Issues at the interface of Mavis, community-based psychiatric services and the mentally normal

[Mitchy1nge]

I think that covers us all?

Stuffed pork fillet, roast potatoes and cauliflower cheese on tonight's menu. I bought the cauliflower cheese ready made

I promise not to bring back any nasty American chocolate.

I'm always faintly annoyed at DP's clothing requirements when packing for air travel, as I can pack half a dozen pairs of knickers for the weight of one pair of his underpants. Then he asks if I really need two pairs of trousers.

Hope your DP's magical suitcase sorts itself out. Don't forget handcream if you use it - I have about seven tubes of it, one from each holiday destination I forgot to take any to

Never thought if hand cream.....or gloves. Will throw them in with the rest of the crap. I seem to have packed an entire medicine cabinet.

yes leave their chocolate and their work ethic there thanks

(am shocked that friend's newly unionised set-up is campaigning for maternity leave in 2014, they currently use sick leave and can be sacked if become pregnant in first year and this is a liberal north west city)

I wouldn't work in America for all the tea in china. Ten days annual leave!!! 10!!!

I always get horrible cuticles from air travel.

Thanks for the rowing info Mitchy. Will try 4/5 next time.

Speaking of New York, DP has just been enthusiastically showing me the opening scene of Manhattan (the Woody Allen film) after finding out the other day that I've never seen it.

Unfortunately it does just make me think of the hundreds of hours I've spent exploring Liberty City in GTA IV. Everything set in New York now makes me think, "Oh yes, that's the projects where I headshotted that dealer and took his stash" or "Ooh, these are the docks where we fucked up that heist" etc.

My brother worked in the US for a few years. Prior to that he was in the Netherlands. Massive work/life balance culture shock.

Pork fillet sounds lovely. Is it one of those amusing wangy tenderloins?

We're having a curry I think.

friend gets about 4 weeks plus does every possible fellowship/exam writing anything that involves paid travel and time off

there is a lot of chat about 80 hour weeks, I think some are contracted for 90, but is definitely possible to do far fewer

It is indeed a wangy tenderloin. Stuffed with an apricot and pine but stuffing. There's going to be far too much, Gladys will be a happy cat this evening.

I wouldn't live or work there either and I'm a citizen but there is money exciting research opportunities tamales etc

My brother's an academic so it's all a bit different anyway. All short contracts etc., very little security, impossible to get a mortgage. Nightmare, especially as his partner is doing the same sort of career trajectory. Luckily they've both found contracts/placements in the same country and city now, at least for a while.

Aren't there horrible tax implications of US citizenship?

I could go private in the US and earn myself a small fortune but I'd have to take the American boards and I'd miss the rickety old NHS.

Apricot and pine nut sounds gorgeous.

You could go private in the UK too, though. Probably alongside picking up NHS work. Surely? Most private doctors I've met or otherwise come across do NHS too.

I only get one tax bill to pay here, you can't be taxed twice (not here anyway) not that I file my own returns

I think citizenship of almost any nation brings horrible tax burdens - especially Scandinavian ones

yes we need nice nhs psychs to stay here, there are not enough of you to go round

That's true, but I was under the impression the US is more picky about citizens continuing to file US returns even if they live abroad than other countries? Ach, I dunno, I'm confusing myself. I have no idea why I've read stuff about this kind of thing anyway

Private psychiatrists make you talk to them for hours

I have no desire to go private any time soon. I might at some point but I really do believe in the NHS and they look after me and pay me well. I think i safer as an employee.

oh yeah stuff must be filed but you don't pay

although prob am well under the threshold anyway as quite poor

Given the precarious state of my mental health I don't think I could be self employed.