Farewell Mr C

Last week we lost our beloved Charlie to the leukemia he had been diagnosed with in November.

Naturally it has been a very tough week but we feel we have started to turn a corner and helping us to do this was compiling our Charlie photos on a digital photo frame we bought. Doing this we re-discovered many older photos we had forgotton from his early years, so I thought I would collect a few of the good ones to share.

The plan was perhaps half a dozen pictures or so, but of course eliminating ones to use is too difficult so this became a rather long post......I'll keep the writing to a minimum !

So, born 28th June 2001 we have an early puppy photo, taken in the garden of the Norfolk farm of Lyveden Kennel. When we went to visit the breeder, Charlie most definately chose us by bounding up and smothering us with attention. Something we discovered wouldn't change.....

A few weeks later in our 'still works in progress garden' at Crumps Butts, Bicester Charlie was honing his attack skills on all cleaning implements. He never grew out of his disgust for brooms, mops or vacuums.

He also developed his fun & characterful side

Without doubt Charlies best four-legged friend in life was my sisters dog, a border collie called Bess. Charlie met Bess within a short time of arriving in our home and for the first 5 years of his life met up at least once per week and enjoyed numerous walks and holidays together.

When in the same house or on a walk they were inseparable

Despite being about one year younger than Bess, Charlie was more of a 'big brother' to her. He certainly wasn't a gentleman and would never have considered giving up his seat for her !.......

Probably Charlies favourite pastime was going for a walk. He would tolerate a quick stomp around the block, but a more hearty hike would be his preference. He had many great country walks including ones from our holiday cottage in Devon in the autumn of 2004........

Or a Devon beach

And he continued these walks once we moved to Canada, seen here at the beach in Tofino

And closer to home, this one taken in October on Cypress Mountain.

Whether a beach walk or a country hike they all ended the same way...........

Well, speaking of snoozing, Charlie certainly mastered the art of bedding down for a good sleep when the opportunity arose.

Preferably somewhere he could really stretch out.........

Although sometimes he had to remove those pesky blankets that people put on the furniture to try and protect them, such as was the case on this furniture in this rented house........

After a good walk he didn't even care that his coat colour clashed with the hideous little chairs in a holiday cottage we rented

Any position would do when you're suffering jet-lag after being moved halfway around the world.......

Back at home, if the sofa was in use, then an armchair would suffice.......

And if all else fails.......improvise...........

Still, it's always better if you've got someone to share the moment with.......

Charlie was also quite famous for his sticks. Not necessarily the fetching of them, although he always did a good job of that. No, it was the constant need to 'trade-up' that became his forte.
Most walks would start with a handy, easy to carry & throw stick of some description......

However, it would never be long before he would find the opportunity to move up to something meatier........

........and again............

Until eventually he would find a huge, heavy piece of wood you could hardly carry, let alone throw for him. He would never give up though, he would always keep trying to carry that huge lump of wood and always be happy to share it with you.

He was perhaps a little more reluctant to share his bones though........they were his pride and joy. After being given a new bone he would guard it and keep it safe taking it everywhere he went - into the garden, to bed with him at night - until eventually he gives in to temptation and starts chewing it. Then he chews and chews and chews until it's all gone.

Charlie also loved the snow.

A walk was double the fun with white stuff and snowballs to catch.

Christmas and birthdays were also marked by the present opening. Charlie was always a willing participant wanting to open not only his own presents, but everybody elses as well.

Charlie also loved roadtrips......

The chance to take a walk somewhere new......

More stick fetching.......

And a bit of sight seeing.......

........and hanging out with friends.

If the roadtrip went really well he would also squeeze in his other favourite pastime....swimming.....


These were some of our favourite memories and photos of Charlie. We hope you enjoyed them. There will be other dogs, but there won't be another Mr C.

There isn't really a whole lot else we can say......we miss Charlie dearly and we were robbed of him so early but we do remember the wonderful 7.5 years we spent together and the joy he brought to our friends & family.