This is Jasper. He is a 21-month old St Bernard and is very patiently greeting visitors to the Switzerland stand at the 'Destinations' travel show at Earls Court in London.
Each year we go to this show for inspiration and information for future trips we hope we'll take. Just as we were leaving with armfuls of brochures, I spotted a huge, hairy rug spread across the aisle - it was Jasper looking very bored. A few words of encouragement and he modelled his special brandy keg and then he lifted his giant paw for me to shake before collapsing on his back for a stroke. His paws were amazingly hot and his owner explained that is how they regulate their body temperature.
Jasper is a real star and made my visit to the show. Apparently he still has a bit more growing to do before he is full size!
