Epic Journey

Mammoth bike ride yesterday, or so I thought... I grew up in the Burton-on-Trent area, and used to go on bike rides with my friends. We used to travel for miles and miles, and it was usually me who complained about tired legs and a numb bum!

I decided it was a nice enough day for a really long bike ride yesterday and set off. Man! It was freezing, and my hands were like blocks of solid ice by the time I had reached the bottom of the hill near the old Bretby hospital! Anyway, I was really impressed by some of the views:

And I even managed to get an arty snap too:

Imagine my confusion when this biepic, multi-county, almost marathon bike ride was completed, with me having made a cup of tea at home within the hour! It was a most refreshing ride, and I saw places in a new light from when I was a spotty teenager, but being a rather larger chap it didn't seem even a quarter as far.

So, I got home and read some Pharmacology. But lo and behold if Rachel doesn't suggest that I crack on with the DIY in the bathroom. Good plan, except the furniture is from IKEA, and has those lovely pictorial instructions. I found myself peeling glue from the back of the circular mirror wondering 'as if this isn't complicated enough, I have to use some sort of superhuman powers to remove the world's most powerful adhesive - all so the glass was central on the cardboard packaging!'

Anyway, it looks great now, and at least I can look forward to some peace and quiet - oops, silly me, apparently it's the Kitchen next! I think I'll stick with revision, it's no where near as difficult as IKEA and MFI.

Our furry friend

I showed this blog in progress to Rachel, and she insisted that I tell you all about the last (but not least) unintroduced member of the family, Lloyd.



Possibly the World's fluffiest rabbit, this Lionhead lop has stolen the hearts of mostly all our family and everyone who has ever met him! This photo was taken years ago when we lived in Bristol, so I've tried to capture him, but he's so nippy this is the best photo I managed to snap!



He's now coming up to 3½ years old, and has already been through teenager temperament stage, and is rapidly becoming as grumpy as an old man. Nevertheless, he has certainly been a good friend to us, and enjoys cuddles (when he's told to!).

So, now you've been introduced to the whole household, apart from Rachel (it's very difficult to get a close up picture of her ;).

Swifter changes...

Somebody might have told me that this week was the week of change. I've already told you all about the biggest change in my life so far, and the little tyke that is on the way. I alluded to the fact that I've started exercising the grey cells by revising for the exam, but (I hardly thought it possible) I've just been out for a bike ride.


This is my new bike, Rachel bought it for me for Christmas. It went out when it was sunny last (a few weeks ago I hasten to add), but I actually planned to go out today, and didn't chicken out. OK, so it's not such a big deal for some of you, but I need a really good kick up the ___ before I go and do proper exercise. Well, it was great. Despite the cold, and the traffic on some of the busier roads, and the smell of the B&Q Warehouse fire which could be smelled all over Burton on Trent today, I feel thoroughly invigorated. In fact, enough so to get my Pharmacology book out!

So, that's the plan. It's time to get reading. There are too many distractions nowadays to stop the book work, but with some willpower it should be a successful afternoon. Oh well, back to page 19!

Brain drain and spent voices!

So, this is going to be more difficult than I first thought. I've just spent all day finishing off West: "Respiratory Physiology" (7th ed), filled with flow-pressure curves and airway resistances. I'm not sure I'll ever get the hang of deriving the equation for Alveolar Dead Space.


Anyway, I might have spent all today's quota of little grey cells on effort independent flow, but I shall spend the rest of the daylight hours reading to my wife and the bump. We're a few chapters into Harry Potter and the Philosopher's stone - Sorcerer's stone for you 'across the ponders'. She enjoys it because I do all the voices, it's great fun and helps me to relax.

Opening credits... Life gets more complicated

Today has been one of the most surprising days of my life. I've seen some things that have made me marvel at the human body, and other things that have amazed me that the body is possible of such amazing disruption.

Nothing I've seen before has prepared me for the shock of seeing my unborn child on Ultrasound today. The moment its face and body appeared on the screen I reached for my wife's hand, spellbound. I've a feeling that this is when I realise that the only time one can stomach the sight of baby photos is when they are of ones' own baby.



However, it has certainly put life into perspective. I realise now that it might be a good idea to pick up a textbook or two, and learn like I've never learned before, because this little person is going to need a supportive family and certainly a Dad with an income.

What with my Anaesthetic Primary FRCA exam looming in April, I could do with getting my career progressed ASAP!

This is my first attempt at blogging, and hopefully there will be more as time goes on and I can try to explain what it's like to be a Junior Doctor in the UK trying to settle down and look after his family.