Norman Kember
"You Lucky Bastard"
(Life of Brian, 1979)
Saturday, March 25, 2006
Knickerless
Found the following bookmark, during a big spring clean today, which reads:
Found the following bookmark, during a big spring clean today, which reads:
'Nicholas' From the Greek meaning 'victory of the people'. He is strong in both mind and body, with great motivation and drive. A hard worker.
Must have been a present from my Mum! Thanks Ma ... and HAPPY MOTHERS DAY xxxx
Friday, March 24, 2006
The Big Wheel, keeps on turning
A great week.
Not because I spent 4 days solid reading scientific articles for my essay on cooperative learning and group dynamics, but because I've finally ended 6 weeks of 'final year' physio student hell! In fact, it's more like 4 months. Last went to a class on 11th November 2005 and since then have done 10 weeks of NHS placements, pretty much daily research, revision and assignment writing (apart from 5 days over christmas, in Wales).
I handed in my latest essay yesterday and am now back at class and - relative to the last 4 months anyway - have a bit of a breather over the coming month, as I prepare (at my leisure for a change) for dissertation and next assignment (essay). 3 assignments to go ... "I love the smell of Napalm in the morning!" (don't ask me why this pops into my head as an expression of my feelings about almost being done .. it just does). Norwich on Sky tonight.
God it felt good to wake up this morning!
Let's hope - inshallah - the day stays this way!
God be with ye? well I didn't know that! Good-bye!
A great week.
Not because I spent 4 days solid reading scientific articles for my essay on cooperative learning and group dynamics, but because I've finally ended 6 weeks of 'final year' physio student hell! In fact, it's more like 4 months. Last went to a class on 11th November 2005 and since then have done 10 weeks of NHS placements, pretty much daily research, revision and assignment writing (apart from 5 days over christmas, in Wales).
I handed in my latest essay yesterday and am now back at class and - relative to the last 4 months anyway - have a bit of a breather over the coming month, as I prepare (at my leisure for a change) for dissertation and next assignment (essay). 3 assignments to go ... "I love the smell of Napalm in the morning!" (don't ask me why this pops into my head as an expression of my feelings about almost being done .. it just does). Norwich on Sky tonight.
God it felt good to wake up this morning!
Let's hope - inshallah - the day stays this way!
"An awareness of God (Arabic: Allah) is exhibited in common Arabic expressions that are used throughout the region -- even in Turkey and Iran, where Arabic is not the local language. A common response to "How are you?" is "Ilhamdillah!" -- "Praise be to God." When expressing hope for a future event, one might say "Inshallah" -- "God willing." The exclamation "Mashallah" -- "What God wills!" -- is often heard as an expression of delight, at the sight of a new baby, for example. While there are those for whom these phrases reflect the divine, others use them the way many English speakers use "Good-bye" (literally, "God be with ye")."
God be with ye? well I didn't know that! Good-bye!
Saturday, March 18, 2006
Rack it!
Finished my final student placement yesterday. 1088 hours completed. Got a first! And even better - and not a moment too soon - I finally got the 'first' that has thus far eluded me by fractions, in the "clinical reasoning" section of the assessment form. Yippeeeeeee!
Even, even better than this however - if my nerdy 'grades-predictor' spreadsheet is correct - it looks like my 2:1 (final degree classification) is in the bag. Even if I get the bare minimum pass mark (of 40%) for all of my remaining assignments, it looks like I currently have 62%. Job done!
Naturally, I should now re-focus on trying to get the extra 8% needed for an overall first, but it's a big ask. I would need to get firsts for every remaining assignment. Statistically unlikely as a quick look at my my likely marks means I will end up with around 67%, or just 3 points shy!
Hmmmm cruise the final 10 weeks and get a 2:1 ... or work my ass off and put myself under loads of stress and pressure ... and probably still a get 2:1!
The first option looking extremely attractive from where I'm sitting! After all, I am not really taking it easy if you consider the effort and hard work that got me into this enviable position.
Having a total academic phobia of all things "science" related before coming onto this course, I'd have bitten your hand off if you'd offered me a 2:1 in a science degree back in 2003!
Of course, I still have to pass all remaining assignments and the small matter of retaking (and passing) that f****g respiratory module in the autumn, but for now ... Rack it up!
