It's me, Kinkerz!

[Kinkerz]

My Psychology teacher did put my paper in for a remark, so the doubts I had were misplaced... In this case. I am happy to report that the mark has risen from a low B to a healthy B. Good, eh? So I am now on a high B overall in Psychology at the moment. Yes!

My school has finally sent my UCAS form off to UCAS today. Although today's date is the 13th, so my application may be cursed! Anyway, I'm just happy they've sent it off in time.

University of Leeds - A100 Medicine
University of Keele - A100 Medicine
University of Nottingham - A100 Medicine
Brighton and Sussex Medical School - A100 Medicine
University of Leeds - B120 Human Physiology

[Kinkerz]

The whole memorising my Chemistry plan, and the rain tip tapping on my attic window have caused me to drift off and I have decided to update.

The dad car thing. It seems that he's coming round to my way of thinking and I think he now prefers the Audi! This is good as it's a better car. Well in my opinion it is anyway.

Just like to say aswell, I've been watching the occasional Grey's Anatomy season three episode and I'm not particularly impressed. Don't really know why either, it all just seems too predictable and dull. I hope it picks up...

Referee talked to me today and asked me which PS I sent off... Yes I know, cowardly of me not to actually tell him before it was sent. Another bout of cowardism came when I said that I used a combination of both, using the best bits of each. Just to point out, it would've been very difficult to actually do this because my referee was trying to say different things to what I was.
Well it made him feel as though he'd contributed anyway. Sometimes a white lie is good (?).

Now going to have a cup of coffee to see if I can reduce the sheer amount of "lethargic-ness" within me, and try to get this damn plan into my head.

[Kinkerz]

The plan went well and I think I got all the points I needed, although can't be certain as I don't know the mark scheme! But I hit all the points that the teacher indicated we needed (no, I'm not entirely trusting her judgement either :s). So technically I should get a nice 8/8 for it! Which is good, as it drags me one tiny step closer to AABc!

Recieved an e-mail with the online questionnaire that Nottingham applicants have to fill out yesterday - it's pretty extensive actually, and they give a choice like a quadrillion answers for the question(s) - like to get it in asap, even though the deadline is in two weeks.
I like the idea of being called an applicant now, feel all grown up applying to university. "Dear applicant...". It's cool!

[Kinkerz]

Another setback, although I'm hoping it won't be a big'un. I have my e-mail inbox set as really strict - I was getting ~15 junk mail messages per day - and yesterday there were 8 unread messages in the junk folder. There is an icon right next to the icon you click to open the folder in MSN hotmail and yes that empties it. Yes, I clicked the icon that empties it! Alot of people recieved their welcome messages that allows them to log into track yesterday and therefore my welcome message could well have been deleted! Argh.
So I've got to phone UCAS on Monday, should I not recieve the welcome message before that - I will assume that it was deleted - and ask them to re-send my welcome message.

Hopefully it won't be too much trouble...

[Kinkerz]

Currently watching the 2008 Snooker Grand Prix on BBC 2. It's the second semi-final between Ali Carter and Ryan Day with the winner going on to face John Higgins in the final. I'd like Ryan Day to progress, because I prefer the way he plays the game.

I thought this was a good point to slot a bit more personal information of me in with arguably my best hobby, snooker. I really enjoy playing snooker, partly because it's a good game but partly because I picked it up quite well, which always helps get you interested.

I generally play at least once a week; sometimes with my grandad (who is awesome at it), sometimes with my dad (who is poor at it) and other times with my mates (some are decent, some are awful). My highest break of just over 40 (43) has been the pinacle of my "career" thus far, although I can feel a 50 coming along sometime soon The best aspect of my game is positional play. I am good at getting the cue ball where I want it, but I make my mistakes when it comes to potting - sometimes get my angles wrong!

Anyway. You now know a little bit more about me.

Saying that, I don't actually think I've mentioned what my name is... I must tell you - Josh.

