Brilliant. It’s
As for a career I now have the life of Riley which I will tell you all about at some point. But quite a change from building power lines
Brilliant it’s people like you and @Tomdoc that keep people like me alive and kicking. I’ve had so many major injuries over the years inc both knees replaced , shoulder replaced other shoulder repaired, countless broken bones and pins holding them together plus scars far too numerous to count on top of that three major stomach operations due to complications from Bilhartzia amongst other other gut related issues. Approaching 62 yrs and still hope to be fighting fit within the next month . My aim is to be back to doing press ups, pull-ups, squats, rowing machine and cycling by month end following gut surgery on 26 April. As my surgeon says most people we have to encourage to exercise enough with me they have to hold me back.I’m an anatomical pathologist , anatomical pathology being the gold standard of diagnosis when it comes to the need to take a biopsy to confirm or investigate a diagnosis.
A bit like an OBD tool – microscopy takes guessing out of the equation!
A fair proportion of my work concerns cancer diagnosis , often a highly complex and time consuming task of which the patient is generally unaware.
I don’t do the job for likes , thanks or joy – there is none!
But I enjoy being a contributor to a team that keeps people in the best state of health possible so they can get on with their lives.
That said , like a pilot there is no room for error and a constant stream of work under time pressure conditions. I have no control over the workload and am salaried – not paid/case.
After 26 years of FT work , for my sanity I decided to step back to a 7 day fortnight, which gives me mental circuit breakers. After all , each day requires the mental effort you would recall from 2x3 hour exams in high school/uni.
How did I get here?
At school I enjoyed science , esp physics , and was an amateur astronomer. Just before the end of matric I applied for medicine as I figured 6 years study – which I was good at – and no rush to enter the workforce.
Accepted onto a surgical training program but after 2 years of ICU , A&E , plastics , orthopaedics and the like had had enough of the afterhours and wanted to see my wife more often (she is a GP).
So I switched ; 6 years more study and at 32 fully minted as a pathologist.
The Port Arthur massacre (’96) was a “highlight” and being involved in the mortuary at the time was a sobering experience.
My job uses hands (dexterity in performing surgical cut ups of biopsies ranging from small to large.
(I performed >1000 autopsies in training , but none since ’97) and eyes/brain. It’s an evolving and complex field ,especially nowadays with molecular pathology and complex targeted treatments for various cancers. Keeping up with the latest and greatest is necessary - and monitored by the “authorities”.
Regrets? Yes maybe – perhaps should have done Ag science or geology, because I love getting out in the wild and bringing back stuff to study – it’s a hobby now, and should keep me active in my dotage.
I work hard on fitness to counteract stress and the ergonomics of a day job, and allow trips in the wild as well as a helluva lot of gardening on our acreage.
I enjoy the classic car hobby as it is a paradigm for keeping ageing things “on the road.” Plus the physical and mental challenges involved.
As the next few years pass I intend to gradually drop working days to increase my leisure time , to a large part guided by my Grenadier!
My often black humour is standard fare for those who work in health , emergency services etc.I t stops us going completely mad.
As for a career I now have the life of Riley which I will tell you all about at some point. But quite a change from building power lines
