Tuesday, 24 February 2009

Over half way!

I've just had to work it out and we are over half way through the term! This is great is some respects, there are no more horse lectures, and really bad in other respects, such as there being no more horse lectures. I don't miss them at all, but I wish I knew more and had more time to learn more.

Vets from Wales have been complaining that I've been away too long and are asking when I return too! It seems that they only want me for my innate ability to repel phone calls when I'm on call with them, but still it's lambing time and there are many things to be learned still. Can't wait for my first sheep caesar of the year. If I can remember how they are done...

Not that it is the end of term yet. There is a lot more work to be done before we get there, and very little time to relax.

Monday, 16 February 2009

Walkies

Recently I've been a little grumpy which is probably attributable to being stuck in the city or at uni most of the time. I can usually fend off these feelings by regular trips up the Crags and Arthur's Seat, but there just hasn't been the time. Even climbing didn't help.

A friend from uni was feeling similarly annoyed with everything so we decided to take a day trip up the Pentlands. We had a great day! We started at the ski slope and quickly ascended to the closest peak, and then we tracked along the ridge all the way to a reservoir to Balerno. Only about 10 miles, but more walking than we had both done recently.

There are now plans to go up again, but this time track a different way and take in more peaks. We may also just disappear for a weekend to the west coast or the Caingorms to bag some Munroes. And all this makes me happy, even in the light of a stats exam.

Friday, 13 February 2009

Horses And Revision

It's been a while! I can't really say I've been that busy really, but various things have meant there has been little spare time. So...

My Red Cross course has finished - I'm now a qualified first aider (again) and a member of the Red Cross. Now I have to complete the manual handling bit and some child protection nonsense before I can head out on duty. I think the course may help me be a better vet, and it has definitely improved my communication skills.

Friends I haven't seen for a while came up to visit this week. I haven't seen them for ages! They are getting married in July and now I'm tasked with creating a best man speech. Time to break out the powerpoint and embarrassing photos!

In less exciting news the equine and exotics course continues, and scarily we are close to finishing being taught about horses. Only a week to go! It's gone really really quickly and at the moment I know nothing. Mix these lectures in with some public health lectures and practicals as well as farm animal tutorials and practicals to keep us on our toes and we spend quite a bit of time out at Bush.

Next week is a statistics exam so we are all meant to be revising hard. Unfortunately it just isn't happening for me at the moment. I need some time to relax and catch up on sleep, but that time just isn't available.

On the plus side I now have a regular climbing partner and get to play at least once a week, and possibly twice. So far this week I've climbed about 200m on various routes. I should really make a note of this and keep adding to it.