Collins dictionary definition of holistic: considering the complete person or animal, physically and mentally in the treatment of an illness.
Our staff assure you of a friendly welcome and first class care for your pets at the Croft Veterinary Clinic
You will always receive a warm welcome at Reception!
At the Croft we have modern well-equipped operating theatres and consulting rooms
At the Croft we have a wide variety of high quality Food and goodies for your pets
Dom John Main - the founder of the modern Christian Meditation movement. John Main rediscovered the authentic practice of mantra-based christian meditation by studying the ancient works of John Cassian.
Visit - the World Community for Christian Meditation website.
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Bere Island: The birth place of Laurence Freeman's mother and a place to which he has returned from time to time for periods of prayer and solitude. In his book “Jesus, the Teacher Within”, Laurence uses his rediscovery of the island as an allegory of the search for personal identity and the gradual separation of reality and illusion we all need to make in order to grow spiritually.
Hove: scenes from the sea front.
Laurence Freeman: a Benedictine monk and priest of the Congregation of Monte Oliveto, and director of WCCM. He is also the founder and director of the John Main Center for Meditation and Inter-religious Dialogue at Georgetown University, and author of many books and articles for the Tablet particularly, and a member of the Board of Medio Media.
Central London, viewed from Greenwich Observatory. Can there be space for quiet contemplation in a city like this? Well yes actually! Saint Marks Church in Islington, hosts the London Christian Meditation Centre. Cockfosters Retreat Centre also offers a range of meditation retreats throughout the year, and further meditation events take place at St Peter’s Centre for Meditation and Peace, at Vauxhall, and at Westminster Cathedral
Views, from Loweswater Village Hall. Usually, once a year in the summer, the Cumbrian Christian Meditation group meet here. The hall provides one of the most panoramic views in the Lake District looking up the valley that holds Crummock Water and Buttermere, to Great Gable, which is wreathed in cloud on this occasion.
The Newsletter is released quarterly and is the main source of information for many many members of the Community. In it you will find sections covering news of the Community's leaders, forthcoming retreats and events and a message from Father Laurence Freeman. Contact Saint Mark's Church if you want to receive it. There are details at the foot of this webpage.
North Staffordshire includes the City of Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme and their surrounding areas. There are currently three groups in the area: May Bank (Newcastle), Longton (Stoke) and Stone.
Benedictines: John Main, the founder of the World Community for Christian Meditation, and Laurence Freeman, the Community's current leader; a sketch of the Christian Meditation Retreat Centre at Cockfosters and one of the corridors at the monastery of Monte Oliveto.
The Open Gate: a retreat house run by the Community of Aidan and Hilda on Lindisfarne, Northumberland. Courses and retreats on many aspects of christian spirituality are provided each year.
Oxford: Britain's oldest university town.
Portsmouth Catholic Cathedral was built in 1882 and is situated close to the City centre and the home of the Royal Navy.
Waterfall, in the grounds of Rydal Hall, near Ambleside. Meetings organised by the Cumbrian Christian Meditation group often take place here. The mountains of the Lake District make an inspiring backdrop to the grounds of the hall and remind us that although the path of meditation can sometimes appear rather steep and craggy, there is a way to the summit.
Autumn Colours, in the grounds of Rydal Hall, near Ambleside. Meetings organised by the Cumbrian Christian Meditation group often take place here. The mountains of the Lake District make an inspiring backdrop to the grounds of the hall and remind us that although the path of meditation can sometimes appear rather steep and craggy, there is a way to the summit.
Shrewsbury: typical half timbered houses in the town and plate glass windows in the cathedral
Lindisfarne Slakes, in the fading light of a late February afternoon. The tranquility of the sea and sky on this day, might remind us of our quest for tranquility of mind and spirit during meditation.
Staffordshire Moorlands at the southwestern end of the Pennines, provides an opportunity for solitude. The Staffordshire Peak District is distinctly quieter than its more famous Derbyshire neighbour!
Painted Ceiling, in one of the corridors of the Vatican Museum, leading to the Sistine Chapel.
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External Parasites - Flea Control
There are a large number of external parasites that affect dogs and cats. The most common are fleas which can cause skin irritation, allergies and a lot of discomfort to pets and owners. The most common flea is the cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis, which can live on dogs, cats, rabbits and bite humans. The adult flea lives on the animal, feeds on blood and lays eggs in the animal’s coat. A single female flea can produce up to 50 eggs per day for up to 100 days. The eggs fall on to bedding, carpets and soil where they hatch and the larvae burrow deep in to the fibres away from light. The mature larvae pupate and can stay like this for up to 350 days as long as they don’t dry out. An adult flea emerges from the cocoon and climbs to the surface where it can find a passing host to feed on. Once the flea has found its preferred host it will not leave unless forced off by grooming or insecticides. No stage of the flea life cycle can survive temperatures lower than 3ºC so they survive over winter on untreated cats and dogs and in houses. Correct control involves elimination of fleas on the pet, elimination of existing environmental infestation and prevention of subsequent re-infestation.
Other external parasites that affect pets are ticks, lice, ear mites, cheyletiella, sarcoptic and demodectic mange. If you are worried that your pet has any of the above parasites contact the veterinary clinic for advice. Most of the flea and mite spot-on treatments sold in vet clinics are prescription only medicines and different products may cover different external parasites. All the spot-on treatments are safe to use in pregnant and lactating animals but cannot be used in puppies and kittens less than 6 weeks old. Most preparations must be applied monthly to prevent re-infection.
Updated 05-01-2011
