R.I.P Nigel.

“Shed a tear” Merlot ?

I’ve been in bits

I'm so sad to hear this. If anyone hasn't read it, Monty's book 'Nigel, my family and other dogs' is a really moving read. He writes beautifully and he will be heartbroken I'm sure.

Very sad, but he had a lovely life.

Every time I saw Nigel I thought of our lovely Justin.

DD1, aged about six at the time, took him in the 'Best Child Handler' class at a local dog show and won hands down. Jussie gave me his 'Don't worry, Mum, leave it to me' look as they entered the ring. She didn't have to do much 'handling' and they stole the show.

DH used to show parties of school children around the farm, especially the huge potato store. A favourite party trick was to pick a child to carve his/her initials on a potato and rub their hands all over it. I would wait outside with Justin while DH hid the potato in the mound. Justin would then smell the child's hand, and search for the potato. A trained gun dog, he would always find it and take it back to the child to huge applause.

He lived to be twelve like Nigel, eventually succumbing to arthritis.

He was a star.

Oh for a minute I thought Nigel Farage had gone to pastures new

What a brilliant dog, merlotgran!

I like dogs but there are always one or two who are more special.

Oh, I've just seen the puppy picture of Nigel and am shedding a tear too.

Aww! RIP Nigel. So sad

They take a place in our hearts when they enter our lives, and leave a hole in our hearts when they leave us. But we are the better for having had and loved them.

Such a lovely dog

Heartbreak for those who loved him

Oh, I so enjoyed ‘Nigel, my family and other dogs’ by Monty Don. It’s well worth reading if you’re at all interested in gardening and dogs.

Poor Monty. What a sad loss. I too loved Nigel.
RIP Nigel ... ?

www.montydon.com/tips-and-advice/may-2020

There is a lovely tribute from Monty here, and some gorgeous pictures.

Thank you seacliff, what a lovely tribute and photos.

Monty was interviewed this morning on ‘Today’, so moving

Thank you seacliff.
sniff ?

Thought the same SueDonim.
Shame about the dog though.

How Monty talked about Nigel at the close of Gardeners World tonight was touching, and a lovely tribute to him, with a gallery of past clips being shown.

We were both wiping our eyes.

Welling up again tonight too at the end of GW.
He was such a very lovely dog and Monty’s last words “Good boy” said it all.??

GW quite emotional last night. The little girl giving away plants made me a bit teary.

It’s always sad to lose a much loved pet but emotions are high in these difficult days explaining why there is so much sadness about a dog which none of us knew.
I am not even a dog lover but it touched me too.

It doesn't take much does it, silverlining?

DH nodded off during the bit about the little girl giving away plants so I was able to indulge in some Kleenex grabbing.

I know some of you never read the Mail, but this is a lovely article done by Monty about how Nigel first came into their lives, and about his puppy hood. I am mainly a cat person but love dogs too, and Nigel was rather special.

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8325097/Monty-Don-says-fond-farewell-adorable-four-legged-TV-star-Nigel-captivated-viewers.html?fbclid=IwAR0oUxaBt7r-X30fji0jCxsaQyy9VlB9Pli2vq-blS1_rAgmlrdn9ej5gEo

So sad what a loving and loyal dog Nigel will be a miss on GW

I have bookmarked that seacliff, thank you

Those who sneer at the DM can miss so much that is good. I used to enjoy Monty's gardening page in the Saturday supplement. We used to buy the Saturday edition for the TV guide.