Sunday - Monday

Salam..

Much has happened since the touch-down day entry on Sunday.. And I do mean MUCH! Unfortunately, I had not have the leisure of time to sit and blog, hence the delay.. Furthermore, internet access is not available at my fingertips at all places..

Sunday Was The Day

The very same day we arrived, yes, I have blogged the story.. Needless to say, the fact that I am mentioning this day again means that very same day did not end with the blog..

That night, after a long day of traveling, then the beach, we went to Seremban 2, a fairly new shopping centre at a posh-level comparable to Sogo, and we played bowling.. I had not played for quite some time so my rust was leaking through every joint spaces! We played two games and went back home afterwards exhausted, drained but filled to the top of our lungs! I will let Ina fill in the details of me asking a fellow player (whom I thought worked at the bowling alley!) that our lane was stuck and my ball flew smoothly backwards!

Then Came Monday

Monday was slightly more of a 'working' day.. We started off that morning by going to several offices.. I just may say that those offices were not readily available in Ireland, hence it was impeccable to get it done at any opportunity we had..

Unfortunately for Erin, she had to attend an induction session in Port Dickson (about 20+ km from home) in preparation before starting work as a government servant in Malaysia.. So we planned to send Erin off to the resort, then shoot off to Kuala Selangor (Kusess) to see Zuhaili as he did not have any papers to sit on that Monday.. The drive was long and quite exhausting as we only arrived the day before.. Zuhaili was grand, although he did mention several 'hard' papers.. He still had a few more major elective papers to go through after Monday including Biology and Chemistry and Additional Mathematics..

I could not stay for long, so after a short conversation and loading off a bag full of chocolates, we bid farewell and good luck and departed towards Kundang (Ina's place).. That was easily another 30km from Kusess.. When we arrived, Abg Rusydi just got home and then about 5 minutes later Kak Yah knocked on the door.. We went out dining at McDonald's before returning home and await Ina's parents' arrival from Perlis.. Of course, I was slipping off into dozes when they arrived that night.. Quick hello's, then I was zonked!

More to Come

I knew more would be coming our way given how the initial two days had gone.. I was not complaining, but indeed I could feel the stretch in my muscles.. This type of vacation does mean that all plans with family usually for a year will be compressed into the two weeks we are at home, so the schedule is undeniably tight..

Well, that was it then so far as Monday.. I will attempt to blog in a few more times and catch up on the events on Tuesday to Thursday.. Believe me, those three days could well potentially be the most significant days of this two weeks! Await the news, people..

Till then, salam..

Vacation Has Officially Started!

Salam..

Alhamdulillah, we have arrived in Malaysia, uneventfully, despite the recent roars about Aer Lingus planning a possibly no-notice strike..

Limerick-Cork-Amsterdam-Kuala Lumpur

We left Limerick on Friday evening after work.. Obviously I was oncall the Thursday night, so my level of fatigue was up to my eyeballs.. After a shower, Mas Mahadi kindly sent us to the bus station and we board a bus straight to Cork.. Wan and Fid had brought our three bags to Cork the night before, so we travelled to Cork that Friday evening with just two hand luggage..

We arrived in Cork that evening well and were picked up by Wan and Fid again.. They brought us to Spice of India for dinner.. Then only we went to the Radisson Hotel near the airport.. The night was indeed chilly, made worse by my forgetfulness to bring along my sweater.. We checked in and said goodbye to the two and went to bed early.. I was almost nightmare-ish thinking that I may not wake up the next morning to catch the flight as I was truly exhausted.. (The oncall was exceptionally horrible - an SVT, a symptomatic brady, a fast a-fib, a benzo withdrawal with seizures, two meningitis' and four chest pains!) Luckily, I remembered to ask for the wake-up call service from the hotel..

