December 1996
And so the day came when it was agreed that Catherine and I could collect our new puppy. Earlier that week I had let Catherines mum know about what was about to happen. Unfortunately Rosie reacted when I told her about what I was getting Catherine for christmas and Catherine, being in the same room, had guessed what was going on. I can still hear Rosies voice saying “Oh My God” over and over again. It didn’t matter much to me though - it was probably a good thing that Catherine found out beforehand I surmised at the time.
Over the next couple of days we agreed on a name – it was to be Jemima. A name I hadn’t considered but Catherine chose it after Jemima Goldsmith whom I only knew as being moderately famous.
When saturday came we set off early and arrived in good time at the farm. Jean welcomed us in and this time sat us both down and talked to us about the commitment we were entering into and then set about sorting out the paperwork. It didn’t take too long though and before we knew it our little girl was being led out to us with the new lead and collar we had bought for her. All the other puppies from the litter except for one had already been collected and I felt a little sad at what was about to happen. Jemimas mother was walking about and I can still remember by own heartache at the thought that this parting was forever. Never again would Jemima be in the company of her precious Mother. I felt sorry too for the lone boy that Jemima was leaving behind. Jeans husband led Jemima out of the small concrete paddock and commented upon Jemimas dressage like movement. Indeed I can remember the sight – she was in a slow graceful canter almost like a rocking horse. It was the way she would always be as she grew older – I never tired of the sight of her running and the way that she moved. We took her lead, said our goodbyes and got in the car. Driving away was a wrench for me but Jemima didn’t look back, only forwards, sitting on a light blue towel on Catherines lap.
The journey back to Basingstoke took around 3 hours. Jemima lay on Catherines lap facing forward all the way there and spent most of the time lightly panting. It was to be a feature of her early months since she was used to living in an outhouse and any kind of man made heat be it central heating or a warm cuddle would be too hot for her and she would wriggle off to find somewhere cooler to be.
