Lemon's Journal

Where are you and where are you going?
Lemon
Posts: 261
Joined: Sat May 30, 2015 2:29 am

Re: Lemon's Journal

Post by Lemon »

Many changes. Left my old A&E job. Moved back to London and in with my partner.

So far living with a partner has been a rather steep learning curve. I am used to making decisions completely unilaterally rather than with discussion and compromise. By and large it seems to be going well, we agreed to split 50/50 groceries/bills/rent/general household items rather than end up with a joint account (there is, of course, a spreadsheet). He clearly has more desires to nest than me though, which is fine but I have refused to contribute to decoration that I would not consider buying myself (hello map of the British empire at its zenith...) I suspect when it comes to doing the monthly accounts I will end up with increased spending due to this and the slightly higher rent. But well worth the trade off to be with partner and also to escape from some particularly 'interesting' former flatmates (I did mange to get one of them evicted a few months before I myself moved on, thank god).

I am pushing the other way and he has certainly had more pulses based meals than he ever had before we moved in!

He also seems to be happy, other than the odd me not registering he wants more attention when I have come back form a 12 1/2 hour shift and he has been on his own over much of the weekend. I will work on this. I just need to make sure no screens are around.

Work

2 weeks in I am loving my new job. I help keep newborn babies/kids alive/healthy. Hard to argue with those goals. The intensity (so far) is also far less than any of my old jobs. I got to have MULTIPLE TEA BREAKS over weekend on call shifts. None of my previous jobs have had this, just many mental calculations of working out whether drinking or peeing was more important because of only having time for one. So big pluses there. There are very nice perks too. Despite only being at the last few minutes of any given birth to set up resuscitation equipment and hope to god you don't have to use it on the newborn (you almost never do) for some reason I get to hand the kid to mum/dad rather than anyone else in them room. This seems unfair given the midwife might have been with someone for hours...but I guess in totally normal deliveries I am not around. The reduced exposure to 'problems as a doctor I can't fix' also helps with mood.

Which leads to the dilemma of what to do next. I have a job for 6 months. Then once again I am 'unemployed'. There is a job in a very niche specialty that I might want to try for experience for which the deadline is a week away. But, it would mean moving to the other side of the country for it. If you had asked me 2 months ago I would have obviously said to apply. But now...I wonder whether I should. I would again be long distance. I would probably be paying even more in travel + rent than I am now. My partner understands why I would want to do it but obviously would rather it was nearby (this is not possible). The job comes around every year. I could do it later but if I join a training scheme (which I think now I probably will at least apply) getting permission to leave and come back might be tricky. Or, I could possibly try and do it post full qualification. What I don't want to do is apply now, ham up an interview because my heart isn't in it or turn an offered job down as they will remember and that world is small (the specialists in the country amount to less than a A4 page of names, even with their addresses on it). The clock is however ticking.

Any training scheme wouldn't start till next August though so I would have 6 months to fill with other work/something else. What the good alternative is I don't know. I took my current job to learn which it is certainly helping me to do! It also pays 6k better which is nice.

This is the first time I have had to deal with having so many options since applying to university. It is wonderful and terrifying. If anyone has any suggestions...

Cycling

I once again have a bike commute, yay free exercise.

Net worth

£60k
Last edited by Lemon on Sun May 31, 2020 12:17 am, edited 1 time in total.

wolf
Posts: 1102
Joined: Fri Jan 06, 2017 5:09 pm
Location: Germany

Re: Crazylemon's Journal

Post by wolf »

Crazylemon wrote:
Mon Aug 14, 2017 10:31 am
Which leads to the dilemma of what to do next. I have a job for 6 months. Then once again I am 'unemployed'. There is a job in a very niche specialty that I might want to try for experience for which the deadline is a week away. But, it would mean moving to the other side of the country for it. If you had asked me 2 months ago I would have obviously said to apply. But now...I wonder whether I should. I would again be long distance. I would probably be paying even more in travel + rent than I am now. My partner understands why I would want to do it but obviously would rather it was nearby (this is not possible). The job comes around every year. I could do it later but if I join a training scheme (which I think now I probably will at least apply) getting permission to leave and come back might be tricky. Or, I could possibly try and do it post full qualification. What I don't want to do is apply now, ham up an interview because my heart isn't in it or turn an offered job down as they will remember and that world is small (the specialists in the country amount to less than a A4 page of names, even with their addresses on it). The clock is however ticking.
Hi Crazylemon. Nice nickname, btw. :-)
What does your head say? What is logical, rational, ...
What does your heart tell you? Is there a passion, ...
Of course you have considered aspects, but have you already thought about the "big picture", e.g. 5 years from now or from a higher perspective?

