Just over a year to the day from my last post (New Year's Resolution- DO YOUR BLOG REGULARLY!!) I am at the end of my first term back at university as a 'mature' student. I left the vets in Ramsgate at the end of February and worked as a locum nurse to earn money to help support myself through uni. I was originally supposed to have my first locum position in Richmond, West London and share a house with other nurses overlooking Richmond Park. I was looking foward to wandering through the park, watching the deer. A few days before I was due to move out of Ramsgate I got a call that meant I would still be working for the same vets but in Forest Gate, East London. I was 'advised' not to take my car with me. I felt daunted and apprehensive. One of the biggest fears as a locum nurse is not getting along with the permenant staff. Not a problem in Forest Gate. The nurse there, Lucy and I gelled from day 1 and have such a similar sense of humour we are probably exceedingly bad for each other!! That branch was unfortunately closed in the middle of July and I was sad to leave (Lucy and I were in tears) not only the practice but I had also fallen in love with London.
I then went to a practice in Cambridgeshire. This was much busier and the clients seemed much harder to please than other practices I have worked at. I had a 2 week break at the end and then it was time to officially become a student.
I'm back at uni for 2 main reasons: I have always wanted to be involved in forensics (I'm doing a BSc in Forensic Science) but due to ill health when at school I was advised against it. The second reason is that I was bored with being a veterinary nurse.
This feeling I have is actually quite complicated. There are some aspects of nursing that I love and miss- client interaction, lab work (although I shall be doing plenty of that soon) and general nursing of inpatients such as getting an anorexic animal to eat. As with any job there are the bits you dislike- theatre work and clients who know better than you despite all the work you have done to pass your exams, and people who think it is your duty to treat their animal without them paying you because you're animal lovers. I also felt that I had peaked. I had qualified and was assisting another fabulous student nurse as a clinical coach but didn't have the intellectual challenge anymore. There were courses I could have done to gain an extra qualification but none of them, bar one appealed to me and that one course cost over £3000.
I'm just finishing the first semester of my foundation year and so far it's going well. Biology, perhaps unsurprisingly has been my most successful subject so far although I am still waiting for marks for some of my modules. Chemistry I have found a challenge but very interesting and elements of it are gradually falling into place. Maths, as per usual has been my biggest downfall but I should hopefully scrape by and I don't have it anymore after this first semester. The new year will bring lots of biology and chemistry, and then, next September, the Forensic part will start. And that is when the real fun will begin!
Thursday 8 December 2011
Tuesday 7 December 2010
Human Violence
I am going to suggest 2 scenarios.
Think very carefully about them.
SCENARIO 1:
It is dusk on the wild plains of Africa. A member of a safari group walks beside a watering hole.
The next morning his body is found half submerged in the water.
Autopsy concludes: hippo attack.
He is mourned by friends and family.
The hippo and all his hippo friends continue to watch the waterhole bank, their beady eyes just above the waters' surface.
SCENARIO 2:
A holiday maker snorkels off a trendy beach resort, watching with amazement the wildlife hidden beneath the surface.
One of the larger members of that wildlife decides:
(i) Enough is Enough- you're in my house buddy and I want you gone
(ii) Makes a mistake
And kills him.
He is mourned by friends and family.
His murderer and all his friends in the area are killed, indescrimately, as fast as possible.
WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE????
The difference is simple. In Scenario 1, the animal responsible is just defending his territory, and the man should have known better than to go walking near a watering hole at dusk. It was HIS mistake. In Scenario 2, the animal responsible is a shark. A supreme killing machine without a soul, who kills without mercy anything it decides to. This killing demands revenge. The animal was at fault.
The recent shark attacks in the Red Sea have lead to Egyptian "conservationists" to go out and catch as many sharks as they can- to make the sea 'safe' for humans once again.
Yeah, that'll definately work. *end sarcasm*
We have no claim to the watery habitats on our planet. If we did, we'd still have the gills we used in the womb. If we cannot bring ourselves to stay out of these habitats (water is just one to which we are not suited), then perhaps we must accept that when we play with fire we will, eventually get burnt.
