Mar
Heidi’s Angel
by stoneFor the last time, two days ago, Heidi and I went for our weekly German conversation ‘class’ at my neighbour cum Heidi’s nanny’s place. Unlike her other nanny who is also her breeder and looks after her during our long holidays, this nanny is her ’short holiday nanny’.
‘Short holiday nanny’ has always been concerned about whether we were going to sedate Heidi during her flight back. She’s an advocate, by the way. During the conversation, I told her we were still undecided. (At that point in time, I had consulted four vets, of which two were against and two were for.) She then offered to call her previous vet for advice. I say ‘previous’ cos’ her Sheltie has already passed away two years ago.
Her vet (Vet A), whose clinic is about 1 hour’s drive away, recommended a rather new drug, which supposedly is ’safer’ than the one that Heidi’s vet here would give. After taking down the name of the drug, ’short holiday nanny’ called another of her previous vets (Vet B) who works two bus stops away, to see if the drug was available there. It was, but for some reason or another, Vet B wanted ’short holiday nanny’ to call Vet A, asking her to to call Vet B to say that she was the one who recommended the use of the drug. Finally, after a few more calls, an appointment was made with Vet B the following morning.
‘Short holiday nanny’ then asked how I would be going. Since Mr. Tan was working, of course I had planned to take the bus. Immediately, she offered to send us there. At this point, I have to point out that ’short holiday nanny’, although in good health, isn’t very mobile. When sitting behind the driver’s seat, she can’t really turn her neck 90 degrees to look out for the blind spot, though she can turn her body, a little. But don’t worry, she’s required to go for a test every year to see if she can still hold on to her licence. And of course, she passed last year.
At the vet the following morning, Heidi got her tablet, on top of half the dosage that I had requested to give first as a trial. When the time came to make payment, I was taken aback when ’short holiday nanny’ asked the doctor to send the bill (of 54 francs) to her. As shocked as I was, I immediately declined her kind offer and took out the bills to pay on the spot. After a short argument, at her insistence and saying that that was the last thing she could do for Heidi, I gave in.
From now on, I shall call Short holiday nanny ‘Heidi’s angel’.
















