Yippadeduh, yippededuh....

I'm leaving for my electives today. In less than an hour.

Here are the dates roughly...
Today- leave smallcity
Tomorrow- arrival at Tanzania
Next weekend- trip to Zanzibar
Next next weekend- safari trip (Serengeti +/- Ngongororo)
The weekend after- shopping in Dar Es Salam
4 weeks from now- leave Tanzania for Borneo.
4 weeks +1 - will be in KL
4 weeks +2 - arrival at Sabah
The first weekend- beach and snorkelling
The second weekend- climb Kinabalu
The third weekend- white water rafting +/- visiting orangutans
The fourth weekend- flight back to the UK.
Fin.

Yeah! I'll be globetrotting with just the basic necessities. No laptop- so expect scarce entries from here on. All possible methods of transportation will be used so maybe this trip is like a little "By any means" imitation. Haha.

Till then, love you all.
p53 xoxo

PS: Those who want postcards please leave address as comment. Its my pleasure to sent them.

Bicester Village

Noted at the back of Bicester Village's shopping brochure.
(How to get there section!)

Bicester Village is a retail outlets area. So many PRETTY things. I was all excited. BFF drove us 3 hours there and another 3 hours back. Spent about 7 hours there and about the cost of a small car collectively.

Good day!

PS: I'm definitely not a bum when it comes to shopping.

hahahahahha

Less talk more rokk.
116358 ---> that's my score.
My own personal highest so far. On Medium level.

from youtube.com


Damn that orange fret- wait till I can nail it on Hard level.

PS2

Hi Mom,
Look at what I had bought!
I dont know what had possessed me, but I ended up buying this whole lot from eBay.
It was a bargain though. Really.
And now I know what is an addiction. Mom, I never thought that what Iman* says were remotely true. Yup, it is difficult to stop once one starts on any of the games. I play Guitar Hero. Mom, arent you proud of me? Haaaa? What? You would prefer it if I learn how to cook instead? Ooo..okay. Im trying here.

Im trying to be better at the Medium level of Guitar Hero. Its really difficult Mom, it really is. You always tell me practice makes perfect, thats why I'm spending 2-3 hours daily (since the games arrive in the post) on the PS2. Dont worry, I dont have homework these days.

My wrists hurt Mom. I deserve it, I know, but can you kiss it better?

Much loves from me.
xoxo

*Iman is my 10y-o youngest brother.

Happiness is....

I received this precious thing through the post today and I am already over the moon. Two tickets... guess who's gonna be my date?

According to plan

if everything goes according to plan.....

.... I'll see you next April.
xoxo

Amazingness

This super cool apartment is so fantastic, I dont even know where to start. Righto- let your imagination run wild. Check out this article.

Gary Chang, a Hong Kong architect, lives in a tiny apartment, but thanks to accordion-like wall units, he can create at least 24 different room configurations.

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***

and...

and oh yeah,

i would like to try:

i) playing Guitar Hero (and finish Prince of Persia 2008) on xBox. Wooohhoooo!

ii) using poladroid.

iii) level 6 of the climbing wall and take up bouldering! cant wait (Editor's note: cant wait to see fit guys on the neighbouring wall is it? I know- they're so HOT!)

Poladroid

haaa...
I came across this while blog hopping
I will try it soon, like very soon. (Editor's Note: The end of misery is fast approaching, yehaa! I'm excited for p53's behalf)

www.poladroid.net is an application that allow you to convert normal digital pictures to polaroid-ish pics. How cool is that?


Ps: Update...
14th Jan: Patient Management Paper - DONE!!!
19th Jan: Progress Test
20th Jan: OSCE (friggin scary!)
Ps2: I miss you kak mimi, if youre reading this. muah xoxo. of coz miss you too kak lydia. Love you two so much, it really hurts to be here alone in the UK.

Edward Cullen

Dear Edward,
I'm in love with you. Truly.
Bite my neck anyday!
p53 xoxo

What a good way to kick start a new year. Happy new year to everyone!
Good news everywhere (apart from the current attack at Gaza, Palestine.)

i) Twilight made more than four times its reported $37 million production budget—the best rate of return on any film in the 2008 Top 10, including The Dark Knight. Sweet!!!
ii) New Moon is as good as Twilight. SPOILER ALERT!!!!!**** Edward proposed to Bella. whoohooo.... I love but hate but love but hate the 2nd book. It hits too close to home- I feel the pain too Bella my dear. I cried when Edward left, but jumped in delight when he returned, but screamed when he went to see the Volturri. Jacob was nice and all that but vampire is much better than werewolf, sorry mate!
iii) I'll get the boxset as present from BFF soon. yeah!!!!

For endless pictures of Edward Cullen go here, so simply type in edward cullen at google search. Robert Pattinson was a really BAD actor. The movie could have been better, like seriously!