We are the dominant species on the planet and because of this we believe we have authority over all species. And it all comes down to economics. These innocent creatures are being murdered to ensure that people still go to the resort and spend their money. We're funny creatures- we won't go if there is a high chance of death (except maybe The Annual Suicide Fanatics trip of a lifetime).
If we keep on like this eventually we will have to put every animal on the CITES Endangered Species List, and eventually that will include ourselves.
We must decide before it is too late.
Think very carefully about them.
SCENARIO 1:
It is dusk on the wild plains of Africa. A member of a safari group walks beside a watering hole.
The next morning his body is found half submerged in the water.
Autopsy concludes: hippo attack.
He is mourned by friends and family.
The hippo and all his hippo friends continue to watch the waterhole bank, their beady eyes just above the waters' surface.
SCENARIO 2:
A holiday maker snorkels off a trendy beach resort, watching with amazement the wildlife hidden beneath the surface.
One of the larger members of that wildlife decides:
(i) Enough is Enough- you're in my house buddy and I want you gone
(ii) Makes a mistake
And kills him.
He is mourned by friends and family.
His murderer and all his friends in the area are killed, indescrimately, as fast as possible.
WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE????
The difference is simple. In Scenario 1, the animal responsible is just defending his territory, and the man should have known better than to go walking near a watering hole at dusk. It was HIS mistake. In Scenario 2, the animal responsible is a shark. A supreme killing machine without a soul, who kills without mercy anything it decides to. This killing demands revenge. The animal was at fault.
The recent shark attacks in the Red Sea have lead to Egyptian "conservationists" to go out and catch as many sharks as they can- to make the sea 'safe' for humans once again.
Yeah, that'll definately work. *end sarcasm*
We have no claim to the watery habitats on our planet. If we did, we'd still have the gills we used in the womb. If we cannot bring ourselves to stay out of these habitats (water is just one to which we are not suited), then perhaps we must accept that when we play with fire we will, eventually get burnt.
We are the dominant species on the planet and because of this we believe we have authority over all species. And it all comes down to economics. These innocent creatures are being murdered to ensure that people still go to the resort and spend their money. We're funny creatures- we won't go if there is a high chance of death (except maybe The Annual Suicide Fanatics trip of a lifetime).
If we keep on like this eventually we will have to put every animal on the CITES Endangered Species List, and eventually that will include ourselves.
We must decide before it is too late.
Thursday 28 October 2010
There is nothing 'common' about a cold...
As I lie here, seemingly from my deathbed with one of my dad's old hankies taped underneath my permenately dribbling nose, I ponder the relevance of the term "The common cold."
If it was 'common' then we would know what to expect, but instead we get variations from a 'little sniffle and sore throat' to 'OH MY GOD I CAN'T BREATHE AND I WANT TO DIE!' The 'common cold' can even, in its more extreme forms, bring the non-religious to their knees praying for forgiveness and release from this most unholy of plagues.
You stay off work/school/college to prevent spreading your disgusting germs around. In actuality you stay home because you feel rougher than a sandpaper tampon and you couldn't give an arse about anyone else, and quite frankly, if you have to endure Bargin Hunt and Jeremy Kyle for days as your punishment, so should they be punished for being stupidly healthy.
The cold is a virus which means NOTHING WORKS against it (except maybe chocolate...and ice cream). You can take cold remedies until you become a partner in a pharmaceutical firm, none of it makes the blindest bit of difference. Each cold you get is different from the last. The virus works on mutation and natural selection but does so with huge speed compared to the human race. And when the final battle draws near, the human race will be doomed.
If it was 'common' then we would know what to expect, but instead we get variations from a 'little sniffle and sore throat' to 'OH MY GOD I CAN'T BREATHE AND I WANT TO DIE!' The 'common cold' can even, in its more extreme forms, bring the non-religious to their knees praying for forgiveness and release from this most unholy of plagues.
You stay off work/school/college to prevent spreading your disgusting germs around. In actuality you stay home because you feel rougher than a sandpaper tampon and you couldn't give an arse about anyone else, and quite frankly, if you have to endure Bargin Hunt and Jeremy Kyle for days as your punishment, so should they be punished for being stupidly healthy.
