He was born in September, no one knows the exact day. The autumn entered their garden in all its grace and colorful clothing. Everything was like it's supposed to be in little puppy's family. He had bunch of brothers and sisters, each different but similar in the same time, gentle and caring mum, wooden house, and his name. Like in all stories, “all happy families resemble one another, each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way”. That’s where each story begins, this particular one as well.
As soon as he was introduced to all benefits that big and happy family enjoys, all those little things, one by one, started to be taken away from him. A couple of months after, he was standing alone, locked in the dark corner of the garden, surrounded by leafless trees. Colors of autumn faded into gray fog, sunbeams turned into cold raindrops. His masters sold his brothers and sisters, his mother passed away, and he was only one left.
One day they took him in big dark car, drove him on the other side of town, and threw him away into the cold night. For two weeks he was wondering around the town, not knowing what he’s looking for. One moment, it was a company, next it was family, then just something to eat, then maybe a friend, or just a warm dry place for sleep. He had found some things but never two in the same time. Each day it was getting colder, then raindrops turned into snowflakes, nights became darker and longer and he was more tired, more hopeless, more frightened. There were some good people around, bringing him food, letting him play around their gardens, but then again, every once in a while, his ribs would meet someone’s big hard foot, his back a snowball thrown his way, his ears rude word. And after two weeks of suffering, getting scared away, on the verge of despair, on the longest night of the year, he was sleeping in the box on the blanket some old lady brought for him, when three guys came, got him out of the box, and took him away. “Come on guys, leave me alone. I’m useless. Even Chinese couldn’t have a snack made of me.”, he was thinking.
What might have been the worst night, turned into most interesting night of the year. He saw more things that night than he had seen in his whole life…
For the first time in my life I entered people’s home. I’ve seen TV, box I heard so many things about, but it turned out not to be as half as impressive as I thought it would be. I’ve seen yellow pillow, warm radiators, my own reflection in the glass door (it took me a minute and few barks before I realized it was me… well I even came back to check one more time, just to be sure). I listened to music. I ate hot dogs. I slept on a couch. I heard doorbells, phone ringing, I saw Canon camera (scared shit out me and I’m not coming close to that thing anymore)… Finally I went to sleep…. One of the guys woke me up early in the morning, the other two were gone, and he took me for a walk. I did my poo, pee, prr, and all things I usually do early in the morning, ran through snow, played with few bigger dogs and all the time during our play they were checking out the guy I came out with, trying to be sure they are not too harsh. Finally, we went home, I had few of those hot dogs, and went back to sleep, next to big warm radiator. I don’t know for how long I was asleep when doorbell woke me up. The other guy from evening before came in, and they took me and put me into the car, and then I thought to myself, “Gosh not again”. They took me to some strange lady that was all over me, checking me out, looking at my teeth, ears and some other places which I’m too polite to mention. And they took me and put me in the car and I thought to myself :”Gosh not again”. To cut long story short, those two guys seemed to be quite ok. They took me to countryside, to a big beautiful house, that was once a castle, with park, forest, lake, lots of snow and lots of big warm radiators. I’m now there. And they even gave me a name. It’s first day of winter and I’m feeling like it’s first day of my life. Who knows where I might end up next Christmas… New York?
Poor little fellow is named Chris, after Christmas (za hrvatsko govorno područje, njegovo ime je Božo, ali je adaptiranu u duhu filmske priče). He now lives in countryside, 50km from Zagreb in a castle with the lake and park... Lucky little bastard I had the best Christmas present ever, and I have one wish left: let it snow!
Merry Christmas my friends! Love, Vanja

P.S. Many thanks and lots of love for my piekna friend who was my biggest support during the longest night of the year. You’re the best. Chris blows kisses to Falbanka.
P.P.S Sorry if something is not written correctly or not used correctly, or not English at all, but this is the best I can do…
P.P.P.S dedicated to my best friend Ante, who is “The other guy from evening before” with the car, and willingness to help any living soul on this planet.

Well, since it's snowing here, in Zagreb, and winter chill arrived, I decided to upload some scans of old photos I took on various winer trips. Not very good photos but I like them. Hopefully you'll enjoy!