Status Updates From All Creatures Great and Sma...

"I have a cavity in the muscle of my thigh to remind me of that day, but some good came out of the incident. I found that the fear is worse than the reality and horse work has never worried me as much since then."

So entertaining! Some use of profanity and deity, but fixing with white out, presently. I did not use white out on chapters 1, 3, 4, 10, 11, 13, 14 so far.

This is so entertaining.

This is really so much fun to read. I love these characters.

This is the first of four books in this series about a veterinarian in the 1930s in the UK. Heartwarming stories. Some sad, most happy, but you feel good reading them.

Every bit as interesting as I expected. (But then I’ve worked in a stable.)

Ah've summat to tell thee!

Listening on audio, two chapters in. I really like this so far.

Loving this book!! what a delight it is!!

If you can't tell, I put reading this book on hold for the moment.

Chapter 10

I gave it a try and did not like it. I need more an edge than the accounts of a country vet. There is no long arc here, but vignettes by chapter. The history is interesting but not enough of it to hold my interest.

Yes, we start with the birth of a calf and yes, it was interesting to read about!

What a great ending. Siegfried is a romantic at heart until he forgets all the good advice he offered James. After being thoroughly annoyed, he is forgiven because he made James a partner.

Ch. 60 - An elderly dog with a broken-hip plays cupid. It's about time. Ch. 61 - Rich man, poor man and the poor man is actually the richer one. Ch. 62 - Another disastrous date that worked out alright in the end.

Ch. 58 - The story about the Bramley cats was sweet. Ch. 59 - The story of the gypsy pony was spectacular. I have forgiven Siegfried for every cross word and every lapse of attention toward what Herriot was saying. He showed such compassion to the three little girls. His dose of medieval practices was mind-blowing.

Ch. 57 I knew Tristan's date plans would be disastrous. James quickly forgot Helen after he puts on his beer goggles. He and his date drink way too much and then eat just enough. Well, you know what happens. They get some fresh air and manage to roll down a muddy hill. When they come bank to the dance hall, smeared with mud, hair asunder, guess who he bumps into. Yup. Total disaster!

Ch. 55-56 Being involved with private school administration, I can relate to these two chapters. There are families who just don't pay and, rather than, find a way to barter or develop a plan, they act as if we are in the wrong for expecting them to pay. Oh, and the grunters--those students who make a lot of fuss as they try to look like they are really working hard and they really are doing nothing.

Ch. 53-54 He may be a city slicker but he has such an affection for farmers. Many urbanites would look down their nose at being stuck in the moors and would do whatever they could to move to a bigger and "better" practice. Herriot does not because he appreciates the people of Yorkshire.

Ch. 52 - Tristan is the devil tempting poor James. I predict a disaster.

Ch. 50 - I think this chapter in particular points out the luxuries that we have today. Holes in the floorboard and jerry-rigged seats and making hairpin turns with no brakes. It's amazing that Herriot survived the Great Depression. The story about lady with the cabbages and cauliflowers just about killed me with laughter. Ch. 51 - Another close call for James who almost froze to death.

Ch. 46 - Herriot's rules of vet life are pretty stinking hilarious and true. I think school teachers could come up with a similar list. Ch. 47 - The Sidlow family sounds creepy. Ch. 48 - Herriot's first date was a catastrophe! He lacks the easy comeback of Tristan. Poor kid.

Ch. 42 - Government work is no fun. Ch. 43 - "God is Near" (sweet chapter). Ch. 44 - Helen and Mozart--what's not to like? Ch. 45 Another touching chapter--this time about faithfulness and horses.

Ever since Tristan and Tricki showed up on the scene, I couldn't help notice striking similarities to the humor of Wodehouse. I just kept thinking that I haven't laughed this hard since I read My Man, Jeeves. So, I did a little digging and it turns out that he is a Wodehouse fan! How cool is that?

Ch. 40 - Did Herriot meet his future wife while setting a broken calf leg? Hmmm. Ch. 41 - Everybody has a gift that is appreciated under the right circumstances.

I got carried away. Ch. 36 - This chapter has serious thoughts about how a young person imagines a career and then finds out how there was something less glamorous but more fulfilling. The story about Terry is a winner. Ch. 37 - Siegfried would be an impossible boss if he wasn't so forgiving. He must be aware of his foibles. Ch. 38 - Looks can be deceiving. Ch. 39 - If you give Tristan a car, he will smash it.

I got carried away. Ch. 36 - This chapter has serious thoughts about how a young person imagines a career and then finds out how there was something less glamorous but more fulfilling. The story about Terry is a winner. Ch. 37 - Siegfried would be an impossible boss if he wasn't so forgiving. He must be aware of his foibles. Ch. 38 - Looks can be deceiving. Ch. 39 - If you give Tristan a car, he will smash it.

Ch. 32 - Another lesson in humility from a lowly cow and a superstitious farmer. Ch. 33 - Uncle Herriot has TWO nephews now and one is a porker. How hysterical! I think it is good that Tricki has a companion because it will cause him to drop some pounds. Ch. 34 - Who would have thunk it? Grumpy old Grier lives a double life and she's a blond!

Ch. 29 - For the first time in recorded history, Tristan's ineptitude pays off. Ch. 30 - I live for the stories about Tricki and I'm so glad that coming to the Herriot fat farm allowed him to live to see another day. Ch. 31 - I would not want to be a vet back in the day. When did they sleep?

I’m enjoying the book. The stories are sweet and some of them are laugh-out-loud funny. This sort of book takes me a while, though. It’s more like a collection of short stories, so I can take things a chapter at a time. On the other hand, a novel draws me in and sometimes I can’t put it down.