Pics from London

Hot ladies (as viewed with temperature-sensored camera at the National Science Museum)

Hyde Park
Big Ben

Poladroid Part 1

Here I am at half two in the morning, trying out the poladroid and screaking in excitement. Gosh, look at the result. Awesomeness to the max. I chose three random pictures and all of them turned out beautifully. Told you things look much nicer in Polaroid. Sigh- maybe need to get a polaroid camera after this.


The best thing about this application is the fact that you have to wait for the image to develop. As if the REAL polaroid. Its truly and absolutely moving to see how an image changes and at the end you have this gorgeous outcome. Bless.

Even the simplest picture turned out all classy. Love it to bit. Try it here. I'm actually telling everyone I know about this- as free ad from a satisfied customer. Seriously considering to have my wedding pictures in polaroid images format.

***Currently listening to Freshmen by The Verve Pipe***

Train

Have you ever stood right next to the rail at train station when a fast train is passing?

If yes: How does it feel like?

If no: Go to a small train station where most fast trains just pass by without stopping.

I swear to God, it does feel surreal. The train is fast as hell (65-70mph). You'll never realized how fast it goes until you're standing at the aforementioned spot.

(Editor's note: why such random entry p53?)

What's on TV?

*** These are all personal opinion. If you disagree, well, tough. My blog my say.***

i) It sucks that Clarke was eliminated last week from ANTM Cycle 11. Really. She's really stunning even though she behaves like a proper bitch at times. The week before she had this amazingly gorgeous eyes shoot that I totally swooned for. She won then, but I guess the arrogant nature of Clarke got the better of her. Joselyn is weird esp her laugh. Her features are not so striking and last week she performed badly doing the disaster-themed shoot, its a miracle that the judges chose her over Clarke. Then one of my flatmates raised a very important point that I had overlooked: ANTM's judges cant really kicked her out because otherwise the show wont have anymore black (or should I say- African American, no offense for the previous choice of word) people in it. Ooohh... I didnt realized that. Well- that's really unfair for Clarke- she really is gorgeous and I think Joselyn wont last long. Promise!

Tyra (to Joselyn): we are giving you another chance because of your personality.

p53 (to Tyra): personality- my ass- what a lot of rubbish.

ii) It was again another episode of nail-biting and nerve wrecking episode of X-FACTOR. Top three of each group were chosen, and to be honest I didnt care a shit about any group other than the girls. All bar one was damn good. Too bad that Cheryl Cole got the girls, they are better of under Simon. I really didnt expect Hannah to be that good. Today, she was nothing short of perfect. And after reviewing (read: you-tube watching) her previous performances, she had been really consistent all through out. Her voice has got this rocky-husky edge to it and she delivered. Man, I was so dissappointed that she didnt make it for the live-show. Laura White- got through: no surprised there; with voice like Amy Winehouse- I really wish her all the best in her coming songs choices. Diana Vickers is great. I absolutely love her performance (Hallelujah) in the bootcamp. A bit too disappointed that Amy Connoly's journey in XFactor ended now (over that alexandra girl). Ah.

iii) Chitty Chitty Bang Bang was on TV again. Again like for the 5th time since I've been in the UK. And yet there I was watching it and singing along (yes i know- guilty as charged- I have this penchant for musicals). Never notice this before: Baron Bomhurst's castle was actually NEUSCHWAN-freaking-TEIN. Been there!

Anyway... favourite song from the movie was: Doll on a music box . However today I fell for "truly scrumptious". And of course I was elated beyond words when those two songs were combined towards the end of the movie. Truly is soooo pretty. Ahhhhhh.

In patient's shoes

Pardon the cliche.

I was a patient today. Have got some sort of procedure done to my eyes. Sheeesh. It wasn't painful at all but I still felt sorry for myself. I walked out of the hospital straight into a bed (at a friend's place). At first I thought I want to cry, but then I thought again- if it wasn't painful, why the hell should I cry. Possibly I'm feeling SOOOOOOO sorry for myself.

With all things being said about NHS and its downfall, I beg to differ. NHS isn't that bad. Waiting time (to get a follow-up appointment) is probably longer than what I would have like it to be, but at point of service delivery, its up to the standard. All the staff at the Eye Ward treated me with respect. No.. its not just the cup of coffee that they offered me after the procedure that won me over, it was the great service that I received the entire time I was there.