Lemon
Posts: 261
Joined: Sat May 30, 2015 2:29 am

Re: Lemon's Journal

Post by Lemon »

@MDFIRE sorry for the delayed reply.

In the end I chose to withdraw my application.
Several reasons but mainly that I am very much enjoying being where I am now. I also suspect I don't have that much passion for the specialism. It would be a continuation of my current 'try a bit of everything' but the cost of needing to move location for now is too high for me.

I think I have realised I enjoy practicing medicine, but, I don't have any one niche area I could see myself doing forever. Certainly none that I have so far experienced. Much that most colleagues seem to think I should become some sort of hospital specialist.

Having spoken to the General Practice Trainees I work with and form my prior experience I think this is the way to go. I like the work and it gets me out of unsociable hours the fastest way possble. Given when registering with a GP recently when they discovered I was a Doctor they pretty much started offering me a locum position until I pointed out I wasn't quite qualified for that gives an idea of how short the UK is of doctors. This is sad and makes the job far less pleasant with a feeling of not being able to provide the service you would like due to not having the numbers. On the other hand it means quite possibly being able to dictate most terms (if not pay because of a Nationalised system) so that flexible working/part time/sabbaticals mean I could keeping working while having vastly more time off appeals. This is what I intend to offer my current employer once my 6 months is up. Happy to work for the department but won't want to do it full time. If they can't do that goodbye and I will work half the same shifts as the locum covering the empty slots (+other departments) and perversely end up with more control and higher pay. The NHS and its inflexibility to try and maintain control of most Drs doesn't work so well once there are shortages...Again I was offered an immediate extension by my supervisor after doing only a handful of shifts.

Looking on the longer horizon somewhat feels odd because within 5 and certainly by 10 there is no way that I will need to be working and so I think I would just jump ship if I totally hated it.

Maybe that isn't a particularly high perspective...
Last edited by Lemon on Sun May 31, 2020 12:17 am, edited 1 time in total.

wolf
Posts: 1102
Joined: Fri Jan 06, 2017 5:09 pm
Location: Germany

Re: Crazylemon's Journal

Post by wolf »

Crazylemon wrote:
Fri Sep 01, 2017 1:32 pm
In the end I chose to withdraw my application.
Several reasons but mainly that I am very much enjoying being where I am now. I also suspect I don't have that much passion for the specialism. It would be a continuation of my current 'try a bit of everything' but the cost of needing to move location for now is too high for me.

I think I have realised I enjoy practicing medicine, but, I don't have any one niche area I could see myself doing forever. Certainly none that I have so far experienced. Much that most colleagues seem to think I should become some sort of hospital specialist.
Good to read an update in your journal from you. :-)
I think you are ok with you decision. It is always good to consider the trade-offs and necessary changes of decisioins. Besides the pros and cons I think one should also look for the future. As you say, maybe within the next 10 years you can decide freely without worrying about the money aspects. What is also important in my opinion is, that you don't suffer at your current work place. I mean, that you don't become unhappy or ill, because of stress, colleagues, etc.

What kind of medicine do you practice? Maybe there are other career paths available for you where you work right now, e.g. becoming a hospital specialist but in a sort that you like.
Take care.

Lemon
Posts: 261
Joined: Sat May 30, 2015 2:29 am

Re: Lemon's Journal

Post by Lemon »

I am happy with my decisions :D

Currently I am working in paediatrics. I enjoy it but the rota is too antisocial to want to do for any length of time. I had a particularly bad on call over the bank holiday weekend that really took it out of me. That sort of thing is why I feel it isn't for me. Colleagues are great, no issues there (although I sometimes feel with paediatricians are they being too nice and not telling me about blind spots I am not aware of? not easy to tell...)

I took the job in the first case to get experience that would be useful in GP. It gives more more flexibility in jobs once in a training scheme. Which is good.

I don't want to be a hospital specialist! I like general practice/family med. Everyone else just seems to think that would be a 'waste'!
Last edited by Lemon on Sun May 31, 2020 12:17 am, edited 1 time in total.

Lemon
Posts: 261
Joined: Sat May 30, 2015 2:29 am

Re: Crazylemon's Journal

Post by Lemon »

Currently on night shifts.

As a result any resemblance to health diet has evaporated as has all exercise beyond my commute in to work.
This always seems to happen. I will get to a point where I am just starting to ingrain healthy default options and then BAM an awful bit of rota comes along to trip me up.

When on my own I tried to get round this by having pre cooked frozen healthy meals I could just take out the freezer and go with. Naively living with my partner I thought I might be able to lean on them to cook healthily and maintain the flat while I am doing 12 1/2 hour night shifts, assuming I leave on time... Didn't quite work out that way. I get he had a bad Monday at work too but, the rest of the week has been poor planning (I can cook myself expensive burgers and pizzas even in my sleep deprived state. This is just as much my fault so mea culpa. I don't really know the best way to solve this other than trying more planning. Might need to have a chat about this with him so we can synchronise on it or I will just have to do what I did before. It is difficult for him to and I imagine not seeing me other than saying goodbye just as he gets in from work doesn't feel great.

