Working over Christmas

Check out my attempt at a veterinary Christmas carol via Dickens and Rhea!

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.

What the Dickens

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, around 50 years after the London school was established and both are still here! The London school became the Royal Veterinary College and Dickens festive fable has been immortalised by The Muppets.

According to a record of his homes during his life, Dickens was living between Rochester in Kent and various houses in France. His presence in London was maintained by his publications and his connections in London society.

Back to the present day

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, and 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 who 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…