Prior to the procedure*, I was consented by my ophthalmologist. (Editor's Note: Notice p53 habit of calling any doctor as hers, MY ophthalmologist, MY consultant) Let us call him Mr V. I've met Mr V before this. He explained the procedure and all the time I gazed into his blue eyes. How appropriate? A decent man with gorgeous eyes as an ophthalmologist. Aw.. He is definitely one of the doctors that could easily be someone who I want to be like. Very charming.

After inserting two set of silicon into my eyes, he said: "that's beautiful"

And I was like, oh...(dopey-eyed) thank you Mr V. But I didn't.

He must have meant it for me right? He couldn't be referring to the silicon right? Its just merely a microscopic object that he has probably seen millions times before.

But in my parallel, imaginary world I would have said so. "That's beautiful" will refer to my eye(s). Yours truly.

So there you go. I have got silicon somewhere in my eyes.

Now at the time of writing (which about 12 hours post procedure) I still am feeling sorry for myself. Even the best bath** I ever had could not lift my spirit up. So, don't mess around with me tonight.

*Procedure: insert silicon to lacrimal ducts to prevent dry eyes to further prevent damage to corneas. I had temporary ones inserted into them ducts about a month ago.
**Story about the best bath in next entry.

Thing for sale

Not my personal things.

This entry is based on an online sale/buy notice board in the intranet at my (NHS) Trust. But before we go any further let me explain the background briefly.

As we all know, I'm working from my tutor's office (logging in sometimes with his password, most of the times with my password). Regardless of any password, there are a handful of websites that are not accessable (read: banned permanently) in this Trust internet. These include the very much love: FACEBOOK, FRIENDSTER and most importantly: YOUTUBE.*

Left with not much choice of fun-filled websites, I developed this habit of checking the notice board, just, yeah- just to see if there is anything interesting that I can waste my money on.

As at today, 25th June 2008, these are the things posted for sale on the notice board. (o-boy, there are all sort of things here)

i) Tractor
FULL SIZE MASSEY FURGUSON TRACTOR, CIRCA 1950's FOR SALE. IT IS IN GOOD CONDITION,WITH GEARBOX, ETC, BUT HAS NO ENGINE. AFTER GIVING THE GRANDCHILDREN MANY HAPPY HOURS OF PLAY THEY HAVE SADLY OUTGROWN IT SO IT IS NOW LOOKING FOR A NEW HOME. IF YOU WOULD LIKE A LARGE, COLOURFUL AND UNUSUAL TOY OR GARDEN ORNAMENT YOU COULDN'T DO BETTER. IT HAS BEEN PAINTED BLUE, YELLOW AND RED. BUYER TO COLLECT (CHORLEY AREA). ONLY ASKING £100
***tractor??? as a garden ornament- even better!***

ii) Handphones

• Nokia 6288
• lg veiwty
• sony ericsson w850i

iii) Tickets

• ++++++ DOLLY PARTON ++++++ at MEN Arena
• Romeo & Juliet- Outdoor Performance at the Park
• Kylie Minogue MEN Arena
• Oliver - West End

iv) BEN 10 STICKERS
My seven year old Grandson is collecting these stickers and has loads of doubles anyone out there wanting to swap!
***how cute is this***

v) Wedding dresses

• Justine Mireil designer silk duchess wedding gown in Ivory. Corset detail strapless bodice and skirt. 'Beatrice' design. Size 14.
• TIFFANY AND CO. WHITE WEDDING DRESS - BEAUTIFUL DRESS - MUST BE SEENPRINCESS STYLESize 10/12 - very long length so can be shortenedRRP £900Will sell for £350 ONO
• IAN STUART Wedding dress size 14 Ivory silk
• Ronald Joyce designer wedding dress in ivory silk with cinderella hemline edged with pearl drops.

vi) Cars

• 2001 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF 2.0 Avantgarde 2dr Convertible
• Audi Cabriolet 1996
• MERCEDES E220 AUTO 1994
• JAGUAR! - FULL LEATHER SEATS ALL EXTRAS LOVELY CAR-
• FORD FIESTA 1.4 GHIA
• HONDA CIVIC TYPE R. 2004
• MG-ZS 1.8Ltr,5 door.saloon

vii) Lids

******PLASTIC LIDS******DOES ANYONE NEED MILK BOTTLE LIDS AND POP BOTTLE LIDS (I.E. COKE ETC)????FOR SOME REASON I'VE BEEN COLLECTING (!) AND HAVE GOT GAZILLIONS.I UNDERSTAND THAT SOME CHARITIES TAKE THEM FOR THEIR WEIGHT AND CAN GET CASH TOWARDS EQUIPMENT.

