In reply to Paul Atkinson:
Pretty much the definition of surreal: talking calmly to the surgeon about the upcoming Autumn internationals whilst he pokes about in your happy sacks with a tiny branding iron. The smell of barbecuing meat doesn't help the situation any.
We routinely do caesarean sections on cows in sheds, with just a line of local anaesthetic for intra-op analgesia; trust me, if it hurt them, we'd be a damp stain on the floor pretty quick. If dentists were vets, they'd have far fewer teeth left.
Stick with it, mypyrex, old man. It's going to be OK, I'M sure.
Martin