My first time seeing a dying patient felt surreal — One of the things all the newbie doctors were dreading was being put on a weekend shift or night shift so close to starting because that’s when things became very, very real. And that’s what happened to me. So soon after qualifying, I was set to have a weekend 3-night…

Where do writers draw the line — I remember once I had really bad writer’s block. It got to the point where I felt so frustrated, even when I stepped away from the screen. I couldn’t seem to shake it off. …

We’re only human — I remember one particular patient I looked after back when I first started as a doctor. It was on a specialty ward but we were used to having an overspill of “general medical” patients when the hospital was under pressure. This patient had a long extended admission which can sometimes…

To be dangerously in love — Only a small percentage of patient encounters stay with me years after leaving medicine. It’s usually the ones that didn’t go well. The ones that were unique in their complexity or were just truly unsettling. The human mind has a propensity for the negative and mine is no different. I…

This might be the reason freelancing is killing you — “It sounds like you are an artist.” My brows furrowed slightly as the words sank in. “What do you mean?” I asked, leaning forward so I could hear the response. But even as the question left my lips, it felt like I already knew the answer. I still needed to…

My most recent coffee date story. — The date A friend set me up on a blind date. I knew nothing about this guy except his name, his number, and a picture she sent to me prior to the date. Let’s call him DJ. I had never been on a blind date before and I was in the mood…

They won’t get it until they’re in it — My sister decided one day that she wanted a kitten. I shared my thoughts, and strongly advised against it but a few weeks after that conversation she walked in holding a little fluffy fur ball called Coolio. Eventually, I warmed up to the idea of having a pet but what…

The salted peanut theory — Do you know why some places offer salty peanuts the moment you sit down? It’s not just about making you feel more welcome and catered to, it’s about getting you to spend more on drinks. The salt dries out your mouth which instinctively makes you want to drink. Not only…

Why men don’t approach — Sometimes women can tell when men are interested but are too shy to make the first move. They look like they have something to say but internally, they’re struggling with whether they should make the approach. More often than not, they don’t and that can be frustrating. I have a…