Back home...

We were away for a break last week, Farmer John and I. I know going bush is not everybody's idea of an ideal holiday, but I love it and was looking forward to the trip like an excited child.... looking forward to spending time out in the middle of nowhere, recharging the batteries surrounded by nothing but quiet. We never usually drag pets along on holidays, but since we were going bush, we decided to take our Nala dog with us after checking with the property owners that if it was ok. A few days roaming around in the bush would be fun for her as much as for us.

It is a good days drive from here to the Flinders Ranges. I love road trims and all went to plan.. Farmer John did the driving, while I had the luxury of just keeping us fed and hydrated (very important job) while watching the landscape slide by. From the station (Aussie term for very, very large farms) we bumped along a rather rough 4WD track for another 40min and arrived just as the sun was beginning to set. It was just as I had hoped for - perfect. A small (replica) shepherds hut, basic but beautiful, set in a creek bed and surrounded by large gum trees. The scene was set for a well deserved break.

Sadly it did not go like that at all and we are back home without our sweet Nala dog. She found and ate a dingo bait. It was horrible and so sad to watch our sweet girl die. She was only a year old and so full of life, everything was one big adventure for this puppy. She was so much fun and so clever, always active and kept us on our toes. But she is gone now. Needless to say we packed up and went home after having buried her in bush. It was awfully sad, but there was just no way we could even think about bringing her home.

I have picked up the flat balls, old knotted socks (her very favourite toy), sticks and at least a dozen pine cones that were scattered around the house. Everywhere feels so very quiet. I have lost pets before, but they have been old or sick and I knew it was time and the right thing to happen. It was sad but it didn't feel wrong. This is different. It feels so wrong. It did not need to happen. She may not have been with us for long, but she has left an awfully big hole in our hearts.

Rest in Peace Sweet Girl