The news about dog imports is a bit better today, but still a worry.

I got through to the Indonesian Consulate and they have no knowledge of any ban into Bali. But neither can they say positively that I can import Minnie. It seems to be a mystery why Jet Pets has this knowledge.

OK, I said, I’ll ring Garuda.

Garuda were very helpful. Catherine said she had gone through this with her dog from HK to Mauritius and understood my distress. She said Garuda carries people, and that is their prime focus, but she knew of no reason why they wouldn’t carry a dog.

Full credit to her, but she just Googled dog transport firms and said, “Try these”, so I was back on my own again.

The local Perth firm I tried was very sympathetic and very helpful. They had heard there was a problem, but didn’t know for sure. They are checking and will get back to me. But the suggestion was, I may have to go via Surabaya in Java and then go by road and ferry to Bali. Payment of moneys may be required.

OK, I understand that, but I dread the thought. Surabaya’s a BIG city and is 370Km from Sanur, Bali. Minnie’s going to be traumatised enough, let alone a long road trip. Not to mention me! She can’t jump up into buses or vans and I have trouble too.

Tomorrow (Thursday) I’m in hospital to have my gastric band removed, so it all has to wait. I’ll know more on Friday.

Phew! This is hard going. That little bit of rain we had this afternoon on our 39C day wet some of the cardboard cartons of belongings I had out the back! Dammit. Not too badly, but who would have thought we’d get rain? Ha! I should have…