tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40277570518718581962024-03-05T05:27:01.356-08:00Running with horses'If you have raced with men on foot and they have wearied you, how can you compete with horses?'
Jeremiah 12:5Jimmy Teehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10174906526668767111noreply@blogger.comBlogger133125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4027757051871858196.post-4055327165400667492020-11-12T10:22:00.001-08:002020-11-12T10:26:14.712-08:00A year of wilderness - part 1 <p> </p><p>'For God gave us a spirit <span style="color: #ffa400;"><i>not of fear</i></span>, but <span style="color: #ffa400;">of </span><i><span style="color: #ffa400;">power</span> </i>and <span style="color: #ffa400;"><i>love</i></span> and <span style="color: #ffa400;"><i>a sound mind</i></span>.'<span> </span><span> <span> </span> </span>2 Timothy 1:7<span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span> <br /></p><p>It took me a while to realise that I am in the wilderness. </p><p>I finished 2019 on a high. Passed my fellowship exams, had a great time in Prince Charles Hospital functioning almost like a consultant doing most operations independently, spending more time with my wife and kids and just being relaxed most of the time. And then I started the transplant fellowship at the Princess Alexandra Hospital in February this year. That's when I started on a slippery slide toward stress and anxiety, depression, relentless self introspection and scrutiny, constant feeling of inadequacy and failure. </p><p>I had thought that this job is many years in making - how God has guided me to PAH since I was a resident in Sunshine Coast, assisting in my first ever retrieval with Prof Fawcett and Nick Butler (he was SET 5 then) when they came up to Nambour Hospital, assisting Andrew Robson when he came up to Cairns for retrieval and then again at Royal Brisbane Hospital, meeting Kellee Slater in core course and forming a connection, driving past PAH everyday on my way to work in the past 2 years and having a prompting in my spirit that God would lead me there one day. I had heard that PAH is tough place to work in, like a modern day 'Babylon', where the culture is toxic and unfriendly. I would never have imagined that I would one day work there, if it weren't for the assurance I had in my heart that that's where God wanted me to be. </p><p>I must admit that before I started, I had thought that I would be like Daniel in Babylon in the bible, experiencing triumph in a hostile environment because I believe in God. I thought I was 'good enough' for PAH. After all, I did excel in Royal Brisbane. And all the stories I have heard about people failing in PAH, I thought it must be because they just 'weren't good enough'. </p><p>Ah.. What a naive thought. I could not have been more wrong in my life. </p><p>Six months into the job, I was more depressed than I have ever been in my career. I have never felt so lousy about myself. I found myself very fearful of certain individuals, fearful of what they thought of me and the influence they have over my future. Whenever I was with them, I became paralysed. The skills and gifts that I have just became dormant and inoperative, and I looked like a dead chicken in front of them, which further fueled their distaste of me. So many times I ended up saying yes to people when I really wanted to say no, because their approval matters so much to me. Often when something happened which triggered painful memories, or something that someone said, my entire soul just goes into a messy tangle and downward spiral which would take days for me to get out from. <br /></p><p>For the entire time, I could hardly focus when I was with my family because of my preoccupation with myself. I was worried about my future. I thought my career is over. Dr Kanagarajah had told me many times: 'this is meant to be a fun year for you. You have just finished your exams, you are not planning to do transplant so everything is learning exercise for you. You should enjoy.' </p><p>But I could not. </p><p>I did not realise these were all symptoms of a bigger spirit at play. And now I realised what it is - the spirit that's at work behind all the symptoms. <br /></p><p>It's the <span style="color: #ffa400;"><i>spirit of intimidation</i></span>.</p><p>Just imagine a really nice big house with brand new furnishings in it. But there is a hole in the roof. When things are going well, the house is a really nice place to live in. But then there is a thunderstorm, and everything in the house gets soaked and dirty. And then you have to spend all the energy and effort to clean everything up and replace the furnitures. When it's all done, the next storm comes, and the house is in a big mess again. And you clean everything up again. Only for the next storm to undo everything. You just keep cleaning the house and fixing the damage. At some point you are going to become depleted, spent and exhausted. You might even lose hope on the situation. </p><p>You see the root problem here is the hole in the roof, not the dirty furniture. If only you would fix the hole in the roof, none of the above would happen. Likewise, the root problem in my life was the<i> <span style="color: #ffa400;">spirit of intimidation</span></i>. I felt intimidated by certain toxic individuals at PAH, and in doing so, I gave them the power and authority over me. But all I did for the problem was trying to fix the symptoms (the dirty furniture) - the negative feelings, the fear, the depression and anxiety. I tried to exercise more, sleep better, read my bible, fast, practise positive thinking, visualization etc. And all the while, I ignored the root problem. So each time when I think I have got over it, the next storm comes, and everything gets undone and I go into depression. The cycle continues. </p><p>Next I will share about how i got myself into a mess and allow the <span style="color: #ffa400;"><i>spirit of intimidation</i></span> to get a hold of me. <br /></p>Jimmy Teehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10174906526668767111noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4027757051871858196.post-18068795982136876532020-06-20T22:32:00.004-07:002020-06-22T04:00:31.627-07:00Guidance for next year <br /><i>'All that I have done today has gone amiss. What is to be done now?'</i> Aragorn <br /><br />I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them;<br />I will turn darkness into light before them, and make the rough places smooth. <br />These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them. <br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> <span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span></span><span></span><span></span><span></span><span></span><span> </span>Isaiah 42:16 <br /><br /><br />Lord I am hoping you will speak to me about plans for next year. I don't have a job. What should I do? Should I actively go look for one? Or should I wait? I feel like if I were to do it my way, I would charge into the world, and fight for my own dreams and passion. I am so used to figuring out life on my own, solving problems, fighting battles. But I am not sure if this is the way God wants me to live. Well, life is not meant to be lived like that - on our own. I am meant to walk in intimacy with the Lord, to seek counsel from Him - the wisest and kindest and most living person in the universe. <br /><br />So Lord, what should I do next year? My options are<br /><br />1) HPB fellowship at PAH or RBH. These positions have both been taken...<br /><br />2) HPB fellowship at Mater or Gold Coast. <br /><br />3) Upper GI fellowship in RBH<br /><br />4) General Surgery fellowship<br /><br />5) HPB fellowship in Interstates <br /><br />6) Take a year off. Be house daddy, do research, finish my masters, private assist, travel etc. <br /> <br />Well option 1 has pretty much been decided for me. Both positions have been taken. And unless if one of them pulls out, I would have no chance. <br /><br />Personally I am not so keen on option 2. These fellowship positions are not as established as option 1. I know this sounds arrogant, and I am aware of the fact that 'no job is a waste of time', but in an ideal world, I would prefer to do 2-3 years of solid HPB training in reputable units like RBH, PAH, Royal Prince Alfred in NSW, Fiona Stanley Hospital in Perth or Austin in Victoria. <br /><br />Option 3 is a very lucrative option for me. Because my aim is ultimately be a minimally invasive HPB surgeon, spending a year in Upper GI in RBH is great because it helps develop advanced laparoscopic skills. The problem is, Dr Finch has offered the job to a good friend of mine - Kevin Lah, who is the current Upper GI fellow. Because his year has been affected by Covid-19, Finchy offered for him to stay for another year. Given his current circumstances, it is quite likely that he will remain in QLD for another year. <br /><br />Option 4. This is not bad a option to keep my general surgery skills up and help to feed the family, except that I don't have interest to do it. The nearby Gen Surg fellowship positions are Caboolture, Redcliffe, QE 2, Logan and I don't feel particularly drawn to these positions. I also don't feel they would significantly contribute or 'value-add' to my ultimate goal to be a MIS HPB surgeon. Yes it is a good way to kill time and maintain my general skills, but I don't feel like this is an area I am lacking in. <br /><br />Option 5. Well, we are having our third child in October so that makes traveling interstate very difficult, almost impossible. My wife is not keen to uproot the whole family to go to a new place with a newborn. While my wife is happy for me to go on my own, and she will remain in QLD with 3 kids, I don't think that is the right thing to do. I cannot imagine being away from my family for that long, even if I could travel back on some weekends to see them. It's just not the same. <br /><br /><span>Option 6. If all the above options are out, this is likely what i would be doing next year. It is actually not a bad option. In fact, it is pretty tempting. To finally not have a 'stable' job, to be able to spend more time with the family and do what i like and pursue my hobby of running, write a few papers and do my Masters etc. Besides I can privately assist David Cavallucci, Nick O'Rourke, Richard Bryant or some of my PAH bosses eg Shinn Yeung, which would be a great learning opportunity for me. Yes finance would be a bit tight, and the year of 'no formal training' does not look good on my cv, but hey, it's still fun ! <br /><br />I spoke to Cav and Nick - two of my bosses in RBH this week, and had a long chat with them about the future. Nick recommends that i do option 5 and </span><span><span>Cav reckons options 1, 3 or 6 are good. </span>In fact, Cav mentioned about Tan Tock Seng Hospital HPB fellowship job in Singapore, coz it's the only unit in Singapore that is recognised by ANZHPBA. Besides the head of unit - Terence Huey, used to train under Nick and Cav in RBH in early 2010s. If they put in a word for me, and if the position is still vacant, I should stand a good chance. I have also been thinking for a long time to move our family back to Singapore/Malaysia for a year for the kids to spend some time with their cousins and get cultural education, so this seems like a great opportunity. I left Singapore since 2006 for my university education, and it still holds a special place in my heart. I looked up the HPB unit in TTSH, and it appears that they do a fair bit of MIS HPB as well. So it is in fact a really good job to do with high case volume. Plus our family and the newborn can be close to both of our families. Except i am not sure if the position is still vacant. <br /><br />Not having a clear plan and being at the mercy of other people is hard. It's almost the end of June. Most people would have figured out their fellowship plans for next year by now, or started making effort. I feel like that I am not making progress, and I am waiting for things to happen. Waiting is hard. It sounds like a passive thing to do. Do nothing. Be vulnerable. Thus I am getting stressed out - which then hurts my ability to discern what God is saying to me. Which only increases my desperation to hear, and the whole thing is spinning into a tight, little Gordian knot. I have to pause, back up and consecrate myself and the matter at hand. I have to let go of my constant attempt to 'figure things out'. <br /><br /></span><span>Lord I don't want to decide this matter on my own. For I know I will almost definitely act on this based on my own selfish ambition, even at the expense of my own family. Teach me to hear Your voice, in the midst of some many competing noises and priorities. I want to do Your will. It is fruitless for me to seek your counsel while being privately committed to one course of action over the others. I must surrender my agendas and my 'best thoughts' on the matter. I must surrender my secret desires. When I do this, i will be in a much better place to receive His thoughts on the situation. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjB7oTxn8y7c7vJ5gq0iQUW-OOOUBDsJK3VHEtth0dbdriD4LpZnaWtdCziWCPhDZpqqiGZMeKZ9BmHkOchJ-Zg-Vo8nJi28tCeml_hBYl-QOtkouAg0JVm1IphVfJoeOQqSTiVNjsPVs/s2448/IMG_5794.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="2448" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjB7oTxn8y7c7vJ5gq0iQUW-OOOUBDsJK3VHEtth0dbdriD4LpZnaWtdCziWCPhDZpqqiGZMeKZ9BmHkOchJ-Zg-Vo8nJi28tCeml_hBYl-QOtkouAg0JVm1IphVfJoeOQqSTiVNjsPVs/w500-h500/IMG_5794.JPG" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Laurence Webber, my HPB fellow last year, who is a great role model for me<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQfJ6SDgafmx2VjzMhdWlDvq0SUJvJBrSgpnxZnGogvI50KmmN3HA5o0ME4dmxl7UUgpcalvsagrNHM_SBqJba6Cq4fE18NKXpFWj_9CvYXL9NIzKPwHHs4OHoFt3re-HhzpeyIJc7_l4/s3264/IMG_5765.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQfJ6SDgafmx2VjzMhdWlDvq0SUJvJBrSgpnxZnGogvI50KmmN3HA5o0ME4dmxl7UUgpcalvsagrNHM_SBqJba6Cq4fE18NKXpFWj_9CvYXL9NIzKPwHHs4OHoFt3re-HhzpeyIJc7_l4/w500-h375/IMG_5765.JPG" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Assoc Prof David Cavallucci and Nicholas O'Rourke, two of my HPB bosses in RBH. So much to learn from them! <br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4JSkAtOuVPhpUyA_7r9tBVJUT3Fl-sLLCKcJsJOOFKYH_fRw-Yw0juZJc0gJOPmzC9OzsW2i9uSWO8FugzlYpTd77yCMj68FlPpMC5Zwk6PVgP2fVBVRwzfV7DZn_LEQAsj-6fPsy2dY/s4032/IMG_2161.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4JSkAtOuVPhpUyA_7r9tBVJUT3Fl-sLLCKcJsJOOFKYH_fRw-Yw0juZJc0gJOPmzC9OzsW2i9uSWO8FugzlYpTd77yCMj68FlPpMC5Zwk6PVgP2fVBVRwzfV7DZn_LEQAsj-6fPsy2dY/w500-h375/IMG_2161.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My naughty wife tied both of our boys' hair up<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAM-HLCMKSCcj9vu5VpLjfuagFXfwsnumPbiUOjLSdXLdNElGSJFPpPeEiPecJzmYTQ9FS5Qx6pudAn3aWIHrCh700ZU9mWbKkRgWf9oSI-Mp0u1ItflVUm-rQhxsUfQRQEleMytDQQZk/s1600/16dce324-533d-479d-97f9-9af1b2282f86.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAM-HLCMKSCcj9vu5VpLjfuagFXfwsnumPbiUOjLSdXLdNElGSJFPpPeEiPecJzmYTQ9FS5Qx6pudAn3aWIHrCh700ZU9mWbKkRgWf9oSI-Mp0u1ItflVUm-rQhxsUfQRQEleMytDQQZk/w500-h375/16dce324-533d-479d-97f9-9af1b2282f86.JPG" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jeremy Boy's and Ethel's newborn - Matthias Cheah<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEionwnQ_JxCKi-K0nmS4kF7Sv2TFcHJQ3y0SV_Zyr602YVs6CPo4E2DIq86yyNuscANLC1bdxrjHfK6FZJGsofkgVwGrP6Iqv6ZSkrZraQAdl4sMaQUQeQBANrq9cnDb2A_03tOTsi8cXU/s1600/6ad9ab0b-7ed0-4a9d-9b89-cd5fea7537cb.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEionwnQ_JxCKi-K0nmS4kF7Sv2TFcHJQ3y0SV_Zyr602YVs6CPo4E2DIq86yyNuscANLC1bdxrjHfK6FZJGsofkgVwGrP6Iqv6ZSkrZraQAdl4sMaQUQeQBANrq9cnDb2A_03tOTsi8cXU/w375-h500/6ad9ab0b-7ed0-4a9d-9b89-cd5fea7537cb.JPG" width="375" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ1b23M1ZkPfTnEG1r9aczMjWOKPv8urL-ubRifRzCJ7MGjXPLttv1NfNlYEQnSaXWHsBq358eHoZ8UX6UvxgHg0w1mRr8d1ihNsAOHc7k8jEu7Ze0jE7hh-yqhyphenhyphenkOOEZ0qCfpf02Ml5E/s1600/c31c1f5e-a37c-43e8-b3cc-c2a4a0910b52.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ1b23M1ZkPfTnEG1r9aczMjWOKPv8urL-ubRifRzCJ7MGjXPLttv1NfNlYEQnSaXWHsBq358eHoZ8UX6UvxgHg0w1mRr8d1ihNsAOHc7k8jEu7Ze0jE7hh-yqhyphenhyphenkOOEZ0qCfpf02Ml5E/w500-h375/c31c1f5e-a37c-43e8-b3cc-c2a4a0910b52.JPG" width="500" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsSx6ILNsVPy3f_h3H-YGJdH9ys7t3FIwDG9cufv1hIKuncYJENXDJrdmGYq2MmTvHYCdg9c2LhMSYxzG9JGddI-08yT0_93Clx7-zNR5VTXsBVKzBSB5AnyHkikYkg1zZwUwRLV1kIQ4/s1024/c5239b6d-3faa-4d6d-8a33-564c8105f044.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1024" height="489" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsSx6ILNsVPy3f_h3H-YGJdH9ys7t3FIwDG9cufv1hIKuncYJENXDJrdmGYq2MmTvHYCdg9c2LhMSYxzG9JGddI-08yT0_93Clx7-zNR5VTXsBVKzBSB5AnyHkikYkg1zZwUwRLV1kIQ4/w625-h489/c5239b6d-3faa-4d6d-8a33-564c8105f044.JPG" width="625" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New addition in Oct 2020!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib08V620OfBmxvD4KBLXQfyqIeCRwUL1sJOe5F_gaIzgBS-j8GbGQlpPRnoaUN7q7B8oaF7vjHGBlgnD_GlVCKFLmwYgawjjndS1tPijzXYkI5u1Mm1_OnseEtf3sBaMPgqNL5zjHvKws/s1600/fdcdb4a2-9deb-4d71-bce7-82171c4a96b9.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="625" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib08V620OfBmxvD4KBLXQfyqIeCRwUL1sJOe5F_gaIzgBS-j8GbGQlpPRnoaUN7q7B8oaF7vjHGBlgnD_GlVCKFLmwYgawjjndS1tPijzXYkI5u1Mm1_OnseEtf3sBaMPgqNL5zjHvKws/w469-h625/fdcdb4a2-9deb-4d71-bce7-82171c4a96b9.JPG" width="469" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Missing the grandparents ! <br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSxOPeHCZdxAoT9qNY2U9CIz30__DGnIS28yX1wdZxYfSyqSti1G6gY5SrRyb7uzFs7CERnuWzcmM0vX3YaQDM6oliI8xcv17BD5PycgZ60iw566JELgxghvOWkv1ytp14aaXUCG0EaEI/s4032/IMG_2145.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="625" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSxOPeHCZdxAoT9qNY2U9CIz30__DGnIS28yX1wdZxYfSyqSti1G6gY5SrRyb7uzFs7CERnuWzcmM0vX3YaQDM6oliI8xcv17BD5PycgZ60iw566JELgxghvOWkv1ytp14aaXUCG0EaEI/w469-h625/IMG_2145.jpg" width="469" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi94WZRTwjDYzx6sU_JpGTiBHbXNkosl5XGDyY9CwUX-ZBihVGdNssN6-O-wEyNyz-z1WbkcQZWGpnDwOv6nRdEdL29opVm2sb3o2dld2zvGcws8jiwAbm-46yK1SAAyUa9d4sPjBw0xo/s4032/IMG_2165.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi94WZRTwjDYzx6sU_JpGTiBHbXNkosl5XGDyY9CwUX-ZBihVGdNssN6-O-wEyNyz-z1WbkcQZWGpnDwOv6nRdEdL29opVm2sb3o2dld2zvGcws8jiwAbm-46yK1SAAyUa9d4sPjBw0xo/w500-h375/IMG_2165.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>Jimmy Teehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10174906526668767111noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4027757051871858196.post-38187888908090704092020-06-01T03:48:00.002-07:002020-06-01T03:48:28.022-07:00Coming back<br />
It's been so long since I last visited this blog. I guess this reflects how hectic the past few years have been, and writing has really taken a backseat in my life amongst many other competing priorities. But lately, I have been feeling the urge to write again. I like to write. About anything. It's not that I think I have any interesting things to share, or that my life experiences are important. The reason i write is simple -<i> to connect with another human being</i>. You may ask: why publish your writing in a blog where everyone can see it? This is where things get prickly, but i think most people aren't being true to themselves if they don't agree at least a little but with what i am going to say next. There is no reason to post one's life on the internet other than to feel as if you have some sort of agency as a human being. That is, that your actions - and posts - are meaningful to someone other than oneself and that they affect other humans in some way: <i>to inspire, comfort, invoke joy, or inflame etc</i>. The blog allows others to see you, provides an audience, and that helps tremendously to validate one's existence.<br />
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This started as blog to describe my journey in running - the highs and the lows, the lessons, trainings, victories and defeats. But I don't run as much anymore. Now other things have taken priorities: marriage, children, surgery, friends etc. Each aspect takes up huge proportion of my time. I intend to only write things that i think will be helpful and meaningful to share, not only for other like-minded people, but also for myself when i look back many years from now.<br />
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My dream is to write a book. People ask me what I intend to write. I think writing about my own life is going incredibly boring, selfish and bordering between self-aggrandisement and narcissism. The book has to be bigger than that. It's going to be about a collection of stories about people i have come across, people who have impacted my life in a deep way in different areas, that i believe will inspire other people. Many years ago i read a book titled - Soul Survivor by Philip Yancey. It's about how 13 unlikely mentors helped his faith survived the church. He interweaves the story of his own struggle to reclaim his belief with inspiring portraits of people who have succeeded in the pursuit of an authentic faith. I have not quite thought about the exact theme of the book i am going to write yet, but it will be something along this line.<br />
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I thought the best way to start is revive my blog again, and start writing about things - anything. This way, at least i get to record the significant events or lessons in my life. And this will all contribute toward my dream to writing a book. So here we go!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPYPU8baPaWgvo64HT-6nyQcJ8Lx2CNKTM8kPoGWGULcjVPob-xwkj6pI1gcHurAS97q6U4Z14fsvFGi_7toFev7xULGmmDKYbAn_maVWocwmToEPn-bsVaDEaS8hyCZPi8E7n08ZD-5c/s1600/IMG_0701.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPYPU8baPaWgvo64HT-6nyQcJ8Lx2CNKTM8kPoGWGULcjVPob-xwkj6pI1gcHurAS97q6U4Z14fsvFGi_7toFev7xULGmmDKYbAn_maVWocwmToEPn-bsVaDEaS8hyCZPi8E7n08ZD-5c/s640/IMG_0701.HEIC" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Family. Celebrating Rachel's Birthday</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp72h0Rej0EfReoz9Q1wcch9VgXL_3D_yYgcYCpjUdOoptYli_VfcltPDyvJ25sYDXDAP1PuT5yCMt-7w6FkSPEXGmFBuK84HxciT1fP79hhC5wyCb5qX7upXyOEuO_vanSoPzi-jtiTI/s1600/IMG_0767.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp72h0Rej0EfReoz9Q1wcch9VgXL_3D_yYgcYCpjUdOoptYli_VfcltPDyvJ25sYDXDAP1PuT5yCMt-7w6FkSPEXGmFBuK84HxciT1fP79hhC5wyCb5qX7upXyOEuO_vanSoPzi-jtiTI/s640/IMG_0767.HEIC" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">two boys practising yoga!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSbN2BOXrtVNrVWHL05Sp3Pu21heVeCNcB8kzPYA0tEMOaee9QCc4s5SjF2IOCeOuWmMEGP2Xk_tmR8I9KOda7K9MfIT3sutdqLs_CkBZ6xoCjT1tHfT-Y7nE3NBN_yAWSCZf93MRYDT8/s1600/IMG_0972.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSbN2BOXrtVNrVWHL05Sp3Pu21heVeCNcB8kzPYA0tEMOaee9QCc4s5SjF2IOCeOuWmMEGP2Xk_tmR8I9KOda7K9MfIT3sutdqLs_CkBZ6xoCjT1tHfT-Y7nE3NBN_yAWSCZf93MRYDT8/s640/IMG_0972.HEIC" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Camping during covid lockdown period</td></tr>
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<br />Jimmy Teehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10174906526668767111noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4027757051871858196.post-66830536214015454212017-07-05T16:55:00.002-07:002017-07-06T06:29:31.415-07:00medical mission <div style="text-align: justify;">
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Here we are in the Phillipines.</div>
