finito

stick a fork in me - i'm done.

the only occurence of note during my final week at latrobe regional hospital was that i partially dislocated my shoulder during a particularly vigorous operation on tuesday. i didn't realise at the time, but the stupid thing was aching all night and when i was on ward round the following day, i felt a distinct 'pop' and suddenly had my full range of movement back...but no great reduction in pain :( i had been so excitedly insomnia-ridden for the week previous (secondary to the impending adventure) that the mild depression brought on by my retarded right arm at least afforded me some sleep at night.

did my bit to milk the southern health cash cow bone dry today with a 14 hour locum shift. as i handed my pager in to an unusually friendly switch-bitch at the end of the day and walked out through the tastelessly decorated front foyer, i felt that a moment in time was being marked: ondrej the doctor had become ondrej the something else but not a doctor, and i felt a deep sense of elation.

the year has been wonderful, but the new wrinkles around my eyes and the grey hairs (at the advanced age of 25) are indication enough that it's time for me to get some fresh air, some perspective, and some more adventure back into the game.

10 days to go. visas need to be organised, the wrong dialect of arabic needs to be learnt, queensland registration needs to be finalised, and loved ones need to be seen and enjoyed.