***wth? why collect them in the first place?***

viii) Piano

MEDIUM HEIGHT PIANOLight wood finish, convinient size for most rooms. Great condition and well looked after, recent tuning. Has plenty of life left in it. would like quick sale £100 ono

***I want!!!***

ix) Rabbits

• Rabbit, Free to good home. Black an white, eats like a large dog haha. With hutch needs a little attention. nothing major though.
• RABBIT- FREE TO A GOOD HOME! Gorgeous, grey, lop-eared rabbit. 2yrs old and extremly friendly used to living indoors. Very reluctant to get rid of this rabbit as he is so lovely but my partner is allergic to him.

***free rabbit, aha?***

x) ***i like this*** Fish Tank

A large tropical fish tank for sale due to health reason's.This unit rests on a double cupboard which is finished in teak and It comes with all accessories including a double filter heater and pump(No fish sorry)

***note how he ended with 'no fish sorry'***

xi) Last but not least

FOR SALE

Treadmill. £150.00 Hardly used due to lack of motivation!!!!! Waistline increasing as a result.

Rowing machine. £80.00 Bought before treadmill - hence more dust gathered on this piece!!

***hilarious-- I must have laughed for over 5mins for this gem!***

* blogger.com is accessible, so are flickr, fotopages, wordpress and store websites -topshop, gap, etc. All in all, there are still things that I can surf when bored.

I can feel my liver

seriously!
I am sitting, (reading notes which is very boring hence) poking my tummy for no reason.
And there I felt it.
Gosh. It was rather painful, so I better stop before I cause any contusion.

PS: Is it possible to have D+V in summer?

Photolog: A week in pictures

Tuesday: Local Funfair in Town
I passed by the funfair. Nothing too exciting. Too many scallies (look at bottom left of the picture). Nice atmosphere though.












Wednesday: Theatre in London
Who would have thought that I'll be in London to watch a theatre performance in a middle of the week? I had. Bottom line: Wicked is so amazing!!! Simply the highlight of my week! The storyline is so nicely done, the dance perfectly choreographed and the songs, oh dear... I just went 'awwww' all the way.








Thursday: FTO
This is how an FTO looks like (for those who doesn't know). I bet it is one of those smooth handling cars. Interior ok-ish. Super low car can only mean one thing: super fast driving! I likeeeee.

PS: This is my friend's car.








Friday: What I wore that day
This was what I wore on Friday. I looked nice. Few people said I looked nice. What is it not to love about bows? Bows are fab! So there you go, spice up plain formal outfit (like in picture: white pants and white shirt) with a touch of glamour! I kid you not.

PS: This is the only edited picture in this entry. Cropped onto background of daisies.













Saturday: English Breakfast
My breakfast for the weekend. More like a brunch though as I had it a bit too late (well knowing that almost certainly I wont wake up early on weekend). Fact! To make life even better, I had them in the sun in my backyard. Heaven.









Sunday: Novels
These are the books that I'm planning of shipping back.
















Monday: This is life
(or not). I was walking back home from doing stuff for my project when I passed by this nice patch of ground covered with daisies and yellow flowers which I dont know what they are called. So I stopped to sit down and read my mags and eat some crisps. And I thought: This is life! ... or not when I noticed its whereabouts. Next to the Pathology Area where they do post mortems. If I wasnt imagining, there was even faint sound of a cutter (the ones that saw through any bones and skulls) Yikes! But hey, thats life!

Good start to a day!

Hey hey, rise and shine to all.
I would like to share a story. A good one to kick start my (long, tiring) day.
I received a call from my crush this morning. A wake up call more like it. He is SO cute!
Ahhh...I felt totally good after speaking to him.
So lets hope only all the good things gonna happen today.

P.S: If you remember, I'm running 10K today. I'll let you know how did I get on.