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opps... sorry I got sidetracked into daydreaming about him. smile. blush. smile. restart heart. ok. back to normal.

Hope this 2009 brings joy and loads of new exciting things to everyone. love, p53.

Moon

For the last few weeks, my friends (other final yr medics) and I have been attending afternoon revision sessions that usually finish at around 7pm-ish... which is very late considering that there are days that we have to been in hospital at around 8am and also the fact that dusk is around 4pm.

Well anyway, coming back from one of the revision session the other day, I was walking with another 6 friends toward the bus stop. It was damn cold, wet night. 

Friend A: Look at that moon.

All: waaaaaa

Friend B: Sooo pretty!!!

Me: Halo around it, phwaoah!

Friend C: Looks like Kayser-Fleischer Rings.

All: Sheesshh.

You know when you start making medic joke, then, thats when you revise too much!

Being mom

I have a best friend and so happy for her that finally she's in the dating world. She went for her first date ever* (like ever, ever- she's 22 now) just a few days ago. Bless. 

BFF and me coached her a bit the night before. What to say, what to wear, ways to laugh, what to order, what topics to avoid. We must have been more excited than the girl herself. Bless.

The afternoon that I sent her off at the door, wishing her well, I seriously felt like I'm a mother sending her daughter for her first date. Bless.

With the supernatural power that I have, I predict that my best friend will marry him comes summer. And I will also cast spells so this will happen before I go back to my own lovely country for good post graduation. I will bloody make sure that they fall in love with other deeply (let me think of a suitable potion for this, a-ha, I think I have that very right one). Bless.

Anyway, back to this world: **recent update- post date** Things are looking good between them two. Bless.

*When was the first time YOU go for a date??

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.

Ceilidh Dance

I went to my first Ceilidh dance event.

It was AMAZING! (although at times, i was panting like hell, gasping for air, almost fainted even- OMG i am so unfit)
I danced with a lot of people, alot I meant alot. Lads and Lasses.
Grinning all night.



this is an example of ceilidh dance... the one that we had then was obviously more energetic and craaazeeeeee...
(of course being an event for medics*, dowh)

*fund raising for mountain rescue team. good stuff.

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.

A lil' concert

Last night I went to a little charity concert do at a local park organized by fellow students to raise money for a charity in Bangladesh. The thing about this concert was that, even though that it was really small scale business (nothing like Glastonbury), it felted really warm. Warm - not the temperature warm- but the warmth that glow from within knowing that you had done something good for the day by helping others. All collection (from ticket sales and cakes sales) and donation will go towards building a school for blind children in Bangladesh.

Ok enough about that. Now on to highlights of the night.

i) My BIG PROJECT tutor performed!!! Yeah, he did. And he did look like he was completely enjoying himself on the centre stage. He was in a two man band with another consultant. They played us few songs which I reckon must be very famous songs in their era. Because I hardly know any! ha! So maybe I can get away yet for another few days not writing up as his is in such a good mood.

ii) My O&G consultant was there too! Remember him? You guys maybe wondering why were there so many consultants and medic students there - oh well- what do you expect - an event organized by medical students for medical students and consultants. Performers were the same group again + few budding talents from local university.

iii) Oppps.. this gonna be about my O&G consultant again. haha. I looooveeeee him. I said and I'm quoting myself "He is the best looking 50y-o man, hands down!" One of my friends said and I quote "But he got small bum!" haha. HM#1 came very close to blurting out to him that I (yes, I = p53) have a crush on him. Sigh - what if i really do?

iv) One of my friends sang. Beautifully. It was a Eva Cassidy's rendition of Sting's song. I never heard of it before, but apparently it is very famous. Her voice was impeccable. But I know deep down she must had been very nervous. You can just tell from the look of the corner of her eyes. No direct eyes contact with audience.

v) One of my male friends played saxophone (which was fantastic- never thought that one playing saxophone can attract so much attention) and one of my friends (a girl from the year below) almost died. Not literally. Die of ecstasy (also not the literal meaning) more like it. haha. She has always like this guy. Let me give a brief description about this guy: more than 6' tall, tan, well-toned, muscular, well-mannered, out-of-bed golden brunette hair, greenish-brown eyes. So imagine how he looks like. Now. He has a girlfriend though. A pretty one too. So bless him.

vi) Me and my friend asked my O&G consultant to ask the other two performing consultants for our behalf; for a 5 min session with them. O boy, I almost died of intimidation of singing to two most respectable gynae-onco doctors in the Trust. It was life-changing! My friend sounded much better than me, I have to say.

I have to put this one up!

I'm sorry you guys, I can't contain my happiness to see them two together. And that was OFFICIAL! (off screen, yippee!).

PS: For those who havent watch Gossip Girl, Oh My God, go and watch it right now. ABSOLUTELY AWESOME SERIES!!!!!

