The Royal Society of Literature:
The V.S. Pritchett Memorial Prize
An annual award of £1,000 for a previously unpublished short story. This prize is supported by Chatto & Windus, V.S. Pritchett’s publishers.
The closing date is the 14th February 2006.
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
A Date with Danger: First Aid Pitfalls on Valentines Day
A Date with Danger: First Aid Pitfalls on Valentines' Day
St. John Ambulance offers a guide on how to deal with unexpected dangers of Valentines' Day.
St. John Ambulance offers a guide on how to deal with unexpected dangers of Valentines' Day.
Postcard from the Yorkshire Dales (2)
Sunday, 29th January 2006
Today is my birthday.
I am forty-six years old. Four and six add up to ten, which is my lucky number, so it is going to be a good year. In fact, the numbers in today’s date, 29.01.2006, add up to 20; twenty can be twice divided by ten, which must mean that it is going to be a doubly good year.
As an Aquarian, I am also in good company. Robert Burns was born on the 25th January and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was 250 years old on the 27th January this year. (The DJ, Tony Blackburn, was born on the 29th January, but I try to ignore that fact.)
A few days ago, I mentioned that I had awoken at 5.55 each morning for three days in a row. I can lend significance to that today; I was born at 5.55, only it was in the evening. However, surely there has to be a good omen in there somewhere!
It is also the Chinese New Year, which is an interesting coincidence as it varies from year to year.
So, the portents are looking good. Coupled with a crisp frosty landscape outside, I think I can step boldly forward into my next year of adventure, enterprise and self-discovery.
There is also a bottle of champagne in the fridge, so that looks encouraging…
Today is my birthday.
I am forty-six years old. Four and six add up to ten, which is my lucky number, so it is going to be a good year. In fact, the numbers in today’s date, 29.01.2006, add up to 20; twenty can be twice divided by ten, which must mean that it is going to be a doubly good year.
As an Aquarian, I am also in good company. Robert Burns was born on the 25th January and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was 250 years old on the 27th January this year. (The DJ, Tony Blackburn, was born on the 29th January, but I try to ignore that fact.)
A few days ago, I mentioned that I had awoken at 5.55 each morning for three days in a row. I can lend significance to that today; I was born at 5.55, only it was in the evening. However, surely there has to be a good omen in there somewhere!
It is also the Chinese New Year, which is an interesting coincidence as it varies from year to year.
So, the portents are looking good. Coupled with a crisp frosty landscape outside, I think I can step boldly forward into my next year of adventure, enterprise and self-discovery.
There is also a bottle of champagne in the fridge, so that looks encouraging…
Postcard from the Yorkshire Dales (1)
Saturday, 28th January 2006
The day opened with a promise; the rising sun soon high enough to illuminate the haw in front of the cottage. For the uninitiated, a haw is a type of enclosed hill. This one takes its name from the village and, to be truthful, is not immediately in front of the cottage. Instead, it towers over half the village. However, a good bit of it can be seen from our kitchen window, which is good enough for me. Its various moods change in accordance with the weather. When the top can be clearly seen bathed in sunlight and the sheep are spread over its grassy mounds, contentedly feeding, I know that we are in for a good day. Today was one such day; a good one for a walk.
After a short drive, we reached the village of Malham. A delightful village set amidst green hills (it is difficult not to be around here). Malham is one of the Dales’ honey pots for visitors throughout the year. The summer is particularly crowded, so, apart from a foray to the annual Malham Show, we tend to save our own visits for the low seasons when the area is relatively quiet.
The focus for today’s visit was the spectacular Malham Cove, with its 300 feet high limestone cliff and surmounted pavement. It is always an impressive sight and today was no exception. The sun illuminated the cliff face such that the whiteness of it shone with a vividness to be remarked upon. Every now and again, a cloud obscured the sun and, as it did so, the cliff took on a darker hue. Even that was worth watching. It was as though we were looking at a watercolour painting, with God in the process of applying a light wash of Payne’s Grey.
A climb to the top of the cliff was rewarded, not only by the fascinating limestone pavement itself, but also by a stunning view down into Malhamdale, through to the hills of Lancashire and, although I cannot be sure, possibly beyond. The weather was so brilliantly clear that the horizon was difficult to pinpoint with any accuracy. From our vantage point above the cove, we were able to look down to where a pair of Peregrine Falcons nested in the Spring of last year; the memory of them soaring above the valley still vivid.
