on the road with Animalcouriers

Rips, a very glamorous black-and-white puss, became a transport veteran in a single 24-hour period, travelling by car, plane, bus, van and train.

Her journey started in Bergen in Norway; from there she flew to Amsterdam with her owner. Animalcouriers drove to Amsterdam to meet Rips from the plane, while her owner flew on to Aberdeen.

By 9am yesterday Rips and courier S were on their way to Calais to catch the Eurotunnel but, about 25 miles from the terminal, the motorway traffic ground to a halt. Eurotunnel was closed, owing to trespassers setting fire to tyres on the track. Not only that, the ferries were also on strike. It was a jolly hot day to be stranded, but many of the lorry drivers who were also stuck on the motorway kindly shared their cold water and soft drinks with the rest of us.

When the French police allowed cars and vans to move off the motorway, we headed off and found a hotel for the night, close to the tunnel. We also detoured to the Landrons kennels and cattery to collect slinky black cat Ben, saving courier J a separate trip. Ben travelled with Animalcouriers from Spain a couple of weeks ago, but his passport has only just become valid for entry into the UK.

We managed to book on a 7.00am train this morning which left on time. So by 7.30am we were in the UK and heading to the Animalcouriers base in Surrey.

Lorries and cars stopped on the motorway to Calais

Lorry drivers sharing their cold drinks with everyone

Aircon on and the windscreen shaded by a towel — kept our van lovely and cool!

Rips (named for a Norwegian berry) is one cool character, taking everything in her stride, giving just the occasional dark brown stare that cats have perfected over the generations

Handsome, golden-eyed Ben, who’ll soon be reunited with Margaret in Burnley