I want to learn to do two types of cases while on this rotation—hernias and appendectomies. There are always plenty of hernias scheduled during the month, but the appendectomies seem to come in spurts; entire months have gone by without a single “appie” coming in.

What is a wife but a pretended stumbling-block in the man's path, who has his way to make in the world?

At least there was no problem with Alison travelling on the 'wrong' train - discretion was the better part of valour for ticket checks [on a train full of football supporters].

An eternity later, the snowflake melted into a darkhearted halo.