My dear little Westie, Frankie, passed away on August 5th. He was 17 1/2 and went the way I wanted him to go, he was actually happily munching his breakfast then suddenly collapsed and died instantly and painlessly. So he didn't suffer. I'd been expecting this for years as he was so old, but it's almost three weeks and I am feeling very lost. DH and I got him when we first married, Frankie was two years older than our only daughter, he was our first "baby".

I go to art classes some days but when I work at home I end up crying and keep going back to the computer to look at puppies for sale. I'm beginning to make enquiries about puppies. My DH is at the office and DD is at school. We put a flower on Frankie's grave every day - it is covered in beautiful blooms from our garden.

I've heard of people not bonding with a new pup but I think I would bond very well. I love Frankie so much and I love my cat "puss" (who has taken up residence on my lap) and I know I would love a puppy. All my pets and family are very spoilt LOL
A friend last night said that puppies are such hard work. But honestly Frankie was pretty hard work towards the end too, I don't think my friend knows what I did for him. He was blind, deaf and had to be carried everywhere, including up 3 flights of stairs several times a night to toilet outside. The poor darling was a bit incontinent and went through a daily washload of towels and blankets too, so I'm used to all that plus mopping with disinfectant. I also bathed him daily to keep him fresh and comfortable. It was a long slow decline but he was content and I'm glad I was able to care for him.

What I miss most is his warm touch. He was totally dependent on me 24/7, and relied on touch as he was deaf and blind from old age. He would nudge me if he was hungry/thirsty/needed toileting/etc. He slept on our bed, I took him everywhere and he was very happy in the car with me. He would give a lovely, deep, contented sigh, when I held him, and he would fall asleep in my arms.

I also gave up a lot of things to look after Frankie - he was too frail to stay at boarding kennels for example, and fretted if I wasn't with him, so for the past few years I haven't been on holidays or interstate to see my family. He brought me so much joy and taught me so much, he helped me through a life-threatening illness after I had my daughter.

My Birman cat is doing well but I think he misses Frankie too (which is why he is all over me! :-)

I just don't know how to tell if we're ready for a pup. I don't think I'll ever stop crying about Frankie as long as I live. I know of some pups that were born, co-incidentally, on the day that Frankie died.
I have a lot of love to give. Would I be rushing into this? I don't know, I just don't know.

I need to get out of the house more, but then I get really tired from doing too much running around.
Thanks for listening, here is a picture of my angel in heaven - he was 16 in this photo, looks a lot younger - white dogs don't show the grey hairs!!! LOL

Click to view attachment

Frankie was adorable! I'm so sorry for your loss. I'm sure Frankie knew how much you loved him. I think he must have told Puss to look after you! I think my dog Callie must have told my outdoor cats too, because they have worked so hard to console me. Spook even goes to the garden with me now that Callie isn't here anymore.

I don't know when is the right time to get a new puppy. You just have to go with what feels right. There is such a huge gaping hole in my life I can't imagine not having another dog soon.

It is my belief all souls are returned to earth until they are perfected. I believe dogs that get to have owners that love them like we loved ours are the perfect souls that get to go to heaven when their time is done here. So while we can't have our loved ones back, I truly believe our animals can help ease our pain by sending angels to us. Those angels could be Puss and Spook, or maybe even a puppy born on the day Frankie died. Look into your heart and you'll know when the time is right. My plan is to let a dog pick me again, like Callie did, and whether it's because Callie sent the dog to me, or because the dog just plain liked me, it will be a good match! I know Callie understands how much I loved her and how I have to be able to share that love with another dog. I don't think she'd want it any other way.

debandfrankie I know exactly what you're going through, I lost my 18 year old Taffy is June. It has been so hard but we have to thank god that we had our dogs around for so long, most dogs don't live to be 17 or 18 so we were both lucky to have them around that long. Frankie looks like such a sweet dog and you could tell that he was loved. I know it's so hard right now but I am trying to concentrate on the good memories and that is helping me. Please let us know how you are doing.

