Girls night out!

There’s nothing like a night out especially when you go out with a group of women. Now I say women, as opposed to girls, because girls denote young women or adolescent women not average age 50 year old women. However, it does sound good to say girl’s night out. We are out to celebrate Lorraine’s last girl’s night out as a single woman. Yes she is joining the ranks of happy married women.



There was much fun, chatting, catching up with friends that we have not socialised for a while with. The food at the Thai restaurant is always superb with ample to eat. Oh don’t forget the wine; bubbly always adds life to the conversation. There’s nothing better than to sit around sup some bubbly and share some funny stories about life, and do we have them, certainly do from babies to sex, oh did I say sex. You can’t have a girl’s night out without talking about sex, good, bad or indifferent.



I must say I was disappointed when it came to the discussion about how to prepare to the wedding night – there is the usual pre wedding, pamper session, facial, massage, nails, hair and trial makeup. That was all fine, however when it came to should Lorraine wax or not, have a Brazilian, high or normal wax, a trim and style perhaps a heart shaped surprise! To these suggestions came aghast of horror from my colleagues / friends, it just goes to show that age may play a part in this process. However I am in the same age group and am partial to a wax and to a heart shaped surprise! It adds zest to the relationship – after all, we are all midwives and there is nothing we haven’t encountered.



It is great to see Lorraine so happy and madly deeply in love, as the song goes, truly madly deeply – yes it warms the cockles of your heart. Rob is charming, they do seem well suited, after all he does love her apple and rhubarb pie. See there is some truth in the old saying "the way to a mans heart is through his stomach". I can't say what else he says she's good at, oh all right then, he says "my wife to be can crumb anything".
I loved my wedding day it was perfect and when I think of it, I smile that warm reassuring smile. There are times I think of Ian and just smile, it’s a wonderful feeling love, and it warms you from the inside and makes you feel brilliant. I am so fortunate. Thank you.

The trick is to maintain this kind of love, the truly, madly, deeply, in this busy world of ours. It is so easy to get caught up with work, life and children and put your relationship second; yes, on occasion I am guilty of this. Therefore we make the time to spend together to put ourselves first. I know that Lorraine and Rob will continue to have this truly madly deeply relationship and I wish them both the very best of everything. I am so looking forward to the wedding on Friday. It is just going to be fantastic.


Lorraine looking at her Rose bush 'Lucina' the midwife rose and her card with a fantastic gift voucher for David Jones, from all of us. "Happy Wedding"

Presenting to your peers!

Hoping the 'Dog Rose" strikes for my husband - his beloved Yorkshire Rose


I was asked last month to talk today about Scope of Practice and Career Pathways to some clinical development midwives, nurses and educators at my old hospital. My first thought was 'no'. However as usual you end up saying 'yes'. I normally don't worry about presentations but I was nervous about this one, the difference being that they are your peers. I feel particularly apprehensive in these situations, it is something I have to work on. Has anyone else experienced this feeling?

When you examine the career pathway for nurses and midwives, it can be limiting. However most importantly it is a continuous process of lifelong learning. As you progress up the stairway you can branch off into clincial specalist - education or non clincal fields, such as; project managers, research, or management areas - this then will lead to Director of Nursing. You will need to be considering masters and PhD by the time you reach the top.

The other issue is that sometimes it feels like you are teaching them to suck eggs, if you know that expression. What knowledge do you impart on people who know and teach the scope of practice? or guide others about career pathways.

I decided that I would set the scene with thinking about 'the self' being 'self aware' examining and processing how each individual approaches different life situations. Who are your role models, who do you aspire to be? for me this might be powerful women such as: Condoleezza Rice Catherine Hamlyn , Quentin Bryce and Fiona Stanley to name a few.

Also it is important to know what is it that you do in your spare time, what are your hobbies, how do you relax, wind down. This is all part and parcel of finding your career path because this all makes up who you are.
However most importantly you have to find out what is your passion, what is it that you like doing most, because once you find that out, you can then plan how you are going to achieve it.

A small step that every one can take is to set objectives or goals. This helps you when you are planning your future, 1 year, 3 year and 5 year plans. Some people found this daunting. If this is the case you need to take smaller steps, look three months ahead. Planning goals does not just apply to your work but your life as well. Set your holiday goals, when is your next overseas holiday, plan it and set it out. You will find once you set a goal it is easier to achieve, of course life can change and so do your plans, but get into the habit of setting goals.

I have always found it useful to set goals, short term and long term goals for both my work and personal life, it helps me achieve the things I want to in life.
If you don't set goals try it, see how well it works. Once you set the goal it is easier to plan how to achieve what ever it is you want.
Its all about taking little steps, when you look back you have reached the top of the stairway, and that's a tremendous feeling.

I am glad today is over, it all went well and according to plan, except once I start talking I can go off track and not stick to the game plan.

The take home message is set yourself a 12 month and 5 year plan, and watch it grow.

Yes luck with the Yorkshire Rose, lets hope they keep growing!