I used to call him Elsie cos his initials were L.C. and little Leonard bun is named after him, he adored Harriet, she could just not put a paw wrong and he died on the 29th September, 1999 at the very grand old age of 89! He was ready to go and I have to confess that there were times in the later years of his life when we did not see eye to eye BUT he was always my dad and his love for animals never waned.
He was as daft as a brush, quite an old eccentric really - I hope that nobody will be offended by this but I remember going to see him with my nephew and his partner when he was in the Chapel of Rest. He was in his shroud in the coffin and we were all emotional as you can imagine, I turned to Shaun and said "Do you know, it would be just like Grandad to be lying there and suddnely jump up and say Boo! I was only having you on!!" And when we came back from the crematorium in the black funeral car, the undertaker's assistant was being very solemn and respectful and I quipped to him: "OOooh this is rather plush, any chance of a lift to Tesco?" My dad, I know, would have approved wholeheartedly!!!
What I really want to say to you all, apart from telling you a little bit about him, is that if he is there at the Bridge he will certainly be making sure that all our little creatures who have passed over are happy, he will enjoy being with them more than with humans. And more than anything else, I hope he has been reunited with my darling Harriet.
He was as daft as a brush, quite an old eccentric really - I hope that nobody will be offended by this but I remember going to see him with my nephew and his partner when he was in the Chapel of Rest. He was in his shroud in the coffin and we were all emotional as you can imagine, I turned to Shaun and said "Do you know, it would be just like Grandad to be lying there and suddnely jump up and say Boo! I was only having you on!!" And when we came back from the crematorium in the black funeral car, the undertaker's assistant was being very solemn and respectful and I quipped to him: "OOooh this is rather plush, any chance of a lift to Tesco?" My dad, I know, would have approved wholeheartedly!!!
What I really want to say to you all, apart from telling you a little bit about him, is that if he is there at the Bridge he will certainly be making sure that all our little creatures who have passed over are happy, he will enjoy being with them more than with humans. And more than anything else, I hope he has been reunited with my darling Harriet.