Heavenly Beverley : All Creatures Great And Small...

We are very fortunate that Graeme and Ingrid are our vets at Northam Veterinary Centre. We have used other vets since we moved to Heavenly Beverley, but for all-round service, we can't go past these two.

Ingrid is a female version of Doctor Doolittle. She Talks To The Animals. And they respond. Ingrid has an incredibly calming effect and has even charmed Mister Pip into not using diarrhoea as a Weapon Of Mass Destruction inside the surgery. Ingrid held me in her arms as I cried and soothed Ruby as we euthanased our troublesome but lovable Problem Child Beagle back in June. She sent us a personal condolence card, which touched us deeply. And she was the first person we knew who met our Carnarvon Special, Stella, on our way home from our Northern Jaunt, congratulating us on our choice of a new playmate for Pip. Then, Stella looked at Ingrid and fell in love.

Graeme would have to be one of the most agreeable, affable and compassionate vets I have ever met. He reminds me of James Herriott, and Graeme has certainly suffered from a similar fate from time to time. Graeme has been sat on, stomped on, kicked and bitten by ungrateful patients. Pip used his bodily fluids to aim to us, Graeme and the surgery room on our first visit. Since then, Graeme has been able to sooth the Savage Beast, and along with Ingrid, they enjoy a mutually respectful detente with Pip. Just don't ask Pip to smother them with affection. However, on our first trip with Stella to meet Graeme, he too was smitten.

As was Rene'e and Liam, Vet Nurses to the Stars. Stella demanded cuddles as only a puppy can, plonking herself at Rene'e's feet and gazing adoringly upwards. Liam was not quite as demonstrative, as somebody had to be In Charge at reception. That was the day I received a stern lecture from Liam as he reminded me of safeguarding Stella until she had her final needles. Obviously, Stella's needs were far more important to Liam and I dutifully promised to be more careful with Stella until she received the All Clear to socialise.

We have also met other staff, Lisa and Vanessa. Lisa juggles being one of the Practice Managers, married to Graeme, raising four daughters with him and caring for her own animal menagerie as well. Oh, the energy of those under fifty!

Apart from looking after our latest Three Stooges when they are unwell, Northam Vet Centre is a valuable resource when discussing all aspects of animal care, particularly those dodgy issues that can't be mentioned openly with just anybody. We have received advice on aiding Pip if he has issues returning his male privates to normal after a particularly vigorous mounting of Stella's head. For a smallish dog, his anatomy Down There is far more well-endowed than I could have imagined possible and we are now the Full Bottle on giving him a hand (!) if required.

Graeme, whilst standing with a load of sheep in a trailer on Friday, gave me a comprehensive list of suggestions for trying to reduce Pip's copious supply of nasal secretions. Up to his eyeballs in fluids of all sorts, with a bunch of ewes who didn't really want to be there, he expertly was drawing blood, calling out results, chatting with the farmer and giving me a quasi consultation all at the same time. He even wrote up antibiotics for Pip but knew better than to enter the hospital through the front door, due to the state of his boots.

He suspects Pip may have a grass seed up his hooter. We are reluctantly coming to the conclusion that this may be the case. Pip's sneezing, although reduced is still rather violent and can be sustained.

As for our Stella Bella, she is the Little Girl With The Curl. When she is good, she is very good and when she's naughty, she is diabolical. Just ask our long-suffering couch...When she ceases to be the Chomper Domper, we may be able to buy a new couch!

Watch this space. We'll keep everybody informed.