Hello from a semi-cheerful Hapoo:
You know, it is sometimes hard to be happy. On one hand Chris has a job interview, but I found out that I am not allowed to accompany her. She says she is seeing her sister- which one? She says her sister has four children, well that¡¦s something I would not fancy for sure. And also her sister has only a rather small apartment and is not too fond of dogs in her apartment. Chris has never cared about that, so why does she now? Probably because of the children and the various allergies they have. Mom will be taking care of me, and we will see another sister while Chris is away. Hopefully the one with the dog, so I can play with him.

Yesterday Theresa visited and it seems she feels strange too. She wants Chris to have a job, but then again she would miss both of us, for I like her very much, and she always pets and plays with me.
Why would Chris want a job far away? Isn¡¦t it stupid to go away from Mom and leave her alone in the house? What does Chris not like about our apartment? And what¡¦s more important: Would Shadow still find us if we moved somewhere else? And would he still visit? I know that they talk on the phone and chat on the internet, so he still knows that she is here. Maybe she can tell him on the internet what has happened and where she is going, and then all problems would be solved.
Today mom, Chris and I went to the city and shopped for an elegant sweater and another bag for Chris. It seems she has to dress up for this strange job interview. Why would someone want to interview her at all? Maybe it¡¦s like the assessment I had to go through before I was accepted to be trained for a guide dog. Things are not easy to understand, but I am doing my best!
Friends, if you have a thought for a lonely dog during this coming weekend, I would be so grateful and I would not feel so lonely all this time. Mom is fine, but Chris is better! I will write on Sunday or Monday when all is over and Chris is back, Yours, still semi-cheerful, Hapooļ

Hello and a happy Sunday to all of you:
You know what Chris did to me yesterday?
She kept me in the living room all day!!! Cruel, isn't it? In the basement, where Chris usually stores my food, I heard her brother-in-law workiing, but he did not ever open my door to pet me! And Chris herself? Well she was upstairs almost all the time, baking and cooking. She never even thinks of baking me a cake!
Talking about it: I remember one heavenly occasion:
One morning in summer when Shadow was with us, too, mom came in and put something on the living room table. Chris and Shadow were still sleeping. Mom left and I had enough time to follow my nose. It really smelled wonderful!
I found out that it was about half a strawberry cake, and a bit of some saussage! Since nobody was there to punish me, I took all the food down from the table to my mat and had a celebration! Well mom, you saw me, you should have put the stuff in the kitchen!
Yesterday, however, I did not find anything on the table that would have been for my enjoyment, just CDs and such things one dog can't eat.
To make up for my loneliness, this morning Chris came and brought me a toy I could chew on, and she spent quite some time playing with me. She always throws it away, and when I pick it up and take it back, she takes it and throws it again. That's fun.
So let me now go and chew on, Yours, Hapoo.

Hello all friends:
Here is something cruel I discovered today. I mean, I have discovered it long before, but today it really annoyed me.
Have you noticed that dogs are not allowed in supermarkets? I just wonder why, because Chris says all food is wrapped in plastic or even cardboard boxes. And honestly, Chris gets mad if I try to put my nose into anything.
This morning we first went to a lecture of her mom's, and then we went to that supermarket. I knew what I had to expect, so I immediately pulled towards the entrance door.
However, and this is just a pity, Chris was stronger and took me to the bicycle bar, which I was attached to. I tried hard to keep Chris outside, I jumped up on her several times and cried and cried, and when she disappeared in the supermarket I was very very noisy, but she did not take me.
It lasted an eternity until I saw her appear in the door and take me with her. It is really strange, dogs are allowed in restaurants, post offices, cars and even very narrow and dark elevators, but not in supermarkets with wide aisles. Somebody understand people's laws!
And also humans have another habit I don't get the sense oof. When many of them are sitting in rows and one or two speak, after these soloists have finished they start clapping their hands or tapping on the table. I always think Chris wants me to come, and I don't really like it when she does that. So what I do is I put my head under her arm and prevent her from being noisy. Isn't that nice? Grandpa Ajax outside hates loud bangs very much. Sometimes when there are thunderstorms outside, mm takes him to the basement.
Can somebody tell me why thet tap and clap, and why I am not allowed in supermarkets? I will go drink a little water now - Chris never lwets me share her drinks - Yours, Hapoo.

