Big news in the Pelagius household

I have neglected my blog lately, but there is a reason. In March I took the plunge, the first real plunge since my retirement five years ago, and applied for the master's course in creative writing at Cardiff university. I went to the open day where I was told I would need a graduate qualification, "A two-one or first", they told me. I told them that was a problem because they don't award first and second class degrees at medical school- a pass is all anyone gets. After all, it wouldn't do to have first class and second class doctors- who'd want to go to a second class one if there was a first class one available? Turns out a medical degree was sufficient.

 The whole thing was done online. I had to submit several specimens of my writing, among which I included one of my blog posts (my January media review as it happens, where I reviewed The Wake). Ten short days later I had my unconditional offer. I bought a new computer on the strength of my success and bought the "standard text"- Creative Writing, edited by Linda Anderson. I am now working through it and trying to complete the many exercises contained within. Hopefully I'll be well prepared by the time the course begins in September.

This is a tremendous time for me, and I'll admit I haven't been so happy in a long time. When I retired I felt as if my raison d'etre had been removed, along with my status as senior partner in a busy inner city general practice. For months and months I moped around, reading, writing a little but mainly watching the tele and becoming increasingly frustrated by my empty existence. It took a couple of years to get over the shock of the loss, but now, finally, I am using my retirement to do what I always intended when I arranged to retire at 60 back in 1979: finding a new way, completely divorced from medicine, to fulfill my potential in life. Wish me luck. I'll probably need it...