A Birthday Outing: Trains, Paws and Tantrums
- Amy
- Jun 14, 2024
- 3 min read
This month I turned 34. And I seem to have turned into my mother overnight because all I seem to keep saying is "where has the time gone?". Celebrating my birthday was a bit different this year, partly because my husband had a client meeting and so wouldn't be around for it, and partly because I didn't have a car. It's been in Halfords for coming up to two weeks now (I know, the less said about that the better). Growing up in the Simpson household, birthdays were sacrasanct. My mother would go all out and by that I mean we'd wake up to balloons and banners in the kitchen, a hand decorated cake, gifts wrapped in whatever themed paper we were obsessing over at the time - for me it was usually unicorns. Quelle surprise. So I knew I wanted to do something but just didn't know what the something was. And without a car it meant doing anything would be difficult.
Enter the British public transport. Say what you want about it, when it works, it works pretty good. Now, taking two dogs of varying sizes with me was going to prove impossible. So Wilson stayed with my husband (who would be returning that evening) and Poppy and I graced LNER to go visit my parents. I have never taken her on a train before. She usually just comes with me in my car and sits in her seat and is good as gold. I've had some pretty traumatic experiences with her in public, however, over the past few years when I've had to carry her because she's so tiny and people have almost stood on her. Usually in the form of unsolicited comments from the general public about why I shouldn't be carrying my dog (more on that later). To say I was worried was an understatement. I also read up on LNER policies and whilst they are very dog-friendly (yay for them) they won't allow dogs on the seats. Now, Poppy is incredibly needy. She won't sit or lie on the floor if I'm there because she'll want to be up on my lap, having cuddles and generally giving everyone else the side eye. That's tiny dogs for you.
Wanting to a) avoid getting evicted from a train for not following the policy and b) avoid glares and general snarky remarks from the public about why I shouldn't have a dog on my lap or a seat on public transport I went for the safe option. Cue Pets at Home pet carrier.
It's lightweight, it's sturdy, and packed with a blanket, felt like it would be a good option to use with Poppy. She hated it.
Okay, hate is a strong word, but she really, really, really didn't like it. She was fine when I was walking around with her in it. But once we were sat still, she was pawing at the sides to be let out. Fun fact about Poppy, she doesn't bark. Unless it's to tell another dog off, which is fair.
The train was packed. Luckily, I had a table section all to myself, so I popped Poppy on the chair, in the pet carrier (the policy didn't say anything about not putting dog carriers on chairs) and she happily popped her head out like a tiny meerkat and enjoyed giving everyone a hard stare down.
She really is a tiny diva.
I took my mum and dad out that evening to The George in Maulden - a superb dog-friendly pub/restaurant in a gorgeous village. The food was divine, I had the chicken salad which I shared with Poppy surrepticiously under the table. Don't look at me like that, you'd do the same!
As always she was so well-behaved.
She barely makes a sound and I am so blessed to have a best friend who is just so wonderful.
That was until it was time to get back on the train and go back in her carrier. This time around the train was empty, so I let her sit on my lap. She promptly fell asleep. Which, after three French Martinis, I was almost doing.
Overall, a very successful trip. If you've got a tiny dog that's as stubborn as mine, or is prone to being stood on, then I really do recommend the pet carrier. It made transporting her, my overnight luggage and my handbag a lot more easier than if she'd been on a lead. I've linked the products below.
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