19 Dec 2024

Working over Christmas

In practice over the festive season? Got your own versions of carols and Christmas classics? Jane Davidson has…

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Jane Davidson

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Working over Christmas

Image: © Zubada / Adobe Stock

Well, Christmas 2024 is coming. If bluetongue and bird flu don’t get us, I imagine it will be another busy Christmas for everyone in practice.

Over the years I have heard several veterinary Christmas carols, with the lyrics changed to reflect the joys of our workplace. I’ve always had a fondness for the festive joy of Ringworm merrily on high, an ode to the stray kittens that can crop up heading into the festive season.

For a truly festive veterinary connection we can trace Charles Dickens and his writing to Camden and an association with the London school and the RCVS.

Dickens and his parents lived at 16 Bayham Street in 1822, which is accredited with being the model for the Cratchits home in A Christmas Carol. This was published in 1843 and prior to the Dickens name had been associated with the London school (now the RVC).

According to a record of his homes during his life, Dickens was living between Rochester in Kent and various houses in France. However the presence of his name would have been useful for connections in London society and he was an advocate for animal welfare helping Mary Tealby establish Battersea Dogs Home.

For further interest in Dickens and Victorian animals then there is a ‘Dogs in the Dickensian Imagination’ exhibition on in January/Feb 2025

As I have little musical talent I have never attempted to try to make a festive veterinary song, but for some reason this year I can’t help, but hear the start of a potential song.

I apologise if this changes your listening enjoyment of this song, but here we are. The Chris Rea song Driving home for Christmas is already a festive classic, so how could I make it better?

Well, my brain refuses to hear the correct words anymore and on the second line my brain is replacing the word “faces” with the less traditionally festive “faeces”. This has sat in my brain ticking over I felt I needed to share with you the subtle changes to the original so that it reflects veterinary work over the festive holidays.

I’m hoping that I’m not the only one that has a brain that disrupts nice things at the expense of very basic humour. If you do, then do feel free to share your veterinary Christmas carol with us all. But for now, relax in my amateur remake of Driving home for Christmas

 

I’m working over Christmas,

Oh, I can’t wait to see those faeces

I’m working over Christmas yea,

Well I need the overtime…

 

And it’s been so long

Since I’ve been home on Christmas Day

I sing this song

To pass the litter tray

Working over Christmas

Can’t work from home at Christmas

 

It’s gonna take some time

But I’ll get there

Paw to paw in consults

Oh, I got emetics on my mind

Chocolate toxicity

Shares in apomorphine would be fine

 

I’m working over Christmas,

Oh, I can’t wait to see those faeces

I’m working over Christmas yea,

Well I need the overtime…

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