Annette's Say

Riding through a calendar

noreply@blogger.com (Annette Milligan) — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 14:23:20 PST

I've just been to a family wedding. It was at the other end of the South Island, in Queenstown, a place I've been going to since I was a small child. It's a very different place from the early 60s, but the magic is still there!

The trip was like riding through a calendar - the Lewis Pass full of yellow flowering broom. And on a bike, you get the full deal - fragrance and all! The tussock landscape of the Mackenzie\Lindis, coloured with turqoise jewel lakes of Tekapo and Ohau. The trip home was just as spectacular - over the Crwon Range, with snow falling, and through the rain to Haast, with hundreds of waterfalls through to the West Coast.

It's easy to get busy, head down, forget what we've got around us. We live in paradise - but you only to get to see it by going there.

Summer's coming up. If there are places you want to see, go. Plan. Do. Enjoy.

Sometimes you just have to do it because it's the right thing to do

noreply@blogger.com (Annette Milligan) — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 11:14:40 PDT

I've just watched a movie on the story of Bob Geldof and Live Aid. It's about how he first saw a news clip on the famine in Ethiopia, was so moved that he eventually got the Live Aid concerts on the stage in less than 6 months. Two concerts on both sides of the Atlantic, at the same time, beamed around the world to 1.5 billion people. I remember watching it, sleeping for a while, then getting up in the morning and watching again.

Money was raised for food for Ethiopia, but perhaps more importantly, awareness was raised of what was happening in other parts of the world.

The struggle to get that concert up and running was epic, totally epic. But Geldof never let go, because once he had been to Ethiopia, and seen with his own eyes, he could not turn away.

It's about doing the right thing, even when the personl cost is high.

But so are the rewards. Making music is a fine acheivement, but what this effort did for Geldof, is much more iimportant than the music. When we do the right thing, even if it is the hardest thing, we are the better for doing it.

There's something to be said for hanging in..

noreply@blogger.com (Annette Milligan) — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 12:06:09 PDT

It's a pretty rare thing to have a bright idea, even an idea which would bring really good things to the planet...and have it take off - like a rocket when the fuse is lit.

Mostly, good things are acheived, because good people, with good ideas, quietly slug it out for months, years and even decades.

If it's worth achieving, it pays to remember that you might have to hang in there...

Connections

noreply@blogger.com (Annette Milligan) — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 22:20:43 PDT

In the last few weeks, I've seen an amazing sequence of connections....It can summarised by what happened today.

I'm looking for someone with a particular skill set - I started looking for that person yesterday, and put the word out to a few people then.

This morning - bingo - one of those people come back with exactly the person I'm looking for and wouldn't you know it? It's someone I've already had contact with about other things....

They say that there are six degrees of separation between you and every other person on the planet. In a country like New Zealand there is often only one, sometimes two. That means, if you're looking for someone, just start asking around - you'll probably find the person you need really, really quickly.

Know what you want, and then go looking for the person who can help you make it happen. Just ask.....

Why don't we care about children?

noreply@blogger.com (Annette Milligan) — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 20:06:46 PDT

I'm part of a group working on a seminar to learn more about how to safe-guard children and young people. It's not just the role of parents, or schools or agencies - we all have a part to play in keeping children and young people safe.

If you work with people, then chances are you will see things that show a family is under pressure, or that children are at high risk of harm. What do you do?

You start by doing someting - something useful - sharing the information with an appropriate agency is a good beginning - even if it is just to give them a call and say "I'm worried and I'm not even sure if I should be". Just because you make that call, doesn't mean to say that you will trigger a full investigation - it's not about that, it's about sharing information so the people who make those decisions have as much information as possible.

Don't go to bed worrying about whether you should have done something - call CYFS or the Police and ask to speak to a child protection officer - start by just discussing your concerns with them and showing children that we really do care about them.

Safe-guarding children and young people, and actually anyone who is vulnerable, is something we all should be doing.

Some things never change

noreply@blogger.com (Annette Milligan) — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 19:11:52 PDT

I'm getting ready to present a seminar on managing stress. It's 22 years since I first taught a course - and the amazing thing is that the information I'll be presenting this afternoon is the same as what I presented in those first courses in 1989! There is little improved information available - how about that?

They're tried and true: exercise helps - a lot, nutrition is important, sleep is important, rest and having fun are important to managing stress. So is having a positive attitude - trying to see the best possible interpretation on what is happening in front of us will help us build resiliency.

Having good social connections helps - time with family and friends is vital in managing the pressures of life.

It's basic and simple stuff. And once again - I'll be suggesting changing one thing at a time to slowly change the shape of our lives in building a stress-reduced world around us.

Go for it!

When the trees lose their leaves...

noreply@blogger.com (Annette Milligan) — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 23:17:27 PDT

When I was young, I thought trees looked their worst when they lost their leaves. I grew older and began to see the beauty of the leafless skeletal forms. Now I have something new - the secrets revealed when the leaves are lost.

