Dear Santa

I have been such a good girl and wanted to send you my "TO DIE FOR" Christmas List.

Chloe boots

source

Michael Kors boots

source

Carolina Herrera 212 VIP perfume

source

Burberry wallets

source

And to note......I absolutely love brown paper packages tied up with string!

And if you don't make it for Christmas, my birthday is next month :)

Love Little Miss Medic
xoxo



What do you want for Christmas?

xoxo

The White Woman on the Green Bicycle

The White Woman on the Green Bicycle
by Monique Roffey

This is my latest read, which was on the Orange Prize 2010 Shortlist. It was an interesting read and I have mixed feelings as to whether I loved it, or liked it. It is set in Trinidad and spans the 60 years of George and the main character, Sabine's immigration to Trinidad. It is full of the politics of the West Indies, the heat and the disintegration of their marriage, as each one becomes more entwined into their seperate lives. George revels in the freedom and tempting lifestyle, whereas Sabine battles with the sweltering humidity and the racial toils that are rife in the country.

I fully escaped into this life and could feel the intense heat of the country, even though I was bundled up in my duvet, amidst the snow. Monique Roffey has a wonderful way with words, that makes the sentences effortlessly fall off the page. all in all a great read.

Read it!

xoxo

Meet Khuzwayo

Time to meet another legendary patient.................

KHUZWAYO



I met Khuzwayo in 2008, whilst I was working in a Medical Ward. It was supposed to be a stepdown medical ward, but was in fact a psych ward. Khuzwayo was a psych patient. He. Was. CRAZY!

Every morning I would arrive in the ward and prepare to start seeing all the patients. I would start in the front and make my way to the back of the ward. Khuzwayo's bed was at the back, but he could not wait there patiently for me to see him. Every few minutes he would come running up to me. Each day he had a new riddle for me and they went something like this........

Day 1      "Tell me Dokotela, what is the relationship between you and a parachute?"

Day 2      "Dokotela, what is the realtionship between you and paradise?"

Day 3      "One question, what is the realtionship between you and a parasite?"

and so it went on......each day a new question, always with the prefix para-

Initially I would try to answer these riddles, but after a while I would simply ask him to go back to his bed and stop bothering me. Khuzwayo demanded an answer and attention, and if he didn't get either he would unceremoniously, without fail, collapse to the floor and start to have a "seizure".

I call it a "seizure" because it wasn't in the slighest wave, shape or form a real one, but regardless he would start jerking his body and if you were lucky some drool would come out of the corner of his mouth. The first time he did this I called the nurse for some valium and she swiftly told me....

"Eish, that Khuzwayo is a faker. Don't believe his silly ways. Just leave him!"

On any given day, one could see Khuzwayo running around various parts of the hospital grounds. His ward was a lockdown ward, but being somewhat of a Houdini, he would always manage an escape. One day whilst driving towards the gate to leave the Hospital, I saw him lying on the ground, having a "seizure", whilst security gurads rushed to his aid. He had one eye open, to survey the situation and as they approached him, he made a full "recovery" and sprinted away.

Ah Khuzwayo.......

xoxo

Happy Anniversary

So today is my and the Boyf's anniversary. I decided to do a mushy, feel good post.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cuJ5oGdzuQM

All of the best romantic movies rolled into one with an awesome song as the soundtrack. Some of my ABSOLUTE favourites: Pride and Prejudice, The Notebook and Romeo and Juliet (Baz Luhrman's and Franco Zeffirelli's version).

Love it!!!!!!!

xoxo

Crazy Beauty Tricks

The secrets of ageless beauty is something that women have been striving for since the beginning of time. I am going to volunteer myself to try out various beauty tricks for your benefit. That way, I can weed out the dodgey ones and let you know which ones really work. Some I've found are very mild, such as the orange body scrub or beer and mayonnaise hair treatment, but others are simply horrid and I'm not sure I love my readers that much.......bird faeces facial cream????.......or.......snake massage....

NO WAY! I have a snake phobia.