Deb i am sorry to hear of the loss of your beloved Frankie. Such a handsome guy, seems everyone is ready for a new pup at different times . you will know what best for you,the sudden loss of my Golden has me in no rush to want another yet ,been 5 wks. ,(i just want her back). Yes, that lrg. hole your pup left is hard ,its good you have some other pets to help you through. sorry again, please come here for any help, this board has been a help for me. Scott

I am so sorry for your loss. I lost my 7 year old Doberman on April 17th. He had a heart attack while playing ball with my husband. He was only 7!! I was devastated. I cried constantly, hardly ate for weeks. No one who hasn not loved a pet understands the pain and emptiness left behind. In our case, far, far too young!! About a month afterward my husband amd I started really missing having a Dobie in the house, so we started looking and contacting reputable breeders all over the country. It came as a surprise that a beautiful male dobie puppy from Canada became available to us as a breeder in Virignia was bringing a female from that litter down for herself and she offered to bring the male as well. I certainly do not want to make you feel any worse - this is just my story. He is an absolutely beautiful baby boy and unlike my previous boy (who was MY baby, heart and soul) he has totally bonded with my husband. Maybe that's why I find that I don't have the connection to him that I did with my baby, Austin. I also find myself unfairly comparing him to Austin. That's just cheating poor little Max. When he has been really hard to deal with (house breaking accidents, chewing, ear-taping, etc.) I find myself grieinvg for Austin even more. I also know I am not being fair in that when it has been 8 years since we had a puppy it's a lot more work than you remember. And as with all deaths of loved ones, we tend to only remember the good things. I only remember Austin as being so smart and good and such an eay puppy to housebreak and train.
I really think that since dogs are so smart and sensitive to feelings and emotions I think Max senses my distance and that's why he's bonded to my husband rather than me. Right now I fell like a really bad mommy to our new furbaby and I am trying really hard to spend more time with him and form a relationship. I REALLY, REALLY wish you the best and I hope with all my heart that a new puppy helps you and that you do better with it than I have. Please write and let me know how it goes. I wish for you peace and comfort in these sad days. Try and take solace in the fact you had him to love (and to love you) for an unusually long time. (By the way, he was adorable!)

Sincerely,
Carol

Almost my story on the care you gave your beloved Frankie............... He is soooooooooo handsome.


I had hoped Flossie would just go to sleep peacefully but that didn't happen. Sometimes I wish I had tried to hang on longer but after all she had been through to see her struggle so many days to walk without trouble I just knew it was not fair to her. She never, ever gave up no matter what tried to take her down. I do feel guilty sometimes that I gave up for her.

having done all the things you describe like carrying him, cleaning him up and forgoing vacations. We never once in her 17-1/2 years ever boarded her. She traveled with us for several years each summer which had it's challenges with medications, special diet and the incontinence. I'd do it all again for her.

So here we were knowing her time could not be much longer given her medical issues when this little dog came into the yard at my Mothers' house while we were visiting. I did want a break after all the years I'd been tied down that when it became obvious she was worming her way into my husbands heart, I told him he would have to be the one to be responsible as my obligation was to Flossie for as long as she needed me. We kept the dog (she was a stray) and Flossie accepted her without being her usual cranky self like normal with any other dogsshe saw (another sign that she was aging I guess.... too much trouble to worry about it!) and I also like to think she realized we needed the new dog as much as the dog needed us.

Our new dog is an absolute joy and is such a happy dog and we are blessed that she picked us. She is by no means a replacement and never could be. I still miss Flossie every single day and it has been almost 10 months.

Frankie lived a good life and even though you'll miss him forever I think you realize that you have a lot of love to give to another puppy. Like me, you know how much care he needed & how confining he was for you so a puppy is not an issue. Sure it is different problems but housetraining is much different than them being unable to control themselves through no fault of their own. I was even setting my alarm to take her out at night as she slept on my bed. I felt as if I had a newborn baby & never got a full night sleep at my age.... at least with housetraining and chewing they will outgrow it. Deaf, blind, incontent and medical problems can go on for who knows how long? Flossie lived 14 years longer that any vet expected her to and had lots of close calls along the way during those 14 years.

Each of us are different but your story is so similar that I can't help but think that you are not rushing things. I felt I really wanted time between getting a new dog but I think it has helped a lot to have her.

Good luck with your decision. Only you can decide if the time is right. I think it is important to think of the new one as an addition; not a replacement and not to compare the two.

