Traveller’s diarrhoea or traveler’s diarrhea?

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The spelling doesn’t really matter. I prefer traveller’s diarrhoea rather than traveler’s diarrhea, mainly because I’m Australian and that’s how we spell it. I think it’s also worth pointing out that if you are a Microsoft Office user, Australians should not default to UK English, because we have Australian English and there are differences.

For example, I will write “organisation” in normal text, however, when writing about a meeting like the one I just attended, I will use World Health Organization (WHO), because it is a proper name.

I go spare when I’m reading Australians writing words like minimise, organise, standardise, optimise and realise, but with an -ize ending like people from North America and the United Kingdom. Australians, please stop doing that.

I expect in the next few years we may see an official pronouncement that all English-speaking nations will standardise to one English usage. I just hope it’s Australian English Usage and we follow the Australian Government Style Guide. That would make life so much easier for me!

I fainted on an aeroplane

This last week I was in Manila for a meeting. I knew I had to be careful. I boiled water. I brushed my teeth using boiled water. I only drank bottled water. I ate cooked foods that were still hot. I carried and used antiseptic hand wash. I did the things I was taught to do and have taught others to do.

Late in the afternoon of my last day there, I started feeling some griping abdominal pain. By the time I got to the airport in the early evening I was feeling decidedly unwell and colic had begun. After passing through customs and passport control the usual effects of what I had self-diagnosed as traveller’s diarrhoea had begun. Rather than find something to eat all I wanted to do is slowly drink bottled water. Because I wasn’t feeling great, there was more out than in.

I had a six-hour wait at the airport. I knew this when planning my trip, but what I didn’t plan for was feeling unwell. Airport restrooms are not that great. Enough said.

My flight out of Manila went wheels up shortly before midnight and after levelling off at cruising altitude the seat belt indicator went off and I rushed to the lavatory. The mechanics of what happened are simple. If the evacuation is large and fast, the intra-abdominal pressure change is rapid. Combine that with standing up, washing hands in cold water and walking out…

I knew as I was standing up that I felt light-headed. I remember washing my hands and opening the door. The next thing I remember is being helped up off the floor of the aisle by flight attendants. I wasn’t in any pain at the time.

I was guided back to my seat and an orthopædic surgeon who was a passenger sat beside me and started to assess me. I gave him a direct and clinical explanation. I didn’t mention I am a doctor, but I assume the flight attendant may have known it because it’s how I’m listed (Dr Gary Lum) on the flight manifest and flight booking. The surgeon measured my blood pressure. He assessed it as normal, but I knew for me it was low. I didn’t say anything. The last thing I needed was for the flight to return to Manila and to be assessed in a foreign hospital. I knew exactly what was happening to me. I did bump the back of my head but my mentation was fine. I did some arithmetic and forced myself to remember old numbers and revive some memories from the meeting I had just attended.

I knew I was dry so I drank water and fell asleep. I slept for five hours and when I woke up sipped water for the rest of the flight.

Some people like to try their luck

On the flight to Manila, I was amused when I watched a passenger doing laps of the cabin. On his last lap, he proceeded forward into the business class cabin and sat in an empty seat. He secured himself with the seatbelt and reclined the seat to get comfortable. Within a few minutes, a flight attendant approached him and pointed out he wasn’t in his designated seat. The passenger remonstrated and pointed out the spare seat. the flight attendant stood and crossed his arms. Sure enough, the passenger unclipped his seat belt, stood up and walked aft.

Justice League

While flying to Manila, I spent most of the time reading through my meeting papers and my presentations, but I did allow enough time to watch a movie via the in-flight entertainment system.

I chose “Justice League”. I remember as a kid watching the cartoon version on Saturday mornings. I liked the cartoon versions of Aquaman, Superman, Wonder Woman, and The Flash.

I’ve never been a huge fan of the cartoon version of Batman and I can’t really abide the movie versions of Batman either. The original TV series is all I am happy to tolerate. The same is true for Superman. George Reeves will always be my Superman. The cartoon version was also great. My breakaway is Wonder woman. I enjoyed the original TV version and the recent movie. Given a choice, Linda Carter would get my vote every time to play the role of Diane Prince.

I think because I was a competitive swimmer at school, and because I spent nearly every holiday at the beach in the surf, my fondest TV character was Aquaman in the cartoon version. As far as I know, there wasn’t a non-cartoon version of Aquaman made. I guess because it would have been too difficult to make back in the day. Likewise for the Flash. Please correct me if I’m wrong.

I’ve heard some criticism of the Justice League movie but I enjoyed it for what it was. I wish Aquaman had a bigger part, and why didn’t he have his seahorse?

New Star Trek podcast

I’ve started listening to a relatively new Star Trek podcast. It’s called “Go Trek Yourself”. The hosts are J. K. Woodward, Darrell Taylor and Holly Amos. I’ve listened to the last three episodes and I’m enjoying it.

Lost in Space

One of my all-time favourite TV shows growing up was Lost in Space.  The 1998 movie was a huge disappointment. Netflix has just released a new series as I am watching the first episode (as I type this), it looks like Judy and Penny are taking greater roles than Will. I just hope there is a robot 🤖 that exclaims “Danger Will Robsinson, Danger!”

What I ate this week

It hasn’t been much because I was ill and I didn’t shoot that many photographs. Click on a photo in this gallery and scroll through them.

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Final thoughts

Am I selfish for wanting Australian English to become the standard globally amongst English language users?

How do you feel about the Batman and Superman movies?

What do you think about Lost in Space?

Tender and tasty breasts and thighs but no chocolate eggs this year