How about slug sludge....

source

Faeces seems to be a big topic. In Ancient Iran, hair was dyed using henna, tadpole faeces and cow's blood. In Geisha culture, bird faeces were applied to the face as part of make-up and in Ancient Greek culture, crocodile faeces were used to stop the ageing process.

So I propose that you come up with some of the things that you have heard about, but are to scared to try out, or simply don't have the time. Just post a comment and I will carry on researching weird and wonderful tricks.


xoxo

Blonde Moments

Being blonde, I have spent most of my life being plagued by the infamous "blonde moment". I do tend to have a few, but as I have 'matured', they seem to be few and far between...except for today.........

I am locuming in a practice this week that does mainly travel vaccines and STD testing. Most of the patients are rich business men who want to come somewhere discreet to make sure their naughty night-time endeavours haven't left them infected.

Today I was doing an instant HIV test on someone. This involves doing a fingerprick test and using a drop of blood with a kit. As I was pricking his finger, I suddenly felt a sharp prick in my finger. I tried not to scream out in pain, as I quickly realised that I had inadvertently held the gadget the wrong way and punctured my own finger. I quickly told him that this one was faulty and got another one. I had to repeat it and try to hide the slowly growing red patch beneath my glove. I think I managed to disguise my little faux pas, but I felt like a right idiot. Not to mention that my finger is now throbbing!

Another gem of a story, and this one is rather embarrassing, was when I was a fourth year medical student doing my Obstetrics rotation. Seeing this was my first time rotating through this discipline, I basically knew NOTHING. One of the skills we had to learn was how to do a PV exam. PV stands for per vaginal, and involves doing a vaginal exam with your fingers. Sounds gross and it is gross.
One of the first exams I did was on a coloured woman in labour. I slipped on my gloves and prepared myself for what I was about to do. As I inserted my fingers, she suddenly screamed,

"Fok nee, dis die verkeerde gat!"

I had unintentionally done a PR (per rectum).........OOPS!

xoxo

SAW VI

Spent this Saturday afternoon curled up on the couch watching the latest in the Saw series. I have been an avid fan of all the movies, although the last two have left me a bit disappointed. This one however, is BRILLIANT! Just the right amount of gore and twists. It begins with a gruesome scene of two loan officers who have to go head to head to cut off some of their own flesh. The one who hacks off more flesh in weight, wins and ultimately survives. Sounds repulsive, but I was on the edge of my seat, and it was an exceptional opening!

This movie answered a lot of questions and I loved finding out about Jigsaw's widow and how it all started with Amanda. But yet again, there are so many unanswered puzzles that there is undeniably going to be a SAW VII. Woo Hoo!

Watch it!

xoxo

Minnie Mouse

Today I would like to introduce you to Minnie Mouse. Let me take a moment to digress....When famous celebs check into hotels, they often use fake names. I had a patient who did that today...

Enter Minnie Mouse...

She didn't actually call herself that, but I like the ring to it. I have seen a lot of kinds of crazy before. Working in psych wards, you get to see all colours of the rainbow when it comes to psych patients. But today I got to see a new kinda crazy. Minnie Mouse, is what you would call a board certified LOON!

She came in today to get tested for HIV as she had slept with someone 10 days ago and the condom fell off. She had waited painstakingly for those 10 days to elapse, because you can only do the test after 10 days.

She walked into the room and before I could say anything...

"So I had sex with this guy and I think I might have HIV. Could I have HIV? Do you think I have it? Tell me as a friend, be honest. Do I have HIV?....." and HIV is pronounced Hach-I-V in England.

"OK, calm down and tell me what happened and why you think you could have HIV," I replied evenly.

She tells me the story and suddenly bursts into tears. She fishes boxes of tablets out of her handbag.

"See I'm very anxious so I have to take all of these pills. They keep me calm, but I haven't been taking them. I can't sleep, I can't eat. I'm going to die! I have HIV!"

This continues for another 20 minutes.

