Good Riddance 2011

We have all had it tough this year. 2011 the Year of the Rabbit started with torrential and incessant rain culminating in floods not seen for a generation as the saying goes and as the floods subsided a quarter of the year had already passed and dropped us again into the bog of European debt.

Even though our enterprise exists thousand of miles from the core of the European drama, the Greek and Italian (thanks to a dalliance in my twenty-somethings, love them still I do) economies have still had a significant impact on the mining mecca of the globe. When your income depends largely on the discretionary spending of the wealthy any hiccups in global markets cause tightening of purse strings even for them.

All the while the work and life balancing act became trickier with the sudden and serious health issues of my first-born. This issue dragged far longer than it should have and even now as the recovery programme begins to show results, my brain is still very bitter at the processes surrounding the cause. My recent blog posts have been all about this devastating event and its something that will remain with me for a long long time.

With all this going on I can only say that if it wasn’t for my close friends and family and abundant good looks and humour, I would have cracked long ago!

For the followers of Chinese horoscopes the Rabbit Year is supposed to be one of peace and tranquillity but perhaps as I am not one, nor a resident of the Peoples Republic for that matter, said serenity has bypassed Dijon-town entirely. So as this Rabbit Year draws to a close what conclusions do I draw from it?

The Queen of England once had an Annus Horribillus, Kofi Annan had one in 1994 and the King of Spain’s year was 1997 although that has probably come around again given the crisis his country is now in. If I was as worldly as these three perhaps my name could be added to the Wikipedia list too. Instead I shall call it my myxomatosis year. The year that killed the rabbit of tranquility but did leave the pastures clear for 2012’s Year of the Dragon – one of good fortune.

Bring it on!

Systems, Surgery and other Failings

Bec and I were invited to a meeting with hospital department heads and spinal surgeons today. Instead of writing notes to take in with me I decided to wing it and then present them with this statement below. The meeting went well and as a result the story hasn’t ended and a full investigation has begun. Kate continues to improve and will have yet another spine operation next week.

We are grateful for the calling of this meeting and while it’s actual purpose is yet to be realised, it is reassuring to know that there is still a personal aspect to the Queensland health system. It is understood that this meeting will serve the basis for an investigation however I have prepared this document as a form of impact statement.

Kate has had a hard trot with having Type-1 Diabetes for six years and so not being able to have the freedom that most young kids enjoy at that time of their life. BSL tests, hypo’s and dietary limitations are an unfortunate fact of her life. Add to that now Scoliosis at fourteen and the kid needs a break. The long-term effects of this surgery are largely unknown so what lies ahead cannot be predicted. What is certain is that there will be some. Even now, more than a week later, partial paralysis and sensory loss are very real long-term possibilities.

I told my daughter that of the countries in the world to have to have major surgery, our hospital system and its specialists are amongst the best there is. Despite news reports and all the criticism often heard, I held the professionals within in high esteem and wouldn’t second guess anything suggested. Unfortunately I no longer have that same belief. I have no criticisms of any individual, whether nurses, doctors, surgeons or other health professionals. I do however have great concern for the systems in place, especially in respect to communication.

I am a pretty easy-going person and somewhat of a realist. I understand that sometimes things go wrong and it is likely that there is not a single person or event that has caused Kate’s enduring condition. The emotional and financial impact I will get to later but to start this discussion we need to say that I do not accept that the situation we are in is as so often has been stated “simply one of those things.” I do not believe in fate. I do not believe in accidents. Every event has a root cause, an incident that creates an effect. Kate lies in bed now due to an incident and we expect an explanation as to how it came about. This may very well take some time but none the less we expect it. Again I must say we are not looking for a scalp but a sound, valid and verifiable reason.

The financial impact for Rebecca & I personally is substantial. Allowances were made for a predetermined amount of time for the procedure and recovery to take place and clearly this is now well and truly past. Our business has had a trying couple of years due to the impact of the GFC, and demands a lot of our time. To take from it now both principals for an indefinite period makes a difficult time more so. Add to this the extra traveling expenses, food, phone costs, babysitters, canceling business trips and events – this unfortunate experience has hit the pocket severely. To recover from this is likely to take a significant amount of time – a recurring theme to this hospital adventure.

