Sadly Monty our 15 year old Welsh Springer Spaniel died on the morning of Saturday 16.December.
 
He had survived a series of strokes over the last month or so . He seemed to make a complete recovery within a very short time on each occasion and we had become rather blasé about them. On Friday evening he appeared to have another stroke and looked to be recovering but, by Saturday morning, it was clear that he was badly affected by it and even his amazing powers of recovery were not going to help. We took him to the vet and he died at 10.00 in the morning.
 
We got Monty ( or Dalrada Red Bonnet to give him his full title) just after we moved to Tarbert in December 2001. He loved Tarbert and particularly the hills around the village where he enjoyed chasing the wild deer. He and our previous Welsh Springer - Bernard - were great dogs to have on the West Coast. They were both great companions and travelled everywhere with us. Bernard died in 2001 and Monty clearly missed him.
 
Generally spaniels only live to around 12 or so years of age. Thus we did not expect to take Monty with us on our sailing adventure. However, he had other plans and, when it became clear that, at 14 years old, he was still pretty fit, we were happy to take him with us in the knowledge that we may have to change our plans for going to the Carribean as a result .
 
Monty always loved sailing and was an ideal companion on the boat. We really enjoyed having him with us and he added to our pleasure of the trip. His continued enjoyment of life afloat was a major factor in deciding that we would go to the Med rather than the Carribean . As a result we believe that the trip will be considerably more fulfilling than our original plan for a 2 year atlantic circuit. We are grateful to Monty for that.
 
It became clear when we arrived in Lagos that his arthritis was limiting his ability to walk more than a few hundred yards but he was also clearly enjoying the Portuguese climate. He slowly became more frail but with a continued zest for life. His 15th birthday on 8.November was great fun.
 
It is 20 years since we have been without a dog and we are both having to get used to new routines in our lives with no Monty to look after. Tiercel will seem a little emptier from now on.