On Fri, 15 Jul 2005 20:41:39 +0100, Sheenah wrote:

I'd like to share with you my first morning as a bank receptionist at my
vet's.

I was due at work at 8.00 am and so last night set my bedside clock's
alarm for 5.45 am. I thought getting up that early would give me plenty of
time for feeding the gang, tidying my house and getting myself ready to
leave for work 2 hours later :^) Shortly before 5.45 am, I woke up.
Unfortunately, when I went into the kitchen to fed my cats, and looked at
its wall clock, it said 7.00 am. Oh s**t :^) I put the television on.
Oh yes. It was 7.00 am :^)

Shortly before 8.00 am, I arrived at work. As I was getting out of my
car, another car turned into the driveway. It was a man with a cat who
had breathing difficulties. The man explained that he had managed to
contact the vet and that the vet was on his way. While waiting for someone
who had keys to the surgery to arrive, I had thoughts that if the cat
stopped breathing or went into cardiac arrest, I'd use some of the First
Aid skills I've recently acquired through becoming a member of a voluntary
organisation that provides First Aid training and cover for different
events here in the UK and pray that I could keep him alive until one of
the vets' trained staff arrived. I did not have to do so. Some five
minutes after the gentleman and I had met, the vet's Head Receptionist
arrived. As she had keys to the surgery, we were able to get inside it and
she was able to try to make the cat more comfortable - ie, she was able to
give him oxygen. Soon, a veterinary nurse arrived. Then did the vet.
Despite their best efforts, sadly, the little cat passed away shortly
before 9.00 am.

Mary, the Head Receptionist had come early to work in order to show me
what needed doing before our clients started arriving at 8.30 am. She had
to do so while trying to help the nurse deal with the sick cat.

The morning's pre-booked clients started arriving at 8.20 and while trying
to book the first one in, my computer screen went blank. Oh s**t
:^) I called for help. Mary soon discovered that the monitor's plug had
come partly out of its socket. Why ? Because I had inadvertently caught
my foot in its lead which was trailing on the floor under the desk I was
working at :^) While I was not able to work on the computer, life decided
to see how I'd cope with barking dogs in Reception, a ringing telephone
and more clients coming through the door :^)

For about 2 hours, the surgery was very busy and I got to practice many of
the tasks that I hope to one day become competent in. Mary sat beside me
and when I got into difficulties (which was quite often), she helped me
remember what to do. From time to time, I thought: "I can't do this.
What must Mary be thinking? She must be thinking I'm completely stupid"
and felt a lump in throat and tears forming. Such thoughts and reactions
were "old" me characteristics. This "old" me was someone who couldn't
often accept that it takes time for "me" to learn a new skill and that it
is therefore OK for "me" to make mistakes when beginning to learn new
skills, and who also doesn't like giving folk reason to think ill of her
:^)

Mary and all the clients I had to deal with today were kind and patient
and for that I was truly grateful :^).

Sheenah


First days are often traumatic. Purrs that each passing day improves and
that you will be happy in your new job. MLB