The Cat is Out of the Bag.

It is 3am and I am jetlagged -the house is as still and quiet as a mouse and here I am - wide awake and rearing to go.

It still hasn't sunk in that we are actually at home - real home, that is.  Passport control, security and flights all went off without a hitch, except for Air Canada who, once again!, just before being able to board, said that someone had reallocated one of our seats and that we were now in 21 J and 51 J respectively. Patrick soon sorted them out and thank goodness we sat together. Of course, it was everyone else who had done the dirty deed - not them, despite the fact that Qatar Airways in Doha and Lufthansa said that AC would not allow them to enter their computer system to confirm our seats at the beginning of the trip.  It always happens with Air Canada - when will we just learn to avoid them?


I thought security through Doha airport was quite lax - I am relieved to say - they allowed Kitten Isha and its box to go through with me and then didn't check the cat box at all - I had put a box of cat litter and some food cans inside but they didn't seem to notice. Germany was a bit more careful - made me "take the cat out of the bag" and then searched the bag - they only found a used cat litter box so I got it back quite quickly.


We travelled on the 777 from Frankfurt to Toronto and must say they are really comfortable - even in the cattle truck in the back - we had enough space to actually take a brace position. Seats were comfortable and we were able to sleep quite well. Seems to be a very quiet aircraft as well.


The cat made it through Canadian customs with no hassles - the sympathy and cute factor kicked into play - the officers were more interested in cooing over a 6 week old kitten than anything else. And yes, cats under 3 months can come in without rabies clearance or other vaccinations - we breathed with relief as we trundled our baggage out into the very cold air.  I think I have become quite thin blooded as I am freezing - even inside the house so that we have had to bump the furnace up a few notches.

And finally - "the cat truly is out of the bag" - Patrick phoned the company in Doha and gave them his formal resignation.  We are free - or as free as we can define right now.