I hope you’ve had a great year and enjoyed some of my ramblings and reflections. Every blog comes from a real life experience, some of them personal, and many from the people I meet every day as a surgeon. I write because I think that some of these experiences may resonate with my readers. The chances are that if you are going through something, negative or positive, then someone else has already gone through the same thing in a similar way.

Knowing that we are not alone is one of the greatest consolations and cancer support groups help people to connect people in that way. I’d met with my accountant today and Jacksy told me that he read my blogs and enjoyed them. I said that’s great. I often joke with my kids, that if I wrote my blog to receive “likes, comments and shares” then I would have stopped long ago! If you like engaging that’s fine (and thanks). If you prefer to read and leave it at that, that’s also fine! And if you think it’s all nonsense, then that’s good too,  as you must have worked life out!

I’ve learned lots this year about so many things. I ran into a patient’s family today whilst having lunch. Her husband had died this year and she was doing it tough, but she had such a supportive loving family. She cried when she saw me, probably because it made her think of her husband. She’d lost a lot of weight and I asked her to eat more. I also suggested a nip of brandy at night to increase her appetite. She laughed and that made me feel good. Being a doctor is such a privilege.

It feels like we packed about 3 years into one this year. My book was published and that was a thrill. The launch party was very cool! Family life has been pure joy with precious time with my wife and kids. In between a full urological schedule, there’s been some fantastic travels to Bali and Spain. And the golf has been truly memorable, playing with a great bunch of guys. My handicap ends on 5.9 and at our end of year golf lunch, I announced that I was aiming for 3.9 in 2016! My putter will have to start obeying me!

Undoubtedly the greatest challenge has been the construction of my new medical office in Richmond. A project that was scheduled to finish in April is only just coming to a close 8 months overtime! With a bit of luck we’ll take possession on Friday. Life’s really a bittersweet experience and sometimes we just have to hang on. My good friend and country anaesthetist was knocked off his bicycle and nearly killed and is now in a long and slow recovery process. How life can change in a flash. And my dear mum had a fall and dislocated her hip and ended up in hospital for a few months. None of us are immune from challenge and difficulty. It’s how we handle it that’s important.

I’m off to India on Saturday for a few weeks and I look forward to sharing some reflections from the land of sages, rishis and yogis. There is so much ancient wisdom there.

Till tomorrow!

Stay well.

Ranjit