Wild Outdated Wednesday

My ipod is playing away - but despite having the music I've specifically selected, I get through about 2 minutes of each track before I hit the 'skip' button and move to the next one. I liked the track, but I'm ready for the next. And the next. And why isn't there something new already? Sure I downloaded new tracks today, but they're not new enough.

I walk past the newspaper stand in the morning and don't buy the paper because I know it's already out of date despite having just landed off the truck. I go online and know the update on the update. 

We used to have years when certain things were 'in' or 'current' , then it was seasons, now it's minutes or seconds. Sometimes in fact, they're over as soon as they've been mentioned. If you don't know what the new black is, then you're already too late. 

With facebook updates, text messages and now GPS enabled phones you can know not just what people are doing RIGHT NOW but where they're going - you can even see where they are before they get there if you track their iphone on your iphone, cross link with google street view and local web cams...

So what's today's wild wednesday challenge?

Forget the updates. Buy the paper, read it on a park bench with your phone, GPS, ipod, blackberry, notebook all switched off. Wear something out of date. Don't cut your hair. Don't wear hair products. 

Have an update-free day.

Breathe a little.

I stuffed up

The Interview Panel below was initially published with the incorrect link to the blog the naked drag queen - it's now been updated. Apologies Bruce. Everyone please go and click on the correct link now. He does good blog.

Interview Panel Tuesday August 5th

Superchilled asked a selection of people, who also blog, questions about life the universe and everything. 

Here are some of their responses:

If you could take the place of any world figure (ie you take on their role) who would it be?

The Green Light at the end of the Dock

Martin: Bono – he has taken a successful music career, stepped out of the box and now has direct access to many high level players at a political level. To be him you could experience being a famous entertainer and influential philanthropist simultaneously.

Just Beautiful Men

Eric : Outside of politics, if there was a world renown figure I'd like to replace, it would probably be Peter Jackson. Just the thought of having free-artistic/creative reign for a major motion picture production possibly viewed by millions around the world would be my ideal dream job... (emphasis of course on the 'dream' part)... Also I wouldn't mind replacing Richard Branson... that guy might quite possibly have the most exciting life out of anybody else I can think of (being a billionaire is always a plus too)...

Geoff & Terry

Geoff: Any great movie director with the aim of making the definitive film that shatters the consciousness of anyone who watches it (from that moment onwards they cannot help but see the interdependence of life on this planet).

Terry: Secretary General of the United Nations (Geoff says I need to add a rationale- It would be great to be in a position where I could really support and push humanitarian principles especially in the realm of individual human rights).

London Preppy 

LP: Rocco Ritchie because he's blonde, rich and free of any responsibility.

the naked drag queen 

Bruce: I would hate to try and fill anyone else's shoes to be honest. Mine fit quite nicely. But, if I was to play a role similar to anyone I admire it would have to be the actress Shirley Maclaine. (Go easy I could've said Liza, Bette or Barbra!) I admire Shirley because she has written material that deals with spirituality and self discovery and then found a way to perform it on stage in a sensational way. She is gutsy and eager to learn more about life and her writing books such as "Out on a Limb" and "Going Within" have made a big impact on my life.

Food for the Soul

Saturday brunch I cooked scrambled eggs with smoked salmon, slowly roasted tomatoes, and mushrooms on sour dough brought in from Bourke Street Bakery by our weekend guests.

I guess it's my signature brunch menu. But I like it.

With our friends we took our dogs walking to the beach and rock platform near home and most of us got drenched by some rogue waves that were higher than anticipated. We laughed a whole lot even as we walked in squelching shoes back home. Those classic moments that are embedded forever in one's memory. I love the waves, I love the power of them, and on this sunny day they were particularly spectacular as they surged over the rocks, and us. 

Dinner on Saturday was based around a vegetarian risotto that developed from various element brought in and some we already had. Today's brunch was cooked by our guests who combined various fresh fruits, crepes and bacon with maple syrup. Now I know it's a popular combination in North America (? anywhere else?), but here and to me it's a confusing mix. I tried it for the first crepe, and it wasn't bad - but I stuck with more traditional combinations for my subsequent crepes. 

What I liked most about the meals this weekend was that everyone brought something, made something and became a part of the whole food preparation experience. A sharing thing. A communal thing. Spending time sharing experiences, discussing all and sundry and just being. Doing it at home is much more rewarding as there's never pressure to leave like when you see the closed sign hung up on the door. And it was all pretty spontaneous, which made it all the more fun.

