My Sick Leave

Whew. It’s been a while since I have posted, but time has gotten away from me these past few weeks. The end of a school week is always a struggle. By Friday night, my to-do lists are overflowing with tasks, and there’s just so little time to work with. People tell me that studying in Australia is easy, but Monash here didn’t apparently get the memo. Between juggling my studies, handling my own finances and groceries, planning and cooking for myself every meal, life isn’t the breeze it should be, and I have a new-found appreciation for my family back in Singapore.

In all honesty, I probably enjoyed groceries shopping more than the next college student. Deep-down, I am a penny-pinching ah ma who loves doing groceries and comparing prices. Groceries runs are what we do for fun around here. What’s this? Peanut butter for half price? I’ll take two, and make twice the savings. Woolworth has a special on Twining’s tea this week? We are so going there instead of our usual Coles. But just look at the price of a chicken in Woolworth. It’s outrageous. We’ll just swing by Aldi on the way out. Yes, it’s on the way. Of course. As long as we take the long way around.  

Because I have the working memory span of a goldfish, I developed a recent habit of keeping lists of everything that is going on in my life, and crossing each one off as I go about my week. It’s a relief to write out all the tasks nigging at me from the back of my brain onto a physical list, and to free up some much-needed working memory. But several times, I have a suspicion that that I’m spending more time organising my lists than doing actual work. And crossing one task off the list isn’t as fulfilling as I would have thought it would be when I simultaneously add three more.

Between the studies and the administrative tasks to keep life going, I’m bushed. Every Sunday night leaves me with a lingering sense of concern, that I’ve not studied enough, that I’ve not relaxed enough, that I’ve not blogged enough, or done much of anything at all.

Drip drip. You should be studying. Drip drip. 

Medical school is stressful not just because how heavy each content is, but also because of the scope of our studies. No matter how much you cram, there’s always more to study, to brush up, and to revise. When I’m not asleep or attending hospital/school, I’m usually glued to my chair, or else taking a quick break and brewing more tea or coffee. Day-to-day life is stressful not only when I’m studying, but also because of the nagging feeling that permeates everyday activity that no matter how much I have already studied, I should be doing more. I go back to Singapore twice a year, during the winter holidays from June to July, and in summer from November to February. It’s the most relaxing period of my school life, where I laze around leaving large gaps in my schedule (by pretending to do some work on my blog and recipes). When there’s an ocean separating me from my books, I feel much more able to relax.

A recent bout of flu for much of the last 2 weeks has kept me from doing much work. After several days of struggling to concentrate, I finally decided to give myself a break until I got better, and to instead catch up on everything else in my life. Had a long day of class from 8am to 9pm on a Wednesday? Why, do let’s go to Coles to buy ice cream and binge-watch The Originals until we feel better. Yes. And House of Cards isn’t going to watch itself, you know.

I did score a couple of bags of ripe plums, which I used to make my Plum Torte again (the 6^th time this month, back by popular demand!), which has quickly earned a permanent place in my (and my friends') hearts.   

It’s rare that I make a recipe more than a couple of times, because there is a ton of recipes I want to try. Once in a while, I uncover a gem, but it’s meh most of the time. And I didn’t put so much time and effort into making a meh cake. The last couple of weeks haven’t been a very fruitful one, with all three of my projects not coming out the way I thought they would – as lovely as they look.

Lemon curd tart, with an under-layer of raspberry jam. Which in hindsight, would make the tart achingly sweet.  

Almond-Orange cake from Claudia Roden. I'm starting to see a pattern. Every time sliced plums appear in my life, something's about to go wrong. 

With so many of my freshly-toasted hazelnuts and almonds ruined in the span of a few days, I’m not sure if I have the heart to continue trying new recipes so soon again. And at least, for the sake of everybody around me, I don't think I should be firing up my oven any time soon, at least until my flu goes away.