"I gave a fake name, cos I'm worried the bank will see that I've tested and not give me a loan....." hence the Minne Mouse. And since when did HSBC have the power to access medical records?

"I am so worried. Do you think I have HIV? I am never going to have sex EVER again!" Ya right!

I took her bloods after showing her the clean needle 4 times and then proceeded to complete the forms.

"The blood results will be out in 4-5 working days, so that means you can phone us on Monday for the results." I explained.

"Why does it take so long? Do they go overseas?" she squeaked.

"No, its just that the test is specialised and takes that long to be performed."

"Ok, I'll just stay here and wait for the results then, " she stated matter of factly.

"Well you can't stay here for 4 days, that just isn't possible,"  RETARD!

"So you will start the test now?"

"No, it has to go to a lab. We send it via courier and then they start the test."

I start filling out the from.

"Can you mark that urgent and ask it to be ready for Saturday?"

"I can mark it urgent, but it takes 4-5 days so it won't be ready then." How many more times must I explain this?

"But can you write for Saturday on it?"

"Ok, I will." I mark it urgent, but leave out the Saturday as the Lab will think that I'm a retard.

"Can I see the form, so I can check you wrote Saturday?"  Good God!!!!

I reluctantly hand over the form.

"You didn't write Saturday," she said accusingly.

"Ok, I'll add it!"

"Can I see now, I need to make sure."

I hand over the form, where I have added Saturday in miniscule writing.

"Can I wait for the courier, so I can ask him to make it for Saturday?"

"No, you can't. he just collects the sample and takes it to the Lab. Please don't harrass him, he has nothing to do with the test."

"But can I just see him and have a chat with him?"

"No."

"Ok, can I just see you give the blood to him?"

I am going to kill this woman!

She ended up waiting in the reception area and plaguing the receptionist, for the next hour, pleading her to tell her that she didn't have HIV. She finally left and for the next 3 days she phoned every 2 hours to see if the results are back. People like that should not have sex. EVER.


xoxo

Little Miss Sad

The last few days have been extremely rough and I have aptly renamed myself Little Miss Sad. The light at the end of the tunnel is looking very far away and my dream to travel Europe next Summer, is looking even further away. I suppose the first few months of moving to a new country are always difficult and I must just persevere and it will get better. If you are feeling sad like me, here is a poem which describes how I feel.


ALONE: An Anthem For Humanity


Don't give me solitude


Because I'll have to try

To dig among my thoughts

To find a reason why.

Please busy me with work.

If there's time let me drink.

Give me philosophy

So I don't have to think.

Create more stuff to buy;

I'll shop until I drop.

Speed up the human race;

I never want to stop.

My Blackberry I need,

Computer and TV,

To occupy my mind;

Alone I cannot be.


(found here)


xoxo

HIV Myths

Having spent the whole of last week testing people for HIV, I thought I might share some of the myths that people have come up with.

1. You cannot get HIV from kissing. One guy was absolutely hell bent on testing for HIV after kissing someone "dodgy". I explained to him that unless, both of them were bleeding profusely from their tongues, there was no risk.

2. You cannot get cured from HIV by having sex with a virgin. Unfortunately this is a big one in Sub-Saharan Africa. Traditional healers would tell this to clients and this started the epidemic of the raping of young children. Absolutely horrific!

3. HIV is not spread only by gay people, IV drug users or African people. Minnie Mouse, one of the patients that you will meet later this week in Flashback Fridays, reassured herself that her partner was not HIV positive because he was not from Africa, not gay or a drug user. Wake up! HIV is everywhere. It affects people from all walks of life.

4. You can't get HIV from oral sex. I have seen so many people who have had sex with a condom, but not with oral sex. They then read up online about HIV and have a freak out that they didn't use a condom for oral sex too. How many bored housewives or business men are completely ignorant? Too many!

5. You can't get HIV through sex if you didn't take off your clothes. This is the best one. Saw a young chinese man, who had visited a prostitute. He had chickened out when it came time to perform the deed, but there was some rubbing, although he remained fully clothed. He was insistent that he could have contracted the disease. This is the complete other extreme, and I eventually had to do an HIV test.


