1) On Sabbatical in New Zealand - MWF President Elect Dr Sally Davies tells us all...

On sabbatical...

The opportunity to take a sabbatical, like lottery wins, is something that happens to other people. Attending conferences overseas and giving presentations about the medical educational work in Wales has led me to meet many interesting and fascinating people; they are also interested in finding the best methods to support doctors in their training years and beyond. Wouldn't it be fantastic to have a sabbatical period away from the clinical workplace to share experience and challenges with others in other cultures?

To cut a long story short here I am in Auckland, New Zealand struggling to get over jetlag and the inevitable cold following 2 long international flights. On the plus side I have caught up with all the films that I should have seen. Friends and contacts here are fantastic and very welcoming of a lone Welsh lady. Packing for three months with a twenty kg baggage limit was a challenge. New Zealand is understandably careful about allowing any biological or environmental threat into the country. My bag, so carefully packed, was unpacked and contents scrutinised for any food or biological threats like mud! I don't think the fact that I had last worn a particular pair of shoes in West Wales helped.

I arrived to a Bank Holiday, the Queen's birthday, and a wonderful opportunity to visit the Coromandel Peninsula and walk on beautiful beaches amongst palm trees and see fascinating new wildlife.

Back down to earth now in an office in the University of Auckland with meetings to organise and people to meet! Leaving my husband and four grown up children at home in the UK is obviously a big wrench but thank goodness for email and Skype!