The office

Came in to work to find this in the morning.

Time for renovations.

A story of separation

A husband decides to leave his wife. He’s often complained loudly that theirs was never a good relationship anyway.

‘I pay in way too much into our joint bank account,’ he shouts, ‘and she’s so controlling! Telling me what I can and can’t do with my life’.

‘Like what?’, a friend asks.

‘She says I need to view her friends as equals and we should share our talents and ideas so we can be healthier and aspire to be the best we can be. Can you believe it? Sure I’ve learnt more about how the world works and discovered lot of new ways of thinking about science and nature, art and culture (and I’ve even made good money over the last 40 years!) but I’ve changed beyond recognition. I mean just look at all these new spots on my face! And when I lost my factory job soon after we got married and the bosses told me they couldn’t and wouldn’t find me new work she didn’t even retrain me!’ She just said ‘Well then, we need to find something else productive to do’.'

‘But if it was important to you why didn’t you do more about it?’

‘It didn’t matter so much once I started our business and that started going well. But a big part of me feels a bit left behind and neglected. She should have done something about that. She had the chance. I’ve paid in lots of money into our joint bank account remember?’

‘Didn’t you buy a house together with that money?’

‘Yes, but I paid for the furniture all by myself. And just look at all these spots on my face! I miss my youth, when I used to live like a bachelor and could visit girls from all over the world. I want to take back control of my life. I want to stop having to listen to my wife’s Kraftwerk albums every Sunday!’

‘So what happens now?’

‘I don’t know. To be honest, I haven’t really thought much about that. The most important thing is to have made the decision. She says it’s sad but if that’s the way I feel then we should finalise the divorce as soon as practical so we can both move on and just be good neighbours. But get this, my lawyer says that it doesn’t have to be this way for me. He says that I can stop paying but still visit her whenever I like and even go to the cinema and have meals (at her place) when I want to. I’ve said some pretty hurtful and untrue things in the course of all this (she did too!) and I do regret a few of them but I know she doesn’t really mean what she says about the terms of the separation – she still needs me!’

‘So you’ll work something out?’

‘If she agrees with me then sure. In the meantime, I’m off to check out my old flames. I know they’ll be overjoyed to see me again - I've neglected them long enough!‘

‘And the grandchildren?’

‘They need to stop crying. It will really be ok in the end. Trust me.’

Schadenfreude

Listening to a Something Understood episode on Schadenfreude, I was struck by this quote in Hobbes' Leviathan. He argues that those with the least self-confidence are most likely to laugh at the defects of others. I think I have been guilty of this flaw, and it's been especially revealing since I suffered a bit of a setback at work.

Sudden glory is the passion which maketh those grimaces called laughter; and is caused either by some sudden act of their own, that pleaseth them; or by the apprehension of some deformed thing in another, by comparison whereof they suddenly applaud themselves. And it is incident most to them, that are conscious of the fewest abilities in themselves; who are forced to keep themselves in their own favour, by observing the imperfections of other men. And therefore much laughter at the defects of others is a sign of pusillanimity. For of great minds, one of the proper works is, to help and free others from scorn; and compare themselves only with the most able.

Happy International Day of Radiology

Happy International Day of Radiology!

It's a day to celebrate the value of radiology in the detection, diagnosis and management of diseases. This year's focus is on brain imaging and all the progress we have made over the last 40 years.

I'm really enjoying my new specialty and it's nice to see it promoted.

Celebrate well!
Moc

Autumn Cleaning

Six years of medical school notes. Time to recycle

Mid-year resolution

Whilst in Edmonton, I flicked through the University of Alberta Faculty of Extension Fall 2011 Programme. It has inspired me to dig out those old Gujarati, French and Portuguese books and finally master the languages…

"Learning a language is more than making unusual sounds and learning a new alphabet. It's about communicating and understanding. It is a cultural experience. As you develop your vocabulary and perfect your pronunciation of a new language, you will find delight in the cadence, idioms and forms of expression. And through words and sentences that you will learn, you will gain insight into how others around the globe view their world…"

Bloody anecdote

After a long struggle against the incredible veinless man, I managed to get enough blood for all many tests we wanted to do. Just as I was withdrawing the needle, though, the plunger of the syringe popped out and flew across the room. Blood splattered all over me, the patient, the bed, walls and floor. Nurse walked in just then, surveyed the scene and concluded that I must have just killed the patient.