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Arachnids, Reptiles and Many Small Beasties

Things i’ve learned.

In addition to the usual antiseptics and bandaids, Australian first aid kits need tick removers, anti-histamines, Stingoes and 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 runs up your arm or blood-filled leech falls ‘splat’ at your feet (it did) having sneakily attached to your abdomen as you walked innocently through the rainforest earlier.

Rescue and Release

Rob and I have given homes to many animals over the years, I was once accosted by a stranger at the local IGA, “ah the Noahs Ark people, so many animals in pairs at your place!” It was true!😆

2 mini- Italian Grey hounds
2 sheep (fat)
2 geese
2 turkeys
Multiple bantam chooks
Oh and a friendly peacock

Our own petting zoo.

The peacock (long gone) would often fly up on the deck, display its magnificent feathers then shit on the hand rails and often seen strutting up the animal- hating neighbours driveway, presumably shitting on theirs too. It also had a distinctive raucous call which Rob found charming, me not so much.

Along with the petting zoo we managed everyday life, work, home, acreage, little kids and with no family nearby the chaos was all ours (both sets of grandparents spent many long holidays with us, always such a wrench when they left😩😔)

The Big Tree House

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, petrol fumes, tradies driving up my arse. All worth it 40 minutes later when I park under the tree in front of the house, swing the car door open, feel my nervous system go aaaaaah soon as feet touch the ground

Moving entire countries, buying land, building a home together was a challenge, many “aah, that’s what we should have done” moments since. 🤦‍♀️

Learning To Be A Nurse Glasgow 1983

I’m from a family of nurses going way back.

Great auntie Evelyn nursed in London during WW2.

Great Auntie Jean was a “Call The Midwife” helping women birth at home, day and night, in 1950’s Greenock in Scotland.

Three of dads’ sisters were nurses and my own mum was a district nurse in the community. Watching her leave home of a morning in navy uniform dress, hat and coat with the big nylon bag over her shoulder full of mysterious dressings and paraphernalia, I knew I wanted to keep up the family tradition.

A Community Midwifery Service QLD 1997 – 1999

An accurate quote ❤️

Midwifery is both joyful and painful. We see the best and worst day of people’s lives in our everyday experience. We are incredibly lucky to be part of women’s lives when things are bright and jubilant, but also when they are darkest and most difficult. It allows us to see the light and shade of life in its sharpest exposure
Alexandra Ryan

Another Day At The Office

EMERGENCY 🤕🤒

Greet smiley RN at the fish- bowl command centre then head off into the mix of unwell humanity

What’ll the day bring? Slight nerves give an edge working in a place like this, keeps you on yer toes.

People everywhere, organised chaos.

Police, bodies slumped on trolleys, paramedics queue with their unwell human cargo, “not too bad today” says one. A baby wails in the background. A young beetroot faced lass is “finding it hard to breathe.”