02/02/2022
Our beautiful spirit Aero has a lovely resting place now with a view of Eze.
We made a cairn to mark and protect Aero, resting in peace finally still in her Basket.
I forgot to put a ball and can of dog food in with her. I bought some the day before she left us and now I have a sad reminder.
I will keep it for any guests with pooches that come to stay.
For a while we will absent-mindedly expect her to stroll around the corner.
I started writing about Aero yesterday and today and I have to let it all pour out to thank those who also loved them and looked after her and the many pets who have shared our lives… many of which have had the love of auntie and uncle parents like Clement and Llew.
Kenny was always a great Godparent to Aero in particular when she remained alone the Top Dog of Eze, regularly walking her along the Grande Corniche better than I ever did. I was more the beach and ball launching pet owner!
Gill and Jenny were Super Aunts to Rachel and Chandler, borrowing them for walks on the Sussex Downs.
The tribe of dogs that have lived at Pookhill Barn and Auberge de la Croix du Pape have been such wonderful companions … starting with Chandler and Rachel and Jet in Sussex.
Chandler and Rachel came to the barn as puppies from a beautiful litter of beautiful half-Springer spaniels … named after Friends characters along with Monica, Phoebe and Joey-Ross by Mark and Lorraine White … whose pooch (another "Jet" I think) was her own pedigree. Calling out “Chandler" while walking the dogs at Cuckmere Valley was a little embarrassing, so I called him Charlie instead! Phoebe and Monica’s names were not surprisingly changed by new “human handlers” (servants)!
Chandler left us when a horrible farmer neighbour shot him for chasing sheep. I don’t know how someone could do that.
He and Rachel would run across the fields if they saw a rabbit.
If he had actually hurt another animal I could understand. He was beautiful and was probably just herding them … after all he looked like a shaggy Aussie Border Collie. He is resting at peace under the Chandler Cherry Tree at Pookill barn.
Then my neighbour in Streatham, London, couldn’t cope with the giant galoot labrador Jet-Lee … so he came to live at Pookhill barn in Sussex to keep Rachel company. They soon became romantically involved!.
We were told he was a pedigree Labrador bought from the K9 pet shop at Elephant and Castle. I think he was really half Great Dane judging by his immense 55kg frame! Daughter Aero was only 33 kilos.
Imagine Jet having puppies with Springer size Rachel! Two litters! Including some golden pups and sadly several still born ones who were laid to rest under another tree at the barn. Probably a Cherry too. But there were plenty of puppies who sent to homes far and wide.
Aero’s parents were Jet and Echo.
Chris wanted Jet to have puppies so he went to visit Amanda and Bill at their farm and it was lust at first sight … and so "Big Bertha" was born.
The many puppies Jet had with Rachel in two litters were such fun to have … and the photos of them running around was one of the great joys of allowing a dog to have at least one litter of pups … and they all found happy homes.
We always gave them away except for covering some vet costs.
Kenny celebrated Aero’s life with me along with Sarah and Elise and Aero’s big wolf of a daughter, Chutney, who is Elise’s great companion.
Elise would see other offspring of Aero and Stitch around the walking routes of Nice and Villefranche.
And these. Pups have mémories and recognise each other.
Aero’s Lab-Visler boy Dexter went to England and had nine multi-coloured pups with another Lab-Vis.
One of the pups … Mocha (such a beautiful Chocolate colour) came to Nice to live with a friend’s family.
So the doggies we have had live on. I wish more. Of them allowed their pups to have families of their own … I would now like to have a descendant of Aero, Jet or Rachel or a distant cousin … maybe through Jet if he sires any more pups. And they will be their own pedigree.
If I wanted to give another dog a home I would probably go to the local vet which had a file of dogs and cats needing new homes.
I think a new cat might be a good idea to have as the Auberge ratter.
If anyone would like to add their memories of all the pets it would be greatly appreciated...
