The Jazz Cellar

At the back of the Salvation Army shop there is a car park, nestled in the corner a red phone box. If you happen to be in the area on a Friday night (and are luckily to arrive in time to get a ticket) then this phone box is entry to an excellent night out. 

With a capacity of 100 it is a fairly intermit affair. There are low ceilings and fairy lights which set the mood when the other lights are dimmed prior to the music starting. The elderly staff take your money for the number of tickets you require then seat you at an appropriately sized table. Placing wine glasses and water on the table.

It is a BYO food&drink, which meant (obviously for those who know  the organised hostess side of me) we had quite a spread of food to munch while we drunk a few drinks and enjoyed the atmosphere.

There was the perfect combination of older patrons (who were seasoned Jazz Cellar attendees) and people closer to my age who were enjoying more than a few alcoholic beverages. 

I had formed plans to go with Aoning (see above) and Jo, who I meet speed dating. The speed dating we meet at was held at a Jazz Club in the city so since then we have had a number of Jazz related catch ups - which have been great. 

It was a bit of a rush to get to the phone booth in time to gather enough tickets for our crew but fortunately Jo got there bang on 5 and as I was lucky enough to finish work at 4, so I arrived soon after. So Jo and I got to chat about love and life prior to those who finished work at a normal hours arrival.

The musicians were of an older age, and the music was brilliant. They started playing at the bar and did a march in which was an excellent start! 

Note the trumpeter behind Jo and Mike. 

Over all an intermit evening certainly worth the minor stress/rush to get there on time. Would highly recommend going, be sure to be well stocked in drinks and nibbles with company who will offer good conversation and perhaps who will be happy to join the lively dance floor.

Although the D floor started with just one older man dancing with various young ladies as the night progressed became full of happy patrons grooving to the jazz and the small dance floor was packed. Might I add there is something quite nice about slow dancing to the smooth sound of live jazz. 

If you are lucky (like Tom was) your ticket might even win you a free pizza! 

Bye Jenny

Jenny has left Perth.

We went to Mt Aspiring together. It was really nice to rekindle our friendship and bond as kiwis in Perth. She'd been here for two years and knew the place while and did some tour guiding for me when I first arrived. 

I will miss you Jen and look forward to a few red wines when you pop back to visit xox

An outing for work..

My work organised for me to go talk to four classrooms of five year olds about how to look after their teeth.

It was great.

They sent me this awesome card to day thank you.

The Royal Show

The Perth Royal Show is a much anticipated annual event in Perth. Attracting mostly those with children, and farmer type who have live stock to show off or are the most awesome at chopping wood and enter the competition to be crowned the best. 

The show goes for a solid ten days which I thought seemed a long time, but its school holidays so I guess there is always people to go each day. I had been hearing from patients all week about how they had been to the show with their kids.

A Brief History

The families who pioneered the state of WA also founded the Royal Agricultural Society. In 1831 they decided to hold an annual Fair and Cattle Show. The first official show was held on November 7th, 1831. It took until 1890 for the Queen to grant permission for the society to assume the title of the Royal Agricultural Society, at which time the show became the Perth Royal Show. 

Needless to say there is a lot of history in this annual Perth event.

I didn't think I'd get along to the show this year but a new part-time hygienist, Shara, started at work on Saturday. We work just the morning and Shara was heading to the show after with her housemate and his 4 year old son. She invited me along and I thought I may as well check out what all the hype was!

We wandered around a lot checking out what was going on. The people watching was great with so many 'carnis' and some of Perth's midriff exposing's finest out in the sunshine.

Chase was a little bit grumpy as he was a bit indecisive about what he wanted to do. But we went on the bumper cars with Shara and I, vs. Chase and Brad - surprisingly fun.  Chase played the typical carnival clown game and won an awesome Super Mario soft toy (oscar would have loved) and a toy truck (Chased loved). 

Me, Brad, Chase and Shara on the Gee Whizz

The Gee Whizz is a spinning ride which was great. We snuck Chase in with support from his father as he was too young and too short to ride. Luckily the women behind the counter didn't ask for ID. With four of us in the little carriage   he was safely snug between us (see image above). 

Chase loved it and after the ride he was in a much better mood and wanted to try everything else! We took a breather watching the wood chopping comp and a kiwi repping a black silver ferned t-shirt placed. Shara said "second is as good as last" haha, but I was happy.

