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Elle, when she was nearly 90, we had to put my mother in the village old folks home - it is medicalised and she had very serious osteoporosis, hence her bones were like crystal. We were not equiped to look after at home without it being dangerous to her.
Anyway, my point is that this coincided with the time we had our golden retriever, and I visited her as regularly as work allowed, always with the dog - it was amazing to see her companions in the home come to pat the dog who, of course being a retriever, loved every minute of it. (in fact the staff there strongly encouraged me to bring the dog)

Hi Pigale
Yes we reported when my husband was bitten by an Alsatian. It was a really nasty bite and he was only running past the house. The police said that would be the first warning. We didn't report the second one as it was on a farm where we were staying in Wales and the owners were extremely apologetic. Left to myself, I would still have reported it but I expect in a farm community not much would have happened. My son had his back to the dog and was not threatening it in any way.
I wasn't at all scared of horses until the second attack. I was just in a field belonging to my aunt, taking the children to see the pond at the bottom. I noticed the horse coming over looking rather odd and told the children just to walk quietly back to the house. I turned round to see the horse on its hind legs about to bring its front hooves down onto me. I managed to turn my back but had huge bruises for weeks. My aunt said she would demand the owner remove the horse, as the field had a public footpath.
I'm too old to change now, but it is a regret. We had dogs and cats when I was little. The Jack Russell was neurotic and used to try and mate with my legs, which I hated, and also (not neuotic!) went for and killed chickens. Had to be put down.

Yea, I can see what you experienced would bad enough to scare anyone - unlucky indeed as you seem to suffer from the lack of comfort a pet can bring.

Elle, I am home frome hospital.
I was a day early! But, they rejigged their lists and I was seen after a short wait. NHS, brilliant!
She gave me an "open appointment" for a year.
If I want to see her, I phone the dept, if not, automatic discharge. So, great!
I had a look in Brewers but no word on the Old Grey Goose.

Hi, Rusty!
I'm glad to hear that all went ok with your visit to the Consultant.
Hopefully, you won't need to visit her again, if all goes well, but it's nice to have an open option for a year - gives you some background support and boosts your confidence, knowing there is a structure to fall back on if need be.
(That was bright, going on the wrong day! You are lucky that the system allowed for it - I 'm not sure that would have happened here in England! Scottish NHS is maybe more tolerant and understanding!)
Fingers crossed all goes well for you from now on!
I'm watching your bete noire, Novak Djokocvic, play Philipp Kohlschreiber at the moment.
A good match so far.
There is a little bird keeps coming onto the court, which is causing some amusement.

Now why on earth use term 'bete noire' and not say 'pet hate' ? Just out of curiosity.

Why not, Pigale? They are both in Chambers!

Yes, just had a look at my Collins bilingual and it says that
'pet hate' is for things, and 'bete noire' for persons - otherwise you have to say 'I can't stand him'

Sorry about all that but I am always interested in points of translation, and often surprised to hear a French expression used in English. When I play Scrabble in English, I get to lose points because I hesitate to put a word that is French, only to discover afterwards that it is accepted in English - Can't win !

PS - It happens the other way round as well.

Elle, there was a man on the reception desk and he could not have been more helpful! A gent!
By good fortune, the consultant was on today, and the man found my notes and went and spoke to the consultant. I had it entered wrongly in my diary. And had lost the appointment letter.
I have an old letter rack I got in a charity shop (has a secret compartment) and the letter should have been there.
It is not the Old Grey Goose on court?