During the shifts isn't much better. Unhealthy food is everywhere and very tempting when you are just trying to eat *something* between trying to fix sick kids. The last few shifts have been particularly bad as well (apparently, I haven't had any of these 'good' night shifts on this job people talk about, there always seems to be an emergency where I am spending hours with one very sick kid).

I am not really sure the best way to fix this.
Maybe when not sleep deprived on my week off I can think up a more robust system, because until I finish training I have to deal with the necessary evil of night shifts. Maybe it just isn't possible and I should be thankful I at least function relatively well when actually working overnight and am practicing safe medicine for my patients. Maybe it isn't possible for me to eat right, exercise and do night shifts at the same time and this is just an attempted to increase the rate of extraction. But I feel I still need to try.

wolf
Posts: 1102
Joined: Fri Jan 06, 2017 5:09 pm
Location: Germany

Re: Crazylemon's Journal

Post by wolf »

Crazylemon wrote:
Thu Sep 21, 2017 11:53 am
I am not really sure the best way to fix this.
Hi Crazylemon. Good to read an update from you. I'm sorry that it doesn't work out as you planned it would be.
Regarding food. I can say you what works for me. Maybe you can use it or give it a try.
I have experienced, that a healthy diet depends on some good portion of self-discipline.
Well, self-discipline is usually low when you have a low energy level, e.g. after nights shifts.
What I do is, that I buy ONLY healthy food in the supermarket. So, there is no unhealthy food at home and I don't have a temptation to eat unhealthy food, because it is not there.
Another thing I usually do, is pre-cook food, when I feel energized or have free-time. Then I can eat it immediately after work and I don't have a temptation to buy/cook unhealthy fast food.
Another thing is routine. I try to eat by a strict routine. Nothing in the morning. Lunch btw 11-13, Dinner before 18. I have to admit that this is only possible because I have regular working hours. I don't know it in your case.
Also, I feel motivated to eat healthy food, because I know about the mid-term/long-term implications, e.g. health diseases...

Well, I hope I could get you some inspiration. Take Care! Both of you!

Lemon
Posts: 261
Joined: Sat May 30, 2015 2:29 am

Re:Lemon's Journal

Post by Lemon »

@MDFIRE

Thanks, sorry for the very delayed reply. I already do as you mention normally. Pre cook food and I never buy 'junk' to have in. I was just hoping I could replace my own work with that of my partner and it backfired :P My coming set of shifts the freezer is already prepared for.

On shift I just try and avoid the food around me as much as possible. As of yet willpower from known long term it isn't a good idea is somewhat lacking at 3am.

Work

I am really enjoying my work and finding it satisfying which is nice. Feeling slightly sad to be planning leaving in February to 'something else' But I have pretty much deliberately locked myself in to doing so.
One thing I can say for paediatrics is that it has a much higher ration of 'nice people'. All of my immediate colleagues I like working with and are generally good fun.
Everyone works generally towards a common purpose and the only gripes are with senior management multiple levels removed who come up with some 'interesting' ideas that magically never end up happening. As a junior grade I get the luxury of only being vaguely aware of their existence.


Exercise

Bike commuting continues and judging by the difficulty in finding spaces in the bike rack indicates that at least the hospital staff get the benefit of active travel. Also awesome about paeds is most of the juniors and about half the middle grades also cycle in!

I have join a gym which while being hardly frugal is for the express reason of starting back with strength training. I have never been good at doing this and only really did it at the end of university for a few months. Work and a move to a place there the hospital gym was just treadmills with no gyms nearby meant 2 years of not doing this. Vaguely following starting strength for now and a month in I feel much the better for doing it. Even if I dislike being there for 6am so I can get it done before cycling to work I always feel better after the workout. It makes cycling in somewhat more challenging after.
Seeing the amount I am able to lift going it is much more satisfying for me at this point than my NW!


Networth

Rising nicely but I don't I will find it exciting until it hits 100k now
Last edited by Lemon on Sun May 31, 2020 12:17 am, edited 1 time in total.

Lemon
Posts: 261
Joined: Sat May 30, 2015 2:29 am

Re: Lemon's Journal

Post by Lemon »

Life is good at the moment. Much easier to meet up with all my friends in London. Even it id does end up being at insane times of day due to shift work. At least other Doctors get this!

Is this intentionality beginging to pay off?

