When Monday Night Isn't A School Night

This Monday we had the usual Foundation meeting, sans chairs as they were all still at the preschool. I had a surprisingly productive day at work and managed to cram in most of Tuesday's tasks as well in readiness for the holiday. We were hit by yet another stunning power cut so the pharmacy was once again plunged into darkness and resumed its status as The Bat Cave. Requiring a) power and b) light, I relocated first to maternity then to the therapy department, both of which are actually hooked up to the hospital generator. Thanks so much to the bright spark [ha, pun intended and apologies offered in advance] who decided that the pharmacy light circuit didn't need to be included in the power supply, great work, trebles all round!










Anyway, the therapists were happy to let me share their department and I was shown to the very organised 'working area' [as opposed to the non-working area :P ...I'm kidding, the other areas are for seeing/treating patients etc]. I sat and printed all my labels for Ngcwanguba clinic and did some exciting paperwork/admin. It seems to keep on piling up as more and more files and clinic cards land on my desk. I have so many piles of things to do, including a pile that only contains 'To Do' lists...keeping this ARV down referral programme going is definitely challenging me.







Finally someone up there said 'Let there be Light!' and behold, the Bat Cave was transformed into a pharmacy again. I said goodbye to the therapists and took up my rightful seat amongst the boxes of files, TB drugs and surgical gloves. As late afternoon approached, our honorary chemist Liz came in to mix up some potassium chloride suspension. Or, according to our label printer 'Rotassium Chloride Suspensios'. It's got some kind of virus that makes it print completely random spelling mistakes on the labels even if the template on the computer is perfect. Just another one of the little quirks that I love about the hospital!







As Tuesday 27th April is Freedom Day in commemoration of the first democratic elections in South Africa, we had the next day off which meant we could do whatever we liked with our evenings. This being Zithulele, that meant Ultimate Frisbee and a braai :D We played Frisbee for what seemed like forever with three roll on-roll off teams that were pretty evenly matched. You'll be pleased to know that I've slightly progressed from my early days as a Frisbee player and can now catch it on more than 1% of attempts and do, on occasion, actually score some points. It was a laugh as usual and [most importantly] some decent exercise, so I went home in a good mood.







Next on the agenda was dinner with Anita and Etienne at their house which is rapidly becoming the coolest place in Zithulele. They've made loads of their own furniture and this weekend's addition was a beautiful outside dining table that Etienne had made from the left over wood from the new buildings. They've also just had an outside canopy added so we sat outside and chatted, Sam and I taking teenage rebellion to new heights and sharing one beer between us :D We had homemade bread, cheese and herb potato wedges and of course some expertly braaied boerwors and steak, what a feast :D But then again, you are guaranteed some brilliant cuisine whenever you head up that way...







After eating and some post-supper conversation we headed down to the Plaza where a mass braai had also taken place. We arrived just before 11pm with an apple crumble and proceeded to cook it [because late night baking at someone else's house is SO socially acceptable], eating a small portion before heading home before midnight arrived and we turned back into our true pumpkin forms.







Good times :)



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