Hello all you loyal readers:
Have you ever thought watching a ball bounce on raquets is fun? And when you can't watch it, what's the fun of it?
My Chris has this weird thing going on, she gets up earlier on Saturdays and Sundays to walk me and then stayy in front of the TV to do this. And that's what they call tennis.
There are two people hitting a ball, one guy high on a chair shouting things into a microphone, kids nd adults surrounding the court, keeping an eye on lines or picking up the balls that are lost.
What's so interesting about watching a line for four hours? Okay, sitting on a high chair may be of the advantage of having a nice view, but the same thing for four hours? And those two main actors constantly run and hit, get angry or really happy and sweat and sweat - isn't that a little foolish? I once had a tennis ball to chew on, or Chris would throw it and I could run after it a few times, but this? nd why don't they just use their hands, feet or teeth?
And in the end one sits and cries, and the other is so glad he smiles his lips out of his face. If I did not love Chris, I would bite her leg to tell her I am there, too.
Chris even writes scores I think, and then transfers them to her PC. Why she does that I have no idea. Maybe you can help me understand this strange behaviour of hers. Once they were playing tennis at a place where they were even starting to play at night. That was before my time, but I heard Chris even got up then and watched. Holy Heaven, no no no, I wouldn't do that, maybe only for an additional bowl of food...

Hi friends:
Have you ever found that changing clothes is something terrible?
Well I think so. This is the first time at Chris' place that I am really losing hair and changing to winter clothes completely. It's not the way humans sometimes change clothes several times a day and wear different things at night and during the day - and Chris even has something I fail to understand the sense of, Shadow calls it robe de chambre, doesn't really sound English.....
but I mean I only twice change, from warm to light and from light to warm hair, and the colour stays the same beautiful black. However, it itches a lot and I scratch myself, enjoy turning around and around in the sand and love to be combed by Chris. She seems to understand this, for currently she brushes me almost every day.
Grandpa Ajax, who is usually called by his nickname Dicker - meaning big one - apparently changes his hair at the same time, for mom brushes him each day as well, usually they do this on one of our walks together.
Something else: I don't like the rain. When we come back Chris makes me wait outside and gets a towel to clean and dry me as much as she can. I voluntarily lift my front paws, but I don't particularly like it when she picks up my back paws. However, Chris is the master, and what can I do but obey? I trust and rely on her, she knows what's best for me.
Having come to the usual conclusion I wish all of you a happy and relaxing Sunday and hope you're all doing well, byebye, Hapoo:-)

Hello once more:
You know, friends, when I think of something, then I need to write. Fortunately, Chris has given me the opportunity not many dogs have, I believe, and I am of course proud of it. I just thought of travelling. Why are humans so fond of travelling?

I mean, it is much easier to stay at home than to go on a train, pack your bags, drag my food and water along and not know where to walk me. Note I am looking at it from what I think the human¡¦s point of view. Isn¡¦t it much easier for Chris to stay at home? But no, she has to travel, be it to her sister or elsewhere. If the journey is too far, she just takes me to the dog hostel, where I stay for some time. Not that I mind there are so many nice dogs and people there, but I do miss Chris.

And when we travel short distances and stay over night, she sometimes decides not to feed me at night, so II am not so nervous on the train, for whatever reason. Has she ever seen me nervous on trains? I am such a nice dog; I sleep either in the aisle or under her chair, from where I hardly move.

And then, when we are at our final destination, like this weekend at her sister¡¦s, I have to sleep in a cold corridor, and only occasionally Chris comes out and pets me. I am not even allowed in the living room, and she does not want me in her bedroom, either. I think travelling is just a lot of trouble by itself. If Shadow was here, he would have persuaded the sister to let me in the living room¡K (Don¡¦t believe that one!!) But he would have given Chris a hand and probably come on our walks and played with me! I so much miss his playing!

