THE DIGITAL STORY OF NATIVITY - ( or Christmas 2.0 )

Merry Christmas guys!

Let Christmas Begin!

Exams are done, semester is finished and now it's time to relax and knit (lots).
I'm breaking from tradition this year and having Christmas with my boyfriend and away from my parents. It's not necessarily what was planned, but sometimes these things have to be done.
This means that we get to keep the dog with us and have a nice chilled out celebration without arguments (of which there are normally many).
This does, however mean that I have to learn to make a Christmas dinner and a Christmas cake...
...any tips anyone??

Woohoo!

The cards were in my favour at midnight last night. I am one of the 7073 students who was granted a training place, and in my first choice deanery too.

My thoughts are with the 184 students who have not initially been granted a job. There are at least two of my friends who fall into that category.

To work or not to work, that is the question?

In 15 minutes time it will be the 8th December 2010. This is the day that the deaneries go live for final year medical students.

I may well know very soon if I have an immediate post for next year. And it could well be anywhere...

Scared much??

A grand balls up

On December 8th the results of UKFPO will be out and 7073 final year medical students will find out where in the country their first job will be .

Sadly 184 will not. The programme is truly over subscribed for the first time ever.

There is not yet a firm contingency plan, just a hope to place people as drop outs or failures occur.

I'm worried...

Sometimes you have to stand up for what you believe in.

Disclaimer: I do not condone the use of violence to prove a point. Just saying.

Today students stood up for what they believe in. For what is fundamentally right. It takes balls to do that and I wish I could have joined them (for the peaceful protest part - I'm not up for throwing things and hitting people).

Tuition fees was a stupid idea to start with. Whatever happened to University education for all? 

Sometimes you just have to stand up and be counted. Had I not been on placement I would have been there, protesting peacefully.

You'd think it was nearly Christmas!

First mince pie of the year. I love Starbucks.

Intense times

Wow. Fifth year is a really stressful year so far. Academically its not challenging, but in terms of actual contact time through university and placements we're all run ragged. I know its good preparation for working, but as an F1 there's the financial incentive too.

It's time for some serious nose to the grindstone.
Wish me luck.

The wrong side of twenty

So yesterday was my birthday. Twenty-seven at last and definitely on the wrong side of twenty now.

As well as some wonderful presents I was lucky enough to spend the day on placement in an interesting area. My house mate made me a delectable chocolate cake and I blew out far too many candles.

As usual the fifth year is chaotic and I've just submitted my FPAS application and have everything crossed that I rank in region that I actually want to be in (i.e. anywhere in the top 6).

For now it's still a case of getting well (I've still not got over the problem that landed me in hospital in August) and getting on with trying to work my backside off!

Foundation Programme

I, like every other final year medical student, have this week enrolled for the UK NHS Foundation Programme. It's a daunting thought that I'm now in the horse race for a job with every other medical student in the UK.

So good luck to all those who will be reading the questions for the first time on Monday morning (should the website actually work)