Work

This weekend was very busy and short staffed but fortunately I just entered 'flow' and it was all ok. All non urgent paperwork was not done which did sort of suck to hand over but hey, boring non-life saving stuff just had to wait (lets face it, saving lives the more fun bit of my work). I have volunteered as tribute to do an extra night tonight due to yet more short staffing. In any of my other previous jobs where I have had night shifts I don't think I would ever have even considered doing this other than for a stupid per hour rate, showing how much I respect and feel part of a team as opposed to a transitory service provider, even though this is my first job that is technically pure service provision...
I will get time back for it so all good AND I get to avoid more paperwork and a boring presentation, noticing a theme here? ;)

Had some especially grateful parent this weekend which was just lovely to here.

Same with the ward sister saying I did a brilliant intro and explanation for the parents of a new admission to special care :D

I have a horrible feeling I actually enjoy playing the 'hero' despite being an INTJ

Plan is to stay in the same hospital in a slightly different part of the same specialty that has no nights and fewer weekend and....LESS PAPERWORK :D


Much as I like paeds though I don't think I would be able to do it as a full time career job. Too many nights for too long. Even longer if I did go part time and in all likelihood I would be well past FIRE before I became even vaguely close to finishing training and even then isn't one of the specialties where many of the seniors spend time on the golf course so to speak...

I have also due to cunning/blind luck after new years day got most of January not doing work but a combination of study leave and annual leave.

Wondering if I should prep for and take the DCH exam as well as for my training entry exam. Pricey piece of paper though. Might be able to get work to pay for it if lucky, or at least part.

Exercise

Starting Strength is going well. Past lifting my bodyweight for deadlift and squat. I won't give numbers because I am a hobbit. But for me this feels an achievement and I am now past where I left off 2 1/2 years ago. Appearance hasn't changed much but this is secondary. It felt so nice yesterday when despite missing earlier training due to working the weekend I was still able to add weight to all the lifts I was doing that day.

Cycling carries on. I need to get some new tires soon and overhaul the bike. Gonna probably have to wait till next week.

NW

Due to Both my phone and computer breaking not a great month of saving at only 40% first since starting work this low :(
Yes I bought almost the shiniest toy in the apple store but now I have a phone that can run apps that are super useful for work in particular Neomate and the cBNF. Saves me so much time and worth it for that (amusingly the apps themselves are free). Anyone with any other particularly inspired medical apps let me know!
Last edited by Lemon on Sun May 31, 2020 12:18 am, edited 1 time in total.

Lemon
Posts: 261
Joined: Sat May 30, 2015 2:29 am

Re: Lemon's Journal

Post by Lemon »

Sometimes you just get blindsided. Brother has just had a scan that shows something potentially very nasty. The universe clearly has a sense of humour in choosing one of the non-medics in the family to be affected. The waiting game begins with another scan and the first specialist appointment all being sorted within a week. I am glad I had already taken the next 2 weeks off, well; I know what I am doing with them now. I am resisting the urge to research things at this point. It won’t help, until at the very least we know what we are dealing with. Being there is going to be more important especially as the most geographically close family member.

Parents are in the fortunate position of having been able to retire early so are able to drop everything, times like this highlight how important that sort of option can be.


Work

I scored highly enough on the entrance to further training paper that I immediately get a place, just as well given I don’t really feel like interviews right now. Left my old job and the new one starts in 2 weeks. Hopefully I enjoy it as much as my last job, I think I will. My more adventurous plans that might have seen my leaving for 3 months to be a dive instructor abroad are now firmly canned for now.

I was going to write about the recent UK court case that is currently causing a lot of concern among colleagues but that is going to have to wait for a while now I think.


Exercise

Went on holiday with parents so did nothing for a week. First session back was bloody difficult picking off where I left it. Slightly scary how quickly you begin to decondition. Need to keep at it!

NW

It goes up
Last edited by Lemon on Sun May 31, 2020 12:18 am, edited 1 time in total.

User avatar
jennypenny
Posts: 6851
Joined: Sun Jul 03, 2011 2:20 pm

Re: Crazylemon's Journal

Post by jennypenny »

I'm sorry about your brother. Hoping for the best.

Lemon
Posts: 261
Joined: Sat May 30, 2015 2:29 am

Re: Lemon's Journal

Post by Lemon »

@Jennypenny thank you for your kind words.

Well, it is nasty. Just over 50% chance of cure. Obviously will have a better idea post Radiotherapy + Surgery.
He is taking it rather well given the circumstances but I think it has helped that for the initial period we were all able to be around.