We woke up at 4am Saturday morning and got ready for the airport.. We got the shuttle bus and checked-in straight for the 0620hrs flight to Amsterdam.. We managed to check all our bags straight to KL and got the boarding passes for the AMS-KUL flight too.. Flight was smooth, alhamdulillah..

We had Dutch-style breakfast with (extremely sour) tomato soup, a big bap of egg sandwich and coffee and tea.. I has an extra danish for myself too.. Before we board, I got hold of the current Newsweek and Ina bought some souvenirs.. We did see some lovely Dutch souvenirs but we figured it would meant more if we bought them when we do visit the place, not just 'fake' visits like airport transits.. So, no miniature windmills for the people in Malaysia this time..

Alhamdulillah, flight got up in the sky on time and our hearts were thumping ragingly demarcating our official holiday break is on GO.. After several movies, a few Britney songs, a faint man and a couple of naps, we arrived in Kuala Lumpur unharmed yet I felt slightly feverish thanks to the quick body temperature re-adjustment physiology.. Mama, Erin and Zaqwan were waiting for us outside and we went straight home to Seremban..

Nasi Lemak Breakfast and Banana Boat Ride

Mama had prepared a delicacy yet to be challenged by any known chef - the famous Nasi Lemak with sambal ikan bilis (anchovie chilli gravy) and sambal udang (prawn chilli gravy).. Quick breakfast and rest, we decided that we would see the sea.. Yes, people - to the sea straight after touching down home!

We bought some lunch on the way and headed to Teluk Kemang, Port Dickson, which was about a half-hours drive from Seremban.. There, we took a banana-boat ride and got ourselves soaked wet in the process.. But it was definitely worth it!

After lunch by the beach, we headed back home, showered and I was drained to my last bit of my bone.. Short nap and now blogging after re-setting the router..

Well, that is the story so far.. I will try to keep this updated.. I have planned to dictate our vacation and update the blog when the opportunity arrives but I cannot promise this would be a daily update.. Alright, people.. My Vacation is officially running its course.. Till next time, bye.. Salam..

* To Intan : If you're reading this, not to worry.. We'll send more text messages and pictures to keep you informed (and - obviously - jealous!)

* To Mas, Wan and Fid : Thanks for helping us out.. Thanks for the dinner at Spice of India and the ride to Radisson..

* Unfortunately, after multiple attempts, I was not able to upload any images for this entry.. Hence, I will leave it to your imaginations to re-live our great day-one of our holiday..

One Week Off and Two Weeks Off

Salam..

Needless to say, this blog has been idle for the last (at least) one week.. Furthermore, if any of you have meticulously noticed, the entries since Trust Me I'm A Doctor (Part 2) have been short and rather impulsive, leaning more towards 'time wasting agenda' rather than mind challenging debates.. Unfortunately, this is how things pan out over the last week.. With weekend calls and busy schedule at work (for some unprecedented reason), time for blogging was left minute, making it rather difficult for me to attempt a reasonably good entry for debatable issues..

That was the week that has passed..
The one week off from blogging..

This week, things have gone quite well.. Indeed, after a weekend oncall, precious time is again grabbed for some recovery and rejuvenation.. After all, Monday last week, the hospital has had a lot more visits from me than my own home bedroom.. Needless to say, myself and Ina are still going to the hospital every single day since last Monday..

Home-bound

Although the week has been invariably hectic, both of us have something gigantic and enormous, of which some people say 'gi-normous', to look forward to - spending 2 weeks of our annual leave in Malaysia! We will be leaving Limerick on Friday after work, spend the night in Cork before departing on Saturday morning to Kuala Lumpur via Amsterdam..

It is indeed a time of break between the hectic and pressing work lifestyle before again scrambling ourselves after the holidays.. Alas, it is a well deserved and long-awaited vacation..
We have just finished packing our 3 bags and one hand-luggage.. Most of them filled with souvenirs rather than our own clothes..

