The Most Heartbreaking Moment .....

The most heartbreaking thing about owning dog is when the vet hands you back their collar after they have passed away, that handover is a brief moment in time where it seems to stand still.

It was a sunny afternoon in early September 2002, I was just about to pass Dogs Trust in Shoreham when I got a strong urge to go and see the dogs.  I looked at my watch seeing it was 2.15pm, did I have enough time before picking up my child from school, I made a decision and found myself in the compound looking at a lot of barking, eager dogs.

Right in front of me was the most handsome long haired Jack Russell, doing his impression of Tigger, boing, boing, boing, pick me!  I had to, it was destiny.  He had been returned to the dogs home twice already, did we understand that, yes, we'd be fine, we'd had dogs before.  This was his last chance they told us to be adopted, what they didn't know was the first time I saw him I knew he was ours.

So after what seemed like a very long adoption process where his feet were constantly wet (it was December by this time) and frozen solid because it was so cold (Dogs Trust was very stark and bare at that time, it has since had a fabulous face lift and the dogs are now housed in warm accommodation), we took him home where he joined our other amazing dog.

We have had the most wonderfully fun, hectic (think Marley and Me), loving time with him, he was totally untrained at 1 year old when we adopted him,  Mr CCL took over the training and very quickly he (mostly!) played ball, literally!

He has been the best company, a great guard dog, always up for a walk or a tussle, he has loved our children, he took a sniff at Miss CCL when she was born and they have been inseparable since.  I've cried into his fur when times were rough, he always understood and leant into me too, I shall miss those cuddles....

Yesterday we lost him, he passed away peacefully after a stroke.  He was 14, a good long innings and a happy life with us.  A while ago I sat cuddled with him and thanked him for being such a wonderful dog to our family, I'm so glad I did, he knew but it was good to sit and share a biscuit with him, just us.  I cried a thousand tears yesterday, I'm off to cry a million more, there is a dog-shaped hole in my heart again.....

Farewell buddy, we love you, it has been amazing.


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My Sunday Photo

This week I thought I'd point the camera the other way to the east, where the sun rises and take an identical photo again and compare this one from Friday and this photo from the 1930's when St. Margarets apartments were being built.

As you can see from this old photo little has changed, the curved wall that we lean against to gaze out to sea is still there, the biggest change being the add-on apartments to the right where a tea house and restaurant were.  Take a look at this photo  where you can see those buildings and the same cliff and do have a look at the ladies in their finery to the left!

It's hard not to feel a real connection with a time gone by after finding these photographs online and matching the up with today.  Miss CCL and I touch the stairs leading down the beach knowing that ladies in long skirts and children wearing their Sunday best ventured down these stairs as we do several times a week (we love the beach, have I said!).

St. Margarets apartments were quite run down over the years, but a few years ago they had a welcome facelift to look like new again and with them being right on the coast's edge facing west, the owners have an enviable view of the sunset every clear night, it is one of my favourite places to watch it too.

My Sunday Photo

I really never do get tired of looking at this view (or any seaviews!), Brighton Marina is in the distance and in the foreground part of Rottingdean beach, on the bottom right there is a "theatre" space where all sorts of musical events take place, it is a wonderful, happy, friendly beach!

At the top right hand corner once stood a whole family house on the cliff, when I walk there I can see remnants of the foundations, it is very surreal to think of people long gone living there.  We know this because we found a photo online of the beach in 1905 showing the very formidably large house, you can see it here, the cliff can clearly still be seen and this photo from 1930 seems to show it gone and the construction of the underhill garden being built.   So much has changed with some houses being demolished but so much remains the same.  Rottingdean also had its very own pier too.  In some of the photos we found all that has changed are the ladies fashions and the cars!

My Sunday Photo

I was in the nearby town of Seaford on Thursday taking flowers to my mum and having tea. Whenever I'm there I absolutely have to visit the beach which is literally across the road from where she lives.  The loveliness of the day beckoned me but the best times are when the sea is rough, the waves high and the wind plastering me with sea salt!

I think I must have a few thousand captures of this beach alone over the years and these gorgeous little beach huts are so very seaside.  They are smaller than usual but seem roomy inside (I had a sneaky peek as one of the lucky owners was there sunning herself).

The weather was fabulous that day, look at that sky.

Wishing everyone a Happy Mothers Day!

My Sunday Photo