I should not complain, because this morning Chris and mom played with me, and that was a lot of fun. And then around noon Chris let me stay outside with sister¡¦s dog, a male, who argued about bones with me. But we are friends, we don¡¦t bite each other. Only sometimes, when he gets too close, I bite him just a little, to keep him at a certain distance. I am certainly happy when we are back at home, where I have my own mat by the heater and Chris around me all day. Just a dog¡¦s thoughts, one Chris won¡¦t care about, Yours, in hope for a little understanding, Hapooƒº

Hi all:
Sometimes Chris really annoys me, I have to admit. Just when I am in dogs¡¦ paradise, running and smelling, she calls me back and God forbid I am not returning immediately!

This morning we had a fight. First of all I announced that I would love to go play with Ajax much more than walking out of the door beside Chris in a civilized manner. For that I was shouted at, for I did not understand why I should stop complaining. And this afternoon, when Chris and little Theresa went walking with me, Chris seriously talked to me, because I did not want to come back even upon third call. It was then that I once again learnt that I do have to obey. I should just bite her hand next time she makes me lie down, I really should.

But again, this morning Chris played with me, she threw a bone and we played with it while she was watching tennis. She had motivated me so much that I kept on chewing it for the next few hours. And before we went for the evening walk she petted and played with me. And I am sure, tonight she won¡¦t forget about my food. And finally, she brushes me every morning, now that I am losing hair, which itches when it is not removed. She is a nice one after all.

I heard her speaking English in the afternoon, so I gather Shadow has called. She is always so happy when they talk! Despite occasional major differences I wish only the best for her, and may my fortune eyes always protect her, with love and affection, Hapooļ

Hi friends:
I think it is tiME I introduce you to some of the stories my master has told other people about herself. I believe in 25 years a human can experience quite a lot, right? I gather she has told the story to Shadow, who loves it a lot. This is the reason I have decided to steal it from her and publish it

All right then here we go:
One summer day both Chris and her one year older sister Suse were playing on the balcony, where their father ¡V a person I have never met ¡V was trying to repair the overflow system. He had to poar water down the thing, run downstairs, all around the house and to a place near our car parking spot to see if the pipe was sealed well.

He discovered the children and thought he could make his life easier by telling them to poar the water down instead, so he saved all the running. He gave Suse a bucket and told her:
¡§When I tell you, you poar the water down there, okay?¡¨
Suse nodded yes, and dad made his way downstairs. When he arrived he told Suse to poar the water.

Suse looked at Chris and asked quietly:
¡§Down there? Down this hole or over the balcony fence?¡¨
Chris was not sure either.

Fortunately mom came to their rescue and told them to poar the water down the hole. Had they done otherwise, they would have created artificial rain for poor father, and then they would have had to run and hide from his anger.

I guess when he reads this, Shadow is not going to love the story. Sure not, for I am just retelling what his love has told him. And who am I to compare myself with Chris, eh? At least in his eyes that¡¦s something out of reach. As I told you, I don¡¦t understand the way people find out who they like and who not. We dogs at least fight it out and bite until we found our master, but honestly, I have never seen any humans fight. Well, different cultures different habits, as they say.
So then have a wonderful day and enjoy sun or cold wherever you are. And a special hello to Shadow, who is so so far away, otherwise Chris would have travelled and seen him, I am 100% sure. Byebye and happy barking, Yours, Hapooļ
P.s.: Chris did take food for me and also provided for water!!!

Hello people:
Have I told you that laptops are a fascinating thing to work with? Chris, mom and I are on a train travelling to see Chris¡¦ Sister near Berlin, and I am able to write a bit for my weblog as we are on the way. Of course, I need to thank her for her efforts of taking the precious thing, for I don¡¦t carry anything but my harness and myself.

How I have been these past days? Fine generally, just a little bored, for Khodadad is missing to go to the city with us. Chris does not go on her own so often, although I would be there to accompany her. She watches tennis whenever she can, that seems to be of her interest. Honestly, I don¡¦t know why that should be so interesting, just bouncing a ball left right left, people clapping their hands and others shouting English words I don¡¦t understand at all. She seems to like sports, and films, but only when Khodadad is there to recommend her good ones.

