It has been a stressful,worrying and accepting beginning for 2016 and the household Franklin, caring for our aged and increasingly unwell companion and worker Tom, our 12 year old Border Collie.
Sadly he drifted off in his sleep last night after having soldiered through Christmas and the New Year using his wheels to enable him to go to the toilet independently and have a breath of fresh air in between his very lengthy naps in front of the fire. His officially name was in fact Nap, but we changed it to Tom to try and avoid him living up to his name. We failed on this front though. He was an intelligent worker and extremely obedient, but he did drive you scatty sometimes when he disappeared off to have a snooze under a tree, or wandered off to visit the neighbours when he was supposed to be watching the sheep.
And so this afternoon Number 1, 2016, arrived on the farm on probably the coldest wettest day of this winter so far. And snuggled down in front of the fire which had so recently been vacated by our best friend. The circle of life continues, and to Tom may your long nap be full of bones, balls and baa-ing sheep. All of us xx |