Maternity Services Review

The Federal government is undertaking a review of maternity services.

Now is our chance to put alternative models of service delivery on the table. The Health Minister has expressed interest in funding home birth and expanding midwifery led models of care so our submissions, as consumers, can make a real difference.

PLEASE:
Write a brief submission explaining what you valued your homebirth/midwifery led care OR why you would have liked it but were unable to access it.

Length – 1 page (or less if you don’t have time for more)

Due date: 31 October 2008

Send it in:

Email: Maternity.Services.Review@health.gov.au

Post:
The Secretariat
Maternity Services Review
MDP 94, GPO Box 9848
CANBERRA ACT 2600

Connecting

Yesterday, I went to a Cloth Nappy Advocacy event in the city, and felt like a complete outsider. Most of the people there lived in the inner city, and many of them knew each other already. I tried to start conversations with a few people, but just felt like the new kid in the funny clothes.

There were a few people that I knew from other events who were friendly, but busy, and a couple of unexpected meetings. I recognised Harriet, the daughter of two friends we hadn’t seen for years. The kid has a very recognisable face, so when she and Cass sat across from me, I knew it had to be her. It was lovely to catch up, if only briefly.

A little later, Meg introduced herself to me as a reader of the blog – chatting with her really lifted my spirits, we both had a little laugh about how odd it is to meet a blogger you’ve been “following” for a while, but never met in the flesh before.

Today, our little playgroup resumed after a two week break for school holidays, and I went from being the new kid who dresses funny, to being the cool kid that everybody wants to talk to. Liz (one of the mums from my parents group that I really connected with) has found an aqua-robics class at the local pool, so a group of us are going to go on Friday and share child minding. We’re also going to go to Weight Watchers (usually referred to at Granville Grange as “Club Lard”, and sometimes “Fat Fighters”) together – with the hope that we can support each other and keep each other on track.

And when I got home I got an email form another new friend, who is going to come over to our place for a play date next week.

And all of a sudden, I am part of a community.

Salt of the Earth

Just read a post on Post Punk Kitchen about salt.

Since I’ve been discovering new spices and cooking methods, I found this really interesting. I’d never heard of black salt before, and I now have a new desire to get me some truffle salt.

But they didn’t mention two of my favourites, Celtic Sea Salt, and Murray River Pink Salt. The Celtic salt is a supremely unattractive colour, but a superb flavour. My friend Kate introduced me to this, and forever after it’s been referred to as Kate Salt.

And the Murray River Salt? The flavour is good, almost a cross between the Celtic and Maldon, with the structure of Maldon (which is very cute, and fun to play with). And, it’s pink. What’s not to love?