My last seven days have been, to put in bluntly, sleep deprived. This is far from complaint, though, as I've been enjoying several events in addition to the pre-exam slog for Surgery Rota.

The annual AMSA Convention started last Sunday Night, and has extended through the week. AMSA Convention strikes me a some kind of rite of passage for Aussie Med students; it's a hugely long week of education and partying. It winds up on Saturday Night with a Black Tie Gala Ball, at a Mystery Location. It's the Conventio's 50th year, and the line up has been most enjoyable. Plenary sessions have included such topics as Indigenous Affairs, Stem Cell Research and the Dumbing Down of Medical Teaching. The Social evenings have been exteremely well organised, complete with some of the most enthusiastic costuming I've ever seen. Ever.

Meantime, late nights have become even later with Le Tour De France being covered on SBS2; an easy way to turn a midnight bedtime into 2am, especially as the really good racing seems to happen from about halfway through the stage to the finish line.

Plus, The Ashes started last night, with the English talking themselves up after winning a series against the Aussies four years ago (seemingly ignoring the 5-0 white-wash the suffered on the return series a meagre 18 months later). Whilst there has certainly been some important changes to the Aussie's lineup, the home team will still need to play some pretty tactical cricket to keep the Australians in check. Coverage winds up at around 3am, each morning.

I'd been told that Surgery came with long hours, but this is bananas; some people will do anything to watch sport. Right then, time for a snooze.