6. ARVS don't help. See the movie below.



Be informed!

xoxo

ARVS do work!

World AIDS Day

Sorry I haven't posted anything for a while. Am working in a swanky, posh GP practice and only finish work when it has already been dark for 3 hours :( Stay tuned to hear all about it and see some pics.

Today marks the start of HIV Awareness Month, with the 1st of December being World Aids Day.




Hope this video inspires, shocks and saddens you. HIV is a HUGE problem! What are you going to do about it?

Primark

I've been feeling really homesick this week. Have been hating life and feeling pretty mis. So today I dragged The Boyf to Kingston for some retail therapy. There is nothing like a bit shopping to put a smile on your face! Having only just started working, the cash flow is still pretty small, so my destination ended up being.....

Primark is the place for anyone who loves a bargain. It is a great place for finding common staples, like long sleeved T-shirt tops, pumps and accessories. But beware. You will sweat. You will push. You will have to try on garments in the middle of the shop. This is what I picked up for a mere 150 quid -

some work shirts

                                                                     I heart shoes

I now have a big grin on my face and am feeling much better!

What did you do this weekend?

xoxo

Grumpy Bum

I've been working this week in a hospital that isn't exactly close. I've had to commute on public transport for 5 hours each day. This is why I haven't been posting anything and why I look and feel like this...........

Are you grumpy this week?


xoxo

7 uses for URINE

Urine - the usually foul-smelling liquid, that seeps into your nostrils as you walk through a subway. Have no idea why, but it has been on my mind the last few days, so I decided to do a post about it, and its uses. Whilst googling urine I found many weird and wonderful things about it, but these were the 7 most useful.

1. Drinking one's first stream of the day is said to cure many ailments and is known to bleach your teeth. Drinking your own urine is called urophagia. Mix it with juice or drink it fresh and warm..........YUCK! Actually all of us have tasted our own urine- amniotic fluid. It is produced as urine by the fetus. The fetus then continously swallows it.

2. Bathing in your own urine is supposedly good for your skin, keeping it hydrated and youthful looking, so to all you gross boys that pee in the bath- you are on your way to skin rejuvenation. I think I'll stick with my normal cleansing routine thanks. Although I have used a heel cream that had urea in it!

3. Hangover cure - again involves drinking your own urine, a large percentage of which will be alcohol :)

4. If you have an annoying neighbourhood cat or dog that leaves its mark in your garden, get your man to spray his pee all over the garden to mark his territory and keep these pesky pets away.........not a bad option! and it makes your man feel MANLY

5. Urine can be used as a fertiliser..............note to all you green fingers.

6. Cures jelly fish or bluebottle stings........works like a charm

7. In Singapore, scientists have gotten a battery to produce electricity by running it on urine......WOW, gateway to the future.


Any other uses you can think of?

xoxo

Charlie bit me

Bit of a lazy Sunday, I'm in bed with a cold :(

Hope this cheers you up, I love it!


xoxo

Flashback Fridays

I want to take a moment to introduce you to some of my favourite patients of all time. These are the pearlers that I remember. For whatever rhyme or reason, they had an influence on me. I will be introducing a new one each Friday.

Firstly, may I introduce............

Gogo Grace.

Gogo is a term used to describe an African grandmother. We often call patients Gogo. In the Zulu culture, it is a term of respect and even one of endearment. Gogo Grace looked like she was 102, but was probably more along the lines of 86. She didn't know her birth date, a common finding amongst the elderly Black population. This particular Gogo was in a surgical ward and wasn't quite mentally "all there".
She hated me from the first day I met her. I had to take blood from Gogo Grace, and she despised me for this. Elderly people often have the most terrible veins and it is a truly frustrating experience trying to get enough blood to even fill 2 tubes. Eventually I had resorted to taking femoral blood (blood from the femoral vein). This involved sticking a needle into Gogo Grace's groin. She really despised this. She shrieked and groaned, whilst being held down by 2 nurses. People behind the curtain must've thought I was killing her. Gogo Grace definitely thought I was killing her. I had to continue to work in that ward for another 2 months, and Gogo Grace, made it a living hell.

