I always knew that one day I would have to write this post, but that doesn't make it any easier.
Just over three weeks ago, dear Humphrey passed away.
I haven't felt able to write about it until now, needing a bit of time to come to terms with it by myself.
You know that thing where, when people are nice to you, you kind of fall apart? Well what with it being the build up to Christmas, and me working on my own, I had to try and keep it together, so couldn't risk a blog post opening the floodgates really.
Some of you may have noticed a bit of a lull in posts on here, Facebook, Twitter a little while ago... well that was me just not knowing what to say. It seemed ridiculous to be writing about advent calenders and pixies when I had just lost my precious little friend...
I don't have children. Humphrey meant the world to me. He worked with me in the office, sat with me on the sofa in the evenings and slept on the landing at night. Well, okay, sometimes on the bed.
Over the nine years I had him we did lots together. We moved house three times, closed the shop, went on holiday together. And he has seen me through some really difficult stuff.
He had been unwell for a few months. His teeth had started to grow a bit oddly - so common in bunnies - and sharp points were forming and causing painful mouth ulcers for him. It meant he couldn't eat properly. Thank God I have a wonderful, wonderful vet (and insurance) so we were able to keep him going for a while longer, with little dental operations. But the last one, well he just didn't recover properly. He was starting to suffer and I couldn't help him. He didn't want to eat, even his most favourite things, it was heart breaking. So, on the 7th November, I made the decision to say goodbye. He died it my arms at the vets at 5.30pm.
He is now buried in the garden outside. I am going to plant some bulbs there for the spring.
So, there we are.
I have written the blog post I was dreading.
I have so, so many happy memories from the last nine years, and too many photos I want to share, so I have put together a little film with some of my favourite pictures and clips. I've been working at it, on and off, for a couple of weeks, it has been a really nice thing to do and has helped me a bit.
If this video doesn't work, this link should take you directly to the film on YouTube - http://youtu.be/xgTX_bwaj7E
Cottontails is not the same without him, and of course there will be another bunny in time. Probably in the New Year. Definitely a rescue rabbit. It's just the way it goes with our little pets isn't it.
And until then I will try to resume posts and also to share news on the ducks and the goats, not quite so cuddly and they never sleep in the bed, but of course I love them too :)
