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

  • 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

  • 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