The 8th of August was always Bamse’s birthday. For those of you who do not know, Bamse was my first dog and the mother of Dennis, Aslan, Baghera and Baloo.

Although she was of a stubborn kind, she had a great personality! The kids on Eden Street were amazed by her because in their eyes, she could “talk” and also knew how to play football. With her thick dark coat (her mother was a Bernese Mountaindog and her father was a Belgian Shepherddog) and queenish airs, she looked nothing like an ordinary Nigerien hound. Many of them were convinced she had to be a hyena or one of those “bears” that they had heard so much about but never seen. Since it was easy walking around with a bitch, I brought her everywhere with me, and the kids would sing songs to her, which she of course thought was nothing short of normality.

Being in a reminiscent mode, I went through the old image archives (back in the days when the first digital cameras had lousy quality and couldn’t take more than 7 images à la fois!) and found some pictures!

Bamse & I on the rocks of Zinder where I would enjoy the view, and she would scout for goats and sheep…

Björn my brother à la Nigerienne and Bamse in a surreal photograph

Bamse at home, just posing (she loved that part)

A slightly overweight Bamse comes chasing around the house (I think I said something about seeing a cat!)

Bamse and her little friend Seo

Bamse being “friends” with her friend Seo…

This picture was taken ages ago!

Bamse being utterly beautiful

Bamse wanting something from me for being “utterly beautiful”

The last shot of me and my dog together, taken by my mother in May 2004, a month before Bamse passed away (nearly 14 years old!). Now there was a dog who traveled the world and led a very exciting life!