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We are here for the first time to do medical mission with the local church to reach out to the poor in Santa Rosa, a settlement area for the victims of Typhoon which plagued Philippines in 2013. Mission has been something that is very close to my heart since before I started medical school, and it is interesting that after such a long hiatus from medical mission of 10 years (our last trip was in 2007 in Cambodia), we are with the same team again, this time with more knowledge, experience and hopefully wisdom too.</div>
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So how did we end up here?</div>
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If you had told me last year that i will be volunteering my time in mission this year, i would have stared at you blankly and say: Sorry i have got no time. Also I am not in the right frame of mind and spirit to do this. My work and family are more important.</div>
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The past few years have been years of wandering for me. My entire focus during that time was to be the best that i can be in order to excel at work so i can enter into the surgical training programme and flourish in it. This became my world, the thing that i took a lot of pride in. I eventually got accepted into the SET programme and started my surgical training in 2016. There began a slippery slope toward either alternating self aggrandisement (when things go well) and self-destruction (when things go bad). I thought this was going to be a fun ride, i finally got what i wanted, but instead, it was a journey marked with a lot of pain and deep struggles. Feeling lost so many times, feeling concussed from a massive whack on the head out of nowhere, going through anxiety and depression, confronting many things which i did not, absolutely did not like about the world and myself. </div>
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Of course it would be inaccurate to say all of it has been mired with frustration and struggles. I did experience a far deeper measure of God's grace through the dark valleys, and there were interesting days and experiences filled with joy and small victory. But as humans, we tend to let the bad things stick more than the good. </div>
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Now i see it all as part of God's breaking process for my life. Had He not allowed me to crash and break into many pieces, i can't imagine what monster i would be right now. And yes surely i was headed toward a certain gravely path had God not intervened. Not that i don't still have those monstrous elements in me right now, but God in His infinite wisdom, brought me thru dark valleys, which in turn, saved my soul.</div>
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Thankfully He placed people in my life to guide me in the right path. Two such people are my wife and son. They have taught me more about what is important in life than anyone else. My wife had told me that i needed to come to this trip, despite the fact that she is 5 month pregnant and had to look after Jonas when i am not around. She said God is not done with me yet. Even though what we are doing here mostly is treating cough and cold, infections, skin diseases, asthma, stuff which i knew little about, the fact that i am once again immersed in God's works advancing His kingdom purpose rather than mine, is in itself a reward. I am deeply grateful for her encouragement and sacrifice.</div>
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I don't know what to expect. But the words of Jesus: therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (Matt 28:19) resonates deep in my heart. So here's to a great adventure in the Philippines!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbof11lJrDdSaddw2hMCgxjCDWvKr0wLWz3mYOrEpdT0zS5NM7Jb1l77u2KYHe5ha3bsYb5GMULy5uKIwKtw57595j3fVkA_LiKthCguy5X4E8T54YkMX9XsAs8COy8eQGtib6p9FRuYw/s1600/IMG_5478.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="962" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbof11lJrDdSaddw2hMCgxjCDWvKr0wLWz3mYOrEpdT0zS5NM7Jb1l77u2KYHe5ha3bsYb5GMULy5uKIwKtw57595j3fVkA_LiKthCguy5X4E8T54YkMX9XsAs8COy8eQGtib6p9FRuYw/s640/IMG_5478.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the Cairns airport, waiting for departure</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTw4DHojAJwpySQUf_QWUTJEPfwTGiNUz3j3vxKGJ2erKw4hUczxKZSYKhGEIq2_PP0Y-AS36p5AVxyvzqKrvXWlyP1huL93h33eO-asKHB81By4TqIb5Oz0vA27aKkjdnZod7rqBGquA/s1600/IMG_5488.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTw4DHojAJwpySQUf_QWUTJEPfwTGiNUz3j3vxKGJ2erKw4hUczxKZSYKhGEIq2_PP0Y-AS36p5AVxyvzqKrvXWlyP1huL93h33eO-asKHB81By4TqIb5Oz0vA27aKkjdnZod7rqBGquA/s640/IMG_5488.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Having lunch with the local church</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhujTpH4GzDz_IlpH1N83Sa6TdGQGCqeRVUKfmp0OgAX2kZzzAv93hyphenhyphen4Jcvb96yzBLzG567dSVOcxR8DrtY0YW03JT-8uaie0zhaB8cSZ8s1fcB1FemUjvC80OUUJ5wbpT1ffVRHVekmTY/s1600/IMG_5485.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhujTpH4GzDz_IlpH1N83Sa6TdGQGCqeRVUKfmp0OgAX2kZzzAv93hyphenhyphen4Jcvb96yzBLzG567dSVOcxR8DrtY0YW03JT-8uaie0zhaB8cSZ8s1fcB1FemUjvC80OUUJ5wbpT1ffVRHVekmTY/s640/IMG_5485.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reminded by my wife to drinking Vitamin C everyday :)</td></tr>
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<br />Jimmy Teehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10174906526668767111noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4027757051871858196.post-25856296961062221902017-07-05T15:38:00.002-07:002017-07-05T15:38:42.430-07:00Cairns<br />
We have started a new life in Cairns. I am second year into my surgical training, my wife got a job as a pharmacist in Cairns Hospital, and our boy - Jonas has settled in his daycare - Pelican Early Learning Centre. We have moved into an apartment in Lake Street called the Edge Apartments, about 1km from the hospital and very close to the daycare as well, so everything is within short distance of each other. It makes commuting very simple and it saves a lot of time for us.<br />
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One of the most exciting things i was looking forward to is being close to a very dear brother of ours - Jeremy. Jeremy and i have known each other since 2006 when we started medical school together. For the few years we were in school, we have climbed the highest mountains, dived the deepest seas, and hiked the longest valley together. He is a guy whom i really enjoy being with, because of his simplicity, the values which he holds dear to his heart, and the similar passions that we have, which are adventure and mission. We then got separated in 20010 when i came to Australia to complete my medical school, and a series of life events/changes also happened between 2009 and 2013 which brought us further apart. I am really glad God brought us back to each other again and we are able to work in the same hospital and live close to each other again. The older i get, the more i am convinced that life does not consist of material abundance or accomplishment, but the depth and quality of relationships we develop.<br />
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Here is to a great and adventurous and fun 2017. :)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_dOd-2V9_oHu6xZpIEQtxZeJiU1mc_3AEf6aaPvVZny7yMQF-i9T07v08eo_furjfFuadggj7WlFewrFN58qpMMqImoc16MbxoYUXHEUqaUJsbUA022gtBBznl5FaS1PJplSUWU0gNuo/s1600/IMG_3013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_dOd-2V9_oHu6xZpIEQtxZeJiU1mc_3AEf6aaPvVZny7yMQF-i9T07v08eo_furjfFuadggj7WlFewrFN58qpMMqImoc16MbxoYUXHEUqaUJsbUA022gtBBznl5FaS1PJplSUWU0gNuo/s640/IMG_3013.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spending time with cousins in Singapore</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEMSBBnvRcqm8CuWNdsTV8tTP8RTELH0SH_BBq6LROqm_BcMhnZ4bQEkxLr_hg1bhdozbceeT9TzlIgT5Zvc-JIezLIHQ-mtejyQZZTIUvAi_Dve2aumSg-LrKZKKAe0x2sBcPljbjkrM/s1600/IMG_3021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEMSBBnvRcqm8CuWNdsTV8tTP8RTELH0SH_BBq6LROqm_BcMhnZ4bQEkxLr_hg1bhdozbceeT9TzlIgT5Zvc-JIezLIHQ-mtejyQZZTIUvAi_Dve2aumSg-LrKZKKAe0x2sBcPljbjkrM/s640/IMG_3021.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First day in Cairns</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd8fcP14Ug30lFNkvjQwph9QnWrbus_FI1BOwEQGQZRrUxNWPqrnZiLVhW1fSDADCfaX4DgRbSzgrEgtYhZ04KEChvV-2VqHNrZ8itBX028Rht18CFjyITlA9SBAu_ZyU8a8_xWIhTKSo/s1600/IMG_3193.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd8fcP14Ug30lFNkvjQwph9QnWrbus_FI1BOwEQGQZRrUxNWPqrnZiLVhW1fSDADCfaX4DgRbSzgrEgtYhZ04KEChvV-2VqHNrZ8itBX028Rht18CFjyITlA9SBAu_ZyU8a8_xWIhTKSo/s640/IMG_3193.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Being on call and trying to eat my lunch</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtCHm-xXtcdhpmKVATnCKv7ArdPXVzSTzNlBM07i7UHF4BzcQYP48yRy6CYt5tUSKOYcVNakBhyM5l2TriVJGMUKSAB7kOmrsqF8rCMVqlSIi3-gCBmG3wndjlVHUOTeeVs1NI3Byyoqc/s1600/IMG_3309.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtCHm-xXtcdhpmKVATnCKv7ArdPXVzSTzNlBM07i7UHF4BzcQYP48yRy6CYt5tUSKOYcVNakBhyM5l2TriVJGMUKSAB7kOmrsqF8rCMVqlSIi3-gCBmG3wndjlVHUOTeeVs1NI3Byyoqc/s640/IMG_3309.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A fun evening with Godpa Jeremy at Botanical Garden</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOqFVEaXMHby9H22hSEHC9zSYoqzzrrp6yXpj2OzmGSEJZG2sM7OXO2smaRe0cScmqTX2EDgHipdpxzeqqCskM4ak_J6rYCD0K3RQ6VLu_JXa5wZFLIGaa_ZnKjSr8QakplL2cS6vV1xY/s1600/IMG_3349.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOqFVEaXMHby9H22hSEHC9zSYoqzzrrp6yXpj2OzmGSEJZG2sM7OXO2smaRe0cScmqTX2EDgHipdpxzeqqCskM4ak_J6rYCD0K3RQ6VLu_JXa5wZFLIGaa_ZnKjSr8QakplL2cS6vV1xY/s640/IMG_3349.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Surprising my wife with a convertible, a fun day out at Tableland and roses for our 4th year wedding anniversary </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLWV1ZCZLPrYAzefY8fgSGv9uh-yv721UaqsIZvldSZAxHRqaWM1cANvaKdQD7kJfidQ-ZtHcBbkj9K4Kxqbbaf5WyqG-oWb3dZepX8lYClqG-hHV9rBblH1xe8myltAPeZchuvk-w0Xg/s1600/IMG_3368.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLWV1ZCZLPrYAzefY8fgSGv9uh-yv721UaqsIZvldSZAxHRqaWM1cANvaKdQD7kJfidQ-ZtHcBbkj9K4Kxqbbaf5WyqG-oWb3dZepX8lYClqG-hHV9rBblH1xe8myltAPeZchuvk-w0Xg/s640/IMG_3368.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lake Barrine </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9UQgR0AoilsuEG7HQB_7w8wiKe3FAO3vyozGQkSbAj2Khu7aQDGBIXfJwVaw7WjZpuPzJ4CwFL_I-2dB5K_1JWSNw8P2qsM6-oIoYTwzs1SOOjT6FGX23k50vRIjkfa4G8pAxheNJ93E/s1600/IMG_3405.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9UQgR0AoilsuEG7HQB_7w8wiKe3FAO3vyozGQkSbAj2Khu7aQDGBIXfJwVaw7WjZpuPzJ4CwFL_I-2dB5K_1JWSNw8P2qsM6-oIoYTwzs1SOOjT6FGX23k50vRIjkfa4G8pAxheNJ93E/s640/IMG_3405.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Curtain Fig Tree\</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOt1U_NLaHolqhGA1SpEperZPZEkdOyulsBIBSwK5kLQ5t6GdiazWEbWWao_xLhNmLd7X_5x1d-wAOpLqU2Bi4hmJ-I8nPXm5xoyTTelmlBrDVRhffAz9NziJoKIhUgLbEbMTMY58HdtE/s1600/IMG_3534.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOt1U_NLaHolqhGA1SpEperZPZEkdOyulsBIBSwK5kLQ5t6GdiazWEbWWao_xLhNmLd7X_5x1d-wAOpLqU2Bi4hmJ-I8nPXm5xoyTTelmlBrDVRhffAz9NziJoKIhUgLbEbMTMY58HdtE/s640/IMG_3534.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Running along footpath in Esplanade</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl9914VS6Rc9n5qcIXlGlBypQV5ze4LNCUsBGVf7H4Po-Oo3Gq64i5OvQKMdeoCuCd-sRL7hT-P-kr8NVn2RLJs7zvqgMa_nxuBh6_cNwrZg0U1ukEGEXD7ODw41EL_DexhH209bULi7k/s1600/IMG_3536.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl9914VS6Rc9n5qcIXlGlBypQV5ze4LNCUsBGVf7H4Po-Oo3Gq64i5OvQKMdeoCuCd-sRL7hT-P-kr8NVn2RLJs7zvqgMa_nxuBh6_cNwrZg0U1ukEGEXD7ODw41EL_DexhH209bULi7k/s640/IMG_3536.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jonas running toward daddy when i picked him from daycare</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigBp1DcIgtRULaGx8jn-wnbatMgNUSBxcWdd-eAF9tZ5fiQ7x8xd7c20C7sHqsIF_zAMP-k1wIb0YKkr_GnglK_oIKSH-CPHrmwfeVYo2vSPODg31D0EhOxpE7jSNGE7oS7nD-Jy3mcZ4/s1600/IMG_3557.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigBp1DcIgtRULaGx8jn-wnbatMgNUSBxcWdd-eAF9tZ5fiQ7x8xd7c20C7sHqsIF_zAMP-k1wIb0YKkr_GnglK_oIKSH-CPHrmwfeVYo2vSPODg31D0EhOxpE7jSNGE7oS7nD-Jy3mcZ4/s640/IMG_3557.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jonas' best friend - Mason</td></tr>
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Jimmy Teehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10174906526668767111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4027757051871858196.post-65461908778757274462016-01-27T05:37:00.002-08:002016-01-28T04:46:42.032-08:00Last days in Nambour Hospital<br />
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What a ride it has been!</div>
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My past two years in Nambour have been nothing but spectacular, fun and adventure-filled. There were stressful times as well, occasions where i have made mistakes and felt terribly sorry, or got scolded by bosses or nurses. But all in all, I have had such a great time and I am bringing so much precious memories with me.</div>
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I have just finished two and a half months of night shifts. Night shifts are scary. You are the only person representing Department of Surgery and you have to be able to deal with all kinds of emergency in the hospital. Bleeding, perforation, obstruction, peritonitis, trauma were some of the common emergency we have to deal with. I was feeling really anxious prior to starting my night shifts, worried that i might kill someone or not be able to save someone due to my incompetency.</div>
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I am glad to say I have done neither. Some of the really interesting moments were dealing with massive upper GI bleed post Whipple with Dr Aseervatham and Priscilla, massive lower GI bleeding from radiation proctitis with Thushara, a couple of open splenectomy with Dr Grieve and Dr Aseervatham, laparoscopic assisted small bowel resection for closed-loop SBO with Scott, a laparotomy and adhesiolysis with Dr Donovan, and a perforated diverticulitis with Priscilla and Peter. Every surgeon has a unique way of operating and i have learned so much from all of them. Dr Aseervatham is very particular about techniques, and always tells me to learn how to operate with both hands to the point where i forget which hand is dominant. One night, he had to come in to do laparotomy for upper GI bleed post Whipple. We started at around 10pm and finished at 2.30am. This was followed by a Hartmann procedure for a 120kg man with LBO. We started at 3.30am and ended up finishing at 6am. He had been up for 24 hours, spending his last 8 hours performing really stressful operations. Yet he never complained. He remained very calm and composed. I am so touched by his dedication and perseverance, and i hope i could emulate him when i am a practising surgeon.</div>
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I also really like Dr Donovan's minimalist approach to operating: where he does only the absolute necessary during operations, things that truly matter to patient's care. He doesn't waste time doing unnecessary manoeuvre, and he has a great sense of judgment in knowing when to and what to do when dealing with complex situations. I just wished i have done more emergency shifts with him.</div>
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Not to forget all the smaller operations I have done with the registrars. I have done about 15 laparoscopic appendicectomy with Anna, Kim, Katherine and Peter. All of them have taught me important lessons in doing a safe operation. I feel i am ready to do one on my own now.</div>
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I am going to miss all the residents i have worked with. Harrison, Bryan, Stephanie, Madeline, Isabel, Sean, Edwin, Fiona, Dave, Tahira, Chris, Karina, Ali, Stuart, Sam, Claire. All of them are awesome residents and are much better than me when i was one.</div>
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All the nurses in 1B and 1C - I can't finish naming all of you. Helen, Leanne, Jen, Ae-ran, Sheree, Roshni, Maggi, Sarah, Nicole, Abby, Trilby, Kate, Jade, Maria, Jacki, Jenny, Raj, Bronwyn, Sharna, Bec, Coralie, Deidra, Cadie, Trevor. You guys are amazing.</div>
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The specialist CNC - the beautiful Lauren, Erin and Caroline, you ladies are doing such a great job.</div>
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All the other doctors from other specialty. Lisa, Vinesh, Neil, Julia, Anjanee from Medicine. Graham, Karin, Nicola, Ben, Paul, Lauren, Courtney from ED (thanks for your non-stop referral during nights!). Mark from Ortho. Paul, Jonathan, Troy, Madeline, Glenna, Dan from Radiology. Chris and Andrew from Ultrasound.</div>
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Too many people to name. Thank you all of you!</div>
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Now I am off to Caboolture to begin the next chapter as a SET 2! See you again!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLG4anI3YvIlPjxYbKYQLMmGYbfaQeUWTuVQ-SH0yhwVjVnwac1n0pIvECW0m5DAz0Bct-s9ByRfrNZ0Au_M5GM9ngjTVmb893NP2cs7NtBjw6x-_SywKz7PO5d4-4f-Hi0afLrlm62gA/s1600/IMG_5596.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLG4anI3YvIlPjxYbKYQLMmGYbfaQeUWTuVQ-SH0yhwVjVnwac1n0pIvECW0m5DAz0Bct-s9ByRfrNZ0Au_M5GM9ngjTVmb893NP2cs7NtBjw6x-_SywKz7PO5d4-4f-Hi0afLrlm62gA/s640/IMG_5596.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Running with Dr Donovan</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGSX6Vb1NUlK7Ly_PJRZOyBe-ZPKLXGJseV2oWrNwrMyIPvaxpwpIXsViwutnvqzMuXxf4Sc1xFBQIv8Llx-sRDp9f8LF1-YKawP1693312iWHIzfmnZXr15opVzEvoicjQMKXA2l6oHw/s1600/IMG_5880.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGSX6Vb1NUlK7Ly_PJRZOyBe-ZPKLXGJseV2oWrNwrMyIPvaxpwpIXsViwutnvqzMuXxf4Sc1xFBQIv8Llx-sRDp9f8LF1-YKawP1693312iWHIzfmnZXr15opVzEvoicjQMKXA2l6oHw/s640/IMG_5880.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All the awesome registrars - Manilka, Linda, Scott, Kimbeley, me and Peter</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQcbLe_smOHc8HOlzHe8KpJfwW7GKRxDEgsY2Qr9MKXAI8_alv97uJGfrsi_1uanFfhb8Qj3spRdYM3diiQanBZWnu1lMWGs0vkXGjlPDg4eGjBHXrQh9mz1pouMfA6pHCdo-Uazp8KJY/s1600/IMG_5883.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQcbLe_smOHc8HOlzHe8KpJfwW7GKRxDEgsY2Qr9MKXAI8_alv97uJGfrsi_1uanFfhb8Qj3spRdYM3diiQanBZWnu1lMWGs0vkXGjlPDg4eGjBHXrQh9mz1pouMfA6pHCdo-Uazp8KJY/s640/IMG_5883.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anna, me, Peter and Manilka</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thushara (red) - the most friendly consultant who has helped me tremendously in my career</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dr Grieve - the person behind all the research projects in department of surgery in Nambour Hospital. I did both the colonoscopy and lap trainer research with him.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-tabEFp5cUWoyDq-kYzFgrkFElQUqs9OETfElU9CZtQ3OdEJY-lXlggCvOdgpsigB2lNkbiA_2Ra-qrXkcntdBFTnlm1qpeewngrx-fyG9dDyIHx13fwfCnb_NYPaGmRAfT5PN5MlUyM/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-tabEFp5cUWoyDq-kYzFgrkFElQUqs9OETfElU9CZtQ3OdEJY-lXlggCvOdgpsigB2lNkbiA_2Ra-qrXkcntdBFTnlm1qpeewngrx-fyG9dDyIHx13fwfCnb_NYPaGmRAfT5PN5MlUyM/s640/photo+1.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Operating with Dr Aseervatham - my mentor. What an honour.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCl-4N550rFjH72FP42myZMB4Jay36OHdEdntj6MedY5qiSRMjMLMkb1tEC6b3I7_9tI6qfZi2UlJs08Tsx6lXcmzBOq9TdDtfONPzeE-V_b6pWyW0fr7kmboGj9_oTUPpeFvWuJkfQG8/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCl-4N550rFjH72FP42myZMB4Jay36OHdEdntj6MedY5qiSRMjMLMkb1tEC6b3I7_9tI6qfZi2UlJs08Tsx6lXcmzBOq9TdDtfONPzeE-V_b6pWyW0fr7kmboGj9_oTUPpeFvWuJkfQG8/s640/photo.JPG" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The hallway to work</td></tr>
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<br />Jimmy Teehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10174906526668767111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4027757051871858196.post-81869789502350745422015-11-15T22:10:00.000-08:002015-11-16T04:19:33.698-08:00Jim Pryor Begonia Prize, Provincial Surgeon Australia 2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
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On October 30, I attended the Provincial Surgeon Australia conference in Lismore, NSW. </div>
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I was there to present my research (<span style="color: orange;"><b>Development and Evaluation of an Inexpensive Home-Made Laparoscopic Trainer for Surgical Training</b></span>) for the <b><span style="color: orange;">Jim Pryor Begonia Prize.</span></b> There were a total of 7 presentations. </div>
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Jim Pryor was a distinguished General Surgeon in the City of Ballarat from 1963 to 2002. The Jim Pryor Begonia Prize, was a memorial to Jim's contribution to country surgery. He conceived the Begonia Prize session of the PSA annual meeting to enable surgeons to exchange views about procedures large or small, instruments they had found useful or techniques they have found worked. The presentation had to be brief (3 minutes) and he instructed the Judge to award extra points for originality. </div>
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At the end of the session, i was announced the winner. I had such a great time at the conference meeting new friends and learning new things. The GALA dinner on Friday was especially memorable, to see all the surgeons letting their hair down and dancing like there is no tomorrow! </div>
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Next year's PSA will be held in Albany, Western Australia, in early August and it promises to be a great one as well!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTTaZYClHFxXYTjiitVtOfnNMdOF22vr7Np2yZGETwLEnY2zFyu4bWFEDoUn0sRDfY5L8qzq1Lx3S7dXEN23EWcobbWGZ46ZJR1W3OytqIX-J2FoYGMfYVqFqjWVD2ogv3eFwUvHReVdw/s1600/12182549_990555737738246_5145022776673089783_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTTaZYClHFxXYTjiitVtOfnNMdOF22vr7Np2yZGETwLEnY2zFyu4bWFEDoUn0sRDfY5L8qzq1Lx3S7dXEN23EWcobbWGZ46ZJR1W3OytqIX-J2FoYGMfYVqFqjWVD2ogv3eFwUvHReVdw/s640/12182549_990555737738246_5145022776673089783_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sally Erickson (right) - finally got to meet the lady who is behind every GSA event</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ-RVw2DQQPaXNGw12zMo-1vtIUPobKyB5tX2Ow0QzpsEzzkrGeFbJzryfbHx-eVAfs_JzW7hSgdslvdwCTTSzwIjDAKnDUq8eatmto3BBLT7hPbSSZtyQuWCsu0OCXfxG91xBHAYkMcs/s1600/12186350_990149607778859_4642817187539789639_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ-RVw2DQQPaXNGw12zMo-1vtIUPobKyB5tX2Ow0QzpsEzzkrGeFbJzryfbHx-eVAfs_JzW7hSgdslvdwCTTSzwIjDAKnDUq8eatmto3BBLT7hPbSSZtyQuWCsu0OCXfxG91xBHAYkMcs/s640/12186350_990149607778859_4642817187539789639_o.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John Henderson - this man has a spirit of gold. In his 80s, he still contributes to every RACS event by being the photographer</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKBi_Zmx6VYqflASR6JXU246zQlJVfJQlUQbfCEhWPiULvGHSaAxE3SzYIUPx-ex9mEqNZQpJ03YQiNRJWxTcPd5cqo9-3XGQTcKLIJ6EjiRzQp2UwtqtL7dEx8WYc7W5D2Q_e-2QDqNc/s1600/12183924_990844884375998_4301769173145058402_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKBi_Zmx6VYqflASR6JXU246zQlJVfJQlUQbfCEhWPiULvGHSaAxE3SzYIUPx-ex9mEqNZQpJ03YQiNRJWxTcPd5cqo9-3XGQTcKLIJ6EjiRzQp2UwtqtL7dEx8WYc7W5D2Q_e-2QDqNc/s640/12183924_990844884375998_4301769173145058402_o.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dr Graeme Campbell (right) - receiving Rural Surgeons Award for his contribution to Rural Surgery</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCOYF_kRIwqn386MMbNps1z4XcfdlpshxiShe6inJY8MHH9qxJkLTPBrL6K8kQorU4ngu4sHWSlBp0g0-How273mmWKnalLIy7mLvAFomwdrPC6M_XON4iK7LGLFtgfp3wQ_63tPJ7IHY/s1600/12188113_990831674377319_789417737996692252_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCOYF_kRIwqn386MMbNps1z4XcfdlpshxiShe6inJY8MHH9qxJkLTPBrL6K8kQorU4ngu4sHWSlBp0g0-How273mmWKnalLIy7mLvAFomwdrPC6M_XON4iK7LGLFtgfp3wQ_63tPJ7IHY/s640/12188113_990831674377319_789417737996692252_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dr Stephenie Weidlich (left) - Surgeon from Darwin. She was the person who suggested i should present my research idea in PSA! She also recently Supervisor of the Year award from RACS. Thanks Stephanie!</td></tr>
