took a different route straight up a steep hill. We ended up getting mobbed by dogs who were much worse than the other lot. If i didn't have a pile of stones in my hand, they would have probably sunk their teeth into us.

Also, we tried to take a crutch from an old lady who wasn't weight bearing on it (we have a desperate crutch shortage, so every crutch helps), but she gave us the most tragically miserable look that we just couldn't do it. Jess's interpretation of her facical expression: "I really need this stick to help me walk, but i know you are from the hospital so i have to do what you tell me. So i appeal to your conscience with this sad face, please let me keep my stick."

Below = Transkei geometry:)


This is where our water comes from

Cake, cake and more cake

With 3 birthdays in less than a week (Sarah, Kayleigh, Jo) we have had one party after another. But what a good excuse to celebrate :)

Below: Kayleigh, Jo, Emma


Emma in her "party dress" for Jo's teaparty. And she's looking at the camera for once!

Core values

Yesterday, as a clinic team, we re-evaluated and discussed our core values. It was an interesting (due to the amusing irony of internal politics) and mostly encouraging discussion. I am so grateful for our awesome multi-disciplinary team.

So, here are the Zithulele Hospital Clinical Team Core Values:

• Prioritising patient care (providing quality care with compassion and respect for patients)

• Multi-disciplinary team work (valuing interdependence as we share responsibility in patient care in a non-competitive environment)

• Resepctful communications (communicating respectfully in an open and honest, but constructive way with our colleages)

• Building people up (recognising, acknowledging and encouraging people's strengths)

• Continual learning (seeking to learn from each other and the community, and stay up to date with relevant health research and developments)

• A hopeful attitude (looking for the positive in challenging situations and encouraging each other to avoid cynical talk)

The great storeroom cleanout

We decided it was time to clean out our dirty chaotic storeroom, so we allocated an hour the other day to do it - it ended up taking 2 and a half. Unfortunately many of the wheelchairs were dirty and manky so they needed a good cleaning. We took EVERYTHING out, sorted it, cleaned it and put it back with all the wheelchairs grouped according to size. Great teamwork (except for a few disagreements). The unexpected bonus of our hard work was dicovering about 5 rolls of velcro which was really exciting because its something we really need (and have no budget to buy) and we had absolutely no idea it was there. Yes, i probably have been here too long when i get so excited about velcro.

Karl on TV!

Thats right. Karl's a TV star! He was e news channel last night and this morning for live interviews. It was crazy: he was having a braai with us at Hole-in-the-Wall and then he drove to Mthatha, flew to Joburg and landed an hour before he was due on live TV. The traffic was bad and he was a bit late, so they stalled the programme for him. So he walked into a debate with no idea what had happened before. But he wasn't too flustered and did a great job. He even mentioned Occupational Therapy TWICE! And as he corrected the TAC representative the percentage on SA's population living in rural areas is 43!

Emma was so cute - she needed reassurance that daddy was not stuck in the TV

Happy Birthday Kayleigh!

Our fantastic pharmacist turns 18 today! She is a Jabulani volunteer from the UK who has stepped up to the plate and is running the pharmacy with no pharmacy training. What a legend!

It's a beautiful day, don't let it get away

What better way to spend a sunny Sunday than a braai by the beach! Tom's parents were visiting and rented a cottage right on the beach at Hole-in-the-Wall.

An afternoon with Johan

This is Johan. He is 11 months old and full of energy. Yesterday i offered to take him so his parents could have a rest while his big sister was napping. As i carried him into my house his eyes went wide as he realised there was a whole new world waiting to be explored. When i put him down, he was off exploring the whole house. His favourite things were Liz's fan - he clearly had no idea what it was cos he kept sticking his fingers in it and licking it - and my dental floss. Once he discovered the dental floss he insisted in keeping it in his mouth. Unfortunately a round piece of plastic is not so easy to keep in one's mouth. So it kept falling out and he would crawl after it and put it back in his mouth. Does it taste like mint?

After sometime between an hour and an hour and a half i thought it was time to return him as he seemed to be slowing down like he wanted to sleep. And when Johan gets tired he gets grumpy and that is not fun. I walked into his house and his parents were both fast asleep on their bed. Mission accomplished!