Work

The new job is tough. While there are no night shifts I am much more 'on my own' that in my previous job. I am learning, I hope I will be better for it but it is exhausting and can be totally non stop. It isn't much fun being asked to prescribe medication for one patient, be asked the discharge plans of another, to review yet another, and, clear the c-spine of yet another within 5 minutes of each other. While also having to be aware of everyone else who still needs to be seen and are waiting. You have to prioritise and obviously I do. But I haven't had to do it quite this much for some time.
I don't have the bandwidth to do this effectively enough to not end up slowing down though. Which then makes you feel bad as the queue just gets longer...
Very much in the anxiety part of the skill challenge matrix.
I have been complimented on my work by seniors so far despite only being there for a few weeks but I am not sure I will be able to do this for 6 months. I need to speak to my supervisor but we obviously haven't had time to have meeting, there are sick people to treat!

I could just hand in my notice. But the problem is I like the team. I would feel bad for doing so. I get asked by loads of other juniors why I don't locum for more pay and fewer hours. But for all its failings I like feeling like I belong and have made the commitment to stay. My contract might say I can run away with a months notice but I know that just leaves another gap and then filling in the gap I have created as a locum just feels a bit too mercenary.

Drug errors are in general a major issue in healthcare. Some drugs require complicated formulae in order to dose safely. Where I currently work for certain drugs this must be done by hand. This is also true in many other hospitals. Unsurprisingly this results in errors across the country. As there are systems in place to mean things are checked very few of these end up meaning more than wasted time. But it is a bad system that relies on a sleep deprived professional in the middle of a busy night shift to do complex maths. This has been brought up. The waste of time and risks to patients for this was too much for me to ignore so I have built a simple spreadsheet to work it out in my own free time. It is a bit clunky at the moment but despite my terrible Excel abilities only took me a couple of hours to make. I will polish it and show it to the department. Beyond a 'thankyou' if they realise how useful it is I will get nothing. There is no time in my day job to do this sort of thing because there are sick people to treat! Despite the fact that assuming it saves 10 minutes per patient that needs the drug just in time alone it would be paid back within a week just on that measure alone.

I have no doubt there are similar things within the department and throughout the hospital like this where giving someone who works there a couple of hours to solve the problem could make things massively better. But when a system is run to its limits there is no room to do so. This is what I find most frustrating about my job. I don't have the energy to keep fixing problems on my own time ontop of my work hours for nothing but gratitude in return. I am close to working at my limit as it is. This one was just such and easy win I felt I had to do it. Maybe once I am FIRE I can use some free time to do simple useful things like this...

Any suggestions would be great.

Fitness

I have started to actually notice physical changes as has my partner which is nice. only took 6 months. Not the primary reason for doing things but always a nice plus. The new job has taken a bit of a toll on the healthy eating so I need to bear this in mind and plan a bit better to prevent 'I am exhausted and want food now so pizza'.

Net Worth

Because I didn't work for more than half of February, Had some expenses and the Stock market went down a bit I have had my first (small) fall in a long while. This kinda sucked but was to be expected.
Last edited by Lemon on Sun May 31, 2020 12:19 am, edited 1 time in total.

Lemon
Posts: 261
Joined: Sat May 30, 2015 2:29 am

Re: Lemon's Journal

Post by Lemon »

This update is entirely my ramblings about my future career. Probably a closer to normal update coming soon.

I rarely feel like I have made a huge difference, let alone saved a life, despite my line of work. Generally because I think anyone suitably qualified would have done the same or similar, repeat after me, ‘I am replaceable’. This weekend felt different. The emails from multiple seniors about it since suggest I am not entirely wrong in feeling this way. In short, doing another team a favour, which I am thoroughly glad I did, I picked someone up before they ended up on the wrong side of the knife edge. It has reinforced one of the reasons I chose to go in to Medicine.

However, it has left me in somewhat of a quandary about what to do. The General Practice training scheme I start in August will be very different medicine, I am now wondering if I should reconsider. This year of Paediatrics has been some of the most rewarding practice I have had. Previously I have decided against it long term because I hate night shifts and it would guarantee another 8 years of night shifts, at least. By which point, assuming my current spending, I would be well past hitting any kind of FIRE number. It also means dealing with acutely unwell patients which while I can do, like this weekend, I find absolutely exhausting. Especially if I have to do it with any sort of frequency. I prefer to help steer things away from rocks long before they get close not that the current system makes that particularly easy.

The project I mentioned a while ago is a case in point, bogged down in, ‘can’t just change it needs to go through review’ with multiple levels of approval required which even if successful will take months. Despite those who have seen it, who work at the coalface, recognizing the value. I find this sort of bureaucracy to be far to frustrating to bother fighting. I know checks are important, but they can when implemented in certain way just kill all enthusiasm.

So I ponder whether to yet again change tact and look again at Paediatrics. The major concern being night shifts and leaving before I ever finish a scheme. Infuriatingly training schemes are so inflexible as to never permit going part time without having kids or being an elite athlete or some other similar criteria I don’t and never plan to meet. But without going through a scheme it isn’t easy to get closer to 9 to 5ish job and ability to go part time just because you want to. I also don’t really enjoy neonatology and would have to do several years of that.