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Here is my presentation</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3k59MfGLIa415Ue737M86TQo4ZQgEzWqzR00Pa7sOpbrJQPcQaHWKak6C_sLCWhJRnEM5yIMZQUb_1X7Rt5xz7cTGi1DpMJEgkEdQXRXEdE_K8aZphtRUp3V7vy6itR9lUwE5t14Ez-o/s1600/Slide01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3k59MfGLIa415Ue737M86TQo4ZQgEzWqzR00Pa7sOpbrJQPcQaHWKak6C_sLCWhJRnEM5yIMZQUb_1X7Rt5xz7cTGi1DpMJEgkEdQXRXEdE_K8aZphtRUp3V7vy6itR9lUwE5t14Ez-o/s640/Slide01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Good Afternoon ladies and gentleman.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCJPOV5dc3tGmDsPUU8x9AmCVqZltwpTMJFyeXW7Rz1qMEQwJFQ_5RtaOkTVsB6lWaCrMqMVsgVkTwPGwAbc5dXhhAiVuu4RlhItV4kBkGwh2YeasX3aE_rXyEDnELgit30nxfOMsdgzg/s1600/Slide02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCJPOV5dc3tGmDsPUU8x9AmCVqZltwpTMJFyeXW7Rz1qMEQwJFQ_5RtaOkTVsB6lWaCrMqMVsgVkTwPGwAbc5dXhhAiVuu4RlhItV4kBkGwh2YeasX3aE_rXyEDnELgit30nxfOMsdgzg/s640/Slide02.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One disadvantage of working in regional or rural hospitals is limited access to surgical simulation. If you are interested to purchase a commercial laparoscopic trainer to practise at home, a FLS (Fundamental of Laparoscopic Surgery) trainer cost $3360,</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitK7YVNVtZL6hJN90pjvL9ntUAmPrqJDqPUJMFR7jRNXTAQYS0P97smAk-UL3k67_EH571C6cqDfs-dx4tgTY5LWAqm3da2Dth_pq1k18ydgEY_gVFg-iByvucjnv1EV-ptIU3-JmwjsQ/s1600/Slide03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitK7YVNVtZL6hJN90pjvL9ntUAmPrqJDqPUJMFR7jRNXTAQYS0P97smAk-UL3k67_EH571C6cqDfs-dx4tgTY5LWAqm3da2Dth_pq1k18ydgEY_gVFg-iByvucjnv1EV-ptIU3-JmwjsQ/s640/Slide03.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So I am here today to show you how to make one with just $84.20 in less than 30 minutes.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1j71AUtYziTScD5MOAOKIcodHn1I8OCOfvQH3-PyefsL2aIr1FIixd3AB_Soro2ZjOTVnq5T8ka0s4UQm3wRks-W1t1WRmDLcJm0TQ5TGekwP14uq5lg24oqyYNJH7V8QloM0pH1Z7YA/s1600/Slide04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1j71AUtYziTScD5MOAOKIcodHn1I8OCOfvQH3-PyefsL2aIr1FIixd3AB_Soro2ZjOTVnq5T8ka0s4UQm3wRks-W1t1WRmDLcJm0TQ5TGekwP14uq5lg24oqyYNJH7V8QloM0pH1Z7YA/s640/Slide04.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">To construct a home-made laparoscopic trainer, firstly, we need a box. I got the IV fluids Baxter for free. The sides and the front of the box are cut.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7L1d4koVsKdWeY5pbXET96nvXlwHBr5jLKOUlFTrcGQoH6ZOJBm03fLBDWQhNBW6O_Xe5S6Yz4B1VYcm_TGVnJSJGcu4tr-H8bjQ9AVQyEuPU3H-JWc_-ovZ0fV86m9_Jw68AD8DUJ3k/s1600/Slide05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7L1d4koVsKdWeY5pbXET96nvXlwHBr5jLKOUlFTrcGQoH6ZOJBm03fLBDWQhNBW6O_Xe5S6Yz4B1VYcm_TGVnJSJGcu4tr-H8bjQ9AVQyEuPU3H-JWc_-ovZ0fV86m9_Jw68AD8DUJ3k/s640/Slide05.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We then fixed a white tile on the base to serve as a platform for laparoscopic tasks.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJLVvQSoDYjpLFKcGcXJYSlOjgr8e_P-I4_pZhxa2L6ec5tldIOPBIiXBYLK39rnbp_0jBVVfqwhXLeY1al3-_8lDcFDRWnAHoJpM4o9D9C-TLO2QvV8kRI6xY-71io9AenF-GwGQjESM/s1600/Slide06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJLVvQSoDYjpLFKcGcXJYSlOjgr8e_P-I4_pZhxa2L6ec5tldIOPBIiXBYLK39rnbp_0jBVVfqwhXLeY1al3-_8lDcFDRWnAHoJpM4o9D9C-TLO2QvV8kRI6xY-71io9AenF-GwGQjESM/s640/Slide06.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We then glued a strip of velcro onto the tile. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9tESzehDQzTGbcbu7ifoXvPtMCeQ3Egu0goxvRRl8FPHER6OjYePmHfB9verDa5hYwb4rjCMxsBWapWbtNHUGWv_ojDZHQVAqGOns3HyzNA4EN-C75s2uCNzRb8Q8XxqTLnItLvWgrYs/s1600/Slide07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9tESzehDQzTGbcbu7ifoXvPtMCeQ3Egu0goxvRRl8FPHER6OjYePmHfB9verDa5hYwb4rjCMxsBWapWbtNHUGWv_ojDZHQVAqGOns3HyzNA4EN-C75s2uCNzRb8Q8XxqTLnItLvWgrYs/s640/Slide07.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We used four pieces of elastic bands each tied to a clip, and they are attached to the four corners of the box.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDzsqccav2s-PGQGOX5q7pqd3wE8_1VzlPbA4LDx5NXdja19Upkybdu_EiJNilJjSW_z2-rCtPeeeWipSG_ucxQxo1yAKrFCU8P9a0I73qTVX1tUXIxjSv-ABGrPXRZlizBWHvQJgADJY/s1600/Slide08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDzsqccav2s-PGQGOX5q7pqd3wE8_1VzlPbA4LDx5NXdja19Upkybdu_EiJNilJjSW_z2-rCtPeeeWipSG_ucxQxo1yAKrFCU8P9a0I73qTVX1tUXIxjSv-ABGrPXRZlizBWHvQJgADJY/s640/Slide08.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">For light sources, we used a LED ribbon strip, and that was glued on the inside roof of the box.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Szfow9BIXdOX3UVCE8dpit2ACaz_GoNb3IiUjDUs3ixcvBI-kpIXiMV3jd7gDNKtR_GmL_PXypGCAISfTub5X0MRrHNKE3M-NKtuy2V90NCM1WA3nznZjwgCYfVL50cHakmKlr9-ewc/s1600/Slide09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Szfow9BIXdOX3UVCE8dpit2ACaz_GoNb3IiUjDUs3ixcvBI-kpIXiMV3jd7gDNKtR_GmL_PXypGCAISfTub5X0MRrHNKE3M-NKtuy2V90NCM1WA3nznZjwgCYfVL50cHakmKlr9-ewc/s640/Slide09.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We used a high definition Logitech C525 webcam with autofocus ability, and mounted on the side of the box.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBj7IoHJcaUPWnt65xlwX2ikCtj8fnT2X1qyroOGW6yUiEWEjFm34AUApyyh2NKiEaG0r-JdD9fKQEgB6KyfM-30EegYgrO9Zd3iWTkj8k-9QimLG1WwwbjpQpAdQ4OJirnxmlAQtUJVo/s1600/Slide10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBj7IoHJcaUPWnt65xlwX2ikCtj8fnT2X1qyroOGW6yUiEWEjFm34AUApyyh2NKiEaG0r-JdD9fKQEgB6KyfM-30EegYgrO9Zd3iWTkj8k-9QimLG1WwwbjpQpAdQ4OJirnxmlAQtUJVo/s640/Slide10.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We made two holes for the instruments.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Sbeb-XzKIcHtN49K9cqFTuzG2rpF8YDN96L3IJ8qD7Qbgamke31RElW6ULJDi23dWtlvRriNPOH-6jAi3w_ho0R_t5Fyz9EHiVq1_PASaeIIyxE-pi8T75dib3b7rzJgRkAI5vVaisk/s1600/Slide11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Sbeb-XzKIcHtN49K9cqFTuzG2rpF8YDN96L3IJ8qD7Qbgamke31RElW6ULJDi23dWtlvRriNPOH-6jAi3w_ho0R_t5Fyz9EHiVq1_PASaeIIyxE-pi8T75dib3b7rzJgRkAI5vVaisk/s640/Slide11.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the final product.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDvM6Ygu9kZRq2D_JY5FVi-ZKxFbqofik8jx_wcC33b7nArjkQ_A42X2_HeljDcmSGRCpN2OU_Jjg7f1BNnRSMSK0lj9vbeKVWZrqfKhqg9BcDN_ryA6ZfENaofjCRMwMq7lEmfaiVbtA/s1600/Slide12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDvM6Ygu9kZRq2D_JY5FVi-ZKxFbqofik8jx_wcC33b7nArjkQ_A42X2_HeljDcmSGRCpN2OU_Jjg7f1BNnRSMSK0lj9vbeKVWZrqfKhqg9BcDN_ryA6ZfENaofjCRMwMq7lEmfaiVbtA/s640/Slide12.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a list of materials and cost needed to construct the lap trainer.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO4Fw4CdcorrBBfvr3CViLEFQum7-z3ehZWAseI7iBj08Vpk3ivSXpJ0Ql2x5y2GEndJXWJI1WPh7dmkGlGLpFMfGzsQdLTMsREdjThTH9CAuuX57mnsf2lLgGRd1Qc7Xr6PuXtMvfDo4/s1600/Slide15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO4Fw4CdcorrBBfvr3CViLEFQum7-z3ehZWAseI7iBj08Vpk3ivSXpJ0Ql2x5y2GEndJXWJI1WPh7dmkGlGLpFMfGzsQdLTMsREdjThTH9CAuuX57mnsf2lLgGRd1Qc7Xr6PuXtMvfDo4/s640/Slide15.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This home-made lap trainer has been successfully validated by 30 participants in our hospital and found to be comparable to the FLS trainer, and it was extremely well-received by the participants as well. </td></tr>
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Now some of you may be thinking: What can i do with this home-made lap trainer? Well, sit back and enjoy.</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw2J3S5HURsdwIu3qbKOvvI7UZNLG_zuAxWg_KcEhSkmGVO0He2oexijQXXwEzMKd4PlN6bYSzF6VcvTDmnig' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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Video: A collaborative effort between Dr Grieve and I (ps: he did the harder tasks)</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcc6c_o1ZDmhmjgw1bA4BJsTVpPSmS2jBaibNYjfVVxEaUs4RUrs_cGQfwT3eOUvCntVafBQ60e91GjAWxDEqIwU_PwsRsNiWVQXWBeOm2uzZj7JyQjJvECZ70QjsA7xLXdD-AKKFEUCs/s1600/Slide14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcc6c_o1ZDmhmjgw1bA4BJsTVpPSmS2jBaibNYjfVVxEaUs4RUrs_cGQfwT3eOUvCntVafBQ60e91GjAWxDEqIwU_PwsRsNiWVQXWBeOm2uzZj7JyQjJvECZ70QjsA7xLXdD-AKKFEUCs/s640/Slide14.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finally, the best thing about the home-made lap trainer, is even my son can play with it. </td></tr>
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<br />Jimmy Teehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10174906526668767111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4027757051871858196.post-3585072301780310002015-11-15T03:17:00.002-08:002015-11-23T20:41:51.079-08:00Surgical Research Society of Australasia Meeting 2015, Sydney<div style="text-align: justify;">
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I initially signed up for this research meeting without putting too much thoughts into it. I mean, I like research, I want a good platform to present a colonoscopy audit which I did last year, and I get to meet many like-minded people from all over Australia to learn from their experience and work.</div>
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I then got an email from the organisers saying that my research has been accepted for oral presentation. Yay! This is going to be fun. Then the organisers said after scoring by three independent surgeons, unfortunately my research wasn't eligible for prize. What?! My registrar presented the same research at the ASC Perth this year and won the general surgery best paper prize. Hmm.. Whatever. Maybe I was not pitching it to the right audience. Still I was going to make sure I do a good job in presenting. If anything, this would be a good practice for my own development.</div>
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On Thursday we had many speakers discussing on the topic of academic surgery, which is very fascinating topic. It seems like, to be an academic surgeon who operates, it's not quite the same as being a surgeon who happens to do research. The former has invested much of his time and energy in first getting a PhD, then building his research portfolio, and then being extensively involved in university roles of teaching, publication and mentoring, and somehow still be able to fit in some clinical work and operating. Sometimes this means taking a paycut to achieve these things, especially in his or her early days of starting the academic career. But the journey, they promise, is an extremely rewarding and satisfying one.</div>
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Professor John Windsor, an academic hepatobiliary and upper GI surgeon from University of Auckland, Professor Peter Choong, an academic orthopaedic surgeon from St Vincent and Professor Joe Hines from UCLA were the three distinguished speakers who shared about their life work.</div>
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On Thursday night, we had the academic forum. There were three short talks and a three-course</div>
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dinner. To my pleasant surprise, the director of surgery from my hospital - Dr Ratna Aseervatham who is also my mentor, turned up for the forum. We sat in the same table with Suzie, theatre coach from my hospital, Fiona - a surgeon from Armidale (who sits in the generic surgical science exams committee) and another ENT surgeon - Dr Hamish Sillars from Auckland and his wife. Dr Sillars was there to receive supervisor of the year award for his contribution to education. We had some interesting conversation in our table about some quite controversial topics which I shall not reveal much. I also got to tell Dr Aseervatham an extremely busy, chaotic and interesting night I had 2 days ago. He is my mentor, and I value what he says about how I can further improve.</div>
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On Friday, it was the surgical research presentation day. My presentation was in the last session at around 4pm. The chair - Dr Andrew Hill started by saying that this is a premier platform to present one's work. Yes ASC is good, GSA is also good, but this is truly the best. I chuckled. I thought he meant it as a joke to make us interested.</div>
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As the presentation proceeded, it became quite clear he really meant what he said. Highly specialised research, well thought-out question, advanced methodology, equipped with sophisticated statistical analysis were the type of research that were presented. To be quite honest, I probably only understood about 50% of what was said, but I pretended I did, laughing at joke which I didn't quite get and clapping my hands in agreement when I saw everyone else doing so. </div>
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I met Siobhan Fitzpatrick, a final year medical student from Griffith University who is also the chairman of SURGIA (students surgical association)- an extremely bright and industrious young lady who aspires to be a plastic surgeon. We both sat at the back and lamented on the lack of emphasis on research that is inherent culture in QLD. Too bad she is moving back to NSW to begin her internship in Royal Northshore Hospital. I can't believe she couldn't get her first choice hospital in QLD, and was to be sent to Townsville Hospital instead. It's a loss to QLD then. But I am really excited for her for the opportunities that lie ahead.</div>
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At the end of session 3 just before the final session, I was ready to run away. Compared to what others have presented, mine is like child's play. Why did I submit my abstract in the first place?! Everyone is going to laugh at my miserable attempt! I went to the chairman of the final session, Marc Gladman, Professor of Colorectal Surgery at Concord Hospital, and told him how I felt. He kindly reassured me and told me to never look down on my own work. He said there is a value in outcome-based research (which was what I was doing), good stuff can come out of small studies. 'This is a friendly audience' he said. 'You will be fine'. </div>
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Right. </div>
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For the last 10-15 minutes before my presentation, i started to visualise everyone in the room as my best friends and family to help to calm my nerves. I had been in similar position before. There is no turning back now. 'Should i take along my script?' I was debating with myself. 'What if i forget what to say?' The thing is, in all my previous presentations, i always have my script with to me. But i also realised this was a crutch which was hindering my presentation. I made up my mind at that point that i wasn't going to rely on my script. If i don't step out of my comfort zone, i would not be able to improve. </div>
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The hardest thing for me in any presentation is usually the beginning - the first sentence. <i>You need to get the tone of voice, the enthusiasm and scene right</i>. But the problem is, once i realised i was in front of a group audience a lot more senior and smarter than me, i usually freaked out. I would go on an autopilot mode, stared intensely at the laptop, and just fired memorised words from the script without truly <i>communicating</i> with the audience. 'I need to get the beginning right!'. The first 20 seconds will determine how the rest of the presentation go. </div>
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I made a mental note to take the first 5s to just look and smile at the audience before i started talking. This is a mental checkpoint for me, to remind myself that <i>effective communication is just as much the non-verbal as the verbal</i>. It's more an art than a science. It's also to slow myself down psychologically so i could ease into the beginning seamlessly. </div>
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Marc Gladman said at the beginning of the session that according to sales psychology, we only have 60s to convince people if they were going to buy the idea. I was going to use my first 60s well. </div>
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The presentation went well. It was quite well received by the audience. I have kept my points as simple and as interesting as possible. Some remarks during the Q&A were 'this is one of the most politically correct conclusion you have made', 'your mentor must be very proud of you' etc. </div>
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Alas, i had made a break-through. Whereas previously i would be crippled with fear before and during a presentation, i am now able to look at the audience and communicate. Wow. What a feeling!</div>
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The meeting concluded with prize presentation. The young investigator award went to an orthopaedic surgeon from Victoria, <span style="color: orange;"><b>Dr R Mittal </b></span>on his topic of <b><span style="color: orange;">CROSSBAR (combined randomized and observational study of surgery for type B ankle fracture treatment): Results of a multi-centre RCT</span></b> who, at the time of the prize presentation, had left. The chairman of the meeting immediately announced that he was disqualified from the prize because the rules had clearly stated that prize winners must stay till the end. Another surgeon from NZ - <b><span style="color: orange;">Dr Mohammed Amer</span></b>, won the prize on his topic - <b><span style="color: orange;">Preoperative carbohydrates for enhancing recovery after elective surgery: A multiple-treatments meta-analysis</span></b>. I was especially impressed with a presentation by a medical student - Chen Bi Yi from NSW on <b><span style="color: orange;">Radiation-induced gene expression of Tissue Factor, Thrombomodulin, Cadherin 5 and Catherine 13 in cerebral mouse endothelial cells</span></b>. I later asked her if she was also a phD student, since there were many of them in Sydney. She told me no, that she was doing her MBBS in Albury - a regional area in NSW, and travelling to Sydney during her holiday to complete her honours in research. Amazing! </div>
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I spoke to Professor John Windsor at the end of the meeting and told him my interest in Academic Surgery. Professor Windsor is one of the most well-regarded academic surgeons in Australasia, and the thing that attracted me is not so much his achievement (although it was massive), but his ease with people. His humble nature makes it easy for anyone to approach him. </div>
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'Do you want to be an academic surgeon?' He asked me. 'It's a little too early for me to be absolutely certain if this is the path for me though i really enjoy attending meetings like this and i will continue to attend future meetings to be inspired by people around.' I said. </div>
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'Well, i can see that you are being infected by the research bug now. The best advice i can give you, now that you are in the surgical training programme, is to work for a year, and then take 3 years off your training to do a PhD, and then resume your training again. Time and time again i see people making the mistake of leaving their PhD till after they complete the surgical training, and they lose out of the benefit of being equipped with these skills early in their career. Doing a PhD during your fellowship will also mean that you won't enjoy your fellowship and you can't fully focus on the subspecialty training. Besides, a lot of the fellowship programmes out there are very competitive, and having a PhD will certainly help you when applying to these programmes.' </div>
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'It's risky business i know, to interrupt your training, take a pay cut to do your PhD. But in the long run, this will be extremely beneficial. Trust me, i know.' He said. </div>
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'Well, i don't know what your family circumstances are, but if you are interested, i would be more than happy for you to come to Auckland to work with me. Currently I have 46 PhD students in my department. I would be happy to mentor you in this process. Here is my name card. Just email me if you have any questions.' These were his parting words. </div>
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This is a very difficult decision to make. Is this the path God has set for me? Whilst i love research, i don't want research to take me away from patients, who are the reasons i set out to be a doctor in the first place. <br />
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Taking three years off work and formal surgical training also means i have to take a significant pay cut to do this. Would I still be able to feed my family? Three years seem like a really long time. I would surely forget a lot of my surgical knowledge and operating skills. Will i struggle when i resume surgical training?<br />
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Anyway I am glad I don't have to decide now. </div>
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All in all I had a really great time at the surgical research society meeting. I came home being inspired by the people that i have met and the high quality research that were presented. I am more determined than ever to produce a stunning piece of work too in the near future!<br />
<br />Jimmy Teehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10174906526668767111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4027757051871858196.post-63057609770753934782015-11-13T19:38:00.003-08:002015-11-23T20:53:19.062-08:00The story behind Blackall 100 <div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I
have always wanted to run a fast road marathon in home soil, Malaysia. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">In
2013, I was in the best shape (fitness-wise) of my life and was ready to give
Standard Chartered KL Marathon a crack. Unfortunately the race was postponed
due to haze. We were notified of news just 3 days out from the race. I was
deeply disappointed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">In
2014, I took a break from running to focus on family and work. We had Jonas in
July and it was a great joy having him in our lives. At the same time, I was
working hard to complete my surgical exams and trying to work hard to get on
the surgical training programme. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">In
June 2015, I decided to start training for a road marathon again. I thought
this is probably my last chance to have any reasonable amount of quality
training prior to commencing surgical training in 2016. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I
thought i needed a structure in my training, instead of just running by feel.
