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

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