Reminiscing

I have a memory like a sieve it seems. Today I returned to have a look at my previous, rather juvenile-like entries in retrospect now for the first time in about 2 years. What a lot has happened since! I have moved cities, changed jobs, and discovered a new hobby. Facebook has much to answer for I think. It is the new blog. Much more immediate and far-reaching compared to the humble old-fashioned blog.

Hmm

My Litmann II will do fine

By God's grace, it looks like I won't have to buy a new stethoscope or an ophthalmoscope after all! I should probably invest in a dermatoscope instead...

Wanted: A Cardio III stethoscope

My inability to hear diastolic murmurs through my trusty Classic Littmann 2 has never been so painfully obvious as in the last 2 months, since I started practicing for PACES. This has never bothered me before as diastolic murmurs are expected to be difficult to hear in most patients anyway. And, if one was suspected, echos are easy enough to order. In fact, one would be expected to order an echo.

My current concern is, should I bother getting a more canggih, professional looking stethoscope for my upcoming clinical exams? At a recent course in London, I was advised to bin my Litmann II, which has been with me since my student days. If I did purchase a new one, there would be the temporary excitement of a new toy which would last perhaps all of 2 days. Perhaps I would be able to pick up the odd new aortic regurgitation in a patient with Type A aortic dissection. It might make a 2% difference in my chances of passing. On the other hand, the examiners might expect me to be able to pick up a grade I mitral stenosis murmur with a fancier instrument, whereas if I stuck with my Litmann II, I might be forgiven for missing it. There is also the issue of parting with approximately 130 quid for an upgrade, which I am reluctant to do as I do not foresee having to use a stethoscope on a regular basis beyond the next 2 years if all goes to plan.

The Morton Medical website sure has a mind boggling array of choices, from the most basic single lumen type to the electronic stethoscopes which will even hint strongly at the diagnosis, not much clinical acumen required.

Would anyone care to donate a Cardio III stethoscope? Perhaps one of you who have crossed over to the dark side, err I mean surgery. Or even loan it to me for a few months, just until the exams are over lol.

Now my other dilemmas are, should I get a Snellen chart? Or an ophthalmoscope? The cost benefit analysis continues...

I'll be home for CNY (to the tune of I'll be home for Christmas)

I finally managed to get my leave approved for next year. It seemed to take forever as the consultant went on holiday, and then after he returned, he still had to run it by the other senior members of staff. My leave was granted on the condition that I make myself available to work both Christmas and New Year..:( Oh well, you win some, you lose some. I booked my flights that very same day - it put a smile on my face going into work that night. I haven't been home for two years! I can't wait to get on that flight. But first I have to study for PACES - I don't like.

Three months seems like such a long time to wait. Meanwhile I will have to plan carefully what to do every precious day I'm in Malaysia.

The wonders of Google Map

Yesterday my sister called me in a panic. She had just returned from a trip to London and was trying to make her way back to the peripheral hospital that she is currently attached to. Walking back from the train station in the dark in unfamiliar territory is just not the same as in broad daylight. What do you know, she took the wrong turning. 15 minutes of her walking down a deserted, lonely road later, my phone rang. I was tucked up in bed about to fall asleep.

' Ah Fong ah', she said. 'I don't recognise this road! I'm going up a hill so I must be heading towards the hospital, but can you double check for me?' I woke up immediately. My head was filled with imaginary situations of my sister being waylaid by neds. I switched on my laptop immediately, willing my computer to start up faster.

Me: 'Tell me the name of the road that you're on'

My sis: 'Benochy Road. I recognise this name. I'm sure it leads to the hospital'

Lo and behold, Murphy's Law again reigned supreme. Benochy Road was to all extents and purposes almost like a ring road around Fife. I rolled my eyes. She'd gone away from the hospital, not towards it. I managed to direct her back to her accommodation . It took about half an hour. Once, she exclaimed in surprise when an enthusiastic night runner suddenly popped up in front of her.

Me: 'Hey can you please stop taking late trains back to your accommodation? I remember the last time you visited me in Glasgow, you wanted to take the 10pm train back. You crazy ah? It's so dangerous if you walk alone from the train station to your place. Especially if you're not familiar with the roads.'

My sis: ......

Thank God for Google Maps.

First cook up

First proper meal cooked in my new flat:

Cantaloupe melon, proscuitto, wild rocket and parmigiano reggiano

Beef rendang, basmati rice and stir fried beans

a good Korean beer and a view

Ahh..good food, good company, and good conversation. What more could one ask for?

Moving

I said goodbye today to the cosy flat that I had called home for the past year. It had had its fair share of problems including:

a perpetually blocked loo (luckily the other one worked),
a mouldy ceiling for about 6 weeks when there was a leak from the flat above,
another leak which ruined some of my shoe boxes (fortunately the shoes stayed dry)
a couple of months when the boiler just would not give out hot water,
and the temperamental broadband

However, it was still home and I will miss:

sinking into the cushy sofa when I come home home from work,
the strong shower jet ( my current one is more like a stream),
the amazing king-sized bed which never gave me any back problems (All my uni accommodation beds have caused me grief),
the residential parking (parking was spacious there whereas my current one requires some degree of manouvering skills -which I lack- in order to fit into a tiny rectangle and not reverse into a column at the same time),
looking out of the window at passers by ( it's a ground floor flat, so quite good for people watching),
and the quietness of the area (my current flat is near two major hospitals, which makes for a lot of ambulance sirens)

Perhaps one thing I should have done before leaving is to try out the jacuzzi in the bath at least once! Baths are just not my thing, though. Showering is much cleaner and quicker.