Book Number Ten - Unaccustomed Earth - Jumpa Lahiri

Being very averse to short stories I absolutely fell in love with this book. I found stories that resonated with my own and felt I care about all of the characters even though they were only in my life for a few short pages. One of the best books of this year so far.

Another challenging day

1. Getting perspective on crying whilst operating

2. A lovely orthopaedic registrar from NZ

3. Dumplings in the afternoon and laughing at your mother accidentally eating them

Early week thankfullness

1. Howz u conversations and a three year anniversary to celebrate

2. New shampoo that makes your hair feel silky smooth

3. A surprising book that you didn't think you were in the mood for

4. Little children loving you

5. Hard work being appreciated

6. The will to not be intimidated by Dr Poo

7. Owl shaped cookies and an appreciative audience

8. The cutest cupcake wrappers

9. Snuggling up at night

10. A smart comment in the morning

Book Number Nine - The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie - Alan Bradley

A smart, quintessentially British mystery - amazingly cleverly written. Can't wait to read more of Flavia De Luce.

Week Two wrap up

1. A lovely, rational mentor to look up to

2. Saturday mornings reading the paper

3. Connecting with an old friend

4. Study and suture practice

5. Triplets being born

6. Lovely patients handing you chocolates for simply doing your job

7. Gratitude from a patient who didn't have things go all her way

8. Retiring to bed early

9. Shows about a family I want to be part of

10. Delicious poached chicken baguettes

Humpday happiness

1. Baby's first C-section and the motivation to learn afterwards

2. Becoming buddies with the co-workers

3. Night markets with my new favourite couple - who I hope I can couple date with once I find my fella

An Afternoon Off

1. Being recognised for the work you do

2. Good old American Television

3. Texting in your native language

What a difference sleep makes

1. Looking forward to starting a working week

2. Your hunky tutor remembering who you are

3. When gut instincts prove to be right

Weekends off are the best

1. Dinner parties outside

2. Coffee and entertaining conversation at Seven Seeds

3. Lazy Saturday afternoon catching up on stories

Thank goodness for Fridays

1. Teaching, learning and loving

2. Delicious food with a delightful friend and wine to boot (and your friend getting asked if she was a waiter!)

3. Seeing your super serious boss merry and drunken

Eye opening Thursdays

1. Babies, glorious babies

2. Getting back into the swing of things and finding a new favourite registrar

3. Gaining perspective on life - MJ is a young female who presented during pregnancy with a benign condition causing pain. One emergency C-section later with a very premature baby she has now been diagnosed with one of the rarest and cruelest forms of cancer and has less than five years to live. Life is too precious.

Mid week musings

1. Efficiency at work

2. Lovely welcome backs

3. Brilliant golden sunrises

New job jitters

1. Welcome hugs from lovely nursing staff

2. Dinner with a vanilla friend at Helenic Republic - absolutely delicious

3. Having the mother safe and sound at home

Last of the nights

1. Hugs from your favourite nursing staff

2. Affirmation of your ability from your boss

3. Library browsing on a cool Sunday afternoon

2/3

1. At wet puppy like image to greet you in the morning - cute

2. Bantering with your favourite co-worker all night

3. A deliciously lovely book to greet you at home

4. Beating the floods

5. Sleeping with soft rain beating against your windows

Last few days on the Royal ship

1. Awesomely enthusiastic nurses who are funny and cool

2. The screaming psych patient that unites you all

3. Sharing secrets with the good looking charmer

Tuesday-Wednesday Fivers

1. A gorgeously flirty man

2. Lovely patients who appreciate what you are doing for them

3. Sunsets that must surely be painted by someone

4. Expansion of the procainamide plan

5. Sharing your love of books with others

Book Number Eight - The Hand That First Held Mine

It took me about 100 pages to get into this book, but I couldn't stop once I got past that point. Read well into the night last night and kept being shocked at the profound realisation at the end of it. Lexie Sinclair has to be one of my favourite characters of the year thus far.