Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Wash your hands!

Do you still remember the SARS outbreak in 2003? I do. That's because that was the year whereby I was on clinical placements and I was attached to the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) when it all happened, being interviewed by Channel News Asia, and being featured in the 4th episode of the prgram, Living with SARS. I've tried searching for the program, to no avail. The only way for me to get a hold of the footage (or rather, the entire edited episode) is to purchase it from MediaCorp, which would cost me a bomb.

During the "SARS period", Phua Chu Kang (PCK) was still very much a Singapore favourite. He did a rap on SARS, which included the lines, Wash your hands, in it.


Now, with Swine (or H1N1), I'm yet again on clinicals, this time round in the Alfred Hospital - one of the 2 major public hospitals in Victoria whereby you'll hear sounds of the helicopter hover above your heads as they transport patients to the emergency department.

Recently, the Wondergirls has been a hit, with their song, Nobody. And the Mr Brown show has adapted it for a Wash Your Hands songs. Enjoy watching and do remember to WASH YOUR HANDS.

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Daylesford, Lemon Detox Diet & Clinical Placements

Not been updating my blog again. Been just too lazy to do so.

The past week just flew by with a wink. Went over to visit Daryl last Saturday and luckily I was in time for my dinner of Fish & Chips. I was there 3 minutes before the closing time. I simply love the fish & chips there as I find it the best I've eaten thus far. The fish is fresh and it doesn't have any fishy smell/taste. I had battered and deep fried the last time round and this time, it was grilled. Even though it was grilled, it was still perfect as it was well-cooked, not overcooked and juicy.

Daryl and I had both brunch and dinner over at Cosy Corner Cafe (which is just beside Daryl's spa) in Hepburn Springs. Love the food over in Cosy Corner as well as it's really nice. Been to the curry night on Wednesdays last time when I visited with Bastian and friends. Can't wait to visit again for the Fish nights on Fridays. Also went for a facial over at Acqua Viva Day Spa and it was lovely.

I started my Lemon Detox Diet on Monday for 7 days. It's known as the Neera Detox Diet in Singapore/Malaysia. At first, I wasn't really confident if I would be able to complete the 7 days as I would have to go 7 days without food. It's the seventh day today. The last day without food. And I'm still feeling perfectly healthy, fine without hunger.

The diet's pretty simple. Just purchase the pack for A$87.95 and everything's good to go. I got mine from the spa as Daryl sells them. Started making my "meals" at Daryl's place on Sunday night and I made a big mess in the kitchen. I need the right tools for the right job and without them, I'll just be making a mess of everything, which was what happened. Water, sweet syrup and lemon juice spilling everywhere and such. We went to Ballarat on Monday and I managed to buy the tools. A fruit juicer (the simple ones for oranges/lemons) and funnel.

Start the day off by drinking a liter of sea salt water. It's made from 1 liter of water with 2 teaspoons of sea salt. Thereafter, feel like a prisioner of war due to the bloatedness. It reminds me of the Japanese Occupation during World War 2 whereby the Japanese soldiers would torture people by making them drink lots of water and then step on their bellies. After an hour ot so, feel like a bottom, or someone who's going for a colonic washout. Run to the toilet for about 3 to 4 times in about an hour or so to perch everything in your digestive tract out. Yes, the sea salt water literally goes right through. On Wednesday morning, I thought that it was just gonna be air at first, but I was utterly wrong as I felt that my pants was kinda wet. Yes. I shitted in my pants! Luckily it was only a small amount and didn't go through it to soil the chair.

Throughout the day, drink at least 2 liters of the drink, which I've named it "lemon tea". To make 2 liters of the "lemon tea", take 140mls of the Mahal Bal syrup, which contains palm and maple syrup - yes, it's sweet and i like it (Would even just eat it it it wasn't expensive), 3.5 lemons (which i use 4 normally) and a few pinches of cayenne pepper (which is just red capsicum or red pepper) and mix it with 1560mls of water. I usually add more water to make it about 3 liters (2 full 1.5 liter bottles) so I can drink more fluids and drink it whenever I feel that I'm gonna get hungry. Because of the natural sugar (Glucose and Fructose, found in the palm and maple syrup), you feel energetic and not hungry.

And every night, make a cup of Senna tea to drink. 1 teaspoon of senna tea leaf and hot water. Senna Tea is a herbal tea, which has an effect of a laxative. So it helps in the elimination process every morning.

I'm starting clinical placements tomorrow at the Alfred Hospital. It's one of the largest public hospitals in Victoria. Even though the distance is far from my house to the hospital, I'm not regretting it, as I think I might be learning lots from this 3 week stint. My roster for this week:-

Monday: 8am to 4.30pm
Tuesday: 7am to 3.30pm
Wednesday: 7am to 3.30pm
Thursday: 1pm to 9.30pm
Friday: 1pm to 9.30pm

Which means that I've to be awake by 6am tomrrow to leave the house at 6.40am to catch the 6.49am tram reaching the hospital by 7.50am and on Tuesday and Wednesday, I've to be awake by 5am! And in order to get at least 7 hours of sleep (which the army taught me), I need to be in bed by 11pm latest tonight, which is 20 mins away.

I've had my meal planned out for this week as I'll be "working" and will only be able to start eating "normally" after Wednesday. This is how it looks like.

Monday

Breakfast: Madal Bal Syrup with Honey and Orange and apple juice
Lunch: Apple juice and Orange
Dinner: Pureed Carrot & Vegetable Soup

Tuesday

Breakfast: Madal Bal Syrup with Honey and Orange and Apple juice
Lunch: Chicken & Sweet Corn Soup and Orange with Apple Juice
Dinner: Carrot & Vegetable Soup with Chicken Noodle Soup

Wednesday

Breakfast: Cornflakes with Milk and Madal Bal Syrup and Orange Juice
Lunch: Chicken Noodle Soup with Orange Juice
Dinner: Carrot & Vegetable Soup with Mashed Potatoes

Thursday

Breakfast: Cereals with Milk and Ovaltine with Honey
Lunch: Beef Korma (Lite & Easy)
Dinner: Tuna Sandwich with Butter, Cream Cheese, Peanut Butter and Coconut Jam

Friday

Breakfast: Cereals with Milk and Ovaltine with Honey
Lunch: Fishermans Pie (Lite & Easy)
Dinner: Tuna Sandwich with Butter, Cream Cheese, Peanut Butter and Coconut Jam
Supper: Chicken Rice or Curry Laksa

The reason why I'm having a heavy lunch on Thursday and Friday and a light dinner is due to the fact that I'll be working on PM shift. And a supper on Friday night as it's gonna be my very first "outside food" meal since "recovering" from the diet, with this friend of mine whom I've got quite close to, even though we've only known each other for about 2 weeks.

Anyway, it's time for me to head to bed soon. Have a great week ahead to one and all.

You're blessed and Cheers!