Thursday, March 16, 2006
Christopher Reeve
After the hint of euphoria that came with the unique experience of observing spinal surgery (13/03/06 post), I was brought slamming back down to earth this week. The latest patient (a young teenage lad) has suffered the same fate as Christopher Reeve. The fracture injury to the highest vertebra on his spine has completely damaged his spinal cord at that level, meaning he has lost sensory and motor innervation to every part of his body except his head; this includes his breathing muscles which means that, like Christopher Reeve, he is now unable to breathe spontaneously without a machine ventilator and has no use of/ or sensation on any part of his body lower than his chin. The patient's age and recent-ness of the accident less than a week ago was profoundly shocking, but it would be self-indulgent to dwell on how being involved with treating this patient makes me feel, when any and all emotional effort should be directed towards the poor lad himself. And it is with some uneasiness that I have a strange mixture of both regret and relief that I am not around longer to be involved in his treatment and rehabilitation.
I can't think of a more heinous violation and insult to someone's existence. Whatever problems I think I have in my life - I have none. And can't imagine I ever will have in comparison with this young man's and his family's predicament. And although I am not overtly religious in the traditional sense, I find myself thanking God for the blessing that is my life today.
After the hint of euphoria that came with the unique experience of observing spinal surgery (13/03/06 post), I was brought slamming back down to earth this week. The latest patient (a young teenage lad) has suffered the same fate as Christopher Reeve. The fracture injury to the highest vertebra on his spine has completely damaged his spinal cord at that level, meaning he has lost sensory and motor innervation to every part of his body except his head; this includes his breathing muscles which means that, like Christopher Reeve, he is now unable to breathe spontaneously without a machine ventilator and has no use of/ or sensation on any part of his body lower than his chin. The patient's age and recent-ness of the accident less than a week ago was profoundly shocking, but it would be self-indulgent to dwell on how being involved with treating this patient makes me feel, when any and all emotional effort should be directed towards the poor lad himself. And it is with some uneasiness that I have a strange mixture of both regret and relief that I am not around longer to be involved in his treatment and rehabilitation.
I can't think of a more heinous violation and insult to someone's existence. Whatever problems I think I have in my life - I have none. And can't imagine I ever will have in comparison with this young man's and his family's predicament. And although I am not overtly religious in the traditional sense, I find myself thanking God for the blessing that is my life today.
Monday, March 13, 2006
Spinal Tap ..
Well, not exactly but anyways, Today was a day I'll remember for a long, long time. Not for the futile afternoon spent with my difficult to rehab patients .. but for finally getting to see spinal surgery this morning!
I saw patient 'X' undergo "posterior correction for scoliosis" (where the spine curves from 'left-right' - or vice versa - rather than the smooth, wave-like 'forward-back' curve that most of us are born with.
Surgery lasted 3hrs 48 minutes and they opened up the back, from the neck virtually down to the buttocks, revealing the entire spinal column in all its glory (or in this case ignominy). Then nailed in screws into the vertebrae, onto which to attach 2 correction rods about 32cm in length either side of the spine. But I won't continue to bore you with the details.
I've seen some surgery before on a recent placement (Total Knee Replacement), however this was something on quite another level all together. Not sure when, or if, I'll get to see something like that again - an event to savour (although not quite perhaps before lunch!).
I have always been squeamish; After 3 years of placements in the NHS however, I guess it must have finally worn off!
Spectacular stuff!
Well, not exactly but anyways, Today was a day I'll remember for a long, long time. Not for the futile afternoon spent with my difficult to rehab patients .. but for finally getting to see spinal surgery this morning!
I saw patient 'X' undergo "posterior correction for scoliosis" (where the spine curves from 'left-right' - or vice versa - rather than the smooth, wave-like 'forward-back' curve that most of us are born with.
Surgery lasted 3hrs 48 minutes and they opened up the back, from the neck virtually down to the buttocks, revealing the entire spinal column in all its glory (or in this case ignominy). Then nailed in screws into the vertebrae, onto which to attach 2 correction rods about 32cm in length either side of the spine. But I won't continue to bore you with the details.
I've seen some surgery before on a recent placement (Total Knee Replacement), however this was something on quite another level all together. Not sure when, or if, I'll get to see something like that again - an event to savour (although not quite perhaps before lunch!).
I have always been squeamish; After 3 years of placements in the NHS however, I guess it must have finally worn off!
Spectacular stuff!
