The trouble for me when planning to a long  time away from home is the question of what to do with my boon companion.. my dog Anna.  When we realised that my husband was going to die soon he turned to me as we drove away from that hospital where the doctor had given us the news.. which really was a death sentence,  and Henry said you should get a dog.

After three years or so I decided  to follow through with his suggestion .  We had always had samoyeds.  They are not a particularly well know breed, and in fact are often thought to be a husky type dog which they definitely are not.  Yes they are good in the cold but probably do not have the stamina of a husky and their temperment is quite different.  Sammies need people.  They were bred and raised by tribal people in north Siberia.  They were loved and taken into the family , their wool was collected and woven   they herded reindeer and they were left to guard the children while the hunters would go to gather food.  When they went with Amundson to the pole he took dogs and among them were some Sams.. and he wrote in his diary how at night the average sled dog with curl up in the snow for a well earned resk where as there were these other dogs, from the Sams who wold come around the campfire and climb on their laps.    People sometimes buy these dogs thinking they can be left outdoors all the time.. but that is so wrong.. Sammies need people and my dog is no exception.

So what to do with her for over a two month absence.  Last year when I sent to France for my operation I took Anna with me.  So this Time I sent her to FRance to be with my daughter and husband and her three children.  Most of the village where my daughter lives also fell in love with my amiable dog and so there was great excitement that she was returning.  I sent her off early tuesday morning from Victoria to Vancouver where the agency I paid an enormous sum of money to, picked her up and took her for a run and break.  Then on to Lufthansa to Frankfurt where she also had a small break and walk.

My daughter has just picked her up this morning.. so 27 hours after leaving here, not all of it in her carrier.

Now I can get on with my travel life and preparations.