McRainy

Bought Jax a new ball. Had the same one before which he destroyed. Goes everywhere with him now, toilet, sleep, everywhere. 

Better rename this thread Dead Pets. 
Concur (with dog?) though, losing them is the same grieving process as losing a person. They can also be a lightning rod for other, bottled up emotions. 
Animals are innocent, and their love is pure. I don't know how anyone can be indifferent to them. 

Destroyed me when my last dog passed away. That was 2001. Buried him myself in his favourite spot, which was one of the hardest things I've ever done, even though that sounds stupid. Hit me much harder than the death of parents. Said then, never again, and I've not had one since. But when I retire, I will hopefully have another one or two. Maybe that way, they'll outlive me. 

I echo this completely. I've had my dog for over 10 years.
Initially she was there as a family pet, two young kids who we wanted to be ok with animals.
Then she was psychotherapy, difficulties at work. 
She then graduated to running partner as I began running after a considerable absence.
Now I mainly work from home she curls up by my feet and watches over me, listening while I draft the odd email and alerting me to the arrival of the post.
This week we're in Prague (good suggestions) and she's providing petting therapy as the old man is in remission from lymphoma and is loving her company.
The problem is that with dogs you invest so much action into them, (and implicit emotions too) and them into you, that when they go it isn't just absence they leave but a huge emotional void. 

I’m lucky in that my dog is still alive, but the day he’s not will hit me hard. Very hard.
As I work from home I’m with him everyday, literally is my shadow, can’t go to toilet without him making sure I made it there safely. 
Death is a certainty for us all, and one that pet owners are aware of but probably not on our minds when we bring them home.
Can’t speak for anyone else but it never crossed my mind that one day I will have to say goodbye. Same way as I try not to think about the day my heart stops ticking. Back of the mind and lock those thoughts away.
My case is a little different as I say being with him all day, but that’s not to say I’m more attached than those who work 9-5, I don’t have the dog being the first one to welcome me home excited as ever every night whilst the missus grunts a hello.
Maybe a gerbil and goldfish is pushing it but I would certainly allow pet owners to take a couple of days off work when their pet dies be it cat, dog or even horse.
We all deal with things differently, some feel more attached to animals than humans which might sound odd, but when you have had the unconditional love from a dog and no arguments over who’s turn it is to hoover it’s understandable.

Just completed my 250th parkrun must be mad at my age. Wasn’t quick and wasn’t pretty.

Not an issue, but a suggestion.
Would it be possible/desirable to split the matchday thread in two once the teams have been announced?
A pre match thread and a match thread for instance. 
It would help keep things easy to follow if you could click on the thread and know exactly where it will start from time wise.
For instance today was the first time I've looked at the thread since it was created, and to find out the line up I've had to skip to the last page, then reverse up until I found it. 
It's similar after a game, I like to go back and read people's thoughts on the game and the line up pre match, but it's a lot of guesswork to find where such posts start.
I don't know if this is possible, or if anyone else has the same issues, so I'm just throwing the suggestion out.

Not bad on an iPhone ?

Hi all, long time visitor, rarely a poster. Thought I'd drop these photos, knees, included. Right city, wrong hemisphere. Top photo circa 1988, bottom snap May this year. Been a tragic since Brian and Peter days, not been so positive since the Bald Eagle had us flying. Once a ram, always a ram. COYR.

Funny how the time flies. 

I was in 1980!

My grandchilds knees,view from our unit in Brisbane.Top shot is the pool on the roof other shots from our verandah. 

Nervously awaiting the result of the MOT on my van..

Entered this quaint country church.  Having tried it, i now understand the logic behind a high pulpit.  It's not just so the congregation can look up at the priest, it is so the priest can look down on the congregation. 
Felt good up there, i think i may have missed my true vocation.
 
 

Finally we got some warm summer weather and we spent a day exploring the western countryside.  Found this natural spring pond full of vegetation and young trout and not a tourist in sight.  Lovely.
 

What do you call two crows?
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
attempted murder

Montenegro sunset beer. Blimey this place is beautiful. Missing you all
Love
Stive
Xxx
 

Haven't got the foggiest. 

Back on it now @Angry Ram

In Oxford. Pacing myself with a squash as it will get messy later.
 

Looks like Swanage, at around about the spot where I was eating fish and chips last Tuesday.