So there is this rare window of opportunity that SJ has gone out for his insane 13K run and I am just chilling here having my coffee and toast (nothing like kaya toast and kopi-bing sadly).

Ah, 2016.

I'd say that 2015 was overall an exciting year, with goodness outweighing the bad. I'm still enjoying documenting bits and pieces of my unexciting life here in this space. And while it appears to be my unilateral ranting once in a while, the Blogger stats say otherwise so I hope you've enjoyed being my little voyeur behind your computer screens :p

I'd think of 2015 as being in 3 seasons. My final season in junior residency, followed by preparing to move abroad and finally being in the Empire State.

I thoroughly enjoyed my Neurology posting with NNI, and having known Dr N and Dr K for almost 8 years (!!), I'd be lying if I said there wasn't pressure to perform. Nonetheless, with exams off my back I certainly enjoyed the luxury of immersing myself in the subject and diving head into the wonderful world of the human brain. It did raise many questions about Life and Death, just adding on to the grey grey world that we live in as doctors.

In March, Mr LKY died. RIP.

Then came the final summer blockbuster of my residency rotations - MICU...times 2! It wasn't quite as bad as I had expected, though it was certainly bad with no weekends, no holidays and lots of sick people. I was blessed with a good team I'd say it was through MICU that I got to know some good people, peers and seniors from which I had the privilege of learning from. April was a bad season though, with the diagnosis of illness in the family and lots of emo involved (not my cup of tea). I did feel, though, that I was just trying to get through the two months while juggling my own life and stuff happening beyond.

I had almost forgotten I rotated through ED until I clicked on this post. ED was most painful, and to think I had gone into Medicine wanting to become an ED physician. Certainly not gifted in this area (I know many who are!) and drifted through, scalded fiercely by the death that should not have been. :(

Then It happened. I graduated from residency! Not after an 8 hour long ABIM board examination though. And thereafter became unemployed (well, kinda).

I felt rather uncomfortable initially with this new found freedom. While my peers were becomes Registrars and getting their pay raise, I was waking up at 8AM and going for quiet breakfasts myself (NO REGRETS though!). Anyway my hands got itchy and I signed up for 3 examinations in the subsequent 6 months (zzz). With lots of packing and planning, SJ and I were all jet set for NYC.

We started the engine on the past 6 months slowly, adjusting to the place, culture, food and weather. I remember feeling strange in the first 2 months and in the snap of my fingers we have found ourselves in 2016. I feel like as I get older, traveling/living aboard no longer comes as a novelty of traveling incessantly or checking to-do things of a list, but rather building relationships and investing in new experiences. SJ and I have had the privilege of meeting really wonderful people, and helping to sow seeds in building God's kingdom.

In 2015, after long and hard work, we finally published! :D I guess also worthy of mention would be my epic flight back to Singapore.

And of course, as my husband very brutally announced on social media, the unimaginable happened and God willing, 2016 brings an addition to our family unit. (face of horror) It's an interesting paradigm shift, and I'd like to write about it in another post.

Oh, I'd also like to say that in 2015, I've run more than I ever have and I can now run about 3 miles comfortably without feeling like dying. #super

So what does 2016 bring? I can't quite imagine life beyond baby so I'll just think of my next 5 months at a turn. In this land we now call home, I just hope we make the most of the time we have year to be faithful to water the seeds that have been sown and leave the harvest for those who are to come. I also hope to enjoy this last few months of being baby-free (though not belly free :x) and maybe, just maybe, one more exam :x

(After the usual 10 minute morning round)

Me: So, the plan for today is that we will...is there anything else I can do for you?

Patient: Yes doctor...could you please help me scratch my nose?

One year ago about this time, I remember freezing somewhere in the US of A, thinking about what 2014 would bring. In my mind, I had already defined 2014 as the year of PACES - an exam that I would clear, if not by June's first attempt then hopefully by October. How painfully myopic I was, maybe still am. Fast forward a year and here I am still freezing, but elsewhere in Germany, and thinking about the year past and inevitably the coming year.

The easy part comes in the lists, what have I done, where have I gone, what have I achieved. The unquantifiable remain: how have I grown? What has become of my ministry?

The first six months of 2014 were a necessary evil. I had planned it well in advance, that I was to attempt the Part 2 and PACES within an indecent 4 months of each other. Some had warned against, but nonetheless sent their well wishes. I had even scheduled a meeting with beloved Prof K to discuss if this plan would follow through. Days were long, tiring and often demoralizing. But I will always be grateful for the day I had skin thick enough to ask to join a bunch of seniors, who later became the source of support, encouragement. For the record, I am thankful for Y, S, M and J, who bore with my exam-related nazi-self, and really, with whom I could not have done without. Day after day seeing cases and being grilled in tutorials were in exchange of budding friendships and eventually the guest of a beautiful wedding between two brilliant people, R and X. This was certainly a season that I will be grateful for, but also dreadful to think to have to relive. I remember quarreling with SJ over how to spend the weekend, with him or at the coveted NNI PACES course. No prizes for guessing where I ended up...the PACES course of course ;) my husband is supportive like that. With that, 4 months of Respi and 2 months of GM whizzed by.

