Working Life

There is nothing quite like settling into a routine to make the passing of time appear a blur in retrospect. Quite where the last 6 weeks (and 3 pay cheques) have gone is a mystery but one thing that is certain is that we have not been idle. That's not strictly true, more like we have not been idle in our free time away from the clinic. The crash back into the world of work has been surprisingly pain free though admittedly it has taken a little time for the dust to be swept from the place my brain used to occupy. I am pleased to say it has nearly completed its move back in and I am enjoying the challenge of veterinary practice once again. Perhaps the hardest thing to come to grips with is the seemingly "disposable" attitude that many people have to their pets, completely disregarding any notion of responsibility that should be inherent. Nothing highlighted this more clearly than in my first day when a litter of 6 pups was brought in with mum, been previously arranged, all for euthanasia as the owner had been unable to find them homes and could not afford the cost of neutering to prevent it happening again. Perversely this cost was only twice that of the required action and so a little forward planning could easily have prevented this terrible deed. I can easily say that it is the worse thing I have had to do, in the UK I had never been faced with the euthanasia of a 100% healthy individual let alone an entire litter. I would also love to say this was a one off but a few more were to follow and with the adjacent SPCA and our own cattery bursting with strays there was simply no other option. Another shock has been the number of animals being run over, not just in the road but by their owners either while exercising their animals alongside the moving vehicle or simply driving around their property. Considering the rural setting there are certainly more victims that there should be. It would not be fair to criticise the majority of pet owners however for even with a lack of insurance, many are willing to spend significant sums on their animals health and many more are very demanding! All things considered though, a more relaxed job would be hard to come by, the "busy" days aren't really and the staff members in the clinic are great to work with. And the best part? Friday beers at around 4:30 is pretty hard to beat with the odd lunchtime BBQ thrown in for good measure!

Come the weekends we are off, exploring this island we have found ourselves on. Tramping has become the main activity with several more routes ticked off. the Mount Somers circuit was a great leg stretcher though unfortunately the low cloud came down on the Sunday, obscuring most of the views. Another weekend was spent hauling our packs up Little Mt Peal, pausing at the summit hut before plowing on up the ridge to Middle Mt Peal in the blazing sun. With no water at the top, and using plenty as the sun beat down we were forced to retrace our steps having spent the night under canvas, the summit of Mount Peal (the big one) a mere hour or so away. The sunrise and view were worth the effort and it was nice to spend a night in the tent again, the first since Mongolia. A few weeks into work and we got our van back, complete with "new" engine and a rather large bill, and so headed off to the Arthurs Pass area. Initial plans to cross the summit of Avalanche Peak and head down to Crow hut were thwarted by the weather. We were warned at the DoC office that the rivers were due to rise and cut off the exit route while high winds would prevent a retreat. Instead we headed round the excellent Cass-Lagoon saddle track. Hitching to the start, the first day was excellent and we ended up staying in an old hunters hut, very basic with dirt floor and canvas bunks but also a delightful open fire. Day two was wet as promised but despite heading up the wrong creek for 30 minutes we still made good time for the drive home. Last weekend it was time to head back to school, fly fishing school that is, run by the amazingly named Chappie Chapman in Christchurch. Having been something I have wanted to try for some time, perhaps due to distant memories of growing up in Scotland, and I found the course fantastic. A further splurge means that I now have all the gear and no idea and all that is left is to head down to the rivers and lakes nearby to pit my wits against the local trout population once the flies come through the post. I don't think they will have much to fear initially, especially as the winter season is much more restricted in terms of available locations and fish numbers to be found there. I will be sure to let you know when I land something! Its now Easter weekend, April showers appears to be true down here as well as back home but as we are on call this matters little and has given me this chance to get things back up to date (and thanks to Amy for supplying the pics while I am camera-less). Happy Easter!