sent our annual newsletter to friends before christmas and one dear friend responded, "...really enjoy reading your yearly updates, pity they come only once a year though" to which i replied, "our imaginary quarterly update wouldn't make for good reading - too many low lights and frustrating moments." the year end report is a blythe summary of the good things that happened, but so much more goes on behind the scenes.
it's been a busy year culminating in 3 X graduations and 2 X demanding jobs in brand new industries a world apart from our original legal skill set. we'd wanted to take it easy in 2017 but looks like surprise baby boy had other plans.
found out i was pregnant 3 days before my first medsch final exam and sat the month-long finals in the ever-worsening throes of first trimester. abandoned a 3h written paper 2h in and went straight to A&E where I spent a miserable afternoon, convinced i'd both failed finals and lost the baby.
passing finals was nothing short of Miraculous. my medical school has a "no exemptions" policy - sitting finals meant I'd deemed myself fit and there'd be no extenuating circumstances taken into consideration if I didn't meet the pass mark.
starting work as a first year doctor on an acute ward in second trimester has been simultaneously the hardest thing I've ever done and also the most gratifying. immensely thankful for this kicking little life who picked what seemed like the worst possible time humanly, only to show me that God's timing is always perfect.
passing finals was nothing short of Miraculous. my medical school has a "no exemptions" policy - sitting finals meant I'd deemed myself fit and there'd be no extenuating circumstances taken into consideration if I didn't meet the pass mark.
starting work as a first year doctor on an acute ward in second trimester has been simultaneously the hardest thing I've ever done and also the most gratifying. immensely thankful for this kicking little life who picked what seemed like the worst possible time humanly, only to show me that God's timing is always perfect.
been blessed with a smooth pregnancy and was doing 10km hikes in switzerland at week 36 before reluctantly returning to london as late as BA would fly me, only to then road trip to dover for more coastal walking. drafting this in week 37 and hoping baby stays put till at least the new year because my prof is on holiday and only gets back 2 jan ;) hence i'm under strict instructions to be on my best behaviour and to stop 'dancing on tabletops'. everyone's warned about how life is going to change completely and i'm a more than a little apprehensive. during the boxing day sales, bought a wine fridge and whiskey cabinet but still don't have a car seat (need it to get home from hospital!), cot nor pram. totally unprepared because i don't think one can ever be prepared, i attended one antenatal class and was so put off i missed the other three, and am generally in denial about actually needing to have the baby in a matter of days to weeks. i wish i was more like those smug maternal sorts who are totally on top of things but i'm not and might never be. instead i've refused to modify my lifestyle and made it a point to escape london most weekends, if not every opportunity. was just counting the number of escapades baby has been on in utero which is essentially my travels june to december, linked if i've previously posted and you'd like to see.
week 8 highlands road trip (isle of mull, skye)
week 12 ibiza
week 22 copenhagen, faroe islands
week 26 amsterdam
week 35 zurich, zermatt
week 37 dover, ascot
earlier in the year, there was
singapore, KL and the philippines in march / april
lake district in may
and the small issue of medsch finals in may - june which have been sufficiently dramatised above.
a friend asked recently what i'd been getting up to after finishing medsch. hate to disappoint but far from anything exciting or off piste, i've been a doctor, rather predictably, and plan to remain one as long as i can. although there is eight months of maternity leave to dread / look forward to, depending on whether you're the glass empty / half full sort. again, people have told me i'll change my mind once the baby comes and i probably will. feel everything i think / say now is only valid till he arrives, then it's anyone's guess. like to think i'll take to motherhood with the same determination i approach most other commitments, but the permanence of such a transition scares me. easier to care for in than out, another well-meaning friend said when i broached the subject of induction to have some control over when baby lands on my lap. i mean, for planning purposes, having a 5 week window (weeks 37-42) when baby could potentially materialise isn't really convenient... so much to learn, so much to do.
another bugbear, one that this isn't the most appropriate of forums for, is how much unsolicited advice i've gotten. glad not to be in singers because it's probably worse in situ but the number of nagging aunties really gets my goat. why are people so negative??? like if you've nothing encouraging to say then don't say it. stop telling me to enjoy myself / make the most of pre-baby freedom because i do and will continue to do so because i'm inherently impulsive and hedonistic without need for prompting. or people who tell me how hard / exhausting being a new mother is. how is that constructive / productive at all? if it's hard, then i'll have to deal. and worrying about it now / being anxious is a waste of time because i can't change anything. but there's no point calling out annoying types, so breathe in, breathe out and ignore :)
looking forward to seeing the new year in on primrose hill, and bracing ourselves for our biggest adventure yet come 2017. thanks for coming by, and for reading. wishing you and yours every good thing in 2017. also, more holiday posts to follow in the next few days.
previous yearly round ups here.
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