Nothing Specific, Just Random

W orking in a healthcare setting is fulfilling. Being a nurse is my profession, my calling. However, there were so many things I missed working in the office environment. Events, Auxes, Parties, Rewards and Recognitions, the job itself to name a few. Leaving the corporate world after more than five years of being part of it, was one of the huge decisions I made, and the most significant.  All the acquaintances, the friends I have gained, the mistakes and lessons, the experience as a whole has made a massive impact in my life and made me the person that I am right now. I would never trade it for anything in the world.  Looking back, I was lucky to be part of the most productive, diverse, talent-driven and goal-centric company. I have grown so much without me knowing through the years of working in the business. I have never considered myself as the most active employee in company events and activities, but browsing through some old pics - I guess somehow I had pretty much more overrides

A Frontliner Amidst the Pandemic Being a frontliner in these challenging times is a unique experience. We, as a health care provider don't get to choose our battle, we just fight head on, with no hesitations. We take our pledge seriously in saving lives despite the circumstances, day in and day out.  Working as a staff nurse taught me so many things. The entire experience may not be all astounding but surely I had a great deal of learnings and moments of pride. During the peak of pandemic, I have seen how the Trust is doing their best to be flexible in catering different needs for both patients and their staff.  The free meals were a very nice gesture and it means a lot! The windows in the neighborhood shouting "We Love NHS" in rainbow chalks are hugs to our soul. It inspires us to show up at work with confidence and determination despite of the unknown and uncertainty of what we would face the moment we step inside the hospital. The support we had was tremendous and it w

Westminster, London   It's funny that I have been here in the UK for more than a year already but I only got to visit London recently. As we all know, pandemic restrictions are present in most of 2020. Not just in the United Kingdom, but globally. However, work schedule gets in the way too! On a positive note, with the travel ban starting to ease up a bit,  we got the chance to finally explore the big city. Yey! Though, main reason for our travel is passport-renewal (Philippine embassy is located in London), we very much considered our trip as a 'much- needed' getaway!   From Isle of Wight, the trip takes more or less two to three hours going to London. A ferry from Ryde to Portsmouth for thirty minutes to an hour and a two hour train from Portsmouth to Waterloo station. Our trip was smooth and stress-free. Google/ Apple map comes handy and definitely made our life easy!    Here are some of the photos I have during our trip: The London Eye, Westminster The London Eye view i

  We recently found out that my mom was tested positive for Covid-19. I am a nurse, living and working in the UK. I have been taking care of covid-positive patients since the start of pandemic as a frontliner. I've had undergone a total of three isolations myself because of close contact and exposure to Covid. I've seen and witnessed people got affected by Covid from all walks of life, directly and indirectly. It's funny but despite all these experiences and familiarisation with the virus, I never thought that Covid-19 would also hit our family hard by infecting one of the most important figure in our household - our mother.  My family is in the Philippines. Mama wasn't feeling well four days ago and had a spike of temperature. She had herself checked and swabbed. When the results came, she turned out positive for Covid. The next morning, mom was sent to a quarantine facility for monitoring and isolation. Other members of my family started their 14 day home quarantine. 

  Do you also feel a 'little down' during winter?  Guess what, you are actually not the only one. I've heard stories about number of people feeling emotionally low during colder season. Statistically, suicide rates are also higher during these times based on research, but let's not get to that part 'cause it's way too morbid. The point is, more people become unusually sad during winter. Are there studies to support this claim?  I originally came from a country that only has dry and wet season all throughout the year. So, these are something that doesn't interest me before. In United Kingdom, winter begins December and ends in March. Normally, I am not fascinated by topics of depression and feeling low. However, I felt like I was being more emotional about anything, to the point that I think I am already being irrational. In times, I find myself crying for no apparent reason. I am not always a 'softy' type. I've been away from home most of my adul

Welcome to the Island 🏝 Ryde Pier Head Railway Station Flashback two years ago, I remember I was given an option to choose which part of the UK to submit my job application to. I had a choice to be assigned in the mainland and an option to work in the Isle of Wight. I love beaches and prefer tranquil places so I obviously chose the latter. And location-wise, it was still one of the best decisions I made.  Isle of Wight is located in the south coast of England. The island is known for its beautiful beaches, rich history, and it's favorable climate. It is one of the favorite holiday destination in the country. The people in the island are especially warm and welcoming. Everywhere you look is a picturesque view. The transport system is simple and easy, not to mention cheaper than other parts of England. You can travel efficiently by any form of land transportation around the area and there's no trouble of heavy traffic. The island is a three hour journey away from London- via bus