As I now sit writing, it is 5.13 p.m. and, although the end of January, the sky is still a light blue colour, with a tinge of redness in the east as the sun sets. Such has been the beauty of today. It will be rounded off with a meal at one of the best country pub restaurants in Yorkshire, if not in the country. The Angel Inn at Hetton has previously won all types of awards year upon year. However, it has just been approved for Michelin status. I am not surprised. We are indeed fortunate to have it as one of our favoured ‘locals’.
The day opened with a promise; the rising sun soon high enough to illuminate the haw in front of the cottage. For the uninitiated, a haw is a type of enclosed hill. This one takes its name from the village and, to be truthful, is not immediately in front of the cottage. Instead, it towers over half the village. However, a good bit of it can be seen from our kitchen window, which is good enough for me. Its various moods change in accordance with the weather. When the top can be clearly seen bathed in sunlight and the sheep are spread over its grassy mounds, contentedly feeding, I know that we are in for a good day. Today was one such day; a good one for a walk.
After a short drive, we reached the village of Malham. A delightful village set amidst green hills (it is difficult not to be around here). Malham is one of the Dales’ honey pots for visitors throughout the year. The summer is particularly crowded, so, apart from a foray to the annual Malham Show, we tend to save our own visits for the low seasons when the area is relatively quiet.
The focus for today’s visit was the spectacular Malham Cove, with its 300 feet high limestone cliff and surmounted pavement. It is always an impressive sight and today was no exception. The sun illuminated the cliff face such that the whiteness of it shone with a vividness to be remarked upon. Every now and again, a cloud obscured the sun and, as it did so, the cliff took on a darker hue. Even that was worth watching. It was as though we were looking at a watercolour painting, with God in the process of applying a light wash of Payne’s Grey.
A climb to the top of the cliff was rewarded, not only by the fascinating limestone pavement itself, but also by a stunning view down into Malhamdale, through to the hills of Lancashire and, although I cannot be sure, possibly beyond. The weather was so brilliantly clear that the horizon was difficult to pinpoint with any accuracy. From our vantage point above the cove, we were able to look down to where a pair of Peregrine Falcons nested in the Spring of last year; the memory of them soaring above the valley still vivid.
As I now sit writing, it is 5.13 p.m. and, although the end of January, the sky is still a light blue colour, with a tinge of redness in the east as the sun sets. Such has been the beauty of today. It will be rounded off with a meal at one of the best country pub restaurants in Yorkshire, if not in the country. The Angel Inn at Hetton has previously won all types of awards year upon year. However, it has just been approved for Michelin status. I am not surprised. We are indeed fortunate to have it as one of our favoured ‘locals’.
Friday, January 27, 2006
Going to the Dogs
Many a patient has lamented that the NHS is ‘not what it used to be’. Hopefully, far fewer try to hasten its financial demise in quite the same way as one of my recent patients.
An elderly chap attended complaining that he was frequently feeling faint and dizzy. A check of his BP gave a reading of 110/75. Sensing that his hypertension (high blood-pressure) was being somewhat over-controlled, I suggested that he stop taking the ramipril tablets (which lower the blood-pressure).
“But doctor, I have never taken those”, he answered in reply.
“Well, you have had a prescription issued every month for the past four years”, I responded.
“Oh yes”, he said. “The vet said my dog has heart failure, so I feed them to him. Done him the power of good and cheaper than paying the vet’s bills.”
As I reached for the ‘delete’ button and looked down the rest of his drug list I couldn’t help pondering whether his dog suffered from asthma, arthritis and constipation as well!
(First published in GP Magazine in February 2005)
An elderly chap attended complaining that he was frequently feeling faint and dizzy. A check of his BP gave a reading of 110/75. Sensing that his hypertension (high blood-pressure) was being somewhat over-controlled, I suggested that he stop taking the ramipril tablets (which lower the blood-pressure).
“But doctor, I have never taken those”, he answered in reply.
“Well, you have had a prescription issued every month for the past four years”, I responded.
“Oh yes”, he said. “The vet said my dog has heart failure, so I feed them to him. Done him the power of good and cheaper than paying the vet’s bills.”
