In order - Reisen on their favourite walk, this summer. Harley, his last winter, 2007/8. Reisen, the last photo I took, November 2009 and Reisen again, winter 2007/8.
Wednesday, 30 December 2009
My boys
In order - Reisen on their favourite walk, this summer. Harley, his last winter, 2007/8. Reisen, the last photo I took, November 2009 and Reisen again, winter 2007/8.
Saturday, 26 December 2009
A Good Friend
His name was Reisen. And he was beautiful.
He was a Golden Retriever and he was twelve years old. I'd had him since he was around 8 weeks or so. He was the softest, gentlest, most easy-going. most loving pup you could hope to find. He loved everybody.
And at one o'clock today he was put gently to sleep.
The recurring UTIs were worrying the vet so he asked me to take Reisen in for some X-rays and an exploratory check-up.
The X-rays showed exactly why he'd been having problems. There was a fucking great tumour in the way.
The vet said it was inoperable and yes, it was malignant. He said Reisen had about a month to six weeks. And he would get progressively worse during that month. And be in increasing pain. And that the kindest thing to do would be simply to not let him wake from the anaesthesia but increase it and let him pass peacefully in his sleep.
So I said yes.
And I lost another good friend.
I've gone from having two beautiful boys, eighteen months ago, to having a hole in my life and my heart that is so fucking big it makes the Grand Canyon look like a crack in a paving stone. And I've cried enough to make a river to fill it with.
At least he's back with Harley now. He did miss him so. And somewhere they're together, young again and free from aches and pains. And chasing each other round a great big field of soft green grass.
Break your fucking heart they do. Animals. Make life worth living but oh Christ it's so empty when they go.
He was a Golden Retriever and he was twelve years old. I'd had him since he was around 8 weeks or so. He was the softest, gentlest, most easy-going. most loving pup you could hope to find. He loved everybody.
And at one o'clock today he was put gently to sleep.
The recurring UTIs were worrying the vet so he asked me to take Reisen in for some X-rays and an exploratory check-up.
The X-rays showed exactly why he'd been having problems. There was a fucking great tumour in the way.
The vet said it was inoperable and yes, it was malignant. He said Reisen had about a month to six weeks. And he would get progressively worse during that month. And be in increasing pain. And that the kindest thing to do would be simply to not let him wake from the anaesthesia but increase it and let him pass peacefully in his sleep.
So I said yes.
And I lost another good friend.
I've gone from having two beautiful boys, eighteen months ago, to having a hole in my life and my heart that is so fucking big it makes the Grand Canyon look like a crack in a paving stone. And I've cried enough to make a river to fill it with.
At least he's back with Harley now. He did miss him so. And somewhere they're together, young again and free from aches and pains. And chasing each other round a great big field of soft green grass.
Break your fucking heart they do. Animals. Make life worth living but oh Christ it's so empty when they go.
Wednesday, 23 December 2009
Afghanistan
They buried a soldier, from the Royal Anglian Regiment, in Bury St. Edmunds today.
He was the 100th British soldier killed this year in Afghanistan.
Today they also announced that the 106th soldier had been killed.
This is not a winnable war.
We couldn't conquer Afghanistan back in the days when we had an Empire and were good at conquering. The Soviet Union couldn't win their ten-year war in Afghanistan - and they cared a lot less about civilian deaths, collateral damage, friendly fire, and public opinion than we do. What makes us think we can do any better now.
The rates of casualties have increased this year.
Time to bring them home. If not for Christmas - how about Easter. We don't belong there.
He was the 100th British soldier killed this year in Afghanistan.
Today they also announced that the 106th soldier had been killed.
This is not a winnable war.
We couldn't conquer Afghanistan back in the days when we had an Empire and were good at conquering. The Soviet Union couldn't win their ten-year war in Afghanistan - and they cared a lot less about civilian deaths, collateral damage, friendly fire, and public opinion than we do. What makes us think we can do any better now.
The rates of casualties have increased this year.
Time to bring them home. If not for Christmas - how about Easter. We don't belong there.
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