I can't believe it. Spurs(i.e Tottenham Hotspur, my favourite EPL soccer team) has failed to win an away game again. In fact, they almost lost to a 10-man Fulham team. Conceded a penalty at 82 min. Good thing they managed to equalise, otherwise I'll be throwing things around right now.
Which brings me to my point of writing this entry. Why is it fans of soccer are so passionate about the teams they support? If the team wins, they get in a really good mood, there's an extra spring to their step. If the team loses, woe be to the first person who dares to even greet them. At least that's how I behave, and I know of friends with the same "passion". The ridiculous thing is, I have absolutely no direct association with Spurs. If they win a match, I don't get any match-winning bonus. If they win a trophy, I don't get to lift the trophy and kiss it. Yet everytime they score a goal, I jump up and down and start kissing everyone around me. But if they concede a goal I cry out in dismay and fall into a really foul mood. If they concede a dangerous free-kick I wring my hands and grit my teeth nervously. It is something I cannot comprehend, yet also something I cannot help myself with.
My best buddy, Hongyi, often laughs at me for having this "passion". He even tried to understand this "passion" by choosing a team(Nottingham Forest) to support, but his interest didn't quite take off. I guess it didn't help that Nottingham Forest got relegated that very year, and never came back into the EPL(he could have at least consulted me first before randomly choosing a team), but it further adds to the mystery. Like me, he loves to play soccer, but he just cannot bring himself to love a club the way I love Spurs.
Well, like I said earlier, it's nothing I can explain myself, but I'll leave the science of it to the scientists. Meanwhile, although they occasionally drive me crazy with the nonchalant soccer that they play, until Sir Alex Ferguson gives Jose Mourinho a friendly hug, make mine Spurs!
COYS!!!
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Friday, January 19, 2007
Today, I went back to work for the first time in one month. It was with some trepidation that I stepped into the polyclinic. After all, one month was a reasonably long time, and I was not sure I would be able to immediately handle the break-neck speed that the polyclinic consultation setting demands.
I was put on the 3rd floor, with only another doctor for company. Good thing I know him, otherwise it might have been slightly awkward. I put my stuff down, the familiar routine slowly coming back to mind. The watch to make sure I keep track of the time, the stethoscope to look more like a doctor, and the MIMS(a book listing all the drugs and their dosages, side effects, etc...hey, even doctors have a finite memory!) safely hidden but within arm's reach.
It was a bit daunting with the first few patients, as I remembered all the details I had to cover for every patient. I had to greet the patient, listen to his/her complaints, do an examination, come up with a diagnosis, formulate a treatment plan, make sure the medicine given is appropriate for the patient, and entertain any last minute demands that the patient might have(this seems to occur with infuriating frequency). This has to be done in all of 6 to 8 minutes to keep up with the speed at which the patients register at the polyclinic. After over 9 months working in the polyclinic, I still stand amazed at how many patients actually turn up everyday. For every "Hmm, I think I'll go to the movies today," that someone thinks, there is another, or maybe 2, who thinks, "Hmm, I think I'll go terrorize the doctors at the polyclinic today." A real scary thought.
As the day dragged, the mundanity of work began to set in. As with most days, there usually is a point-mostly between 11am and 12 noon- where it gets really tedious. You have done enough work to feel worn out, and near the point of exhaustion, and yet realise you are just about halfway through the day. Boy, is that a hopeless feeling. But as I continued to work, I found that there was a difference this time. I could continue working with more enthusiasm than I could previously muster. The workload kept piling, but I kept ploughing through it like a determined farmer out to rid his field of the last weed. The answer to this newfound energy was clear to me. There was a new reason to go home today. Besides my lovely wife, whom I adore with all my heart, and who is already every reason for me to go home to everyday(I just realised she may be reading this! Don't want to make it sound like she never motivated me to finish work quickly and go home), there is now another superstar waiting for me at home:
My Baby Chloe!!
I could not wait to rush back home to pick her up and give her a hug. I could not wait to sink my nose into her tiny face and smell that milky aroma. Patient after patient I saw, with the knowledge that one more patient seen is one less patient standing in the way between my baby and me.
Finally! I saw off the last patient at about 4:40pm. Man, that had to be some record. For me, anyway. I packed my stuff, hopped into my car and scooted back home.
Reaching the gate of my in-laws(staying there now because of my wife's confinement), I slotted in the key and turned it with anticipation. I can finally be with my baby! As i took the first step into the house, the wild, incessant hungry cries of an infant rang in my ears. Who is this unschooled babarian of a baby. and where is my Chloe??
My wife appeared from the room, haggard and exhausted, carrying the struggling, screaming infant in her arms.
