A dog changed my life (2)

So, Jodi wasn't the first dog in my life. In my mid 20s, living in rural Scotland, a friend turned up at my cottage one day with a little black puppy. It was a ploy to persuade me to live permanently in Scotland -  but that is another long story of:

. minor aristocracy, 

. pheasant shooting, 

. Paratroopers, 

. a castle who's name is the same as a paddock on one of Gisborne's backcountry sheep stations, 

. bagpipes serenades,

. a poacher who arrived in NZ as a stowaway,

and so much more...

Freddy was a labrador, whippet cross. He was sweet, biddable and easy to accommodate into my life. I ended up bringing him back to Aotearoa New Zealand when he was about a year old. He lived for about 16 years, going everywhere with me.

Then it wasn't until many years later, when I was in my 50s that I inherited my younger brother's dog, a golden labrador, called Nikki, brother having gone to Australia to live and work. I can't remember how old she was but she was with me for about 3-4 years, until she succumbed to cancer. She was perhaps the most gentle, sweetest natured dog I had ever known. Textbook perfect!! With her I acquainted myself with some of the many wonderful dog walking areas.

I introduced Jodi to my well-fenced quarter acre section in Stoke, Nelson. An area that should  have been perfectly adequate for a pup. But the extensive planting of fruit and vegetables and the addition of a large fenced-off chook run started to seem way too small. So many precious plants were dug up and replaced with burried bones. 

We needed to head out into the great outdoors!