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.

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.

Eye Update

It's been another really long week starting with 2 lectures that didn't happen and finishing with a load of public health lectures and some equine soft tissue stuff.

Midweek I had to revisit the lovely eye doctor people and decide what is to be done. Basically the operation I had last year didn't work as it should and I still get double vision without the prism on my glasses. This usually isn't too much of a problem, except for when I attempt to do fine work, for example like operating. Small problem there.

So the plan is to cut me up once more. We will start by doing bad things to the side that was operated on last time, then the lateral side. The next bit of the plan is where my problem lies - I have to wake up and take an eye test whilst they finish suturing my eyeball to make sure everything is lined up. I don't know how I'll react to this, but it probably won't go well for anyone involved. In order to combat me hitting anyone and running away there will be someone talking to me nicely and a big syringe of knockout juice on standby.

In the few days afterwards I'll have an eye full of blood (again) and be crying blood sometimes as it heals. Woo!! Roll on March. I'm going to terrify people on EMS.

Exam Results

Weeeeeeeee I passed the farm animal course.

I drew a picture of a smiley face, but it wasn't pleasant. Here's one someone else made earlier.

Horse Medicine

It's started!! So far it is going OK, but the horses aren't my thing. The first lecture series is in a book that's big enough to kill a horse with 4 more similar sized topics to come and only 11 weeks to learn it all. Not that anyone is starting to panic just yet.

Belonging

How to tell that a vet practice has accepted your presence:

Your name and preference of hot drink goes on the list in the kitchen.

Happy New Year

Once again I was on call, but it was quite quiet. Not too sure if this was due to the annual phone failure around midnight or just because everyone else was drunk. Last night only resulted in once call too. Go us!

It's been an annoyingly bitty week, but I got some good things done. Only 1 week of EMS before the evil horse lectures begin so I'll make the most of it.