I know I have a huge advantage over most thanks to ERE; I have far more ability to negotiate and within a few years will in all likelyhood have no need to work. In some ways it is good that my feelings of ‘get out as soon as possible’ have faded. But it has lessened the ‘apply own oxygen mask first’ thoughts I was having and so brings the guilt of leaving a system that is becoming shorter and short staffed closer to the forefront. Having options is now making me to fret once again. I am wondering how possible it is to have a totally frank conversation with my manager/mentor about where to go from here…
Last edited by Lemon on Sun May 31, 2020 12:20 am, edited 1 time in total.

Lemon
Posts: 261
Joined: Sat May 30, 2015 2:29 am

Re: Lemon's Journal

Post by Lemon »

Been Longer than I intended between updates. Funny how life seems to fly by at times.

Brother is doing will. No positive margins. Back slowly rehabbing at home. Now the years of check ups and scans begin. Hopefully it all stays clear.
It has brought our family closer together than is has been in a while which is nice.

Work

I am, by and large, enjoying it. Good, obviously. The day to day work is satisfying and I seem to be sufficiently good at it that I got publicly thanked on twitter. I don't have twitter but the medical director saw it and eventually it got back to me. One of the best things is getting unsolicited unexpected positive feedback. The interesting bit was it wasn't for a case where I had undertaken heroic feats to keeps someone alive or made a clever diagnosis that others had failed to spot. It was one where I took a careful history, examined, gave appropriate advice, and allayed fears. Nothing more, or less. Which is the stuff I like to do best.

I just wish I could have an extra day off a week...

My new job in General Practice starts in August. I will again be dropped at the bottom of a learning curve. Lets hope it goes well. That pretty much sets me on the track for 3 years after which my training is 'complete' unless I choose to retrain. It results in a near doubling of salary (depending on the job you take). I think I will use that to half my hours and still maintain a 60-75% savings rate.

Fitness/Health

After several months of sick children gifted illnesses my lifts have been again increasing in size, getting properly back on track is satisfying.

Cycling to work continues which is about 40 mins of light cardio about 5 times a week. Not sure if I should extend this with some heavier form of cardio but then that takes more time.

Calorie and Macro logging has helped me get my diet to be better. More by it giving me more of a push to not reach for easy options in moments of weakness. Although I am probably still short of ideal fruit/veg intake (but much better) the only thing I eat regularly that is more than ordinarily processed is the good ol' sliced white. There is still room for improvement but will likely result in more time and/or increased costs to improve at least initially. While I am happy to eat a tomato and bean based dish 4 days in a row my partner is not, so, compromise :P

Friends

Recent excellent weekend with friends I have spent little time with recently. Loved it. Needed to realise unlike my school days I am not mid to bottom of the pack in fitness anymore. Going at my own pace will result in me being to far ahead! I did and ended up having to lead/nav/carry other’s water when the other skilled person had to descend with a friend who was finding it difficult. But the extra challenge just made it more fun.

I organised it and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves which is great. I think I need to do this more often so I get to do things I want to do and enjoy that other people do to but requires more effort to organise than a meal etc. which means most people don't have the time or inclination to do it.

On a similar vein we have been doing a lot of hosting which myself and my partner both enjoy and costs less to pay for everyone’s food than it would for just both ours not to mention the booze ends up being brought by the guests ;) Not that I ever drink much of it. All the more important for me as I don’t really get much/any enjoyment out of alcohol anymore so the started drinks + food out doesn’t really work. I still get surprised sometimes by the push back I get for not drinking more than a glass or so. Not that I ever cave and eventually people accept the ‘I get terrible hangovers really easily’ half-truth.

Reading

Just finished 'Ready player one'. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Read it in one day, which has reassured me that my ability to concentrate is still there despite the existence of the Internet.

On More serious matters recently finished 'The Secret Barrister'. Bit scary how dysfunctional parts of our justice system are. Has me looking at criminal court legal insurance as it is a potential wipeout event should I ever be so unlucky given I would not qualify for any legal aid. A potentially nasty black swan. Which brings me to...

'Skin in the Game' loved it. Think it gives a very interesting mental model for the world that I have applied to several situations so far to good effect.

All that enjoyment from the library for free. I am amazed at how few people use it.

Internet

I have got better at limiting this. Mainly by increasing reading. So yay!

Net worth

Broke $100,000, which is nice. But I don't think it really has the kick that £100,000 will have.
Last edited by Lemon on Sun May 31, 2020 12:20 am, edited 1 time in total.

Lemon
Posts: 261
Joined: Sat May 30, 2015 2:29 am

Re: Lemon's Journal

Post by Lemon »

Had some contract related drama with my (now old) job. This was unpleasant but it has been sorted in a manner which I hope is not going to cause longer term issues. Mea culpa to an extent.

