Complicated Philosophy's photostream  

Missing a tie. I am missing a tie. It needs to come home. This morning I got thoroughly embarrassed in CT Head. Nothing more needs to be said on that. But a apparently some radiographers think I have a liking for one of their young extremely attractive radiographers. My apologies. I am going to be diplomatic here. I do not. That is the official line. On another note one got compared to athletes foot today. Indeed the comparison is an accurate one. Persistence and being obsessed about your objectives is something that is crucial and has been tested. This scribble is quick as I have someplace to be pretty soon.

Simon Lammy Photography

I had a long think on something today. Nothing more needs to be said. The decision has been made. The image above possesses a human being that has been a strong voice of reason for more than seven years. He told me something when he came to visit me in Aberdeen in July. I have decided to heed his advice.

Simon Lammy Photography

"Surgery is the point in which medicine reaches a brick wall and dreams come true." Dr. S Lammy [Teaching medical students yesterday]

That is all. And as for that programme on junior doctors can everyone give them a break. If camera followed around every single FY1 that started out in August the experiences would be no different. They are learning. So give them a break and stop being so hypocritical critical.

Simon Lammy Photography

Right. Congratulations to Dr. Milka Marinova. She is an FY1 on the second series of BBC Three Junior Doctors program. She sent me a message today. This encouraged me to watch the program. I last had a proper conversation three years back. She calls herself Milla these days but back then it was Milka. During our last conversation in a Costa Coffee in the bunker of the biggest Waterstones in Great Britain, opposite University College London, she and I had a long discussion about public health. It was clear then that she had been working extremely hard to get significant experience above and beyond that of a medical student in public health.

Indeed she took a a gap year from medical school, she attended Bart's & The London, I attended Royal Free & University College, and pursued a masters in public health. She undertook studentships at the head of the World Health Organisation in Geneva and extensive work in the United States. It was crystal clear that just as I have committed everything to neurosurgery that she had been doing the same for public health. So it is no surprise to learn of her doing more in public health, but it is no surprise to discover she is on this program.

I learned of her being selected to be on this program in June. A friend from London called me, and this friend does not call me often so I knew it was serious. She gave me clues as to who one of the new junior doctors on this program would be. I kept guessing incorrectly as it could have been anyone from medical school. But, she mentioned one line and I knew instantly who she was talking about. She jogged my memory regarding one this a mutual friend called The Ginger One had done at a conference many years back. Of course I am not going to divulge this information as it is between friends, and of course would be stupid to do so. But, the enormous laughter at the memory I let out came after the phone call terminated. I could not believe it. Well done Milka. Hope you have had a smashing time. That 2005 Pan-London 999 Party at the Ministry of Sound was an absolute corker, as Danny keeps reminding everyone, particularly at BMA conferences.

The image is of the lead print image for a column I used to scribble in medical school called Simon Says. Original I know, but it was a monthly column for the Medical Student Newspaper. This newspaper was the biggest and most impressive medical student newspaper, edited by medical students, for medical students in Europe. Over ten thousand print copies each month were distributed amongst the London medical student conglomerate each month. It got dispatched to every medical school Dean and Deanery member across all the London medical schools, including our glorious Royal Free & University College Medical School, Bart's & The London, the inglorious Imperial College School of Medicine, that obscene Guy's, King's & St. Thomas' Medical School and that absolute horror show called St. George's in Tooting in south London.

My scribbles had a sharp knack to them, often tearing asunder something in medical school in a sarcastic manner and more than one piece resulted in me getting death threats. One month I decided to tear to pieces the rugby boys, but the humour got lost on them and at one medical school winter ball I got an explicit death threat from one drunken rugby. During the transition known as Modernising Medical Careers, my wit became more sharp and tore into the BMA on more than one occasion. This drew a line in the sand and is one reason why I am so proud of Danny McGuiness, the Imperial Student Union President that banned the BMA outright from the grounds of Imperial College for over one year. No other president in the country had the means, and in some cases the will, to do so and represents one reason why Imperial College is a medical school to go to, as its students union works as a medical student union should do.

ULU Medgroup and the friendships and political ideas, thoughts, passions and sheer humour in medical school is one of the things I am most proud of. I learned a lot from all the others on that board that year. The BMA MSC Conference that year was an absolute beauty of pure comedy. I wonder who mentioned the Suffragettes? Perhaps I should dig out the Simon Says column on Rugby Boys. Well, perhaps not as some of those death threats were pretty serious, although they came from heavily intoxicated people.

Simon Lammy Photography

My scribbles have been short lately. I blame old age. So The Caveman has joined Flickr. Well done son. Next he will be discharging his medical angst upon mankind. On another note Emma has decided to give me a massage. It is about time too. I have to be in another country for it though. Roll out the red carpet Emma. Roll it out. I am going to bed.

On a more serious note Charlotte the wiser halve of my flat mate Joe is going to London tomorrow. Well not London but that hole called St. Albans. This is concerning as Joe is going to become malnourished and the flat might sink into a state of disrepair that Colin would have been proud of. Take care/

Simon Lammy Photography