Do you know what Chris really does not like? When I run too far away from her. Only when I play with grandfather Ajax, she allows me to run and jump as much as I want. But I have to admit, I would not like to go away from her for long, because she is the world I am living for, as the understanding Shadow puts it. Well, writing on trains is a challenge, for these things never hold still, they move and bend. So therefore I will go to sleep again, wondering if Chris has taken any food for me, Yours, a little worried, Hapooļ

Hi you patiently reading friends:
How are you today? I really have to tell you two interesting things today. First about mom, who seems to be able to read Chris like a book.
You know, after she had walked Chris home she insisted Chris have some tea upstairs, did not even bother offering her coffee. Chris and Shadow have always had tea from this constantly boiling samovar. And also mom took care of the roses Chris had taken home. She had even put them into the bottle of my water on the train, so they would not die. Why need the roses my water??? Mom put them in water, and the next morning Chris found them in front of mom¡¦s TV. Later at night sister Suse was sorry Chris removed them and took them downstairs. But they are hers, Shadow gave them to her. And honestly, I am really proud everybody likes them, and Chris should be proud when she tells them who gave them to her.

And here is something that makes me wonder:
Why does Chris seem to prefer certain people when there are so many more caring about her? I have never seen her cry when she left mom or me behind, this only happens with Shadow. Somebody understand humans and solve this mystery for me!

And here is something totally different:
This morning sister Suse arrived, and before I knew it I found myself outside with her. Suse is strange. She is very dominant and does not even let me run back to Chris. But sometimes she takes time and pets me so nicely. Still I bark at her when she comes in, I don¡¦t like her too much. I heard Chris wants me to spend some time with Suse while she takes Suses dog Ara. Why on earth this now? Does she think I need holidays from her? I have not yet found out what their real plan is, but humans do nothing without reason, this much I know. Humans are strange, of this be sure. And I guess you don¡¦t understand them either. You know that dogs are smarter than humans, don¡¦t you? Which human can locate another of their kind 15 meters deep in snow? And which human has such an excellent nose? And which human would do just about everything for another and like him so unconditionally like we dogs do? After all, they feed us and give us our task to live for!
I for one will go to sleep now after all this deep thinking. I will only fall half asleep, awaiting my meal, of course, Yours, exhausted from all this brain working, Hapooļ

Hello dear friends:
Aren't friends supposed to help when someone is lonely? Do you think somebody can help my master? I myself don't understand why Shadow is no longer with us!
This morning Chris woke me up incredibly early, and we went by train. I immediately slept on the train, we stayed there for about three hours. Then we spent some time walking, and the two had chocolate croissants. And then they spent half an hour hugging in the middle of the train station, talking and kissing. Then they went into a flower shop and came out with flowers, roses I gather.
And then we went into the train, but Shadow, this lovely Khodadad, did not want to follow. I even wanted to go back and get him, but Chris told me to go ahead. Poor girl, she had so many tears in her eyes!
I thouught Khodadad was back at home, so I looked by his computer chair to see if he was there, but no Shadow whatsoever. And my poor Chris is so so sad!
I cheered her up a little when I touched the hand that held the leash when she called, I usually aim for the other one. Poor Shadow, poor Chris! And I really miss him too! Two nights ago I really obeyed to him when he fed me. He sent me back to my mat and made me sit, and I really did and even waited for him to allow me to go eat. I really miss him, and just looking at Chris makes me sad! I will see what I can do to cheer her up, maybe grandpa Ajax and I will play on our evening walk, play like mad!
So see you everybody and think of my poor little two humans, Yours, hoping for happier times, Hapoo:-)))

Hello fans:
Here is something I want to share with you, something that is a quite nice mystery...
I have told you the strange situation between Chris, Shadow and this new person, haven't I? They did walk together, Chris in front with me, Shadow and the friend after us. However, the friend was left behind in the living room when it was time to sleep. Apparently the bedroom holds a secret nobody is supposed to find out, nobody but Chris and Shadow. Maybe there is something delicious to eat? Today we went to the city again, and after we had spent some time in a café, we went on a train, just to get off without the friend. Why can you just leave people behind on trains? Isn't that a little cruel? Chris and Shadow were still cheerful and strolled through the city to shop for Shadow. Chris has been very sad for a while, I think she does not want him to leave. Poor kids, I wish they could stay together forever....
Anyway, the city was very busy today, so I will lie down and relax for the rest of the night. Have a wonderful weekend all, Yours, Hapoo:-)