Unfortunately, for you readers out there, this vacation may well be that again this blog page will become silent and idle.. This is a big possibility.. Last I heard, Mama has organised a fibre-optic wireless internet network at home.. Maybe there is still some glimmer of light for blogging.. But I won't hold my breath - I may not have the time or energy or the mood and idea to blog then given the plans we have already made during the break..Having said that, I plan to jot down our vacation and travel logs in my diary (and possibly dictate them in a recorder) so that every single detail of our vacation could be shared later on..

Oh well, let us see how things work out over the next few days.. I am excited to have this two-week leave and looking forward to it..

* UPSR results is coming out today.. I wish Zaqwan the very best.. I have a surprise for you!
* SPM has started yesterday (11 Nov).. I wish Zuhaili the best of luck..

"Yesterday is history,
Tomorrow is mystery,
But today is a gift,
That is why it is called the present.."
(Master Ug-Wei)

Salam..

Faineance : The Countdown To Self-Meltdown

Salam..

Such a spectacular word to push for an episode entry for this blog.. Yet, even I only knew the meaning right about 30 seconds ago.. Yes, I blog and indeed use an online dictionary/thesaurus to 'hype' up this journal..

Translation : Laziness, Indolence

That is simply what it means.. No less to describe my weekend.. The fact that the next weekend will be my (possibly, but hopefully not so) frantic weekend is subconsciously an excuse for me to be lazy this weekend.. Sadly though, Ina is oncall tonight and she was oncall on Thursday, only coming home with me on Friday.. Even so, she finished quite late - almost 6.30pm on Friday, when I duly finished just before 4pm..

Nonetheless, I did fill a small percentage of the weekend with some work-out in the gym.. Twice a week should be enough, at least to make my monthly payment's worth..

Well, I have nothing major to write here.. I shall be planning my schedule in Malaysia with Ina very soon.. We have somewhat agreed that WE will have to decide about our stay in Malaysia, not to let things got out of hand just because to keep both camps happy.. It is not easy when all we have is just under two weeks.. And WE need the holiday..

I should stop complaining.. I should just put my pen down, get to bed and think about this later.. Maybe tomorrow.. (And thus I procrastinate again *sigh*)

Salam..

Blissful Wedding Bells For Mike And Roisin..

Salam..

Just dropping by for a quick note.. As I told you earlier in the previous entry, I was exceptionally eager awaiting for this bank holiday weekend, purely because of the extended long-overdue break from hospital environment and to attend my first ever Irish wedding reception.. Yes, my lovely colleague Roisin's wedding..

Congratulations To Mike And Roisin!

Ina was oncall on Friday, only arriving home on Saturday morning.. I had thought of Roisin's wedding all day - how it would get on yesterday - as the weather was (unsurprisingly for autumn/winter) horrible.. It rained all day from the first sight of light to the arrival of night dark cloak! I did wish it all would go extremely well for my good friend though, regardless of the outside weather..

We arrived at the reception at Charleville Park Hotel, about 30km outside Limerick, about 8.30pm.. We didn't have any invitation card, so we were in a way, slightly clueless as to where to go.. Luckily for us, Roisin's dad saw us and invited and guided me in, straight to see Roisin.. I had met Roisin's dad a week before when he was having tea with Roisin in the hospital canteen..

Roisin was beautiful.. I thought she might have lost some weight between June (when I last worked with her) and last night.. She was glittering with joy.. She wore a pearl white corset wedding gown with multiple small glittering pearls.. She had a pearl necklace around her neck.. Mike wore the traditional Irish wedding shirt and tails, with yellow neck tie.. It was my first time meeting Mike, despite Roisin spoke of him a lot when we worked together in Milford..

We grabbed some Coke and we were noticed by Ruth Moloney from a nearby 'Doctor Who' table.. We joined her at the table, with Tom Kennedy, Catherine Peters, Eibhlish Ahern and Evelyn Kearns.. All of these people I knew quite well from the hospital scene.. There were other few that I barely knew - Omar (Orthopaedic registrar) and another surgical SHO, who came with Eibhlish..