"Oh good, you're back," she said in a sardonic voice. "Just in time to change her diapers."
I suddenly realised with horror that after today, I'm on leave until next Tuesday.
Blogger's note: The final few paragraphs of this entry were of course made up. It was a happy homecoming, and the bliss of married life and parenthood continue to permeate my very being even as I write this.
(Uh, dear, you can let go of the ear now....oww....)
I was put on the 3rd floor, with only another doctor for company. Good thing I know him, otherwise it might have been slightly awkward. I put my stuff down, the familiar routine slowly coming back to mind. The watch to make sure I keep track of the time, the stethoscope to look more like a doctor, and the MIMS(a book listing all the drugs and their dosages, side effects, etc...hey, even doctors have a finite memory!) safely hidden but within arm's reach.
It was a bit daunting with the first few patients, as I remembered all the details I had to cover for every patient. I had to greet the patient, listen to his/her complaints, do an examination, come up with a diagnosis, formulate a treatment plan, make sure the medicine given is appropriate for the patient, and entertain any last minute demands that the patient might have(this seems to occur with infuriating frequency). This has to be done in all of 6 to 8 minutes to keep up with the speed at which the patients register at the polyclinic. After over 9 months working in the polyclinic, I still stand amazed at how many patients actually turn up everyday. For every "Hmm, I think I'll go to the movies today," that someone thinks, there is another, or maybe 2, who thinks, "Hmm, I think I'll go terrorize the doctors at the polyclinic today." A real scary thought.
As the day dragged, the mundanity of work began to set in. As with most days, there usually is a point-mostly between 11am and 12 noon- where it gets really tedious. You have done enough work to feel worn out, and near the point of exhaustion, and yet realise you are just about halfway through the day. Boy, is that a hopeless feeling. But as I continued to work, I found that there was a difference this time. I could continue working with more enthusiasm than I could previously muster. The workload kept piling, but I kept ploughing through it like a determined farmer out to rid his field of the last weed. The answer to this newfound energy was clear to me. There was a new reason to go home today. Besides my lovely wife, whom I adore with all my heart, and who is already every reason for me to go home to everyday(I just realised she may be reading this! Don't want to make it sound like she never motivated me to finish work quickly and go home), there is now another superstar waiting for me at home:
My Baby Chloe!!
I could not wait to rush back home to pick her up and give her a hug. I could not wait to sink my nose into her tiny face and smell that milky aroma. Patient after patient I saw, with the knowledge that one more patient seen is one less patient standing in the way between my baby and me.
Finally! I saw off the last patient at about 4:40pm. Man, that had to be some record. For me, anyway. I packed my stuff, hopped into my car and scooted back home.
Reaching the gate of my in-laws(staying there now because of my wife's confinement), I slotted in the key and turned it with anticipation. I can finally be with my baby! As i took the first step into the house, the wild, incessant hungry cries of an infant rang in my ears. Who is this unschooled babarian of a baby. and where is my Chloe??
My wife appeared from the room, haggard and exhausted, carrying the struggling, screaming infant in her arms.
"Oh good, you're back," she said in a sardonic voice. "Just in time to change her diapers."
I suddenly realised with horror that after today, I'm on leave until next Tuesday.
Blogger's note: The final few paragraphs of this entry were of course made up. It was a happy homecoming, and the bliss of married life and parenthood continue to permeate my very being even as I write this.
(Uh, dear, you can let go of the ear now....oww....)
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Fatherhood
The time is 3:00am. I'm tired and worn out. Staring at my laptop screen, I realise I can no longer focus on the moving pixels. A sudden sense of unrealness sweeps over me as I become momentarily disorientated in time and space. For a moment I find myself wondering what on earth I am doing awake at this hour when every fibre of my being is calling out for precious blessed rest. The computer game showing on my screen is no longer holding any attraction for me. There is a limit to everything. I close my laptop, and lie back onto the bed. The mattress suddenly feels so heavenly, so comfortable. I almost fall asleep as soon as the soft fabric touches my skin...
A baby's cry pierces the deep silence of the night. Then I remember. Feeding time.
Pulling myself out of the bed with a burst of energy I did not know I possessed, I move to the baby cot to tend to my baby. Seeing her wriggle about uncomfortably, her tiny mouth opening and closing in a silent demand to "Feed me! Feed me!", any remaining shred of fatigue dissolves from me as I carry her in my arms and attempt to soothe her in a high-pitched voice.
