MON

First day on placement in Aylesbury - what a joy. The journey was hilarious - after Becky had described a friend's taking of wrong turns, she turned onto the M40 to London. As we raked our way back, the radio described that today would be the most depressing day of the year!

Thankfully, it was not! Becky saw a baby delivered and Juliet and I were in surgery. Some amazing cases - seeing a bladder where it shouldn't be, a uterus where it shouldn't be, a pregnancy where it shouldn't be - and getting to lend a hand to the operations.

The accommodation here is very good indeed but I do feel a bit guilty about the fact that some people have worse housing round the corner!

TUES

Today I had some more surgery, some more teaching, and was given a role assessing patients in A&E before the SHO came to see them. It was worthwhile experience, though sad in places.

WED

Watching four babies enter the world was surreal. Baby one took a long time, inhaled some poo, but may well be fine. It was such a shock to see the baby come out - so many colours - bright red blood, dark in parts, a deep green cloth, the blue baby, the yellow ochre of the meconium, the white and purple cord...and so exciting to see one of the SHOs (who previously worked with neonates) get on with exactly what needs to be done with the baby. Baby two was born quickly, as were three and four - with some sharp contrasts. One needed suction (Ventuose) and another needed some emergency action as the baby's shoulders got stuck (a very fat baby). It was no surprise that the latter mother was extrememly aggravated and shouty. This was a start contrast to the calm environment for one mother, where she gently pushed without rolling around or screaming, while a radio played some gentle music and the nurse quietly made encouraging exhortations. The cherry on the cake would have been getting to deliver a baby, which I was almost able to, but the lady who said she would be happy for that changed her mind and informed the midwife when I was out of the room. She ended up not needing any help...just did it herself...thought I cannot report how...

THU

We read read chapters 14, 15 and 16 of John's gospel in cell group today - and it's amazing how Jesus wants us to pray for what we wish for - he gives, he has joy, he gives us joy, and our joy is complete - He loves us, and if we love him we'll do what he says - and love each other and testify...

Pregnant lady - once got a clot in her leg, then her lungs, and doesn't want it to happen again. She's on 40mg of an anti-clot drug. She also wants an epidural to take away the pain during labour - but she can't be on the anti-clot drug when she has the epidural, or in in labour - she may bleed and not stop. The 40mg takes as long as 24 hours to get out of the body, so the anaesthetist says take it in the evenings and stop just in time... but the baby is likely to be born in the evenings....conundrum. The consultant suddenly thinks and suggests she takes 20mg in the morning and 20mg in the evening. Here, it takes only 12 hours for the drug to wear off. Very good practical thinking.

FRI

I have started living in a constant state of excitement regarding various little projects ad majoram dei gloriam... a band, with a barn dance and an open mic night on their way, and members to die for... an idea, for medical education, with a heart and a dream and the possibility of research questionnaires, which i adore...a journal, with silliness galore and editors more competent than i could have asked for...drawings required by a lady called miss todd....the chance to bring people together and work together...bringing consultants and students together...the idea of in the future being a doctor and doing what doctors do in a place where doctors are needed and the work is plenty...the chance to do research about the pastoral work of GPs...the chance to research traditional medicine and surgery in far-flung places...the chance to be in an operating theatre...holding a knife or a newspaper...but all this finds it route in a source - that I have been plugged into - and I want to express. 

But am I on the wrong track? Do I neglect something, or someone? Do I forget? May God have mercy and remind me so that I have no regrets when my time walking in these shoes is up. Praise be to the King, from every pair of lips and for all time. Amen.