Monthly Archives: April 2008

Macho health care

Who would have thought that health care could be masculine and macho?

Certainly not me.

The areas I worked in where so female dominated that you were at risk of thinking that women were the only people working in Health, with the exception of some really brave medical consultants, who had been lured in at a young age. Although I guess that is what you get for working within the Paediatrics specialty.

Last night I went along to the Cambridge Health Network event in London on Polyclinics. Polyclinics are basically super-duper GP surgeries that are the latest NHS thing. It is convened by some fairly impressive women – excellent. However, You have no idea how surprising it was to find the room filed with bearded men in grey suits. This is of course a slight exaggeration as there was a small number of women but goodness a LOT of men. And the conversation did take a small dive when someone asked whether the government had the ‘balls’ to implement polyclinics and one rather testosterone filled fella replied that his workplace had “so many balls about the place that the used them for chandeliers and drinks mats.” Extraordinary visual image!

It is however interesting to hear such a macho conversation being had when you are discussing provision of health care to people, not beating the opposition in a soccer game or blowing up stuff.

Clearly these people are very influential and are where it is at when it come to health care provision. However, it did feel like a very exclusive conversation that only those that have ‘balls’ could participate in and I wonder what effect this has on decision making.

Spring time in Cambridge

Queens COLLEGE

This pic of Queens’ is just a small taste of how pretty Cambridge seems to be in the spring sunshine. It is curious to think that 3 weeks ago it was under snow for a few hours.

It would seem that this weekend every patch of grass was especially green, and the bulbs such bright and happy colours.

The sun shone for the better part of this weekend and everyone I think took the opportunity to enjoy the gorgeous surrounds.

There was all sorts of maniacal punting happening on the Cam, rather a lot of Lilly-white flesh on display… not so good… and just about everybody had the biggest smile on their face.

Doing good deeds

Today has been excellent fun for 2 reasons. Firstly, the sun came out and more than just a little bit – I mean properly out – I think Cambridge managed an amazing 20 degrees today! There was a need for sunglasses, no heavy coats and most excitingly T-shirts. It was absolutely wonderful. Who would have thought that the big shinny yellow ball in the sky could deliver such happiness!

The other reason for todays wonderful outcome is that I was with a group of MBA colleagues who are spending the weekend rejuvenating a garden. The garden belongs to the Red Balloon charity in Cambridge. Which is a charity that provides an educational environment for young people who have been so badly bullied at school, that they are unable to return. Today was spent shoveling, staining wood, watching 7 fellas debate the optimal way to put up a pergola and similarly the best way to install a pond!

So I have returned home with dirt under my finger nails, a feeling of having been outside all day (which is just lovely) and that I have contributed to helping some kids out as well.

We are back at it tomorrow although sadly the weather is predicted to be 16 and rainy! Not such wonderful weather for digging!

Shisha & Backgammon in Cambridge

Well I smell a bit like I have been at a BBQ; a little bit of charcoal and a little bit cigarette. And I am definitely quite cold enough to have been outside! However, I have not been swilling beer or eating sausage sandwiches..

I was suppose to be at pub night, but instead found myself happily distracted in a Hooka Bar, playing Backgammon and sipping mint tea.

Who would have thought such a place existed in Cambridge?

Mill road is, I suppose, best described as the multicultural area of Cambridge. In this high street there are kebab shops (apparently Carlos’s is the best), asian supermarkets and independent cafes. But within one of the dodgiest looking internet cafes is a Shisha or Hooka bar. Out the back of this cafe is a big white marque, with green garden tables and chairs and mostly men smoking Shisha. Yep I was feeling pretty blond, most definitely fairly female and also culturally rather bland. From what I understand there were Turkish, Arabs, Palestinians and Armenians…and well at least one Australian! An extraordinary collection of people together in one room

So while I smell a bit funny (despite not smoking); I learnt to play Backgammon, sipped minty tea, enjoyed some lovely company and discovered a really unusual side of Cambridge.

Chick Flicks Rule!

I am constantly perplexed by the poor reviews that Chick Flicks receive. Take the one I have just been to see – 27 dresses. Fabulous. It is unsurprisingly about a single girl who is constantly the bridesmaid, who is pining for her boss, who has an impossibly good looking sister (who obviously gets together with said boss) and of course there is the other guy who starts off annoying but turns out to be the one. They live happily ever after.

