Thinking thoughts

[Loud and clear]

I've sunk my teeth into Jonathan Safran Foer's "Eating Animals" - it's making me think thoughts, but these thoughts haven't accumulated into decisions, let alone action.

Make a note of it

I write notes for myself on surgical gloves, forget, then dispose of them after I've finished with the patient.

I tried keeping notes on pieces of paper but I kept losing my clipboard, so I jotted down info on pieces of scrap paper and kept them in my pockets like a squirrel. The wads of paper would crease and crinkle as i walked around the ward. Awkward.

Now I mostly write on my skin - handwashing means that this too is fallible method. I could always take a leaf from Louie Mckirdy's book and write notes in more obscure places, like my thigh, but that could lead to bizarre bedside mannerisms.

Louie writes notes on his thigh so frequently that he got a tattoo of a notepad there. I thought this a mighty cute idea. So does this person it seems.

[courtesy of benependent]

Now I must remember to buy some wrapping paper...

Faster Pussycat! Skate! Skate!

Saturday night the Hordern Pavillion was transformed into a sporting arena worthy for Russell Crowe to prance around in a leather skirt.

It was Roller Derby night and spectators were allowed to watch from the suicide circle sidelines, or like me from a safer distance in the stands.

Fishnets and eyeliner, this isn't a fashion show, it's a full contact sport and these girls are fierce, with the tatts and names to match (Deb-O-Lition, Trippy Longstockings, Bitcheshire cat, Malice in Wonderland).

The first bout was a battle of the sexes between the all male Mustachio Nuts vs. the feisty Pussywhips. To the backbeats of David Bowie and Daft Punk, sweat and sexual innuendo, it was an evenly matched contest. Despite the heavy hits, speedy skating and tight tactics, the game ended in a nail biting draw.

The second bout was between Sydney's Pistola Cholas vs. Newcastle's Dockyard Dames. These teams are at the top of their leagues and brought it up a notch in skill.

It's a fast game, with a scoring system so complicated it takes 2 people with clipboards, 3 people with white boards and 6 umpires to calculate the points - so even the players have wait in anticipate to what the scoreline is after each "jam".

I regret not taking my camera with me - but you can feast on these images by Melanie Birt of a match earlier in the year between the Screaming Assault Sirens and the D’viants.