Sombre

The mood is subdued in the Tepeka household this evening, following today's discovery of the tragic passing of Puff, the girl child's beloved guinea pig.

At the age of four years and six or so months, Puff had a pretty good innings for a guinea pig, but her loss is still being keenly felt. Her funeral ceremony this evening was simple yet dignified, much as she herself was in life. 

We've reminisced, laughed, cried. We've remembered the good times (the morning we found Puff had produced two unexpected babies, for instance) and the bad (me, stuck in a car with Puff and the dogs for 1,000km through France).  Our lives will be lacking something without her (the smell of guinea pig is one thing that springs to mind). It's been a dangerous year to be a pet in the Tepeka house - the death toll so far stands at five koi carp, six goldfish and a guinea pig. 

So farewell, Puff. You bit anyone who came near you and used to poo literally everywhere, but you were loved and will be missed.