Homecoming

 After a day together with family and friends dropping by, we held the wake, all of us sleeping together in one room one last time. In the morning we laid her out in her wee box, covered her in flowers, and drove off to the Totsuka crematorium. Due to the recent typhoon damage here in Yokohama (the breakwater and dyke collapsed) our usual private crematorium was so damaged with heavy seawater flooding, they can no longer cater for larger pets...

 They weighed her in, box, bathtowel, flowers and all at 10.1kg. What a tiny setter, she gave her all to be with us just that little bit longer...
and so we waited, praying for her, and after an hour or so 

we were able to pick up her brittle, clean little bones and arrange them in the urn, the head on top, and carry her safely home with us. It's a very big urn, they don't offer the pulverization option, and they wanted to keep her head intact, so she has great presence on top of her wee cage with Sofie and Chiaro di Luna, their little memorial chains gracing her ornate white box.

When we got home Dr Koyama, our vet, had sent a beautiful bouquet of flowers. In all the months of caring, I could not have been so strong without his warm and expert advice, giving me just the right amount of encouragement and support to see it through to a natural passing. I would call him up early first thing in the morning, bawling my eyes out as I asked for advice, and on request, he was willing to come by at least three times even though it's quite a drive, which helped me to carry her just that little bit longer, knowing if it really got too bad or urgent, he would be there to catch us and hold us safe. I would end up cancelling my appointments for house-calls, but I knew he understood what Claire really needed and based his decisions and advice on a seasoned knowledge of ageing pets, and I am so grateful. Claire and I feel blessed in his care. Nothing like being home again.