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Indie Newfi, an eight-year-old Newfoundland living in St. Helier and self-dubbed 'Queen of the Road', will soon be embarking on the adventure of a lifetime with her "humans", Alan Luce and Sharon Fitzpatrick, as the trio are set to leave Jersey on 10 May to head south.
To give a different perspective from our conventional human columnists, Indie, who is not a lap dog but "seven stone of furry love", will be writing travel blogs.
In her first article, she discusses how she decided to head off, and drag her humans with her...
"It’s been a bit tough to convince my 'stuck in their ways' human mum and dad that we need to be a bit more adventurous as our lives in Jersey are getting a bit same old, same old. As lovely as Jersey is, it’s changing and not in a way the old moaner likes. I understand he’s had a bit of a tough time recently. You may have seen me in the news with him on Express.
Pictured: Eight-year-old Newfoundland Indie got tired of life on the rock and convinced her humans to go sniffing around.
"He tells me everything you know and I understand why an adventure is essential. The old adage is there’s a boat in the morning; we’re now going to take it!
"Anyway, he bought a camper van last year (a mobile kennel), and the idea was to spend a few nights watching sunsets down at La Port. We had a bit of a heart-to -heart and I said I wished to head further away... a lot further away.
"Dad Alan Luce and new mum Sharon Fitzpatrick, both touching 60ish and me now 56 (eight in dog years), finally listened to my wise woofs, they agreed and we're now off. Some say he’s barking mad, some say she’s brave, but we want to be together and have some proper life experiences. Three tellurians - big word for a Newfi - travelling together, thank goodness I’m the calm, sensible, drooling one.
Pictured: "No more stress will be allowed van-side," Indie warns.
"The plan, as they keep saying, is no plan; if they make a plan, they will change their minds, so the whole adventure is fluid. The possibilities are endless, time is not a consideration. The deal is they must not bicker or fall out over the trip - toss a coin in the event of a split choice. As long as I get a swim, occasional sausages and a bit of fun, I’m cool with wherever we end up. The odd hotel is on the agenda I’m told. Mum likes her home comforts, so why not.
"Humans all need to be more chilled and Newfi like, no more stress will be allowed van-side. They need to learn to not worry and give up plodding the treadmill; taking that deep breath and start to have a bit of an adventure. I can understand that the last few months in the decision process has been tough. The dismantling of our Jersey lives, selling treasured possessions and kinda giving it all up to head to the south is not what normal humans do - after all he’s sold my home too. Mum has given up work, let her flat and sold everything apart from her make-up and a bikini. Dad has binned his computer and phone.
"Dad said that we are not sure when we will be back although it’s hard leaving family behind. Mum and I don’t care as long as the weathers great and we can both swim in the sea. A real surprise is that he has loads of Jersey expat mates all over Europe and we’re going to visit them. France, Portugal, Spain, Corsica, Sardinia and Italy are on the route and will certainly need sniffing out. Hey did I say, they love dogs on the continent and the scoffs good too?
Pictured: Corsica will be one of many places Indie will visit with her humans, dad Alan Luce and new mum Sharon Fitzpatrick.
"With a unplanned, unscheduled six month stop somewhere, who the heck knows where, they certainly don’t, friends, family can come and visit.
"I know nobody is really going to believe I’m writing this, but I am known around St. Helier and numerous beaches, anybody who’s met me will know I’m not daft and whilst it took an age to convince my humans to wake up and live a life, we're not getting any younger, so now we’re doing it.
"I know more than I’m letting on as you will find out. The next story will be after we’ve set off and settled at a few places. Can’t wait to tell all."
Pictured: Indie with dad Alan Luce.
"Bleeding heck, this giving up on Jersey and a new start 'somewhere, who knows where' is scary. The selling off of all your cherished processions, the deconstruction of your set life, the selling of the house, the cars, the over-decades gatherings of all the bits that you felt valuable in the materialistic world were so important, but now in the overall life map not feeling quite so, is definitely daunting.
"All it takes is a few close friends to suffer a desperate illness to give you a real perspective and to reflect on 'what the hell is this all about' and get off the treadmill. The prospect of a new 'throw it in the air' start is the compelling driver, not looking back the much needed discipline. Initially, it was me, that’s Alan and the Bear that were heading to the hills, but this new fun girl Sharon said she needed a change of pace and left her job, jacked in her flat to join the Indie-bears-fun-bus (and maybe me). Now she’s the brave one!"
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