How time flies! I know we say it every year, but it really does. I hope your year is going well. Yesterday I was consulting and reflecting on the journey of some of my patients many of whom I have been seeing since i started private urology in 2008. 17 years! Thats a long time to have known many of you. I always consider it a privilege being part of your health and life journey. Some of you I treat once and my services are not needed again, such as after a vasectomy or a circumcision, whilst many of you have conditions that require annual or 6 month reviews such as prostate cancer management. I get to celebrate your joys and recoveries and commiserate in your struggles and challenges.

This year has brought some nice travels. We have so much beauty right on our doorstep in Australia and it was great to visit Freycinet National Park in Tasmania. Unspoilt beauty, vast untouched beaches, and fine produce with gourmet food, fine wines, and a growing whisky trade.

We had a quick visit to Japan to cheerlead our friend who was competing in the Tokyo marathon. It’s a country and people that take so much pride in everything. Their food is like artwork. Their rail service runs with amazing efficiency. And they have some incredible golf experiences too! Over there it’s compulsory to come into the clubhouse after 9 holes for lunch, sake, wine, before going out for the back 9, and then returning for onsen. It’s a real day out. I had the pleasure of playing Hirono Golf Club for the second time and it’s right up there as a top 100 in the world golf course.

And just recently we returned from a Europe trip that included Istanbul, Budapest, Prague, Greece and Sicily. I find there is so much to learn from travel, especially history which helps give a context to modern day issues such as the conflicts that are ongoing in places like Ukraine/Russia and Israel/Palestine/Iran. International geopolitics is like a giant chessboard and there is so much we are not privy to behind the scenes. It’s always far more complex than meets the eye and I caution my children on taking sides based on a limited view that we get through social media.

Today whilst I write, it’s cold and raining outside. Real Melbourne winter! But the seasons have their own beauty and who would want to have 25 degrees and sunshine every day? On second thoughts, that could be nice! But the seasons also remind us of the cycles of life. The growth of spring, the starkness of winter, the colours of autumn, and the warmth of summer. We all go through these cycles personally in different ways, whether it be health, relationships, business or other. To remain steady we all need to be able to find our centre and bring ourselves back when we stray.

For me, meditation, exercise, music, or a quiet whisky by the fire helps maintain that balance!

Till next time,

“Be Well, Be Happy”