Pseudocyst

The adventures and life of a Specialist Nurse in Upper GI and Bariatric surgery. If you then double and triple this by having a primary school age child AND being married to another Nurse then you have double the trouble….aehm I mean fun. Hobbies are playing chess, board games and being taxi for our son!!!

Unless otherwise indicated, all the names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents in this blog are either the product of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

family

  • Tennis, Darts and Questionable Athletic Credentials

    a Love Musgrove fundraiser story Disclaimer This blog post is written in a personal capacity and reflects my own mildly unreliable recollection of events. Any tennis ability described may be exaggerated by charity, hindsight, or good doubles partners. Darts scores are regrettably accurate. No Radiology departments were harmed in the making of this fundraiser, and Read more

  • Another Week in the NHS: Snot, Surge Capacity, and a Surprise Email

    Disclaimer This blog reflects personal views from an Upper GI clinician and parent, written while mildly hypoxic, heavily congested, and fuelled by Lemsip. No patients were harmed, no discharge summaries were intentionally delayed, and any opinions expressed are my own — not those of the Trust, the NHS, the LTA, or whoever currently has my Read more

  • End of 2025: Christmas, Contagion & Santa’s Travel Logistics

    Disclaimer This blog entry may contain mild illness, questionable pedestrian crossings, excessive board games, Romanian food served by volume rather than portion, and two nurses doing a consistently poor job of looking after each other. No Santas were interviewed for this article. All hot chocolates were clinically indicated. Just before Christmas 2025, it was my Read more

  • Holiday’s Over – Batteries Recharged, Wallet Depleted, Reality Restored

    Disclaimer This post may contain traces of sarcasm, mild exaggeration, and leftover holiday smugness. Any resemblance between the author and a functioning adult is purely coincidental. No Aldi trolleys, tennis balls, or board-game meeples were harmed in the making of this post. Side effects may include eye-rolling, spontaneous laughter, and the urge to check if Read more

  • When Playground Politics Spill into the Classroom (with Guiding Principles from School Policy)

    Disclaimer This post reflects our personal experiences as parents and is written in a private capacity. It is not connected to my professional role as a nurse and should not be interpreted as professional commentary. All individuals, schools and organisations are anonymised. The views expressed are entirely personal and intended for reflection only, in line Read more

  • Rusty Rackets and County Trials

    Disclaimer: This blog reflects personal experiences and opinions. It is not affiliated with, nor endorsed by, Somerset LTA, Taunton Tennis Centre, or any official organisation. All names mentioned (except family) are either public figures or anonymised. Whilst still officially on holiday, our son was invited to attend the Somerset U9 tennis trials last Sunday. Now, Read more

  • The Great Slide Faceplant of 2025

    What started as innocent playground fun ended with swelling, scans, and a 3am discharge from the ED. Disclaimer All characters in this story are real, but some judgement calls (like walking up slides) may have been questionable. No fractures detected – unless you count the crack in our evening plans. It was an ordinary weekday Read more

  • Grade 3 Reality Check – Blackbrook Pavilion, Taunton

    Disclaimer: As with all my posts, these are the ramblings of a slightly frazzled Upper GI nurse practitioner moonlighting as a junior tennis parent. Any resemblance to professional advice on hydration, nutrition, or parenting strategy is purely coincidental. For actual medical advice, ask your doctor. For actual tennis coaching, ask literally anyone at Blackbrook Pavilion Read more

  • Junior Parkrun: The Day Our Son Left Us in the Dust (Literally)

    🩺 Disclaimer: All opinions expressed are my own and not those of the NHS, the NMC, or the Upper GI team—who, while excellent at managing perforated ulcers and bile leaks, remain strangely uninterested in my 2k split times. No scopes were delayed, no patients were harmed, and no MDT WhatsApp threads were consulted before publishing Read more

  • A Well-Earned Easter Break: A Moment to Recharge for Our Busy Family

    After weeks of juggling full-time work at the NHS, the school run, and endless responsibilities, our family is finally enjoying a much-needed Easter break. It’s a time for rest, relaxation, and a well-earned pause from the chaos that has become our daily routine. For me, as a full-time NHS worker, the past few months have Read more