It’s a dismal day. Grey-ness of February could easily drag me down. Trees are bare. Plants are dormant. It’s horrid and I’m tempted to tell all how fed up I am with dark, dank winter. It’s Sunday; others are watching footie while I’d really like to watch the winter Olympics and imagine the fresh, clear… Continue reading…
News
Redheads are different….
They called us the Gingernuts, my cousin and I. Born only six weeks apart and living in the same city, we were in the same class right through our schooldays. By the age of 7 we knew that we were cursed with flaming red hair; teachers occasionally mistook us for twins while some of our… Continue reading…
The smell was all wrong and yet the place looked so familiar
Dark Iroko benches arranged in rows across the room. The huge, scrolling blackboard framed with wood at the front was part of the raised front bench dais for the teacher who would have been wearing their chalk-dusted black gown Lab stools neatly arranged under the benches awaiting the next cohort of students. Tripods set out… Continue reading…
A walk along the Elizabeth Way A platinum jubilee trail
I feel more alive as soon as I clamber out of the car. I breathe more deeply, feeling my aching muscles soften and relax as I look out towards the dune and catch my first glimpse of sea blue. I could have been a beach bum had my life taken different turns and I feel… Continue reading…
The Good, the bad and the ugly – some random thoughts on food
Some people might think we’re a bit funny about food. But let me start by saying that I come from a family where everyone loves good food. We think it’s just about the most important thing in life. Yes, I know that not every negative reaction to a food is an allergy, but allergies… Continue reading…
Stravagin’
Not so long ago, I took a walk through some favourite haunts in my home city of Glasgow. I love the Victorian sandstone villas and tenements of the west end. Leafy Hyndland merged into Dowanhill – where I went to school – and I strolled through the peaceful gardens of Observatory Road towards Hillhead. “Stravagin’”… Continue reading…
The Magic and Mystery of Music perception
Isn’t it amazing how music can entertain, can help us cope with everyday life and even help us to heal? Sound production (voice) and listening to music are part of being fully human. Even babies in the womb can respond to music! It’s not telepathy, but is there a scientific explanation for all of this?… Continue reading…
Parliamentary launch of physiology impact study
Laura was delighted to be invited to the Parliamentary launch of the first independent analysis of the impact of physiology education to the UK economy*. Physiology education contributes a staggering £22.6 billion every year. More than 777,000 jobs every year in the UK depend on physiology learning (based on data from 2018-19). At least a… Continue reading…
Teaching physiology in lockdown
A steep learning curve ‘Go home, stay there, and put your teaching online from Monday’. Here is 6 weeks of my diary following this email from line managers. WEEK 1 Entry 1. My ‘Pathophysiology of Hypertension’ workshop scheduled for Monday 0900 is out, but what should I replace it with…? Feedback indicates my face-to-face sessions… Continue reading…
Epidemic of e-thrombosis?
Until recently, physiologists and medics thought that deep vein thrombosis (DVT) mainly struck passengers on long haul plane flights – but not anymore. In this short piece I want to look at the ways you can avoid an often unrecognised office danger. It has been called a hidden, silent epidemic. While most of us are… Continue reading…