The cold is a virus which means NOTHING WORKS against it (except maybe chocolate...and ice cream). You can take cold remedies until you become a partner in a pharmaceutical firm, none of it makes the blindest bit of difference. Each cold you get is different from the last. The virus works on mutation and natural selection but does so with huge speed compared to the human race. And when the final battle draws near, the human race will be doomed.
Sunday 7 March 2010
The Daily Mail- Toilet paper of the rough and itchy kind
The Daily "Fucking" Mail is stirring up trouble and scaremongering the British public yet again. This time it's the veterinary industry they have decided to moan about- something I know a little about.
It all began last year when there were a couple of poorly balanced 'documentaries' (and I use the term very loosely...) about vet who don't care about animals at all, just their pay packets. The DM has now published an article on how yearly boosters for dogs and cats are making our animals seriously ill and the vets are scaring animal owners so they can cash in. Most vets will tell the owner that a lump may form at the site of the injection and that the animal may be a bit lethargic for a day or so. No vaccine is 100% guaranteed or safe. One dog owner even claims that her dog has developed Autism from having his yearly vaccination. Autism is defined as "A pervasive developmental disorder characterized by severe deficits in social interaction and communication, by an extremely limited range of activities and interests, and often by the presence of repetitive, stereotyped behaviors." While I cannot guarantee that animals can not suffer from autism, how the hell do you tell? The owner claims that her dog is now aggressive and refuses to make eye contact. Maybe a behavioural issue? We do not fully understand autism in humans let alone understanding how an animal perceives the world. Perhaps there is something wrong with the dogs' brain with what he 'thinks', maybe he actually needs a vet? But of course vets are evil bastards who terrorise our animals and swipe as much money as possible from our bank accounts! Many people will have thought this for years and never had one of their animals vaccinated and 'they've always been really healthy'. Lucky you- you've obviously never had a puppy with parvo die in your arms as the vet struggle to put a drip in the bone because the puppys' veins have collapsed.
There are bad vets, just like there are bad doctors, bad nurses, bad social workers. Not everyone will sing to the same hymn sheet. However, I have worked with over 30 vets at 8 practices during my time as a nurse, and ALL of them work long hard hours flat out to give the animals the best care and treatment. If vets are evil why do they operate to save your cat/dog/rabbit at 2am, saving its life and giving it a blood transfusion despite having worked from 8am-7:30pm the day before and then having to work the full day again the next day? Evil and sadistic OR passionate and caring?
Then of course is the big argument on vets fees? Does anyone actually stop to think about how much it costs to run a veterinary practice? The NHS has spoiled us (and look at how much we moan about that!). My parents both have had cancer at some point in their lives. They are lucky enough to have private health insurance- the cost for both of the them was over £11,000 each. A very basic piece of equipment in my practice died this week- a centrifuge to spin down bloods samples before they are sent to external labs for testing- the cheapest new one we can find is over £800- for one very small, very basic but very essential piece of equipment. There is an eye cream called Optimmune which is very very good but the vets rarely dispense it although they would like to- because it costs the practice £40-45 for a 3g tube. You put a small mark up on it to make a profit (veterinary practice IS a business) and it costs the client nearly £50.
Medical treatment costs and if you aren't prepared to pay it or you know you can't pay it then maybe you should think twice about that cute kitten/puppy/bunny you've seen.
