Dry run

I’m off to do a dry run in my car to my work in a bit. I’ll be using the SatNav and hope it works as well as it did last time.

For the first 3 days of my new job, I took the train to work. I’ve never had to take a train into work in this region of the country as I’ve always driven in. Now, I know what local trains in or near London are like- late, but frequent.

After 3 days of taking the train, I’ve had enough. Late arrivals and departures. Stupid excuses- two days in a row, we were delayed because the train driver hadn’t arrived. What the fuck?

At the moment now, my SatNav has obviously got bored with the waiting and is “driving” the route itself. Better get going, I don’t want to it to do a HAL on my ass and start talking to me proper.

Weather sucks. This should be interesting.

A sweet ending…

Today is the last day for most junior docs in their present 4 month post. Tomorrow I start a new job, in a new hospital, and unfortunately have to wake up at a new/earlier time.

Traditionally and unofficially, the last day of the job is when us docs give the staff and secretaries a gift, usually chocolates, to say thanks for supporting, helping, whingeing, not reporting us to the GMC etc. I’ve just bought a box of Celebrations which will be demolished by the ward staff in approximately 2 hours- and they all say they’re on a diet. yeah right! not when it comes to chocolate or doing exercise.

The last day also means everyone is a bit apathetic and can’t be arsed to really see everyone because we’re not around the next day.

I just have to remember to leave a patient list, give my bleep back, tell security to cancel my car park permit, have farewell (soft) drinks at the local and amble off home.

New Job, New Car and New Flat

Soooo, it’s been a while since i’ve posted a blog. A lot has happened since July 21st!

I started my 1st full time hospital dr post since december 2005. My 1st job is the ludicrously piss easy Psychiatry job, which has an on call rota of no weekends, no nights and nothing past 5pm, but the pay is low as a result.

The 1st day consisted of registration and intro lectures. The 2nd day, my consultant was away, so i checked out the new hospital and bumped into some mates, which brings me to the new flat statement…

On Thursday evening, I found out from my sister, that the long awaited exchange of contracts had finally occurred and the day of completion and the move was to be Friday. i hurriedly arranged annual leave for Friday, checked out a grotty (unlikely) flat for leamington, and then drove home to Essex. Got home by 8pm, and promptly cleaned out my car and sold it for 200 squid. It is probably worth more, but i’ve really battered it over the years. I have now ‘inherited’ my sisters car, as she does not want it anymore—it has low mileage, A/C, power steering and is less battered! Cool!

On Friday the removal men turned up bright and early and started the ‘Big Move Out’ from the house and Essex. After approx. 1.5 hours the house was cleared and we found it from our solicitor that the 1st half of the money transfer had been completed. There was some sadness leaving our house, as there are so many memories there! 20 minutes after we arrived in N1, we had our keys and the ‘Big Move In’ to Islington had started. I helped the removal men (two Poles from Woolwich), and was left knackered and aching by the end, as well as cut and bruised. Lugging boxes up to a 2nd floor flat on a muggy day was fucking hard!

Since moving in, we have managed to make the flat more homely, though there are many boxes yet to unpack!

A slight diversion to the weekend of moving came in the form of the free music festival in Regent’s Park called ‘FruitStock’. I saw Norman Jay and Arrested Development live too—v cool and free!

I am now back in Leamington, crashing at my mates house, after a quick 1.5 hour drive from London to Leamington. Wow! and i did that without touching the M25!

I’ll try and update my blog more regularly, especially regarding the highs and lows of Psychiatry.