"Waiting Room" Survival

Greetings

Have you ever sat in a waiting room and thought "This is taking ages."? I think that we all have. For those of us with chronic health issues this is a common thing, mostly waiting for doctors. While this is mainly focused upon this sort of waiting period, it also applies to waiting for things in general. This post is aimed at how to survive the long wait, be it in a waiting room or waiting for something else to happen.

With regard to waiting, in Australia, the most common is waiting with regard to being in the public health system, but can be applied to pretty much anything designated as "public", be it public transport, or social security. In all these instances there are periods of waiting, regardless of when your appointment was supposed to be, the question here is how to survive the wait.

1. Patience is important. Getting annoyed about having to wait is not going to get you anywhere. It is more likely going to annoy the people who you are waiting for and also the office staff with whom you will have to deal. This is not helpful to them and certainly not helpful to you. Waiting lists count with regard to this one. No point in getting all up in arms if there is nothing you can do about it. Having patience in these situations will help immensely, put your mind on something else besides waiting, this leads to the next point.

2. Look at this situation as an opportunity rather than a burden. This will require a different point of view, and a slight change in attitude with regard to waiting. You can sit there and watch your life tick away, or you can do something productive. The time which you spend in the waiting room could be spent doing something useful. I have found it is useful for making lists and planning for what I am going to do with the rest of the day, and this is just the tip of the iceberg. Change your attitude and look at this as an opportunity.

3. Bring something to read. I pack a book whenever I leave the house, and especially when I am going somewhere for an appointment or will be taking public transport. In fact, for the most part this is my prime time for reading, nothing else better to do then you might as well read. This works best if you pick something that you are really interested in reading. The local rag newspaper or celebrity magazine will only really hold your interest for a little while. Find a novel or some other book to read that you are actually interested in and you will find that time will fly along. Only one point, if you are on public transport, just make sure you still get off the bus or train when you need to, it is a little embarrassing missing your stop because you were too engrossed in your book.

4. Find a hobby that you can do when you are out, or at least read about when you are out. This links back to the previous point in some ways, but also gives you more options. There are things which you can do which are conducive to waiting rooms. Writing, especially with today's electronic means is easy. Knitting is also an option, just be a little careful in your choice. Wood carving in the waiting room of a hospital does not inspire confidence. The choice of book becomes a lot easier when you are reading about a hobby or when the hobby has a lot of books about it. In my particular case I can always find a fencing book to read and there is always something to research.

Surviving the waiting room is not all that difficult, sure it is frustrating, but you can get things done and while away the time relatively usefully. The same can be said for being on waiting lists for specialists or whatever. Ignore how long it is taking and go and find something to do which will take your mind off it. Look at your time waiting as an opportunity to get something done, or get a good book read and you will find that the idea of waiting rooms or public transport actually becomes a positive thing rather than a negative one.

Cheers,

Henry.

Memories of a Great Man

Greetings,

On the 6th of July 2014, Brad Walker passed away, he was surrounded by his three children and their spouses. He passed away after a long fight with chest infections which go back seven years, and also due to injuries sustained during a fall almost a week earlier. These are the simple facts, but they hide a much more important story, he was my dad.

My dad was great. He is not a person whose name you will find in any history books, nor will there be grand memorials built to honour him, yet he was great. He was great to his family and great to his friends. All who knew him will remember him as he touched all of their lives in different ways. To some he was father, to some he was brother, cousin, son, nephew, husband, grandfather, father-in-law and friend. I am sure that he is now with my mother, the love of his life and they are happy again together. This gives me great comfort.

For me my father was a great teacher, he taught me right from wrong and how a man should act. He taught me how to play cricket, he taught me how to shoot, most of all he taught me one of the most important lessons of all, don't quit. Regardless of what you are up against, regardless of the odds which are against you, don't quit. Fight your hardest, so even if you do fail that you know you did your best.

My father supported me in what I wanted to do, regardless of how off-beat or crazy it was. Unlike my friends who wanted to have "conventional" occupations, I decided I wanted to be an historian. My father supported me in this, giving me two great tools to use to assist in this, an inquiring mind. and his support. Later I decided that I wanted to write, and start a fencing school, once again he was there with support, asking how things were going and giving advice about things I should think about. I was never lacking for support from him.

I do not think it necessary to give specific memories of my father and myself here to show you the man who I am talking about. I also do not think it necessary to show you images of my father to show you who he was. The important thing is that he was my father and he was great. He may not be remembered in the history books, but he will be remembered by many.

Cheers,

Henry.