It all began last year when there were a couple of poorly balanced 'documentaries' (and I use the term very loosely...) about vet who don't care about animals at all, just their pay packets. The DM has now published an article on how yearly boosters for dogs and cats are making our animals seriously ill and the vets are scaring animal owners so they can cash in. Most vets will tell the owner that a lump may form at the site of the injection and that the animal may be a bit lethargic for a day or so. No vaccine is 100% guaranteed or safe. One dog owner even claims that her dog has developed Autism from having his yearly vaccination. Autism is defined as "A pervasive developmental disorder characterized by severe deficits in social interaction and communication, by an extremely limited range of activities and interests, and often by the presence of repetitive, stereotyped behaviors." While I cannot guarantee that animals can not suffer from autism, how the hell do you tell? The owner claims that her dog is now aggressive and refuses to make eye contact. Maybe a behavioural issue? We do not fully understand autism in humans let alone understanding how an animal perceives the world. Perhaps there is something wrong with the dogs' brain with what he 'thinks', maybe he actually needs a vet? But of course vets are evil bastards who terrorise our animals and swipe as much money as possible from our bank accounts! Many people will have thought this for years and never had one of their animals vaccinated and 'they've always been really healthy'. Lucky you- you've obviously never had a puppy with parvo die in your arms as the vet struggle to put a drip in the bone because the puppys' veins have collapsed.
There are bad vets, just like there are bad doctors, bad nurses, bad social workers. Not everyone will sing to the same hymn sheet. However, I have worked with over 30 vets at 8 practices during my time as a nurse, and ALL of them work long hard hours flat out to give the animals the best care and treatment. If vets are evil why do they operate to save your cat/dog/rabbit at 2am, saving its life and giving it a blood transfusion despite having worked from 8am-7:30pm the day before and then having to work the full day again the next day? Evil and sadistic OR passionate and caring?
Then of course is the big argument on vets fees? Does anyone actually stop to think about how much it costs to run a veterinary practice? The NHS has spoiled us (and look at how much we moan about that!). My parents both have had cancer at some point in their lives. They are lucky enough to have private health insurance- the cost for both of the them was over £11,000 each. A very basic piece of equipment in my practice died this week- a centrifuge to spin down bloods samples before they are sent to external labs for testing- the cheapest new one we can find is over £800- for one very small, very basic but very essential piece of equipment. There is an eye cream called Optimmune which is very very good but the vets rarely dispense it although they would like to- because it costs the practice £40-45 for a 3g tube. You put a small mark up on it to make a profit (veterinary practice IS a business) and it costs the client nearly £50.
Medical treatment costs and if you aren't prepared to pay it or you know you can't pay it then maybe you should think twice about that cute kitten/puppy/bunny you've seen.
Saturday 18 July 2009
Patience is a virtue
There will be more blogging. I just need time to think of something...
Think, brain, think, damn you!!
(Brain has performed an illegal operation and will be shut down!)
Think, brain, think, damn you!!
(Brain has performed an illegal operation and will be shut down!)
Saturday 31 January 2009
Why Veggie?
I work with animals, I adore them. However, I do not understand vegetarianism. I am a scientist, believe in survival of the fittest, and to me it does not seem natural.
Even if you forget the science e.g. our omnivorous dentition and digestive system which evolved for our needs; where would we be without meat? Back to Homo erectus? Without the additional and easily utilised protein our mental capacity would not have evolved to the state where we were capable of making an ethical descision not to eat meat. We would still be grunting a form of "Ooh, fire, pretty" and clubbing are neighbours to satisfy some unknown primal urge.
The ethical argument is that killing an animal just for food is cruel, painful, maybe even barbaric, but is this not anthropormorphic? I work in a the veterinary world and even we are not sure if animals perseve and interpret pain in the same manner we do. Of course an animal with a fractured leg will bite you if you touch that leg, but it is also entirely possible that it would do that anyway simply because that animal hates its leg being touched regardless of any injury. Of course we give animals pain relief but this is subjective. We give it because if we were in the same position we would want pain relief, and dare I say it, it makes us feel better about the care we give.
And surely the way we kill livestock now is much more humane than 40 years ago, when no child would have dared turn round to their parents and refuse to eat what was put in front of them. But back then we used more of the animal- leather, offal, bones, trotters etc. If we went back to using these in everyday cooking, would that make eating meat more acceptable.
Maybe it's me. I was brought up in the suburbs but a)my parents are old generation and b) my mum grew up in the West Wales countryside, only leaving when she married, so I spent alot time on farms as a child. I knew from an early age where beef, chicken, eggs, lamb, milk came from and never questioned it. I admit I was confused by eggs (unfertilised is a difficult concept for a 4 year old) but this still didn't stop me eating them, even when I thought there was a very young baby chick inside. I doubt my parents would have minded if I had decided to go veggie, but it never crossed my mind.
