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All clearPosted on Tue 11 December 2007 at 08:15First and foremost: I went to see the Occupational Health Consultant at 9.30 this morning in Wellington. Thankfully, there is a shuttle bus that runs between Kenperu Hospital and the main hospital in Wellington so at least I didn’t have to drive there. I don’t know that I could have coped with that as I could barely breathe I was so scared. So I showed him my immigration X-ray, only taken last August. And there it was: the same nodule; the same size; the same shape; the same density. How could they have missed it? But it was actually very reassuring as it shows it hasn’t changed at all since then. Dr Berry told me that at some point in the past I must have been in contact with tuberculosis but I don’t carry it and I don’t have it. Nothing to worry about after all. They want a repeat X-ray in a year’s time just to check it but it poses no threat to my health. I was so relieved I nearly cried. But I’m hoping all the crying is behind me now so I just grinned instead. It’s a sobering thought that I MIGHT have had something seriously wrong with me but the first X-ray wasn’t read very well and stated ‘all clear’. However, that’s that done and now I start looking forward again. Yesterday, I started work. Well, yesterday I had a full day of ‘cultural induction’, which isn’t really the same thing at all. There was a big group of us and we were all taken on to the marae within the grounds of Keneperu hospital. You get ‘sung’ on, the full-on Maori welcome. Interminable speeches in Maori and you have to introduce yourself – thankfully in English though. There was a Bavarian doctor who told us about his lineage, coming from a long line of doctors. It was more than I could resist….when it was my turn I told them about coming from a wee village nestled in the hills of the Spey Valley and that I came from a long line of alcoholics – and I was doing my level best to live up to my heritage!! We had to do some role-play and damn me, did I not end up being Busby, the chap who tried to get the Treaty of Waitangi instituted. I made him very arrogant, which pulled a few laughs. And this afternoon, after a quick shop following the trip to Wellington, we were subjected to more induction. God knows how I stayed awake. No, I take that back!!! Yesterday, I was really pleased to see Derek, a social worker I had worked with in Hamilton. He started in Wellington about 3 weeks ago and although we won’t be working together, I was great to catch up with him. He moved down here to be closer to his girlfriend so it is nice to know that at least his love life has taken off. We spent most of the day nudging, pushing each other and pulling dire faces. More of the same today so that kept me awake. He has invited to his New Years party. I doubt I will go as they live in central Wellington but it is still nice to be invited. And nice that he expressed concern about my X-ray saga. So, tomorrow is my first real day at work. I really ought to be ironing something ‘appropriate’ to wear but haven’t got that far yet. Stuff it, I will do it in the morning!! I’m off to sit on the back deck and enjoy the sunset . Still impressed with view from the deck – makes me feel glad I moved. Just too lazy to add the photos of the view – but I will get round to it eventually.
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