A close shave 🥴🥴🥴

Now as indicated last time , when I next spoke to you I wouldn’t be there, I’d be here! Well let me tell you we very nearly were there Dear Reader ….oh I see I’m confusing you , let me explain.

So a week ago, leaving Grandma in charge (again!)

……we set off for Plymouth to catch our ferry to Spain. This time I’m feeling more at ease because I have a life jacket for Millie so know if anything goes badly wrong I can save her 😉

Her face says it all…but I have peace of mind!

Anyway we arrive at the ferry port and I hand over our three passports ( did I not tell you, Millie has a Spanish passport?) The young border control officer looked at all three and then said to me “ Do you know that your dog’s Rabies vaccination has not been recorded properly?” Now at this point I was of a mind to say “ Of course I don’t , young man, because if I had known I would have had it corrected wouldn’t I?” However, I’m at Border Control and mindful that humour is not always top of the list of requirements for that role, so I just say “ Isn’t it? Well I can assure you she had the vaccination ..” Of course that is irrelevant to them – if the recording isn’t correct , it’s my word against their’s isn’t it?

Spot the difference between the first and second entries

So we wait for his supervisor to arrive ….with dread I have to say! However she kindly let us go through but told us that Millie would have to have another Rabies jab as soon as we arrived at our destination. The nice Border control gentleman ( well I say gentleman even though he looked to be just out of nappies) told us that between March and our date of travel, over 60 pets had been refused entry to the ferry for incorrect paperwork 🥴 He also told us that for those requiring Health Certificates to travel ( Millie is excused this piece of paperwork as she has a passport!) and not having one , there is always a vet available through the port to assist, at a cost of £600.00! A note to anyone travelling abroad with a pet …make sure you know the rules and requirements before you travel!

Needless to say , on our arrival at our destination we consulted the vet who rectified the situation , though I pity the poor person who failed to complete the entry correctly !!!

Our journey from the ferry port to here was uneventful……the roads are mainly clear . Strange though, the speed limit applies only to us I think! Spanish and French drivers are exempt from any such form of restriction…..they must be, because they take absolutely no notice whatsoever of the stated limit. The same applies to dogs going on the beach……quite clearly the signs at the entry of the beach state “ Perros no” alongside a picture clearly of a dog with a great big red cross through it . As if that wasn’t enough there are also the words “ Chiens non” and “ No dogs” Yet do the French and Spanish understand this signage ….clearly not. You may say , get Millie on that beach too, stuff the signs! You know what though…..there is a certain law in this world that would get me a 500€ fine if I did it !!!

Anyway we’ve found a much better place to take Millie ….

It really is predominately for dogs ….their owners can go in too but it’s geared specifically for dogs ! She loved it and spent a very happy hour there ….and do you know Dear Reader, there is one mega benefit of there over the forbidden beach……..SAND!!!! There isn’t any .. a real plus . Unfortunately it closes for the winter months but will be open when we’re next here so she will have a weekly trip for the duration of our visit !

Time here flies by …we had to pay a visit to these two near Barcelona for a few days ……

Needless to say Millie didn’t come ..she went to stay with friends …

The funniest thing is their dog doesn’t play with toys …that is, until another dog arrives with toys . Millie’s toys were immediately high jacked by little Snowy !!! Not only that …

I’ll have your bed too, if it’s all the same to you!

Apparently, he dragged Millie’s bed to a corner and then proceeded to lie on it …. What on earth goes through their minds?!?!

After a few lovely days we arrived back to our bolthole .. the weather has been very kind to us but not good for the agriculture here . There has been no rain to speak of and it is so desperately needed. My wardrobe tells the tale ! Normally at our autumnal visit, early morning walks with Millie are taken in shorts and t-shirt , gradually progressing to leggings and fleece by November. I’m still in shorts and t-shirts , still too warm even at 0830 for anything else!