Maybe not so much a conclusion, but rather a moratorium until the author pulls herself together, gets organised, or finds some inspiration. (i.e. gets off her arse)

So til then, my online existence will be confined to the insularity of email, and blog-visiting.

Thank you all you lovely friends who've been frequenting this little pocket of occasional introspection. I will email you/leave messages on your blogs when I decide to redecorate and republish.

Signing off,

Sue

Ok, maybe it wasn't that long (25mins walk), and maybe it wasn't that wind-ey (one corner to turn around), but it sure was an interesting walk to church last Sunday!

This is the first time that I've walked on a dirt shoulder, by a highway, with cars zooming past you at 80km/h at sunset to get to church. As the houses started to appear further apart, and I passed the first olive plantation on my right, I started to doubt my sense of direction a little. But, eventually, after about 20 mins down the road, I breathed a sigh of relief as a big church building appeared on the right.
I visited AOG Shepparton for the first time this weekend, and walked into a teaching night, where the congregation sat around tables (like in Alpha welcome dinners) and were taught by John Bevere (appearance via video) about forgiveness, whilst tea was generously provided by a cell group. It's certainly the first time soup, bread and scones have been served to me at a church service!

The teaching was interesting, with John Bevere delivering a rather challenging phrase, "A person who cannot forgive is a person who has forgotten what he/she was forgiven of". It certainly gave me a reality check. The sermon was also revisited and discussed about in cell group on Wednesday.

- Feeling of helplessness when one realises the tight boundaries of one's clinical knowledge, followed by intense periods of reading thick tomes which culminates in medical knowledge overload
- Constant lethargy, sleep deprivation induced
- Usually accompanied by "frozen-brain" syndrome, which manifests mid-studying at 9:30pm at night when one has been awake since 7am
- Occasional bouts of mania on inaugeral elicitation of some fabulous cardiovascular or respiratoy sign on physical examination of a patient (e.g. hearing murmurs or hyperresonant chests)
- Gradual lack of creativity. Brought about by using vast majority of available brain processing power in constant attempts to memorise lists and mechanisms.
- Bloated (and wobbly) abdomen due to constant consumption of a steady stream of offered snacks with high fat and sodium contents (aka comfort eating and increased temptation in PBLs)
- Ingestion of at least 2 consecutive dinners (cooked by different people) within the one night
- Energy fluctuations: high on sugar, and then brain-numbing lows increasingly experienced during pathology tutorials

Diagnosis:

As this syndrome is completely occupationally related, just a simple question elicitating the nature of work of the afflicted is required.

Treatment:

A work-free weekend back in Melbourne. Good food (provided by wonderful housemate), good atmosphere and great company provides a thorough wholistic cure.

I'm back 2 weeks from now :)

And then in the afternoon, Tash and I have been slotted in to go for a Pulmonary Exercise Group session in Aquamoves (the local Shep gym cum pool cum entertainment centre). Hmm... do we bring swimsuits and join in, or are we meant to take a more erm spectatorial role?

Questions questions. It'll be fine as long, as I'm the one who's doing the asking.

It's a little scary.

But a bit of a relief as well. Just finally starting what we all wanted to do when we took up med.

Will update more when I get my head around things.

Enjoy!