Holidays' just around the corner!

Tomorrow is the last day of school!! Can't wait for it! This is the first time I have had no break for longer than 3 months. I'm mentally and physically exhausted.. thank god I have got a nice holiday planned out eventhough it's only 2 weeks.

The first day of my holiday will be my birthday.. how fitting! Am getting old though =( but I'm still young at heart hehe. I won't be able to celebrate with my family but hopefully I can get to celebrate with my close friends here in Cambridge, as well as in Manchester where i'll be spending Christmas. After that, will be heading up to Scotland! Although I've been here for 5 years now, I still haven't been up north yet haha.





I need to travel around the UK more.. Let's see where I've been:
London
Shrewsbury (my A Level college!)
Manchester (I still wanna go into Old Trafford!)
Birmingham (didn't like it)
Liverpool (nice town)
Cambridge (of course!)
Ipswich (my attachment, hehe but haven't covered it lots)
Oxford (the dark side!)
Nottingham (nice lake)

Ooh, actually that's not as bad as I thought. But still lots more to cover. Am planning to go to Lake District, Sheffield and wherever the Stone Henge is!

I'll also be celebrating the New Year 2006 on top of the French Alps. Really enjoyed skiing last year, so am looking forward to the great skiing, great scenery and great food!





I will update with my travels as soon as I can. So for now, I wish everyone an advanced Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. May the new year bring more happiness, joy and fulfillment in everyone's lives =D

Relax...

I need to relax! Since holidays won't be here until about 3 weeks time, I have to find new ways to relax. Let's see what I can find in the 1001 Ways to Relax book...

• Wake up naturally, without an alram clock, at least once a week if you can. This will help you reconnect with your bodily cycles. Note that going to bed an hour earlier will not necessarily bring forward your natural waking time by an hour - you may find that you lie awake, worrying that you can't sleep (so true!!!). If your circadian rhythms make you a night owl at heart, go with the flow and have a weekend lie-in when you need one. If you're a lark, spring out of bed when the time seems right - you may find there's time before breakfast to do some worthwhile meditation.

• Do less, experience more. In our fast paced modern world, there is a constant pressure to do more in less time. Consequently there is little time to appreciate what we are doing, to enjoy the experience of being alive.

• Enjoy chocolate. The main constituent of chocolate is cocoa - a substantce first consumed by the Aztecs, who recognized its stimulating and restorative properties reseving it for warriors, priests and nobles. Today cocoa is known to be rich in antioxidants, which protect us from cancer-promoting free radicals. Good-quality chocolate tends to be high in cocoa and low in sugar, so you can nibble it without feeling guilty. (Girls must be happy to hear this, keke. So what is good-quality chocolate?)

• Shake a snowstorm bubble and examine the miniature scene of the blizzard within the plastic dome. Whenever your life seems chaotic, imagine that you are observing the chaos from outside like this - calm and centred despite the confusion. (*shake, shake, shake* *stares*)
  

Feeling Blue

Have you ever felt like everything on a particular day is just not going the way you want it to? Like those famous phrases: It's just one of those days or when you woke up on the wrong side of the bed?

What do you do when that happens? If I could, I would go to the beach or on top of a hill and shout as loud as I want. It always helps, even if it doesn't solve the problem.

Maybe, just maybe, the Monday Blues hit me early...

A day in the life of a student doctor

Wow, so it's been one and a half weeks since I've been attached to the hospital here in Ipswich. It's really quite interesting and exicting to finally be able to understand the whole clinical picture from seeing patients and learning practical skills instead of just burying myself in books (not that I've done a lot of that =P). Oh, and there's internet connection in my room after all! Although it's quite bad but I'm not complaining!





In the short time here, I have seen a really jaundiced patient, a patient who's had 10 drug overdoses (!!!), taken lots of bloods! and put cannulas in (I failed several times arrghhhh!). But the proudest and scariest moment was when I had to do CPR on a dying woman! My firm was on call that evening and suddenly my SHO got a fast bleep.. which means someone's on cardiac arrest!! So the whole firm + some nurses dashed out of the ward and ran down this bloody long corridor to another ward at the other end of the hospital.

By the time I got there, I was all sweaty and panting.. I was really impressed at how everyone else was able to remain calm and doing what they had to do to resuscitate this patient with no pulse. This nurse was doing chest compressions for a few mins now and must be getting really tired, then my SHO turn around and asked ME to take over!?

