Hi everyone! Well i'm at the end of my second week in Honiara National Referral Hospital and I can't believe how quick it's gone! Am definately fitting into 'Solomon Time' and the way of life - just ONE shower a day now! Yey me! Although the guys do still laugh when I get out my Clinique Face soap to wash with in our minging sink! So the news since my last entry: Have decided to stay at Kiwi House as it's much cheaper and the cleaner managed to clean for what is probably the first time ever, so i'm happy! It's nice staying with the guys as it makes things more sociable and safer when going out in the evenings. The mad Irish guys have now left and - guess what Downend girls? - we have a 'leaving do' every time someone leaves! I love it! So what originally was supposed to be a bit of a detox, getting back to basics-type experience here, is actually more like an extended holiday on the Costa del Sol!! (no it's not that bad!). Wine is way too expensive, so it's getting 'spakka' (pidgin for drunk) on SolBrew all the way! Although a lot of students have moved out into the Provincial Islands now - mainly Gizo which is where i'll be in 2 weeks. Most of the guys i'm staying with at the moment are slowly making their way out there over the next couple of weeks so at least there will be familiar faces when I get there. Am anticipating the next couple of weeks being decidedly more quiet although 3 Australian guys have just moved into Kiwi (do any girls come to the Solomons??!). They're quite quiet and also on a budget as their elective is 18 weeks long! There is SO much karaoke here it's ridiculous! I think i've done it more in the last two weeks than I ever did at the Horseshoe in about 10 yrs! Turns out i'm not that good a singer...! O&G has been ever surprising with them giving me more and more responsibility. In fact probably more than they should do! I've done about 3 deliveries this week and have been in theatre a great deal. My first delivery was a girl of 16, Daisy - I went to see her in recovery afterwards and she was so happy and doing well. She let me take her photo and said she would have called the baby after me if it had been a girl - ahhhh.... So many students just go in for the ward round and come home - and then moan that they don't get to do any procedures! Not me - i'll be a surgeon before I leave! Just joking. This morning a registrar let me do a complete sterilisation on my own with him assisting ME! As Jim has said in his e-mails, think things are going to get a little dull back in the UK when you're just observing again! But besides the practical stuff, clinics, etc are great for seeing tropical diseases associated with O&G and thinking about management. You really have to think outside the box here - and use whatever's at your disposal. Imaging teachniques are really sparse as are blood tests etc., so most diagnoses are made clinically which is quite challenging. HIV is about to go BOOM here as there have been 8 recorded cases now and apparently the same thing happened in Papa New Guinea about 20 years ago and now it's rife. It would be really interesting to start up an education programme here actually, as it's still very taboo. It's absolutely pouring with rain today - welcome to the tropics! So have taken the opportunity to go to an Internet Cafe and spend forever downloading the photos to date - hope you enjoy! We're off to an island in the Central Province tomorrow (by canoe - eek!) which is apparently very beautiful and great for snorkelling - despite the reef sharks! Nade & Tom you'd hate it! But i'll try and face my fear! No more news that I can think of, but will try and put photos etc on more regularly. Have to cook Spag Bol for the guys tonight out of some strange-looking vegetables from the market...hmm.... Hope everyone is well, and keep in touch please Missing everyone lots Love Lise xxxxxxx P.S. Thanks again for all of your messages, etc. i've loved it - even the 'Burden Bickering', that Helene seemed to get involved in - good girl! P.P.S. Sorry for picking my fingers Nade, will try to stop! P.P.P.S. Can I just say that both the guys and me think that Kiwi House looks way better in the photos than it does in real life!!