Dear debandfrankie:
I had another crying jag and a tug at my heartstrings reading your post. Our beloved Westie, Bogey, had to be put down on August 14th after almost 17 wonderful years with him. We knew he was failing and the last two weeks I really sensed the end was near. He was totally out of his usual routine and was definitely not himself. Our vet was wonderful all the way to the end. He himself has had two Westies and is now on his third. Our Bogey was such a character and he was more my dog than my hubby of 45 years but the Bogster stuck to me like glue. We are avid golfers and we called him an 18 holer because we could play 18 holes, grab a bite to eat at the club and come home to a terrific welcome and no accidents, ever.
But winters here in New England are long and cold and Bogey was my companion on long, dreary, dark winter days. It was hysterical watching him in the snow and when we got a heavy snow we'd have to shovel spots for him to go because he'd get buried in the snow otherwise.
His last day is probably the only one I regret. I had him at the vet the day before because he was panting so much and was not himself. We found his lymph nodes all enlarged and were going to rule out infection with a biopsy the following Mon. Took him home and loved him to bits because he just was not well or comfortable. The next morning I had appt. to go to and I know he waited for me to come back to get violently ill. Horrible vomiting and diarrhea with a cry from him that I had never heard before. He was definitely in pain and kept trying to run away from the house, which HE NEVER, EVER DID. At one point we couldn't find him and I was getting panicked because I didn't want him to die in the woods someplace and never be able to find him. It was awful and then we saw him in the yard next door.
I finally realized then that he was asking me to let him go. We rushed him to the vet and gave him the peace he deserved, with dignity and with those that loved him beside him. The vet, his assistant and I were crying our eyes out but he was suffering and we knew it. My regret was that I didn't make the decision the day before so that he wouldn't have suffered that last morning. But I feel God had a hand in it because the night before I spent a lot of time cuddling him, kissing him and giving him all the love I had for him.
I miss him terribly and although I have adopted my daughter's Sheltie, Bailey, three years ago I feel the house is empty without my happy go lucky guy. His last years were tough.....eyesight was going and hearing also along with a cough caused from his windpipe shrinking but he still would run around and try to do things he did as a puppy. No one believed he was almost 17. Bailey is the sweetest guy but not a cuddler and he too is 12 and has very bad hips. Time is not on his side either but he'll get all the love we have, just not the same as Bogey.
I too cannot be without a pup. In 45 years there has been probably one day we have not had a dog in this house and I am looking for good litters of Westies. I had thought maybe Bogey would be our last because we now travel more but after a week I know I have to have another Westie.......even though I know at some point my heart will be broken again.
You do what feels best for you. You'll never replace Frankie but he'll send the right pup to you to love as much as you loved hiim.
I grieve with you and hope you find the right pup for yourself.
By the way, I just read the most wonderful book, The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein.......a novel about a race car driver's life told through the eyes, ears and mouth of a dog. It is by far the best book I have ever read, especially for those of us that have just lost our best friends.

Oh my goodness, I am just overwhelmed by all you beautiful people here, and your kindness and insights. Thank you, thank you, thank you for your understanding.

I am going to print out all your replies and read them over again, there are so many beautiful thoughts and compassion. It is very comforting to know that I am not alone in feeling so awful, that we love our pets so much and that I know I have so much love to give to future pets.

To those of you who have had to make the decision, trust me, there is no easy way, even when a dog dies "naturally" as Frankie did, there is still guilt - me wondering, oh dear, was it cruel to keep him alive all that time, etc. etc. Whatever we do, we will always question it. Was it the right time, too early, too late - or should I have taken control, let nature take its course, or not? There are no answers, no right and no wrong, we all do our best in a very difficult situation. Actually, an impossible situation.

I need to take some time and digest it all. I will re-read all your posts, and get out of the house today, it is a sunny day and I will catch up with some artist friends. I will reply individually to you once I've thought about it more.

It is so heartening to know that all of you have been through or are going through exactly the same angst. And the fear of not bonding with a new pet is quite real.

What I am learning is that Frankie taught me so many important lessons about life. He showed me that the love I have to give is limitless, that it doesn't stop with just one dog, that I will be able to care for many more, they will all be different, but will all be very deeply loved by me. Like children, I suppose. A friend of mine, now a grandma, with six kids once told me she was terrified that she wouldn't be able to love all of them. She loved the first one so much, when she had the second, and then the third, etc., she became worried every time, but fell in love with each one as they arrived. Then she realised that she loved them all differently, with the same intensity and passion, but of course differently, because they were all six little individuals who needed different ways of being loved. She said she didn't know she had that kind of love in her, it just happened.

