Battler.

Monday morning. Wet, miserable Monday morning; Warrington weather. And somewhere in Hong Kong are Kathryn and Annette with their suitcases full of bikinis and images of sunny Sydney beaches. Bugger.

It's my second week of being shadowed by Julia and my second week of incarceration in the company car, not even an illicit trip to Coles to soothe the cabin fever. Julia's the model new graduate; keen, knowledgeable and taking copious notes on the patients, unlike me, because I keep notes in my head, which probably explains why I get mixed up.

This morning we saw Susie and her son Joshua. Joshua's a bit distractible. No, he's very distractible. He has an undiagnosed syndrome involving chromosome 6. At three and a half he's just learning to walk. He's hard to assess.

"Have you thought about ditching the distraction test?" asked Julia. "I mean, you could get him to put a peg in a box or a shape into a hole instead, if he's hard to assess"

"Well I've thought of that" I replied, though what I really wanted to say was "I've been working ten years, of course I've thought of that" but you know, I'm too nice.

"Anyway, I don't think it'll work. He'll focus on the toys and stop listening"

But Julia wasn't convinced so we tried with the toys. Josh stopped listening and focussed on the toys. I raised an eyebrow and sighed.

Back at the office, Jackie's prospective mother-in-law's still keeping us entertained. Last weekend she threw an engagement party for them. Jackie's not impressed.

"Though she's finally conceeded the point" she said

"What point?"

"That I'm gorgeous. She comes sidling up to me and says "Oh well Jackie, I've always known you're attractive but I was looking at some photos of you at your mother's house and I suppose I'll have to conceed you're gorgeous". I mean, can you believe the woman?"

"Some women are unbelievable" I replied. Julia gave me a look. "You pick your battles" I told her later. "And here's one that's not worth fighting".

Call me an Aussie Battler if you will, but I'll soldier on for another three weeks. Then hopefully it'll stop raining.

nb Aussie Battler, n (Australian), The concept of an "Aussie battler" is an example of self-aggrandizing language, designed to counter feelings of stigma or inadequacy, and to bolster confidence in being a member of the Australian underclass. It refers to an Australian who continues to struggle in the face of hardship. It is a term of respect and endearment, not simply used to assess someone's financial situation; the ordinary working-man earning a living against the odds.

The common variation little Aussie battler further adds to the notion that the battler is at the bottom of society, working under bigger things above.