Virgin Blogger!!!

[adz140]

Hi all, thought it was about time I stopped reading all those other blogs and started my own, here goes!

I'm Ads, I'm 27 and currently living in King's Lynn waiting for the Access to Medicine course at COWA to start. I've been here for about 4 months since I left the RAF where I spent 9 years working hard and enjoying myself. My last day in the mob was 5th May but I haven't really been to work since Jan!

I moved into a shared house in South Lynn which is quite nice, near the river and walking distance from town. I live with the landlady who's a writer and a young lad who we don't see alot of.

I've got myself a job at the Queen Elizabeth hospital as an auxiliary on the nurse bank and I start on Monday as a nursing assistant at a learning disability residential centre. I've really enjoyed working at the hospital, some days it's a bit monotonous but I've learnt loads. Doing the outpatient clinics is the most interesting, you have to sit in with the doc on his consultation, bit like shadowing a doctor.

I've always been fascinated by science and wanted to go into medicine when I left school but, like so many people, at around 15 the thought of studying hard, getting good grades and getting into uni went completely out the window. That's why I join the RAF, wanted to travel, get away from home and earn some money. I saw the error of my ways at around 20 when I knew that I had more potential . I took a couple of Highers by distance learning, big mistake, doing biology and chemistry with not much tutor support whilst working and travelling does not work, I got Cs but knew I could have done better.

A guy I worked with suggested the OU and I have done 6 courses now, I started out doing maths which was way too hard, plus I had to take my exam in the Gulf as I was serving out there at the time. I moved onto the lifesciences subjects, I wasn't really interested in getting great marks I just enjoyed using my brain again! I completed the human biology course which was fantastic but couldn't sit the exam as I was out of the country. I took the chemistry course last year, did most of the coursework in Afghanistan and Iraq and ended up with a grade 3 pass. Finally managed to do my human biology exam in April and managed to get a distinction which I am really chuffed about.

That's it for this installment, feel free to comment or just say hi.

[adz140]

Well its Sunday night and I'm soooooo bored! Been to work today, care of the elderly ward which I quite like, feel like I'm making a difference to them by just talking or helping someone drink their tea. Day off tomorrow, might go for a wander in town, not much to see, have to see what the weather does tomorrow. I'm in orthopedic outpatients clinic on Tues, really enjoy that, basically I help out the consultant and chaperone patients. One consultant is really good, he explains everything to the patient then chats to me about interesting bits of the case, last clinic we had an F1 so he was doing a bit of teaching. If it's quiet might ask if I could shadow him for a day or two.

I'm counting the days until college starts, can't wait to get stuck in. My next landmark is moving into Tennyson Ave in Aug. Will be good to meet everyone, I know one girl on the course already. I volunteer as a first responder, have done for about 3 years, and have recently joined the team at the RAF base near here. Basically we're trained in BLS and defib, and act as fast response to life threatening emergencies, trying to beat the governments 8 min target. It's great experience, the armed forces lot are much better trained and organised than the community guys (no offence) and we get called to all sorts from fights to fires and RTCs.
Anyway its daft o'clock in the morning and I had better get some sleep if I don't want to spend my day off in bed!!
Night all.

[adz140]

Well, not much happening. Working loads, lots of shifts at the hospital even though they're trying to save money, yet again by cutting things that wards need, like staff!!!
I've started my UCAS form, filled in all the mundane bits and am now pulling my hair out about my personal statement, I've got a first draft and I think it sounds ok, going to show it to some friends, see what they think. It's not alot of room to write about something so huge, especially if your a bit older!!!
I've got my choices down to UEA and HYMS, possibly Leeds and BSMS. That's the thing, I don't mind where I go, I've been round the country a bit already, don't get much of a choice where you're going to spend the next couple of years of your life in the forces. Hopefully when I start COWA I'll meet people from all over the country, see what they are aiming for.
Had the day off today, had to take my car to the garage (eek!!), my anti-roll bar is broken, they're going to get me a new one tomorrow. I'm hoping to sell my car before college, stick to my legs and my bike, much cheaper. Anyone out there want to buy a used Fiat Stilo?!?!? Got my hair cut today too, went for much shorter, nobody is going to recognise me!
I'm working tomorrow, at a residential place for people with learning disabilities. It's so interesting working there, we have people with all sorts of disability and I have to say I find it really rewarding.
Tomorrow night I'm going out on a First Response shift, the first I've done in Norfolk. It's going to be a bit different to centre of Bristol but I can't wait, been out of it since December. I'll tell you all about it!

That's all folks.