Everyday she would sit up in her cot bed and wait for me to walk past. She would then have some food (rice, carrot, potatoe....whatever they were serving) in her clawed hand, which she then proceeded to hurl at my head. Come rain or shine, each day, some edible thing would be lobbed at me. I even avoided meal times, but she would keep these morsels, hidden away, until I eventually came to the ward, and always had precision aim. I would arrive at the cafeteria for lunch, with bits of rice with gravy in my hair, that I had missed. Colleagues would point and say, "Did Grace get you again?"

Gogo Grace never spoke one word to me in 2 months. All I ever got was a grunt, or on a bad day, a scream. I eventually only filled out forms for her and left the procedures, like taking blood, to some poor other member of my team.

The last time I saw Gogo Grace, was about 3 years ago, but I will never forget her!

xoxo

First days at work

I missed this weeks Tuesday's tips as I have been working. Yes! I got a J-O-B.
Well, not technically a full time job, but I had some locum shifts. Let me fill you in on my first day

Day 1

03:30am Wake up

05:00am Catch train from Somerset to London

06:10am Train in front of us breaks down

06:30am My train goes back in opposite direction

08:20am Arrive at Waterloo, 30 min late

08:30am Work starts. I am on a bus in heaven knows where.

09:20am Arrive at work

09:30am - 10:30am Ward round with a consultant

10:30am - 11:30am Do ward work

11:30am- 17:00pm Twiddle thumbs

17:00pm - 19:30pm Travel home


So that was Day 1. I had ten patients and not much to do. My youngest patient was 76, so it was a ward filled with decrepit geriatrics. My favourite!..........................................NOT!

Day 2:

08:30am Arrive at work on time

10:00am Have finished all my work

10:00am - 17:00pm Twiddle my thumbs

17:30pm Train breaks down..........seriously.....AGAIN.

20:10pm Get home, very grumpy


Am hoping that my next few shifts will go better, but beggars can't be choosers!


xoxo

X-factor

Having been in England for only 4 weeks, I have been swept up in the excitement and drama that is the X-factor. For those of you not living in the UK, X-factor is combination of Idols and Popstars. There are 4 judges: Simon Cowell, Dannii Minogue (Kylie's younger sister), Sheryl Cole (previous Girls Aloud member and Ashley Cole's ex-wife) and some Larry called Louis, who I don't have the time of day for.

So basically its at the stage where there are 9 contestants left.

This rant is about one person.



Wagner.

If you have watched it, you will know exactly who I am talking about.

Wagner, aka Brazilian-moustache-man-who-gives-me-the-hee-bee-jeebies. He is literally tone deaf, has long brown straigtened hair, an earring in each ear and when he opens his gold toothed mouth, I cannot understand a word he is saying. I mean, SERIOUSLY! Apparently an anti-X-factor group are the reason he is still in the competition, as they continuously vote for him. He remains there week after week, and hasn't even been in the bottom 2. It baffles me, how this hideous entertainer is still there when talented people have been kicked off already.

"I can't wait to see what will happen next week. Maybe he'll sing in tune......" says Dannii

This 54 year old man, Wagner Carillho, is known to pose in his lumo thong on a weekly basis at the local pool. He even once owned a pet lion!

Have a peek at one of his performances... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFQUzl1557M

Seriously........

Enjoy tonight's episode :)


xoxo

Poppy Day

Today is Remembrance Day in the Commonwealth countries, to mark the anniversary of the end of World War I, on the 11th of November 1918. Lots of people have been wearing poppies as a symbol of all the blood shed in the war.