The Frenchman's Chocolate cake didn't hurt either.

Did you cook anything for your weekend?

'This is not a drill' Friday.

By the time I have breakfasted at diggies with friends - it's already been a busy work day. But there's a whole new day ahead, and I'm certainly not expecting what comes next.

A short time later as I'm walking out the door of the hospital where I'm based, to go do a series of home visits, a whole movie scene plays out literally at my feet.

There's a car pulling up urgently in front of the hospital. As it stops two men drag this limp body from the car towards me. Through the automatic doors they deliver a man with a congested blue face to my feet. He's unresponsive. They're yelling urgently,' he's been blue for a few minutes', 'he's overdosed on heroin', 'he needs narcan' as they slap him about the face and yell his name, hitting him again as if it might reverse his drug induced coma. 'Do something!' they yell as I stand in a vacant entry corridor in a hospital with no emergency department. There's no alarm to press, no equipment to speak of and not a lot of people around, just a lot of wind that has also just blown in from the west.

I put my briefcase and files on the floor and go through the routine resuscitation steps,  he is breathing but hardly and ineffectually, he has a strong pulse still, thank god, but he needs a working airway and the narcan (which rapidly reverses the effect of the heroin) as his fellow junkies have said. Still, despite much yelling and sending off of staff who have wandered by, no cardiac arrest team has arrived and we have no equipment, no oxygen, and he's still blue. 

Ultimately equipment arrives and with an ad-hoc team he is brought back to life. [Think airways, Oxygen, IV cannulas, and the revered Narcan.]

It's a very irregular start to my day in palliative care. I wander off as he sits up and starts vomiting. He's breathing, he's alert again with the general hospital staff now looking after him. I'm a little shocked, and a little pissed off at the people who so carelessly come close to death on a daily basis.

my gym

The patient I am going to see doesn't answer when I knock on his door; despite me prearranging the visit. I call his mobile and he's shopping at the supermarket. I'm exhausted and I really haven't started. Eventually I finish work and get to the gym where I run for 35 min and gruel through weights, abs and stretching which actually replenishes my energy levels. On my way out of the mostly straight gym I am propositioned by a cute guy who's also just finished there. I smile. 

Oh, what a day of contrasts.

Blind Date Wednesday

This week's Wild Wednesday is courtesy of Martin from The Green Light at the End of the Dock.

So, I’m single – and hating it, although I am having quite a bit of fun…

Being single in a world of “couple-friends” is not great, and they all seem to have decided that I need some help – so some of them have started setting me up on blind dates. Some good, Some bad, and Most Ugly.

What strikes me though is the spirit in which it is done – and that’s today’s challenge. Set a friend up who’s been single too long, bring soul mates together – but that’s not necessarily where it stops. A blind date can be giving clothes to charity, helping at a soup kitchen, volunteering at an old age home, helping a colleague who’s just not coping, or leaving an extra big tip for your really cute waiter… the list is wide as your imagination.

Often you may not see the recipient, but you’ll know that in that moment you’ve made that person’s day – and that is, after all, the spirit of a blind date…

Wild Delegation Wednesday

Today is Wild Delegation Wednesday.

There's something that you're supposed to do, but you're not doing it - you're giving it to someone else to do. Right now.

And today Wild Wednesday is being delegated out to Martin from The Green Light at the End of the Dock. He will be posting here in about 6 hours... so until then - delegate your tasks out.

I am.

Hot Chill

With max. temperatures plummeting here, I'm escaping a little with a reminder of summer. Aussiebum always manage to capture the essence of it, at least the essence that I best remember.

I keep hearing of friends in the northern hemisphere enjoying the summer, and wish I was still there... 

To all of you who are there - I hope you're having a great time. 

Anyone got some fun summer stories? I'd like to at least be able to pretend to be warm!

Le Tour du Monde

I've been following Le Tour de France over the past 3 weeks, and am watching the last few km of the race as I type. They've been racing around France, hundreds of km per day, up and down alps and the like and still at the end there is just a minute between the top 2 competitors. They're all very good to have even made it this far, and it makes me think. To make it to the front you've got to be good, consistently good for a long long time, and even when you are - there are people breathing down your neck all the time. 

But in the Tour, as with life, there may be one person who is seen to stand out, but quite a barrage of people who have supported them all the way.  And there are very few people who get anywhere without the support of the people around them. 

