PG Blog: Sue Adcock #2 Best laid plans… and all that!

Firstly, Happy New Year to you all. The start of the penultimate term of the academic year and when summative assessment begins to take priority before revision and exams after Easter.

I expect many of you, like me, had plans to get ahead of the work, timetabling academia around the festivities and family commitments. Having finished placement on Thursday 21^st December, I did THE SHOP on the Friday. My husband finished work for a couple of days on Friday and in the evening, we sat and planned our weekend visits to friends and family. However, at 8.30pm Michael stated he felt ‘odd’, his arm felt disconnected from his body. The ambulance arrived swiftly and by 9.15pm he was on his way to Coventry Warwickshire University Hospital having suffered a mild stroke or Transient ischaemic attack (TIA). That we recognised the symptoms and the emergency services acted quickly has meant that Michael is recovering quickly and apart from not being able to drive for a month is almost back to his usual self and preparing for going to Australia next month as planned. This though, has thrown my original strategies out of the window!

Anything which affects our time management can seem overwhelming when there are deadlines to meet and sometimes we have to realise when we need to ask for help. This help may be from our families and friends, colleagues, the Student Engagement Team, our personal tutors or perhaps a combination of people. If we feel we will need an extension for a deadline, request it as soon as possible. If needed, links to extra support can be provided. Sometimes it might be an ear to listen to you as you sort out your thoughts or just have a quick let off of steam regarding looking after a nightmare patient! That we are part of a large support network is fantastic and it is good to know it is there when we need it.

Back to rearranging my own timetable, with hospital appointments and blood tests to fit into the mix. Who was it said that it was part of the ‘rich tapestry of life’?

About the Author

Sue Adcock is a paid PG blogger for CLL
She is currently studying the Postgraduate Diploma in Education (FE & Skills Sector) and was a UG blogger while studying for her 2+2 BA(Hons) Social Studies degree. You can read her past posts here.