The emotional impact is something very difficult to quantify. I can’t speak for Kate especially as I feel the true impact of exactly what happened is something that cannot be explained or even comprehended by her. It seems that her coping mechanism has already deleted any memories of three or four days although I am sure the sedation played a part. She is a tough, strong-willed and determined young lady, my hope here is that irrespective of the lasting effects of the surgery, that no substantial emotional impact is endured.

We have two young boys who have not seen much of their parents for all this time and with things likely to continue for many days, even weeks yet, this is not about to change much. Already there are behavioral concerns from school, their friends and our family. Clearly there is an emotional impact there for them and how do we counteract that?

My wife has been bedside every day and night right through this and while she is a strong woman, the stress can’t be absorbed for long. She may be able to articulate this better than I can personally but as the parent at every step from initial consultation through now and on to the eventual end, taking in every comment and remark is sure to leave substantial scars.

And for me? I am devastated. I am no stranger to big surgeries and have good knowledge as to the goings on in and out of theatre. I am hurt though. I am hurt because we were overlooked and even disregarded at the crucial times pre and post surgery. That we were left in a strange corner of a hospital for six hours while she was again opened up. That we weren’t told she was awake and in ICU where we could see her and in fact she had asked for us. That we were spoken over many times as though we weren’t even in the room. That we were kept in the dark with planned procedures and tests. And on it goes.

But what hurts me most is that my little girl is still in hospital facing a third major operation and I told her that Australian doctors are all experts that know what they are doing and that when she wakes up, it will be over, and done, and she will be alright. It was me that told her it would be alright. And its not.

Clocks don’t tick in hospitals.

Those who know me understand that speaking too soon is not a common occurrence but it would seem that the comment to my last post was exactly that.

Kate’s initial recovery was going exactly to plan that is until the morning after surgery when she lost all movement in her legs. A team of surgeons were rushed to her bedside where she was hurried off to surgery again. Being a parent at this point of time was undeniably the worst experience of my life and of those I’ve had a few. The confusion, concern and inability to communicate from the hospital experts alone was enough to completely turn our world upside down. Having those that should know not creates an emotional chasm big enough to sail the QEII through.

The second surgery was to reverse all efforts of the initial one in the hope/ belief that something done then had caused only temporary paralysis. A good starting point I guess but when you are looked in the eye by three top surgeons who simply don’t know, it doesn’t give you much hope. After a further six hours in the operating room, Kate was again in intensive care with a bank of machines that go ‘bing’ and infusion lines every which way.

Now I have nothing but the utmost respect for doctors, surgeons, nurses and other medical experts but there does come a time when the faces and looks of concern meld into one and lose all meaning. When you just want answers and more importantly a solution then there isn’t a soothing voice in the world that will make you feel better. My kids tell me that when I am aggravated I have ‘angry eyes’ and more than a few were on the receiving end of that and more during this time.

So my little girl has had poking, prodding, tests, questions, pushing, bending, tapping, stretching, all quite normal in such circumstances but how about hyperbaric pressure treatment? This was sprung on her/ us as a newish treatment for everything from stress treatment to spinal injury therapy, Kate obviously coming in the later category. It is at this point that I suspected there was some considerable straw-grasping happening however having long-lost any consideration for scoliosis repair it didn’t bear any second thought.

The process of hyperbaric treatment is to pressurize a compartment (and patient) to a simulated depth of 15 to 18 metres and infuse the body with 100% oxygen. It is proven that such infusion benefits the body in all manner of ways not least by increasing oxygen flow to all parts of the body by as much as ten to fifteen times normal. At this point, anything that might repair the spinal damage is given a shot.

