h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

It was lovely to meet you - I hope you got home alright

I hope you weren't too - or at the least, certainly not as bad as the poor girl whom I saw freshly ejected from School Disco, trying her best not to be sick...

Ah - the virtues of travelling by bus...

Likewise - lovely to meet you too

Managed to brave my way through the mean streets of Barons Court without getting into any trouble ... think the fresh air did wonders as sunday was free which has got to be a good thing

Hope that you made it home alright.

Back in the wilds of Glasgow after one of the longest journeys ever - just as well the UK's public transport system is so efficient ... a tube, a train, a bus, a car and 9 hours was all it took - I could've been in Delhi in that time ...

Hey ho ... another monday ...aaargh

Well - Monday is the main theatre list, so I had my hands, full...

Got home alright though

Hmm - just outside this computer room it sounds like a breaker's yard

It's lunch time and my stomach is doing its best to sound like a breakers yard! Decidedly off putting for the colleagues - should probably go and rectify the problem!

Am i right in saying you're Obs and Gynae-ing at the moment or is that just a misreading of previous posts - indeed and plenty of I'd imagine too

Yep - you are indeed correct... turned up late to the list because of a bus issue (ie the issue was that it was very late, and very full), so I don't think the boss was too pleased...

However, it was good to see stuff again, and feel useful... ok about as useful as a dishcloth, but useful nevertheless....

I'm not entirely sure if I want to think about the "stuff" you were seeing ... especially not over lunch.

Each to their own mind ...

A mate of mine having qualified firmly believes that Obs and Gynae is the best part of medecine ... her reasons are vaguely odd - along the lines of "they're usually young and in full working order" ... fair enough!

That's a part of it for me too - but I have to admit, there are some worrying moments...

On the other hand, you are allowed (what I consider) the absoulte privilege of being present at the birth of a baby - and with the hands to catch it when baby pops it's head out It's an extrordinary moment

But what fascinates me most are babies' expressions - especially when grandmothers go up to their new grandkids and do the whole pull faces, and google at the baby... and then baby just goes... you do realise just how stupid you look right now...?

That makes me

I never realised such scepticism was in built! Having said that, met a toddler the weekend before last who had the ability to make even the most self-assured of people feel about an inch tall ... if looks could kill!

Just think too of the fun you can have in later life! I went to a wedding and was chatting to this old duffer - told him my name to which his response was "My God ... last time I saw you you were naked, covered in blood and screaming" - it turned out he was the Dr who'd delivered me ... in a word!

What's even better about babies is that they have the 'rooting' reflex, whereby if anything vaguely nipple-like touches their cheek they go for it. So corners of towels, clothing and thumbs are all fair game...

But the best bit is when they are presented with the breast... and they just look at it with absolute confusion, as if to say ' - that doesn't look like any of the diagrams they showed us back in the womb!'

I have visions of a bubba with a "That's nice. What exactly am I supposed to do with that" look on its face ...



As for thumbs, they were my best friends for 8 years or so, so I can empathise!

Awwh!

Even better - after they give the boob a confused look, the baby then goes on to let out the most enormous wail - a sort of 'But... but, they promised us drinks on the other side!'

there there ...

let's face it, it's got to be a bit of a shock to the system - one minute cooped up in a nice warm, dark womb with soothing surround sound - eyes shut and being fed without even having to think about it ... sounds much like a pub in many ways, assuming of course you consider Girls Aloud as being soothing ...