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.

One month later…

As I am no longer unemployed, sitting on my arse watching daytime TV, i now seem to be less inclined/interested in updating my blog— guess i am being just lazy really! Anyway with that stupid statement, I am now paradoxically updating my blog, almost one month after my last one!

So, I’ve almost done my first month of Psychiatry as an F2 SHO. How has it been then? Well to be honest, the first 3 weeks was rubbish—why? —well my boss was away and thus there were no outpatient clinics and we seemed to have no ill patients. For 3 weeks, me and my F1 (PRHO) were bored out of my brains. Thankfully our boss returned and we were both plunged into doing our own clinics and i did my 1st of many dictated notes. The other massive hassle, which i have finally sorted out is a bloody audit which i’ve been trying to get registered. I hate doing audits, but i need to do at least one of these bloody audits to complete my F2 year!

As I am lucky to have my weekends off, i have been off visiting friends etc. So last bank holiday weekend, I went home, back to the new flat, to check out how things had progressed. I built more furniture and sorted out my room so it was more livable. I went out for my mates 29th birthday on Saturday and met up some old mates (from Sheffield Uni) at the Notting Hill Carnival 2006 . Bought more furniture in IKEA on Monday, and then took the wrong turn back home, so we had a scenic view of London back to Islington.

I am now sitting in my room of the hospital accomodation i am renting, for a bargin price. Luckily this rented house is only 8 minutes from work and i save money on petrol. I’m just about to watch the England vs Andorra match now. Played footy earlier in Warwick— I am now aching! I am so unfit!

Might check out Leamington tomorrow. Do my usual, non-specific, ambling around town and try and do some work later.

Gotta go!

Film Review- "Thank You For Smoking"

Saw this film for free last Thursday in the Vue West End. I have my sister to thank for that—she signed up to a website, that offers free passes to any film preview, when they become available. The free passes are not just limited to London. The site is called See Film First.

Premise: Nick Naylor is a divorced father who also happens to be the spokesman of a big American cigarette firm. He is payed to talk and promote the ‘goodness’ of cigarettes. Nick’s adversary is a Vermont senator who wants a skull and crossbones to be put on all cigarette packets–an interesting idea—he wants to ensure illiterate people understand the dangers.

Throughout this film, we see the father-son relationship of Nick and his adolescent son, who idolises him, despite his mother’s concerns about her ex’s job.

The only real weak link in this film is from the woman formerly known as Joey Potter, and now known as the future Mrs Tom “Let’s have a silent delivery” Cruise. She doesn’t seem like someone that could seduce Nick. To be honest, she looks like a school girl—dodgy!

Verdict: I found this film very funny, though some critic reviews suggest the contrary—i think they don’t think the film is scathing enough. Sure, the film doesn’t take any sides, and noticeably no-one in the film smokes at all, but upon leaving the cinema , i didn’t feel like i wanted to light up, but then i don’t smoke anyway. The ending is apt too.

Rating: 7.5/10

It’s more than just raw fish!

For years, Japanese food was regarded as being v. expensive and just limited to that raw fish stuff (Sushi).

But over the last few years there has been a proliferation of reasonably priced Japanese eateries, such as the conveyer belt-tastic ‘Yo Sushi‘ and school bench-tastic ‘Wagamama‘—though the latter does tend to be a bit more expensive.

London, being the capital city, has many different cultures and countries cuisines available including many non-chain Japanese eateries. In Islington, I love the reasonably priced ‘Miso’ and yesterday, in Chinatown, my sister and I, had a delicious meal at ‘Ikkyusan‘.

The decor in ‘Ikkyusan’ was quite modern and amongst the more traditional table and chair seating, there was the more Japanese low table and pillows–we sat on the former! The main meal i had was something called a Bento Box—which is basically a bit of everything. Great meal, and it proves Japanese cooking isn’t just sushi!