So, apparently this is the month of love as I'm sure if any of you listen to 94/7 on the way to work would have been reminded of on the daily. I definitely think that February is by far one of the best months of the year for the following reasons; its short so after a year long January its a nice reprieve, it has a high weekend to work-week ratio usually and also it offers quicker salary deposits as the beginning of the year is littered with people wanting money from you! Those of us with kids definitely feel that apart from school fees, books and consumables, they suddenly grew and need new clothes !

Alas, we must remember that the month of love isn't about spending large sums of money on someone to make them feel special, it's the small efforts that go the longest way. So guys, wash those dishes, give a small foot rub and make a cup of tea with a biscuit ! Girls, let's keep the car clean, maybe give a shoulder rub ? I don't know but the point is just be present at home and just do something a little unexpected.

According to our AI friends this is what a valentines day should look like for a family with younger kids:

Easy Family Valentine Plan (Young Kids Approved)

💖 Family Love Night (2 Hours Total)

0–20 min: Set the vibe

• Heart stickers or construction-paper hearts taped around
• Play fun love songs or Disney soundtracks
• Kids help “decorate” (even if it’s chaotic—embrace it 😄)

20–45 min: Special dinner

• Heart-shaped foods (sandwiches, pancakes, pizza—knife or cookie cutter)
• Let kids “order” like a restaurant
• Pink drinks = juice + silly straw

45–75 min: Family activity
Pick ONE:

• Valentine coloring or card-making
• Bake simple cookies or cupcakes together
• Family game (Candy Land, Uno, charades)

75–100 min: Treat time

• Dessert with sprinkles or whipped cream
• Say one thing you love about each family member (kids melt for this)

Last 20 min: Cozy wind-down

• Pajamas
• Valentine book or movie (short episodes work best!)
• Family cuddle pile 💞

I think it's a bit cheesy but hey maybe we sparked some ideas !

BIRTHDAYS

First some dad jokes

"You don’t get older—you just go into deeper levels of sedation.”

Happy Birthday! We were going to throw you a surprise party… but you sedated the guests.”

Birthdays are important, it's the one day when you can get a 50% discount at Sorbet so ladies time to get those nails done ! Gents they also have other treatments if that's your thing , Don't forget kauai also gives you a free shake! Abuse them people !

Sat 15th Feb- Annari Barnes

Fri 21st Feb- Portia Maladze

Sat 22 Feb- Nolu Mlabateki

We wish you well ladies and thanks for everything you do and are for the department !

If your name wasn't mentioned please add it to our birthday calendars, it's not that we don't love you we just don't know we should be loving you !

Which one are you ?

Every Child deserves to smile !

Thanks everyone for the effort to give up your free Saturday is no small feat !

Prof Spijkerman Woman spotlight !

This post has been a longtime coming and one doesn't realise how fast time flies ! Prof was featured in a Q and A for the faculty of Health Sciences woman's day last year and a link to the article is below

From Heartbeats to Leadership Prof Spijkerman’s Impact on Anaesthesia

University of PretoriaUniversity of Pretoria

From Heartbeats to Leadership Prof Spijkerman’s Impact on Anaesthesia

From a heartbeat in Grade 11 to shaping the future of anaesthesia, Prof Spijkerman’s journey into health sciences is marked by passion, purpose, and leadership. Inspired as a teenager when a local GP let her listen to her own heart and explained its rhythms, she has since carved a path from community service doctor to departmental leader at the University of Pretoria. Today, she is not only advancing anaesthesia training and clinical collaboration but also championing compassionate leadership, student success, and women’s empowerment in health sciences.

Some highlights which I enjoyed but the full article is linked above for reading should you wish.

How do you approach leadership, especially in shaping your department’s academic and student success?

I believe a leader should not be a distant figure who rules from above. True leadership means walking alongside your colleagues - never asking others to do what you aren’t willing to do yourself. By modelling the right behaviours and showing that you have their backs, you inspire trust, engagement, and the willingness to go the extra mile

What advice would you offer to young women or students aspiring to follow in your footsteps in academia or healthcare?

For young women and students pursuing careers in academia or healthcare, I would say the sky is the limit. What you can dream, you can achieve. I would recommend drawing on qualities such as empathy which are valuable for fostering effective relationships with patients, colleagues, and students. Equally important is maintaining a healthy work–life balance by practicing effective time management and setting clear boundaries to sustain long-term success and well-being.

Thanks Prof for all that you do and we know there is a lot of stuff we don't even know you are doing but doing quietly behind the scenes!

Well guys that's it for this instalment and sorry it was a bit late. Enjoy February and all the guys waiting for results I'm sure it's going to be just fine. To those studying keep it up and to those of us just finding your feet in new places we wish you well.

Till next time