The magnolia tree in our yard has lost all its leaves. And not until the leaves were gone did we see the summer's secret - a bird had made a nest in our magnolia tree. We watch that tree every day, feeding birds from our deck a metre away, and yet we never saw a single sign that there was a bird family right there.

If every day was full of blossom and green leaves, we'd never see the full picture.

I must remember that when I feel the pain of loss. Yes it hurts. But now I'm going to look for the secrets I would never have seen if the leaves hadn't fallen.

Back from the USA

noreply@blogger.com (Annette Milligan) — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 16:46:25 PDT

I've been more than a little slack in keeping this blog going....just had some time in the USA and chose to spend time playing with family rather than the computer. It's always wonderful to go to another country, especially when you get to see family and friends again! It reminds me again of what is really important in life - it is people, it is people, it is people. Yes, it is wonderful to see some Frank Lloyd Wright and Dale Chihuly, but it will never top playing in the basement with the most georgeous 18 month old baby you ever saw, or kicking around a soccer ball with the most fabulous 10 year old! Life can get so busy, but for me, spending time with family and friends is what life is really all about.

New name for the clinic!

noreply@blogger.com (Annette Milligan) — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 18:47:39 PDT

After 22 years of being Independent Nursing Practice, we asked the question - what do those words mean? And what do they say about us? Well - the result was that we thought our name was confusing people and stopping people from coming to us for doctor's appointments - after all - how would you know there were doctors at a nursing practice?
So - a name change...We've changed our name to INP (to keep the history of how we began), Medical (to show that we have doctors and nurses here) Clinic (to show that we work in a specialised field). We are mostly a woman's health clinic, but we are very happy to see men too.
So there we are: INP Medical Clinic - working in sexual and reproductive health for men and women, young and old!
And hopefully that name will serve us well for the next 22 years!

Jadelle is here

noreply@blogger.com (Annette Milligan) — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 14:21:24 PST

Atlong last there's a new contraceptive option in New Zealand - Jadelle is an implant which is inserted just under the skin of the forearm (it's not too bad - really) and there are two fantastic things about Jadelle. One is that it's as close to 100% effective in preventing pregnancy as you can go. The second is that once it's there, it can stay there for up to 5 years.

Like all contraceptives, there's a downside too - a lot of women have irregular bleeding with Jadelle - not usually heavy periods, but spotting is very common. There can be other side effects too, but the bleeding is the biggest of these.

If you think that Jadelle could be a good option, make an appointment on 03 546 8155, to see a nurse who will tell you all about it and you can decide if you want to go ahead with Jadelle, or there may be another option you prefer. Best thing is - knowing that there is another choice out there - at last!

New Contraceptive

noreply@blogger.com (Annette Milligan) — Tue, 18 May 2010 20:08:51 PDT

Finally, the cocntraceptive, Implanon is avaiable in NZ! It's an hormonal contraceptive - progesterone - very like what is in the mini pill and depo provera. The difference is that Implanon is a short, tiny straw - hollow and flexible, which is inserted just under the skin of a woman's forearm. Once it's there, it can stay in place for up to 3 years. Usually periods stop within a few months, and it is really, really effective at preventing pregnancy.

At the moment, it is not subsidised, so it is quite expensive,but if women are having trouble with other forms of contraceptives, this may well be a good option.

Come in and talk to one of our doctors or nurses and talk about Implanon - it's not for everyone, but it's a very good option for many.

Mother's Day

noreply@blogger.com (Annette Milligan) — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 15:42:22 PDT

You know how your mum is one of the most important people in your life?
You know how mums put their kids' needs ahead of their own?
Well - how about giving your mum something to show her just how important her health is, to you?
You could get her one of our Mother's Day vouchers - it'll help her pay attention to her own health needs - because sometimes mums forget just how really, really important their health is to you and the whole family.

Sandy and Chris at reception desk have the vouchers ready for you right now

HPV Vaccine Works

noreply@blogger.com (Annette Milligan) — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 19:54:58 PDT

There's so much information out there - it's hard to keep up with it.

When I first heard about the HPV vaccine, I was ecstatic! For the first time, we had a vaccine that could prevent cancer: cancer of the cervix. In 21 years of Independent Nursing, we've had only seen one case of cervical cancer, but hundreds of cases of abnormal cells which is caused by the same HPV viruses. Because our screening programmes are so good, very few of the woman with these abnormal cells will ever develop cervical cancer. But they will have to have a smear every year, maybe a colposcopy and treatment for those unusual cells. None of these are very pleasant procedures.

There is now strong evidence that the HPV vaccine significantly reduces the rate of abnormal smears. (http://cme.medscape.com/viewarticle/717010?src+cmenews&uac+99604BV)This is fantastic news! Perhaps one day, the number of women who have to have an annual smear will drop to almost nothing - it would be a dream!

If you are a young woman, or have a daughter, think hard about having the HPV vaccine - it really does work!

