Bye to A Mate.

After being displaced following the flood I was lucky enough to find accommodation at a friends house. Although it had also been flooded  it was minor compared to many and although missing some gib lining and bare flooring it still had power and facilities.

The deal was that I could stay there until it was repaired and I had the pleasure of sharing the house with the family dog and two cats. 

Like most pets they were real characters and soon became used to me slotting in to the room and collapsing in a heap most nights after a hard days yakka working on my place.

My friends slept on the bed with me and I became used to letting the dog out at all hours when he wanted a pit stop and then sorting cat and dog breakfast in the morning.

Many will know what it is like to have a dog push you to the side of the bed or manoeuvre in close on cold nights to steal some of your warmth.

There were the customary snorts and whines and even a crash off the bed but all in all it was good to have company at such a difficult time.

In recent times when visiting my friends my Lab mate could hear me or smell me and made a fuss seeing me again.

We do get attached to our domestic friends.

I saw my mate a few weeks ago and he was in a bad way .The experts were not sure what was up but he couldn't move and was uncomfortable.

A few days ago he passed a way at home with the family around.

I was so pleased I had seen him before he left this world.

I will never forget the cold winter nights with his nose up close and his tough body hard against mine.

Au revoir Z.