This will be a very painful page for me, it evokes so many memories over a long period. I shall probably not visit this place often. However, the cats and dogs on here played such an enormously important part in my past, in the growing of my children, in the memories of times gone by. They contributed so much to our happiness that they deserve their place in this small patch of immortality.

Sam

Brown Classic Domestic Longhair

Sam passed away on the 12th October, 2003. He was 19 years old. A most loved cat and deeply missed. My rescue kid when his owner died when Sam was 12 years old.

Shentong Carousel (Caro)

Seal Point Siamese

1968-1987

This is the girl who started it all for me. If it wasn't Seal...it wasn't a Siamese!!! Oh those bye gone one-eyed days!! My first breeding girl, nowadays she would be called 'apple headed'...she was considered typey then....no matter, her personality and fabulous temperament made her a much loved member of our family. She was a gentle mother, both to her kids and mine!! She passed away with heart failure at 19 years of age.

Kenden Sable Suyin (Sooky)

Brown Burmese

1969 - 1991

Breeder: Veema De Garis

My first Burmese cat. She taught me many things about cats! as did her most generous and knowledgeable breeder. Sooky was the foundation line of many Mikata Burmese to follow in her paw prints. Fabulous temperament, bed mate, companion. Pictured here at 20 years old, the day following having had two teeth extracted. She lived a further 2 years and passed away at age 22 years. She sleeps under the peach tree outside my back door, her favourite sun baking spot in her advanced old age.

Mikata Sable Tukata (Tuki)

Brown Burmese

1971-1991

(Daughter of Sooky)

My first Burmese breeding girl of my prefix. So like her mother, patient and gentle. She too further affirmed my love of Burmese. A wonderful mother, my close companion. She and her mother Sooky were inseparable, slept together, shared the care of each others babies. Tuki passed away with renal failure, 6 weeks after her mothers death. She sleeps next to her mother under the peach tree.

There have also been dogs in my life.....I begin to have difficulties in describing a group of three, who grew old together, and who all left me within 3 months of each other, leaving a sorrow almost too much to bear. They have all been gone for over 6 years, yet still I find myself getting 'sniffly' and teary at the inner memories these pictures produce.

Vaubans Mr Christian (Chrissie)

Newfoundland

Chrissie grew to be an enormous dog even by 'Newfie' standards. 32" at the shoulder. Weight 82kg. A dog who loved everyone, a true gentle giant. He had a huge 'coat' and in summer we clipped him off, he looked like an 'odd' Great Dane, however he was always frisky when clipped short. No words at all can ever describe how precious this dog was to our family. A true gentleman, incapable of temper, loved to be with us wherever we went, particularly down the beach. A strong swimmer, a day at the beach was a delight to him. He is pictured here (clipped off) with my youngest daughter Kirsty. Chrissie passed away from a heart attack, aged 15 years.

Kaffa (Prefix unknown)

Newfoundland

Kaffa was dumped at the Animal Welfare League....a casualty of divorce. She was ill, thin and was marked as "Euthanasia". She was a year younger than Chrissie (2 years at the time). Of course she came home and was nursed back to health, during which time we all grew to love her typical Newfie gentleness. She and Chrissie bonded, and until their deaths were inseparable. Kaffa suffered from Cardiomyopathy for the last 9 months of her life, she passed away 4 weeks after Chrissie, aged 14 years.

Peppi

Corgi Cross

Peppi, well what can one say about Peppi. He also was dumped at the AWL (I worked there for 8 years...hence Kaffa & Peppi). Peppi was a casualty of an impending birth. He spent 2 weeks at the AWL during which time I tried very hard to ignore him! Hoping he would be sold...not to be, his number was put on the board and I ended up driving home another dog!! Peppi, in truth was the most ornery dog I have ever owned...stubborn, and at first distrustful and wary. Yet over the next few weeks became the most loving dog ever. He was 9 years old when I got him. Chrissie & Kaffa welcomed him and they became a trio....an odd looking trio. As he settled Peppi became devoted to us and totally loyal. A great watchdog...the Newfs would let anyone in! He was the protector and the guard. At aged 12 years he developed Diabetes...I have never known a dog to more patiently endure his twice daily insulin injections. He would wait at the fridge each morning for his 'shot' uncomplainingly. Because of his Diabetes, Peppi developed Cushings disease and passed away aged 15 years....7 weeks after Chrissie, three weeks after Kaffa.

The deaths of these three dogs, so soon after each other, was incredibly hard to accept. All of a sudden no welcome bark to come home to, no thumping of a tail against the door, much, much too quiet. Much too lonely, even with all the cats.

Then I saw an advert for a Corgi puppy....a Pembroke....and we welcomed Taffy into our home....once again we have a loving, loyal companion, a watchdog, a friend.....one who knows my moods better than me, and the gap in my life is once again filled.