Unfortunately the looming dark clouds decided to open up on the show and we had to run to shelter under on of the carnival games, so we decided to call it a day. We hadn't really made it around to the more traditional Royal Show area with more livestock (we had seen some carves and brown cows) and arts and crafts stalls but I felt satisfied with a good taste of a day at the show.

Oxfam Training Walk

Abby and I embarked on my first time on the actual trial on Monday just been.

This was a solid 6 hours walking and it turned out to be a fun day. Even though rain was scheduled we had pretty pristine weather. I even got a small patch on sun kissed skin on the back of my neck where my sunscreening was not up to standard!! (lesson learnt!!)

Abby and I walked with a friend of Abby's called Zoe, who is also taking part in the trailwalker (with another team).

The Oxfam Trailwalk in Perth is predominantly along the Bibbulmun track which runs from Kalamunda, east of Perth to Albany and is almost 1,000 kilometres long.

We walked from the start of the trailwalker to check point two which was a total of 33km. Taking a lovely lunch break at 30km to take in the views of the Mundaring Dam. This areas was a hustle and bustle of tourists and in our active wears and after walking for over five hours I certainly felt I was looking a little worst for wear compared to these well dressed tourist who had just a ten minute wander down from their cars.

Was encouraging to not feel completely zonked by the end of the first stretch and the prospect of doing that x3 in two weeks time not too daunting!!!

Moontrekkers - Oxfam Trailwalker

I am currently training for the Oxfam Trailwalker - Perth Edition. This is the first time this walk has been in Perth. It is an event in which I have always wanted to do and now with a little more time up my sleeve (with less buddies over here to demand my attention) I thought it the perfect way to meet some others, have a goal to train for all while raising money for a good cause.

We need to raise $1000 for oxfam by the end of the month for our team to compete in the walk. Our team page is found here. 

Our team Moon Trekkers: Alex, Abby, Myself and GC

Alex wrote me a wee bio for our team page which is pretty amusing: 

Grace has recently moved here from New Zealand or "en-zed" and hasn't said much about it, apart from noticing several differences, like: our buckets of the Colonel's original recipe are bigger than Kentucky Fried Kiwi back home, she thinks we are sad for not having L&P in every fridge (its world famous!!) and she speaks of fond memories of riding a hobbit to school, keeping one eye out for low-flying Nasgul. We don't know how much of that is true though. She has done some synchronised swimming (see image), netball, run a couple of half marathons, and we even hear she dabbled in roller derby for a while.
We suspect she is all sweet and nice on the outside, but has a will of iron and might punch someone's teeth out, but quite handily she works in the dental industry so it isn't a big issue. Glad to have her along on this arduous trek, for a worthwhile cause.
No doubt there will be lots of funny banter whilst we all walk together for 100km. You can read the bios of other team mates on our team page.

Where the walk is located, just inland from Perth. It covers a range of terrain, through some bush and hills etc. So should be interesting! 

Dad sent me some supplies from the Ice Breaker outlet by his work back home!

My new walkers, recommended by Lauren my dear podiatrist friend.

Long Dog WA Spring Fling

Long Dog WA

Oscar every morning..

Thanks Isana for sharing this with me. Love it!!

My Place of Schooling

Whitfords Dental Centre

So just before I get started in ranting along about what I get up to outside of school, I'm just going to clarify what my 'school' is. School is a place of learning and as a grown up we learn mon-fri at work, and luckily get paid for the privilege to do so!

Ten Things I Love about My New Job

1.     Bigger team – we had a staff training day yesterday and there was 18 people there with a couple missing.  So about 4x the size of my old workplace. And I get to work with another hygienist, which is great to have someone else to bounce ideas off.

2.     I get an assistant – which is such a treat. So my helper cleans up my surgery between patients and notes down what I talk to my patients about which gives me more time to focus on the part of my job which I love which is helping patients understand how to keep their mouth healthy and doing treatment.

3.     I get Mondays off, which means three day weekends woohoo. Although I do work alternate Saturday mornings, but that’s totally fine. They say a four day 37hour week is ‘full time’ for their staff.

4.     Which brings me to my next point; good management.  The management of the practice is just exceptional.

5.     I am not the youngest staff member.  All the girls that work with me in my room are around 21, which is great. Hard to explain why this matters but it makes it easier for me to be an assertive professional clinician.

6.     The practice just moved into a new building in January so it is really nice and fancy. My room is set up so great with new equipment. Which makes life much easier.

7.     Even though the building is new the practice is a well-established practice with a huge range of patients, which means there is variety is my work. On my first morning I saw literally the oldest patient I have ever treated aged 96, then later that day one of the youngest; a little boy who was only three.

