Happily Ever After

Life in The Rural Retreat with a beautiful wife, three cats, garden wildlife, a camera, a computer – and increasing amounts about running

Earlier posts can be found on Adventures of a Lone Bass Player, where this blog began life. Recent entries can be found here.

Goodbye Tess

by admin - 12:27 on 30 July 2012

Tess, also known as Bess, died at eight o'clock this morning.

Something was clearly wrong when Matchgirl and I came downstairs and saw her through the window, on the lawn. By the time Matchgirl had phoned the vet, Tess had crept into the bushes. I followed, but when I found her it was all over.

She'd been not quite herself for a while but her appetite was fine and her hunting instincts undiminished; overnight she'd eaten the food we left out. Whatever happened must have come on very quickly not long before we saw her.

Matchgirl doesn't want Tess buried so she called Nairn Pet Crematorium and received reassuringly sympathetic responses to her questions. A few hours later we took her there, wrapped in her favourite blanket, and said goodbye in a small room designed for that purpose. Tears were shed by both of us. We'll collect her ashes in two or three days' time.

We returned home to find an email informing me that Tess's book is ready for collection from the printer. It seems that it will be her memorial after all. We'll miss you, Tess.

Add your comment

Your Name


Your Email (only if you are happy to have it on the site)


Your Comment - no HTML or weblinks


Enter this number in the box below and click Send - why?Unfortunately we have to do this to prevent the system being swamped by automated spam