Trouble & decisions.

"Tanya stay! what the ***** you're leg, it's wrong, the hip joint is out again is'nt it!"

I could not believe what I was seeing. We were in 'Notre Dame St Mort". Nothing special about the place apart from it was in the Vendee area and on our way north and had a convenient Aire where we could stop the night.

It had been an OK days drive but through some horrendous rain which made it awkward to walk Tanya as I was supposed to be keeping her bandages dry. There had been one small walk earlier where both her legs were fine. But here we were in the late afternoon with one leg at a peculiar angle and Tanya hopping around on 3 legs. She was not looking too happy about it either.

I was pretty well knocked sideways by this latest turn of events. I did not know what to do and would have been quite happy at that point if the world just went away and stopped troubling me. I'd had enough, was tired, hungry and pretty low.

I was also reluctant to go back to Eymet. Tanya was now going to need another operation and this latest disaster was probably due to a moving motorhome not being the ideal place for doggy convalescent care. I needed a stable base.

Map out, hmmmm! Nearest is Ian and Brownie's place at 'Redon' in Brittany. I had met them back in March on the Loire and they left me with a phone number and an open invite to visit any time. I phoned them and a plan was soon in place. An appointment with a local vet near Redon to see where we go from here.

Food, bed, a cuddle with Tanya, who apart from having a dangly leg was not in pain and managing ok. Up early next morning to drive the 140km to Redon.

That's when the next disaster hit. My phone blared at me with a warning I had used fifty quids worth of mobile data and Vodafone, thank goodness, had stopped it at that. My phone had somehow been hacked and someone is stealing my data allowance. Just what I needed along with Tanya and continuing heavy rain. I still have not figured it out but by altering a couple of settings I have managed to stop it for now.

By this time I am starting to question just who the hell has got it in for me up there in the thundery heavens.

We make it to the vets and x ray confirms hip joint is once again dis-located. It seems in small dogs this is not uncommon even when pinned. The final alternative, I am told, is removal of the ball end on the femur (thigh bone) and let the muscles and ligaments heal and hold the bone in place on their own. For small dogs this works well, I was informed. This was confirmed by a phone conversation between this vet and Mme Crochelet in Eymet. I was sent away with a recommendation to return to Eymet and a distinct impression Mr Redon vet did not want the job.

In despair I then went round to Ian and Brownies lovely home where I was welcomed and we all three thrashed out the various scenarios available. In the end and after phoning the Pets at Home vets in Salisbury I decided a return to the UK was best. Tanya was travelling OK. She was not in pain or stressed and a recuperation base in Salisbury where I could stay with my brother Richard seemed to me to be the best option for Tanya.

Online we go. Brittany ferry Cherbourg to Poole is booked. Back to vet next morning for worming tablet and doggy passport signed by vet to enable Tanya's return to the UK.

So here we are. Parked by a harbour wall just west of Cherbourg on a sunny and warm evening. Ferry is tomorrow morning (Thursday 14/6).

UK here I come. Sad but necessary and only a couple of weeks before my planned return. I will be back. Despite the difficult times of the last week or so there is still so much more of France I want to see.
Let us just hope while reflecting on my present run of misfortune, the ferry stays afloat tomorrow!