So i used the Hanson Brooks training programme, one which Sage Canaday was a
part of. What i like about the training programme, is that there is a good
variety of work-out, with intensive work-out sandwiched between easy days. Also
the weekly mileage is usually around 60-85km, which was something i could
handle, given how busy and tiring family and work are. Yes ideally i would
prefer to run 100km per week, run twice a day and on a variety of surface
including trails, but i know my timetable would not allow that. So i would wake
up at ~5am most days, put on jacket, gloves, head torch, and disappear into the
dark cold winter dawn. I would run for ~50-70 minutes and return home. Some
days were extremely challenging, and some days i just felt like sleeping
in and skipping the run altogether. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">After
2 weeks of training, I ran 1:29 for Gold Coast Half Marathon. Surprisingly Ryan
Hall (America record holder in half marathon, 59:43) was the pacer for the 1:30 group so I enjoyed his company most of the way.
We chatted about his life and the Big Bear Lake (where he first felt the
calling to be a runner). I was awestruck by how humble and simple he is.
Whenever we reached an aid station, he would always reach out for water and
pass them to the runners in his group.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXQ0PGQH1RUnhfjlSiTXBsJtdFc9f7LZGZhKc2ch9OFE-JQ48pE8HmNhg9TSSXBn6CSyOZwsTtn7x4lr8DVFqKT_OB1ABYMmurRjWOhgVCKPA-jkXZnSrlLn6j-c2FFuZZl82iHIr_gTs/s1600/IMG_0055.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXQ0PGQH1RUnhfjlSiTXBsJtdFc9f7LZGZhKc2ch9OFE-JQ48pE8HmNhg9TSSXBn6CSyOZwsTtn7x4lr8DVFqKT_OB1ABYMmurRjWOhgVCKPA-jkXZnSrlLn6j-c2FFuZZl82iHIr_gTs/s640/IMG_0055.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">After
2 months of training, I ran <span style="color: orange;"><b>2:56</b></span> for the Sunshine Coast Marathon. This became
my first official sub-3 marathon. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">My
ultimate aim was to run the <span style="color: orange;"><b>BSN Putrajaya Night Marathon </b></span>on 24 October. I
was aiming for the podium in the national category. However,
my worst nightmare was once again realised. The race was canceled due to to
haze.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Just
when i was overwhelmed with disappointment, my boss Dr Donovan asked me to
consider doing Blackall 50km instead, which is taking place just 15 mins
from my house in Mapleton forest. Thinking i had nothing to lose, i
signed up for the race. I hadn't done any trail running prior to this and
was quite anxious about my ability to run a 50km trail race since all my
training was on the road. I did a 40min test run in Parklands forest the day
before the race and my leg muscles quickly decided they weren't happy with the
rocks, uneven terrain, climbing and pounding. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">On
race day, I was struggling in the first half, almost tripping over the
rocks or tree roots in a number of occasions, and barely holding on to second
place. Scott - who was in first place, continued to increase his lead on the
rest of the field. At one point, i sort of just gave up any hope of catching up
with him. There were a lot of negative thoughts, voices which told me I had
made a mistake signing up for this race. The trail also became quite
technical and challenging as i ran along, and i struggled to find any
sort of rhythm. I knew this was going to be a long day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">What
happened subsequently would be a major turning point in this race. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I
found that as I learned to ignore those voices and focused on placing one foot
over the another, i could almost visualise layers after layers of cynism,
disbelief, fear (of pain and suffering) being stripped away. It's hard to
explain this process. The feeling is like: I have hit the rock bottom, and i am
still alive. Why not just persevere and see how the body feels. Moreover, my
dormant trail muscles must still retain memory of my past training. They slowly
become activated, and i became to feel at home running on trail. My spirit also
began to feel lighter and freer. I have arrived at a mental state I have never
been before, and I started to feel stronger. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">At
about 44km mark, to my surprise, i caught Scott. He must have been shocked to
see me, and like a hunted animal, he quickly responded by running faster. I was
determined not to lose him again this time. We ran stride for stride for
the next 2-3km. Finally we reached a long section of road. This is the last
stretch of road leading to the finish line. My undertrained legs
eventually decided they have had enough and I finished in 2nd place in <b><span style="color: orange;">4:39</span></b>,
about 40s behind the winner. We were both under the previous course record of
4:45.</span><span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Here is the newspaper article on the race, which briefly described the final 7km battle between Scott and I. </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/triathlete-surprises-himself-by-winning-mountain-u/2818716/</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj0ysX-_Al2eW2Hvfjmyu4NdNizrAaHYNi8L2EVkURNJwfS5g7QowGTBkjMNYftcf70wA0eq1x8GSvuiAhrcR9cdCHTOHJPoRXbTpCITsxhjd4jdM_7EUakCaTFvEjy7ZsuyDSjWDQabU/s1600/11218857_963173823728787_7325177854723132607_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj0ysX-_Al2eW2Hvfjmyu4NdNizrAaHYNi8L2EVkURNJwfS5g7QowGTBkjMNYftcf70wA0eq1x8GSvuiAhrcR9cdCHTOHJPoRXbTpCITsxhjd4jdM_7EUakCaTFvEjy7ZsuyDSjWDQabU/s640/11218857_963173823728787_7325177854723132607_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gun off</td></tr>
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</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZMStcPEEVxkckPZklV5RWDekaivqERbmWVOscOOht8UPlJdQjz_SMZhkwhF-ceuvM9gCT2wJo5jDBGNbDqUA7Ji6DW5AbVaUIf1rpSO8OtMbUvfzHKCwZM6Vvrwm_VYagT5PuKdwKgw0/s1600/ZF-5459-25031-1_L_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZMStcPEEVxkckPZklV5RWDekaivqERbmWVOscOOht8UPlJdQjz_SMZhkwhF-ceuvM9gCT2wJo5jDBGNbDqUA7Ji6DW5AbVaUIf1rpSO8OtMbUvfzHKCwZM6Vvrwm_VYagT5PuKdwKgw0/s640/ZF-5459-25031-1_L_1.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crossing the creek</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRqNmqk0GhzbJburBwrJB-JQRes00rLyFCm7RMHRUHGG6O_FSKueD8mljNdx-GKuMExtd6uWpOBqWdUhsidlR_yupKnbg97JGOUyDw-NJnSZmBPo8q38MVfntw827Ds474TqiOzv-9gLM/s1600/ZF-5459-25031-1_L_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRqNmqk0GhzbJburBwrJB-JQRes00rLyFCm7RMHRUHGG6O_FSKueD8mljNdx-GKuMExtd6uWpOBqWdUhsidlR_yupKnbg97JGOUyDw-NJnSZmBPo8q38MVfntw827Ds474TqiOzv-9gLM/s640/ZF-5459-25031-1_L_2.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh how i miss trail running</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9LtDyI61jxFZ3S92YMWZQLNmFaLKGfmgvhdybbn4b0biKqxV-HmJvQWPvcOM9ZJraBGvLy76Bf59LKYe4vTeIXfZQRnF6Kzr4fKYnBx_DZekiLlCjshDviXgtRf_yYfMcDb5Ya_Aa_u8/s1600/ZF-5459-25031-1_L_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9LtDyI61jxFZ3S92YMWZQLNmFaLKGfmgvhdybbn4b0biKqxV-HmJvQWPvcOM9ZJraBGvLy76Bf59LKYe4vTeIXfZQRnF6Kzr4fKYnBx_DZekiLlCjshDviXgtRf_yYfMcDb5Ya_Aa_u8/s640/ZF-5459-25031-1_L_3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crossing the finish line</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie3ZLtJZuQ-7Xj5lz6XRzclim7CZEdO8YvaDyolTM0F_UO2Hnh1-dMWSStKBP9CubAEAcgYBnFJXJHf-EISFY9wG7I6x8qoshC7RQdsSpzr1XshnIWsqFjXF3qL-s9GVorVFf7KY3OTmQ/s1600/ZF-5459-25031-1_L_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie3ZLtJZuQ-7Xj5lz6XRzclim7CZEdO8YvaDyolTM0F_UO2Hnh1-dMWSStKBP9CubAEAcgYBnFJXJHf-EISFY9wG7I6x8qoshC7RQdsSpzr1XshnIWsqFjXF3qL-s9GVorVFf7KY3OTmQ/s640/ZF-5459-25031-1_L_4.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ringing the bell!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIXkdA-34k8yEhdsQXNeg_Wtggh0lqDrBeHgXmKdIUGvb99Aj3Tof0fHoXmg63_XbmuXM-TPez98X7sZDprsAHMgA60_wp5Oa3aF03sq3rOzYDpigCW1i-j9FSF75TmoQNvceDAUcdTOU/s1600/12049284_963319947047508_335266893058842116_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIXkdA-34k8yEhdsQXNeg_Wtggh0lqDrBeHgXmKdIUGvb99Aj3Tof0fHoXmg63_XbmuXM-TPez98X7sZDprsAHMgA60_wp5Oa3aF03sq3rOzYDpigCW1i-j9FSF75TmoQNvceDAUcdTOU/s640/12049284_963319947047508_335266893058842116_n.jpg" width="472" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Prize presentation</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdXF-ip7mAg6XDs0wn-rNS61nRkTg3F4ShhgnVRzfAaQ93XFIdr_z60MZRbm89BNgULEJIa5RgqexqHd_vFJvRBl7BM19VU3TGJ5bH1ySGS7JzzNzxr-So7K1iBwK3qZlYUsBYrarjf0Y/s1600/12188324_10153652228165132_1598950430_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="572" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdXF-ip7mAg6XDs0wn-rNS61nRkTg3F4ShhgnVRzfAaQ93XFIdr_z60MZRbm89BNgULEJIa5RgqexqHd_vFJvRBl7BM19VU3TGJ5bH1ySGS7JzzNzxr-So7K1iBwK3qZlYUsBYrarjf0Y/s640/12188324_10153652228165132_1598950430_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jonas clapping his hands :D</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Yy33VDNxjrWTsqIx-zJkRPjq2kUDScrE-mLzaKXyQiVoJbmPYqdHH9QX8r9sX3xTim9jmLMLNwGinWLTuwp7U5RTTueFJD_qdudstqJOnqjogNYELmER2OHG-KPt6bmwO7tXFLsCB3c/s1600/12191814_963336997045803_5845452473749080185_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Yy33VDNxjrWTsqIx-zJkRPjq2kUDScrE-mLzaKXyQiVoJbmPYqdHH9QX8r9sX3xTim9jmLMLNwGinWLTuwp7U5RTTueFJD_qdudstqJOnqjogNYELmER2OHG-KPt6bmwO7tXFLsCB3c/s640/12191814_963336997045803_5845452473749080185_n.jpg" width="562" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Top three men. Scott (winner), Matt Eckhard (2nd runner up)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
Jimmy Teehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10174906526668767111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4027757051871858196.post-64873258511623429702015-06-21T03:31:00.001-07:002015-06-21T03:58:32.384-07:00(T - 2) days<br />
I went for a run this evening. I felt much better and refreshed after the run. It wasn't that I was able to straighten my thinking or come to some sort of enlightenment about the interview during the run. In fact I achieved neither. It was just simply being able to get out there, getting my mind off the interview, and doing something that I love that helped me feel better.<br />
<br />
Why am I so worried about the interview? My colleague made a casual comment this week saying: 'Ah jimmy, don't be so stressed. I am sure you will do fine.' I thought to myself. Of course I will be fine. But the point is not about being fine. The point is about having a perfect interview. Only a perfect interview would give us a reasonable chance of getting into the programme.<br />
<br />
I am sure i am not the only person thinking of it this way. And here lies the source of all stress and anxiety.<br />
<br />
Stressful times like bring me closer to God, as it always does. When i have come to the end of myself, the only person i can go to is God. Obviously there is a hypocritical component to this, in that i only go to God when i am in deep need. Other times, i just lead my own life the way i wanted to. It feels like i am only 'using' God to help to advance my career. But this is, of course, not entirely true. I also go to God for comfort, for guidance, and to find rest when i am heavy-laden. Like a little child who has lost his way, or has nowhere else to go, I run to God.<br />
<br />
I think the thing i need to be most concerned now is not the final outcome, neither should i be worried about things like: Will God bless me? Am i holy enough for God to bless me? Or should i spend more time with Him so He would bless me? These questions, while valid and are very human, focus on me utilising God for my own purpose rather God using us for His purpose.<br />
<br />
I need to focus on a few truths instead. <br />
<br />
First, God loves me and has given His Son to die for me. (John 3:16)<br />
<br />
Second, God has a plan and purpose for my life, plans to prosper me and not to harm me. (Jeremiah 29:11)<br />
<br />
Third, God's timing is perfect (Ecclesiastes 3). If i don't get on, it will only be because i am not ready, and that there are things God wants me to learn and experience He wants me to have before getting into the programme.<br />
<br />
Fourth, I can go in His confidence and do my best for His glory (Philippians 4:13 & 1 Corinthians 10:31).<br />
<br />
I surrender it to Him.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLOqmXtIyQtd7PfJnsohFZkYi2ze931F0CwHP1DR1m8v1xerTtx89oARQVOnm9ZxXY1NLnPx5250Qqddtfx8rVT2kndUg21UHpxoWyga1UbNxFCkNfxt-JO0hH8uUhjf54pcfXD1uucMQ/s1600/JAK_8860-Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLOqmXtIyQtd7PfJnsohFZkYi2ze931F0CwHP1DR1m8v1xerTtx89oARQVOnm9ZxXY1NLnPx5250Qqddtfx8rVT2kndUg21UHpxoWyga1UbNxFCkNfxt-JO0hH8uUhjf54pcfXD1uucMQ/s640/JAK_8860-Edit.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They keep me going</td></tr>
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<br />Jimmy Teehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10174906526668767111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4027757051871858196.post-27381523421379876072015-06-18T16:36:00.001-07:002015-06-19T03:47:37.242-07:00SET interview (T - 4 days)<br />
Next Tuesday I am attending an interview for the surgical education training (SET) programme. This is the final hurdle, after curriculum vitae scoring (15%) and referee report scoring (60%). This is where trainees are subjected to a series of questions in a broad range of topics to decide suitability and aptitude for the programme. During the interview, you come face to face with very experienced surgeons, where you can't hide your defects in knowledge, nervousness and lack in experience. 5 stations. 10 minutes in each station.<br />
<br />
Last year, around ~500 people across Australia applied, ~400 people were short-listed for interview, and 54 people were selected into the programme. This year, approximately ~300 plus applicants across Australia applied, 150 were short-listed for interview, and eventually only 50 people will be selected for the programme.<br />
<br />
It's been an extremely difficult week for me. Somehow I just felt I am not in a good mental shape to attend the interview. I have been doing some reading and practice with friends, and my answers always come short. I am not able to think of an intelligent answer on time, much less structure my answer properly in a concise and clear manner. What comes out is usually just a random ball of mess.<br />
<br />
I just don't believe I belong there. I felt like I don't deserve the interview. I felt others who have worked hard deserved more than me. I am frightened. I am frightened by the fact that i will be staring at the interviewers with my mind go blank on the interview day.<br />
<br />
Time is running out. I have 4 days to get my shit together. 4 more days to D day. I am still in a mess. I need a breakthrough in my mind and spirit. Lord, I desperately need You to come through for me.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Jimmy Teehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10174906526668767111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4027757051871858196.post-3205783094715130112015-03-30T03:33:00.002-07:002015-03-30T03:33:21.193-07:00Devotional run<br />
I just came up with a tentative race calendar for this year. Part of the reason for planning ahead is to give myself motivation to train. I was scrubbing with my boss one day (who also happens to be my running buddy) and commenting to him that I struggle to wake up in the morning to run. He said just sign up for one race and you will find yourself getting up when the alarm clock goes off.<br />
<br />
For this year I have intentionally chosen to stick with the shorter races. Nothing more than a marathon. With increasing responsibility at work and home, I just don't have the time to train for the longer stuff. So I hope to run more shorter races and participate in cross country series or park run to get my leg speed up. This all accumulates till the end where I am hoping to run a fast marathon in Malaysia (either KL marathon, Putrajaya Marathon or Penang Bridge Marathon).<br />
<br />
For the past week or so, I have been able to establish a routine for morning devotion and running - two of the most important activities in my life to keep my spirit nourished. I usually get up at 5am and head up for run, I would also put on my iPod and listen to sermons/short messages at the same time, I just find it really refreshing to listen to God's Word while running. Whereas in the past, my mind would be blank or thinking random thoughts when I was running, now I find my mind more active and alert to take in and meditate on God's Word.<br />
<br />
I am not sure how long this will last. I may one day find that family and work get so busy that I don't have time to head out for a devotional run in the morning. I hope this won't happen of course. But i don't know what the future holds.<br />
<br />
Already God has spoken so much to me in the past week during my devotional runs. I have been listening to Rick Warren's sermons on building financial fitness and realised that I really have not been very prudent with my money. So this week I have put up my new Salomon sense pro and inov-8 race ultra 290 (which I purchased last year bcoz I really liked them) up for sales in eBay. I don't need them really. I just thought it will be cool to 'have' them.<br />
<br />
I am looking to hearing more from God in the coming days and weeks.Jimmy Teehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10174906526668767111noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4027757051871858196.post-75310950530177989552015-02-21T07:47:00.000-08:002015-02-21T07:47:37.424-08:00True friend<br />
Four days ago, one of my best friends Jeremy Boy came over to hand me some running gear that i purchased from the US. He stayed for dinner and we ended up chatting till midnight.<br />
<br />
It's so important to have true friends in life. Jeremy Boy - a friend i have known for almost 10 years, has been with me through many trials and challenges. At many low points of my life, he was there. His insight into life, and more specifically my life, allows me to share my thoughts freely with him without any fear of rejection. I was able to share with him what i have suppressed or hidden in my life for so long. Thoughts and attitude which i didn't even know existed in me, were all articulated and vented during our sharing.<br />
<br />
I realised that all these years of living and working in Australia, <i>my heart has turned cold</i>. People's life stories no longer interest me anymore. He told me of two people he met in Darwin, one is a Iraqi doctor whose father was murdered by Sadam Hussein, and the other was 76 year old man who used to sell sex to other <i>man</i> when he was a 8 year old boy just to earn a living. He was trying to convince me that <i>everyone has a story to tell, if we were to listen</i>. And whilst that's a belief that i held firmly to when i was younger, now my hardened heart no longer subscribes to it. I insisted that <i>no, not everyone has an interesting story like that</i>. Some people have incredibly boring or selfish story, where their life's greatest achievement is posting selfie on Facebook to get as many likes, or acquiring the latest Apple gadgets in the market, or decorating their 8 weeks-old baby to be like a super model. There is nothing interesting about such self-centred achievements.<br />
<br />
This is truly a far cry to the person that i was before. I was shocked to hear these words coming from my mouth. But i could not deny, that these words have been residing in my heart for a long time, slowly growing in force, infecting and infiltrating into other areas of my thought life. I remembered listening to an elderly Christian couple sharing about their little 'miracle' of gathering supplies and donation to send to Fiji a few months ago. The sense of excitement was evident on the man's face as he recounted God's faithfulness in arranging the circumstances. As i listened, i was nodding in agreement and and saying Amen on the outside. A small part of me was genuinely happy for them. But at the same time, my 'old cynical self' just refused to rejoice. It went like: ya ya ya, another of those Christian stories of God-helped-me-so-i-succeed. <br />
<br />
All these years of not tending to my soul, or burying myself in work and running, have finally had its toll on me. My heart has become cold toward God and people. It's not that i dislike being with people or talking to them. It's just that I find it hard to derive a sense of joy and curiosity in knowing people, and because of my pride, arrogance and pre-occupation with my own problems, I find it hard to place myself in their shoes to understand them. The Bible says: rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep (Romans 12:15). But I have lost this heart of compassion.<br />
<br />
So everyday I put on a facade, pretending to be nice to people when i really don't care about them.<br />
<br />
It's easy to go for a good run in some exotic place, achieve some results, post a nice photo with a big smile on Facebook, and still pass off as being a nice guy. It's easy to make people believe that we are better than what we really are, show off nice photos of our babies as if parenting is such a bliss and our babies could sleep well and eat well and never cry.<br />
<br />
But when rubber meets the road, when our friends call us at 2am needing a listening ear, that's when our hearts are revealed. I pray that as I seek God this year, He will give me <span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">a new heart and a new spirit. He will take out my heart of stone and give me a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26).</span><br />
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<br />Jimmy Teehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10174906526668767111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4027757051871858196.post-1447169977762101352015-02-15T23:08:00.001-08:002015-02-15T23:08:46.559-08:00Elusive Time<div style="text-align: justify;">
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As i sit here waiting to board my flight, i realised that i don't get much opportunity like this, <i>just to sit here and have nothing to do</i>. When i say having nothing to do, there are still of course a million things which occupy my minds - where to bring my wife for our wedding anniversary, what gear to buy so i could bring Jonas for a hike and cycle, when to start writing the male breast cancer and unusual hibernoma case report, which books should i read, when and how should i start running and training for marathon, how to be better in my work to impress my boss, what movies to watch etc. My brain just never stops. </div>