Birthday weekend

I'm celebrating my birthday this weekend. My 24th, yeah- I know I cant believe myself. I dont think I'm a day older than 18. Hohoh.

Reality check babe!

Do you moan a lot about how you look? Yes- too haggard. Too thin.
Do you have eye bags? Yes- too much of sleep.
Do you find running 5K is too much for your joints? Yes.
Do you find you enjoy doing homely stuff like cooking and baking better than going out partying? Yes for the baking part, possibly a bit of decorating as well. Hands on heart I still hate cooking.
Do you worry about future like adults (well, most adults) do? Yes. G.O.S.H!

Reality check result: I'm mature in some ways, for the better. Otherwise young at heart. hoho, cliche. No really, I sincerely believe I can still pass as a 20y-o lass.

Honestly, I still believe that world/life has so much to offer that I refuse to believe that its not all bed of roses. I think all is good around me, which some may say not remotely true. It must be either i) Im in constant denial or ii) Even when something is going wrong/bad (read: not the way I wanted it to be) I just cant be bothered. Yours truly.

I'm simple in that sense. Live life the way you want it. Keep it simple, dont over analyse. I dont like every single person I know/met, so I learnt that respectively not everyone will like me. Fact! Everyone is nice until proven otherwise. As Confucious' saying.

Why am I being philosophical? well feck it.

With all my dreams, I dare to dream. Will try to make them come true. Along the way, enjoy myself. Anyone wants to be onboard with me?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MYSELF!

Updates

Dear readers,

Sorry for the lack of entries. I have been relatively busy with O&G, this being my last week there. Cramming in as much clinical experience as I could in my final week here. That mean I attended every single clinic albeit being late for some due to (not un-fore-seen events of) oversleeping. (shocking?!)

There was a mock OSCE (later referred as Mosce) on Thursday organized by the Registrars. I was like: Shit! I hardly know anything (in term of acting in front of examiners, just yet: I mean come on, OSCE is all about acting isn't it?). I am fine talking/dealing with patients in clinics and wards, but certainly not at all prepared for an assessment.

Indeed, I did quite good for my standard. haha. Me being super nervous in my first station (as usual) and then went along rather swiftly through the rest of the Mosce. Feedback session at the end of the Mosce revealed good level of medical knowledge but should have improve in term of controlling pace of talking (I talk very fast when I'm nervous) and getting the techniques of doing the skills methodically.

Fair enough. This should get me cracking for the real one! (In April if I remember correctly)

Then MY consultant mentioned that one of the registrars said that I performed well in her station. Me and my wit! ha! So that helped. He said "I know you, you're a fast thinker. Quick and have your own wits. But you cant solely depend on that alone. You've got great personality and appear brilliant in front of the patients and get along well with the team. Remember this! I want a clinician who is very composed, not someone who is anxious because I don't want my patients to be scared to hell by my junior doctors."

Yadayadayada. Well. I just can't help it, my facial expression changes so dramatically depending on the cues given by the examiners. I was in fact only slightly nervous in the stations, but nooooo my face gave me away. BOOO!

"I can see you becoming a great clinician in whichever specialty your choose to do"
--> now, that coming from the most gruesome, tough Foundation Year Director of this hospital, surely IS something.

Good.

The registrar who did the first station dragged me along with her to see all her antenatal patients. She was surprise to see that I was all fine, interacted well with the real life patients and got all my techniques correct. See! I can do it after all. She advised taking yoga to improve the self-control. Especially during stressful times. Ok, note taken there.

Then I bid goodbye to both of them. Definitely gonna miss MY consultant and all the registrars. Plus the SHO who I just starting to get to know. So in short, O&G is amazing! I havent learn much from MY consultant (he only ever taught me 2 things: infertility and menopause)

On a different note:
i) I have been quite active this week. Rockclimbing twice. Tried bouldering as well. Body combat. Gym and a lot of running outdoors too.
ii) I've put on 3kg from (almost) a week worth of Italian foods -making my total weight 44kg. Yippee! Another kilo before I can donating blood. Target on hold.
iii) I've started planning for my grand Europe tour. AMAZING!!! Just by looking at the proposed map, I was all excited. (I still need to plan my elective.)
iv) My blog hopping habit is becoming worse. I can sit in front of computer and do the random blog hopping (fashion and celebs gossip blogs especially) for hours. ARGGGGHHH!!!
v) Result of Jan progress test came out. I was fine. lalalala.

So, that are highlights from this week. Personally, I have changed. Am a different person now, though not completely. This O&G placement has not only been a good learning experience but also part of my journey to find myself. Emotionally challenged at some points. Conflicts within myself. Confronting my fear head-on. Standing for what I believe. Receiving advises along the way by those who I respect and trust. Gosh. Sotto hohoende!!!

Next week: Paeds--> bring it on!!