Hey, what’s up?

Life has been a whirlwind lately, which explains the lack of travel blogs, book reviews, and even the usual Weekend Things posts. Travelling needs money and time, reading a book needs effort and time… and right now, I seem to have none of the above. On top of that, I’ve run out of ideas for Weekend Things (brain officially on low power mode).

So I thought, why not try something new? A monthly reflection to keep this blog alive—minus the fancy photos. Just thoughts, feelings, and vibes.

November Reflections

Honestly, November has been one of the toughest months of my life.

To summarise quickly: I moved to Australia at the end of October, I’ve almost completed my first month working as a doctor here, and today… I called in sick for the first time because I genuinely felt unwell. (Feeling much better after a full day of rest, don’t worry.)

I’ll save the whole “moving from England to Australia” saga for another post (because that deserves its own drama), so let’s skip straight to the reality of living here.

Living Alone — Plot Twist: It’s Lonely

I genuinely thought I’d enjoy living alone. Well… surprise! I was wrong. It’s really lonely here.

There are some Malaysians around, and I’ve tried initiating chats in the group, but I guess everyone’s busy with their own lives. I really, truly hope I’ll find a friend here soon, because talking to myself can only go so far before it gets concerning.

Work — Overwhelmed Is an Understatement

Adjusting to the hospital system here has been tough. Everything feels new, the guidelines are unclear (or nonexistent), and my current role has zero consistency. Some days I’m doing whatever work needs doing, other days I’m on call. It’s chaotic, and honestly, I feel like I’m slowly losing my mind.

Starting late next month and all of January, I’ll be on night shifts only.
Can I imagine it?
No.
Will I survive?
Hopefully.

This Week — Heavy Heart Moments

This week I was on medical ward cover, but I called in sick because I wasn’t feeling well… and because emotionally, things hit a bit harder than expected.

Two of my patients passed away—one two days ago, another yesterday. I had to verify one of the deaths. And that night, I cried. I’m not sure why, but maybe it was just everything piling up. I haven’t done hospital placements in a while, so verifying the death of someone, even if I only knew them briefly, felt… heavy.

I guess that’s life. We all know what the final outcome is, but it still hurts when it happens right in front of you.

On a Lighter Note — I Finally Have a Car

I bought a car about a week ago! 🎉
But the annoying part? I have to retake the practical driving test here. I even squeezed in a theory test during my lunch break like a true broke, exhausted adult.

But the good news:
No more cycling under the scorching heat just to buy groceries.
Small victories.

I can’t wait to explore more of this continent—Australia is huge and I’m excited for the adventures ahead.

Postcard Era

I’ve also recently entered my postcard geek era. I’m planning to send postcards to friends here in Australia, and also back in England and Malaysia. So if you suddenly get a random postcard from Darwin… it’s me. Hi.

Thank you for taking the time to read this little reflection.
Hopefully I’ll have something more exciting to share soon.

Bye for now!