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.

life

  • 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

  • Half-Term, Hemoglobin & Haircuts

    Disclaimer No safeguarding officers, blood donors, or hairdressers were harmed in the making of this blog Tomorrow officially marks the start of my short holiday — a grand total of four and a half days, which in NHS time feels like two hours and a nap. My wife has already been off since last Friday Read more

  • Norms, Mountains & One Horrible Move

    Disclaimer The following contains mild traces of self-pity, regret, caffeine withdrawal, and the occasional burst of chess-related melodrama. No boards were flipped in the making of this post. All views are entirely my own, occasionally supported by logic, coffee, and deep sighs. Please read responsibly. So: the title norm climb for my correspondence chess SIM 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

  • Pseudocyst on Tour: Romania Awaits

    Disclaimer: This blog entry contains references to NHS work, family life, and my inability to speak Romanian beyond “mulțumesc” and “ciorbă de burtă.” Any resemblance to peace and quiet during the holiday is purely aspirational. It’s official – the blog is going dark for the next 16 days. From Saturday morning onwards, the Pseudocyst household 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

  • Annual Leave, Strikes, and the Joy of a Too Good To Go Bag

    Disclaimer: These are my personal reflections and observations, not those of my employer, the Upper GI team, or the NHS at large. No patients were harmed in the making of this blog — although several colleagues may have been mildly traumatized by my coffee consumption levels. So: I’m officially on annual leave this week — 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

  • Saturday – Did you call daddies taxi service?

    Saturdays are always the same – Tennis at 9am, swimming at 11.30am, then usually library to swap books and (if it’s the last Saturday of the month) board games at the library. Today was no difference. The main difference was that I did the tennis AND the swimming run as my wife stayed in bed Read more