Today I was at Sainsbury's, where they had 2 minutes of silence at 11.00am to mark this day. It was so weird, as everyone was not just silent, but stood there transfixed and no one moved a muscle, but stared straight ahead. I'm all for remembering everyone that lost their lives, but to become a statue for that amount of time seems a bit overboard to me. Everyone has been wearing poppies for the last month, and whilst it is a brilliant idea and well worth remembering, it all seems a bit much. What happens to all the money made from the selling of these poppies? Am I being cold hearted and unpatriotic?
One woman was shushed and everyone glared at another, whilst she quietly unpacked her trolley. A minute of silence is very appropriate at a suitable occasion, like a service, but not in a supermarket.

37 million are said to have lost their lives during the War. 35 million Black South Africans were affected by Apartheid. You don't see South Africa having vows of silence. Apartheid, was as cruel, if not more, than any war. Apartheid only officially ended in 1994, when all South Africans were allowed to vote, 16 years ago. World War I ended 92 years ago. I fully agree with remembering things that happened previously, and giving them due respect, but living in the past, for me is tedious.

Let me know what you think?

xoxo

Kegels

Yip it's that time again. Seemed that a lot of people loved my vajayjay post, so have decided to continue from there and teach you all how to do kegels exercises.

Kegels are pelvic floor exercises which you can do anywhere, anytime.

Make the most of being stuck in traffic, ad breaks during your favourite TV programme or even a boring work meeting.

A weakened pelvic floor can be due to having children, being overweight, the aging process and chronic constipation. Kegels can prevent or delay prolapse from occurring. Doing these exercises on a regular basis can also help women achieve orgasm.

How to do Kegels:

Step 1 - identify your pelvic floor muscles (the muscles that stop your stream of urine). See this to help remind you.

Step 2 - empty your bladder

Step 3 - lie down or sit

Step 4 - contract vajayjay muscles for 5 seconds

Step 5 - relax for 5 seconds

Step 6 - repeat 5 times

Step 7 - do this 3 times a day

DO NOT hold your breath, clench your butt, or tighten your thighs whilst doing these!

You can work your way up to contracting for 10 seconds and doing them 10 times a day. Expect to see results in 8-12 weeks.

TA DA! You will then look like this......

xoxo

Lastest Read

I have just read Lindsey Kelk's first book in the I Heart Series, called I Heart New York.

This book is the perfect quick, girly read. I was in the mood for a light-hearted read, but was so thrilled at how entertaining it was. It follows the story of Angela Clarke, who takes the plunge, after an unfortunate event, and moves to the Big Apple. She finds a BFF, gorgeous outfits and a dream job, writing a blog for a fashion magazine. Follow Angela's adventures, from finding love to shopping in the swanky city that never sleeps.

I heart it!


xoxo

Hospital Life

For those of you who have had the "priviledge" of working in a government hospital, you will appreciate these photos (all poached from the Doctors Only group).
For those of you who haven't, don't be shocked.

                                           Pens are the most precious item you will ever own. 

Psych patient, who continued to wander around and get lost.

Patient's forearm. The staples are from all his lacerations.

Death certificates to be filled in after a weekend.

Casualty.

Some nurses are not the brightest.

This came from a patient's pleural tap (fluid around the lung).

No wonder all the files are always "LOST".

2 psych patients, who have been sedated and handcuffed together.

xoxo



CAGE

This week is about alcohol. CAGE is something that doctors use to deduce if a patient abuses alcohol.

C - cut down. Have you ever felt like you should cut down your drinking?

A - annoyed. Do you get annoyed when poeple comment on your drinking?

G - guilty. Do you ever feel guilty when drinking?

E - eye opener. Do you ever use alcohol as an "eye-opener"? (first drink to cure a hangover, or steady your nerves)

If you answer yes to 2 or more of these questions, you have a unhealthy relationship with alcohol.

To make you feel better I'll give you my answers.

C - yes, especially after a HUGE night, "I will NEVER drink again!"

A -  yes, no one likes to be reminded that they look a bit pissed, when you are trying to appear in control.

G - yes, "should've spent the money on a new pair of shoes."

E - yes, nothing goes down better than a Savannah Light after a big razzle.