Now three days since secondary surgery to remove the pins to repair her back, hourly massages and the seemingly endless tests, I am pleased to say that Kate has both feeling and slight movement to her toes. For whatever reason the left side is better than the right and if you were in Brisbane last night you would have surely heard a collective sigh of relief. At least now, there is some light in the tunnel and although the timeframe is a big unknown, the road to recovery has begun.

The hospital surgeons that I still perhaps surprisingly have the utmost faith in, can count literally on one hand the number of times this has happened in all their collective years and thousands of patients treated. So while the root cause is very much down to speculation, so too is the possible recovery time. However if there is one positive aspect that has not been considered, that is the dogged determination of my little girl to come right.

Whether it was the pin removal, the hyperbaric treatment, drugs, massages or even that bitch Mother Nature playing games, we will possibly never know what has instigated this partial recovery. What I do know is that next Wednesday she is booked for spine surgery yet again and I don’t know how I feel about that.

Oktoberfest, Oktoberfast & Oktobugger.

Boy do I feel old. It’s the one month of the year I look forward to most. In terms of motorsport we have of course Bathurst, the festival at the Gold Coast, a couple of Formula One races broadcast at reasonable times for us DownUnder and some local events at club level. On the business front we are over the end of financial year demands and look forward to the expectations of the Christmas season. All well and good but it’s where the personal stuff comes in that makes me weary!

Of course October is my birth month and coincidentally when the celebrations of Oktoberfest are well underway. Each year my friends take me to our favorite German restaurant and we merrily slap dance the night away. This night, despite flipping over the age calendar, I feel young. From then until now however it’s quite a different story.

With a substantial hangover fresh in my memory, I learn that my eldest is scheduled for immediate surgery to her spine, my youngest begins a week-long rebellion at both school and home and the family car develops a terminal failure. Nice work fate.

The car we can work around, Harry is young enough to still benefit from some old-fashioned punishment but Kate’s drama has had a huge impact to my emotions. As first-born, only daughter and already coping with an undeserved illness in Type 1 Diabetes since she was eight, a rapid onset of scoliosis was the last thing she needed.

For the uninitiated, of which we were a week or so ago, scoliosis is a curving of the spine and if left untreated can lead to a deformation great enough to affect your heart, lungs and become a disability substantial enough to immobilize you permanently. It is also one of those afflictions that a normal healthy person has no predisposition for. It’s just one of those things and Mother Nature can be a bitch.

Kate being as young, fit and spirited as she is, is therefore an easy candidate for early surgery. Surgery that has its risks of course but also an operation performed by leading specialists in a fantastic hospital system. As often as you hear complaints of any public health system, once you are firmly within it, you cannot deny its professionals.

So as the first week of my new year ends, a whole new adventure into the unknown begins. Kate’s admission is tomorrow with surgery scheduled for Monday. Its lucky I already have a head of grey hair. Love you Monkey.

Guess who had a bad day in traffic…

OK, so now the school holidays have started, all the idiot drivers have more time to waste and have clearly decided to piss me off! So now its time to publish my s*it list relating to P-platers, suburban tractor drivers and other general traffic related issues.

Disclaimer! This list is in no particular order however all offenders fall into the ‘Numpty’ category. I reserve the right to add articles, issues and individuals to this list on a whim.

