Where Has The Time Gone?

Once again I have said that I will be back soon and then failed miserably.
What can I say? Must try harder... many times over the past few weeks and months I have composed a post in the middle of the night when sense said that I should be asleep. By the morning all thoughts had disappeared in a flurry of getting to work, cleaning student houses (have you seen the state of them?) or generally living life.
Enough is enough though I have missed out on blog postings for far too long and I have stored up many many thoughts and ponderings. I will have to go slowly though  as I really don"t want to over whelm anyone.....
I will start with this weekend and work back if I may as I don't want to have you laughing too much at this time of the evening...

Y for some reason best known to himself and a few other mad people decided to go for a night time cycle ride. OK you might think what is solo bad? Well for a start it was night. Starting at 10pm and riding from Carlisle to Newcastle, about 65 miles. Before you ask no I was not daft enough to go but and here is the BUT he discovered that one of the riders was organising a ride in aid of the local hospice on Sunday and would I be interested? Well yes 100Km doesn't sound too far and it was mostly flat........ Truthfully it was mostly flat but the wind was something best described as a challenge. (Keep it polite).

The wind blowing the tops from the waves on the Solway coast

It was well organised, plenty of feed stops all providing flapjack. Actually if I see another bit of flapjack ever it may well be too soon.

Anyway in the end I finished it. Amazingly I can still walk, Would I do it again? Yes but maybe not for a wee while and please no more flapjack......

And the Panda has it.

I don't know what you all think of zoos. It can be contentious. Some see them as keeping rare breeds alive whilst others think that all the animals should be allowed to roam free.
I can see both points of view. However I might be a bit anxious about suddenly turning urban, zoo dwelling animals into the wilds of Africa (or anywhere else that their ancestors were originally from). Even the native species may have some issues with having to hunt for their own dinner....a bit like teenagers!
Therefore it was with mixed feelings that i agreed to take K to Edinburgh zoo.
On the one hand I had been there many times with my own grandparents until it was decided that we were too old and it was time we went castle spotting instead. ( I seem to remember i was about 8 when that happened). On the other hand my daughter is nearly 16 and usually much more keen on shopping.

The girl had a plan though.... She wanted to see the Pandas.. And reasoned that a morning would be enough for the zoo and we might fit in a bit of retail therapy (her choosing, me paying) before heading home. The gauntlet was firmly cast by her saying that we might be able to go by train and even have something to eat ( you could have wine mum). And that as they say was that.......

The tickets were booked. One up for the family rail card. The viewing window (appointments only for these pandas) were organised and off we went.

We're all going to the zoo tomorrow (well today actually...)

It couldn't have been easier...
*The train arrived on time.
* The bus driver was really helpful and we got off right outside the zoo.
* The pandas are far better than me at keeping to booked appoitments.
*The shops were very accomidating and allowed me to spend lots of money. (The daughter is not a          cheap date..)

The Boy Has to Eat

Lots.. He's Building Himself up Apparently...for the BIG EVENT

 We had a brilliant and very full day. So much so that we missed our intended train and took the last one home. (food and wine required). This involved a change and a short wait at Carstairs but luckily we escaped being kept. (Scottish State Prison for those that didn't know).

Much needed refreshments...

Oh No there's two of Them... (Too much wine?)

Quite taken with this pair too

Another cat perhaps?

A bit of boy love going on here...

Home to make the big 50 cake

The sun has got it's hat on, it's coming out to play.....

 It is the 6th of April and at last the sun has come out and the temperatures have soared above zero......

It's time to go out and play. I haven't been very keen about getting on my bike, even although I love it. My Bianchi Blue as I call her. She is truly beautiful. BUT that it not make getting on any better and so last week... I eventually succumbed and got Y to put her on the trainer where I did exactly 2 rides
Not very good! And I had to be bribed (by myself only) that if I rode on the trainer I could watch Paul Hollywood on catch up while I was doing the ride. This ensured that I stayed where I was for the full half an hour....

The Man Himself

You must admit though that Bianchi Blue looks much better outside....

The birds were singing the flowers are beginning to appear, the farmers are spreading slurry... the joys of the countryside. I only did 10 miles today (well 9.74 if we are being really accurate) BUT did you know that that equels 460 calories? sorry got to go and plan the next calorie burn....Have a good week

A Day in the Life of...

Today was not unusual. I am looking forward to my holiday..... Of course...but obviously my patients do not know about this and any excitement has to be tempered!
So what I'd I do?
I scanned several women. All hoped for the best but like Jack Reacher (Lee Child's character) I was planning for the worst. Emotions as usual ran high and low. Pregnancies confirmed with all the expectation that this brings and miscarriages sadly diagnosed leading to tears and upset.
All this of course is normal for me, some days better than others.
Today had added strands....
I became a couple counsellor to the pair having a stand up fight in the waiting room....
I discussed returning to work with a colleague who had been off for a while after a difficult time.
I planned a presentation for the Friday teaching. ( and actually got around to writing some of it).
I chased up results.
I planned appointments for next week when I'm on holiday. (Did I mention holidays?).
I organised a referral for a lady needing assistance with her diabetes.
I sorted out two appointments for women to get coils fitted.
I spoke on the phone to 3 GPs including one who was being very stroppy on behalf of her patient (this needless to say didn't work, even I cannot magic up appointments from thin air).
I started working out another weeks off duty for my staff. (Including all requests for days off, annual leave, clinic cancellations and additions as well as medical leave coverage, a walk in the park really).
And lastly I managed to show off my latest cake picture.... Always time for cake...


I hope your day was as varied as mine.....

Location:Home

The feel good cake....

Fitting the cake to the person can be a bit tough....

Recently though I have been asked to do a real variety of cakes and i have enjoyed every minute...

There was the last day cake for one of my crazy colleagues......

Swimming Hat Lady

The sophisticated 50th which was supposed (at least in my mind0 to be based on the Mad Hatter's Tea Party......

Too Sophisticated for Words....

The surprise 40th cake. I suddenly decided that Art Nouveau was the way to go inspired by a tin of jelly sweets....

Very Arty.....

Ok so the boy likes football, x Box and geology... It was a no brainer..... Football and X Box did't get a look in....

An Explosive 18th cake......

The Little People

I tried to post this a few days ago but the bloggy gremlins had got in the way and being a Nupwup (my best new word) I of course hadn't saved the preview. You live and learn or at least that's what I'm supposed to do ... so here goes....

At Christmas I was given a beautiful present of this couple here...

I spent several days pondering on how exactly it would be best to use them as they came with no instructions or recipes. I could see that getting the dough out of the moulds could be a little tricky... and so I oiled them with oil meant for chopping boards and let it dry and repeated the process 5 or 6 times..

I used a gingerbread recipe from an old Good Housekeeping book that I've used lots of times before... a bit of mess was created here...

And Hey presto this young lady was created....

I must admit I still had serious doubts that all the detail would be kept whilst she cooked...
But I was proved wrong... A couple of couples......

They turned out well but a bit of a phaff.... Maybe Ill make some more when Ive got plenty of time and even more patience.
The snow has just started here and i must go and get something hot and tasty for the tea....