Some people believe that we are spiritual beings having a human being experience. I think that Dindi the Flying Guide Dog is having a human experience! It occurred to me that she just loves to be so involved in my world, keeping an eye on everything I do and putting herself willingly into the action at all times.
At home, she likes to do ‘doggy-yoga’, wrestle with her football, sit on the couch (oops) and watch TV with us – she is always close by my side when I am cooking. She is curious about everything human.
In public, Dindi is a top professional guide dog and one could say, she is gaining skills in being a super-human companion!
Out of the Blue
Shortly after the ABC RN radio program ‘Life Matters’ I received a phone call from a TV producer. She was so inspired to hear the cooking ‘blind’ segment that she thought it would make a great visual for TV. Jill posed the question, ‘Would you consider flying to Sydney to be on Studio 10 breakfast show?’
Here is the funny part: I thought for a moment and hesitated. For some reason, I thought it was a small unknown program and I played hard to get.
‘Hmm. I could consider it if I could make travelling all that way worth while.’
‘Have you heard of Studio 10?’
Jill must have realised it was an unfamiliar station to me. She then mentioned the presenters…and on hearing their names, I suddenly realised, ‘Oh crap, this is real TV!
I smoothed over my ignorance and welcomed her offer. Plans swiftly moved up a notch and before long, I had chosen the dish I would show off on TV, Harry and I booked our plane tickets and special arrangements were made to include Dindi on my flight ticket.
At 4am, I had to coax Dindi off her cosy doggy bed as we had a very early flight. . She looked up at me, still curled up in a warm ball of fur. ‘Don’t tell me you want me to get up now?’
‘Yes, darling girl. Time to go.’
Our charming taxi driver had arrived and the three of us piled into his car. It wasn’t flying I was dreading – for once we were travelling light. But I wondered how Dindi would handle a hectic airport for the first time. Was I expecting too much from this new guide dog team as we had only been working together for 2 months.
We trotted into Tullamarine airport, Harry leading the way. In the vast open space I found it more bewildering than being inside a shopping centre. Staying close to his side so we could avoid collateral damage, Dindi and I wove in and around people and obstacles and calmly stepped on and off travelators. Before I knew it we had our boarding tickets and were standing at the security check point.
Instead of being asked to walk through the beeping machine, Dindi and I were asked to move to one side and walk through a clear space together. I was relieved we would not be separated but then, once on the other side, a female security officer said it was customary practice to search both guide dog and its handler. Really?
As she lightly frisked my body from top to toe, it actually felt like a gentle massage! Hmm, I could get used to this. Then she checked around Dindi’s collar and with an “All Clear” we moved on.
Look Mum – I Can Fly!
People often wonder how a guide dog travels on a plane. Do they get a special seat? Do you get given an upgrade to business class where there is more leg room? Maybe on international flights. On this particular flight, Dindi the Flying Guide Dog was given the window seat! But don’t get too excited, it is not the luxury you may imagine.
I couldn’t believe the squished up space my guide dog had to tolerate. We three had a row but the space between our seats and those in front of us was only 9 inches. Like backing a horse out of a horse float, I had to coax Dindi to back into this narrow gap. Some doggy treats in my pocket encouraged her to go the final few inches and finally she settled down on the floor keeping contact with me by putting her paw on my foot. As the plane started up its engines, I gave my girl plenty of pats and a few more dog treats in order to help with the popping in her ears with the change of air pressure.
An empty seat by the window
It seemed such a waste to have an empty seat by the window – how she would have loved to have joined us up there to enjoy the view. Harry eyed off the empty seat from his aisle seat – but the air steward made sure we knew the rules.
Dindi made us both so proud. For the entire journey to and from Sydney, she met each challenge with admirable flair. Back stage at Studio 10 she was a real star and thanks to Harry who looked after her while I prepared the ingredients before going live to air, I was able to focus and even enjoy the proceedings – knowing Dindi was coping with the newness of everything.
A Whirlwind Adventure
It was such a whirlwind adventure: flying to Sydney up and back in a day. With a few hours to kill after the show, we chose Sydney Harbour Bridge so the three of us could chill out and enjoy a happy moment as Dindi the Flying Guide Dog stretched out with her harness off and became ‘just a dog’. With an unusual hat.
I Head people strolling by and the sound of ferries tootling past which helped us relax before setting off to face the flight back to Melbourne on the incomparable ‘Sardine Airways’.
Coming soon…behind the scenes and preparing to cook ‘blind’ on Studio 10 breakfast show…
You might also like to read:
Listen to Cooking Blind in a Tactile Kitchen PT1
Guide Dog Training: Who Let the Dogs Out?
Copyright © Maribel Steel 2019
Photography Copyright © Harry Williamson 2019