Tanya?

The look of disapointment in Kate's eyes was plain to see. She was in the upstairs back bedroom, or office, of our home in Scotland. The computer was on and she was replacing the Telephone into its charging dock.

"They sold it an hour ago." She said.

Kate was ill but in January 2010 we did not realise, or perhaps were in denial of just how ill she was. I guess at some level there is 'a knowing ' of such things which had already prompted us to look ahead and book a hired Motorhome for a weeks holiday in July. This was something we both wanted to do.

The look of disapointment in Kate's eyes was not to do with Motorhomes though. The Minature Schnauzer she had enquired after had been sold just one hour before Kate's phone call.

That look was enough to prompt me to deeper research and finally a trip with Kate to the Scottish borders where Tanya met us and quickly decided we were OK guys to go home with. She immediatly and intuitively settled into her role of loyal and loving companion to us all as a family but most of all to Kate.

Tanya, I am convinced, knew from that first meeting the seriousness of Kate's illness. She gave everything required to fulfill Kate's lifelong dream of having in her retirement a dog who matched the long held, deep and fond memories of her childhood Minature Schnauzer.

Kate, Tanya and I never managed the motorhome holiday. Motorholmes UK were good though and deferred it for a year. That's a story for another post.

Kate was the love of my life and September 4th 2010 was the day she gained her freedom from the all consuming Cancer.

Tanya & I were now an item. We were on our own. Grieving and moving on were the tasks laid out before us.

We've managed Ok so far but it has not been without pain.

Tanya I swear still remembers Kate even now 16months later. I only have to say Kate's name using a particular tone and enquiring stance and her ears pop up, her head cocks to one side, and the eyes give understanding as only a dogs eyes can.