Up to that point, I was just standing at the corner, shocked and observing everything that's going on around me, like watching an emergency case on TV. But alas, I was called back to reality and I had no choice but to step in to this scary world.. I had only learn Basic Life Support a couple of weeks ago and to do this on a real dying patient just scares the hell out of me. So I did what I could barely remember from that short lesson that I had and did the chest compression with all I had, as my heart was pounding like mad. And when I looked at the patient's face to see if there was any reaction, I got another shock as she had only one eye.. as if I'm not frightened enough already.

Thank god after a minute or so, her heart started beating again and I breathed a sigh of relief. I can't imagine how I would feel if the first patient I did this on had not made it... I would feel really guilty and think its all my fault. But now I'm really proud of myself for playing a part in saving someone's life. =D

LOST

Yay, it's the weekend! That means no work and I'm back in Cam.. but boo, I'm also going back to Ipswich tonight =/ I'm gonna bring my laptop there this time. Although there's no internet in my room at least I can play music or watch something to entertain me.


Have been watching the latest season of LOST and it's SO good! So many more questions have popped up and there are so many questions from season 1 that's still not answered. What's the monster? Who are 'the others'? Are the numbers really cursed? What do they mean? And what's in the hatch?...

Season 1 ended with the last question as the cliffhanger, and that's being answered at the moment in season 2.. but there are so many more questions raised.. the cursed numbers add up to 108, and that's the no. of minutes that the button has to be pressed.. does that mean anything? Does pressing the button really saves them or is it just some crazy psychological experiment to see how many times they're going to press it? Where's Walt? Why do the others want Aaron and Walt? Jin actually spoke English?!? There seems to be more survivors than we thought.. I think the scope of this series is so huge, so real yet surreal, that makes it so good.

I've found some interesting stuff on the internet to add to all these mysteries:

• In the new season, Shannon saw Walt drenched in the middle of the jungle whispering something before disappearing. I couldn't decipher what he was saying, but apparently if you play it backwards, he says "Don't press the button, the button's bad." Click here to hear it.

• Michael, Locke and Kate were all involved in car accidents, and all of those involved the same car...

Michael

Locke

Kate

Hmmm...

There's a big philosophical question in the episodes now regarding belief and science. Are you a man of belief (like Locke) or a man of science (like Jack)? Would you press the button just because someone told you that otherwise, you will all die? Or would you not believe that in any way unless there's a logical explanation for it? Which is you?

Personally, I'm more a man of science. Maybe that's why I'm more of a freethinker. But in the most desperate of times, can one really not have something to believe in, to hold on to, and still make it through?

I'm in Ipswich!!!

Just arrived in Ipswich this morning at 9. Had a brief introduction session, had a short talk with the consultant in charge of the medicine attachment, then went on to have a clinical skills session on 12-lead ECG.. all before I had the time to eat braekfast/lunch, settle my accomodation or go to the toilet. Hehe it was quite hectic but had the afternoon basically free.

I've met the HO in my firm, he seems nice and friendly. But I don't know if I'm lucky or unlucky to have a partner student in my firm who's super keen! Oh well, at least I'm not alone.

Oh yeah, apparently the computers here do not allow us to check either hotmail or gmail.. so sorry guys! Can't really reply your mails during the weekdays. I'll keep in touch through this blog. Not sure why the computers here are so crap. On the plus side, my room seems quite nice, living in a 4 room flat thing. Shares a kitchen, a shower and a toilet. Of course, there's no internet connection =(

Alright I'm going off now. Will be going to wards starting from tomorrow. FUN!

Settled

I know I haven't updated in awhile.. Was busy preparing to return to the UK, then moving into the new house, unpacking and just started clinical school this week. Yeah.. so I didn't really have much time to update but I think I'm all settled now, feeling more comfortable at this new place.

Although clinicals have just started, it's already looking as promising and exciting as I thought it would be =) Have already seen some patients, learned some basic life support and practical skills. The only thing I'm not so enthusiastic about is communication skills class =S. This doctor really goes on and on and on and on... then we have to record ourselves while interviewing simulated patients (actors) in front of a group of other students, then watch and hear yourself on video while everyone else gives feedback on how you did. No *pressure*!

But there's still a lot of things that need getting used to. For example, waking up early in the morning (7.30am or earlier) and finishing at around 5pm+ almost every weekday, especially after more than 3 months of holidays. I also have to wear shirt and tie to school everyday.. I can't get ready in 5 mins anymore! haha.

Anyways, my house is about 5-7 mins cycle to the hospital/clinical school. That's slightly nearer than when I had to cycle from Churchill to lectures =) It is a bit further from town though, so unless there's an incentive I won't venture that far hehe. The house might be a bit old, but I find it really cosy and homely.. the cheap rent is always good! Of course, my housemates are great too =P We have this duty rota set up (thanks to a very efficient housemate ;) and it's supposed to be my turn to clean the whole house this week.. it's not as bad as I thought it would be.

