I was waiting patiently for my official appointment paperwork for 2011. I already know I am returning to my old service, Austin Hospital, because they have effectively sponsored my PhD and my return to training. However, I am yet to be notified officially.

All of a sudden, I get an email asking for my preferences for rotations. So it seems this job is really gonna happen. “Rotations” are six month appointments to a particular service in a particular hospital. Surgeons are a distrustful lot, so in order to get enough operating experience, you stay with one mob for a biggish period of time.

So that is all interesting, until I realize that my hospital rotates to the Austin and Northern hospitals (both in Melbourne’s north), but also to Shepparton, Bendigo and Hamilton, a couple of hours from home. And for the really adventurous, there are positions in Hobart, Launceston and Alice Springs – all in different states. Gulp.

Lukie and I discussed it and we know the family probably won’t be able to travel with me if I have to leave Melbourne. I’ve put in a request to stay In Melbourne this year, as BabyA is still very young. There’s likely to be a tradeoff in 2012, but we’ll have to deal with that then. Everyone cross your fingers for me?