e 3 a s h i g R E F L E C T I O N S

Zero Social Life

I took more time off work as pressure mounts before military training starts. Again, the clinical load here is no where as much as it was in the UK where we used to be worked like there is no tomorrow. The difference here is the lack of cover so that although you do 6 or 7 maximum admissions per 24 hours compared with an average of 8-10 admissions per doctor per 12 hour shift in the UK, you feel mentally and physically drained afterward because you are working on your own, with limited senior cover and no hospital protocols to guide you. There is also the never ending problem of people interfering with your decisions. I have so many stories to tell.

While people here were going a little overboard with national day celebrations (what’s with drivers turning their cars into oil canvases and the dancing through open rooftops?) we decided to have a quieter holiday in Sawadi Resort which had some of the most beautiful beaches and islands in this region. There are 16 dive spots and we are working our way through them. We did two locations in this last trip and finished our AOW requirements but we will be back no doubt if the weather doesn’t turn too cold too quick.

I am half way through a course conducted by KF which has some really interesting and enthusiastic participants. I am quite happy that I got to know such a dynamic bunch.

In terms of social life, it’s simple: I don’t really have much of it these days. I am feeling a little aware and guilty actually that there is an increasing number of social commitments that I just can not attend – things that make our society what it is: weddings, majles gatherings, visits, etc. I am hoping to make up for it with professional progress.