Maybe, if you feel you haven't bonded with a pet, perhaps it's a different way of loving, that's unfamiliar to you? Just a thought. I have a friend who couldn't bond with his second daughter. It's a different, unfamiliar relationship, compared to that with his eldest. Doesn't mean he doesn't love them both.

All of us here have that special gift, to be able to truly care for an animal, and trust me not everyone out there in the world has that gift, so we are blessed. The animals need us.

At the moment, my cat is caring for me, as are the horses where my daughter rides. But I've never been without a dog. More thinking, more crying, but I do smile when I think of puppies.

much love and hugs, talk to you soon, do keep me posted as I will you

THis is so HARD isn't it
deb

What I am learning is that Frankie taught me so many important lessons about life. He showed me that the love I have to give is limitless, that it doesn't stop with just one dog, that I will be able to care for many more, they will all be different, but will all be very deeply loved by me. Like children, I suppose. A friend of mine, now a grandma, with six kids once told me she was terrified that she wouldn't be able to love all of them. She loved the first one so much, when she had the second, and then the third, etc., she became worried every time, but fell in love with each one as they arrived. Then she realised that she loved them all differently, with the same intensity and passion, but of course differently, because they were all six little individuals who needed different ways of being loved. She said she didn't know she had that kind of love in her, it just happened.

Maybe, if you feel you haven't bonded with a pet, perhaps it's a different way of loving, that's unfamiliar to you? Just a thought. I have a friend who couldn't bond with his second daughter. It's a different, unfamiliar relationship, compared to that with his eldest. Doesn't mean he doesn't love them both.

All of us here have that special gift, to be able to truly care for an animal, and trust me not everyone out there in the world has that gift, so we are blessed. The animals need us.

At the moment, my cat is caring for me, as are the horses where my daughter rides. But I've never been without a dog. More thinking, more crying, but I do smile when I think of puppies.

much love and hugs, talk to you soon, do keep me posted as I will you

THis is so HARD isn't it
deb
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dear deb, please accept my condolenses. im so sorry. i know what youre feeling and (yes! a thousand times yes!) how hard it is to lose our wonderful best friends. i lost my fred (cat) not too long ago. i had him for 14 years. he was my little angel that took care of me. but he got diagnosed with diabetes and didnt last long. but im so glad you are starting to think about getting a new furkid. after fred went to heaven, lucy adopted me. shes the first dog ive had in about 15-16 years. she found me and although i didnt want her as i was so deep in pain, i commited to her and now she is my new angel. she can never replace my fred or riley (he passed the year before) but she brought the smiles back and the laughter. shes a crazy little one and i love her deeply. youre so right:our pets teach us so much; about love, patience, tolerance, and they even teach us about death. i dont know what kind of world we would be in if we didnt have their companionship and their unconditional love. you were very blessed to have your sweet angel for more than 17 years. hes looking out for you now, from above. i read a wonderful quote the other day: "Dogs (and cats:) are not our whole life, but the make our lives whole." you have a huge heart and im so glad to hear that you will be caring for a new baby that needs a home. frankie will be so happy.
god bless, patricia

deb I am so sorry for your loss... yes this is just so hard!!!!! Strangely I've been posting here with similar responses today.
I believe that your Frankie will organise another companion for you, it's what happened to me.
I read on here about not shutting off the love in your heart cos you are hurting so much. You have said you hve more love to give so be patient & kind to yourself & you gorgeous Frankie will sort it all out for you.
The timing is all taken care of if only we cld trust this is so, though when you are grieving such a significant loss it is not an easy thing to do.
You will do what is the right time for you.....that's the msg (literally, figuratively & emotionally) I got from posting here when I lost my Buddy in June this year.
Go gently
elaine xx

Hey Deb,

Sorry to hear about your loss of Frankie. He looks like such a handsome little dog. MY dog was little as well and very adorable to. I couldn't take him for a walk without people commenting on what a cute puppy I had, and then they were amazed when I said he was almost 9 years old. I guess the white hair does hide the gray.

I'll be forever thankful that I got to spend time with such a splendid dog. He made me a better man. I'm sure Harley and Frankie are running together at the rainbow bridge becoming the best buddies already.

