Halfway through

Bunch of random Sydney scenes and food shots I took during my relief term.

I can't believe I'm past halfway through my first year as a doctor. Everything I was afraid of six months ago - like doing night shifts - turned out not to be so bad after all. I've still got a long way to go but I'm confident in my ability to learn.

I've been posting a lot less on the blog this year. I'm not sure if it's because working full time is sucking out all my creativity - I still want to blog, but I feel like fewer things are worth blogging about. I don't really feel the desire to document every evening out with my friends anymore. Most of my favourite blogs post less than once a week, so maybe there's something to be said for quality over quantity.

This is a scheduled post - I'm currently travelling! I'm reading all your comments over email but may not be able to reply.

3.5 weeks in a backpack

I'm officially on leave and on Wednesday I'm heading to Europe! It's a scaled-back trip compared to my last few - city hopping starting in Moscow, then St Petersburg, Vienna, Budapest, and Edinburgh (if Edinburgh seems the odd one out, it's because I'm doing a short surgical skills course there). As there won't be the temperature or activity extremes like the last two trips, deciding what to pack has been relatively easy this time, and I'm pretty confident I'll be able to travel carry on all my flights.


Sources here but they're not the exact items I have.

Mostly my old travel staples, plus two relatively new sleeveless tops - my silk shell and linen button down. I have been consistently bad at packing for hot weather - as you can see, I'm still refusing to pack shorts or a skirt (I just prefer not to wear them in general). Hoping those tops with loose pants are fine for Budapest, which will be the hottest destination (high 20s-30C). Conversely, the coldest will be Edinburgh (10-15C), where I guess I'll layer up with my cardigan, parka and jeans. And then the usual mix and match in between. For once, I didn't have to deliberate for ages about the shoes - my Chelsea boots definitely proved themselves worthy last time. They've been resoled and are ready to go.

And yes, I am also taking things like underwear, socks, pyjamas, and flip-flops for the shower. I didn't include them because I figured there's no option not to take them, and also because they're just not very aesthetic, are they?

Leura

To continue to try and make the most of my midweek days off this rotation, I took a day trip to Leura in the Blue Mountains yesterday. It's probably the second most popular town after Katoomba, but I'd never been there before.