1. “I am the Stig” decals. You are not the Stig and the fact you had to put this onto your window to try and convince other Numpty’s otherwise proves you are nothing more than a tool.
2. Crooked license plates. You lazy fools. Take two minutes away from the television and go straighten your plates. Few simple items shout “I don’t care about my appearance or respect my vehicle” than this.
3. Red light runners. How important you must be to need to get to the next intersection 90 seconds ahead of me. Consider the kids on bikes or the granny on the footpath stepping out as you rush to do your impressive job.
4. Dirty windscreens. I am not referring to the outside here when it can be covered in road film in just a few miles of wet weather driving but inside the cabin. Ever wondered why you can’t see ahead through sun glare? It’s because you are a grot and can’t be bothered cleaning one of the most important safety devices in your car. Think about it.
5. Wide turners. Why do you need to move all the way to the centre line to make a turn to a near-side road or driveway? Your economobile is not a semi truck and trailer!
6. School Zone Ignorant’s. Pay attention people. You may not have kids yet but when you do you will be very aware of the gits speeding through school zones. Sit on the kerbside when cars are coming by at 60. That will give you an idea of what it is like for small kids. Slow down!
7. Ungrateful commuters. How hard is it to give a nod of thanks to those who let you through in traffic? A simple raising of the hand is enough. Just like you are reaching for another chocolate bar.
8. Tailgaters. What is it about the ass end of my car that you find most interesting? Sure as heck isn’t a Stig sticker.
9. Family/ Frangipani stickers. How inaccurate can they be? You are not stick thin lady and when was the last time you were that close to your husband? As for flower stickers, one or two you could get away with, but right around the window frame? Give me a break, your frangipani is now a weed out of control.
10. Cigarette Butt Tossers. Says it all really.
11. P-platers. Congratulations, you now have a letter on your car. This does not make you a genius, a great driver or an owner of the road. Go with the flow of traffic but don’t hold us up or drive like a tool. Your speedo is fairly accurate so there is no need for +/- 30 KPH.
12. Crooked Parkers. If you don’t park in the centre of your parking spot then the car next to you can’t either, and so on and so on. Wondered why there are dents in your car door? Its because you cant park properly and the person next to you had the shits with your inability. Maybe it was me.
13. Centreline Riders. There is a whole lane for you to enjoy, why do you ride the white line? That’s where the road debris is that you spit into oncoming traffic. Did you not think of that? Thanks for my windscreen chips.
14. Your massive car. That gap you are trying to get into really is big enough to get a truck through. The bus behind you and the dozen following cars know it. Learn how big your ass is before you get behind the wheel.
15. Signaling forever or not at all. Your turn signals probably work just fine so use them! A few seconds warning of your intention, do the job then make sure they turn off. It’s as simple as that. I don’t need to know that you might turn in a mile and a half down the road or that you did two blocks ago. Just enough notice for current intentions is all I need.
16. Low Riders. Not the cars, the drivers. Mostly you are the aforementioned P-plater but you will also fall into the *ickhead category. Why would you want to sit on the ground and way back so that you can’t reach the steering wheel, your controls or see over the dash? Any wonder your car is a beaten up pile of dung.
17. Lap Dancers. You know, the ones with the pets sitting unrestrained in the car. Have a crash and see how pretty your furball is when it hits the windscreen or you at speed.
18. White Van Man. You know what I am talking about. Every country in the world has them. White van man, courier driver and apprentice tradie in the ute – all tarred with the same brush.
19. Cyclists. You have no road rights!! Oh my god, that’s a whole new blog post!
20. And lastly for today… go on, pullout in front of me one more time. I am in a leased car!

What Price Business Evolution?

This is my first blog post in a while and not because I have had nothing to say but because as a believer in Darwin’s natural selection and evolution theories, I believe change is inevitable and those that can foresee it can reap the rewards. As such my time has been figuring out how best to capture current change and adapt it to my will!

The change I am referring to is the continuing global effects of markets, buyer behaviour and future trends as a result. My business has survived for a long time on the behaviours of those cashed up and prepared to present the best image they possibly can. This is of course in the automotive world of Porsche, Ferrari, Lamborghini and the like where it is customary to be brand conscious and bespoke in the best possible way.

Well now thanks to a continuing global (GFC driven) change, those buying patterns are evolving and faster than we all thought they would. Scenario one is that no longer will Bob outdo John by splashing huge sums on something perceived as being better but will at best match his purchase, scenario two says that he will spend slightly less and come across as being a little more frugal in his ways and the last and more common approach is that he wont spend at all and make do with last seasons offerings!  All scenarios that affect the bottom line and the viability of any business.

