The Labraventures of Carbón, Spanish (ex-) foster dog extraordinaire

[Emily_Babbelhund]

How are things with you now Emily?

Thanks for asking, Cath. I'm a bit down. Snow and slush and rain and wind and grey, plus lots of doctors, immigration issues, taxes, work backlog, tech problems - the usual roundup when I return to Regensburg and real life intrudes. The backlash is inevitable after running around Italy like a little free bird for nearly two weeks. I'm very grateful for those Italian days!

Also the dreaded date on which both Brogan and Duncan died is coming up (22 December). Since I found Carbon, I just kind of want to put him in bubblewrap for a few weeks prior to my Date of Canine Sorrow until we get past it. He's going to the vet on Tuesday for full check up and Leishmaniasis test, so maybe that will help me not be so paranoid that he's invisibly dying.

I tell you, Christmas eve can't come soon enough: then it's packing (again), a rest and then on to Cornwall on 1 January! Well...that's if I can get into the UK, but that's another story and something I have zero control over.

Mmm...you may be sorry you asked now!

OK in recompense, here are a few more Italian photos to lighten the mood - hopefully none are repeats!

 

[Cath]

Mmm...you may be sorry you asked now!

No, never Emily. Its not long now until you and Carbon will be in Cornwall together again. Chin up

 

[Jacqui-S]

@Emily_Babbelhund , I keep meaning to ask how Carbòn's peeing apparatus is these days. It all sounded pretty awful at the time.
Am writing this in red in the hope Carbòn can't read my impolite enquiry

 

[Stacia]

I am laughing at the red writing so that Señor Carbon cannot read it. However, how is his peeing apparatus?

 

[Boogie]

Amazing photos, I hope they are keeping you going

 

[kateincornwall]

So sorry that you are feeling low , Emily . Keeping fingers crossed that your journey to Cornwall goes smoothly , looking forward to seeing you both so much xxx

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

I keep meaning to ask how Carbòn's peeing apparatus is these days. It all sounded pretty awful at the time.
Am writing this in red in the hope Carbòn can't read my impolite enquiry

I am laughing at the red writing so that Señor Carbon cannot read it. However, how is his peeing apparatus?

Thank you for your discretion with the red writing.

He's doing very well with his ornamental willie. His vet always has to look at and declare to everyone within earshot - as I'm sure she will again tomorrow - that she's never seen anything like it and that it is amazing. Apparently the new wee opening should have closed up a few months post-surgery, returning his willie to a functional status. But no...it has remained steadfastly open, so he continues to wee out of the surgical opening, and his willie remains purely ornamental and pristinely clean because no wee flows through it whatsoever. Carbon remains ignorant of any change in his abilities and insists on hiking his leg at will, with no thought to the fact that the wee more often than not runs onto his foot. He is a very clean boy and makes sure his foot gets a washing: I often wonder if he is curious as to why his back left foot always tastes of wee after a walk. But then again, he eats his own poo, so perhaps a foot tasting of wee is absolutely deleeeecious and he believes himself blessed by the canine deities!

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

Just had a look out of the window and the workers have left for the day, once again sealing us behind the fence with no opening. I mentioned it to Nadine the other day and she had the same problem when they were re-doing the street outside her shop, so she showed me how to dismantle a section of fencing. Mainly takes a bit of brute force. I will get out there and do my Incredible Hulk routine later this evening when it's time for Carbon's walk!

 

[Lisa]

Just had a look out of the window and the workers have left for the day, once again sealing us behind the fence with no opening. I mentioned it to Nadine the other day and she had the same problem when they were re-doing the street outside her shop, so she showed me how to dismantle a section of fencing. Mainly takes a bit of brute force. I will get out there and do my Incredible Hulk routine later this evening when it's time for Carbon's walk!

That is so annoying. Honestly I can’t believe this is allowed under law. What if there was a medical emergency of some sort? Is there no redress to local authorities to force the company to allow you exit/entrance to your home?

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

That is so annoying. Honestly I can’t believe this is allowed under law. What if there was a medical emergency of some sort? Is there no redress to local authorities to force the company to allow you exit/entrance to your home?

