11th January 1998

The Gentle Touch

Softer than white, paler than pastels - the natural whites contain just a hint of colour to make the most of light and space. Above all they're easy to live with, and make ideal partners for any colour scheme. The easiest way to use them is to create a room based around one colour, blending a range of tones so that they merge into each other. Nothing could be prettier than a bedroom decorated in palest pink - or blue, or yellow - with paintwork, walls, carpet, curtains and bedlinen to match. Deepen the colours for practicality downstairs teaming pale walls and woodwork with a darker carpet and adding pattern for interest in living room curtains and upholstery. Keep to shades of the same colour and the scheme will be a sure success; match rose-white walls with a raspberry carpet - or vice versa - and add lace, chintz or candy-striped curtains.

If you want to contrast rather than co-ordinate, try the natural whites for the subtlest of counterpoints. Put apricot white with cornflower blue or apple white with coral to gauge the effect.

For a more emphatic statement, look at the pastels which are one degree darker than natural white. Consider some of the cooler tones which are especially suitable for modern or formal settings - and don't forget the classics like cream, magnolia, mist grey and pure brilliant white.

Which should you choose?

Small, dark rooms need the enlarging qualities of the palest natural whites. Avoid brilliant white which takes on a tinge of grey where light is limited.

Cold rooms which face north or east look warmer with a tint of rose, primrose or apricot.

Sunny rooms usually face south or west and welcome the freshness of a hint of apple or lavender.

Primary colours require a cool contrast. Pick brilliant white or pale grey.

Neutral schemes need toning whites. If the scheme is cool, use brilliant white, apple white or grey. If it contains warmer shades like beige or honey, opt for apricot or barley white, buttermilk or rnagnolia.

Three vets all out for pets

By Tharuka Dissanaike

Meesha and Rudy ambled into the clinic. They were greeted by enthusiastic hellos, pats on head, kisses on the snout. No wonder the two rather overweight labradors never complain about visiting their 'doctor.' In fact one would think they rather enjoy it, especially all the attention lavished on them after the shots are given.

It was a busy day at the Pet Vet clinic. Upon entering we nearly stumbled on Meesha and Rudy who were at that time sprawled luxuriously at the entrance. Inside, a tiny puppy trembled on a table, being fed saline intravenously. A toy pomenarian was also on the drip, recovering from a womb infection.

There is something very different about Pet Vet Clinic. It's partly to do with the airy, spacious clinic, which manages to look sterile and welcoming at the same time. Its staff, consisting of three doctors, a part time receptionist and helpers, is all female.

Doctors, Nalinika, Janaki and Vipuli look barely out of their teens. Dressed casually in jeans and shirts they defy the general vet-look.

"We like to look relaxed," they say. But their commitment to the work was obvious in the short time we spent at the clinic. Watching them work together, consulting and helping each other was a rare sight. No ego problems here.

The three met in Peradeniya- more specifically in the faculty of Veterinary Science when Janaki and Vipuli were students and Nalinika was lecturing. Later on Janaki and Vipuli were also recruited to the staff and they formed a bond of friendship that was to take them into business together. When Janaki married and had to move to Colombo the threesome began to seriously consider the idea of setting up a combined practice.

"The idea was criticised by many people and we were discouraged from launching into this," Dr. Nalinika recalls. "But we decided to give it a try and see."

They first established the clinic at Lauries Road, behind Dr. Nalinika's house, just over an year ago. 'It was the 30th of November (1996)' Dr. Janaki piped in.

"At that time we used to wait for patients to come," Vipuli said. "Now we have more clients than we can handle." When the doctors treat a dog for a disease they open a file on the animal. In one year they have opened 600 files.

What strikes one is that these three young women really appear to enjoy what they are doing. It's not merely a job-not a boring professional service. "We enjoy working together. We have a good rapport and we trust and understand each other, despite having three very different personalities."

The ladies also have big plans. They want to very soon move house and buy premises of their own. They have plans of buying modern equipment like scanners and X-ray machines and have more beds and facilities to hospitalise animals when necessary. Right now they have a night time service where the vets are contactable by pager.

"We want to develop it into a system where Janaki, because she lives in Piliyandala, screens the calls and directs the urgent cases to the other doctor on duty." They also do house visits when necessary, but Dr. Nalinika stressed that animals who need urgent treatment have better facilities at the clinic. The puppy behind us whines and gasps. Two doctors are on their feet, one increased the drip and the other prepared an injection.

"We really want to have a proper hospital, where we can properly and continuously treat patients like this," one doctor said. "But in Sri Lanka there are no veterinary nurses. And you don't find young people who really love animals are willing to work as vet assistants."

The atmosphere at the clinic debars owners of dogs from being too formal. "The clients become our friends. Some of the older clients call us 'duwa' or darling ."

The Clinic also offers free sterilisation services to stray dogs. Civic minded citizens could bring stray dogs to the clinic on a predetermined day and the doctors will give them all the vaccines and sterilise them as a public service.

They also offer to find stray and unwanted puppies good homes.

Veterinary being a largely male dominated field , how did these doctors find it, carving a niche for themselves. "You mean did people take us seriously?" Dr. Nalinika asks amusedly. "No, in the beginning we did have a problem. Even in campus we had to face various discrimination from male superiors. When treating large animals most prefer to give the exposure to male students."

Dr. Nalinika said it is felt that women because of their traits of gentleness and caring are not equipped to serve as vets.

"I feel that there is nothing bad about being caring and gentle with the animals I treat. Nothing bad about loving and fondling the animals that come for treatment. I cannot be less professional just because, before launching into surgery, I consider the pain to the animal and judge the necessity of the operation."

The Clinic also has undergraduates working there as helpers during vacation. "I hope veterinary interns will be allowed to practice here so that we could make use of our combined teaching experience."

Beneath their happy-go -lucky exterior, the doctors lives aren't all fun, fun, fun. They have to run a business, earn salaries, keep the clinic going, make decisions about pharmaceuticals, obtaining bank loans and leases. They also have to make tough decisions about patients, like they did about the sick puppy who was being treated for.

Another patient walks in. Amber- another Labrador with his Daschund friend. Amber had been stung by a cobra two weeks ago. The doctors had treated her with anti-venin and she is now recovered. "Our favourite Lab, aren't you Amber?" Dr. Nalinika says, smooching the dog, who inspite of trying to look dignified was loving every minute of it.

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