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Life just kinda feels like i have arrived at a movie thirty minutes late. Everything i do, there are always 600 other things waiting to be done. I feel I am constantly behind, trying to figure out the story plot, chasing deadline, trying to fulfil my promise and commitment, and hoping at the end of the day, things will work out. </div>
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I used to be able to sit down in silence in my devotional time with God, where i lost track of time and just enjoying close connection and spiritual intimacy with my heavenly Father. But now, when i sit down for more than 30 seconds, my mind starts racing and thinking what to do next. Even when i set aside time to read the bible or just for prayer, i always set a time that i must 'finish' my quiet time. If i don't, I won't be able to finish all the tasks for the day. </div>
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It seems like life has become such a rush for me. Having said that, i probably can't recall a time when i actually have free time. Ever since high school, I have always packed my schedules real tight such that there is minimal free time. All through high school, college and university, it has always been studies, church, christian fellowship, Boys' Brigade, infinity milers, friends, running. Now I am working full time on a job that demands so much of me, and having a family and a new baby that need constant attention, my free time is essentially non-existent. </div>
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This is <i>not</i> the way i want to live. At this rate, I am bound to crash at some point or head toward burn-out. I remember reading a book when i was 18 titled - 'Ordering Your Private World' by Gordon MacDonald. The book warns against <i>the barrenness of a busy life</i> and urges us to <i>build a strong inner world and spirit with God </i>so we are able to face the challenges of the external world. It encourages us to live <i>from the centre, from the inside out</i>, instead of the other round. </div>
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I need to remind myself that every new day is a gift from God. He is our heavenly Father who desires to spend time with us, fulfil us, give us joy, hope and peace, guide our everyday decision, and supply us with the strength and wisdom for the challenges that lie ahead. God is not that angry or sulky-looking guy up there who is always disappointed and dissatisfied with us, who always says no to our every request. He is the very essence of Joy itself, and His heart is for His children.</div>
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Each time i start my day chasing deadlines and goals, I neglect the very source of life and strength and wisdom that i need for the day ahead. It's driving a car without replenishing the fuel, or going for a multi-day hike without bringing food and water.</div>
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For this new year, I really don't want to live the way i used to live. I want to begin each new day with my heavenly Father, and build a strong inner world with Him. I want to derive my sense of self-worth and identity from Him, rather than from achievement or men's approval. I want to live from the inside out, with a strong spirit and a godly purpose. I know my heavenly Father feels the same. His heart just can't wait to bless His children. He doesn't force Himself on us, but is always there, with arms wide open, waiting for us to return to Him. </div>
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<br />Jimmy Teehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10174906526668767111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4027757051871858196.post-29790020104230220592015-01-21T13:12:00.001-08:002015-01-23T15:40:05.479-08:003 weeks from now<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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3 weeks from now and I will be free!<br />
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My generic surgical science exams (GSSE) is 3 weeks from now and i really can't wait to finish it. I have spent the better part of last 7-8 months preparing for this exams. It has been weighing on my mind for too long and the stress that accompanies it. The last 3 weeks is just about going through the materials and the question bank again and trying to recall the core concepts of each subject. <br />
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There are so many things i would like to do after i finish my exams.<br />
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First thing is to bring my wife out for a good celebration. She has been so supportive of my endeavour in this preparation period and frequently let me off my parental duty so i could sneak in more hours to study. She understands how important this exams is for my future career and always reminds me to look after my body, eat well and not to be too stressed. I cannot thank her enough and i really hope i could make it up to her after this exams. We are planning for a Europe trip some time in June-August, and i can't wait to start planning for it.<br />
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Second thing I would like to do is to spend more time with Jonas, our baby boy. He is growing so fast, and he is becoming more active and emotionally aware of his surrounding. My heart always melts when he looks at me with an expectant looks in his eyes hoping for some cuddle or play. I definitely want to bring him out more often for a walk, a run with baby jogger or a hike in the mountains after my exams.<br />
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Work-wise, i am so looking forward to greater responsibility at work this year and more operating time. God has been gracious in placing me in Nambour Hospital to learn from some of the best surgeons in the region. Dr Michael Donovan, Dr Ratna Aseervatham, Dr Sandy Grieve, Dr John Hansen, Dr David Colladge to name a few. They are all very influential figures in my life and i really hope to learn from them. I am very excited to start the first 6 months in Vascular Surgery and the next 6 months in General Surgery. I want to use the knowledge that i have acquired whilst studying for the exams and apply that in clinical setting.<br />
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Another thing i want to do is the USMLE step 1 exams. Not to divulge too much here, but i am hoping to go to the States after i finish my surgical training in Australia for 1-2 years of fellowship. The medical technology, advanced surgical care, and amazing landscapes really fascinate me and i hope to bring my family there to live for a while.<br />
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And last but not least, running. I have been in a hiatus for so long. I went for a run this morning and it was truly refreshing. But i know it's going to take a while to build up my aerobic base again. 2:40 marathon is my target this year. To run a 2:40 marathon, i have to do a 1:16 half marathon, which means i have to do a 35 minutes 10km, which means i have run sub-17 mins for 5km, and so on. Whether it's possible to achieve that in this busy year remains to be seen. The more exciting thing is Rachel told me she would like to attempt a half marathon this year! I really hope she could do it and this gives us more reason to go for a run as a family.<br />
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But for now, i'd better stop writing to go back to finish my pathology questions!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ05iGNsAatVsCXSDWtYxT9owWUJU5XQQ3WkmbDrT1_Bie2hDX2K2HyVoxihsfGljzHL44hfwP6w8mkhM8y0uokzGqyd24-2hy_2PQUX0YbNaDRrG0EfMw36-3gIRpTCkr-eTJZKbSILI/s1600/1900007_771473206235914_4146457038273686492_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ05iGNsAatVsCXSDWtYxT9owWUJU5XQQ3WkmbDrT1_Bie2hDX2K2HyVoxihsfGljzHL44hfwP6w8mkhM8y0uokzGqyd24-2hy_2PQUX0YbNaDRrG0EfMw36-3gIRpTCkr-eTJZKbSILI/s1600/1900007_771473206235914_4146457038273686492_n.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Family time on New Year day</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the peak of Mt Coolum<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZLJ_HCa8zN2zL5ccu3TkklyUp_Qt3ICEpJ8dNRacOre7defdZrDgdUO_3Xt-okJmDYwhPyHmPAUNe5psUttbZTag5qckfrA4W1qYLCu9TUcYWCh_Tm-iGwwBiTajgyFiUf8LXI9CDt54/s1600/10830957_10153406826618102_6740311353909553654_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZLJ_HCa8zN2zL5ccu3TkklyUp_Qt3ICEpJ8dNRacOre7defdZrDgdUO_3Xt-okJmDYwhPyHmPAUNe5psUttbZTag5qckfrA4W1qYLCu9TUcYWCh_Tm-iGwwBiTajgyFiUf8LXI9CDt54/s1600/10830957_10153406826618102_6740311353909553654_o.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christmas 2014<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More of this to come!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">he has started feeding solids</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Running with my surgical mentor and friend - Dr Michael Donovan</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bali trip 2014</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taboo time!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Family photo</td></tr>
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<br />Jimmy Teehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10174906526668767111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4027757051871858196.post-11753509939954215472014-07-02T17:07:00.000-07:002014-07-02T23:34:35.520-07:00Life in Surgery<div>
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I just finished a stressful night shift in the surgical ward. It's my 6th night in a row and the previous nights have not been easy either. There are a few sick patients who demanded a lot of time and resources from medical and nursing staff. At the beginning of my shift last evening, I also just found out that one of the patients i saw the night before was taken back to the operating theatre for emergency surgery yesterday morning and was found to have ~2L of blood in the abdomen. She didn't look that unwell when i saw her, just some abdominal pain which was present even before i came on. Her belly was soft, stoma was working, bowel sound present, good urine output and all her vital signs were within normal limits. The only thing abnormal was she had a markedly elevated APTT (test for blood clotting) whilst on heparin infusion (blood thinner) which we responded appropriately by withholding the heparin for 2 hours and re-commenced at a slower rate according to guidelines. The only I did not check at 2am was her haemoglobin. Bad mistake. In my mind, intra-abdominal bleed was not even considered because she must be my 8th or 9th patient this week who had markedly elevated APTT. All of them were fine and the APTT normalised the day after. Well, all but this lady. </div>
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During the morning handover, I saw how the night registrar was being fired by all the seniors for the patients that he admitted. 'Have you discussed this with Dr H?', 'What did the urine dipstix show?', 'What was the reason for MRI cervical spine?', 'Can you get a normal lactate with ischaemic bowel?' Questions after questions. I imagine that must be extremely stressful and even humiliating at times when you could not answer your superiors' questions. It just re-emphasises that point that surgery is such a fine art of which the treatment, be it surgical or conservative, needs to tailored specifically, timely and appropriately according to patients' presenting complaints, clinical signs and investigation results. There is an old saying which goes: <i><span style="color: orange;">a good surgeon knows when to operate, a great surgeon knows when <b>not</b> to operate</span></i>. Whenever bowels or organ viability and haemodynamic stability are in question, there is no time for delay. Definitive action is required and that's when most junior registrars run into trouble. Knowing when is a good time to ring your boss (mind you, i am talking about waking your boss up in the middle of the night to discuss patients and risk his/her wrath), having a coherent story and all the investigative results at hand, organising and liaising with members of other department to book a patient for surgery, and finally mustering the courage to call are certainly a challenge for every junior registrars doing night shifts. I am having anxiety and goosebumps even thinking about it. </div>
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Last Thursday I just had my interview for the Surgical Education Training (SET) programme. It's the final hurdle to enter into the ever-competitive, much-coveted surgical training programme. The entry into the surgical programme is based on three things: curriculum vitae (which is based on work experience, research experience, achievement, awards and teaching), referee reports (you need five referees who can back you up) and the surgical interview. There is probably around 500-600 people in Australia fighting for 50 slots. So only about 1 in 10 would get into the programme. The interview consists of 5 stations, each station manned by 2 experienced surgeons, 10 minutes per station. </div>
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The interview was very stressful. The time is so limited and the surgeons all kept a straight face. Throughout the interview, they either remain silent or they ask: <span style="color: orange;"><b>anything else? anything else? anything else?</b></span> It just gives you a deep sense of inadequacy that you are missing something. </div>
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I think i did average. I was feeling reasonably confident and happy in some stations and doubtful in others. This year where only 1 in 10 would get a spot, average ain't going to be enough. You have to be extraordinary in your performance to stand a chance. </div>
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One thing i am happy with myself though, that is i did not ask for the interview questions from those who had finished the interview. I felt God had spoken to me, to put my trust in Him and to do it His way. One day before my interview, I saw my registrar in the hospital and he was telling me i would be silly not to know the questions beforehand. The interviewers would be more strict because they expect us to already know the questions and have come prepared. But I have made my mind to do it God's way. If i want His blessing and favour in my application to the programme, I must put my trust in Him, knowing that He would<i> <span style="color: orange;">open door for me which no one can shut</span></i> and <i>close door which on one can open. </i></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dead gut</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgANdsd7NXVuyZdAO1VD-HeuGNBrlUgYqy5jL96hoKBJMofbW1AKXL8reJJh6Gldyi6734zJNs4GZlnIXbStOFuc_lppNtKei3YWXg8yoEZzNXoXASknResfM28b3VlnHC7htElT72RLZU/s1600/IMG_3739.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgANdsd7NXVuyZdAO1VD-HeuGNBrlUgYqy5jL96hoKBJMofbW1AKXL8reJJh6Gldyi6734zJNs4GZlnIXbStOFuc_lppNtKei3YWXg8yoEZzNXoXASknResfM28b3VlnHC7htElT72RLZU/s1600/IMG_3739.JPG" height="358" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Missing our days in Delaneys Creek</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Running at the backyard of our house</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAYlTLF1ZQBcuIfo2BY81hjYSC8KuwOt1H5hY0C_mv3nB5v1LY8EMNqdfuZBMU3LhVTZp7F3kS1t9Nt08A6ARJwYsP9jaDQZKg9eS4Xy_HUYb2tEjaJI6LqsFidpvtpd4LDqLcF3NBTxg/s1600/IMG_3645.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAYlTLF1ZQBcuIfo2BY81hjYSC8KuwOt1H5hY0C_mv3nB5v1LY8EMNqdfuZBMU3LhVTZp7F3kS1t9Nt08A6ARJwYsP9jaDQZKg9eS4Xy_HUYb2tEjaJI6LqsFidpvtpd4LDqLcF3NBTxg/s1600/IMG_3645.JPG" height="358" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Running - compared with surgery - is a so much more relaxing and free</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkflTffoeBa2SDxcg2Kv417VwSt_mfBM6b233O096KcjVrUCpnqBRYUfNL2EjGPybk1MUlJYlERgE_AJDkuYee7BbGy6bWWwoMU1wX6uFqr25IozsTTtU_aHg5XTu_ik3AUis1Xo0ju14/s1600/IMG_3644.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkflTffoeBa2SDxcg2Kv417VwSt_mfBM6b233O096KcjVrUCpnqBRYUfNL2EjGPybk1MUlJYlERgE_AJDkuYee7BbGy6bWWwoMU1wX6uFqr25IozsTTtU_aHg5XTu_ik3AUis1Xo0ju14/s1600/IMG_3644.JPG" height="358" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love the smile on Rachel's face :D</td></tr>
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Jimmy Teehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10174906526668767111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4027757051871858196.post-2265562759918593032014-01-11T19:48:00.002-08:002014-01-12T02:23:57.062-08:00Reflection 2 - work <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Two years ago I made a decision that I was going to invest time in pursuing my hobby and passion of running. I had just finished medical school, in what many deem to be potentially the five most stressful years of one's life, of intense studying, burning late night oil, attending lectures after lectures, memorising terms, jargons and conditions which we dont use everyday etc. I thought maybe it's time to take a break from studying and spend time doing other things which I love. After all, if there is any period I can take a break from studying, right after med school is probably the right time to do it, since in specialist training years, it is pretty back the same old days of mugging and burying under books again, where we are put through countless vigorous hours of medical training.<br />
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<i><span style="color: orange;">It's a decision I didn't regret.</span></i><br />
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Now that I am almost finishing my short running career, it's time to start planning my next move - one which most likely will demand more of me than running does, and carries far-reaching implications and influences than anything that I have ever done with my life. <b><span style="color: orange;">My next goal in life is to train to be a surgeon.</span></b><br />
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As with anything, I will begin with big picture. My dream is to be a highly competent and compassionate general and trauma surgeon working with the top surgeons in the field from all around the world, being actively involved in research and discovering new treatment and therapy, participating in humanitarian and missionary surgical work in the war-afflicted and poverty-stricken countries, and in training and educating the next generation of doctors.<br />
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Dream will only remain as dream if we dream with closed eyes. Those who dream with open eyes, however, are dangerous, as their eyes will have its unwavering focus on what's ahead, to see what steps to take to get nearer to the goals, and to help evaluate the present situation and circumstances one is in. Whether or not my dream will be realized, it depends on how I can allow God to guide my every step and to open my eyes to see the truly important things.<br />
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To get to where I want to be, i need to start with little steps. I need to see as many patients as possible as possible, to learn how to assess them, practice my clinical skills so I can arrive at the correct diagnosis. I need to learn how to manage their conditions, to learn how to recognize the seriously ill and distinguish those who need urgent intervention from those who just need ongoing observation. I need spend a lot of time studying - especially in the subject of anatomy, physiology and pathology - for they form the foundation of surgery. I have noticed that so many surgical residents and trainees tend to neglect the basic, and want to dive straight into operating and journal reading. I firmly believe in building a strong foundation and knowledge for which other things build on. Besides, I also need to get myself out there, to meet the different surgeons, to learn from them, from the way they take history, to the way they operate on patients. Operating skill is an art which takes a lot and a lot of practice to master and perfect, and good hand-eye coordination, three dimensional thinking and precision are needed.<br />
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Traditionally surgical training programme is one of the most competitive ones out there, and rightfully so, because patients' lives are entrusted to the hands of surgeons. Before surgeons can earn the right to cut open patients' bodies, one needs to prove he or she has superior knowledge of the human bodies, pursuing excellence in everything she does, being subject to the most vigorous and stressful training, and has outstanding track record in academic and research work. Moreover, knowing the right people and having good network and connection with other surgeons are paramount to successful entry to the programme. These older surgeons have to have the confidence in you to train you.<br />