"It's okay, it's okay," I coo as I rock her gently. As her face smoothens into a calmer expression, I slowly set her back onto the cot. From past experience over the last 2 weeks(2 weeks! It feels like I have been doing this forever!), I know I only have a couple of minutes' grace before she catches on that I am no longer holding her. I rush to the kitchen, remove the bottle and teat from the steriliser, assemble them together with lightning speed, and pour the chilled milk from the refrigerator into the bottle. I pour hot water into a cup, and all but throw the bottle into it while making my way back to the room.
I am a bit late, as I hear her cry as I enter the room. My wife, just awoken, cradles her and soothes her as I set down the cup waiting for the milk to warm up. I move to my wife and baby. Together, we look lovingly at her angelic face, love spilling out of our hearts uncontrollably.
A sudden sense of unrealness sweeps over us as we dwell in the bliss of parenthood.
A baby's cry pierces the deep silence of the night. Then I remember. Feeding time.
Pulling myself out of the bed with a burst of energy I did not know I possessed, I move to the baby cot to tend to my baby. Seeing her wriggle about uncomfortably, her tiny mouth opening and closing in a silent demand to "Feed me! Feed me!", any remaining shred of fatigue dissolves from me as I carry her in my arms and attempt to soothe her in a high-pitched voice.
"It's okay, it's okay," I coo as I rock her gently. As her face smoothens into a calmer expression, I slowly set her back onto the cot. From past experience over the last 2 weeks(2 weeks! It feels like I have been doing this forever!), I know I only have a couple of minutes' grace before she catches on that I am no longer holding her. I rush to the kitchen, remove the bottle and teat from the steriliser, assemble them together with lightning speed, and pour the chilled milk from the refrigerator into the bottle. I pour hot water into a cup, and all but throw the bottle into it while making my way back to the room.
I am a bit late, as I hear her cry as I enter the room. My wife, just awoken, cradles her and soothes her as I set down the cup waiting for the milk to warm up. I move to my wife and baby. Together, we look lovingly at her angelic face, love spilling out of our hearts uncontrollably.
A sudden sense of unrealness sweeps over us as we dwell in the bliss of parenthood.
Monday, January 15, 2007
The playground is open
There are some things that I thought I would never do in my life, but at some point, actually went and did them anyway. Bungee jumping was one. When I first heard about it, I scoffed at the idea and secretly laughed at those who would risk their lives on a piece of rope all in the name of an adrenaline rush. Some time in 2002, somewhere in New Zealand(I forgot the name of the place), I risked my life on a piece of rope all in the name of an adrenaline rush(In my defence, I chose a place that had a river at the bottom, to give myself false hope that should the rope break, I would at least have some chance of survival, assuming I did not plunge deep enough into the shallow water and hit my head against a hard rock like an egg on concrete ground).
Blogging is another. Just another excuse for people to satisfy their cravings to be seen and heard. Just another gimmick for people to feel important about themselves. Oh well, now I have joined their ranks. Again, in my defence, I have no delusions that my blog will be read by millions, each waiting with mouth-watering anticipation for my next entry. Instead, I have been bought over by the idea that I have an avenue to pen down my thoughts and ideas that I would like to share with the people around me. In the end, the number of people who actually read what I write does not matter so much(I guess), but I will have made my feelings and opinions known, or at least available to those who are interested. That does offer a certain measure of satisfaction I suppose.
I am very new to this, so there is hardly anything on the site right now, but i'll slowly pick it up. I'm hoping to make it as interesting as possible, and let it be a site that friends can just look in when they have a bit of free time to spare. I'll be posting pictures, putting in a couple of story concepts that I have in mind, and other fresh ideas as we go along. This, after all, is the playground of my imagination. And I invite you to come right in once in awhile, and we'll have some fun together.
Blogging is another. Just another excuse for people to satisfy their cravings to be seen and heard. Just another gimmick for people to feel important about themselves. Oh well, now I have joined their ranks. Again, in my defence, I have no delusions that my blog will be read by millions, each waiting with mouth-watering anticipation for my next entry. Instead, I have been bought over by the idea that I have an avenue to pen down my thoughts and ideas that I would like to share with the people around me. In the end, the number of people who actually read what I write does not matter so much(I guess), but I will have made my feelings and opinions known, or at least available to those who are interested. That does offer a certain measure of satisfaction I suppose.
I am very new to this, so there is hardly anything on the site right now, but i'll slowly pick it up. I'm hoping to make it as interesting as possible, and let it be a site that friends can just look in when they have a bit of free time to spare. I'll be posting pictures, putting in a couple of story concepts that I have in mind, and other fresh ideas as we go along. This, after all, is the playground of my imagination. And I invite you to come right in once in awhile, and we'll have some fun together.
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