Thank you for all your kind comments

A big thank you to all who have left loving comments for Lucy. We are still upset at her loss, so apologies for not adding to my blog for some time - my heart was not really into it just lately. Also, Lucy's portrait still has to be completed. I will complete it... hopefully before Christmas. Even now, whenever I pass her incomplete portrait, her eyes follow me; her portrait will be the best I have ever done - I just need to be in the right frame of mind to sit down and continue with it. But I will find the strength - Lucy will give it to me.

Lucy was an abandoned dog whom we adopted. Her previous owners left her with the outside rubbish/garbage when they moved home. Lucy did not want to leave her home so stayed in the area. Then the area had floods and Lucy survived them - it is said that she would swim in the waters, her head held up high in order to find food. Yest she never wanted to leave her home - how cruel of her previous owners to abandon her like that. But she survived, and kept fighting (that was Lucy all over - a real fighter; however her fight was not without damage. Lucy must have been hit by a passing car at some stage as her back leg showed signs of a break at some time. Then she was finally rescued from the floods and we adopted her on our first introduction. The first thing we did was give her a good bath and then take her to the Vet for examination/check-up and then treatment. Lucy's doctor was wonderful - even shipping in special antibiotics for her from Spain... and a long period of continued treatment followed... trying this, trying that - all in an effort to avoid an operation as she probably had a dangerous cyst on her ovaries and the Vet did not think her heart was strong enough to survive an operation. So we persevered with alternative treatments. Lucy fought on - enjoying a good, and love-filled 2-years with Cristina, myself and of course, Robin. Robin misses her also. Lucy (my little 'girlie dog') is gone - but never, ever, will she be forgotten. I just hope she is getting all the Chourico she wants in her 'doggy heaven'. She was a good assistant chef, always watching the food as it was cooking... just to make sure I did not burn anything! She was also my 'chief food tester', strangely enough. But I really miss the 'click, click, click of her 4 small paws on the tiled floors here - I even imagine I still hear them, some nights -- maybe I really do, and will - 4 always...!
We both thank you all again, for your kind words of comfort.

Robert and Cristina