I have been fortunate to have lived through a period of revolution in medicine. Indeed, had I been born 50 years earlier I would likely not be bothering you now. There have been huge changes, but I will focus on an area in which I have participated, the interface between medical doctors (let’s call them […]
Physician/Doctor or Surgeon? A fun journey Read More »
Friends of Fred the adventurous snake will recall that he had an accident in the first book when he first ventured out onto the street. “He thought the stripey barber pole was another snake, but, oh my soul, he dashed across with never a glance, into the path of an ambulance”. Whilst recovering from his
Fred learns about the Barber’s pole….. Read More »
Fred started as a bedtime story for my then young children, Andy and Nicky, a very long time ago. Andy and Nicky 1969 bedtime story text When Nicky had her children, she asked “What happened to Fred-Fred”. I found the 1969 text and a wonderful illustrator, Bonnie Lemaire. We published the first book “When Fred
Perdy and Jack join Fred’s adventures Read More »
Did you know that January 29, 2025, marks the beginning of the Year of the Snake? Fred is rather pleased. Wikipedia says “The lunar calendar consists of a cycle of the twelve animals, in sequence: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, ram, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig. Each year, an animal is paired with
2025 is the year of the snake! Go Fred! Read More »
While contemplating writing another of my books about Fred the lovable snake, I have been remembering the authors which captured my imagination as a child, and perhaps awakened my own muse. There were four authors, all British, like me… Lewis Carroll (1832-1898) is of course famous for “Through the looking glass” and “Alice in Wonderland”.
Famous Authors of children’s books, and me! Read More »
In previous years we have sent our annual end of year holiday letter by snail mail. To save trees (and some funds/energy) I have attempted to send it mainly by email. Recognizing that some of the addresses are probably outdated, I am attaching it also here. Apologies if duplicated, mis-fired or irrelevant. Ignore at leisure.
You may know that I write books for young children about Fred the snake. I am often asked, and you may wonder, why choose a snake? Snakes are not most children’s favorite pets or cuddlies. Surely a koala bear or a cute dog would have been a better subject, and gotten more traction in the
Why Snake, and why Fred? Read More »
Ten years ago the Cook company invited me to interview the pioneers of the revolutionary ERCP procedure, 40 years after the first description of sphincterotomy. There were two publications, covering 15 pioneers from 9 countries. Many of the pioneers have since passed. I have written earlier at length about Meinhard Classen and Kees Huibregste. Two
Celebrating Claude and Laszlo, endoscopic giants Read More »
In 1980, Christopher Williams and I published the first textbook for GI endoscopy We were working at The Middlesex and St Marks Hospitals in London. My photo of The Middlesex was taken after it closed (it lives on as part of UCL). My Unit was on the second floor, here shown boarded up. St Marks
Our Endoscopy book over 5 decades Read More »
Three years ago I wrote about my time on the staff of the Middlesex hospital in London, and explained it’s unusual name https://petercottontales.com/2020/10/the-middlesex-hospital-what-sort-of-a-name-is-that/ Unfortunately the illustrations of that piece seem to have disappeared The Middlesex closed in 2005 and it’s functions and staff joined the University College Hospital, now in a fancy new building on
The Middlesex Hospital lives on ……in Connecticut Read More »
