Paddy's send-off!

Only a short blog today, just to describe to you what happened on Sunday when we sent Paddy off to join his many other dog friends in the ether.

You can read all about Paddy in the other blog, then you will know why he had to have a special send off.

I waited until Mum's next visit before we did it and arranged that he would be scattered into the River Dart just below the Weir by the little beachy bit. He loved that place, he would run off into the water at the ducks and swans and stand there, tongue looking madly back at me waiting for me to throw something into the water.
He never got out of his depth, a little like me, but always loved to cool down in the river.

I have no photos in this blog, none were taken, just a visual memory from those who were there, and a written one for those of you who weren't. After all, you wouldn't take photos at a persons funeral would you?

I have really grieved for Paddy, as have the other two dogs, they have been visibly depressed, I got so run down I made myself ill again. All three of us have been a mess. Lulu, however hasn't appeared to be missing him, but, she is a cat! The send off was needed so we can all make a fresh start and look forward, taking in some of Paddy's positive attributes on the way.

I packed up my rucksack, two bottles of bubbly, some pretty plastic drinking vessels, towel and Paddy's ashes. Mum had some flowers that we would throw in the river after he was scattered. Then I leaded up  Murphy and Finnegan and we made our way over the sportsfield to the Weir and along to the beach.

We stood there in the sunshine for a few moments, enjoying the warmth of the sunshine on our faces. The wind was still a little chilly, but nothing abnormal for March, but the sun was gorgeous and perfect weather for the send-off.
I looked over to my right and saw Rob coming down the path. Rob and Kathy from The Bayhorse pub are amazing, always there to support, and always look out for me. Then a few seconds later Christine, my neighbour turned up with a little bouquet of flowers.

At this point, two swans came gracefully round the corner, I had invited them and their appearance pleased me. It was time to send him off.

I took off my trainers and socks, I had 3/4 length trousers on, prepared for the river, I took Christine's bouquet and put it in my hoodie pocket to carry out. I took the plastic bag of Paddy out of the scatter pouch and set off into the river.
Murphy and Finnegan were in there playing with another dog, the owner was throwing stones in to the river for them to chase.
I then tried to open the plastic bag that Paddy was in, the knot was tight and I struggled, now, I kept a brave face, but honestly the river was so cold I could already feel my feet getting numb, but I smiled and carried on until finally the bag was open.

I called the boys over and gently emptied the ashes into the river in front of me. The wind caught them slightly and then I turned round and a swan was right next to me, it must have thought I had food, it was too close for comfort, I backed off scattering the rest of the ashes, threw in the flowers and made my way back to dry land.
It could have been a recipe for disaster, Mum had also started throwing her flowers in, which Finn and Murph thought was for them, so they leapt towards the swan to collect the flower heads and return them to Mum. Finn decided they were too tasty and started to eat them.
We completely forgot that they would retrieve anything we threw in, it was hilarious!

The swans stayed close by, I like to think as a mark of respect, I opened the bottle of Moet and we toasted to Paddy, sipping the bubbles in the sunshine as his ashes settled into the river.

We could see where they had settled on the river bed, one of the swans went over to the area and started to nibble at the ashes, it continued to nibble and we had to laugh, Paddy was entering his nemesis! What a finish! Paddy had the last laugh, we could only hope that he gave the swan indigestion.

We had some time of contemplation, some happy stories and laughed at the other two leaping about in the river. Christine left us, then I dried off the dogs a bit, put on my shoes and Rob invited us back to the pub for the wake. We hadn't planned anything and so agreed, taking the dogs with us.

The send off couldn't have gone any better, it had all those little elements of Paddy that I adored so much, friendship, companionship, caring, sunny, funny, stupid, and to top it all, as he was scattered his little duck friends came by with a large amount of quacking, as if to say, bye bye Paddy, we did have fun whilst you were alive.

Now he can rest in peace. Goodbye Paddy, legend of the dog world, and ours. xxx