I was searching for something on Amazon – I can’t even remember what it was now because the best book title in the world came up in the results – Fatima or Always Pick a Fool for Your Husband: Being the Strange Adventures of a Woman Who Was the Most Beautiful Creature and Quite, Quite the Cleverest Creature Ever Was, And Knew It. I have no idea what it is about but I would like to know.

Lovely Dickie  came round for a cup of tea last night. I felt horribly guilty because I couldn’t remember the last time I’d seen him. Despite my rubbishness he hasn’t disowned us yet.

I went shopping today to buy myself some sensible placement shoes. I came home with a top, two new pairs of pyjamas, several sets of underwear, a bag and a purse. Oops. Some of it may have to go back because I really do need the shoes and now can’t afford them until January! I did have a lot of fun though. I also treated myself to a cinnamon latte, which was a mistake as now I feel all festive.

My studies are not going very well. So far this week I have chatted to two patients. That’s all. Last week I went to Alton Towers with Minb and Rich. They were staying in a lodge quite close to the park so I joined them for a day. Much fun was had, even though only 10 rides were open (it was the last week). Unfortunately Minb, who is not keen on scary rides, had failed to realise that it was ‘adrenaline week’. She was very brave and went on quite a few things, although  someone may have unknowingly mislead her about how scary Air was.

Rob and I went away for the weekend, overnight on Saturday. It did not all go to plan. On Saturday morning we woke up to find that Rob’s drilled finger, which had previously been healing nicely, had swollen up and started oozing. Lovely. We managed to get some antibiotics over the phone from the GP out of hours service so we weren’t too late setting off in the end. It was a beautiful day and would have been perfect for a walk in the park, but I had been informed by the BBC that the weather would be good on both days, so decided to hit the spa. On Sunday it was bucketing down and foggy. We decided that we would at least go and feed the ducks before heading home; however the National Trust wanted £5 to let us drive in to the car park! So we turned round and thought we’d find some free ducks. When we got home we remembered our lovely charity voucher book and went for a free afternoon tea instead. Finger sandwiches, scones with jam and cream, tea and a glass of champagne each. Yum.

Rob is asleep. He’s been ill since the weekend but has only just admitted that the best place for him is bed.

I now have to go and decide whether or not to have the swine flu jab.

It’s always a good day when you get a really long email from someone you love! Thanks Amy!

 

It is also a good day in other ways. I wasn’t down to go to theatre today so I did not have to come up with a reason not to go. The clinic this morning was with a lovely orthopaedic surgeon (I know it sounds unlikely but it’s true) and was quite interesting and fracture clinic this afternoon was good because we got to see people, not just watch, and it ended at 3.30! Excellent.

 

I have just ordered a new coat. After many days of deliberation I have decided to be sensible and have ordered the black version rather than the cream one, even though I loved the cream one. The fact that it said dry-clean only helped the decision along. Perhaps I should have it in both colours…

 

The rabbits have dug up a new section of carpet and I am running out of things to cover the holes up with! But they are just so cute that I can’t be too cross with them. If my children are cute they will be SPOILED.

I have applied! I can’t believe my entire future rests on these ridiculous questions and my terrible answers! Argh!

Why do I bother turning up for placement? I arrived at 8.30 for clinic to be told there was all of one clinic on, which had one patient in it, due at 11.30. I went up to the ward and spoke to a patient for half an hour, but now there’s nothing to do until 12, when there may possibly be some teaching! Argh.

An unexpectedly stressful weekend with Rob’s family, for various reasons. We do now have a kitchen floor, thanks to Rob and his Dad, which is wonderful. Also I have finally found a photo of the right size and type for the thank you cards so they will be going out soon, shamefully late, but at least they’re done now.

By 9 o’clock on Sunday you’d be forgiven for thinking that a stressful weekend was over. Not in this house! I’d checked with Rob that all the machinery was plumbed back in before putting on the dishwasher and had been assured that it was. About an hour later I was in the kitchen getting myself a drink when I heard a gushing, splashing sort of sound, which chilled me to the core! I looked under the cupboard and sure enough the dishwasher appeared to be draining right on to the floor. I yelled for Rob and after a lot of swearing and panicking he managed to sort it out, but was worried it might have ruined our new floor, put down only hours earlier. Fortunately I think he managed to mop up so much of it so quickly that it won’t have had time to damage the floor!

In other news… I always liked the idea of Sweden and wanted to go there; I have categorically changed my mind!

and I am on the internet. Does it get more exciting than this?

Tomorrow morning I have to go to a meeting at the med school because if lots of doctors get struck down with swine flu we will have to work even though we’re not qualified yet! Why on earth didn’t I do a degree in performing arts instead?

Week 2 of no social life is drawing to a close! Weekend 2 is approaching, but hopefully Rob’s parents will visit and distract us from the no-friends situation. Also the stress of the new TV arriving should occupy us for a while. (Jo: consider this large but not obscene 32″ television… Rob: makes sad puppy eyes at obscene 40″ television Jo: I cannot resist sad puppy eyes; what does it matter if you have to knock through a wall to make your TV fit in your living room?)

My plan to have my job application answers perfected and ready for submission by the end of this week has not been successful. I have answers to all the questions and have even managed to cut most of them down to 200 words, but unfortunately I am not satisfied with any of the answers.

Dickie has stolen our house key and James and Amy’s house key. He promised to return them but he has not. I suspect they may have gone to the highest bidder.

I should really go and get ready for placement.

We wouldn’t really try to compete with Italian cheese, but I have job application questions to answer and it’s a bit like exams – hence the avoidance tactic of setting up a blog!