Tuesday, May 31, 2022

Disdain.


Sophie is aware that there are two cars parked outside the front door. This usually signifies that one of her flock is about to wander off to the airport. She starts her day with a look that mixes disdain and sorrow in equal measure.


The 'wee house' in Scotland is let out to nice Texan folks. Covid restrictions mean it's coming on three years since either of us has been up to see it. There is a ferocious gas fueled heating system which is backed up by a small but equally ferocious wood burning stove.  'The Font' heads off to replace the wood burner with something 'cleaner' and more acceptable to the insurance company. There are so, so many practical reasons why you don't want a wood burning fire in a little medieval townhouse .

We had planned to drive back with Sophie to Scotland this summer to oversee the decorators but obtaining post-Brexit dog passports is a complex and time consuming process.


The floor paint in the kitchen also needs some TLC. I'm sure 'The Font' will return with a list of 'urgent' repairs a mile long.

5 comments:

WFT Nobby said...

A recent article in the Guardian suggested that post-Brexit, it could cost up to £300 a time to take your dog from the UK to France. There are some in the current government who would probably classify this opportunity for greater income for vets as one of the benefits of the UK leaving the EU.
https://www.theguardian.com/money/2022/may/21/pet-travel-brexit-eu-pet-passports-health-certificates
Hope the 'Font' packed a winter coat...

potty said...

I thought it was the INTO France new farce with the French demanding a French pet passport. Sophie would have one already.

Coppa's girl said...

Poor Sophie, lately she seems doomed to be missing one or other of her flock. Annoying if you have problems with her pet passport. I wonder how long before the UK decide to bring back quarantine for pets arriving from abroad? If they are starting to quibble about foreign passports, it's only a short step to bring back money-making quarantine.
How times change - originally your little medieval townhouse would have relied solely on an open fire for heat and cooking. Can recommend a pellet burning stove, they really throw out the heat, and there are some better designs about since I had mine installed five years ago. Having recommended pellets, I'm not sure if they are banned in the UK - or England at least.

Yamini MacLean said...

Hari OM
I know several 'vanlifers' who have recently travelled from the UK to the EU with dogs and, cost aside, had no difficulty beyond some patience (one couple even decided to obtain their 'passport' at Calais instead, which was not a lot of trouble apparently). What is more, on only one occasion crossing various borders, were they asked for the paperwork they'd paid the money for... YAM xx

Travel said...

Extra pastries are in order for a few days to make up for the change