Not the best of days; a rather busy week focussing on other things meant that I'd done exactly 1% prep for my class today. Spent the morning in the library working at speed (but not at any depth). Hadn't brought any lunch with me- no bread, pitta or bagels left in the flat- and meant to go out for something but ran out of time, so lunch consisted of a bottle of coca cola and a bar of white Divine . Which was scrummy, I should point out. Probably constitutes a balanced diet. Which is to say, on balance, I will die young of coronary heart disease.

Cup of coffee and a lovely slice of choccy cake with Soz this evening (at the ever excellent Kember and Jones - the deli I will open if this medicine lark doesn't work out) and I think the highlight of my day was her telling me about demonstrating a 100% perfect positioning of a doppler probe on a fetus, seeing the consultant spot the look of shock, delight and relief on her face and realising that she may need to work on the calm, unflappable exterior a bit more if she's to wing it in the world of medicine. That's her finished her last placement; only three weeks of revision before finals, then some shadowing of a Junior Doctor, and she's ready to graduate. It'll be sad not having my chum in fifth year any more. But then, by then I'll be well on my way to being a vintage second year!

For reasons unknown, it has taken me over 15 weeks of medical school to twig that, whilst I might not wear it whilst studying, an iPod does make a neat little commuting companion. I had a great time today listening to tunes on the train, and I burned down the hill in 15 minutes (75% of normal journey time) because I was walking to a beat. My thighs were burning when I got in but a)that practically makes it exercise and b)perhaps I'll be less close to missing the train like this and thus not need to do an inelegant run through Waverley station so often. My only problem in this regard is that I'm short on new music. Anyone recommend anything? One album each, max- the last time I asked a friend for new music he gave me about three albums each for 20-odd artists and I was so overwhelmed by the choice I ended up never really exploring any of it.

I wish I were going skiing this weekend : o (

Medicine is bloody brilliant but I wish we got more regular holiday, rather than exhausting terms followed by big long break in the summer. I can't binge and purge on energy, that's not how my reserves work. Time to recharge is a bit hard to find sometimes.

Right. Dinner, I think.