The Midwife/Nurse Hobbyfarmer

“Where in Scotland are you from then?” When Australians ask about my accent, when we’ve clarified I’m not Irish (😆)  I say “a town called Wishaw, a half hour drive from Glasgow.” Wishaw – home of miners, steelworkers and trade unionists (back in the day) a commuter belt near the M74 to Glasgow, new houses…

1. ⭐️Be yourself, write truthfully with integrity and good intentions. 2. 🫣Try not to sound like too much of a w*#•er (tho some will think you are😆🤷‍♀️) 3. 🤐 Patient/woman’s privacy and confidentiality first and foremost. No one should recognise themselves or their situation. 4. ❌Write about hypothetical scenarios/patients or a blend of, not real-life…

Arriving in Oz joined an agency needing a salary asap. First shift, morning on the postnatal floor of a large public hospital, old building, no AC, stinking hot 35-degree day, white dress, tights clinging, whir of multiple fans, sweat trickling down my back. Women and babies familiar, nothing else, paperwork, language, jargon all different, midwives…

23yrs ago today, 7am, Rob and I hit rush hour traffic, me in full – on labour, waters having broken the night before, two weeks early! Don’t remember much about the journey but singing Christmas carols loudly at the height of each contraction😆 and talking to my mum and dad in Scotland. Into the birth…

1. ⭐️Be an Early Bird no snoozing till 10am, the beasts will be awake, need tending (Every. Single. Morning) 2. 🐮Have A genuine love of animals in all their glory, they’re a big responsibility. 3. ⚡️The ability to embrace chaos, even with the best management, animals escape, storms wreck planting, equipment breaks down 4. ⭐️The…

Things i’ve learned. In addition to antiseptics and bandaids, Australian first aid kits need tick removers, anti-histamines, Stingoes, a snake bandage. 😳 Teeny weeny Scottish spiders will seem cute compared to their large Antipodean cousins. It’s ok to scream like a banshee when a Huntsman spider hiding in the letter box runs up yer arm…

Rob and I have given a home to many animals over the years. I was accosted by a stranger once at the local IGA, “ah you’re from that Noahs Ark house, so many animals in pairs at your place!” It was true. 2 Italian Grey hounds (tiny)2 sheep (fat)2 geese2 turkeysMultiple bantam chooksOh and a…

I’ve always been a bit of a tree hugger, love the rainforest, the eucalyptusy smells, the birdsong, the silence. Neighbours within poking distance is not my preference, i love people but like choosing when I interact and Rob, well he prefers animals! 😆 I’m used to the drive home from work, nose to tail traffic,…