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Running has taught me many things. Amongst them is the ability to persevere in adverse and trying environment. Surgery is one such environment, where good and bad surgeons exist together. Traditionally surgeons are notorious for having the God-like complex, being inflexible and bullying others into follow his or her way only, and sometimes being downright rude and condescending towards other staff who are not quick to learn something. I am not saying you don't have problems in other medical specialties, it's just that the kind of personality that exists in surgery (which is the reason why they choose surgery as a career in the first place) makes you have to be on your nerve at all times. A stupid mistake or a wrong first impression can be disastrous, as I have seen in the career of some of my older colleagues.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeIbk5RwAsrzfMHbTDj2m9Mg4lT9xOItVtph2K80uD2o7DU_XfeF5UWleNHwHzH5_SVGw39t4Vd-qr634y_PovUr_SPS3wcu1t7U1LLZcpiiB2VtFpE54Iwf9fzgbY2GVmwevwTQsiZcw/s1600/Galen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeIbk5RwAsrzfMHbTDj2m9Mg4lT9xOItVtph2K80uD2o7DU_XfeF5UWleNHwHzH5_SVGw39t4Vd-qr634y_PovUr_SPS3wcu1t7U1LLZcpiiB2VtFpE54Iwf9fzgbY2GVmwevwTQsiZcw/s1600/Galen.jpg" height="443" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Galen (year AD 157) attends to a wounded gladiator as the crowds bay for more blood</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpQRWoFG9a7Wf-zD9CLmsSdQpWC44-XSBXGk_rAhy9boEfElpX5IEB4w1K91gfu-QA1LBJoDjKbQlvg4UxTNA-uIBIltLOi4OVuaatMvRyw2mrBP0xo4p77xaNIGj4LZvybart8mflPUw/s1600/andreas+vesalius.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpQRWoFG9a7Wf-zD9CLmsSdQpWC44-XSBXGk_rAhy9boEfElpX5IEB4w1K91gfu-QA1LBJoDjKbQlvg4UxTNA-uIBIltLOi4OVuaatMvRyw2mrBP0xo4p77xaNIGj4LZvybart8mflPUw/s1600/andreas+vesalius.jpg" height="640" width="501" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Andreas Vesalius (1514-1564) - the father of human anatomy</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJOM_04u7l7xG-Ok39PiOi8jEaMMKG_DnQ-mQVkbki6MH1xMcicII9q3L1Mzwb1I9rTR5YCrTuf5HT6e0zUESAE4dcG9M0y7NsQhN6B4Zs8B-p9tVffD4WRaMU46ttoGhhqROmWlIk5xk/s1600/Vesalius_Fabrica_p190.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJOM_04u7l7xG-Ok39PiOi8jEaMMKG_DnQ-mQVkbki6MH1xMcicII9q3L1Mzwb1I9rTR5YCrTuf5HT6e0zUESAE4dcG9M0y7NsQhN6B4Zs8B-p9tVffD4WRaMU46ttoGhhqROmWlIk5xk/s1600/Vesalius_Fabrica_p190.jpg" height="640" width="364" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A 'muscleman' illustration from Vesalius' De Humani Corporis Fabrica (1543) - alludes to his foray into body snatching</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0-9YGOu2SLybapc4bD3sa6THwAuYVDLx1-e0J5FGVwUL0nUqIgInHXUEwY2VvZ413_BAFppvaabK290VRs8aS6ZeWAzC_JWsOqTnPzhpY7TQRDpwUHUaC8RmG7pQ3UovkyhXMp2ZqtuI/s1600/hunterjohn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0-9YGOu2SLybapc4bD3sa6THwAuYVDLx1-e0J5FGVwUL0nUqIgInHXUEwY2VvZ413_BAFppvaabK290VRs8aS6ZeWAzC_JWsOqTnPzhpY7TQRDpwUHUaC8RmG7pQ3UovkyhXMp2ZqtuI/s1600/hunterjohn.jpg" height="494" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John Hunter (1728 - 1793) - challenged the traditional teaching of medicine started by Hippocrates and advocated careful observation and scientific method in medicine. A trip to London where his brother worked as an anatomy teacher and gynaecologist when he was 21 changed the course of his life as he took on an interest in human body</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIrqlimB9LpXKC01jsFjLNPfV7U-0dgEDglPAT7yL766exjP0NOLcHITsfHo0Au9SwmEYVbwwEwUQ6ltnbLq2Hb9TCrVZt-e77Txmlifulq30L2fJmTE6K4wgRa7z00SK3vsWBDgsudN0/s1600/surgeon-dr-c-walton-lillehei-performing-a-cross-circulation-heart-operation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIrqlimB9LpXKC01jsFjLNPfV7U-0dgEDglPAT7yL766exjP0NOLcHITsfHo0Au9SwmEYVbwwEwUQ6ltnbLq2Hb9TCrVZt-e77Txmlifulq30L2fJmTE6K4wgRa7z00SK3vsWBDgsudN0/s1600/surgeon-dr-c-walton-lillehei-performing-a-cross-circulation-heart-operation.jpg" height="640" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walter Lillehei performs open heart surgery using cross-circulation in 1954. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRfCmoyiMBS9ThjqMLWYQyH0QJo18sEpA5dKpsxxFYb0VZ_o2oi6n1bxYiriALBx_avZwwmJlhg1seRNlkHxRYS7Fi79IripqozG2RJ83x8KOAevLuKhyphenhyphenO1ZUCDG9PFiMVeX4s3Rd78JU/s1600/BenCarsonScrubs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRfCmoyiMBS9ThjqMLWYQyH0QJo18sEpA5dKpsxxFYb0VZ_o2oi6n1bxYiriALBx_avZwwmJlhg1seRNlkHxRYS7Fi79IripqozG2RJ83x8KOAevLuKhyphenhyphenO1ZUCDG9PFiMVeX4s3Rd78JU/s1600/BenCarsonScrubs.jpg" height="618" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dr Ben Carson (neurosurgeon) - featured in the movie Gifted Hands (2009) - a must-watch! He is well known for performing controversial procedures on the brain which others would not dare to and he is one of the first neurosurgeons who successfully separated a pair of siamese twins (joined at the head) in an operation which took 22 hours. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQHPkT6y5mlmE7tCzQZErEm1m6cIm9ZpyYEPh_SWMzKla_3vv7x15tvvH1rtSfvVHiiowL3JahQKKdH43AbPQlN1afvPGI2y69VGLbPsv-T8pCqG1hY8d0TuPOH9ch3jlo-lreSj49xB4/s1600/Surgery_468x399.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQHPkT6y5mlmE7tCzQZErEm1m6cIm9ZpyYEPh_SWMzKla_3vv7x15tvvH1rtSfvVHiiowL3JahQKKdH43AbPQlN1afvPGI2y69VGLbPsv-T8pCqG1hY8d0TuPOH9ch3jlo-lreSj49xB4/s1600/Surgery_468x399.jpg" height="544" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Modern day surgery</td></tr>
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I will miss running. I will miss following the news of the latest ultra and seeing the development of the sport. I will miss the thrill of toeing the starting line knowing you have done your best to prepare for a race and will demand nothing short of an honest and out-all effort. I will definitely miss the post-race camaraderie with other runners, discussing our race and training strategies and future plans.<br />
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I believe running has prepared me very well mentally and psychologically for what's ahead. To do well in anything, be it running, studying, playing a musical instrument, or being a salesman, one needs an incredible amount of inner motivation, a strong and fierce dedication toward excellence, lots and lots of hard work, and a good dose of wisdom in maintaining healthy work-life balance.<br />
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<br />Jimmy Teehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10174906526668767111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4027757051871858196.post-17688134049954537262014-01-01T09:24:00.002-08:002014-01-01T19:49:10.009-08:00Reflection <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
As the year comes to a close, I thought I should reflect upon the year which has passed, and then prayerfully seek for directions and guidance for the new year.</div>
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So many things happened this year: I married the girl of my life, we set up a family of our own, we went to Europe for the first time for our honeymoon, I participated in a lot more races and widened my experience in trail ultra-racing, there were setbacks at work, there were valuable lesions that I have learned at work, a dear friend passed away in a waterfall accident, my love for God and interest for spiritual matters fluctuated a lot this year, one of my best friends broke up after a stable relationship of four years, I took a break from running after northface singapore etc. As much as I have tried to plan my life a certain way to avoid disappointment and keep things under control, unexpected things happen which swung me out of balance and my comfort zone.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bachelor's Party with the 2 Js. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1KKYj6UGm00HhCaAxKIoysEQ8mocBMg-YiwP-tuXxK0OyOrGz5OXsSjHstYK9Ly8nQDbD8GUW4JU3GRpVPf1U1VscH7HVWL-Pf9jmoKxrjWB8TuYpEdgPCTpg8n9lywQ8Rp2B8bxoEeY/s1600/1052612_597438050296502_1460589250_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1KKYj6UGm00HhCaAxKIoysEQ8mocBMg-YiwP-tuXxK0OyOrGz5OXsSjHstYK9Ly8nQDbD8GUW4JU3GRpVPf1U1VscH7HVWL-Pf9jmoKxrjWB8TuYpEdgPCTpg8n9lywQ8Rp2B8bxoEeY/s400/1052612_597438050296502_1460589250_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marrying the girl of my life</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDRbRSGZm-14_dgGE7a34T1Gp1bF7XtbTlNycDrGC6MXmHjQzm0pcgcjQnDATktSl8MINHkV8QGtV5A8_lggc3YQTdDlxiMpqpKaUMvRDEpLDbfi3UHtHXORYXZmDaFtAmSLuYPiUECUk/s1600/426387_10151748518700760_497575603_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDRbRSGZm-14_dgGE7a34T1Gp1bF7XtbTlNycDrGC6MXmHjQzm0pcgcjQnDATktSl8MINHkV8QGtV5A8_lggc3YQTdDlxiMpqpKaUMvRDEpLDbfi3UHtHXORYXZmDaFtAmSLuYPiUECUk/s400/426387_10151748518700760_497575603_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Caleb (middle) - one of my best friends got married this year</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSyxl71N8ejl_w9Weed6sk0oMVtYcTPe318JLPu6GHawURvSbR7h4QsP-tuSASFiuPioPXJhv5xyTQdnlQY0jpFIYB9Daef6OARZ2_TvXJWu2lBl_cqX7mNhjiCYImhqEBpfrbPjxv4eo/s1600/934755_398003346982666_1066619655_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSyxl71N8ejl_w9Weed6sk0oMVtYcTPe318JLPu6GHawURvSbR7h4QsP-tuSASFiuPioPXJhv5xyTQdnlQY0jpFIYB9Daef6OARZ2_TvXJWu2lBl_cqX7mNhjiCYImhqEBpfrbPjxv4eo/s400/934755_398003346982666_1066619655_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Honeymoon in Sweden</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG9HuLqceM8t9SY2768-nnOO6LBiyy_m8AdlgJns3JNi7wmzCtc4K-afje7fMs9umd361MxeoHq1rPGNvVD2Jzb2r4G38x850usGhyphenhyphenddVHX-HEaNuZAb-_tNbSsp7o-j3vNdqRvgBV56U/s1600/970593_400419670074367_753816621_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG9HuLqceM8t9SY2768-nnOO6LBiyy_m8AdlgJns3JNi7wmzCtc4K-afje7fMs9umd361MxeoHq1rPGNvVD2Jzb2r4G38x850usGhyphenhyphenddVHX-HEaNuZAb-_tNbSsp7o-j3vNdqRvgBV56U/s400/970593_400419670074367_753816621_n.jpg" width="223" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Northcape - watching midnight sun</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Ty9bU7OgY8P8NGYSsxDE43CUrUlzsrmtT_UHd7nbLB7rpgJZDxEn9ERGvHjQFLdNyFgEsAkpORK68UYGhKAXC0BQuhd-sR4jsrsKIB0BiTEjRF7_4HqBLCRBIEMAQ7rba8h5oGkpW04/s1600/1291281_10201150070887458_190050273_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Ty9bU7OgY8P8NGYSsxDE43CUrUlzsrmtT_UHd7nbLB7rpgJZDxEn9ERGvHjQFLdNyFgEsAkpORK68UYGhKAXC0BQuhd-sR4jsrsKIB0BiTEjRF7_4HqBLCRBIEMAQ7rba8h5oGkpW04/s400/1291281_10201150070887458_190050273_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My brothers in Christ</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTaZF_uwU6BoHHnmHSXdw18JXTsINWuVU3l2qLERXv9iiXi55o3JxsLD49c5LW6Xsc2IBx1hmQR5p4I0sf3cyAqVdyR8mFeFfj3g-f5IYfBzUBXGTVcXxgOuoie-hus8tezeCzwrp79js/s1600/DSC07536.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTaZF_uwU6BoHHnmHSXdw18JXTsINWuVU3l2qLERXv9iiXi55o3JxsLD49c5LW6Xsc2IBx1hmQR5p4I0sf3cyAqVdyR8mFeFfj3g-f5IYfBzUBXGTVcXxgOuoie-hus8tezeCzwrp79js/s400/DSC07536.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bringing my in-laws for a walk around our house</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYyGLIJeSTO_qjr_enUCQJupsKfu1parpk7WyzlzrA2BxEkeNeiMInBDZsFAcFNQyTfV1_9OU6WaTey4J00gaqTq-PVp4D6lRICin7BZ9PdQsutGR3YnRhEq1R7kQ1ycpuYmegWZuukyE/s1600/DSC07145.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYyGLIJeSTO_qjr_enUCQJupsKfu1parpk7WyzlzrA2BxEkeNeiMInBDZsFAcFNQyTfV1_9OU6WaTey4J00gaqTq-PVp4D6lRICin7BZ9PdQsutGR3YnRhEq1R7kQ1ycpuYmegWZuukyE/s400/DSC07145.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The two horses who live with us</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikOJfLFMEnPbXowEeGjJ_bVk6Oy5y_7WncH73LYPsRzCGlU_2U-hBoJPAIrUwwTw6TGr9wOz-Z-11otR-YOmdG8acsGK4dQy9ueM6DeTOQoNZyMV69y_c0fpuo9BQ7oqfOHNWLRuLQZR0/s1600/DSC07395.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikOJfLFMEnPbXowEeGjJ_bVk6Oy5y_7WncH73LYPsRzCGlU_2U-hBoJPAIrUwwTw6TGr9wOz-Z-11otR-YOmdG8acsGK4dQy9ueM6DeTOQoNZyMV69y_c0fpuo9BQ7oqfOHNWLRuLQZR0/s400/DSC07395.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fraser Island</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCpdhfB94Lc37jn1wauXCT3RX4Kftztm3HdvDZ_CQyNRC2rubpePIme29_Slo4EwuGcLHteLMowNNzGDTyX5MyaQCqEZajhVLCIfDlibhwAA2ExaUc0zNc2iQFLoELTKvu-pXDjvlcgpY/s1600/1397523_10151985220300469_1409618557_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCpdhfB94Lc37jn1wauXCT3RX4Kftztm3HdvDZ_CQyNRC2rubpePIme29_Slo4EwuGcLHteLMowNNzGDTyX5MyaQCqEZajhVLCIfDlibhwAA2ExaUc0zNc2iQFLoELTKvu-pXDjvlcgpY/s400/1397523_10151985220300469_1409618557_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kevin (right) - a man who has such a big heart for people, passed away in a tragic waterfall accident while trying to rescue someone </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj2D6L654VaXgZo_AvbJtVd5YFLOH4MPPoUuACfcl7BsmkuBICyd4gF2tEPTiMklnH_k8gFNFfrVfBaNMzkjlxmOw74UlI7vxnQZjdVLF6Q_rQWBH1RiFWOfPd00ScoRpE6ieMwn67UP4/s1600/180319_489484557595_7974120_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj2D6L654VaXgZo_AvbJtVd5YFLOH4MPPoUuACfcl7BsmkuBICyd4gF2tEPTiMklnH_k8gFNFfrVfBaNMzkjlxmOw74UlI7vxnQZjdVLF6Q_rQWBH1RiFWOfPd00ScoRpE6ieMwn67UP4/s400/180319_489484557595_7974120_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adelene Williams - a friend in my hometown, who is both beautiful and godly, passed away in a tender age of 28 from SLE</td></tr>
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No matter what the events are, it seems like the objects of my reflection always revolve around these five themes: <i><b><span style="color: orange;">God/spirituality, marriage, running, work/medicine, and friendship</span></b></i>. Each of the above subjects deserves a proper look into as they are things which i hold very special in my heart. My walk with God has been very shaky and sometimes almost non-existent, especially toward the later part of the year, mainly because i have wilfully chosen not to place Him first. As for marriage, it has its ups and downs. The joy of having a companion who shares the same bed and roof as you is so very real, which on the flip side, also drives each other mad sometimes. I will talk about these some other time.</div>
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For this post, i will share what I have learned from running this year. I have learned that if you put your heart and soul into something, be willing to work extremely hard and suffer, you will most certainly achieve what you set out to do. I have surprised myself in many ways in my running journey this year. I would say from the outset that I have never been a great runner. I only really picked up running when I was 16 and I have been inconsistent in my training, hence producing only very average results. Prior to 2012, I have never officially ran a sub-40 min 10km or sub-3hr marathon. I never thought there were possible for me. It's only in 2012 when I started training high mileage(~100-140km/week) and throwing in some high intensity work-up that I began to see that maybe I have been wrong all these while. What i had done subconsciously is setting limitation on myself such that I never even dared to dream of doing something faster.</div>
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Look, no one taught me how to train before. I never had a coach, or a training manual which tells me the purpose of each type of training run: long run, tempo run, fartlek, speed intervals, uphill sprints, downhill sprints etc. After reading Born to Run in 2011 when I was in South Africa, I got infected with the running bug and started running long distance as I wanted to see how far and how long i can go. After finishing first in TMBT 50km 2011 (my first win in a major race), I started to believe that maybe I do have what it takes to run fast, especially in ultra-distances. 2012 was a year of alternating intensive high mileage weeks and injuries for me. Even though I did not have any outstanding performance leading up to TMBT, I managed to - with God's strength - win TMBT 100km. Thinking back, it was definitely a miracle because I completely buggered both my knees up three weeks from the race. That was the turning point for me. It was then that I started to believe that you can achieve anything you put your heart and soul into.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg9lRz9lpZB5pWBuGLpcVwv6_cPjCz3tEUyZobOOE_h-mkoMB8a88rj0NoHjbMRgYJz0S2RLMpKUDwRZLnTkmma-gRG7ZjAlLHzGPd8Vm1n3Rw7UI-Q-4-gBCXq9tYQcGi-Rem7blWSrI/s1600/374711_115627818553555_1634080557_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg9lRz9lpZB5pWBuGLpcVwv6_cPjCz3tEUyZobOOE_h-mkoMB8a88rj0NoHjbMRgYJz0S2RLMpKUDwRZLnTkmma-gRG7ZjAlLHzGPd8Vm1n3Rw7UI-Q-4-gBCXq9tYQcGi-Rem7blWSrI/s400/374711_115627818553555_1634080557_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">TMBT 50km 2011</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh11qJALVbYt3iltEXIRGcuIOlHIKFYZLm0ynE3qIsdysOoWCx0_tEdxlLzVdy_USCl1sCBKd28qDkPzzEGmDeG44tsR8o5KYstqdpNo7k3u5gJ9kQkU_eAjJmAXX54VInJ4bJjlgUEpDk/s1600/56954_285214581594877_250272369_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh11qJALVbYt3iltEXIRGcuIOlHIKFYZLm0ynE3qIsdysOoWCx0_tEdxlLzVdy_USCl1sCBKd28qDkPzzEGmDeG44tsR8o5KYstqdpNo7k3u5gJ9kQkU_eAjJmAXX54VInJ4bJjlgUEpDk/s400/56954_285214581594877_250272369_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">TMBT 100km 2012</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKilNVdYt69hH4HQQ_opcj9DnwjG_kvEVC9Lzwh_RMNDxoZGdegPaTjmAaBqbMF-RZqw30FAALb_Mv4qFq_cS26iKFyFE3241SpgPSuluBBqMvjmKEltuvRYVqr8fa502PEw8M9hdSNhY/s1600/169544_285215014928167_1889035657_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKilNVdYt69hH4HQQ_opcj9DnwjG_kvEVC9Lzwh_RMNDxoZGdegPaTjmAaBqbMF-RZqw30FAALb_Mv4qFq_cS26iKFyFE3241SpgPSuluBBqMvjmKEltuvRYVqr8fa502PEw8M9hdSNhY/s400/169544_285215014928167_1889035657_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How I love the ice bath!</td></tr>
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During the lay-off period between 2012 and 2013 racing season, I started to research more into running techniques, forms, training programmes etc. I bought a number of books to understand more about the sport. Some notable great books I have read are: <span style="color: orange;"><b>The greatest: The Haile Gebrselassie Story</b></span>, <b><span style="color: orange;">Hansons Marathon Method</span></b>, <span style="color: orange;"><b>Running with joy </b></span>by <b><span style="color: orange;">Ryan Hall</span></b>, and <span style="color: orange;"><b>More Fire: How to train the Kenyan Way</b></span>, <b><span style="color: orange;">Eat and Run</span></b> by<b><span style="color: orange;"> Scott Jurek</span></b>. Then I extracted their training programmes and created something which suited my time and style. I started alternating my easy-moderate runs with intensive speed work-out. The easy-moderate run is to build a superior aerobic base, whereas the speed and tempo sessions are meant to add extra space into my lungs and build explosive strength in my legs. As a result, I finished second in Mt Mee Marathon in a time of 3:13, with ~1000m of elevation gain. Were it be flat, I think I could have gone 2:45-2:50. Three weeks later, I won my first solo race in Australia in the Cook's Tour 50km. After that, my confidence increased and I continued to plan my training strategically and specifically for the race that I was doing. The result? A podium finish in all the other races that I participated (except a DNF in Northface Singapore). </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBB0WdalrBF-vFgc9q8QL8EGarHGZt3gL9wIjhQEJ9vw6dqrgFpI9bDMzFPHfh3V_Fn4_qfwW_2SrB7_SxgLX8sTm-uW5ImDltcOn7QAz3bh1IDi1yGeDx5J-4fnFP4MUUjKVWpRjKGFw/s1600/1094946_10151815143380420_1862944469_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBB0WdalrBF-vFgc9q8QL8EGarHGZt3gL9wIjhQEJ9vw6dqrgFpI9bDMzFPHfh3V_Fn4_qfwW_2SrB7_SxgLX8sTm-uW5ImDltcOn7QAz3bh1IDi1yGeDx5J-4fnFP4MUUjKVWpRjKGFw/s400/1094946_10151815143380420_1862944469_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finishing 2nd in Flinder's Tour 50km after taking two wrong turns and ended running 2km extra</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhixpTyeMK0YnNcQbrRa-iJwZEg65hDyjKbI_lWZt5wg3oqyJsxl_nSDb1Nu38WRMmCUTthe5Ya3l1Y_l4vn3ClBcK5W6wNqCBk-CbjNZAFtGA-PB8SAfzWNLyFbuFIhyphenhypheneGgDHfMdDhLS4/s1600/1272332_10201196646371636_24454256_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhixpTyeMK0YnNcQbrRa-iJwZEg65hDyjKbI_lWZt5wg3oqyJsxl_nSDb1Nu38WRMmCUTthe5Ya3l1Y_l4vn3ClBcK5W6wNqCBk-CbjNZAFtGA-PB8SAfzWNLyFbuFIhyphenhypheneGgDHfMdDhLS4/s400/1272332_10201196646371636_24454256_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">TMBT 100km 2013</td></tr>
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I was not saying the above in an arrogant or self-centred manner. The point I was making is: <i><span style="color: orange;"><b>If you really believe you could do something, and are willing to pay the price and suffer for it, you will achieve what you set out to do</b></span></i>. However, it's important to note that, hard work is one side of the coin. Success also requires a tremendous amount of drive and self-motivation, with a considerable dosage of smart and intelligence in understanding the science of running and your own body. If you are running the same distance, same time, same pace, and the same terrain every day, you are likely not to improve. It's by varying the terrain and the pace which help to broaden your running capability.</div>
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My biggest regret this year is not being able to run a road marathon. I scored ~76-78 for my VO2 max this year. The reason I don't have a precise reading is because the nose piece fell out in the last minute of the trial, causing my breath to escape. Hugo told me I could have even reached 80 if I had continued with the nose piece intact - the highest he has ever measured in an athlete (For comparison, Kilian Jornet scored 89 during the summit of my life project). Yes you can argue that VO2 max is just another reading which has no predictive value whatsoever in how fast a person can run. Running time also rests on another important factor: the running economy (which measures your running efficiency). I would add that a person's mental strength, pain tolerance, motivating factor also play an equally important role in determining the success of his/her career. With a reasonably high VO2 max and relatively good running economy, I am excited to see how fast i can go in a road marathon. I am predicting something in the range of 2:35-2:45. If i really train my butt off (and have all the essential checklist of a successful running reason ticked off), I think i may even be able to go under 2:35.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBcKPoyTlINQK8EKy2sL3GRg974Ahv3qMImqIUVuny5C8WgHtezBPnAofQxPQfgtUHaPOq3cgcwmvvoFfT9Cd5Wdwt-3sUr3UsEsOm3m_Wcv1KExV35h4GXINvT54CzCb5YJ4uD82LMLY/s1600/IMG_3609.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBcKPoyTlINQK8EKy2sL3GRg974Ahv3qMImqIUVuny5C8WgHtezBPnAofQxPQfgtUHaPOq3cgcwmvvoFfT9Cd5Wdwt-3sUr3UsEsOm3m_Wcv1KExV35h4GXINvT54CzCb5YJ4uD82LMLY/s400/IMG_3609.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">VO2 max test</td></tr>
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My next biggest regrets are: not being able to join the Tour de Malaysia run and not being able to traverse Titiwangsa Range (in Malaysia) in the fastest time possible. My schedules this year have been stretched to the limit such that I could not fork out any extra time to join them in the quest. Allan Lee and Seow Kong (the core runners in Tour de Malaysia run) are good friends and folks whom i admire a lot. What they have done in Malaysia and in their own running career are simply phenomenal. I can only wish I could emulate half of what they have achieved.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbJelu8-ps50k9rymI4U7rtv4IgZ1qlYq27kdZ3FEi_RZfaQG8tvFfPxyj4jHY8-FMqegLP4qkeUm8mEjPAwjFBFc6fmEKNdtE0O6A4DgUGDMdLlLEo37qJLot4nwiPozD3rjc34EKfh4/s1600/1526787_371257103011014_946631343_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbJelu8-ps50k9rymI4U7rtv4IgZ1qlYq27kdZ3FEi_RZfaQG8tvFfPxyj4jHY8-FMqegLP4qkeUm8mEjPAwjFBFc6fmEKNdtE0O6A4DgUGDMdLlLEo37qJLot4nwiPozD3rjc34EKfh4/s400/1526787_371257103011014_946631343_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two legendary runners in Malaysia - Seow Kong and Allan Lee</td></tr>
