Remembrance. November has been full of opportunities to take stock and give thanks. This year, there are lots of reasons to be especially thankful that in our city, while several of you have been disturbed and inconvenienced by the events of the 14th, no staff, students or patients were hurt.
Over the past weeks, I have greatly enjoyed the opportunity to meet with Y5 students at placements over our region and each year’s student representatives in our Staff Student Liaison Committee and to take stock of the course, including the new Y5 curriculum. It has been lovely to hear about aspects that are working well and to have your help and constructive suggestions on how other aspects may be enhanced.
At such a time of considerable ongoing pressure in the NHS, I am also giving thanks for the support of so many colleagues, who have taken time and care to make your training a priority and, in these dark and cold months, with all of us recovering from what the pandemic has meant, I am so grateful for the vibrancy and warmth that each of you brings to our community, whether it be through academic achievements, volunteering, fund raising, sports successes, talent on stage, or simply a nod and a (masked) smile as I pass you in Cedar House.
I am personally giving thanks for some negative tests I had after a small scare. The episode has reminded me to take those moments to appreciate the ‘small’ things in life a bit more and I hope, as the lights of Diwali coalesce with those of Hanukkah and Advent over this period, that you will all take time to cherish the sparkle that lights up your own life.