There are characteristics that are universal of many doctors, and there is one classic characteristic that I've yet to see a doctor not exhibiting. We all guzzle down our food like it's going to disappear if we're not done in 5 minutes. A leisurely meal takes 10 minutes. Sometimes, when I realise the meal took two hours to prepare, I do feel a bit guilty, but within a few seconds, I'm wolfing the food down again...
I guess it goes back to training days, especially housemanship. There was always something that needed doing. More often than not, 3 patients in A&E waiting to be clerked, 5 cases for review on the ward, GPs calling for admission, all at the same time. Eating, in those days, was a real luxury! So even 5 minutes to eat some globby slop from the food dispenser seemed like manna from heaven. I had a colleague who would be nil by mouth till he finally took a Coke break at midnight!
Sadly, that habit has stuck with virtually all doctors. And most of us are happy to continue grabbing a quick bite then working through lunch. Long lunches are reserved for business meetings or get-together with friends.
Today, I had the opportunity to wander Tiong Bahru Plaza at lunch time! There was a gap between my morning and afternoon list, and I had nothing urgent to attend to. I had a whole hour free to roam! Wow!
As I was pretty hungry by then, I slipped inton Qi Ji for a quick lunch. Two rolls of my favourite popiah and a fried egg solves the hunger problems. Then I nipped into Popular to finally buy my own copy of the Blood Type Diet book. Then some banking (had to deposit some cash into the clinic account), followed by writing out a prescription for my daughter at Watson's. I still had time to spare! So I nipped across to the fruitshop at the opposite HDB block. All in, one hour exactly!
So this is how "normal people" with one hour lunch breaks spend their mid day escape from work! It must be really great to be able to get errands done during the day time. And go shopping! Such a luxury...
For me, I'm glad I took the opportunity to venture out of my office today. Nice change that I should repeat more often!
