Dear readers,
I hope this post finds you well. I have recently come to the end of another project in my village, a long awaited one!
For my birthday, with some very generous funds for my village, I purchased a brand new country clinic gift set. Normally I'm a second hand type of person, I love getting a blank canvas and then taking it in a brand new direction. However, I don't have lots of miniature medical accessories. With most my projects I can easily add those details because I have lots of different miniatures that I have collected. But medical wise, I don't have much. So I decided to buy a new set.
It sat on my desk, all new and fresh, for a short while. As it was new I took a while to muster the courage to paint it. I didn't like the cream walls. It looked far too clinical. I also didn't like how bright the mint green was. So I decided to paint the entire thing, including the brick walls.
I am really pleased with the results!
As always, I will tour you around with a story...
Many moons ago Matt Blanche opened up a small medical centre. It was dingy, given that it used to be a small book shop, but served well as a place to story his supplies and patient files. Matt was never the type of doctor to invite his patient there. He loved cycling all over town to see those who were unwell. It kept him fit and young!
After a long day, he would meet his wife at the shop and they would organise and update his files before heading home together. It was rather idyllic before they had their children. After that, filing and maintaining the building was more sporadic. Ethel came in from time to time to organise but she was soon snowed under with her two boys, Thomas and Andrew. And Matt was never good at filing, he tended to leave the files on his desk. Which lead to the floor. Which lead to covering the floor.
Thomas and Andrew loved watching their dad at work. They saw how all the villagers looked at him with love, because he treated them with love. He would validate their feelings, take his time and would also be spot on with his diagnosis. The villagers held him in high respect and as a result Thomas and Andrew wanted the same for their own futures.
So, as you might have guessed, they both studied hard at university and returned as doctors. Both their parents were very proud of their sons. But getting their own practice was hard. To pass the time, the brothers decided to assist their father, who was getting older now. They would go and see the patients that lived far away, driving or cycling depending on their mood. They kept their eyes out for opportunities but none arose. Doctors didn't tend to leave their village position until retirement.
One day, the brothers wanted to organise their dad's office. It was an elusive place to them, the office where their father seldom went but it still existed. When they got inside they were rather shocked about the state of affairs. The brothers tried to create piles of paperwork but there simply wasn't the space. Before long, their parents arrived and were confused at their reactions.
"Dad, this is terrible practice, I can't read anyone's records!" complained Thomas.
"Dad, you have to protect a patient's data, what if we needed to treat someone with an allergy. We would have no idea!" added Andrew.
Bother parents were bewildered, what was all this nonsense about data protection? The office was locked wasn't it? Matt and Ethel deiced to leave their sons to sort out the paperwork. These days they preferred scrabble and a cup of tea to working late.
In fact, all the cycling was getting too much for Matt. He was slowing down. Not to mention that he had 5 grandchildren now. He couldn't do it all, he was getting tired. After a hard deliberation, he handed over the practice to his sons. Well, after he had organised his paperwork that was. He was still unsure about their issues with his filing. You see, Matt was the type of doctor that stored all the information in his head.
Thomas and Andrew, after resolving the sea of paperwork, weren't too keen on the musty old office. They decided to renovate to something more modern. Matt was pleased to see his little surgery grow, now the second generation were really making a mark. He could see that his son's were going to be great. They created a nice calm space surrounded by trees.
All of the colours were gentle on the eyes. They planted flowers outside too.
The place had a fresh feeling to it.
They even set up the place to eventually hire a dentist! Matt hadn't even thought of that.
But most importantly, the brothers wanted parts of their dad's clinic to show through. They kept some of the original features of the building.
Now they had their practice. It wasn't big but they had created something new for the village.
They stocked medicine for people to buy for when they felt under the weather.
They displayed signs for what services were available.
They created a private seating area with a magazine rack so the villagers could wait somewhere comfortable.
At the desk, the brothers bought all the essentials. They bought a chart for testing eyesight, medication and top of the line medical equipment.
Andrew bought a cart that contained all other necessities.
They have way of measuring height, perfect for when they have their pre-school assessments for all the children of the village too.
They also added a bed for those that were feeling unwell and a private screen too.
With all these new adjustments, and a quickly growing village, the brothers hired Toby Sunflower. Toby specialises in phlebotomy as well as patient care. Oh, and he loves to titivate with filing and admin tasks which was obviously music to the brother's ears. They love knowing that everything is running smoothly.
After all the decorating, the new doctors of the village wanted to have some photos. It was a big moment for them all. Thomas and Andrew had their own clinic. They were the second generation of Blanche doctors in the village. And Toby had a job, as he had just moved to the village with his wife and their children.
Thomas wears his white coat as he is the main doctor in the clinic. He operates the building with Toby.
Andrew wears scrubs as he is the doctor that travels. He will go anywhere where he is needed.
Toby runs the clinic too, helping Thomas with his needs.
As the families' are all very proud, they asked for a photo before the clinic officially opened.
Penny and Toby are very pleased with their move to the village.
Little Nora, Sam and Upton are just glad to have a snack.
Olive loves being with her uncle, she thinks she would like to do a doctor. Well a doctor or a librarian, she isn't sure at the moment.
Not to mention, the family welcomed Evelyn into the world a few months back.
And of course, proudly stands Matt and Ethel. Well, they are now thinking running a practice might be easier than having 5 grandchildren.
I hope you liked this story. I loved the idea that Matt and Ethel ran some chaotic but somehow surviving practice in the village. In my mind, they are a rather eccentric couple who have somehow managed to muddle through life. With the parallel of their sons, with the bravado of being newly trained doctors, I'm glad that they can settle down to a quieter life. Especially as the village continues to grow.
I hope you liked this story, I love the clinic!
Best wishes,
Helly x
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