So, that settles it, I have a problem...oops. It's not to be taken too seriously, but on a serious note, alcohol abuse is a problem that affects many and if you think you do have a problem, or know someone that does, click here.


xoxo

Ahmed

Seeing that I am currently unemployed, whilst I await registration in the UK, I thought that I would go back to my medical days in South Africa and share a few stories.


I was working one night, when a patient named Ahmed, phoned the Casualty (Ahmed: pronounced AGGGGGGhmed, like Jeff Dunham’s creation).

“Heello. My Eengleesh is not good. My name is AGGGGGGGGhmed. I do a test. It say my chromosomes are beeing XXY.”

MEDICAL INSERT:

“Klinefelter's syndrome, 47, XXY, or XXY syndrome is a condition in which human males have an extra X chromosome. While females have an XX chromosomal makeup, and males an XY, affected individuals have at least two X chromosomes and at least one Y chromosome.[1] Because of the extra chromosome, individuals with the condition are usually referred to as "XXY Males", or "47, XXY Males.

The principal effects are development of small testicles and reduced fertility. A variety of other physical and behavioral differences and problems are common, though severity varies and many boys and men with the condition have few detectable symptoms.”

(Courtesy of Wikipedia)

BACK TO AHMED…

“This meens that I have leetle testostareen and a small peenis. I want to make a lot of babes, but I need a doctor to help me.”

“Well, Ahmed, this is the Emergency unit and we only deal with emergencies. I can refer you to a doctor, who can help you, during working hours.” I explain.

I am not sure what possessed him to phone me at 21h00 on a Friday night? Possibly trying to get it on with a babe, to make babes?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouDRDzqTu0M

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

xoxo

Books

Check out my books page for my latest book review.

xoxo

Beautiful Bath

Yesterday I went to Bath for the day. Bath is one of my favourite places. Full of beauty, history and writing. Persuasion, Vanity Fair and Remains of the Day were all filmed there. Bath was the inspiration for Charles Dickensons' Bleak House and Jane Austen's Persuasion and Northanger Abbey.

"...for a fine Sunday in Bath empties every house of its inhabitants, and all the world appears on such an occasion to walk."

                                                                           Northanger Abbey, Jane Austen

I didn't go to The Roman Baths, as I've been before. But for anyone who hasn't been, it's a MUST.

River Avon

Bath Abbey

xoxo

Breast Cancer

It's October and Breast Cancer Awareness Month! So this weeks tips are all about the breast exam. I know there are only a few days left in October, but make the most of them and examine your beloved boobies. Send this to all your female friends! Breast cancer is very serious and not just reserved for women over 40. You can even get it in your 20s. So prevention is the best cure. I know a lot of women who have had breast cancer and are survivors and sadly, a few that weren't so lucky. So, please PLEASE pass the message along!

STEP 1

 Stand in front of the mirror with your hands on your hips. It's a good idea to do a breast exam at the same time every month and not too close to your period, otherwise they'll be sensitive. Look at the shape, size and colour and make sure it all looks normal. Make sure both sides are symmetrical, unless your boobs are naturally a different size. Warning signs: dimpling of the skin, inverted nipples,                         swellings/lumps, redness.

STEP 2

Repeat STEP 1 with your arms raised.



STEP 3


Look for a nipple discharge: blood stained, yellow, white or clear.


STEP 4

Lie down on your back and with your left arm up behind your head. Take your right hand and palpate your left breast. Use the pads of your fingers only, not the extreme tips. Move around in a circular motion, covering all the area, including up to the collar bone and in your armpit. If you feel a lump, see if it is mobile (moves when you push it) and how it feels.

STEP 5

Repeat STEP 4 in the shower.

STEP 6

THE END!

If you notice anything abnormal, head over to your local doctor immediately!

Happy Breast Cancer Awareness Month

(.Y.) Hooray for boobies!

 Fake (+)(+)

 Perfect (o)(o)

 Perky (*)(*)

 Cold (^)(^)

 and even Grandma's \./\./

 Big ( o )( o ) or small (.)(.)

Save them all!