Meh, by the time I complained to anyone, the fencing will be reconfigured again. In a medical emergency an ambulance would just run over the things (they are plastic). When I tried to get out before and didn't succeed, I must have hit one that was just stuck, because when Nadine showed me how to take a section out, it was a simple matter of a nice kick in the right place.

At this point I think they're just being asshats as I say hello to them every morning when I go out, so they know I'm in here.

And I have to admit, part of me will enjoy going all ragey on a section of fencing tonight.

 

[Cath]

I will get out there and do my Incredible Hulk routine later this evening when it's time for Carbon's walk!

Go Emily Go

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

Sorry to the Señor for hijacking his thread yet again (and for discussing your decorative willy), but this evening I got an idea that I should book my Eurotunnel tickets and not leave it until the last moment. I was planning on going over on 2 January, which I felt would be fairly safe as it's not a holiday. Well...

Nope.

Only possible to cross 1 January or 4 January. Dates in between are blocked. Wah waaaaah (sad trombone noise). When will I learn to book REALLY far in advance?!

So now I'm booked in night of 1 January both for the Shuttle and a dog-friendly hotel in Folkestone. I'm already committed to being in Regensburg for New Year's Eve, which means a very long drive (about 12 hours at the rate I go) on 1 January. Woo hoo, it's going to be a caffeinated day for me! I've done it one time before and swore I'd never ever do it again. Ha, ha...guess I don't learn.

 

[Cath]

Thought you may like this Emily x

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

Thought you may like this Emily x

When I went out last night, a man was walking past - on the other side of the fence, of course. He stopped, looked at me, looked at the fence and said, "Well, they've trapped you in there, haven't they?" I told him yes, and it wasn't the first time. He was so nice, because he then offered to help liberate me by pulling down a section of fence. I thanked him and told him no thanks, because once you know how to unhook the sections, it is pretty easy. But I thought it was really kind that some stranger was immediately willing to help free me!

I'm a bit calmer today after being freaked out by several things yesterday, including the idea of driving from Regensburg to the UK all in one day. Now I've started to figure out what I can stop and see on my unexpected 'extra' day in the UK (2 January) and getting excited about my trip. I'm still not keen on a full day drive and will be watching the weather with eagle eyes, but there are also advantages to getting the drive over all in one day and enjoying an extra day in the UK en route to Cornwall!

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

Oh I love my monkey! Que amigo bueno!

 

[Loraseal]

We find the holiday inn express at Folkestone very dog friendly.
It will be well worth the drive Emily and you will have an amazing travel buddy with you!

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

We find the holiday inn express at Folkestone very dog friendly.
It will be well worth the drive Emily and you will have an amazing travel buddy with you!

Good tip! I used to love HIE in the UK, but when I tried to book with Carbon a couple years ago (not Folkestone), they wanted GBP 25 a night just for the dog fee, which I found plain silly. What was your experience at Folkestone?

For 1 January I have a reservation at a family-run B&B in an old Victorian a short walk from the cliffs. We stayed there once before and it was simple but very clean and dog-friendly (GBP 6 for the dog fee, which seems quite reasonable).

My amazing travel buddy is indeed amazing. I know he will do that 12 hour stint in the car reclining on his mound of stuff/pillows, attached to his seatbelt, and happy as a clam. And of course fully-rested and ready to go for a mega-walk once we arrive in Folkestone whereas I will be dead beat, but that's just the way of things unless I can teach him to share the driving duty. He'll have to wait until the next morning for a proper walk because after all those hours in the car, I'm going straight to bed!

 

[Loraseal]

They ask for 15 pound for the dog. Dog biscuits for welcome and staff who love dogs.
They never used to but they know it is a big earner.
When we stay 50% of the guests have dogs!!! Dog reserved area in front of the bar!!!
You have to book direct with their site and choose pet care rate!!
We use it for a clean stay over and loads of free parking and just a 10 min ride from the tunnel.
Hopefully I can use it in the near future when COVID travelling gets easier.

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

@Loraseal that's really good info - thank you!

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

I have signed the concrete in front of my house here in Regensburg. Now everyone will know that the mas guapo of all Spanish gentleman dogs lives here!