Scott's Spiel
Apologies for the Silence
I must begin with an apology, as it's been an awfully long time since my last post. Many of you have pointed this out, and I appreciate your patience. So, what's been going on in my world?
I've recently completed my neonatal medicine rotation and have now fully transitioned into the realm of old-age psychiatry. I should emphasize that I have no aspirations of becoming a future psychiatrist, so you might imagine this could be a bit of a nightmare for me. However, it's not quite as bad as I feared. In comparison to my last rotation, I find myself with considerably more free time (mainly spent catching up on sleep). However, there is one adjustment I'm still getting used to - I have to write up approximately one case per week. Most of my peers have been doing this for several rotations already. I have no clue what will happen when someone actually sits down to read these!
Working on an old-age ward has led me to ponder the cognitive abilities of my own family members. I'm even considering giving them a cognitive assessment as a Christmas present. Is that too cheeky?
First aid has once again become a significant part of my free time. It's not quite as intense as it used to be, but for some inexplicable reason, I seem to enjoy it. Perhaps I'm just a bit peculiar, but that's okay. "Glasgow on Ice" is back, and I'm dedicating a few evenings to it. Hopefully, the incessant rain will finally relent, and we'll get some proper winter weather.
I should take this moment to acknowledge the British Red Cross's efforts in response to the Cumbria flooding. A substantial amount of rescue equipment and teams have been dispatched from Northern Scotland to assist. Sadly, mainstream media hasn't given them the recognition they deserve. The same applies to the International Rescue Corps, another voluntary agency that responds to significant disasters both in and outside the UK. I hadn't even heard of them until my major incidents module, and I was genuinely surprised by the extent of their capabilities. Given the origin of their name, I found them quite intriguing. If you're unfamiliar with them, I encourage you to explore what they do.
I don't intend to make this all about charity, but it's undeniably impressive that there are people out there who respond to such incidents without seeking recognition.
On a more local note, I've recently been involved in the admissions committee for applicants in 2010. I won't delve into too much detail here since it's an ongoing process, but I'll likely spend some time discussing the UKCAT in the near future. Interviews began today (I believe), so I'd like to extend my best wishes to those who have them!
In a somewhat different vein, I must admit to being a devoted X Factor follower. Personally, I'm a fan of Joe or Stacy, primarily because they can sing. I adored Lucie, and it was heartbreaking to see her go. The final is rapidly approaching, which also means Christmas is just around the corner. Christmas shopping, you ask? I haven't even started! Fortunately, tomorrow is payday, so I should probably start giving it some serious thought.
That's a fair bit of catching up. I'll make an effort to post shorter updates more frequently in the future, though I must confess that despite my intentions, it may not happen as regularly as I'd like.