Just to show you where I live, here's a cap from the amazing Google Earth:

*And Addies is short for Addenbrooke's Hospital of course =)

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Craving for :

Excapade sushi

Swensens ice-cream

Easy Way bubble milk tea

Mother Nature can be vicious

I'm sure everyone must have heard about Hurricane Katrina by now. It's scary how devastating natural disasters can be. It's time like these I feel that I'm really lucky to be living in a country where these do not happen. To the victims, R.I.P

Around 20,000 people sought refuge in the superdome stadium in New Orleans. This just reminds me of what happened in The Day After Tomorrow, except this is not fiction =/



This pic shows an oil rig broken apart by Katrina and smashing into a bridge. Katrina has destroyed much of the oil infrastructure in its path across the Gulf of Mexico. As a result, oil prices in the US has jumped as much as 10 times the price of pertol in Brunei!



The price difference is just crazy! I can't imagine how much people in the US must be spending on petrol alone. And to think some people I know are actually complaining about prices here.. So what are you waiting for? Come pick me up more often! =P


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US Open

On a lighter note, I will be tuning in to watch the US Open these 2 weeks. On the men's draw, Federer seems to be unstoppable. It's all up to Nadal now, as Roddick is already out and Hewitt probably will never beat him.



The women's side is more wide open though. The Williams sisters seem to be playing well, as is Davenport. But I hope either of the Belgians or Sharapova to win. =)

Redang!

I finally got off my lazy ass and decided to update with pics from Redang. I don't know why so many people have not heard about this amazingly beautiful island! The pic on the right >>> is actually from another side of Redang that I took last year =). So here are the pics from my short 3 days stay there:

The one hour boat trip to paradise


Our little beach chalet (only the left side though =P)


The breathtaking view from our chalet


Another view of our little abode


What we were there for: sun, sand and sea!


On the banana boat!


To top it all off, Steamboat!

Second stop >>> Norway!

Yay! Finally I got my hands on the pics from the Norway trip. I must say the scenery in the fjords are breathtaking. I wouldn't mind going back there again. It's like the perfect place to go and relax, to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city. *dreams*

The Vigeland Sculture Park @ Oslo


Wheel of Life


The gang @ Flam


Flam again, isn't it beautiful?


The amazing waterfall at Flam


All ready to conquer the glacier! @ Sogndall


Atop the glacier


Peaceful Sogndall


UNESCO World Heritage Site - Bryggen


Whale meat @ Bergen market (tastes like beef!)

You're Beautiful

I have been back for a week now. Time really flies! Have been hanging out with my good ol' friends and family. It's nice to finally be able to kick back and relax.. It'll be my last hols that last more than 2 months! Will post more next time, needs to get some sleep. ZzzzZzzz...

Oh btw, this song has been stuck in my head all night:

You're beautiful. You're beautiful.
You're beautiful, it's true.
I saw your face in a crowded place,
And I don't know what to do,
'Cause I'll never be with you.
You're beautiful. You're beautiful.
You're beautiful, it's true.
There must be an angel with a smile on her face,
When she thought up that I should be with you.
But it's time to face the truth,
I will never be with you.

Third stop >>> Venice, Rome and Paris

I will post the pics from Norway when I get them. For now, here are the pics from the 10 day trip to Venice, Rome and Paris with my mum. The trip was quite an eventful one and smoking HOT!

Lovely Venice


Colourful Burano


Bridge of Sighs


St Mark's Square


My mum and I @ the Colosseum


Spanish Steps


The beautiful Trevi Fountain


Inside the Vatican Museum



The Eiffel Tower and I



Downing it after a long trip ;)

Back

Wow, am glad I'm finally back, even if it's not home yet. Cambridge has become my second home so it'll do for now. Am really exhausted from all this travelling and can't wait to lie down, kick back and relax. I'll have another 14hr flight back home before I can finally do that though.

Ironically, I will be travelling to Redang again next month (yes, travelling!) to 'relax'. It wouldn't be complete without the sand, sea and sun, would it? (although I can do without the sun ;)

Will update pics soon. These few days I will be busy getting ready for graduation ang packing to go home! Can't wait, miss home lots! :P

First stop >>> Switzerland

In beautiful Lucern


Interlaken: Among the Alps


Another amazing view in Interlaken


Towering waterfalls


Matthew and I conquered the Alps


The gang ;)


Trapped in the ice caves


Aww... the huskies love me!