I saw Paula and Jim last Thursday - he and Boola enjoyed playing together over the park. Since then he went off his food and drink and on Sunday morning we had a frantic early morning phone call from Paula as he'd got stuck coming down the stairs - his back end was struggling. Andrew took them both over to the vet for an emergency appointment, and the news when he returned was what we'd dreaded but half expected. Jim was put to sleep quietly at home today - he went very peacefully apparently.

Paula thinks that Baloo's death hastened Jim's. Although he had lots of friends over the park, having another dog around makes a huge difference at home. Jim was fifteen, very elderly, but such a character. He was a lurcher, with a mainly greyhound appearance apart from his broken coat which was grey (with a great deal of white in his later years). He was quite small, and was a bit intimidated when he first met Boola (who is a huge boy) but they were soon playing together, chasing each other round in circles over the park. Jim had lots of friends and admirers. When you got admitted to his inner circle of special friends, he would greet you with a helicopter tail wag, a play bow and a series of loud Woofs. He adored Andrew and they used to play together a lot.

As is usual on these occasions, I feel a mix of emotions. The dear old boy had lived a long and very happy life - with Paula, every single day was with a devoted owner who gave him oodles of love and every care a dog could need, as well as lots of canine company, both from Baloo and his other doggy friends over the park. When the time came, he was able to go peacefully, in his own home, in the loving arms of his mistress - something any dog owner would want for a much loved pet. Even though I know all this, it hasn't stopped the grief at his departure. Because of our friendship with Paula, and her illness we've spent a great deal of time with her dogs and they both became very dear to us. During her illness Paula has always been worried about what will happen to the dogs, and at least she is now spared that. I do hope though that these two sudden losses will not have too bad an impact on her. Unless you've owned a dog, it's difficult to explain the (very necessary and welcome) discipline and daily structure they bring in terms of providing a daily walk, and the other routines of dog ownership. Paula would struggle valiantly to get to the park with the dogs every day and it was a big motivator for her.

So far, 2011 is not getting off to the best of starts. Andrew and I were both very miserable yesterday and today I've been very low. I spoke with Paula this afternoon, and I've asked her to come with me tomorrow afternoon - I have received the list for a quilt workshop I'm doing shortly, and she'll be helping me choose some fabric - maybe this will help us both. The workshop is for a Pineapple block, and I need to buy a layer cake for it.