As the internet on the ferry is really “internet” (i.e. in name only), I decided it was the perfect opportunity to ramble on via Word and then transfer it over to the Forum once I’m at @RosieC’s tonight. You have been warned: extreme wordiness ahead!
First things first, a huge thank you to Kate
@Beanwood for letting me stop by what I think of as home for a flying visit to see her, Marcus, the pups, Remy and Stoli. Otter is looking so well: Kate pointed out something still a bit off about her leg but frankly as a non-professional I couldn’t see it at all. She just looks like a normal happy puppy on that miracle leg.
Harry (my new name for Otter: Otter -->Potter --> Harry!) is not too keen on me. I tend to be way too full on with dogs so it was a really good exercise for me to not look at her and simply ignore her in general. She nearly burst my eardrum last night as she told me how she felt about me, but she was doing much better this morning. Or maybe it was ME doing better with my own “Don’t be so scary” training? As I’ve learned from Carbon, I need more training than any dog!
As for yesterday’s drive from Folkestone (Eurotunnel) to Beanwood, it would have been easy peasy had I not been so darn sleepy. I was so nervous about checking Carbon in to the Eurotunnel Pet Control that I only got a couple hours of fitful sleep on Tuesday night.
I was worried there would be other dogs in the control area that he’d react to. I was worried that they’d reject him as an Assistance Dog as he’s admittedly only half-baked at this point and his documentation rightly reflects that. I’m worried about my job as I’ve done practically no work since going to California. I’m worried about my tax deadline that is looming. Yes, all this is pretty frivolous: or maybe “unwarranted” is a better word. But it’s a good example of my mental health quirks and how I get stuck in circular mode: even fairly insignificant things start to spiral into a big fat worry blob. That’s where I was on Tuesday morning.
The verdict on my job and taxes are still up in the air, but the Eurotunnel Pet Control couldn’t have gone better: no other dogs when we arrived, super nice woman who checked in Carbon and they didn’t ask for any of his SD paperwork even though I had it in my sweaty little hand. Carbon was a superstar focusing on me turning the short inspection and when we met another dog on our way out the door, Carbon stayed focused on me. Thank goodness (again) for greedy Labradors and turkey bratwurst!
Then it was straight into the train, out of the train and finally down the motorway towards London. I managed to miss all the traffic (a first) but the longer I went on the sleepier I got. Solution: quick nap and a stop to stretch my and Carbon’s legs. Instead of letting myself be tempted by M&S along the way, I treated myself to a calorie-free dip into Seasalt. It was supposed to be for five minutes but soon I had three saleswomen throwing stuff at me. I’m now WELL equipped with winter clothes: that place is deadly.
Then we arrived at Beanwood and you know the rest. I almost feel like I SHOULD have stopped at a fast food place just so I’d have a better story to tell!