Monday 25 April 2016

Almost a Year



This week I have been qualified and working as a Therapeutic Radiographer for ten months. Time has flown by and the past few weeks I have found myself helping third year students prepare for their first interviews.  Has it really been a year since I was preparing for my Band 5 interviews?  Another topic of conversation on a recent lunch with one of the third years was the transition to being qualified.  This was something I asked several radiographers about as I prepared to start my first job.  However as much as they told me it was different, a nice different was a term many used and to prepare for being really tired to begin with, I wasn't prepared for not being given regular feedback.  After three years of having regular feedback and planning sessions with my annual mentor aswell as radiographers offering feedback on set and my clinical lecturer being there to offer support and feedback, as a newly qualified member of staff you can feel a little lost.  Whilst I appreciate that as a qualified member of staff I shouldn't need regular feedback, but this is my advisory for those heading towards to transition.  Be prepared to no longer have regular feedback sessions.  As everyone said to me when I mentioned it. don't panic, if I was doing something wrong I would be told!

So ten months in and I feel settled, but am ready for new challenges.  A natural progression is to start considering what I need to be able to do to consider applying for a Band 6 role.  Pushing myself a little harder, expanding my knowledge and trying to problem solve more. Next up on the agenda is deciding which postgrad study to complete,with a meeting this week to look at options with my manager.  With an idea of where I want to be in the next five years or so, I am hoping we can find post grad options to suit. Just beacuse I was older when I qualified does not mean I don't have plans! Finally a new challenge is about to begin as last Friday I was voted in as the departments SCoR Learning Representative.  Already full of ideas I am excited to see what myself and the team can achieve as I take on this role.  This is one of the many reasons I chose radiography, so that I could continue to learn, regularly taking on new challenges.  Bring it on!

Until next time, take care.
Zoe
xo

Monday 11 April 2016

Food Glorious Food


A few days ago a rather appetising press release pinged into my inbox, as Camp Bestival announced the talented chefs headlining the Feast Collective this year.  As a bit of foodie I am always equally concerned about the delicious offerings at a festival as I am the music line up.  Previous years at Camp Bestival have left us with taste buds tingling, with the many vendors in the Feast Collective and beyond providing flavours from near and far.  

With a strong emphasis on street food style the Feast Collective is a carefully curated collection of flavours, pushing culinary boundaries.  So lets see what we can expect this year.  A firm favourite in our family, DJ BBQ, will thankfully be returning with his burgers to die for and sounds that make for a summer party.  This year also sees the return of Zoe's Ghana Kitchen, offering contemporary twists on traditional Ghanian dishes.  Of course sharing a name makes me automatically drawn to Zoe's stall!  Also we see the return of Seadog, with their seaside popcorn, Pimp My Ramen offering noodle burger fusions, alongside newbies to the tent, Makatcha, sharing exotic tastes of Indonesian Rendang.  With an ever growing trend for healthy foods, there are several options for vegan diets and for those of us aiming to reduce our intake of refined foods, especially sugar.   So a visit to The Chocolate Bear Kitchen and The Rattling Pan will be on my agenda and the girls and I are keen to try the 100% natural ice lollies from Polar Pops. And of course Andy and I will be heading to Noble Espresso's for a better caffeine fix than our camping kettle offers!  

Have I got your taste buds tingling yet?  The Feast Collective is just the beginning.  I will write again soon about the other foodie offerings for the weekend.

Until next time, take care.
Zoe
xo

To find out more about the line up this year at Camp Bestival and to book tickets visit www.campbestival.net