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Actually, saying the above means nothing now. Because there is no way I would be able to do them, at least not in the next four years. I am announcing this because I have completely different priorities in life now. One of them is - without a question - my work. I have been spending most of my time in the past two years running that I have spared little time to improve my medical knowledge and skill. It is a deliberate decision that I had made in the beginning of my internship that I wanted to invest more time in running, because hey, If i really wanted to pursue my passion, this is the time to do it right? Especially in the first two years of work when people don't demand so much from you. After this, people started to expect more from you. So I am making plans now to seriously discipline myself to study and read widely. Sometimes I have to remind myself of the following: Running is my passion; but medicine is my calling. I have an even stronger responsibility toward the sick, and my number one aim is to help relieve them of their suffering. So after messing around for two years, now is time to work hard.</div>
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I will share the other priority some time in the future, when the time is right. :D</div>
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I have two more races to do in 2014, and after that, no more. First race is <span style="color: orange;"><b>Burden run</b></span> on 26 Jan in University Malaysia. I have been intrigued to run this race because the idea of running with a 10kg sand bag sounds fun to me. The next race is <b><span style="color: orange;">Titi 50km/100km</span></b> on 14 Feb, a race organised by a great friend Allan Lee and friends. I am only doing the shorter distance which is 50km, because i don't have the time and energy to train for another 100km. I am looking forward to racing in home soil.</div>
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So i will be saying goodbye to competitive running pretty soon. While I do so with a heavy heart, I can only say that this would only lead to a greater good. Human can only do that much. I believe that God has His plan and I have to be obedient in following His ways.</div>
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I went for a run with Bruce Cook this evening and I was listening to his stories. This man is a running legend, who has PRed in every distance from 3km - 100km back in the 80s and 90s. He ran 8:24 for 3km, 30:14 for 10km, 1:08 for 21km, 2:28 for 42km, 3:10 for 50km, 5:56 for 80km and 7:31 for 100km. While listening to his secrets for success, I can't help but to be in awe of what he has achieved. At the end of the run i asked him: '<i>Bruce, do you think i would still be able to run my personal best when i make a come-back in my 30s?</i>' Without any hesitation, he said: <i>Hell ya! </i></div>
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Jimmy Teehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10174906526668767111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4027757051871858196.post-71936033454363630672013-11-05T01:34:00.000-08:002013-11-06T01:46:13.795-08:00Why do bad things happen to good people?<br />
I sit alone in my darkened bedroom staring into blank space for what must have felt like eternity. My heart and mind are a messy wreck, and i keep having flashback to events in the waterfall where Kevin drowned. I have so many questions in my heart surrounding the event, the most important of all is <i>why has God allowed this to happen?</i><br />
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Kevin's death came as a shock to many of us. He is a faithful and loving husband, a great father, a loyal friend, and a wise mentor to a lot of young people. Many of us simply could not believe God would 'take' someone so young and strong and vibrant with such a bright ministry future ahead of him. I think about Adele, who now has to shoulder the sole responsibility of caring for the two kids. Who will be sharing her joy and holding her hands during her daughter's graduation or son's wedding? I think about Zoe (Kevin's elder daughter), how she must have missed all the bedside stories daddy has been telling her and all the early morning cuddling. I think about of Lukas who has not even turned one, who is still laying peacefully in his cradle, ignorant of all that is going on around him. He must have so many questions about his father when he grows up, and how difficult it would be to grow up without a father, coach and mentor.<br />
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I have often heard Christians making things worse by offering contradictory and confusing counsel in the face of life's bedeviling events. <i>God is punishing you</i>. No it's Satan! <i>Neither: God has afflicted you out of love, not punishment, for you've been specially chosen to demonstrate faith</i>. No God wants you healed... So many different answers, yet offering so little comfort to the broken hearted.<br />
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I have no idea how to respond to these remarks. In truth, I need answers myself more than anything else. I believe in a heavenly Father who loves his children and wishes good for us all. While I do not believe that God caused this to happen to Kevin, my struggle is <i>why He could have helped Kevin but did not intervene?</i> If God did not protect His people and innocent children who were tortured (while some even cried out to God to save them), how do I have faith that God will protect people close to me?<br />
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I don't think i will ever find answers to these unsettling questions, at least not in this life time. This is part of the mystery of living in this broken, fallen world. To think that we would be shielded from life's catastrophic events by the virtue of the fact that we are God's children is, at its best idealistic, and at its worse plain naive. Maybe the only way to protect ourselves is stay out of trouble's way, to micro-manage our lives to eliminate all risks and danger. Even then, we can't run away from diseases and illnesses and cancers, from anxiety and depression - which are things from within us rather than without.<br />
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Perhaps the only comfort i take is - Kevin has fought the good fight of faith, and he now stands together with the rest of the saints in the heavenly realm. <span style="color: orange;"><i>I believe that he is with Jesus now, standing next to Jesus, holding Jesus's hands, talking with Jesus.</i>.</span> He is the safest and the most beautiful place he could be at, finding eternal rest for his soul, smiling at his family from heaven and interceding for the rest of us.<br />
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We will meet again in heaven, my dear brother.<br />
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<br />Jimmy Teehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10174906526668767111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4027757051871858196.post-64373742409914040692013-11-03T02:03:00.001-08:002013-11-03T02:03:08.744-08:00Devastated...<br />
Am utterly devastated to hear of the loss of a dear brother and friend. Though we have not officially met, I have heard a lot of things about you. Your love for God, people, mission and adventure - they all are a huge inspiration to me. How I wish we were good friends, that we could exchange great conversation and ideas, that i could listen to your life experiences and learn from them. How I wish I was there at the waterfall, who knows, maybe I would be able to find you underneath the water... You will always be in our hearts. Your legacy will live forever. When life on earth ends, we will see you again in heaven, my dear brother.Jimmy Teehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10174906526668767111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4027757051871858196.post-35891528404037873462013-09-27T08:41:00.002-07:002013-09-27T08:48:55.859-07:00Pre-TNF Singapore <span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Two weeks ago I completed what to me is the hardest race of my life - TMBT 2013. It took me more than 14 hours to endure the heat, the storm, the mud, the narrow cliff, the river, the darkness and the fatigue. In a sense, I feel happy that I finished such a tough course in a decent time. Aman - the race director had told me that he expected me to finish between 15-16 hours. At the same time, I can't hide my disappointment in not being able to defend the title and make my fellow countrymen proud. But I know this is the best I could do with the amount of training I have. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Mentally and physically I feel that I am done for the year. Now even the thought of getting out for a 'training run' makes me tired. I am very reluctant to write this post, coz it feels like my weakness is being exposed here. But i cant deny the fact of the matter, which is <i>- I am burning out.</i> My worst fear seems to be coming true - <i>that in midst of racing and competing, I might actually lose motivation and the joy to run.</i> My mind is so focused on performing that I have failed to listen to my body. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Today I went out for a 15km run, from a initially planned 30km run. I just could not do it. My body was begging for me to stop most of the way. I tried to stretch it a little further, but I had to stop eventually at 15km mark. It then occurred to me that I am not ready to race another 100km next week. I think if I really force it, I could finish the race, but the after-damage would be hard to deal with. I may lose the joy of running altogether. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This is a pretty hard pill for me to swallow. I must admit that ego stands in the way of me giving up the opportunity to race 100km. It feels like a cowardice behavior to quit, and I worry about what other people might say. Rachel, in her usual caring and understanding tone, comforted me in saying that of everyone in the world, only I myself know how my body feels. I should make wise decision based on truth (which is my body is tired and battered), rather than on untruth (what my ego or other people may say). She would support me in whatever decision I make, even if it's a unpopular one. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I am thankful for my soul companion. Because she knows me the best, she knows my every weakness, she has my best intention in her heart, she is one person that I am going to have to listen to. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So I decided to call Outdoor Venture to ask if I could downgrade my 100km to 50km. Since i have bought my flights, I might as well not waste it. In my heart, I was begging God. If it's Your will Lord, please let them allow me to downgrade to 50km. The lady (who will remain unnamed to protect her identity) that I spoke is very kind. She told me she would help me ask. And two hours later, I received a green light from her for me to switch to 50km. Phew.. What a relief it is for me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Now I just have to muster all I have to finish the last race of the year. This is the third time I am doing northface Singapore, but i still don't deal with the heat and humidity very well. The outcome doesn't matter. Am just looking forward to meet up with some runners there to share our stories. And also to go for food hunting after the race with one of my best friends - Caleb! </span></div>
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Jimmy Teehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10174906526668767111noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4027757051871858196.post-75960285709401990022013-09-13T03:30:00.000-07:002013-09-15T15:30:23.962-07:00Per-race thoughts<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It's hard to describe how i feel now. The highly anticipated event of the year -TMBT is around the corner again. This year, I am in the company of my wife and some of my best friends (all of whom are running the race too) - friends whom I have deep affection and respect for. It's really such a joy to be able to share the journey with them. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It's a big contrast in terms of my condition, preparation and attitude between last year and this year. Last year I carried injuries into the race; this year I have been healthy so far (thank God!). Last year my training was frequently interrupted by niggles and injuries; this year I have had a fairly smooth, well-planned and consistent training. I guess the most important difference is my attitude toward the race. Last year because of my condition and the fact that it was my first 100km race, I carried a lot of anxiety with me and i was totally reliant on God to do a miracle in me to complete the race. This year though, I feel quietly confident that if I do most things right on race day, I should be able to have a good race. Or will I? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It's such self-confidence that worries me now. Would i be running with my own strength and will-power or will i be running in His strength and grace? Will i depend on my training, nutrition strategy, human wisdom to carry me through, or will i run with simplicity of joy and freedom, knowing that He has my back no matter what the outcome is? It's often said we are closest to God when we are most desperate. I remembered how i clung on to God every step of the way in the 100km race last year, praising Him and worshipping Him. Now my greatest fear is that I rely on myself to run the race.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Last weekend, I was down in Glasshouse 100 supporting my emergency medicine supervisor and mentor - Dr Simon Bugden. Whilst waiting for him to arrive at checkpoint, his wife shared a verse with me from the Psalms written by David which I have never come across in all my years of reading the bible.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">'He (God) made my feet like the feet of a mountain goat..'. Psalm 18:33.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A few verses prior, David wrote, 'For by you i can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall.' Psalm 18:29</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It was written by David, when he was hunted by King Saul in the wilderness. I have spending the past few days reading Psalm 18 (it's such a beautiful psalm) and 1 Samuel 19-26, which described the events of his escape from King Saul and the surrounding circumstances when he penned Psalm 18. What struck me most about the whole passage is how God-occupied David had been throughout. His life was in constant danger, but he held on to hope and gave himself to God in holy abandonment. He allowed God to be his moral compass, choosing not to harm God's anointed (King Saul) when he had the chance to even though King Saul sought to kill him multiple times. He had entrusted his life and the lives of his soldiers fully to God. Because of his obedience, God has availed Himself to David and delivered him from all the troubles and danger. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">What WALL will we be leaping over this Saturday? Will we have feet of a mountain goat? When we go through low points, when we are struggling with the pace, when the race does not go according to plan, when we suffer stomach upset or some accidental injury, how will we respond? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">In my heart, I am certain that if I trust in my own strength, i won't be able to go far. For obvious reason of increased difficulty of race course and tougher competition, God has enabled me to train with better consistency and efficiency this time, because I will have a much higher wall to leap over, and I will have my own Goliath to face. I want to do my Heavenly Father proud, I want to run with my heart totally set on glorifying Him and in gratitude to Him for bestowing me this gift of running. Yes I will have fear and anxiety; sometimes I will be too pre-occupied with myself and race plan rather than God; Yes I won't deny that at times I could let the competitive demon get the better of me. But I know, and I know, and I know that these momentary struggles and weaknesses will not hinder Him from doing His work in me. He has set my feet upon the rock, and even if I stumble, He will not let me fall. This does not mean i will win the race. But it does mean that God has my back and will carry on His purpose for me to completion. Such is the blessed assurance that I have. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Dear reader, if you have not yet known the extravagant love of God, of how He died for you and me on the cross, how He wants to love you and give you a hope and a purpose, how He wants to spend eternity with you, I pray that you will one day receive His love into your heart. Your life will never be the same again. </span></div>
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Jimmy Teehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10174906526668767111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4027757051871858196.post-73679385074225389812013-09-02T08:28:00.000-07:002013-09-02T08:28:06.941-07:002 weeks before TMBT<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Finally the race of the year is just around the corner. TMBT is without a doubt the most challenging race in my calendar and one that I have been most looking forward to this year.<br />
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In the past 2-3 months, I have trained quite consistently, gradually building my weekly mileage to around 120-150km/week, focusing on a lot of elevation, which includes uphill and downhill running, medium long run, back-to-back long run. I also took a lot of time to test my gear and nutrition, and modifying my gear to make it ultra-friendly. Something amazing which i have to say is I have been largely injury-free this year. I am not sure whether it's wiser training, or better muscular and skeletal adaptation from last year's training, or new pair of shoes, I have been able to train without any interruption due to injury. This year, I have decided to try on new pair of <span style="color: orange;"><b>Hoka One One, Stinson Evo Tarmac and Trail</b></span>. Mostly out of desperation, I approached Hoka initially with some kind of skepticism, but since everything I have read it from the internet is great, I thought i would give it a try. It turned out to be a great decision! Not my favourite type of shoes (the extra cushioning just dulls my feet proprioception of the ground), but surely one which works very well and reduces muscular strain after a long run, thereby preventing overuse injuries. Having said that, I still make sure I run in my minimalist <b><span style="color: orange;">Asics Piranha 4</span></b> in my shorter run every now and then to maintain my running form and strengthen my lower leg muscles.<br />
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I have participated in a few shorter races to test my endurance and speed. On 28 July, I ran the Flinders Tour 50km, a race which i finished 6th in 4:32 last year. I went into the race with an aim to finish top 3 and improve on my time. At the start line, I bumped into Greg and his very pregnant wife - Sarah. (Greg overtook me in the last 1 km of Mt Mee Marathon and has a marathon best of 2:40) This is going to be a fast race i thought. When the gun went off, we both jumped into the lead. Shortly after the start, we were joined by Patrick (last year's defending champion with a time of 4:06). This made the lead pack a group of 3, and we set the pace together. It was fun running with them, and the first half of the race was filled with frequent chatter and laughter as we trod along the bush. Just before the half way point, I broke away from the group and made my way up to Mt Beerburrum. In the second half, I took two wrong turns, first one on my own (which resulted in both Patrick and Greg running ahead of me), and the second one with Patrick when we both pulled away from Greg. I probably lost in total around 8-10 mins, and i ran an additional 2km as compared to the eventual winner Greg. With that, no matter how hard i tried, i could not catch up with Greg who had surged ahead when Patrick and I lost our way. Finally I finished in<b><span style="color: orange;"> 2nd place</span></b> in <b><span style="color: orange;">3:58</span></b>, Greg in <b><span style="color: orange;">1st place</span></b> in <b><span style="color: orange;">3:51</span></b> and Patrick in <span style="color: orange;"><b>3rd place</b></span> in <b><span style="color: orange;">4:04</span></b>. I was satisfied with the result - a sub-4 50km (The actual distance in my <a href="http://www.movescount.com/moves/move16414915" target="_blank">watch</a> is 51km), a big improvement from last year's time.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Greg (left), Patrick (middle) and I</td></tr>
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On 22 August, I participated in another ultra-running research in University of Sunshine Coast conducted by Hugo - a French exercise physiologist who is currently in his final project for his PhD in Australia. It consists of two components. First - a <b><span style="color: orange;">VO2 max measurement</span></b>. I have never done a VO2 max before, so i was excited to try out to find out my number. There was some last minute mess-up when my nose piece dropped out. My final measurement is 75, and Hugo said i could go a bit higher like ~78. The second was a 6hr treadmill run, which includes<b><span style="color: orange;"> 4 x 6 mins of 10% of incline at 10km/hr</span></b>. This added some nice variety to the otherwise monotonous flat running on a treadmill. I ran a total distance of <span style="color: orange;"><b>72.84km</b></span>, which is an improvement from my previous 6hr Caboolture Historical Village run <b><span style="color: orange;">(69.56km)</span></b>. I think the main difference this time (other than the fact that my legs are stronger) is I have started out in a more conservative pace, which allowed me to maintain throughout the 6hr.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hugo attaching the electrodes in my quads and calf</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">VO2 max</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hugo explaining to the students what the 6hr treadmill is all about</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Collecting data from the quads, calf and brain</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A very modern exercise lab</td></tr>
