Time Check.

DSC_6711, originally uploaded by oyclubsnap2.

i haven't blogged in a bit. at least not the writing type of blog.

lifes been pretty decent with its ups and downs. still having roller coaster mood swings but then again its something ive gotten rather accustomed to. To all the people i consulted on the *issue*, thanks for the advice (really!).

Advice that, sadly, i'll promptly ignore. but still hey, its MY funeral and theres nothing sexier than a guy digging his own grave. haha. moving firmly on.

Clinics have become rather disjointed of late. mainly because either im not around or im slacking. I need some order in my life.

HPB posting practically never happened to me and i'll be trying to play catch-up in the next week or so. End of posting tests are looming ahead and ive barely gone through half of my surgery text. while, i'd happily admit that its probably about half as xiong as for our medical collegues (who are all mugging kumar and clark/ davinson in the library), its still xiong nevertheless. Have been organising and consolidating some of the information as part of my discussions with dawn but still i think i lack enough factual knowledge.

for example, i still haven't figured out the finer details to indications for performing X proceedures and its worrying me... try appendicitis for size: according to the textbooks, most appendicitis cases resolve spontaneously: medical management is to watch and wait whilst surgical management is take out the appendix.

indications for surgical management are peritonism which indicates perforation. Yet, i see perfectly classical, UN-perforated appendix cases being taken under the knife, where then does the forementioned medical management take place? i had a long discussion with my tutor who did give me a nice answer.

its an answer which to date, ive never seen in a textbook standard algorithm, mainly because of our own local practices which are a lot more aggressive given our good surgical success rates. subtle but important details which our tutors don't really point out unless you specifically ask.

Im very thankful in this respect for having dr jimmy so as my first tutor. He really pushed the point of making sure i knew the exact guidelines and indications for surgical intervention.

enough about clinics...

some general thoughts:

The M1 results have come back. Some really close people i tried to help didn't make it. and yes, its a depressive thought of having to endure another year in M1. Especially since, i thought they were more than qualified to make it to the next round. Still, please don't give up hope!

to A, Academics are NO indication for future medical performance. and, on another note, no one has the right to make you quit medicine. Oddly enough this even applies to the Dean. All you need is a wish to study and you'll make it though. i promise. anyway, Congratulations for Emily are in order. i was so worried that you viva-ed but hey. look whos laughing out the other side now? :)

Med float is underway and im really impressed by this years expertise in the hands of ronnie and quan yao! the construction is simply fabulous :) also, the huge number of M1 working on the float paints a really good picture for the future. There was a time when i was worried that the m2 batch would turn out like the current m4 batch, but then again, they've also pulled together after this years float. more things to be excited about. :)

Pirates of the carribean, which i finally watched on wednesday, was pretty cool. *plenty* of johnny depp, brilliant acting and special effects. the plot however took just a little too many leaps of faith and suspensions of belief that was all in all too surreal for my taste. The ending was rather anticlimatic too. Still, a better showing than Superman returns - which was only salvaged by a wonderful performance by rex luther. And to top it all off, I finally got my dinner at the Esplanade. Thanks to the great company even the lack of oyster omelette couldn't spoil my evening. heh. The guitar band was lovely. (think besame mucho!)

And to a very very special old old friend from medicine, HAPPY BIRTHDAY SIYING! My CG mate, talk cock buddy, emotional foil, tutorial arranger and above all DAMN GOOD friend, here me wishing you all the very best ahead.

and as a small treat, a photo of us looking like idiots in the supply room! hah.

*grin*

ps. howen and i did try to go shopping today. we didn't manage to find the *handcuffs and kinky toys* and so we didn't get you anything. sorry dear.

pp.s we will go look for them again.

ppp.s or maybe i'll just go myself. lol.

ciao.