Voodoo's News

December 31, 2005
Just before the New Year, something unfortunate happened this week:

On December 28th, I was supposed to visit my breeder for the day. We had a sudden onset of winter – here and also in Slovakia. My owner took half the day off and, fully equipped (snow chains, grit, shovel, etc.), set off with her father and me. Everything went perfectly, and we arrived safe and sound at my breeder's and her family's house. I was supposed to be picked up again the following evening.

Then it happened on the way home: My owner was almost there, driving at a leisurely pace, considering the weather. Before a long curve at the edge of a village, a van approached, and my owner saw the driver chatting with the passenger (a nun). It seemed to my owner as if the van wasn't taking the curve properly or was driving too far to the other side of the road. My owner braked without any problems, and just as she came to a stop, there was a crash: the nuns had driven straight ahead on the curve instead of turning. Everything that could possibly be broken on the front of our car is wrecked. Luckily, there were witnesses who confirmed that my owner was completely blameless.

Since it's holiday season everywhere, there are of course problems with the insurance company inspecting the car and with the repairs. The car won't be inspected at the garage until January 9th; until then, the car has to be parked, and we have to do everything on foot or by train.

I was supposed to be picked up on the evening of December 29th, but that wasn't possible. The train connections to Bratislava end in such a way that there would have been no connection back home. So, it was arranged that I would be picked up on the afternoon of December 30th.

A rude awakening awaited me that morning at my breeder's and my owner's: hurricane-force gusts of wind and snow. The radio reported that even the main roads couldn't be properly cleared because of the massive snowdrifts, that a border crossing and many secondary roads were closed, that some train services were canceled, and that all the branch lines were completely shut down. For my breeder, getting me to Bratislava's main train station was impossible, and for my owner, it was uncertain whether the train would even be running. We kept calling back and forth to see if the situation had improved, but it hadn't. So, we had to consider New Year's Eve, and I had to stay another night with my breeder. Not that I didn't like it there, or that I wasn't happy, but I just wanted to be back home, with all my friends... and my owner was frantically waiting for me because she missed me.

Luckily, the weather took pity on us on New Year's Eve, and the situation on the roads and with the train services improved. So, my breeder was able to hand me over to my owner at Bratislava's main train station in the early afternoon. Wow, what a joy! We had finally managed to be reunited by the end of the year.

Many thanks to Jana and my breeder, Iveta, for their efforts to bring me home, and to Iveta for making sure I had everything I needed while I was unexpectedly with her and her family for so long. She even sewed me two cool tracksuits while I was there...
See you soon, and hopefully with better news. And keep your fingers crossed that our car gets repaired soon and that there are no problems with the other party's insurance, because that's the very last thing we need after this year with so many setbacks and turmoil.

I wish you a Happy New Year with lots of luck, success, and above all, good health—and without sounding selfish, these wishes go especially to my owner and her whole family (two-legged and four-legged). The last two bad years should finally be a thing of the past, and things should start looking up again for her and all of us here!

December 20, 2005

My holiday wishes

(Click on the image to enlarge it)

December 18, 2005
For the last time this year, my human and I drove to visit my family and my breeder, where we immediately handed out the Christmas presents. Among other things, my human made a calendar of me - with lots of photos taken of me from July to November. Ivka and her family were absolutely thrilled with it. Ivka gave me a wonderful, soft dog blanket, which, as my human said, we'll use at the upcoming dog shows.

We also stopped briefly at our dear veterinarian's office to wish her and her family all the best and to thank them for the wonderful care we received last year. There was another surprise waiting for us there: the seamstress had finished another tracksuit for me, which is also very pretty. I'm sure there will be photos of me wearing it soon.

As always, it was a cozy and lovely visit with my family, and we're all already looking forward to continuing the tradition next year.

December 3, 2005
After a long time, I visited my Havanese friend Joesi again. Things really got lively! Just take a look in my photo album, Voodoo's Childhood. And check out my great outfit ......

November 27, 2005
Today, my human and I spent a wonderful day with my family and my breeder. Unfortunately, the weather was very bad (snow, freezing rain, and rain), so there are no photos. Too bad, but that's how it goes. ......

Today we also picked up my first winter coat from the seamstress. Unfortunately, I've grown since being measured, and it won't fit me for long. It feels a bit tight when I walk, but the next one is already in the works. I just have to get through it because we have snow and ice, and I simply need the right outfit. My human promised me that I won't have to do any "forced marches" in this coat because I already romp around so much at home with the whole crew that I certainly get enough exercise. And for wearing around the house during the day, I already have some lovely clothes, which I'll certainly be photographed in soon and then you can admire them in my gallery. :-)
See you soon - you'll certainly be reading more about me and from me soon.

October 25, 2005
Gizmo celebrated her 7^th birthday today. We had a big party after I got home from the office. There were some new toys for the girl, and of course I had to look at them and try them out right away. 😄

October 22, 2005
I visited my family again today, so Mom, my big brother Hopkirk, the rest of the gang, and of course my breeder and her family. Gizmo and my owner came with me, and it was, as always, a wonderful time there.

And then we went to the seamstress, where some coats were ordered for me, because it's already much colder and winter is just around the corner. I'm curious to see what kind of great clothes I'll be wearing soon.

October 15, 2005
Gizmo and I visited Batida and Einstein today. They are both Briards and were born here where I live. Since it was a beautiful sunny autumn day, we went for a walk in the woods that start right behind the Briards' house - I really enjoyed it!

September 10, 2005
Today we visited my family and breeder again - it was fun as always. The people found it particularly funny that I pounced on a watermelon that the breeder's son wanted to eat in peace while watching TV. 😂 It tasted good ...... I like all kinds of fruit and vegetables ...... they should have known!

August 23, 2005
A dark day in our house: the most wonderful Briard, the queen of the house, Yazoo, the most amazing Briard in the world, has died. So much sadness and pain..........

August 13, 2005
A visit to my breeder and her family - together with Gizmo and my owner - allows me to see my mom again after four weeks - what a joy! Of course, I also meet my big brother Hopkirk, my cousin Amanda, and other family members and friends. We play together a lot while the humans chat about all sorts of things. It's a shame that time always flies by so quickly ...... but we'll certainly go there again soon. ......

August 10, 2005
This morning we arrived home from Belgium. I'm happy to be back with my big family.

August 6, 2005
Together with Gizmo, Zabou, and my owner, I'm going to Belgium for a few days. It's a long journey, but we stop several times and take a break in foreign countries. Unfortunately, I don't see much of it because we travel at night most of the time, but at least I can get a good night's sleep to be ready for new adventures. It's lovely in Belgium: I've met some new dogs and made a new friend: Deedee, a 9-month-old Shih Tzu puppy. I have so much fun with her and we play until we drop.

July 30, 2005
Today I met my breeder and my cousin Amanda. That was really nice. ......

July 18, 2005
Starting today, I'm always coming to the office with my owner. To get to know lots of different places, I ride the commuter train and the subway. Of course, I also meet new people at the office, and I can play as much as I want - it's funny because everyone has to work while I'm having fun. Great, I love it!

July 16, 2005
That was a very exciting day: I left my family, started a new life in another country, and was introduced to my new companions.

June 25, 2005
Today my new owner visited our family, and she chose ME.

May 21, 2005
That's the day I was born - what a great day!!!