My talk at the university

Tuesday, 29^th November

I am going out of my mind with boredom, so today I went to an agency and have signed up to do some locum work. I have already some dates lined up, it will be doing general medicine in a health clinic, pretty basic stuff.

The boy came home from class in a slight panic, they have been told there will be an assessment in the last week before christmas break. Of course he wants to do well, below a certain percentage is not good enough for his ego. I told him he has enough time to study! This class is at a good level for him. Ingrid and I are still getting him to read the paper and do reports about it. Writing is still his weak point.

I have practised my talk for tomorrow with Per, as a medical person he was the best to give me feedback. He said the tenants have asked about the flat, if we are coming back. Apparently we are missed. To be honest, I have not really thought about it much, and the boy has not brought it up either. Considering he preferred the flat last year, I think since we have done his room at the house he feels more at home there.

I have spoken to my aunt and we are going to Dalarna for Christmas. I guess that means I have to buy presents this year.

The boy has asked me what I want to do for my birthday. Gosh, it is only a few weeks away, and that means our first wedding anniversary.

We have talked about renewing our vows, after Barbara and Erik's ceremony. We feel, although we wanted to get married, last year was such a formality. We have an appointment on Friday at Stallemastergarden to talk about organising a small party.

Wednesday, 30^th November

The talk was scheduled for the last session before lunch. They had a whole day of talks like this, and I was competing with orthopaedics and paediatrics. Tough. Of course the boy came with me. I had asked him to sit at the back, so he could tell me afterwards if I could be heard, and he could see the audience from there and gage their reaction. The co-ordinator met us and gave us a brief tour, we were invited for lunch afterwards. This is a very modern campus, built about 15 years ago, as the old university got too small.

I did not have to worry about not being heard, there was a microphone, of course! Fancy technology for power point etc. No-one uses blackboards, or white boards any more, everything is interactive. It was an old fashioned lecture room, with the seats going up. During my student days we sometimes had to give presentations in a room like this, but it was daunting nonetheless, all these expectant faces looking down at me. Then there was one, with a broad smile, thumbs up.

I was glad when it was over, I asked for questions at the end, and one asked if I would be the lecturer. I denied it, and I heard a few mumbles of disappointment. The boy later told me he heard some girls talking, how dishy I was and they would certainly enjoy coming to my lectures.

He said I came across very well, my talk was well structured and I spoke with much enthusiasm, as usual.

The lunch was interesting, a few students actually came up to me and thanked me for the talk.

The co-ordinator asked me if I could come back to hold another talk to a-level students who were coming for a more general day to check out medicine as a career choice. I happily agreed.