Saturday, March 11, 2006
Saturday, March 04, 2006
Die Firsby Strasse Fussball-Weltmeisterschaft Draw!
The 3rd Seecharan-Salter-Finburgh Inc. World Cup Fever draw took place on Saturday 4th March, 2006 with a new addition to this summer's Grand pay-out:
£50 - Winners
£30 - Runners-Up
£10 - Golden Boot
£10 - The Goal of the tournament*
* as determined by pundits and viewers of the BBC's World Cup Coverage.
So there is something for everyone this summer .. even Tom, who by general agreement drew the group of (certain) death, later mused, "Well, Saudi Arabia won goal of the tournament a few tournaments ago, so my money's looking safe to me". With an unprecedented 3 'home' nations represented in this final's draw (England, Trinidad & Tobago & Iran) the quest for the team of personal choice was always going to be keenly contested, with a wider gulf than ususal between the lofty heights of elation and the gloomy pit of despair!
In the following order that they were drawn, the 3rd and Final Firsby St World Cup 2006 Cup draw is as follows:
1. Anna - Spain, USA, Ivory Coast
2. Jo F - Argentina, Switzerland, Costa Rica
3. Miles - Iran, Ecuador, England
4. Nick - Brazil, Ghana, Trinidad & Tobago
5. Tom - Czech Republic, Mexico, Sweden, Saudi Arabia
6. Jon - Germany, Paraguay, South Korea
7. Yani & Oscar - Netherlands, Poland, Japan
8. Nina - Portugal, Croatia, Ukraine, Togo
9. Mum - Angola, Serbia & Montenegro, Italy
10. Dad - France, Australia, Tunisia
Yours truly, arguably, the luckiest out of the hat, gaining the double delight of drawing not only championship favourites Brazil, but also the mighty Soca Warriors! And with Jo F drawing Argentina, football may definitely be coming home (again!) to Evering Rd (with £50 fat ones .. at least) later this summer!
Jon continues to enjoy his much loathed association with multiple Cup Winners Germany, for the second draw in a row; Nina's love of Iberian chokers shows no sign of abating, although this time she's switched shorelines exhchanging the Mediterranean thrills (but mostly spills) of the Spanish, for tearful 'pacion' of portugal. Ma gets Italy (but inexplicably looked like she'd rather have drawn Angola ... nothing to do with the Catenaccio though .. honest ..)
Miles gets England .. again (could this be the summer to finally enjoy drawing England for reasons other than misguided patriotism ...), while the kids have already applied for court protection, with wild rumours circling of secret plans to swap Yani's Netherlands-led group for a "potato stamp" or a lego-man!
Anna will doubtless be thrilled at the idea of drawing Spain ("I just love their colours, and those bronze legs!"), while it seems only fitting that Dad ends up in bed with Thierry Henry (oops, I mean France!). And that leaves Tom ... whose group deserves a special mention again:
Well, let's just put it this way - at least he doesn't need the money! So, may the best team win (no really, I really mean that!!)
Previous Winners:
1998 - Nick (France)
2002 - Anna (Brazil)
Vamos a la praia!
Audit: The group's were decided with teams grouped on a sliding 'top down-bottom up' scale, on the basis of the relative strength (and weakness) of their current odds for victory, as per the Racing Post. Groups were numbered from 1 to 10 and placed into one hat; entrant names were placed into a separate hat; Valder Seecharan pulled the from group hat, while Shelagh Seecharan pulled from the names; Miles Seecharan concurred on names pulled and Nick Seecharan concurred on the authenticity and transparency of the groups drawn. Tom Seecharan revealed the actual groups drawn, once their numbers had been drawn.
The 3rd Seecharan-Salter-Finburgh Inc. World Cup Fever draw took place on Saturday 4th March, 2006 with a new addition to this summer's Grand pay-out:
£50 - Winners
£30 - Runners-Up
£10 - Golden Boot
£10 - The Goal of the tournament*
* as determined by pundits and viewers of the BBC's World Cup Coverage.
So there is something for everyone this summer .. even Tom, who by general agreement drew the group of (certain) death, later mused, "Well, Saudi Arabia won goal of the tournament a few tournaments ago, so my money's looking safe to me". With an unprecedented 3 'home' nations represented in this final's draw (England, Trinidad & Tobago & Iran) the quest for the team of personal choice was always going to be keenly contested, with a wider gulf than ususal between the lofty heights of elation and the gloomy pit of despair!