Edit: Ryan Day did get through 6-5. So It'll be a Higgins Vs Day final. Not that you're interested

[Kinkerz]

Not good at the moment.

Can't seem to find any motivation anywhere, which is strange because things are generally about to get exciting, what with the UCAS potential and all the malarky. I'm just drifting through lessons and then attempting to re-cover the material at home; and failing. We've done about three lessons of the syllabus in Psychology and I don't actually think I've taken anything in. The subject just bores the living hell out of me - makes me wish I'd continued with Physics. I mean, at least Physics had something about it. There was some mental stimulation instead of learning study after study about (in my opinion) pointless principles. Chemistry just gets worse, and seems to get more and more difficult by the minute - decreasing chances of an A. Biology on the other hand, is actually going well and things seem to be going in!
Hopefully a positive change in UCAS status will come quickly and that might instill some motivation in me.

Anyway. It's impressive if you've managed to read the drivel above.

[Kinkerz]

Just been to the snooker club with a few mates; won £10! So that'll pay for next week

My friend Jag, who I mentioned in an early post was rejected from his 5th choice today - Pharmacy at Manchester - so that was a bit of a blow for him. Although he wants Medicine, so he wasn't too bothered.

Broken up for half term now. Yes! Although it won't be a pleasant week of sleep-ins. No. I shall be getting up at normal time, if not earlier, because I'm spending Monday to Friday at Calderdale Royal Hospital in Halifax! So far I've got a few days on the stroke and rehabilitation unit with a Dr Shakir, and I may spend a few days on the elderly medical ward that I've spent most of my previous work experience placements on. Should be good. I'll inform you of highlights and impressions as I go along...

[Kinkerz]

Day One

The first day was interesting, not necessarilly in the science component of Medicine*, but it was educational in the way a hospital ward works. I attended an MDT meeting (where there was a really hot social worker, may I add) where each patient's issues were discussed and solutions made. Since I was on a stroke rehabilitation unit, most of the patients were elderly and therefore had more issues such as how the patient could cope with being at home and if they could manage by themselves.

*although I did learn about a genetic illness called thalassemia. Interestingly the gene of thalassemia is similar to the sickle cell anemia gene as both cause immunity to malaria.

Met an FY2 who graduated from Leeds, and he was really nice; offered to give me some advice on Leeds interviews because he was on the interview panel as a student (as I'm pretty sure most, if not all, are).

Overall, decent day although tomorrow should be better as I shall be on an acute medical unit, which I think will be more my cup of tea.

[Kinkerz]

Day Two

Did a long ward round this morning, my legs were killing towards the end and I just wanted to sit down; didn't care about anything else, just wanted to rest my poor old legs. It takes less stamina to play 90 minutes of football!

Just after dinner I went to a "meeting" with two FY2 doctors, which was basically a case discussion and a presentation. The case discussion was a young(ish) woman who had a stroke, and the presentation on UTIs, both of which were interesting. You know what the empirical treatment is for a UTI? Trimethoprim, 200mg BD (whatever the hell BD means).

Then another ward round in the afternoon, which went on untill 17:00. Gah! This was on an elderly medical ward so there was quite a varied set of illnesses and conditions. One lady had a pulmonary embolism, another had a subdural haematoma. There was alot of different conditions, which made things interesting.

Decent day overall. I'm pretty drained though.

[Kinkerz]

Day Three

This morning was pretty cool. Spent it in a diagnostic clinic with just the consultant, so I could ask all kinds of questions without fear of feeling stupid infront of many different people. Although, that said, he seemed to answer my questions as though they were logical and with some enthusiasm, which was comforting.

Nearly all the patients seemed to have carotid stenosis and were on aspirin and dipyridamole to stop any clots forming, thus reducing the chance of an infarction. I suppose that is to be expected, as the consultant is a stroke specialist

Anyway, he said I should go after lunch because he said students at university get Wednesday afternoons off, so I should also. So I got to come home after a pretty disappointing ham and tomato sandwhich...