Life In 79

A few years ago when told that one of my colleagues wasn't coming into work that day because their dog had just died, I ashamedly rolled my eyes and thought 'get a grip'. Having just lost our family dog recently, I can now see how the loss of a pet can have such an impact. A friend said he felt more upset when his dog died than when his mother died. But as harsh as that sounded, it is understandable when you consider how a family pet plays such a large part in the day to day life of the family. I didn't realise quite how entwined my life had become with her until now she is no longer about. For fourteen years (after a visit to the bathroom) the first few tasks of the morning would involve the dog...walk, breakfast, tummy tickle, etc. Last thing at night... take her outside for one last pee, give her her snack for having a pee (she was a Labrador), tuck her into bed and wish her sweet dreams.  In the time our children have grown up, become teenagers, done GCSEs, A-Levels...

Anna, my wife, is obsessed with old French houses. We can't pass an estate agent's window without her veering off course to peruse the sweeties on offer. She will beckon me over, “look at this renovation job” she will say, pointing at a pile of stones.  She watches all the property programmes. Any programme with 'home', 'sun' or 'DIY' in the title, and she's there, drinking it in. On a glorious sunny day in France there is nowhere Anna likes more than sitting in front of the TV watching 'A Place In the Sun' with Jasmine or Laura. Now that we have just finished renovating our own house after five years, she is getting restless feet and has been looking for somewhere to g î te-ify. We have looked at a selection of agricultural buildings in various states of collapse. Must have: structural damage, a leaking roof, inhabited by creatures, copious amounts of lead paint and a pungent smell. Anna has the thickest lensed rose-tinted glasses as every o...