I have a meeting with a bunch of psychiatrists this morning (don’t worry – it’s work related), and I’m suddenly nervous about what I should be wearing. I have the vague feeling it should be something hippyish – maybe a kaftan or other free flowing garment, suede boots with tassles, and lots of beads. Not sure where this mental image of psychiatrists comes from? Possibly it relates to childhood trauma – my mother was a psychiatrist, and I remember meeting colleagues of hers in the 70’s, and that was how they dressed in those days. Nice people, if a little odd.
……
So, it turns out I needn’t have worried. Only four other people showed up to the meeting – a dapper, pleasant middle aged German man (no, not Simon); a young enthusiastic female nurse; and two rather rumpled, eccentric and sad looking older men. Is this a representative sample of the country’s current psychiatric workforce? I couldn’t possibly comment.