How are those changes for 2010 going?

noreply@blogger.com (Annette Milligan) — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 19:20:14 PST

I'm no great fan of New Year resolutions which last 5 minutes, but I am a great fan of having a theme that we work on for as long as a year. And not too many - if we have too much to focus on, we can loose the plot and really not make any changes.

Several people have recommended a book to me: "The Winner's Bible", by New Zealander Dr Kerry Spackman. I wondered about this - is this just another self-help book? The reason I bought my own copy was because I couldn't find anyone to loan me their copy! People I know who have it say that they use it every day!

Well - I've bought a copy. And I've started my own Winner's Bible. There is no doubt that this a powerful tool for making changes in life. One of the important concepts is understanding the connection between our emotions and permanent changes! Part of the process is changing our thoughts and thinking patterns, part is setting goals, part is deliberately changing habits. But a major part is to really what those changes would feel like. Use your emotions to get the best chance of success in making real, permanent changes for a better life.

Twenty Ten

noreply@blogger.com (Annette Milligan) — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 18:13:33 PST

It's 2010 - a new decade and time to reflect on any changes for the new decade.

I'm not big on New Year resolutions - those quick, off-the-cuff ideas which float into the brain on New Year's Eve, and float away the next day. But I am really interested in continuing to make changes to my life which are part of that journey of hopefully, getting wiser as well as older. To do this, I always have one theme that I'm working on, often for a whole year.

I thought a lot about my theme for 2010. And what I've decided to work on is this: focus. I have some goals for the year - goals about getting the CD ROMs I've been part of creating, with Health Click, to the UK. They are both amazing resources - one is called "Sex Smart" and is just about everything an adolescent would need to know to make safe sexual decisions. the other is called "Me" - it's for people with intellectual disabilities and is all about relationships, safety in relationships, how to shower, how to wipe your bottom, what happens when you go to the doctor, and much more. They are both exciting, interesting and really needed by young people. Follow the link to the Health Click website and you'll see what I mean.

My problem is not laziness, I have never been described as lazy. But I do get over-enthusiastic about things, and I am easily distracted, so I forget to do the really important things, like keep up to date with blogging! And making sure that I work on getting the CD ROMs to other places in the world.

Focus! For me, 2010 will be about keeping focussed on my goals. If we really focus on our goals - who knows what you might achieve? Think about a theme for the year - write it down, and keep reminding yourself of where you want to be. It is amazing just how close you get when you really focus on what you want to achieve.

It's a roller-coaster year

noreply@blogger.com (Annette Milligan) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:46:30 PDT

"Tough people last, tough times don't" That's what I am reminding myself as the ecomonic times bite harder through 2009. This is one tough year for many people.

Like all tough times, the people and organisations who survive have to have a certain relience - that ability to bounce back, even when the going gets tough!

It all starts with attitude! Staying positive is just so important in tough times. That doesn't mean that you don't see what is going on around you - it does mean that you are always looking for the opportunities which are right there in front of you. And they are there.

It's really important to keep on track for healthy living - get out and about in the fresh air when you can, meet up with friends, have things in your life which bring you great joy! That is what will keep you going.

AS part of meeting the challenge of tough times, Independent Nursing Practice is looking at every part of our work to make sure that we give an even better service. We've done a bit of brain-storming, and realising that a lot of young people don't know that even when they see one of our doctors, their visit is free is they are under 22 years old. We've been invited to be part of a programme that looks at how we can meet the needs of young men better. We're forming a group to give us advice on how we can meet the needs of Maori and Pacific people better.

If you have have feedback you would like to give us, or if you would like to be part of these groups - please send us an email - we want to hear from you, so we can do better work for you! With your input, and our team - we can do fantastic things! Email us now so you have your say!

noreply@blogger.com (Annette Milligan) — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 17:57:02 PST

It's a new year - and with that, another opportunity to start the year off with new vigor! The question for each of us to ask ourselves is this:

If I could change one thing about myself this year, what would it be?

There are so many things which we can do to have happier, healthier and more fulfilled lives! It's actually incredibly easy to make changes - so long as we make one change at a time, and that we are really committed to that one change.

Get fitter: start doing something physically active which you really enjoy. Take it easy to start out with - take care not to push too hard. Getting out and doing a little daily, is more significant than launching out to a big fitmess programme you can't sustain.
Take some care about what you eat. It's proven - healthy food, in healthy quantities, keeps you healthier! Treats are just fine now and again - it's the day-to-day eating which makes the difference. Many New Zealanders are just slowly putting on weight at a rate of 1 kg a year - that's just under 3 grams - about the equivalent of one potato chip a day!
There are many ways to make yourself happier but here's one : do something for someone else - random acts of kindness are good for you (and everyone else).
Think about what you want in your life, not what you don't want. You may not always reach you ultimate goals, but you'll get much, much closer than if you have no direction at all.
Just do it - now! There's nothing like putting things off to never get to where you want to go. Start you're new change today - right now! Getting started is often the hardest part of all. Just get out - and do it.

Have a wonderful, healthy, fulfilled 2009

Annette Milligan