In the new job I have been 9-5ish for 2 weeks. It feels weird. I have free time. I can go to the gym in the morning. I have weekends to meet people. I have time allocated within my job for personal development (related directly to the job but still good). This is all rather nice although the volume of sitting is less than desirable for me. Turns out I like running around like a madman as part of my day job.
Everyone at the new place is also pleasant. I think General Practice will be a good fit long term, although not for that long. 2 more years with hospital jobs at points to go then I can say good bye to night shifts forever.

Partner has now started to cycle to work! Only taken him a year to get there :P but he is enjoying it. The slow change continues...

Fitness/Health

Going well continuing the lifting. Progress is slower than I would like but it is forward
Need some idea of what cardio to add in as new place of work is only 5 minutes away by bike (even more free time!).
Getting to the point then unhealthy processed food really doesn't have an appeal anymore which is good.

Bike

Local area was doing free bike checks which told me what I already knew: I need to change the cassette, chain and brake pads. This is the next job.
Learn by doing.

Friends

Going well.
New and old

Internet

Major step back while having contract stress but this is now beginning to improve again.
I have decided also to limit my news as much as possible from rolling news sites/channels etc. because I find they contain precious little context or analysis (the medical/health news sections I find worst for this largely because of my field but I release this is likely the same in every single domain for the respective experts). Trying to move towards more deep reading instead.

Net Worth

I goes up, still not hit a milestone


Brother is also doing well and nearly back to baseline post treatment. So in general life is slowly getting better through small incremental changes. Hopefully this continues even if it isn't exciting to write about particularly. I currently feel in the slightly weird limbo place where everything is rather nice but I know it is also transient hopefully towards something better. I need to spend more time building my non-work life.
Last edited by Lemon on Sun May 31, 2020 12:20 am, edited 1 time in total.

User avatar
Chris
Posts: 773
Joined: Thu Jul 22, 2010 2:44 pm

Re: Crazylemon's Journal

Post by Chris »

Crazylemon wrote:
Fri Aug 31, 2018 2:03 pm
Need some idea of what cardio to add in as new place of work is only 5 minutes away by bike (even more free time!).
Is there a more scenic route you can take that might be longer?

Lemon
Posts: 261
Joined: Sat May 30, 2015 2:29 am

Re: Lemon's Journal

Post by Lemon »

@Chris I did look at that but nothing heading to work is pretty and in the winter with rain no way I will do it. Sadly I think more Gym visits will be the short term solution unless I can pick up a group sport/activity. Sigh

Work

Generally liking the new work but way more stressful in a different way to before. Much more responsibility and this is long term responsibility. Not sure I would be able to do this for my whole life. But this could just be it is new and there is a ton to learn as you are responsible for basically initially recognising any potential diagnosis and managing/referring it.
It also requires a lot more soft skills approaches than my last job which I need to develop further.
The sitting is still annoying. I have to get up and walk between patients.

Fitness /health

Continues slowly heading in the right direction with the hiccup before.
Multiple wedding have meant sub optimal food choices. This now needs to be corrected

Bike

So I screwed up trying to fix. Didn't realise it was a freewheel. Currently have no functioning bike while part is on order. This sucks. Annoyed at myself for the 'jump in' attempted before looking at things. Should get the part next day or so so not the end of the world. Learning by doing!
Borrowing partners bike last few days because they have had evening Dos making cycling non viable. It is a road bike. I don't like it as much as mine. This is partly because being in the ride position with a heavy rucksack full of medical equipment is NOT FUN. I was also off site so actually had to cover distance. Plus his seat post was set too low (despite being taller than me no wonder he has been complaining of a sore back). It is faster than mine. Only redeeming feature. But I know my next bike isn't going to be a road bike now!

Networth

95k Getting closer
Last edited by Lemon on Sun May 31, 2020 12:20 am, edited 1 time in total.

Lemon
Posts: 261
Joined: Sat May 30, 2015 2:29 am

Re: Lemon's Journal

Post by Lemon »

Work

Levels of stress have decreased in some respects due to familiarity and experience. The longer termish aspect also has its perks, some patients are already a bit upset I won't be around for much longer, I can see the appeal of actually becoming part of the community. I have also of late had a few days where I have left work looking forward to comping back the next day which is pretty atypical for me from prior experience.

Fitness/Health

Getting better. Slowly. Also solution to not cycling as much commute wise is I think going to be doing home visits on the bike. Well and given I am back in the hospital before long normal service will resume. Also started trying out climbing.

Bike

Break pads, freewheel and chain all replaced. It is amazing how easy this stuff actually is. Also helped partner with his bike sorting out a pannier rack. He isn't going back to heavy rucksacks now converted!