Peace & Love

I just want to say what a wonderful forum this is, I really would have gone mad if it weren't for the people I've met here, who each know exactly how I feel. What blessed souls you all are, who are brave enough to love so deeply, to lose a loved one and to miss them so intensely. And then to have the strength to go on, to love again and again.

It is most comforting to know I'm not alone in my despair, that it's normal for a person to love their pet so much, and to grieve intensely at their loss. Many of my family and friends never really "got" my relationship with Frankie, they have never been close to animals themselves, and so they don't understand how I feel about losing him. Their attempts at consolation are, to me, empty and shallow, and some of their comments, e.g. my father's, are actually distressing to me. I feel sorry for these people because they've never experienced that bond between animal and human.

We have decided to add to our family of creatures, and are now looking at puppies. No one will replace Frankie, of course, but he taught me that I have a lot of love to give, and I have a special gift because I am pretty good at looking after animals. They love me, and I love them.

I put away 8 horses the other night (none of them mine) and they were so sweet and gentle, and I really really enjoyed doing that. My cat is very caring of me too. I am so lucky, I do all this in honour of my dear Frankie, who gave me confidence in my own ability with animals. He showed me the way to a greater way of life, a way that is full of limitless love, where everything can be unpredictable, messy, sometimes chaotic, and yet bursting full with joy and happiness. To think he couldn't hear, couldn't see, couldn't walk, he was totally dependent on me and it was really hard work, yet he gave me these great, precious gifts of understanding. What a privilege it is to care for an animal who is sick or disabled.

"How could you possibly look after an old dog?" "He smells" "What's wrong with him?" "He's not going to live very long" These were some of the comments I endured over the last few years, from strangers and from vets as well. He was perfectly happy, yes of course he was spoilt, he knew he was loved, and he was eating happily until the moment he died.

I will thank him for this time he gave to me until the day I die.

hugs
deb

Deb, I am so sorry for your loss of Frankie. It sounds like he had an unusually wonderful mother. You must have given him an incredible life. I am happy to hear that you are looking at puppies. I read your other post about your daughter and I believe a new life in the house will help her. I hope so.
You are so right about other people not getting it. And you are also right about how wonderful this forum is to find other people who are just as "crazy" as we are. It is those who don't know the bond of a human and an animal that we should feel sorry for. While they won't experience the great and devastating loss we have, they also will never know that unconditional love and pure joy our pets give us.
It is an honor to care for an ailing pet. It is a responsibility we have because of the commitment we made when we first brought them into our homes. I take that responsibility very seriously and it sounds like you do too. When my Frasier passed away last week, I just kept repeating to everyone that I wasn't through taking care of him. I didn't want him to have his conditions but I wasn't done giving him the care he needed. I wasn't done! I wasn't done! I just wasn't finished being his mommy. My husband and I don't have human children so everything in our world centers around the 3 fur babies we have/had. We now have only 2 and our world is different and our family is not complete anymore but our life still centers around their every need. Some people think it's crazy the way we consider our pets before anything we do (i.e. vacations, etc) but I feel it is completely what I have to do and be. It makes me complete.
Anyway, I hope your family will be complete again soon. I know Frankie will never be replaced as Frasier won't be. But I can tell your heart is big enough to expand again and let another fur baby benefit from your love. Good luck.

Thanks so much, Tanbuck for your thoughts. Yes I think it will be wonderful for my daughter to experience a new addition to the family - she never knew Frankie as a puppy so she's in for some fun. We are getting a puppy in the next school holidays - we've paid a deposit! She's a little bit nervous because she has exams etc coming up after the holidays, and she can only remember Frankie being really really old and frail. But she'll be fine. She's gifted with animals - all animals! One day she had eleven kookaburras lined up in a row on the verandah, and was hand-feeding them. I don't know where they all come from, they seem to follow her around - dogs, cats, horses, possums, birds, whatever. She even caught 7 fish the first time she went fishing and had them all swimming around in a tank before releasing them back into the sea...

Your family sounds wonderful, and they are lucky to have you as their loving mum and your husband as their daddy. My husband feels like he's lost a child - when we got married his family wouldn't speak to him (don't ask, it was a long time ago) so we got frankie as our special first baby. The two of them were inseparable, and being boys, of course, they used to wrestle and gang up on me ... LOL

I know that many of my family and friends also think I'm crazy but I truly think the world would be a better place if EVERYONE considered their pets before they do anything, go on holidays etc. Not everyone has the compassion or the patience to do that, but hopefully people like us will help to encourage others to do the same.

