Diary of a Vet Student

This week is going much faster i am afraid. I keep trying to start my research project, but haven't got very far yet. So far I have managed to log onto the catalogue which lists all the journals and i have sent an email to my group, who are trying to avoid me. I've alos been trying really hard to domy CALs. These are Computer aided Learning Assignements. I have to complete a shed load for pharmacology and then hand them in in mid February. Basically you just sit at the computer and it takes you through lots of lovely excercises and then you fill in a multi choice sheet.

Anyway I had a great weekend. My Mum and dad came to celebrate the prestigious event of my 21st and took me out for a slap-up meal and surprisingly got me quite rat arsed. then my lovely mates took me out for a meal and many drinks and got me RAed too. It was definitely good for me because I woke up[ on Monday morning feeling refreshed, motivated and proclaiming that i couldn't wait to go to lectures and write up my lecture notes (honest).

This week we have been learning about nidoviruses and how to use diagnostic tests to identify viruses. i am enjoying viruses more than bacteria, because now that I have done a little bit of work experience I can relate the stuff I've learnt on WE to the viruses I'm learning about in lectures.

I have pathoogy and parasites next. Bye

Flippin heck what a week. It's seemed like such a long one. I must have been working hard. Absolutely shattered today because I stayed up ultra late last night to finish writing my pharmacology cardiac lecture and then I had a load of questions to do for this seminar we had this morning (the latter nearly polished me off). Seminars are a great way to learn. It's really good to be able to do something practical with the long list of drugs we get to learn.

I am in the library now just looking through electronic databases for articles on the use of pheromonatherapy in behavioural problems. I'm doing this for my library project this term and I'm looking forward to learning about it cos I loves behaviour.

I am going to (at last) send my application for intercalation off today. I'll know if i've got in by march. Fingers and toes crossed.

Anyway. i'm going to head home now and get my teeth into the pile of work i have to do and hopefully get some done before my Mum and dad arrive for the weekend.

Did I mention i'm going to be 21? Cor blimey charlie!

Things have got a bit busy and hectic really. My 2 flat mates are thinking of giving uo their jobs to concentrate on working and having a life! I'm hoping I can hang onto my job on a Friday night, but I also want to fit in riding for the disabled and football and 1 night out a week. This month is a bit mad anyway cos I had the half way dinner plus obligatory hangover last weekend, which prevented work. This weekend it's my 21st (enough said on that one). Then the following weekend it's my 21st again (well sort of - I'm going for a pub cruise in cardiff dressed as a super hero) so you can see life is very hard for me at the moment.

Seriously there is a hell of a lot to do. We all thought this term would be a lot easier, but it ain't. Things are still a bit dry. perhaps even drier actually. By dry I mean viruses and protozoan parasites. It really can be a bit of a trudge, but you just have to find little interesting bits and savour them.

Anyway. This week I have been writing up lectures on urinary tract pathology. I had a pathology specimens practical on Monday, which involves looking at whatever has come into the pathology room. Whilst we were there they shot a horse. It was the first time I have ever seen this and it was really quick, but you have to know what you're doing. Yesterday I had a histology practical on the urinary tract, which was pretty good becuse I'd read the notes and knew what was going on, otherwise it would have been like ramming my head continuously into a washing machine. Today it's parasites of the protozoan, very complicated variety. Then tonight I'll be finnishing off cardio pathology (what am i talking about? I'll be starting cardio pathology!) and then writing up my cardio pharmacology.

Cor again.

Cor. Feeling more than a tad queasy at the mo. Just had my "half-way dinner do". This is a third year ball and hotel sleepover for getting to half way. We had it at a gorgeous hotel near Loch Lomond. We had partially paid for it all throughout our time at vet school by contributing a tenner to class subs each year so it all cost £60 for the night. It was fantastic. WE had a wonderful meal and an awards ceremony which allowed us all to reflect upon the most honourable people in our class, ie those with the best arses and those that are likely never ever to leave the vet school. I was awarded "most cheery person" although you'd never guess it from the amount of moaning I do in this diary.

Anyway after a fantastic breakie this morning and a jacuzzi session we set off trying to relive our hangovers by walking around loch lomond (there were only 8 vets remaining at this stage). Sadly this failed and I am now going to resort to a more conventional method and simply lay out infront of the telly with 2 chocolate bars and a cup of tea.

Back to the moaning: I have so much to do. We have a library project coming up for pharmacology. This is where we're split into groups and have to research a project of our choice using the library. We're looking into pheramonatherapy and it's use in solving behavioural disorders. I'm really pleased about that cos I love stuff about behaviour. I'm still going for the intercalated degree at Bristol in Behaviour and welfare and have been writing my application form for that.

Aaaany how. Back to the sofa.

Hello. happy New Year. I ahd a fantastic Xmas. I spent the first week just chilling with ma homeys (in the small rural village of North Kelsey). I spent the last 2 weeks on work experience at the local Blue Cross Animal hospital in Grimsby. I've never worked in a charity hospital before, but I really recommend it. The place was very busy and vets aren't really under any pressure to whisk clients through ultra quick to make profits. I had some great cases. It was a bit of a shock to get my head back into thinking about real live animals and anatomy and clinical situations as opposed to bacteria and stuff. I really enjoyed it though.

I've also been reading up on behaviour and preparing my application for the intercalated degree in welfare and behaviour, which I'm hoping to do this September. The course sound right up my alley so fingers, toes, legs and arms crossed. The application has to be in by the 28th.

So first day back today and joy of joys we had 2 juicy hours of virus lectures. Not exactly a welcoming embrace. Never mind it's pathology this pm so that will be much more exciting.


Oh joy of joys. 2 hours of viruses to start the term off with a bang