**These pics were added later (when I finished the run and almost died! I was in the latter wave, hence had to run midday, crazieeeee)**

You'll never walk (or in this case, run as we supposed to) alone!

There were 30000+++ runners on that day. I finished in the 20000-ish place. Hahaha.

Exam in 3 days

and counting...

Random things:
i) I just saw a silver Nissan 350Z passing in front of my house. Oh, delights! What other better way to start a day.
ii) I saw a MASSERATI two days ago, parked in front a neighbour's house. I was like: is this for real? Yeah, it was! Absolutely gorgeous.

iii) A very very good friend of mine told me a horrific story of her clinical partner driving on the wrong side of the road. Shock horror!!! My friend had previously referred to her clinical partner, yup: the traffic offender, the driver of a death car! Thankfully Friday (11/4/8) was the last time they are ever gonna be together. After this, they gonna do different things for SSC and Project Option. No more compulsory teaching or placement until 5th yr.
iv) Yeah- we (4th yr students of my beloved medical school) practically finished 4th year. Can you believe that? Whooaa... I only have 1/5 of my medical training left before I can call myself a doctor. Is it really already 4 years now?
v) I miss my mom, for no apparent reason.

vi) The scare about MMR causing autism is a lot of rubbish.
vii) There is a 5 y-o girl who weights more than me! 49kg. When she was reeled (she is in a wheelchair) into the doctor's room, I was stunned to see how big she is. She could walk when she was younger, but now due to excessive weight she cant even stand on her feet.
viii) Hyponatraemia can be as a result of ADH deficiency. Centrally, hypopituitary is the real cause of ADH deficiency. (Posterior pituitary secretes ADH). Treatment of global hypopituitary includes a lot of hormone replacements (and a lot of visits to Paediatricians too!)
ix) Girl in point vii was first presented due to hyponatraemia then after investigation Paeds confirmed point viii. Another (famous) example: Harvey of Jordan (Katie Price).

PS: wish me luck for my exam.

I'm back from Amsterdam

Hello all...
I am back from Amsterdam, safe and sound. Right at this very moment, I'm eating Dutch waffles. Super sweet. Ah... memories of eating hot waffles (and pancakes!) along Amsterdam's cold, snowy canals.

Me and my traveling partner did all the usual tourists things (like going to museums, sightseeing, shopping and eating) which seem a bit too dull in the first place considering we were raging with energy to do stuff (30km of cycling for instance!). However, I have to say that this trip was satisfying (read: not truly electrifying) getaway as we had no break since we started second semester of 4th year of medical school.

Few museums were visited, plenty of paintings commented on. (Editor's Note: p53 usually wont give a shiiite about art, but boy, impressively she stayed and more importantly enjoyed herself for >2 hours at each museum the she visited!) Canals seen and streets trodden. Cheese tasted and bought for people back home. Learned that the Dutch word for snow is 'sneuww' and good lord it snowed like hell when we were there. Apparently the worst snow since the last 40 years. Awed for a lot of flowers (and i really mean A LOT- more than enough to make my mom go crazy). And of course pictures taken. Abundant!

List of MAGNIFICENT paintings (by p53):-
i) Night Watch by Rembrandt (like wow! Infact I think I said WOW rather NOT softly, few visitors turned their head to look at me with a knowingly smile. Approving the awe to the painting not the loud WOW!)
ii) Blossoming Almond Tree by Van Gogh (I love this one big time, I seriously think and believe that this is a greater painting than the classic "sunflowers")
iii) Ophelia by John Everett Millias (frigging haunting in a very impressive way)

Flowers seen:-


Ok, enough of this flower business. Now the pictures around the city. (Last picture featuring a 3storey parking space for godknowshowmanybicycles!)

Everyone rides a bike here. Dutch or not (read: tourists). Men women kids old ladies old men. In flat shoes, in high heel, in leather boots, in Uggs boots! With/without hat, with raincoat, with winter coats. Wearing trousers, wearing sunglasses, wearing short summer dress, wearing school uniform, wearing mini skirts! I'm just simply amused. This is one very cool city! (How environmental friendly it is, not to mention that plastic bags are not in use here).