8.     Which ties onto my number 8: I am constantly challenged. Working with different clinicians means learning how they like to work, learning new computer software, treating more advanced cases etc.

9.     I can play my own music. Which is fun, compared to my last job where the music was throughout the practice.  Its amazing how much it can lift your energy levels listening to relaxing (patient appropriate) music that I enjoy.

10.  For a very general last point to sum up why it has been so easy to settle into my new job at WDC; there is just a reallygreat vibe in the practice.  Everyone I work with is just really nice, has been really patience with me as I learnt the new computer software, and just so welcoming and happy.

These are my new work shoes which I love. Safe from hazardous falling instrument but super stylish too.

The fabulous dino puppet I have at work, which is a hit with the kiddies. It is a little creepy with its human style chompers - but they are great for showing the wee ones how to brush!

I Like Red Cars

I have always had a thing for bright red cars. I deviated to my blue Barina for my last set of wheels back home,  but now I am back in the red car club!!!

My first car, 1996 Mitsubishi Manga. Had done over 300,000km when I bought her for $500. And she lasted me while. Still trucking along now retired to our families bach on Waiheke Island. 

I cant help but be drawn to red cars. 

Some sweet wheels in the Coromandel. 

So I got myself a car finally. Will save me so many hours of bus/train catching. Although not so great for mother earth, so shall have to try to cycle to work each day.

My new wheels to explore Perth with Oscar!

My New Ride

Relying on public transport is not something I did back in Auckland. I was inundated with transport options owning not only a car but also a scooter and a bike! 

Rachel and I outside the castle,
going for a bike ride back home.

My red ride bike
I had to leave back in NZ!

Over here I have got myself a sweet bicycle to ideally cycle me around everywhere. Unfortunately my work place is a little far to bike to currently but I can bike to the train station and go from there.

Double baskets!!

Notepad from Te Papa which I love!

Remember to give cyclists some space when your driving!

OSCAR - I got a puppy!!!

So I have been here less than a month, and yes I decided to get a puppy. He is the best little guy. Spontaneous? Sure, but no one could say its a bad decision...

A sure commitment to my life in Perth. 

He is the best!!!!

How can I go to work when I have this to cuddle??

All tuckered out

Sleeping in a pile of cushions

Arriving in WA

I arrived in Perth with four bags, my entire life. 

I was fortunate as I was navigating Auckland airport to have a number of my siblings assisting me. 

The unanticipated predicament arose once arriving in Perth when I suddenly was trying to maneuverer through a swarm of unhelpful school children pushing an overloaded trolley and wheeling a large suitcase behind me.

Needless to say it was not a very glamorous arrival through customs ( fortunately I was just able to go straight through without being cross examined ).

My fabulous ride Anna was awaiting just out the doors so phew I made it!!!

Your Smile Is Important to Me

Your Smile Is Important to Me - was my inspiration in trying to help share my wealth of knowledge on how to keep your mouth healthy to all those who are important to me in my life, and anyone else who is interesting in learning too.

I was lucky enough to have an amazing friend Olivia Coote who turned my idea into a really cute graphic so I looked real professional - and people asked if "your smile" was who I worked for! I replied  that it is just me !

Give aways from Oral Health Night one, which was in March 2011

I did my second oral health night in June 2013. Learnt a lot from round one and was much easier to organise the second event. Round two also had an excellent turn out with almost 30 young people.

Charlotte was an excellent door lady for me for my second Oral Health Evening, which was a fundraiser for my trip to India. 

Some of the lovely attendees, bit of a treat.

How to make cotton roll butterflies display.

Example and Olivia modelling her creation.

One of the things which came as a surprise to the attendees of talk number 2 was the recommendation not to rinse after brushing! Rinsing after you brush removes all the good stuff from your toothpaste so it doesn't stick around long enough to do its job.

Here is a wee video demonstration of how to floss properly, and why it is important. Please excuse the incredibly cheesy american-ness of this you tube clip! 

Another tip from me if you find it hard to reach the back teeth, anchor your floss by wrapping it around the ring fingers (instead of the pointers) this means you can use your pointers to help push to reach the back teeth. 

Another awesome friend, James Pendergrast, branded up my little Barina for me so I looked even more hard out. It was the funniest thing to drive around Auckland. Got lots of funny looks but more importantly people smiled. Was sad having to say good bye to this little vehicle when I moved. Will have to see who I can impact to improve their oral health over here in WA!