Dear Zak,

It’s been a while my boy. Time to bring you up to date, on Tia at least.

We think she must be about 10 years old by now. Marianne and I hadn’t been going out long when I got that fateful call from Di Fynn at the Wingate Golf Course. “Are you missing a dog?” We weren’t of course but when we saw the photo we said we’d take her if she wasn’t claimed. Of course she wasn’t (we think she’d been dumped along with her brother) and, after a brush with parvovirus, history was made. That was at least nine years ago and we thought she was about a year old then.

She was a pretty dog then and she’s still good looking but a lot more shaggy. Unlike me her hair has become more dense with age. We’ve had to call in a professional groomer on a few occasions to get her coat under control. She even has hairy paws – a bit like a hobbit! The hair around her neck and ears really is fine enough to qualify as fur.

Our TT. Still a sucker for affection and still licks whenever she can. Still as gentle as ever. She’ll be around for a few more years yet.

Love you as always.