04/09/2026
So much to say so little time. We got to the airport in Sweden yesterday afternoon just to be told that Arwen was not booked on the flight. I would not accept that. I had three separate calls to Brussels Airlines ahead of time to make sure and also to Air Canada to double check she was booked on both flights. They all refuse to give written confirmation though. No was not an option in my mind. So this lady, who was maybe born yesterday... finally does the booking but it is so wrong that I'll find out about later. She comes out with arrows for the cage for this side up... there were already countless arrows but she said she needed her ones, 4 of them and proceeded to put all 4 in one row on one side. Unbelievable. I don't have time to tell you the other stupid things that happened while trying to book her in. They made us come 3 hours early, so I checked my bag in then, but said to bring Arwen at 40 minutes before the flight... but because they were so slow to get her in then, I had to run to get my flight but got held up in security. My bag was pulled to the side and no one was looking at it. Finally I flagged someone down and they called a lady over. Wouldn't you know it, the 4 arrows lady. She put my bag through the xray at least 10x, pulling all the connected contents out more each time. Finally I ran out of there straight into the duty free and was lost. I found a security man and begged for his help to get to the gate and call to tell them I'm coming, so he did. They closed the doors behind me. I had no time for water or anything so arrived in Brussels with no water. I went to get my luggage, it was not there, I went to get my puppy, she was not there. Back and forth to the lost and founds... the 4 arrow lady checked my bag through up Halifax even though I was overnight in Brussels. Then I get a call from a private number and they said what are we to do with this puppy overnight?? GIVE HER TO ME!!!! So after finally getting Arwen they inform me my bag, all the puppy supplies, my special pillows for my neck, my clothes, hairbrush, toothbrush etc, AND the pliers that Claes Björkman gave me to cut Arwen out of the cage ... were all in Sweden!!!
So, I made it outside and finally found someone who had luggage that had scissors who helped me cut the cable ties.
We made it after several hours in the airport to the hotel only 5 minutes away. Arwen has been perfect. I washed all her bedding and the soft toy from the crate and hung them to dry. There were no blankets nor washcloths in the hotel. If I put the heat on, Arwen was too hot. I slept my 2 hours in my clothes.
I go back to the airport at 630 in the morning. ARWEN rides on the bus, does everything perfect. The AC lady was nice but the next lady wanted to take a picture of the crate closed and Arwen couldn't walk to where to go but they wanted to put her on a sloped cart. No. I agreed to put the wheels back on and roll her over. With the wheels on it was not stable to load. This other AC lady comes over and grabs her harness. The nice lady said she's a dog trainer. She grabbed Arwen and threw her hard into the crate smashing her back on the doorway. I screamed GET THE F**K AWAY FROM MY DOG! as I tackled the older lady. I was so mad and Arwen was so scared. Everyone backed off.
I eventually got her in... and rolled her to where she had to go and they wanted to put her on the sloped cart where she would fall. I would not let them. Finally they brought the right cart but the man disappeared so I had to wait a long time. I had no idea what was waiting for me ahead.
They took her and I ran to security. There were thousands and thousands of people. I was in the line. I looked at my ticket. Boarding in 6 minutes. I don't have time to tell you all the illegal things I did to get on the plane, but I will later. I realized for sure why I missed my connecting flight on the way to Sweden. I learned very much from that. I made my plane as they closed the gate. There was no way I was not going to be on that plane. Apparently my luggage IS on the plane now but who really knows. As long as Arwen and I both are I don't even care.
I had no toys or water bowl or anything in the hotel... but there was an apple... and she enjoyed playing with it and eating it.
I'm hungry, thirsty, sweating from head to toe, AGAIN... and have had about 8 hours sleep since I left Halifax on September 1 at 730 pm... traveled to Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, Brussels and will be to Halifax by noon on the 4th - 12,500 km... have lots more stories to share but we are going down the runway.
All that matters is that we are coming home 🏡 together ❤️