All in all, I really enjoyed my trip there. Different culture in different setting. Tulips are blossoming- so beautiful. Tall guys- also an attraction- of course I'm referring to those good looking +tall). The best selection of evening TV shows (all the latest season of US TV series like HOUSE, Desperate Housewives, CSI and many more). The best snow (read: heaviest) I had ever experienced. Yours truly.

Ah yes- I skipped the Red Light District altogether. Guys paying for sex, prostitution, women selling themselves cheap, drinking like there's no tomorrow, things people do when they are drunk: JUST NOT MY SCENE! puhlease. And I didnt try weed/cannabis/white powder/whatever name you wanna call it: I want to have control of my own mind. Why surrender everything to a hallucinogenic agent like weed.

PS: The hotel we stayed was a bit poo-poo. Do not stay at HEM Hotel Amsterdam. Way too out of the city, for backpackers alike.

PS2: How cruel can medical school be? One week holiday for Easter holiday with OSCE in next fortnight! On top of that I'm on-call this coming weekend (hell- yeah- you heard it right)- smack bang in my easter break. I'm so crossed its untrue!!!

Pitching it down to patient's level

I haven't been doing Paeds long enough to be an expert on writing this kind of stuff, but suffice nevertheless for my standard; as far as I'm concerned. You know how in daily routine of a doctor who works in Child's Health Department, he/she has to interact and deal with people from all walks of life. A bit like in General Practice and A&E I supposed.

The mix varies tremendously; ranging from neonates (clearly cannot speak) to infant (incomprehensible babbling) to toddler (mismatch sentences) to young child (very curious lot) to adolescence (unique behaviour --> can't really generalized them) to of course lovely (not!) parents. And then we have parents of different educational background, social class and dynamic with their child. Then there are kiddies who are unlucky enough to have speech delay for any reason.

Some doctors really do portray an image of a good communicator with the children. Really pitching it down to the kiddies level. In a rather cute and super friendly way, not putting up a humiliating act. For example: "touch your nose, touch my nose" -directing a child in a sing-song voice while testing for cerebellar function. Some just can't be asked: which make me wonder why bother being a Paediatrician if you genuinely hate kids?

Addressing a child as a Fraser's competent being (talking/asking the child to explain rather than going straight to parent) is a good way of building up rapport with the child. Ok, possible not the non talking kiddies. That's fair enough. But for toddler who can understand what we mean, I would definitely advised approaching the child first as an autonomous being. Plus, it is much fun hearing a child trying to explain him/herself. "I had pain here... my mom gave me calpol. She said I have temperature. I dont think I have temperature".

It will make a big different I think if a child is treated as an autonomous person. A doctor can try to include the patient in the management. For example: "Do you think you can go to the loo 7 times a day?" Patient will feel that the doctor has put some degree of trust in her/him. "Yeah, I'll try, I'll let you know how it goes....next time I see you" (real case of management of daytime wetting in an 8-y-o girl).

Then while doing the physical examination, please don't medicalized the test. Alter it into a child-friendly step. I think the best way is to demonstrate it on ourself. Like this: I want you to blow into this paper like this (then proceed to show how). With the tendon hammer or the stestoscope, let the child touch it first. (real case of a child who cried upon seeing the tendon hammer as she was afraid that it gonna hurt her). Let them know that its not gonna hurt. Seriously. Sometimes we as an adult forgets.

Adolescence. Hmm... been there, so I perfectly understand what exactly they are going through. Of course every other doctors had gone through the same phase of life. So we all should know how difficult it is to be a normal teenager, let alone teenager with (embarrassing/chronic) medical condition. "My friends think I'm a freak show as I inject myself (with insulin) at school" (again real case). Personally I like to share a personal story/ experience when talking to teens. "I remember times when I was called a freak too. Just because I wore braces at that time". Its all about making the teenage patient comfortable in speaking to you.

Its a tough call I know and I wont stop improving myself. Promise.

Today a patient opened up to me and another medical student about her past history. She was raped (!!!!!!! I couldnt believe what I was hearing at that time; utterly shocked) 3 yr ago and the her Paediatrician doesnt even know about that (Presenting complaint: a year hx of unspecific abdominal pain, missing school and learning difficulties). Talk about shocking news!!! I guess she must have found it easier to tell us about her problem.

That was a really good eye opener.