I've been thinking this weekend, as I've caught up with friends who are innately supportive, helped other friends through tougher times, and at various times recently been in touch with people who have been great touchstones for me, how lucky I am to have the people that I do have in my life. Sometimes I lose sight of that - and sometimes I'm disappointed with people - but there are those who are always there, who always make an effort - and those who will challenge me when I need it and with whom I can be completely relaxed. It's these people who help me to be a better person, to have the confidence I do, and to try and be a Tour winner in my own world.

Who are the support people in the Tour of your world? and who are you a support person for?

Torn - with visual aids

Great song and this interpretation is very very funny. 

Even if you've seen it before.

Start your Sunday off with a twist.

Friday

This morning I wake up and it's dark, very dark. I don't wake up spontaneously mind you, it's a knock at my door. The doctor replacing me has arrived and I scramble to find some clothes to wear before letting him in, handing over in the mumbling tones of someone still half asleep not really wanting to wake, and go back to bed again. I'm woken again at 8am to a cardiac arrest alarm that would wake the dead. I was dead but now I'm not. I think hmm, should I help with that? And as I think it, it goes silent- a false alarm, I get up anyway as I want to swim before breakfast. The swim is good - it's a tad warmer than last night and has the bonus of a glimmer of sun.

Friday breakfast is at the usual diggies at the beach. The weather has kept the crowds at bay and Jamie & I sit outside in essentially our own space and chat and eat for the next hour. I'd been feeling somewhat unsettled through the week, but time spent with Jamie makes me feel completely at ease again. Something about friends who are just always keen to be there and not ever demanding of anything that makes the world a better place. So this morning my world is a better place, and the rest of the day continues the same way.

At work this week - apart from some patients who have almost literally driven me crazy, it has been decided that I'm going to get some of my photos framed and up on the waiting room walls, even available for sale if I like (and I do) which essentially gives me my own gallery space. I'm excited about the prospect. Invariably there will be criticism, as one of our receptionists reminds me, but that's okay. As long as it's all GOOD. 

The pressure's on. 

Update

Ok so the week has improved from Tuesday, thank god.

Swimming does always make a dent into any stress, and Tuesday night despite a 22 degree pool and a very chilly night the swim squad (I say squad even though I was the only one in my lane), I pushed hard through the session and felt a new man at the end. No not someone else.

I have some things on my mind - quite a lot of things on my mind actually right now - and when I can put some of them into text, I'll let you know. In the meantime if you feel like looking at some of the photos from our Arctic Tour - I've finally updated the travel blog with a lot of photos which you can find by clicking here, or click the flashy animation I made for it in the right column.

Wild - things to do with Milk - Wednesday

I was at the gym Tuesday when the music video below came on - I was mesmerised. Not only is the song from Australian group The Presets great , but the video is quite spectacular - milk features quite heavily in the photography so I figured it would make an interesting wild wednesday theme. 

What can you do with MILK today? 

You might drink it, cook with it, make it into something particularly tasty, or maybe you'll be a bit more creative and bathe in it, make milk bombs (ie balloons filled with the white stuff) making for quite the splash or something more grand. There are a few examples below. I'm starting by pouring it on my cereal and then we'll see what I can do with it through the day...

Grab yourself a pint and get whited.

Inside or Out.

The Presets: This Boy's in Love   4min 11sec

Terrible Tuesday

It's been a hellish working day for me and for quite a few friends I've spoken with today. Just everything happening and most of it bad, very bad. I hope you haven't been affected by it too, if you haven't started work yet today or are just starting: - get out get out - come back on Wednesday, which will hopefully be a better one.

Billboard ads we can do with more of: No.2

This series of ads in Stockholm is initially intriguing, and then quite refreshing. Made me laugh and then smile. 

Click on each for a larger version.

I've typed in a translation for the final text ad. 

I thought it might add some flavour to the recent Papal issues here in Oz.

Anyone have images for some other fun condom ads? 

Feel free to email them to me at superchilledtrevor@gmail.com - and I'll see if I can find some extra billboard space for them here. 

18|X : Things I'd do differently if I were 18 again

I'd actually seduce my university crush (god there were so many opportunities!) rather than find out later he was gay too.

I'd go out with friends to clubs & bars & things even though I didn't (and still don't really) drink. When I recall the Scandinavians who asked me to join them... and I didn't... what was I thinking?

I'd come out earlier - and hopefully avoid hurting all the people who were in love with me, with me oblivious to it all.

I'd do some more serious swim training early and get ahead of the pack then rather than working my way there now.

I'd have asked my religious leaders some more serious questions and voted with my feet a lot earlier.

