Uluru and Kings Canyon

Sunday, April 11th, 2010

I’m off to the middle of Australia on Friday. Alice Springs here I come andI can’t wait.

It’s ALSO time again, that’s Advanced Life Support Obstetrics, and I’ll be attending conference with other midwives and doctors for the weekend in Alice. ALSO is a great initiative for health care workers associated with birthing women to update skills and share validated responses if an obstetric emergency happens. Everyone sits the same exams and we all go home inspired and invigorated by meeting knew people and stretching our brains. I feel very privileged to be a small part of such a wonderful team.

After ALSO, I’m off for a week of sightseeing around central Australia, both camping off-road through Kings Canyon, Glen Helen, and a little more luxuriously, in a resort at Uluru (Ayers Rock). Then there’s the Olgas and the deserts, the night sky and stars that stretch forever. There’s been a good downfall of rain as well so we’ll be extra lucky to see the lushness that’s rare in the red centre. Can’t wait.

So watch out for my photos next month and for a book or two set in Central Australia next year. What a job.

Saffron W. has won my webpage celebration book prize. I’ll post Midwife In A Million and The Midwife’s New-Found Family out to you, Saffron.

xx Fi

The DON’T Panic Guide To Birth

It’s here. From Penguin Australia, to help those last minute nerves and questions.

Don’t you love the cover!

I’m very excited about my first Non-Fiction book, THE DON’T PANIC GUIDE TO BIRTH.

A midwife for twenty five years, I’ve always been passionate about sharing the insights I’ve gained about birth with women and their families.

When a mother-to-be walks into an antenatal class she has some questions she wants to ask first. One of them is “How will I know if I’m in labour?”and there’s heaps of answers after that. This book starts there. If you want an easy to read, last minute guide to those burning questions, I can’t wait to share.

wishing you a wonderful birth

Fiona
Midwife In The Family Way
My first Italian is here. He’s gorgeous.

I’ve been listening to Italian tapes in my car, trying to learn a new language by distance because I wanted to be able to understand the nuances of an Italian hero’s seduction. My man’s an Aussie through and through, but I wanted to be able to understand Emma’s love. Driving to work for me really is not far, a mere twenty five kilometres each way, and just enough for one Italian lesson per shift. The rolling ‘R’s’ are delightful, and the language so romantic.

In ‘Midwife In The Family Way’ we return to Lyrebird Lake, one of my favourite places in the world, and Emma’s story. Gianni, our Italian hero is blown away by the strength in this country midwife who is more self sufficient than any woman he has ever known. This book was inspired by my friend Michelle, who, as the dedication says, is ‘one of the coolest, bravest, most amazing people I know, and whose journey has been my inspiration for this book. ‘

Michelle, (and Emma’s )mum has Huntingtons Disease and it’s a debilitating, tragic disease we’d all like to see wiped out. Like all people wth and without the gene who’ve been affected by or known those affected by Huntingtons, I pray for a cure.

One of the most amazing side bonuses of writing and reading is the knowledge we accidentally gain and grow by. Exposure to Huntington’s was like that. The human spirit is incredible and I can only admire and in some way try to emulate the way people rise above the obstacles life puts in front of them. My deepest admiration goes out to those touched by this unfair disease. I hope you too, can be inspired by Emma and Gianni’s story as I was.

warmest waishes

Fiona