The resultant downward spiral of spend less and make do has meant that a number of the best boutique brands are doing it real tough. Many have culled their less performing items (as any good business should) and are endeavoring to ride the storm, some are taking the budget route and putting out similar items at cut price rates (never good for a ‘brand’) while the more drastic approach of shutting up shop and calling it a day appears to be a recurring theme.

So where to from here for Mustard Man? Well I haven’t quite decided yet! In the nineties we were able to take advantage of opposition demise and take over, now in the teenies most of the opposition has closed up and with what’s left, would we want to consider going there? Probably not. So the adapt or die mentality gradually sinks in and that’s where it becomes difficult.

Giving up is not in my genetics and adapting generally means compromise. Compromise what? Quality, service and performance are what my brand was built on; to surrender those aspects is surely to shoot yourself in the foot. So it’s not a matter of survival, its survival at what cost.

My man Darwin suggested that evolution took place over millions of years. My evolution doesn’t have that long and if I did, could I look it in the eye and be proud of the changed view?

To be continued.

It’s like falling off a bike – allegedly.

I am a little nervous! An opportunity is approaching and I am a little concerned over it. Question: How difficult is it to get back behind the wheel of a seriously quick race car?

It has been a couple of years since I drove something purpose-built for racing and while I was quietly confident (read “certain as hell”) that I could tell the machine exactly what I wanted to do then, I am not so certain now. I am advised it’s like riding a bike or even falling off one and I have absolutely nothing to worry about, especially given my awesome driving prowess. OK I added that last bit.

So how do you go about getting that mojo back and deeper still, how do you lose it in the first place? I accept there is a fair amount of natural talent in the leagues of the F1 and Indy super star ranks even if it was driven in to them at age three or four but for us slightly lesser steerer’s, the talent once enjoyed was learnt over many years, cars and even professional lessons. Does it all wisp away if not used regularly à la conversational French? Or can it be assumed that it will all come back to me like a TV movie flash back once harnessed firmly in place?

Perhaps some of you reading this have experienced first hand what I am going through now, or more importantly what I am about to acknowledge once helmeted and gloved; If so, send me a message of good lessons, goodwill and good luck!

OMG, perhaps my suit doesn’t fit any more, are my boots worn out, do my gloves clash with the car??? I have it on good authority that these are the very same questions and concerns that one M. Schumacher had a couple of years ago and while his comeback hasn’t been totally stellar, its clear the man had talent to begin with. So what will a German car make of this driver? Stay tuned for the answers!

Helmet, Gloves, Lipstick.

It will be tricky to get this point across without sounding lecherous but (deep breath) I enjoy watching female racers. There you go, I said it. There is no sexual undertone to this but the fact is that there are inherent differences in the way both professional and amateur lady racers drive to their male counterparts. The aggression is different, the car control different and above all, the approach to what it is all about is totally different.

It would appear to my male eyes that the overly aggressive “must win at all costs” approach of most men on the track is missing in the ladies seat. There seems to be much more control and measured forethought when it comes to the overall approach of a race giving the viewer a completely different perspective. It is unfortunate that televised races tend to focus on the upfront battles rather than equal showing of all competitors but in the rare instances where they follow a female racer, take the time to notice the lines and car attitudes for they are quite different.

I am not a team owner or professional driver recruiter and I don’t recall seeing written explanations as to why some of the top tier females are in their position but surely this different approach at the big end of town must bear some weight?

I count among my friends many ladies sure, but as motorsport enthusiasts definitely. A lot compete at karting level, attend track days, instructional courses and look to better their race craft in any way possible as any self respecting driver should but… if they are being trained in the ways of a male racer, how exactly is that bettering them if their whole approach is from a different angle? Has Danica Patrick reached her peak at nearly getting there only because her trainer was a guy? Perhaps if Milka Duno, Katherine Legge and Sabine Schmidz got together and formed a team, the results would prove this point? A motorsport marketer’s wet dream but we may never know.

Next time you are watching an event with mixed competition don’t focus so much on the cut of the race suit but the race itself and see if I am on the right track. And ladies, you are being noticed!