Four months into my new (not-so-new) job now and really enjoying the challenge. My love of spreadsheets and OCD has put me in good stead. It's been interesting travelling around the country with my Clinical Lead, Rob.
Continuing with my city visits, here are a few more I've done over the past four months where I've never been before.
15. Oxford - I went to observe another Project Manager in action before I started my own Trust visits. This was an Oral & Maxillofacial visit. I'd got off the train at Oxford Parkway which was practically dormant but going to Oxford city station to head to Hereford was an absolute nightmare. I thought London traffic was bad. It was so awful that I missed my train and had to wait an hour for the next. Luckily my ticket was still valid. Nice city to look at though. This month we did our own visit to Oxford.
16. Hereford - This is where I was heading after the Oxford visit. This was to observe another Project Manager on an Ophthalmology visit. Stayed in a very quaint Guest House (which is where I will probably book when Rob and I have our trip to Hereford. Didn't get to see a huge amount of the city but had a very nice dinner there and the sun was shining the following day, so #winning.
17. Norwich - The first of my Trust visits. I got up at ridiculous o'clock in the morning to drive there but actually the traffic wasn't bad. However, travelling in an easterly direction first thing in the morning was not fun for my eyes - the sun constantly in my face! This is where I also met Rob for the first time. Following the meeting I found a quick little geocache around the corner before heading back home.
18. Plymouth - Tiring train journey but lovely views on the way. Stayed in a Travelodge and Rob said "we can do better in future"! The locality of the hotel was pretty good as it was a stone's throw from the hospital. Had a nice meal with Rob when he arrived, at the pub across the road from the hotel. I think where we were was slightly outside of where the city centre was and didn't get to see much of the coast apart from when I was on the train.
19 & 20. Newcastle-upon-Tyne & Durham - We did both of these visits in one day although made our way from Southport to Newcastle the night before. Our morning visit was actually in Gateshead but we had to get there from Newcastle so that counts. I took a photo of the bridges coming into the station. I can't believe on the journey between the two in the cab I missed spotting the "Angel of the North". I was too busy looking at the route the driver was taking! The weather was also abysmal.
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| The bridges in Newcastle |
21 & 22. Derby & Bradford - Two others done in the same day. Early start to travel to Derby. Visit done and then headed to Bradford for the afternoon.
23. Lincoln - Another hospital visit - travelled up the night before. Interesting city - reminded me a little of York. The cathedral looked amazing and it was right opposite the hotel we were staying in. I got to Lincoln and thought I would get an Uber to the hotel. Opened the app - no Ubers!!! This is a city...in the UK...no Ubers? Apparently, the city council banned Uber. I managed to call a taxi from a number I saw on the side of one of the taxis that had driven into the station forecourt. The taxi driver told me that Uber had been banned but also that black cabs HAVE to be black (no ads and no other colours). Mini cabs can be any colour but NOT black. Uber were told if they wanted to work in Lincoln it would have to be from an office base - we know this is not how Uber works!
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| Outside the station (not a prison camp) |
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| Lincoln Cathedral |
24 & 25. Sheffield & Wakefield - Visited these two places in one day. Travelled to Sheffield from Macclesfield the evening before. We checked into the hotel and decided to head into the city centre to grab a bite to eat. The Uber driver was giving us a guided tour and eventually dropped us in the centre at the cathedral. The city was dead! Hardly anyone around; no hustle and bustle; no noise. The city is usually filled with students but they were all probably out with their parents preparing for graduation the following day. We got a good deal at the sushi restaurant we had found in the city, had a wander around afterwards and then went back to the hotel. Headed to our meeting the following morning to the Jessop Wing at Royal Hallamshire Hospital and had a meeting in a very big lecture theatre. Wakefield in the afternoon was more of a dash into Wakefield Kirkgate, get to the hospital, and then get home from Wakefield Westgate. At least we got to visit both stations!
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| Sheffield Cathedral |
15 cities to go! This is going to be a piece of cake.
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