Samoyed dogs - I just got crazy about them!

They are soo cute. And not only cute but their character is great too. I mean that they can have a strong character ;)

mummy, mummy I wanna dog!

So, there is again "dog" subject.
Well, probably because I am a dog crazy ;) When I've still worked at my previous company I wrote a project for TV show about travelling with dogs. People in America seems to be all crazy about everything dog or pet related. But here, in UK things are slightly bit different. Not to mention my original home country. But I guess, each country has its own rights and demands. Travelling with dog - "Dog travels" - meant to be about me and my companion going across different parts of the world proving that it is doable. To prove all those who buy dogs and then leave them behind; some end up with friends or family, but some of them at shelters, which I think is absolutely unnecessary! Those people who gets dogs should not treat them as a toys but like a companions. Because from that point they will become permanent part of they lives. or good and bad.
So - in meantime I've lost that job and recently I found new one. And the dog subject doesn't want to get out of my head.

I owe it to one, very special dog, which was part of my life for some time.

Dred - Cao de serra de Aires (portuguese sheep dog)

Today I came up with an idea to ask google what, if any, are the options of possibility of taking your dog to work. For very long I was convinced that is completely impossible! It looks that I was wrong!! Amazing. I think that people sometimes don't try to find solutions and just take things for what they are.  Myself is the prime example. 8 years ago I left my dog. This terribly sad experience tear my heart apart and is the only thing I truly regret doing. But I was giving it in good hands and he had good life. (more story about this some other time)

Here are some links to the website I came across - I hope that they will inspire you and will help you to keep that amazing friendship with your dog all day long as you would like, at home and work. When I had Dred, my dog - I was travelling with him, even abroad, and I was taking him with me to my University for most of the time. Everyone loved him to bits!

This first link provides list of 10 top companies who let their employees bring them along, and I was completely surprised at what I read! Amazon, Google, Ben & Jerrys are all there!


1- http://www.mnn.com/family/pets/photos/10-companies-that-let-you-bring-your-dog-to-work/working-like-a-dog

2 - https://www.bluecross.org.uk/1752-99702/-how-to-convince-your-boss-to-let-you-bring-your-dog-to-work.html

3 - http://www.cesarsway.com/tips/yournewdog/How-to-bring-a-dog-into-an-office-pack

4 - http://thebark.com/content/dogs-work?page=2

5 - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/3357035/Its-a-dogs-life-at-work.html

Happiness found :)

So as I start lookingoking around I found a "happiness" :) on the sliding door of a shop i was passing by! Not exactly as I expected :-D

Train thoughts

So, a while ago i set up Myself in a quest of searching for happiness. Today im sitting on the underground train on my way to work. My third day at new job. It takes me about 90 minutes to get there and another 90 to get home, plus 9 hours of work including lunch. That makes up 12 hours straight. I need about 8 hours sleep, thats already 20. 1 hour takes me to get ready for work, so there is 3 hours of the day left for all other remaining things such as evening bath, preparing and eating food, shopping, doing all things I like or I would like doing. Thats in theory, but after getting up at 6.30am and coming home about 7.30pm, resting, having some food, showering, checking social media, sometimes shopping its already time for bed. So where is the time for myself? 
I really dislike this model of life.
About the job: its ok. Nice people, nice atmosphere, can be busy and demanding, sometimes stresful, but workmates make things easier, in contradiction from my previous work.
Do i like it? ... Yes and no. I know the subject. I spent my last 6 years working in the same industry, loving and hating it. But, I studied art, and now i work as a logistick. And naturally I greately miss freedom.
I dont want to spend most of my life at work or travelling to and from it. If it at least was job of my life. Or if it was paid well. But its not.
Its ok.
I'm giving myself 3months max to make up my mind.

So today I look around to find anything that would make me feel more happy.

Passion for horses...

... was within me even when I studied art. Horse in art, and especially in modern paintings, seemed to me a bit of a kitsch, so I never did it myself, until I found my own way of expressing my fascination. I made huge clay horse for my diploma. It was the biggest ceramic sculpture ever made to that day in this Art University. It was a war horse made in almost 1:1 scale.

Love of my life

I fell in love at the age of 10. With horses ;) And precisely with an old white mare name Baska. She was my first, and only platonic love. I never got to ride on her, as she was working horse. But that's how it all started.

taken today at the stable

I carried my love to horses deep inside my heart until I was able to make my own decision and without supervision of my mum - who was crazy scared of this huge animals - to find places where I could learn horse riding. Mostly they were places where I could get some lessons for work in the stables, as my parents being against it, would never gave me a penny for that. First time it was when I was about 18, during summer holidays in the mountains. Local ranger had few horses and there I learned how to trot. Yes - it was exactly "pain in the ass" :D But I mastered it well! Then, when I was even further away from home, studying a cross country in another town I start riding in horse racing stable for a couple of years. It was lots of fun. But horses were primarily for racing not for leisure and novice rider. However I did enjoyed it greatly. I even thought of becoming a jockey myself as I am small and lightweight. But I had other dreams too. And somehow I still prefer dressage to racing.

taken today at the stable

Recently I found nice local stable where I volunteer and ride. I love being around this animals. They are big, strong, beautiful, smart, reliable and just great :)
For long time I felt a little bit sad that I started riding so late, around my twenties, where almost all the people I met, started when they were little. Some even had their own horses. I was always envy of them. Yesterday I met "young" looking woman who told me that she first rode a horse when she was 40. On her birthday and she rode ever since. She bought herself a horse and been riding it for last 8 years! so it looks that it is never too late to follow your dreams and passions.
Since meeting Monty Roberts I can't stop thinking about horses and my primal passion. I'm glad I have this stable just round a corner from my house :)

Neuschwanstein Castle - another dream place/wish to come true :)

I know I made a bucket list for things I wanted to do in my life. But it wasn't the whole list. There's much  more to it! Lots of smaller or bigger things that will make me happy. And last weekend - I've seen the most beautiful castle in the world! Well - at least the most beautiful I've ever seen so far... :) Schloss Neuschwanstein is truly fairytale castle, inside and out. It not only looks outstanding on the postcards, but in reality too! No wonder that Disney took it as his logo picture. King Ludwig II (who build this castle for himself ) was claimed madman by his medic and he lost influence over the country, because he was more interested in art, poetry and Wagner's music. He eventually drowned in nearby lake with his medic in mysterious circumstances. He only lived in his castle about 1/3 of a year. Castle has never been finished and one whole floor is completely untouched. The rest - has amazing, beautiful paintings on every possible walls and marvellous carvings. It is such a shame that visitors have only 30 minutes to enjoy the inside...
Neuschwanstein means literally the New Swan Castle in reference to one of Wagner characters the Swan Knight. Swans are also visible in many paintings and became a sort of logo of the castle.

http://www.neuschwanstein.de/englisch/tourist/index.htm

Look of the castle (and me) from the hanging bridge

part of the wall painting from concert room

view from the castle towards Alps and hanging bridge

view from the castle towards the lake

mountains

Yes - that made me happy :)