In the following order that they were drawn, the 3rd and Final Firsby St World Cup 2006 Cup draw is as follows:
1. Anna - Spain, USA, Ivory Coast
2. Jo F - Argentina, Switzerland, Costa Rica
3. Miles - Iran, Ecuador, England
4. Nick - Brazil, Ghana, Trinidad & Tobago
5. Tom - Czech Republic, Mexico, Sweden, Saudi Arabia
6. Jon - Germany, Paraguay, South Korea
7. Yani & Oscar - Netherlands, Poland, Japan
8. Nina - Portugal, Croatia, Ukraine, Togo
9. Mum - Angola, Serbia & Montenegro, Italy
10. Dad - France, Australia, Tunisia
Yours truly, arguably, the luckiest out of the hat, gaining the double delight of drawing not only championship favourites Brazil, but also the mighty Soca Warriors! And with Jo F drawing Argentina, football may definitely be coming home (again!) to Evering Rd (with £50 fat ones .. at least) later this summer!
Jon continues to enjoy his much loathed association with multiple Cup Winners Germany, for the second draw in a row; Nina's love of Iberian chokers shows no sign of abating, although this time she's switched shorelines exhchanging the Mediterranean thrills (but mostly spills) of the Spanish, for tearful 'pacion' of portugal. Ma gets Italy (but inexplicably looked like she'd rather have drawn Angola ... nothing to do with the Catenaccio though .. honest ..)
Miles gets England .. again (could this be the summer to finally enjoy drawing England for reasons other than misguided patriotism ...), while the kids have already applied for court protection, with wild rumours circling of secret plans to swap Yani's Netherlands-led group for a "potato stamp" or a lego-man!
Anna will doubtless be thrilled at the idea of drawing Spain ("I just love their colours, and those bronze legs!"), while it seems only fitting that Dad ends up in bed with Thierry Henry (oops, I mean France!). And that leaves Tom ... whose group deserves a special mention again:
Czech Republic, Mexico, Sweden, Saudi Arabia!
Well, let's just put it this way - at least he doesn't need the money! So, may the best team win (no really, I really mean that!!)
Previous Winners:
1998 - Nick (France)
2002 - Anna (Brazil)
Vamos a la praia!
Audit: The group's were decided with teams grouped on a sliding 'top down-bottom up' scale, on the basis of the relative strength (and weakness) of their current odds for victory, as per the Racing Post. Groups were numbered from 1 to 10 and placed into one hat; entrant names were placed into a separate hat; Valder Seecharan pulled the from group hat, while Shelagh Seecharan pulled from the names; Miles Seecharan concurred on names pulled and Nick Seecharan concurred on the authenticity and transparency of the groups drawn. Tom Seecharan revealed the actual groups drawn, once their numbers had been drawn.
Thursday, March 02, 2006
02.03.06
Eurotrash
Spotted this gem from the Eurostar Press (sic. PR) office, point 4 in their notes to Editors planning to write about their World Cup offering:
Eurotrash
Spotted this gem from the Eurostar Press (sic. PR) office, point 4 in their notes to Editors planning to write about their World Cup offering:
"Eurostar and Eurotunnel are two entirely different companies, with two different management teams. Eurostar is Eurotunnel's largest customer."
No shit sherlock. I can't believe you can earn a living from writing this shit. I'd write and let the feckers know myself but don't have time; don't however let this stop you!
Eurostar Press Office
+44 (0)20 7922 4494
press.office@eurostar.co.uk
But just bear in mind the strong arm of the law may rain down on you with furious anger, as Eurostar kindly point out at the end of their message:
Eurostar Press Office
+44 (0)20 7922 4494
press.office@eurostar.co.uk
But just bear in mind the strong arm of the law may rain down on you with furious anger, as Eurostar kindly point out at the end of their message:
"Important Note: This E-Mail is confidential, it must not be read,
copied, disclosed or used by any person other than the above
named addressees. Unauthorised use, disclosure or copying is
strictly prohibited and may be unlawful."
copied, disclosed or used by any person other than the above
named addressees. Unauthorised use, disclosure or copying is
strictly prohibited and may be unlawful."
May be unlawful?? Does that admission even make it onto the first rung of the legal foodchain?
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