DAY 1301-1317

Mar 25 - Apr 10

1) And so the lockdown continues. With each passing day, we hope that the epidemiological curve gradually flattens, thus reducing the burden to each country's healthcare system. The latest news in the UK (ref: The Guardian) is that it is too early to lift the lockdown, but we can expect an update earliest by end of next week. Also, it seems that social distancing measures are working, with admitted cases showing early signs of "levelling off". It is therefore important that everyone continue to stay at home and avoid the temptation of good weather (in UK) to go out unnecessarily.

2) Global pandemic aside, I've been keeping well (touchwood). As mentioned in my previous post, our class has finished an important statistics examination, as well as our clinical presentation. Originally intended to be an oral presentation, this was changed to an online presentation due to the outbreak. It was my first time using Microsoft Teams, so I was a little nervous about presenting. Fortunately, prior to the exam, my friends and I did a mock session to help each other out, and to brainstorm questions.

3) On the day of the exam, I was rudely awakened by someone's alarm in the wee hours of the morning (i.e. 5 a.m.) In retrospect, it might have been a smoke alarm or something, but it went off for almost an hour! So it wasn't the best start of the morning, but thankfully, when the exam began later, both my examiners were extremely friendly, and asked me loads of questions regarding my presentation.

4) While I was unable to answer all the questions, I did my best - and that was it! Now all that is left is an abstract exam and another essay. That leaves me quite a lot of free time. I've decided to tackle an optional essay for the AKC. The AKC series this semester has focussed on buildings, and so the topic that I've chosen to tackle for my essay is: given another AKC lecture, choose a building to talk about and why. Luckily this is an optional essay and therefore does not count towards my academic marks - I just like writing essays XD

5) And in case anyone thinks otherwise, of course I am bored in my room. Of course I *wish* that the pandemic would end soon and life can slowly return to normal - how nice that would be. But I am reminded everyday that by staying put, I am not only ensuring my own safety and welfare, but also those of others around me. And when it comes to managing large-scale pandemics like these, it is certainly better to be safe than sorry. Anyway, that's it for this edition of my blog. Thanks very much for visiting, and have a nice day. Cheers!

The hustle and bustle of the weekday markets (just imagine rows of food stalls along this street) has been replaced with absolute nothingness

People wearing masks and practicing social distancing (at least 2m from the next person) while queueing up to enter Tesco

Same place, different day :)

Signs outside Tesco regarding social distancing measures

And there's no one here

 Trying to eat healthily

 The emptiness of the streets really gets me sometimes

(on the plus side, it shows that people are adhering to the lockdown measures, which is awesome!)

DAY 1139-1152

Oct 15 - 28

1) And so, our "reading week" begins. It's the end of Module 1 (on neuroanatomy), and we have a break for a week before Module 2 begins. However, it is not all fun and games as we have to complete and submit out essay (worth half of this module's marks), and also prepare for our exams in December. It feels like we've barely settled in, and yet the first module has come and gone; time really passes by!

2) Recently, an annual event called the Great King's Run took place - and so I participated. All staff and students were welcome to join, so I entered the 10km run (there was a choice of 5km or 10km or "fun run"). I suppose I should have anticipated it by now, but the weather on that particular morning was unexpectedly chilly. By that I mean we ran in 7 degrees Celsius weather. For some of us that may be tropical paradise, but not to me haha. Anyway, once the race got going and our bodies heated up, it was quite bearable. Essentially, the route we took was two laps across the bridge over the Thames, with some twists and turns along the way. I was very excited to have finished, and to have made some new friends from Thailand! :)

3) I've also volunteered for a research study which looked at the reliability of brain and spinal fMRI signals during painful stimulation. Basically, we want to find out if pain on one part of the body (i.e. right thumb) can be increased or reduced (or no change) when pain is felt elsewhere on the body (i.e. left thumb). So those who took part were asked to rate the pain felt in the right thumb (with and without pain applied on the left). It was an interesting experiment, and holds potential in investigating the mechanisms of pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapies.

4) We've had several phenomenal researchers/doctors come and give us lectures. The lectures that I remember well are the ones on long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LDP), spinal cord injuries, and novel neurovascular stroke therapies. We've also had our Friday neurology meetings; most of the cases discussed are really novel (i.e. "rare") or complex (requiring a lot of MDT meetings). I really enjoy guessing along with my medically-trained friends before the answer (diagnosis and/or management plan) is revealed.

5) I'm really, REALLY grateful that it's Reading Week as it gives me time to finish off my essay and do some much-needed revision. As this is our first module exam, I have absolutely no idea as to the breadth and depth of knowledge tested - so it is always good to prepare well beforehand, just in case. So that'll be it for today's blog update, thanks very much as always for visiting, and have a lovely week ahead. Cheers!

P.S. To all my friends and acquaintances celebrating - Happy Deepavali and may every aspect of your life become as luminous and exciting as the lights flickering on the lamps in this Festival of Lights.

fMRI - not used, but the two devices that I am gripping will apply pressure on my thumbs. Essentially the idea is to see if I perceive pain (i.e. controlled pressure) in my right thumb as a) more painful or b) less painful or c) no different - if pressure is applied to my left thumb at the same time

(I found no difference haha)

Seafood paella - very flavourful, very much worth it :)

I've found this restaurant called Delly's that sells really good Carribean food - that's chicken stew with rice and peas :)

A fantastic sunny day this morning, and a photo of the beautiful Guthrie Clinic @ King's College Hospital

Right next to this clinic is the "Ruskin Wing" - which leads to the ANC lecture theatre where we have our Friday neurology case presentations/discussions

Thursday lunches at the Chaplaincy have most of our class joining :)

Absolutely wonderful lunch with friends

  

Crossing the Thames again - this time for my first "run" this year!

This should provide some context as to how cold it was when I first arrived...

Participant No. 378

I only changed to shorts just before the race began

The crowd gathered as the Sun rose, providing some much needed heat to my otherwise freezing body

While I love the dinosaur costume, part of me was wondering why they didn't bring Reggie the Lion?(that's the official King's mascot) 

Guy with loudspeaker gets everyone hyped and warmed up :)

Made some really cool friends from Thailand :)

The finishing line was pretty much right here XD

Some nice architecture on my way to the Maughan library to get some studying done post-run

The very imposing and grand Royal Courts of Justice

  

If only the Lloyds Bank branch in Camberwell looked half as cool as this!

Lloyds Bank

The archway with the Maughan Library on the left

They take mental health and wellbeing very seriously here

The beautiful staircases of the library

Trying to get some studying done in the Computer Rooms (@ the Maughan Library)

The Law Society

Some really nutritious food today, with steamed fish, vegetables, and potatoes :)

Noodles with tofu (beancurd) black bean sauce for lunch today

More research - more information coming soon... (stay tuned!)

The portion sizes at the IOPPN are really huge :)

Another picture of the research pilot study

The Centre for Neuroimaging Sciences - right next to the IOPPN Main Building

Yes, Halloween is indeed coming (lovely design tho!)

King's College Hospital Ruskin Wing extension

The WEC library looking very empty and quiet this Sunday morning

I absolutely adore the lounge area at the library <3

Trying to eat healthily this time around...

Bought a Pudsey Pin Badge for charity :)

Platanes Building, accommodation at Champion Hill ^^

Panoramic view of the Royal Courts of Justice (every time I type this I always want to type "International Court of Justice" (ICJ)