Its Thursday already!!!!

Its been a slow blog week, sorry. Its not because things have been too slow here, I think its just that time has gone so fast and our days are so consumed with learning new things and getting to know people and how things are done here. I haven't had my camera out this week but have a few interesting photos to punctuate this blog with....
The days here are at island pace. Its a relaxed, calm pace but when each encounter with a patient involves a new task, new form to complete or new process, that time is a welcome friend. We are slowly getting to know people and each time we are out and about now we get more waves. Ben and Amy are also getting to know more people and Amy has had a playmate for the past three days.

Tonight is my first night on call. I came home at 5, got dinner in the oven ( baked red emperor ) and was just about to relax when the phone rang. A young Mum with her new baby and a couple of her frightened looking friends were outside, asking for help following an assault. I was surprised by how calm I felt as soon I had them inside, icepacks to injuries and Robert off in the car to collect the health worker. We are so lucky to have a great team of health workers here. When Lucy arrived she took stock of the situation, organised the police for a report and we got the wheels in motion for domestic violence team to escort the young woman and her baby off the island tomorrow to shelter. Now back at home, I reflect on how different this world is to the comfortable one I have left at home, where I know domestic violence exists, but its not in my face, and I can be ignorant of its impact.....this young woman tonight is only 2 years older than Ben, she is already a Mother, and dealing with difficult issues, no one ever wants their children to have to face. My steep learning curve continues...

Tomorrow there is a tomb stone opening here on the island. My understanding is that when someone dies here, the normal burial process takes place but it can be some years later before a tombstone is placed on the grave. At this time, the tombstone is unveiled and a huge feast and party is held. Everyone is invited and the family provide the feast. I think the delay in the unveiling is often the cost of the party! So tomorrow, we are closing the clinic at midday in time for the celebrations to start at about 2. There will be island dancing after the feasting so we are really looking forward to being a part of that and seeing some traditional island celebrations. Rob and I are on call tomorrow night, so hopefully celebrations will be peaceful.....

Week two on Darnley almost complete. Yorke Island seems like a distant memory now, Meringandan even further away...Life has changed forever through our eyes, not in a bad way....just different. Yawo