I hope you are getting through the days ok, without Frasier. What a great name, BTW! You are so loving and dedicated, and I totally understand how you feel, it's unbearable. The love you've given him will go on forever and he knows that.

I feel the same - it's something I have to do, it's the way I am.

Hugs to your babies and treasure those memories in honour of Frasier - hopefully he and Frankie are chasing each other around right this minute!
deb

Okay I'm here again. Been trying to keep busy and just crying whenever I feel like it. Which is probably most days, momentarily, but that's okay.

I just love that dog, always have, always will. And I'll love another too, and another, etc etc. Just like I love my husband, child, cat, horse, etc, etc. The love is so intense it is eternal.

The shock has worn off thank goodness, but the pain, no that will always hurt.

I'll never get used to being on this earth without my Frankie. He is with me spiritually, forever, though.

Frankie, I just wanted to say, you know we're getting a new pup soon, because you want us to. He'll be different from you, yet you know how much joy we will share, like we did when you were little. I love you forever, Frankie and I know you're always here, guiding me. Love you. Miss you.

Thank you.

Deb, It's been a little over 2 weeks since I lost my dear Westie at 14 yrs. 5 mos. I feel as you do that I will NEVER get used to not having him here. I have another little Westie, named Maggie Mae, who is approx. 12 yrs. old & I am so fearful that I will soon lose her, too.
She is lost without her little companion.

I went to the animal shelter last week to look at a min. Schnauzer that was on the website. She's so adorable, about 10 mos. old. I adopted her & will be able to pick her up on Wed. I named her Abby. (She had to get spayed before I could bring her home.) While I was at the shelter, I told them about losing my Westie & they told me they had a little Westie at the shelter. She's approx. 2 yrs. old. She was not available for adoption until tomorrow (10/6) because they have to hold her a certain number of days to see if someone claims her. She had been there 3 days last Thurs. & no one had called to see if she was there. Whoever had her must not have taken good care of her because she was really dirty. So, I called today & she is still there. Tomorrow I will be adopting her. Her name is Bailey & I know she will never replace my little Westie but I am so thrilled to be able to give her a good home. There was only one like my little man but I have room in my heart to love others & I know he would want me to do that.

Best of luck with your new baby.

Brenda

Hi Brenda and all in this thread,

Sorry I haven't been here for a while, I took my long-awaited tropical holiday in Queensland for a week. Long-awaited because I'd been tied up caring for dear old Frankie for the past 3 years, and he was too frail to go to a kennel.

Brenda, I'm so thrilled you've decided on the new additions to your home. Abby and Bailey sound wonderful and they will bring you so much joy, and you will bring joy to them too.
Hopefully by now they are settling in and I hope that Maggie Mae is enjoying some new company!

We have our newest baby at home! He's been here a week today. Even though we found him on the internet, and only met him when we took delivery, he absolutely "chose" us as a family. He just assumed he was part of our clan right from the moment we met him, and he is SUCH a happy little chap, marching everywhere with his ears and tail held as high as he can (which isn't very high as yet!) .

Hamish is just perfect for us in our lives now, as Frankie was for our time with him too. Different personalities, and different situations. Hamish is very confident and proud, in an intelligent way, and is already very obedient. Frankie was quite fearful and never obedient, but of course intelligent too! Like all terriers, lots of fun and games, and laughs. I'm so pleased we have a new dog. Mind you I'm sure I'd be able to bond with a funnel-web spider if I had to look after one of those LOL.

Our cat was far from impressed with Hamish's arrival, but after a week they are now inseparable, following each other around and even kissing each other.

They are all different, all these beautiful creatures, and we are so lucky to be able to look after them.

I still cry for Frankie, always will. No-one could replace him, nor should they. And I'll cry for Hamish too, when he goes, and the next, etc etc. At the moment I am looking for pieces of stone to carve a headstone for Frankie's grave.

I met a man with two dogs up at the farm one day, and he said dogs are like lovers: there is only one cure for losing one - get another! It was funny but quite true. Doesn't mean you love the previous one any less.

Our beach holiday was absolutely heavenly by the way - all meals catered and nothing but long walks, reading, browsing, sight-seeing. I plan to do it annually from now on, and put all the animals in boarding, or get someone to come and stay here.

hugs to you and all your babies!!!
deb