As I reached for the ‘delete’ button and looked down the rest of his drug list I couldn’t help pondering whether his dog suffered from asthma, arthritis and constipation as well!
(First published in GP Magazine in February 2005)
Thursday, January 26, 2006
Thought for the Day
A wise man is cautious how he becomes the echo of commonly received opinion.
Phillipe Pinet
Phillipe Pinet
Numerical Conundrum
Maybe I have been reading too many Dan Brown books regarding the alleged significance of pentagrams and the number five (see The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons). However, for the past three mornings I have spontaneously awoken to the time 5.55 on the digital clock.
I am not certain as to the significance, but it sure does set the mind thinking!
The Oxford Dictionary wasn't at all helpful, giving the definition of 'five' as 'one more than four'. Great! I suppose it is an accurate definition, but hardly of help to me.
A quick search on the internet brought up an interesting site developed by someone who had experienced the same as myself. The site can be found at: http://www.crystalinks.com/555.html It gives a lot of detail about the symbolism of the number five and pentagrams etc. However, it still doesn't answer the question as to the significance of the occurrence of 555 on the alarm clock for three days in a row.
I will tell you if it happens five days in a row. Now, that would be very thought-provoking.
I am not certain as to the significance, but it sure does set the mind thinking!
The Oxford Dictionary wasn't at all helpful, giving the definition of 'five' as 'one more than four'. Great! I suppose it is an accurate definition, but hardly of help to me.
A quick search on the internet brought up an interesting site developed by someone who had experienced the same as myself. The site can be found at: http://www.crystalinks.com/555.html It gives a lot of detail about the symbolism of the number five and pentagrams etc. However, it still doesn't answer the question as to the significance of the occurrence of 555 on the alarm clock for three days in a row.
I will tell you if it happens five days in a row. Now, that would be very thought-provoking.
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Inner Workings
Apparently, the human brain is at least 1,000 times more powerful than previously thought (The Mind's 'Enigma Machine', The Daily Telegraph, 24 Jan 06). It is estimated that, if you connected a Pentium 4 computer to every connection on the global internet, the average brain would still be 100 times more powerful.
Medical students are often flattered to be told that they are amongst the top 3% of the country when it comes to matters of intellect. Given these statistics, why is it that I have great difficulty in remembering the names of people?
Unless it has something to do with that (rather delicious) steamed sheep's brain I ate in Paris when I was eighteen...
Medical students are often flattered to be told that they are amongst the top 3% of the country when it comes to matters of intellect. Given these statistics, why is it that I have great difficulty in remembering the names of people?
Unless it has something to do with that (rather delicious) steamed sheep's brain I ate in Paris when I was eighteen...
Lest we Forget
The appalling story of the Holocaust is one which has been told so many times that there is a slight danger of becoming immune, by a process of familiarity, to the horrors which took place. However, even I was unprepared for the stark reality of hearing a Russian infantryman, on arriving at Dachau, asking the question, 'how many women do you have to kill to produce seven tons of hair?'
Thought provoking indeed.
As an international community, we cannot afford to be complacent regarding such atrocities. Examples such as the one quoted above must never be allowed to rest as a simple matter of historical fact. Without frequent reminders, the human race is not clever enough to consistently learn from the lessons of the past.
Thought provoking indeed.
As an international community, we cannot afford to be complacent regarding such atrocities. Examples such as the one quoted above must never be allowed to rest as a simple matter of historical fact. Without frequent reminders, the human race is not clever enough to consistently learn from the lessons of the past.
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
Clarity of Thought
The recognition of one’s illness and an awareness of how that illness and certain actions might have an impact on one’s well-being have long been considered positive prognostic signs in psychiatry.
It was therefore most reassuring to receive the following within a letter from a Community Psychiatric Nurse who had been to assess a patient, whom I shall call John:
‘John has had violent pre-morbid thoughts of killing himself, but states that he would not act on them as he realises that it would be contrary to his best interests.’
Insight at its best!
(First published in GP Magazine, 15 March 2004)
It was therefore most reassuring to receive the following within a letter from a Community Psychiatric Nurse who had been to assess a patient, whom I shall call John:
‘John has had violent pre-morbid thoughts of killing himself, but states that he would not act on them as he realises that it would be contrary to his best interests.’
Insight at its best!
(First published in GP Magazine, 15 March 2004)
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