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.

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  • 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

  • Two Tournaments, 29 Boards, One Sanity: A Correspondence Chess Survival Plan

    Disclaimer No openings were harmed. Any blunders were raised ethically on a free-range analysis board. There’s a comforting myth that once you’ve got “IM” next to your name you can retire to a hammock woven from laurel leaves and engine hash tables. Sadly, titles don’t auto-renew like Netflix. And because I didn’t exactly study the Read more

  • “Check, Please” — My First Chess Tournament in a Decade

    Disclaimer This post contains scenes of mild self-deprecation, time scrambles, and questionable endgame technique. Viewer discretion advised. All views expressed in this post are entirely my own and written in a personal capacity. This blog is for entertainment purposes only and does not represent the views of my employer, colleagues, or any chess federation I Read more

  • The Regional Adventure: When It (Finally) Clicked!

    Disclaimer This post reflects our personal family experiences with junior tennis tournaments and should not be mistaken for professional sporting advice. All opinions are our own and written with a large cup of coffee in hand, some laughter, and mild parental exhaustion Intro Back in August, while we were still on holiday and our son Read more

  • The Return of the (Almost) Chess Player

    *Or: How £27 Bought Me Nothing but Itchy Feet* Disclaimer This blog is written in a light-hearted spirit. Any financial decisions regarding tournament entry fees, refunds, or Domino’s pizzas are entirely my own and should not be taken as financial advice. Any references to my chess titles or ratings are purely factual and not an Read more

  • From White Stripe Wobbles to a Yellow Belt Triumph

    Disclaimer No parents, children, or Taekwon-Do coaches were harmed in the making of this blog. Parental pride levels may, however, have gone up a notch. As always, the following is just our family’s light-hearted take on sporting life and not an official endorsement of how to revise for martial arts exams. A Kick-Start Three Years Read more

  • The Devizes Diaries

    Five matches, one bag of chestnuts, and a masterclass in keeping your cool. Disclaimer: As always, this is a family blog about our adventures on and off the tennis court. Views expressed are entirely our own (sometimes in the heat of the moment, occasionally after coffee). No tennis racquets were harmed in the making of 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

  • When a Quiet Weekend Turns Into Cricket Mayhem

    Disclaimer:No cricket stumps were harmed in the making of this blog. Any technical inaccuracies about the rules of cricket are entirely the fault of the author’s nationality and complete bewilderment at the concept of “overs,” “wickets,” and why everyone claps politely when someone gets out. Please direct any corrections to the ECB or possibly Legoland. Read more