I have an appointment with the vet this afternoon.

Well, it’s not my appointment as such as it’s Penny who is the patient, but she can’t drive so I have to go along as well.

I have been going to this particular vet for well over thirty years, so we are well acquainted. It’s a pleasant little establishment with friendly staff. It’s quite easy to get there via the back roads and there’s lots of parking so on the face of it, it should be a nice trip.

So why the trepidation?

The problem is that the place has some somewhat dubious memories.

Around twelve or so years ago I brought our Sandy [a beautiful, extremely intelligent Rough Collie] there for a routine checkup and vaccinations. There was nothing extraordinary about the visit going in, but in the course of the examination the vet found a lump. Sandy had an inoperable malignant tumour and was given a prognosis of nine months. Those nine months were pretty miserable for me. Sandy was fine and was as happy as ever, but I could now see the tumour growing. Sure enough, nine months later I brought her back for her final journey.

Then Penny arrived on the scene. She has been going over every year for her vaccinations and checkups and I have no concerns about her health this time. I suspect she may have a touch of arthritis as she is developing a touch of John Wayne in the way she walks, but she doesn’t show signs of any other problems. But there is still that ominous feeling – are they going to find something nasty?

If that wasn’t enough to dampen my enthusiasm for the appointment, there is also the fact that two years ago, in the middle of Penny’s annual checkup I had my “little event” [as Herself wants to call it] or heart attack right there in the surgery, and you can begin to see why my associations with the practice are a tad negative?

I’m not worried about Penny’s health. She’s bright and as cheeky as ever and just slowing down a bit [aren’t we all?]. She has bright clear eyes and a grand cold wet nose. I feel fine heart-wise. I have no worries about that quarter.

So why am I not looking forward to the trip?