There are some things in meat/food production that I don't agree with- veal, foie gras, overfeeding turkeys, sharkfin soup-I don't eat these but if there was nothing else except veg, I wouldn't hesitate.
Perhaps I wouldn't get so riled up if veggie's weren't so holier-than-thou. Not all of them, you understand, not even the majority, but enough to cause you annoyance and "bubbling-under-the-surface" anger every now and again. And they cause enough annoyance for you to paint all veggies with the same brush. I have several vegetarian friends, whom I value very much and wouldn't change for all the coffee in Columbia, but I never wnat to bring up the subject because nothing is accomplished by agreeing to disagree except a bad 'vibe'.
I could never be veggie anyway- I wouldn't have enough energy so it would be like having PMT all the time (no thank you!!), and all veggie meals seem to have cheese (bleurgh!), especially goat cheese (bleurgh bleurgh!!) or, worse still- parmesan (would rather sit in a coffin of spiders while being buried alive). Cheese is something I could live without- but that is a rant/deliberation for another time.
I do have one good thing to say about vegetarians though- at least they're not vegans.
Even if you forget the science e.g. our omnivorous dentition and digestive system which evolved for our needs; where would we be without meat? Back to Homo erectus? Without the additional and easily utilised protein our mental capacity would not have evolved to the state where we were capable of making an ethical descision not to eat meat. We would still be grunting a form of "Ooh, fire, pretty" and clubbing are neighbours to satisfy some unknown primal urge.
The ethical argument is that killing an animal just for food is cruel, painful, maybe even barbaric, but is this not anthropormorphic? I work in a the veterinary world and even we are not sure if animals perseve and interpret pain in the same manner we do. Of course an animal with a fractured leg will bite you if you touch that leg, but it is also entirely possible that it would do that anyway simply because that animal hates its leg being touched regardless of any injury. Of course we give animals pain relief but this is subjective. We give it because if we were in the same position we would want pain relief, and dare I say it, it makes us feel better about the care we give.
And surely the way we kill livestock now is much more humane than 40 years ago, when no child would have dared turn round to their parents and refuse to eat what was put in front of them. But back then we used more of the animal- leather, offal, bones, trotters etc. If we went back to using these in everyday cooking, would that make eating meat more acceptable.
Maybe it's me. I was brought up in the suburbs but a)my parents are old generation and b) my mum grew up in the West Wales countryside, only leaving when she married, so I spent alot time on farms as a child. I knew from an early age where beef, chicken, eggs, lamb, milk came from and never questioned it. I admit I was confused by eggs (unfertilised is a difficult concept for a 4 year old) but this still didn't stop me eating them, even when I thought there was a very young baby chick inside. I doubt my parents would have minded if I had decided to go veggie, but it never crossed my mind.
There are some things in meat/food production that I don't agree with- veal, foie gras, overfeeding turkeys, sharkfin soup-I don't eat these but if there was nothing else except veg, I wouldn't hesitate.
Perhaps I wouldn't get so riled up if veggie's weren't so holier-than-thou. Not all of them, you understand, not even the majority, but enough to cause you annoyance and "bubbling-under-the-surface" anger every now and again. And they cause enough annoyance for you to paint all veggies with the same brush. I have several vegetarian friends, whom I value very much and wouldn't change for all the coffee in Columbia, but I never wnat to bring up the subject because nothing is accomplished by agreeing to disagree except a bad 'vibe'.
I could never be veggie anyway- I wouldn't have enough energy so it would be like having PMT all the time (no thank you!!), and all veggie meals seem to have cheese (bleurgh!), especially goat cheese (bleurgh bleurgh!!) or, worse still- parmesan (would rather sit in a coffin of spiders while being buried alive). Cheese is something I could live without- but that is a rant/deliberation for another time.
I do have one good thing to say about vegetarians though- at least they're not vegans.
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