So while there are certainly absolutely excellent Chick Flicks around, definitely better than this one, It is the certainty of the happy ending, the awkwardness when she/he almost doesn’t make it and the fact that she is always in the most amazing outfits that leaves me smiling and happy at the end.

I don’t head into the cinema for this type of film for my world to be challenged. I want a break from cost accounting, exams, essays and of course I want to believe that there may be an end to my interminable singledom (3/4 isn’t bad for £5?!).

So this is where I am confused about the reviewers expectations of this sort of film – you can not compare it to other films that are created to deliver serious feelings and thoughts, reflections on life.

It was light. It was funny. It made me smile. It was perfect.

New term

So it would seem that we are back in Lectures before we have had a chance to catch ourselves! Or at least that is how it feels. The weekend was just bliss with no worries and a chance to sleep mainly.

It was however wonderful to see those faces that have been out of Cambridge for the better part of the GCP process. To hear how they had got on. Some poor sods are still presenting this week. No matter how bad last week was I am super pleased to not have it hanging about.

This is our last term. Sad as I feel like I am just getting the hang of being a student again. And it also means that the need for a job is ever more pressing. So fingers crossed it is going to be an excellent term with a job I love at the end.

In Grantchester on a Sunday

I love a Sunday that is spent with friends.

Today we spent a lovely afternoon strolling to the nearby village of Grantchester. I do think that Sunday Lunch is one of the best things about this country. We wandered through fields, along the banks of the cam to a pub called The Green Man. Settled down to a roast – including Yorkshire Pudding – and a quick beer. Delightful.

However, we also had an afternoon tea at the very famous Orchard. Which is a haunt for the likes of Virgina Wolfe and E.M.Forster. So we sat in Deckchairs sipped tea, and tasted cakes!

S&S GCP: finished.

Well we made it! But my goodness it nearly killed me. Yesterday we presented to Saatchi & Saatchi. But not after having endured a lot of late nights, intense discussion and risking severe pressure sores and wrist injury from having sat in the same place, tapping away at a computer for sooooo long.

It is quite an odd thing being in the school at 2am. Although, what is possibly more shocking is that we were not the only team trying to get things done. I can think of a number of other teams who were still there as we cycled home. The interesting thing was that the late nights were not because we were slacking, I wouldn’t count not working over Easter as slacking. There was just such a lot of stuff, information to get through.

I get just like a 2 year old when I don’t get enough sleep… I definitely get even more stubborn and definitely have less of an ability to be rational. Possibly the only thing I don’t do is throw myself onto the floor and start thrashing arms and legs about!

Anyway, the team worked really well together. I would go so far as to say the best team yet!

Exhausted? Me to.

My goodness I am Tired. Not just a little tired but big-black-circles under my eyes, pain in my shoulders kind of tired!

It is amazing that no matter how much you frontload a project the final days are just excruciating. I have yet to leave Judge before 9 and had the delightful experience of being there at 1am on a Sunday night! As a group we are working well. I think I have only had a melt down once – so really that is not to bad is it? And I do think that we are trying our best with the content.

Anyway, I just have to remain coherent until Friday afternoon when we do our presentation and have written our report.

And then it will be off to the pub!

Saturday GCP

Well it is a bright and sparkly morning in Cambridge. Although judging by yesterday it could be hailing by lunchtime – people are so rude about Melbourne having 4 seasons in one day.

But really I think the UK could give them a run for their money.

Anyway, we have finished the data collection/interviews and are heading in to JBS for what is going to be a long couple of days as we try to make sense and I suppose create something that is of value for Saatchi & Saatchi.

One of the odd things about the MBA experience is that the weekend has disappeared. I mean I know today is Saturday but I am not doing any of my normal things (pre-MBA); running, going out for coffee, reading the paper or even having a sneaky lie in!

You are always surrounded by work and study – My room is constantly covered in stuff, although this may also be a function of my slightly chaotic system and a desperate need not to forget something. Hard to tell.

Anyway, today is Saturday and I am heading into School!