Time moves on!

Oh dear, is it that time already? No I don't mean the hour, but the YEAR! I am just 14 weeks away from my 65th birthday and I am just about to request a Pension Forecast - scary or what! In one way I shall be pleased to retire, but in another I shall not. As the last blog stated I am stopping clinical work at the end of 2011 but intend to carry on teaching and writing until I drop!! At least I won't have any more procrastination excuses about not getting on with the books or with preparing workshops. My retired friends tell me that they don't know how they had time to work, as they don't seem to have a moment's spare time in retirement.

The people I feel most sorry for will be my patients. Here on Skye there isn't exactly a plethora of practitioners for them to see after December. We shall be letting all and sundry know from this week, so we are expecting quite a lot of emotional blackmail and backlash. I joined one of the caring professions all those years ago because I thought I could make a difference - I think that, by and large, I have achieved this - although you always think that you could have done more. I am finally thinking of me and my health and welfare. My cervical spondylosis is now so bad that it takes 2-3 days to recover from a day's clinical work. This means, that if I work 2 or 3 days a week, I am never out of pain (in its many guises) and debility. So please think of me over the next few weeks as I tell each patient the good (bad for them) news. So long from a wet and windy Skye. JRC

Autumn update

How was your Summer? We didn't have the very hot temperatures they experienced in the south of the UK - so that's OK. I shall try and be more diligent in blog writing - I have decided to retire from clinical work at Christmas so will have much more time after that (pigs may fly). Even though I had my consultation with the neurosurgeon back in mid June, the estimated surgery date is the end of March 2012. I could, though, be offered a last minute cancellation at Christmas or New Year - so here's hoping.

Several months ago I was asked to give a 3 day workshop on using acupressure in treating musculo-skeletal conditions in Lincoln. I was assured that there was a lot of interest and I could expect 12-14 people. I confidently booked the trains and hotels. Last week I was told that as funding was not forthcoming there were only 4 attending (and only 3 paying). I am not a greedy person and teach for the love of it, certainly not for financial gain, but I would have lost money. I draw the line at that. It seems to me that many practitioners depend on funding for courses, as money is obviously tight these days. I cannot recoup the train fare - so I have put it down to one of life's experiences.

Contrast that with a 5 day workshop next month in Solihull. This pro rata costs more money and I have no local delegates. Folks are travelling from Rumania, New York, Scotland and many distant regions of the UK. Although I award CPD, they will not be able get funding. When I first qualified as an acupuncturist I couldn't get enough training and education. I travelled everywhere just to learn new methods and techniques. It probably cost a fortune and I had to go without other things. You cannot put a price on education - it is priceless. Even though a course may seemingly cost a small fortune (after travel and accommodation are added), what you learn could be life changing! I pride myself that I offer exhaustive training and I know that scores of delegates have had their practices transformed by what they have learnt. Of course it is a big gamble going on any course - it may be rubbish!! I'll write again soon - JRC