We were lucky to arrive just about the time before the couple's first dance.. I did not actually recognise the song, but the couple obviously did.. The song was gorgeous and the dance was indeed so romantic..

Roisin and Mike's first dance

More Dance Afterwards

Of course, the usual culture would be more dance and this time the floor was for the guests to roam with the newly-weds.. The band played lovely songs to heat up the ceremony, although we might have been sitting to close to the speaker..

Unfortunately for us, we were spotted by Ev, who was by the way gorgeously dressed, and she had 'forced' us to take the floor and dance.. After much resistance and a lot of tugging, I gave in and took Ina's hand to dance - our own first dance! Never thought of that one! Ev got a snap and she will email me the picture later..

Wishing The Best Of Days Ahead For You Both

Unfortunately for us, we had plans to go to Cork Sunday morning, so staying back late was not a great luxury for us to have.. We went to find Roisin in the midst of the crowd and managed to catch both Mike and Roisin.. I congratulated Mike and Roisin and introduced Ina to them.. Mike thanked me for coming over and told me Roisin spoke highly of me..

"Oh, you are the Shaz Roisin has been talking about..
I heard a lot about you.. Truly honoured to meet you!"

I was lucky to have such a nice colleague in the first place.. Yes, Roisin and I got along very well at work..

I had hoped to get a picture of us and the new couple, but it ended up with Mike taking the snap of us with Roisin - after Roisin's suggestion..

With Mrs Roisin Dempsey-McMahon

Overall, I felt it was an honour to be given the chance to attend an Irish wedding, more so the wedding of one of my best colleagues here in Limerick.. It was a cultural exposure to me.. Yes, and Ina and I had our first dance too - thanks to Ev!

I wish the best of journeys to Roisin and Mike.. I thank you both for having us as guests.. I would also like congratulate Mike's and Roisin's family for the event held brilliantly..

Best wishes.. Salam..

Updates...

Salam..

I'm back again.. I've so much to tell but i'm not in a good mood to write it all.. probably I'll write about a thing or two..

I'll be going back to geriatrics!

My dear husband has told you that I got the SHO job in geriatrics.. To be honest with you, I never thought that medicine will be my 'thing'.. I never know what I wanted to do.. but since I started working in surgery,the answer became clear to me... medicine it is!! before I applied for the job,I was half-hearted because I was thinking of getting a few months off after this long internship that I do.. but on the other hand,I felt that i'll waste my skills & time as well.. I was really stuck.. I was worried that if I do work,I'll not be able to give my 100%.. I really didn't know how to decide.. My husband left it in my hand to decide.. I know he didn't want to put any pressure on me or to influence me in any way.. when I called my parents, I didn't have the strength to even mention the idea of being jobless.. so,in the end I decided to apply & let the 'nature takes its course'.. hehehe... I always believed that Allah knows the best for me.. I always believe in that..

Before I was called for the interview,unexpected things happened.. My original plan was to go for the interview without telling anyone & just tried my luck... (OK,probably it was not a good idea & it would be one of the 'mission impossible's;p) then one day,my ever-so-nice ex-SpReg, Catherine asked me where did I applied for my jobs & ever-so-clever me answered that I applied for the job here.. she was delighted & said that she will mentioned it to Prof Lyons.. And as I applied for the jobs,I asked Mr Waldron to be one of my referee & he also said he would mention it to Prof Lyons & Dr Clinch.. I was so touched by how good they're to me.. & I knew then that everyone in the interviewing panel would be expecting me & guess what,that actually made me more nervous! I knew they're all very nice & wanted to help me but what if I totally screwed up in the interview? that was my biggest fear when i walked into the interview.. It was my 1st interview for jobs & I was the 1st person to be interviewed.. It went OK.. I was so relieved when it was over.. and I think I did pretty OK.. I went home thinking,could I get the job? there were like 30+ of us and of which more than half of them that I knew (either from dublin or those who are also working here)..

