Ever since I found out I’d be going to Málaga (I leave tomorrow morning and come back on Friday) I’ve been a nervous wreck about Azar’s health. For much the past couple of months he’s been up and down, and the past week he’s needed daily doses of a mild oral laxative as well as an enema every 2-3 days. I had decided that it was time to take him in for a check-up and blood test after talking to my vet Yolanda on the phone several times, but then this trip was looming and I doubted Nog’s ability to give Azar an enema. In the end we agreed it would be best if Nog takes Azar in to see Yolanda next Wednesday (half-way through my trip) and get everything done at once, which would not only save on taxi fare but also on STRESS. This seemed like a sensible plan until I was woken up by the sound of Azar throwing up in the wee hours and so I lay there for ages cuddling him and wondering what to do and I thought … why not bring him with me?

Well, there are lots of reasons why not, the main one being that I’m hardly going to avoid extra stress for him by taking him on a 2 1/2 hour train journey. Also, what if he screams the whole way? Will they throw us off? On the other hand, I know that once we got there he would be comforted knowing I was there and especially that he could sleep with me. And of course if anything went wrong I am much better in an emergency situation than Nog would be. And so, yesterday I bought this little cat carrier just in case, thinking if I didn’t use it I could take it back. Wrong! Apparently the Corte Inglés has a policy that animal carriers can only be returned between Monday to Friday of the week you buy them. When I asked why I was told it was to discourage people from buying carriers “for the weekend” and then returning them after use. Whatever. I bought it anyhow because the one I’ve had for years is enormous, which is great for stuffing two cats into when your house is on fire, but not for having on one’s lap on a train. And if Azar stays home it’ll be much easier to transport him to Yolanda’s in this smaller carrier.

Thing is, I have to go on this trip because it’s an important time of year at the winery – the harvest! – and I have been asked to take photos and videos, as well as catch up on other work stuff with Victoria. Also, I have organised a very interesting vineyard tour for Thursday with photographers and travel writers, which I am really looking forward to. But if anything happened to Azar while I was away…

So, this is my dilemma. Do I leave Azar in Nog and Yolanda’s care for five days (four nights) or bring him with me? Or should I cut my trip in half, go Tuesday and come back on Thursday night? Aaargh!