Results day took a relief off my shoulders, and I went on to thoroughly enjoy my clinical rotation in ID, enough said. Finishing up the year with the reputable "hardship" posting in Cardiology comes as no mean feat. In reply to the oft asked "How's it?", my easy response is "I'm just passing through."

Work aside, being baby free has lent us much flexibility in jet setting some where over a short holiday. I always tell myself that I should learn to take leave JUST to rest, but the thought of giving up an opportunity to taste another air is just too unforgivable. In 2014, we took some short excursions to HCMC, Perth, HK, Kota Tinggi and Germany. Particularly memorable would have been the HK trip, since it was our first family holiday with my mum in a gazillion years.

2014 saw us changing life plans a little. My 26 year old self would laugh at my insecure 25 year old self. I had started the year saying that I wanted to live my life less in series but more in parallel (if you understand that) and this was the chance. With a little bit of egging on, plans for 2015 have taken on a course that I almost never imagined would. As usual, a new year comes with new academic challenges and desires to be better. With things still taking shape and God willing, may 2015 bring new adventures beyond our wildest imaginations.

2013 was a year of many changes. I looked forward to it with great anticipation - getting married, moving house, turning MO, pay raise, exciting medical rotations, travelling. It certainly hasn't disappointed, though this season of celebration and holidays was rather watered down on my side. Looking forward to watch night service this evening, to reflect, remember and give thanks for all that has passed. Since everyone is in the mood of rehashing the year in playback, I shall be a copycat and do the same.

January

The year started off with transiting from a terrible posting to a more familiar one. It was during this season also that SJ and I were busy home building. The search for a place to call home was not an easy one, and being the fussypot that I am, every little thing counted. Was saved by the more level headed and firm other half who sealed the deal and settled everything that I couldn't have imagined needed settling.

Our home! No more comments on the safari prints please O:

February

The second month of the year went by in a blur. It was a season in which I felt the need to prove to myself that I could function at a higher level than a houseman. It was also during this month that I received affirmation that what I was doing was appreciated, and encouraged me to work harder at it. SJ and I made a short getaway to Phuket in February, which really is not much of a destination. We bought our rice cooker there for 60% of its SG price :)

Chilling under my umbrella, Phuket 2013

March/April

I only blogged once in March. I don't recall the circumstances that made me write such a post. I had just started my rotation in Palliative Medicine and was surrounded by people who just breathed out inspiration. It was an excellent posting, and in particular I will always remember the first blue letter that I had to write a reply to. It was a hard and painful case, a young man with incurable cancer. What moved me more was that on the day he died, a senior brought me aside and spent a good amount of time talking about the case, why and how it affected me psychologically, emotionally and spiritually.

Fellow Pall MOs at Lionel's farewell

May

In May, SJ and I got married! Enough said, I'm sure everyone is bored enough.

June

June was a time of transitions. We honeymooned in Melbourne and got back straight into business. By business I mean the mundane routine of vacuuming the carpets, mopping the floor, doing the laundry, ironing the clothes...no complaints about sliding into a comfortable routine and a husband who gladly does the ironing (phew!).

My husband, Iron Man (Actually I have an image of him ironing the clothes, but I'm sure he wouldn't be too pleased with it being posted here...)

July/August

I think I was too busy doing housework in July and August it has become a blur. I was doing a Geriatric posting in KTPH at this time, very kampung style department, and the hospital with my favourite scrubs. The incredible distance I had to travel daily was mediated by having lunch with friends who braved the terrible ACU calls with me. It was then also that I spent a significant amount of time sieving through databases and casenotes for a research project, but fortunately was accompanied by excellent buddies who slaved alongside me. In August I took a solo trip to Prague for my first ever overseas conference presentation, but was also sad that SJ couldn't come with me

Charles Bridge in Prague

September

September saw SJ and I in Russia for the very first time on his duty travel. Interesting and unusual place. I don't think I would pay a good amount of money to travel again though. Then again, I'm no history buff and that's probably why I felt really sleepy whenever they talked about the historical significance of monuments. I do remember seeing Lenin's embalmed body though.

The Moscow underground

October/November

Set foot into yet another new land, new hospital, new department. So many thoughts about this posting that deserve another post on its own. In short, an incredible posting. In this time, I also took my first post-graduate exam.

December

So here we are, after a month of travelling again to another faraway land, I am at the end of 2013. The past 2 weeks were spent with SJ and other counsel seriously deliberating our next step. What next? I suspect 2014 will be an extremely intense year, with me planning to attempt more exams and SJ having more opportunities of his own. That said, here's to making Godly decisions and giving thanks in all circumstances :)