Wednesday, March 28, 2007

Returning

I’ve been thinking about his for a long time.

For a while, life has been so busy I’ve barely had chance to draw breath, let alone post here. And after being away for so long, coming back seemed weird. But for the last few weeks (!) I’ve started to have ideas for great posts, and have started to want to come back.

So here I am. I’m going to write again, and see how it goes, but it may not be forever. Argh! I’m sorry, I thought I knew what I would say before I started, but I now I see that possibly I don’t have a clue.

Ha! That’s probably the truest thing I’ve ever written.

Before I carry on as before, here are the big events you have missed:

1. I am going to Canada for 6 weeks to do my elective in palliative medicine, from April 17th to May 29th. I have a 4 week placement in Toronto, with a hospice in the middle, and we’re spending the first in Calgary, and the last week bumming around Toronto or possibly doing a flit to New York. I’m terrified and thrilled. I have never travelled out of Europe, so that’s a big thing. I’m going away with two very close friends, my housemates Di and Mirabelle, which will be fantastic. I have no idea what the placement will be like, which is scary.

2. I have finished all the clinical placements for 4th year. And yes, the last block was most definitely the best. Musculoskeletal was brilliant! I loved fracture clinic, I loved Rheumatology, I loved orthopaedic surgery… I actually ended up have a long chat with my favourite consultant about becoming an orthopod. He was extremely helpful, but did convince me that it wasn’t right for me. Much as I love the mechanics of the whole thing (oooo power tools, x-rays, bones!), I want to have a life. I want to be able to work part itme, to have maternity leave, to have free time when I can paint and sing. Orthopaedics would mean giving all of that up. In all honesty, I am beginning to swing back towards general practice…

3. I have signed up to the Race for Life in Sutton Park. It’s 5km. Which at the moment is not achievable. So I have to grit my teeth and get running.

4. I have not ended my ridiculous crush on Tom. Sigh. It’s the whole friends thing that’s causing me difficulties right now – if we weren’t friends I would have forgotten him by now. I am however cultivating a wholly inappropriate crush on a lovely lad from the medic’s choir, and that’s providing a delicious distraction. And of course the yummy orthopods I’ve been spending all my days with!

And that concludes the update. I hope to be back here most shortly…

3 comments:

Marysienka said...

Hey it's good to see you back! I'll make it short 'Cause I'm already late... but anyway.
It's sooo cool that you are coming here for pall care! That's too bad you're not coming to the "House" in town, this is such an amazing place and the people who work there are wonderful. But I guess it's like that pretty much everywhere they do pall care!
Do you know where you'll be in Toronto?

During our choir trip, I met a 5ft yr girl who had just been accepted in orthopod. I don't know if she wants kids, but when you're this kind of doc, you have no life outside the hospital... How about being a rheumy? I thought you liked it?

Ok I'm very late now...
Keep us updated!

Anna said...

Thanks, it's nice to be back!

Oops for the lateness (one of my worst faults...!). I am very very excited about the whole Canada trip thingy... I am not entirely sure whereabouts in Toronto I am having not exactly found it on the map yet eeek! We're staying in uni accomodation, which is close to the hospital my housemates are working in, and close to the city centre. Its going to be great...fingers crossed!

I do still like rheumatology, but with the upheavals in the training systems over here (currently extremely controversial...) general practice is looking very attractive. And I could wear fabulous shoes all day - no ward rounds!

Tall Medstudent said...

Glad you're back blogging. What have you got planned in Calgary so far?

If you're staying on campus at U of T, that's great; it's a great location. I lived around there for many years... I can give you a couple of ideas for food and things to see there.