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Juggling between family time, working, spending time with God and training are indeed no easy task. I think i have been stretched so much in the last few months, and it feels like I have always been skirting around the edge of the cliff. I am glad God has pulled me through this period, giving me the motivation and strength to wake up each day for the seemingly mundane task of training and working, granting me the wisdom to decide when to push and when to rest, and allowing the body and the mind to hold up in this intense period of training. This has further confirmed the decision that I have made in my heart that I don't want to run competitively for long term. The toll and sacrifice it has on the mind and body is simply too great. It's always been clear to me that running is a stepping stone to something greater in the mission field in the future. There is a season in life for everything. As for now, I have a few more goals in running i would like to achieve before I focus my time and energy on something else.<br />
Jimmy Teehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10174906526668767111noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4027757051871858196.post-79884726697336617422013-08-06T07:29:00.003-07:002013-08-07T02:32:11.668-07:00My calling - Part 1<br />
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I have been thinking a lot about what I should write in my next post during my runs. I know most of my writings are about running coz it's something that I am passionate about but it's not the only thing in my life. In fact, compared to my deepest passion, running fades in comparison. I see ultra-running as a stepping stone, as a preparation to what i really want to do in the future. Lately God has been impressing upon me durings my runs to ponder upon His true calling for me, on how He led me thru many trials and challenges to enter into medical school, excel in it, graduate and now working with some great doctors in a regional hospital. Indeed He has planned the path so meticulously to work on my heart, character, skill, knowledge and competency to prepare me for His work in the mission field in the future. when I realised how much I may have deviated from His purpose, my heart just wept.<br />
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I have wanted to be a missionary doctor even before I entered medical school. But I guess it's partly idealistic, partly naive, partly selfish (in thinking it's really cool to be one), partly ignorant that I have such desire in my heart. It's no wonder that whenever i try to explain to older adults about what i wanted to do, they would either tell me off or dismiss me as idealistic. God knew all the self-serving motives I have in my heart so He allowed certain difficult events to break me, to tear down all my self-sufficiency, and then to rebuild me again. He also made it possible for me to meet up with true missionary doctors to help understand what mission work entails. Only then did I realize that to go into 'mission field' means carrying the cross daily, going to places where gospels are unheard of, loving the people first, and then sharing the good news of the love of God and Jesus Christ with them when the time is right. It's built on total dependence on God and His guidance, and obeying His voice, acting boldly and taking risks.<br />
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In university, I caught a glimpse of God's heartbeat and His extravagant love for people, even the worst sinners. At that moment, dumb-founded and yet completely changed by His great love, I began to lead a missionary life in university. In my first year, I was very involved in club activities and would speak to anyone who is interested to know if there is something more to life than what they see now. In my second year, I was elected president of a running and mountain climbing club - the Infinity milers. My best mates and I spent countless hours building the club, creating new tradition, nurturing the members, organizing mountain trips and races. All in all, our underlying motivation is to give the juniors a glimpse of God's love and His power at work. And in my third year, after passing on Infinity Milers to the next batch of leaders - Raymun (who is now one of my best friends and an ultra-runner himself) and his gang, I was elected president of Christian Fellowship. It's a huge privilege and responsibility which I relish. My soul was on fire then and I was always thinking of something new and catchy to attract the attention of non-Christians. Together with the committee members, we were acting as God's agents in our university to be the salt and light that Jesus calls us to be.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Milers Mt Liang East & West expedition</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrfcPWHxdFRi3I52h50RbQ-_7dCcY4x8HTWsjlpaqhIgnAVETeVjT2xXt_k_MX90amFgPNdqZjqZlcmYizm8RXO0m5JqZ-7U4grnBpAZhBPd5X8sqSffhmVURXZPDCAhO9cwbFhE7zBz4/s1600/IMG_4693.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrfcPWHxdFRi3I52h50RbQ-_7dCcY4x8HTWsjlpaqhIgnAVETeVjT2xXt_k_MX90amFgPNdqZjqZlcmYizm8RXO0m5JqZ-7U4grnBpAZhBPd5X8sqSffhmVURXZPDCAhO9cwbFhE7zBz4/s640/IMG_4693.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Milers training</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyphenhyphenDJnPl167VtqdLaWwtWgFhNa009VMNRkasS_KKMcFfA8lo4anzuin-xMS4O1zFpQo36VPvhB3ilRhITNy_CjdkdYDxmd3H9e1W0bLL-U9sMtsLI0BkTruv_pfoq3jXFj_yKnxK6I8yo/s1600/IMG_4768.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyphenhyphenDJnPl167VtqdLaWwtWgFhNa009VMNRkasS_KKMcFfA8lo4anzuin-xMS4O1zFpQo36VPvhB3ilRhITNy_CjdkdYDxmd3H9e1W0bLL-U9sMtsLI0BkTruv_pfoq3jXFj_yKnxK6I8yo/s640/IMG_4768.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Milers debriefing</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLcUx6ebdq0ybSylOusBwrqV8LMk-DGMD4KUQoJ9PbuGZVZSvFdoQa3xqp9M-tFW8VygeqPdBUHZxF74g0CYaB6EE-5vygwlVJLWchDlh3E0LlQx-lgxjpNG07oTVGQeidLCAGamhZT1U/s1600/CIMG7014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLcUx6ebdq0ybSylOusBwrqV8LMk-DGMD4KUQoJ9PbuGZVZSvFdoQa3xqp9M-tFW8VygeqPdBUHZxF74g0CYaB6EE-5vygwlVJLWchDlh3E0LlQx-lgxjpNG07oTVGQeidLCAGamhZT1U/s640/CIMG7014.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Three generations Miler presidents. From left - Jackie (2006), Raymun (2008) and me (2007)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzdd93p3jzHKMMVwFGjfqj08dfP2tCGpM-KukIUUCPLsVzjCziGynITRm-rPO52A5wPBUTO0ygoqM-9RG41EI3wXDUUAi9nDjBfeYeSCIrp9U8p_gtJwuVbU3JXoihHSWppDPJym5mtg8/s1600/IMG_0320.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzdd93p3jzHKMMVwFGjfqj08dfP2tCGpM-KukIUUCPLsVzjCziGynITRm-rPO52A5wPBUTO0ygoqM-9RG41EI3wXDUUAi9nDjBfeYeSCIrp9U8p_gtJwuVbU3JXoihHSWppDPJym5mtg8/s640/IMG_0320.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CF committee Feb 2008</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiARW4hbF-SnMTplTlv6amX_Tbi__EHbEsXG7WtXZ4ExEu3bTuO39LNyr2GQzsqkvQKV_e-2ixgIK1MLiIZyYDUvFboGpQQXYV6H6VzeLD1khzn7ImsmklZr94RMI-MdtnPTkDLDsj2k9A/s1600/IMG_0914.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiARW4hbF-SnMTplTlv6amX_Tbi__EHbEsXG7WtXZ4ExEu3bTuO39LNyr2GQzsqkvQKV_e-2ixgIK1MLiIZyYDUvFboGpQQXYV6H6VzeLD1khzn7ImsmklZr94RMI-MdtnPTkDLDsj2k9A/s640/IMG_0914.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CF committee August 2008</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6zL-5ZPhMq0TdWilT-xo0dUjWoHMjj5ch9gumkBvP4gzYukFaO_vxXG_5pRkRrBuDc1IFW6LeP7efCTCWHeNcQEvvR1Mmuvl-_U8WBnENYKKpvI8XgvvVoD6U7qHtCgNIOrNtgWtVnR0/s1600/IMG_8579.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6zL-5ZPhMq0TdWilT-xo0dUjWoHMjj5ch9gumkBvP4gzYukFaO_vxXG_5pRkRrBuDc1IFW6LeP7efCTCWHeNcQEvvR1Mmuvl-_U8WBnENYKKpvI8XgvvVoD6U7qHtCgNIOrNtgWtVnR0/s640/IMG_8579.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cambodia mission trip 2007. </td></tr>
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<br />
Then something unexpected happened. At the peak of my ministry, I stumbled in my walk in Christ. I sinned. (I won't go into details of it this time). I went into depression immediately and I could not face up to anyone in university. I was overwhelmed with immerse guilt, and instantly my whole ministry collapsed. Now in retrospect, I saw how my busy life, my failure to guard my private life and my inability to say no have created an opening for sin to creep into my life. How devastating the effect of sin is. I was spiritually crippled, and my time in university in Malaysia eventually came into a sad and abrupt end, and I left for Australia for my second phase of medical training.<br />
<br />
<br />
In Australia, I chose a hospital that is far from the city to train coz I wanted a quiet place to rehabilitate my spirit. I wanted to be away from people. Since the incident, I have lost all my spiritual appetite and zeal. In church I would sit in the last roll. Everyday I pray that God will forgive me for what I have done and heal me from my wound and restore joy to my heart again. Every now and again, I would head for a run. After my run, I would go to a small field nearby my house and just lay there and look at the sky, and silently hope God would hear my prayer.<br />
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<b><span style="color: orange;">Psalm 51</span></b> became my favorite psalm. <i><span style="color: orange;">'A broken spirit, and a contrite heart, You (God) will not despise, You will not despise... You desire truth, in the inward part. A broken spirit, and a contrite heart.'</span></i><br />
<br />
Slowly God began to draw me to Him again. I realised that all these while when i thought He has forsaken me, He was in fact quietly preparing me to undergo 'dark night of the soul' and that His love never left me. Most nights on my bed, I would pray until I fell asleep. A strange peace would envelope me, and it then occurred to me that any parent would relish the moment where their kids fall asleep in their arms. Our heavenly Father smiles at us when we sleep in His embrace.<br />
<br />
Then came a fantastic opportunity for me to go to South Africa for four months to learn as a medical student! Arranging all the paperwork with the hospital in South Africa and getting approval is an almost impossible task. In my mind, I have no doubt that God was secretly orchestrating events to allow me to get the final approval from the hospital and university in South Africa and my medical school in Australia.<br />
<br />
In South Africa, I saw the depravity and desperation of human lives. There was so much sickness, violence, poverty, pain, deceit and injustice everywhere. Even amongst the Christians, there is bribery, lack of integrity, laziness and subtle racism. However, I had a great time as a medical student and I was constantly placing myself at where the actions were. I learned so much in the way of infectious diseases and trauma management. Sometimes the work got too much, and I became emotionally and physically drained. Faced with seemingly un-winnable and inexhaustible battles and such godless and depraved environment. I questioned how I was ever going to make it as a missionary doctor. I was reading a book - <b><span style="color: orange;">Running with Horses</span></b> by Eugene Peterson (author of the Message) then, and God again reminded me to persevere. '<i><span style="color: orange;">If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses?' Jeremiah 12:5. </span></i>This has since become my theme verse.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3x6-USb2eEUbIJn-Bv5FZgPTpczaCtxS2ZpoTr68mzfdQ2BNNTCQ0PyrEEmcCtItzAqhzQ_CCor1lMo548Gqak55N3NCXvlt4Q2F2bVbGH6AVpDOJA36u2tzNYf-m_3h_Jw0CKK7qygE/s1600/DSC04547.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3x6-USb2eEUbIJn-Bv5FZgPTpczaCtxS2ZpoTr68mzfdQ2BNNTCQ0PyrEEmcCtItzAqhzQ_CCor1lMo548Gqak55N3NCXvlt4Q2F2bVbGH6AVpDOJA36u2tzNYf-m_3h_Jw0CKK7qygE/s640/DSC04547.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My colleagues in South Africa</td></tr>
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It's also in South Africa that I stumbled on ultra-running. This is another story and I won't tell it here.. In short, running became my escape and my personal time with God. It also sharpens my character, toughens my feeble feet, and prepares my body for the rigours of mission life. I feel recharged each time after I head out for a run, especially in the trail in the natural environment.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnRUm5_XgKY1Wx3myV7-bcReKE6EyDh8B6qopBYasQkeff8hLUPal28eSdaQ2ThiVXDC8QQtJ_C0CXWirATgVFz4JJoGcKsVQDqIoD1DNItfid69eGbnSls95B2htflgqay9aUy-VSRp0/s1600/DSC04473.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnRUm5_XgKY1Wx3myV7-bcReKE6EyDh8B6qopBYasQkeff8hLUPal28eSdaQ2ThiVXDC8QQtJ_C0CXWirATgVFz4JJoGcKsVQDqIoD1DNItfid69eGbnSls95B2htflgqay9aUy-VSRp0/s640/DSC04473.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My first ultramarathon - Two Oceans Ultra-Marathon 56km.</td></tr>
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Ok I shall end here part 1 here. It details events which were significant in my life up to the point before I graduate. Part 2 I will be sharing about my work, how my view of medicine has changed since I started work, how running fits into all of this, and where I think God is leading me in the future. Thank you for your time in reading this. :)<br />
<br />
<br />Jimmy Teehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10174906526668767111noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4027757051871858196.post-22322997632988576032013-07-28T17:42:00.002-07:002013-07-28T17:46:21.752-07:00Caboolture Historical Village 6hr Run <br />
<i><span style="color: orange;">Nothing is harder than running around the same loop, again and again, using the same leg muscles for the entire time, till the time is up.</span></i><br />
<br />
This is what happened when a trail runner who spends most of his time running up and down trails/mountains, attempts to run the same loop on flat for 6 hours. I thought that my training would more than prepare me for running on flat ground. I was wrong! The repeated impact and strain on the same leg muscles pretty much destroyed my lower body from the third hour onward, and the rest of the run is reduced to a tired and broken man's desperate attempt to complete the time. <br />
<br />
I started the first hour on a 13km/h pace. After 30 mins of running, my bowels started grumbling and needed a release. I held off the urge to complete one full hour of running before i rushed to my car and got my vaseline (i also forgot to apply vaseline on my body, which is the worst thing that can happen in any ultra event, ask any ultra-runner why!), and then bolted to the toilet to release! It probably took 7-8 mins to get back on the track again. And then i continued running.<br />
<br />
At the end of 2nd hour, I had completed 25km of running. I was thinking to myself, if i could maintain 12.5km/hr of running, by the end of 6hours, i would have done 75km, which would be a massive achievement! Little did i know that my legs were smashed from the the third hour onwards. Even the compression quad and calf sleeves and my Hoka One One shoes did not prevent the onset of fatigue. By the end of 3rd hour, i had finished 37km of running.<br />
<br />
From then on, it was a slog all the way. My speed varied between 10.5km/hr to 11.5km/hr. Very occasionally i would do 12km/hr, but this pace only lasted for a short while, before i went back down to ~11km/hr.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFHN4f4JvbyhtzcOP56151beQSVMabce-RyWpDhcfyj4XsLWI_OH2fb7qxiM7VM0M9wdPMgYOysSuoL5KzMOqSLytCx4s_04CtHdzSk5Gbq8GUSg5BunSnBloHp6TpcGioChX2sD87gIQ/s1600/photo-5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFHN4f4JvbyhtzcOP56151beQSVMabce-RyWpDhcfyj4XsLWI_OH2fb7qxiM7VM0M9wdPMgYOysSuoL5KzMOqSLytCx4s_04CtHdzSk5Gbq8GUSg5BunSnBloHp6TpcGioChX2sD87gIQ/s640/photo-5.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhN9JLjTBp-5HrnwkIs23sfk3K6aG14FpPoWHqA6ZyyZv1UmQR1fiZIVRrtsT4D-1C8o4hkQ5lchp_ohH_RdUFGxB9domNIxguvXKDFMDL2ZxQA2n4tPyaN2JQ34VlrlHIDxIVl952v5A/s1600/photo-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhN9JLjTBp-5HrnwkIs23sfk3K6aG14FpPoWHqA6ZyyZv1UmQR1fiZIVRrtsT4D-1C8o4hkQ5lchp_ohH_RdUFGxB9domNIxguvXKDFMDL2ZxQA2n4tPyaN2JQ34VlrlHIDxIVl952v5A/s640/photo-2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Time passed really slowly after that. My legs were crying out for me to stop. I reckon it's a rite of passage for every ultra runner, in that there will come a time in the race where every single cell in your body is screaming for rest, and yet the only thing that is keeping you from stopping is <i><span style="color: orange;">your spirit</span></i>. I was holding on to God's strength, which shines the brightest in the darkest hour, and just placed one foot ahead of the other. My goal of reaching 75km has pretty much faded away, and now i just wanted to break 70km in this 6 hours.<br />
<br />
In the last hour, I took a prolonged rest of about 5-6 minutes in the beginning, only to realise that i have 52 mins to complete 11.5km, if i were to reach 70km. I started to quicken my pace. It is as if i have detached my spirit from my body, and just plodded along with whatever strength that is left.<br />
<br />
45mins remaining, I had 10km to go.<br />
<br />
22 mins remaining, I had 5km to go.<br />
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13 mins remaining, I had 3km to go. <i><span style="color: orange;">There is no way i could do this, I have to pretty much run a close to 4min/km pace if i were to hit 70km.</span> </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
My spirit refused to give up! I was asking God to supply me with the strength to run till the time is up, and I would be pleased with whatever result i achieved.<br />
<br />
When there was only 2mins30seconds left, I had 1km left. I started sprinting. Finally the clock struck 6pm. The run is over. I completed <span style="color: orange;"><b>69.56km</b></span> in this entire time in 1st place. The first runner up did ~64km and the second runner up did ~63km. Here is my <span style="color: orange;"><b><a href="http://www.movescount.com/moves/move16112234" target="_blank">move</a></b></span>.<br />
<br />
In a way, I kinda knew that I could have hit 70km if i did not waste my time resting, rushing to the toilet, rushing to my car, and applying vaseline during the run (it should have been done before). Every minute in this 6 hour run counts. Nonetheless, I was happy with the result and<i> how I broke through personal barrier and continued running in the last hour,</i> even though my body has way exceeded the fatigue point. I think this is more important than achieving my target distance.<br />
<br />
A big shout out to <b><span style="color: orange;">Deb Nichol</span></b>, who was doing 24 hour event. (she previously did 6hr run in Feb 2013 and completed 74.66km). We ran past each other multiple times in this event. Her smile, generous spirit and bubbly and cheerful personality really lit up the entire village. She ran <span style="color: orange;"><b>239.54km</b></span> in the entire 24 hour to break the Australian record!<br />
<br />
One last thing to mention - my wife, Rebecca (our cousin from Sydney) and Adena (our friend from Mt Mee) set up a stall selling sushi, spring roll and potato gems in this event. It was a random idea by me because i did not want my wife to wait for me the whole time and i wanted her to have something to do. So we thought selling sushi would be a great idea! Besides, Australians love sushi too! So we pulled together our time, ideas and resources to set up a stall in Caboolture Historical Village. A big thanks to Rebecca, our cousin from Sydney who came all the way here to give us a hand. She really knew how to do business and majority of sales that we had was because of her (other than the fact that the sushi were yummy too)! We gave part of our profit to the Historical Village as a donation for allowing us to use the venue.<br />
<br />
All in all, it was a great day of outing for all of us!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3_nOUZACI8QdtsxckY15ZlH1WSh4dDya_8ibuM58BYwHQlMh3gBzTXRV7XMt1DPT-b-nlPgJ934deMblZxOfB4aTf_JocEF-FXwswKxfFfdLaQJsbS4SjlyB-eBDgizAGpDnwtc1Jhds/s1600/photo-3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3_nOUZACI8QdtsxckY15ZlH1WSh4dDya_8ibuM58BYwHQlMh3gBzTXRV7XMt1DPT-b-nlPgJ934deMblZxOfB4aTf_JocEF-FXwswKxfFfdLaQJsbS4SjlyB-eBDgizAGpDnwtc1Jhds/s640/photo-3.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The final sprint</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Totally spent and exhausted</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhna5A0kvTEk9bYYdjpYiXM5ZcuWl5Cy-yZ0_Gr5K69k9XnYd4gIjGi5LNmK_26qWHRhrpvLBXqj6uIhhQor9B7HGs_tWB7TI24sBoTVzasQf1ibaTS23P5CmITL4pSzzImZiT1yzwzSAg/s1600/photo-8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhna5A0kvTEk9bYYdjpYiXM5ZcuWl5Cy-yZ0_Gr5K69k9XnYd4gIjGi5LNmK_26qWHRhrpvLBXqj6uIhhQor9B7HGs_tWB7TI24sBoTVzasQf1ibaTS23P5CmITL4pSzzImZiT1yzwzSAg/s640/photo-8.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Again, having my lovely wife by my side means a great deal of difference</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifwR-7QFuLS3_wdH5E_ibmKOKHHgjyVvX5xW0Nx7R3qQ9zL48dGuLHGWvkd1-doJdloyx1Ix6OGy1nrd44sBu1HX-77Q1y8gv9yOLfsEYowsJO1vzhau7fqU76JXH0w76moLAQFi5lvjk/s1600/photo-4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifwR-7QFuLS3_wdH5E_ibmKOKHHgjyVvX5xW0Nx7R3qQ9zL48dGuLHGWvkd1-doJdloyx1Ix6OGy1nrd44sBu1HX-77Q1y8gv9yOLfsEYowsJO1vzhau7fqU76JXH0w76moLAQFi5lvjk/s640/photo-4.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Receiving prize from race organiser - Geoff</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlqwVKZI2JKrgFZKpQHo8JW2w6JVdLc371Z3WgjH9xjaOuG25nEd_6_JcGec5Eu73Il9cVsc4qY4BvHuq32h26O2w5YQ1-7sfeQ0YZGnKauJMm4Mc7oMzcDSrxxcVUN3cI3DZIyZY0P7g/s1600/photo-6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlqwVKZI2JKrgFZKpQHo8JW2w6JVdLc371Z3WgjH9xjaOuG25nEd_6_JcGec5Eu73Il9cVsc4qY4BvHuq32h26O2w5YQ1-7sfeQ0YZGnKauJMm4Mc7oMzcDSrxxcVUN3cI3DZIyZY0P7g/s640/photo-6.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our own T-health snack shop!</td></tr>
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<br />Jimmy Teehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10174906526668767111noreply@blogger.com0