The next day I got the news,1st from Catherine,then from Prof Lyons & I got the formal news from Ruth (human resources).. when Ruth 1st told me that i'm the 1st on the panel,I didn't quite get it.. I thought she meant that I was the 1st being interviewed.. and she said it again that I'm the 1st on the panel (meaning that I'm the 1st in the ranking),then only the message got through to me.. wow,I didn't expect to be the 1st in the ranking! Alhamdulillah.. being in the 1st interview & the 1st being interviewed,I didn't expect that actually.. Allah has ease my way & I knew this is whats best for me.. to continue my journey in my career.. and probably acute medicine is my destiny:) As for now,things has gone quite smoothly for me.. Alhamdulillah.. & thanks to those who have helped me along the journey especially my beloved husband... thank you!

This is just the beginning.. Although I am happy,I am scared as well.. starting as a SHO means more responsibilities & more expectations to come.. and how will I survive my oncall?? i'm really scared thinking of that.. I have more than 2 months to prepare myself & I will try my very best!

Good days & bad days

I guess it is normal for us to have good days & bad days.. and i have a few of them.. and I guess today is one of the bad days.. I came to work late (I didn't realise that I didn't set my alarm last night) & it totally ruined my mood.. and i guess everyone can see it in my face.. and then something good happened.. my consultant,Miss Merrigan praised me on my good work on updating the admissions list in the office.. She made my day.. Its not the praise that matters, but showing some appreciation do make a lot of differences.. it was a simple well done but knowing that she appreciates it makes me feels good & lifts up my mood.. it is amazing how a simple line can change your day.. and I learn today that being a superior not only involves giving orders but appreciates it when its done.. and I think it is very important especially when you're working under pressure.. It becomes a strong motivation to go on eventhough you're exhausted and nearly wanted to give it up.. Thanks Miss Merrigan! I do feel that I need some support.. probably because surgery is not my favourite.. I try to give my best but its kind of hard when i'm not totally in love with surgery.. It's very different from medicine.. but I do respect the surgeons.. its just that I prefer medicine,although its busy but I love it and makes me feel less stressful..

I guess I better stop now.. I'll write again soon..
p/s: my husband is bored when I'm 'entertaining' the laptop screen rather than talking to him.. hehehe..

Addiction To Blogging - A Disease Or Escalation Of Thought Processing?

Salam..

It has come to my obvious attention that my addiction to visiting this site, thus serving this blog with my entries has arrived to the point that I am almost blogging on a daily basis.. Not to mention, it has become an autocratic obsession, taking outrageous monopoly from a supposed-to-be shared blog.. Oh well, maybe this new hobby will lead me towards being a more open-minded critical and rational individual..

I have to say, I never intended this blog to be my online open-book diary for others to meal on my daily activities, but rather a place for me to vent my ideas and arguments and possibly re-evaluate my opinions after being commented by you fellow readers.. As atypical as one might think, I am not, and have never been, a keen diarist, not the very least..

Finishing My Series

I keep thinking about my three-part series of the doctors' life.. I am fully aware that it has now come to a stage where the final arguments should be available for you.. However, despite having had drafted the main points for the last episode, I have yet come to a 'feel' of needing to write.. One may loudly argue that the first two entries came indeed quite closely one after the other.. The dedication and urge to finish the series are still gloom.. I may well have to re-ignite myself to ensure a good quality and critical discussion at par with the previous two..

Hopefully so, that this slightly extended pause between the series would serve as a significant intermission for you to digest and evaluate the discussions so far before diving into the finale.. Every storm has its silver lining.. Maybe it is true..

Await the closing of the trilogy, and more importantly, I do appreciate all comments, arguments and criticisms.. Never fear to voice out your opinion..

See you all soon.. Wassalam..