In my summer breaks I'd find a way to work with advertising campaigns like the A|X one above, rather than working as a salesman at Grace Bros. (department store). 

I'd not care what people think about me as much as I did. 

I'd have read more widely, and studied more than just medicine.

The Dr is IN

Wednesday's are automatically wild here at superchilled, but rather than challenging you, today is your chance to ask me things. You know, stuff. Whatever you want really - it can even be medical stuff if you like. And my job will be to answer your questions, whatever they are, in a way that will be either informative or entertaining; hopefully both.

In case you're wondering (as you ponder what question/s to ask) this photograph of me on the right was taken on a car ferry (one of many) in Norway in late June. You can tell by the position of the sun that it is in fact daytime, or possibly night time, or really - you just don't know in Norway in summer, but obviously it isn't as warm as Australian summers as I'm not wearing bare skin or a T-shirt only - but it's winter in Oz, so I'm happy to take what I can get. I'm not taking the guy on the chair in this photo though, because, well, I prefer the Frenchman.

Ok, now I'm ready for questions.

I think.

World Youth Day - Yay! (or NAY)

World Youth Day starts today here in Sydney and goes until Sunday July 20. That's ONE BLOODY LONG DAY!

As The Frenchman texted from the streets of Sydney the other day "Sydney is hell: Christians everywhere!"

And to top it off The Pope is here to spread more misinformation to the ignorant masses. I'm afraid anyone who still condemns the use of condoms in a world where HIV is rife (especially Africa where the church has a strong hold) is in my eyes murderous and cannot be considered fit for the role as a leader of any kind. His homophobia and reluctance to deal with issues of sexual abuse by priests is just mouldy icing on an already rotten cake. 

Why do people let men like this lead them? Why do they have such high office and why do people still listen to them? 

I just don't understand.

At least one local priest is willing to object (click here for article) - why is he so in the minority?

Accordingly we have decided to add a new 4 letter word to our list of swear words, POPE. Use it anywhere you might otherwise use any other 4 letter word and put it in it's rightful place. 

What the pope? you say. 

Give me a popeing condom, I don't give a pope what the Vatican says. 

Happy Youth Day.

If you're still in Sydney - it's too late to get out. 

Can I have a burnt macchiato with a twist of instant?

What is it with coffee drinkers? In the past decade or two the quality of coffee available around the world has generally skyrocketed. The variety of coffee choices is huge - espresso, macchiato, ristretto, latte, cappuccino, mugaccino, flat white, long black, mocha, affogato, espresso corretto, cafe au lait, cafe freddo...

Not only do we have an enormous choice of coffee styles, but a huge array of combinations we can order to make the 'perfect coffee' , with variations including low fat, soy, skim, decaf, organic... (We haven't even started to talk about the choice of coffee bean, its origin and the social implications of same).

Despite the increased choice, sophistication and penetration of great coffee in the past 10 years, it seems increasingly common to hear complaints like: It's burnt , it's too strong, too weak, tastes like instant, too cold, too much milk, too little froth, not as good as at Pedro's, it's too thick, there's no crema... Soon Baristas will be paid more than Barristers to keep the discerning coffee drinkers of this world happy. Perhaps the increased choice has upgraded everyone's taste buds as well.

How often in a caffeine depleted low have you or people you know sought a caffeine hit in an unfamiliar cafe and, at the sight of a drip filter machine or even more inferior coffee culture, made a bee-line for the exit despite a world-crushing caffeine-free headache?

Are those who still live an oblivious existence on International Roast, or an equivalent instant, the losers in this world - or are they lucky to have escaped the caffeine elite with its constant disappointment?

Do Cry...

I had a patient cry during a consultation yesterday. A blokey Australian guy - in his early 60's.  It wasn't the usual scenario: life falling apart, depressed, relationship on the rocks, crying experience. They were tears of joy. He'd started to make the lifestyle changes I'd suggested, in fact he was doing it with much gusto. He was cycling and walking and pushing himself hard, eating sensibly. He'd also quit drinking alcohol(which had been to dangerous levels) and after some weeks of doing this was feeling out of his skin, so much energy, so much drive and able to do so much more than he ever could before. It was like he was given a new lease of life. He was empowered in more ways than one and felt fantastic. It was awesome to see. Also great to have been some kind of stimulus in this life changing experience which was ultimately the result of his own effort. 

These are the kind of experiences that make all my constant harping to patients so worthwhile. In fact it made my day.

Who would have thought?