Highlights of my labour week! (and tips too)

(Editor's note: Labour week is the week when medical students are let loose in the Delivery Suite. About 2-3 students at one time. Shadowing midwifes most of the time, but also assisting in theatre and putting on nappies!)

1. I saw 3 LSCS (Lower Segment Ceasarean Section). Unremarkable. The sections were quick but the babies were very poorly. And I saw 2 normal vaginal deliveries, which took ages.

2. 1 baby didnt cry after 1 hour and the Neonatal Team came crashing. It turns out that she has idiopathic pulmonary hypertension. Gosh.

3. I was particularly keen on knowing what's happening on the baby (refer no.2) so I stood close to Neonatal Team. My Obstetric registrar summoned me to get closer to the operation table where the mother was being stitched-up.

Registrar: Why are you standing so far away?
Me: Hmm..
SHO: (jumping in) She's probably afraid of you asking her anatomy questions!
All three: Hehehe.
Me: No, I'm not actually. I am just looking at the baby (who was resuscitated at that particular moment).
Registrar: What is this? (pointing to something glaringly obvious, and smiling!)
Me: (I knew she was just kidding) Hmm... that's a tough one! I think... hmmm.... Uterus?
SHO: Good girl. Now tell us the layers that we have to cut through to get to the baby.
Me: Easy. (And I proceeded naming all the layers with success. I was asked the same question the day before).

4. If you're doing night shift, please sit down at every chance that you have. Sitting down reduces the energy usage. I was completely shattered by 3am on the second night (in a row!)

5. Why people scream (and swear in some) so much? Back home there was hardly any sound. Yeah, yeah, its painful. But hey!

6. These days pregnant ladies are asking for pain relief earlier and earlier. It's like: on admission: "give me morphine now!" the 10 min later, " I want an epi!!!" (of course, screaming with their requests). Is everyone pain-intolerance?

7. Pre-eclampsia patients can deteriorate very fast. One minute they are fine (with just proteinuria and high BP), one minute later they are being rushed into the theatre!

8. Midwifes gossip a lot. Seriously a lot.

9. 5am toast is the best thing ever!

10. Placenta is possibly the most gross thing in the world ever! Smelly and mushy!

11. There was a case of ruptured UTERUS!!! CTG tracing was abnormal (prolonged sustained deceleration) but the mom hardly felt anything (she was on epidural). The whole delivery suite became chaotic. Emergency C Section and fortunately the baby is OK.

12. For the first time ever, I came across this capillary thingy used for immediate blood test. It is amazingly cool. Step one: take blood from patient. Step two: fill it in the capillary glass tube. Step three: go to the machine. Step four: insert the tube into the port (then the machine give a flashing green light which is so futuristic.) Step five: Wait for the result. All this in less than 2 minutes.

13. Avoid drinking beverages with caffeine. They are just gonna make you pee a lot. Easier to get dehydrated. Not good for long shift, rite?

14. I was sitting at the midwifes' station when another registrar came and inquired about her previous email sent to my whole PBL group. A list of topics were provided for which we have to choose form and prepare a presentation for Friday teaching. I was like... erkk.. can I do pre-eclampsia one? (having seen 3 complicated case of pre-eclampsia) She mentioned that the topic was taken by someone else already. Bugger! I gave it a thought for a bit (2 seconds really) and said I would do CTG (because she was staring at me waiting for a definite answer) just because i was holding a CTG print-out of a patient. That was on Tuesday afternoon. Then Wed and Thurs I had my night shifts. When do I have time to prepare the slides? (I heard you asked). EXACTLY. I hardly have any free time to prepare the slides. However came Friday, somehow I managed to do a full 15slides presentation plus printed out some interesting CTG of patients in the ward. All in all, it was a feat!

15. It all comes down to who's who. Who's the registrar oncall? Who's the SHO? The midwifes? Is there is any student midwifes? (not good- medical students are kinda neglected when there is/are student midswife(s). I managed to arrange my shifts to those I like. One particular registrar is wicked. I just love her.

PS: It took me ages to type all this out. I'm tired but otherwise still not SLEEPY. Watching tv at the same time. DINGDONG (by Alan Carr!) replaced the usual Friday Night Project. It was equally funny though. Then "the law of the playground" and then TV Heaven Telly Hell. Much fun!