Friends

Lots of meeting up but much of it has been in hedonistic spendy ways that would never be my own choice but I have gone to meet up with good old friends. I enjoyed the company but the events/venues themselves just seemed so unnecessary and, well, wasteful. I would much prefer inviting people over, cooking, chatting, and playing boardgames. I could also easily feed everyone for the price of one meal out. Or even one cocktail in some cases :?
Having said that at least half the time has been things more to my liking. Sadly the nature stuff has very few takers in cold/wet weather.
New friend who I have tried climbing with for the first time in a long time. Very much enjoyed and while not the cheapest thing to do in a city it isn't all that bad and can then hopefully lead on to more interesting things. We will see. It could also just as well fall by the wayside like various other hobbies after a year or 2

Sadly none of my friends have any sort of ERE/MMM tint as far as I can ascertain thus far. Definitely nothing about Climate change/peak oil/resource depletion/environmental degradation beyond thinking it is bad and 'we' need to do something or that technology will solve it or it is all corporations's faults and if we could just turn in to a socialist utopia it would be perfect. Nothing about how fundamentally business as usual or anything close is just not going to work. This at times feels a little isolating.

Internet

I have been semi-successful in cutting down by installing things to force me off certain sites. It helps, I get more done and I spend more time actually thinking rather than just going through the motions. Gradually fighting back from my equivalent of the TV and it seems to be winning for now.

Reading

Finished Infinite Jest. Sort of glad I read it in the same way I am sort of glad I read War and Peace. Not going to be re-read though. I get enough first hand experience with addiction and the consequences at work, so I am not sure I got as much of it as some people seem to.

Networth

Down due to a poor savings months and sad markets. Ah well.
Last edited by Lemon on Sun May 31, 2020 12:20 am, edited 1 time in total.

Lemon
Posts: 261
Joined: Sat May 30, 2015 2:29 am

Re: Lemon's Journal

Post by Lemon »

Expenses

Been quite a while since I posted anything on this despite tracking it monthly. Monthly breakdown:

Groceries £80.01
Eating Out£70.03
Travel £45.85
Phone £7.50
Clothes £18.00
Gym £29.95
Gifts £13.97
Rent&Bills £625.87

Not a particularly bad month other than eating out which is really the only category there with much room to go down. Only that high because of meeting friends who like eating out. Despite my best efforts I can't get everyone to come round and be home cooked for (as last month). At least I enjoy the time with friends. Travel is only as high as that because it includes a train ticket home for the holidays.
Bills slightly elevated because of a quarterly bill. My share of rent is ~£500
Total of 2/3 of income saved post pension, tax, and student loan. So not bad.

Work

New job in less than a week. Sad to leave where I am now, especially as I am just getting in to the groove, patients have been apparently signing my praises to the other staff with one of the permanent staff commenting I already have a entourage! But new place, new skills to be learnt, gonna be a new steep learning curve. Bummer it has less social hours. Yay for working nights over Christmas (although I have to admit it isn't all that bad and generally is, workload wise, not too bad a shift). I might be back to where I am currently in a year and a half, would like to be.
It means a transient pay rise (because of those longer more antisocial hours) which might push me in to higher rate tax, I need to do the maths because with me pension contributions I might just stay below. If it looks like I am going over I need to open a SIPP because 40% income tax + 10% NI + 10% Student loan means the tax break is too much to ignore even if it does come with more strings attached than my liking.
I have to buff the portfolio for the 6 month review soon. A process I dislike as I hate self promotion.

Also confirmed I don't need a car for one of my future jobs so I can once again postpone getting a car for another 1 1/2 years at least. Success!

Fitness/Health

Been at a plateau with the strength training for some time. I need to try and push through but while also trying to lose a small amount of weight this is really difficult. I have been doing Starting Strength but it is about a year now since I started. Not sure if I now need to look at modifying things.
Eating has been better (other than the few restaurant meals.

Internet

Been using Selfcontrol on the Mac and the new screen time features on my phone. Helping.

Reading

4 books this month Plus various Medical Journals. Though Animal Farm is rather short and bumps the figure up. Slowly getting through an Econ Text.

Networth

Back heading in a positive direction.
Last edited by Lemon on Sun May 31, 2020 12:21 am, edited 1 time in total.

User avatar
Chris
Posts: 773
Joined: Thu Jul 22, 2010 2:44 pm

Re: Crazylemon's Journal

Post by Chris »

Crazylemon wrote:
Thu Nov 29, 2018 3:44 am
... patients have been apparently signing my praises to the other staff with one of the permanent staff commenting I already have a entourage!

...

I have to buff the portfolio for the 6 month review soon. A process I dislike as I hate self promotion.
Have your patients do it for you. Problem solved 8-)

Post Reply