Goldie getting used to the single life.

I wish I knew how they really feel.

We had our first weekend at the beach without Billy. Goldie ran around the backyard looking for ... what? Billy? I wish I knew.

We had some visitors, the sister-in-law and her partner. And their two dogs, a Shih-Tzu Pomeranian cross (Lucky) and a cross between that dog and a Cocker Spaniel (Sooty). Literally. Lucky is Sooty's father (sire?). Lucky got lucky!

And how cute is Sooty. A small dog, but with spaniel paws, spaniel ears and those beautiful spaniel eyes!

In they came at the front door, or should I say in they flew like two flying doormats. A growl from Goldie was the initial greeting, then we let them all out into the back yard to sort things out for themselves.

They tore around like rabbits on steroids.

After a while we opened the back door and in they flew at a hundred miles an hour. They spent the next five minutes investigating the house, then they found themselves a comfortable spot in the lounge room and settled down.

Except Sooty kept jumping up onto the couch. Her 'owners' kept telling her to get down, and we kept telling them she was fine. (If you have dogs you are training to keep off the furniture, it would not be a good idea to visit us, as your training will go right off the rails!)

I ended up with Sooty in my lap, stroking her beautiful black curls and whispering sweet nothings into her spaniel ears. She loved it. Goldie wasn't too fussed, she's over being jealous.

Went for a late afternoon walk to the beach. Go crazy, dogs! What a sight. Bittersweet, of course, as we were missing Billy's familiar lope along the sand.

At the end of the weekend, back home to the suburbs. Goldie went outside to an empty back yard, looking for ... what?