Good morning my wonderful boy.

Its a lovely day today Merlin, your kind of day for playing and running around, chasing Spud or chasing sticks I threw for you.

Remember how annoyed you got when Spud pulled your tail? Well this morning Molly pulled Bella's tail, Bella was NOT happy with Molly at all. Your mum and I thought it was hilarious.

Molly's colouring is changing a lot now, her ears are turning a brown colour at the bottom and the tan is starting to cover more of her. I think she is going to be a very pretty girl, just like you are a handsome boy.

I remember how pleased you were when Mike or your mum came home from work, so pleased you nearly knocked them over. You were never far from me since my retirement Merlin, if I went anywhere you were behind me, even waiting outside the bathroom! You really were my shadow my boy and I miss that so much.

Time to go play and have some fun my lovely boy.

I love you so much Merlin and that will never change.

Your ever loving Daddy.

Good morning my sweet big wonderful boy.

Hows my amazing boy today? Handsome as ever my boy.

It's a bit of a rainy day today, so thankfully its a lot cooler its also a bit muddy outside. Remember when you use to cover me in mud or jumped on my bed after playing outside after it had been raining? I would scold you and you would look at me as if you were about to burst into tears. You always knew how to tug at my heart strings Merlin, I was putty in your massive paws.

Do you remember when we use to go to work together? I or my son Mike would take you for a walk around town. It was so funny to watch how people parted when they saw you, you would give strangers that "look," as if to say, "I'm protecting my Daddy. Back at the shop I'd order lunch, you would sit at my feet, your eyes boring into me and you would be dribbling. In the end I had to share my lunch with you even though you had a big breakfast! I could never refuse you Merlin, I'd give you anything my boy, you are so special to me and always will be.

I remember Mike saying to me once, "Dad, without a doubt Merlin is your dog." Yes you are Merlin as I am your Daddy.

Time to go play my wonderful boy. Have some fun.

I will love you for ever and ever Merlin.

Your ever loving Daddy.

Good morning my sweet wonderful boy

Hows my big boy today?

I was looking at Spud the other day outside in the sun, when I noticed a very slight red tinge on part of his tail, he got that from you my boy. I must admit I was slightly disappointed that your puppies didn't take your colouring instead of Lady Zara's, but at least there is some of your colouring on Spud's tail.

I know I have said this before Merlin, but it was so funny when Spud pulled your tail, the look on your face had me nearly falling over with laughter, you looked so indignant a "HOW DARE YOU?" look. I'm sorry Merlin, but it was hilarious, I still laugh about it now.

Do you remember how you would take Bella for a walk when you were a puppy? You would grab the lose end of her collar and try to pull her along, When you were tiny you had no chance, but as you grew and became stronger you could drag her all over the property. She would try and resist, but in the end she gave up and went walkie's wherever you took her. You gave me so much joy my boy, I miss that so much.

Time to go play my lovely boy and enjoy yourself.

I love you so much Merlin, please never forget that.

Your ever loving Daddy.

Good morning my big wonderful boy.

I trust you are having a wonderful time Merlin, running and playing with all your buddies through that wonderful soft grass and swimming in the clear warm water.

Its quite nice today, no wind but not to hot, thankfully the days and nights are cooling down now. Remember how you use to sleep next to the door, so the breeze underneath helped cool you down? Little Molly is doing the same thing, I know I have said this a few times my boy, but it really is uncanny how much like you she is. If she is half as good as you my boy, I'll be very happy with her, even then I will still miss you my wonderful boy.

I so miss calling your name, you would come running with such a happy look on your proud and noble face as if you were saying, "Yes daddy?" I would put my arms around your strong neck, kiss you between your ears and say, "I love you Merlin." In a way I am glad I got you towards the end of my life, because I know I would never get another boy like you, you are that "One so special boy" we only get once in a lifetime, no other boy would have matched you Merlin. I was so lucky to get you, I count my blessings that you are mine, and I am yours.

Time to go play my boy and have some fun

I love and miss you so much Merlin

Your ever loving Daddy

Good morning my wonderful boy.

Hows my bestest boy this morning?

Remember how Spud and Hobo use to chase the red dot from my laser pointer? Molly is doing the same, she looks at the floor and waits for it to appear. You would never take any notice of it, you would look at Spud and Hobo as if to say, "Are you two stupid or what?????

The only thing you chased were sticks and logs, well and large rocks.You were forever bringing large stones into the house to chew on, when I took them off of you and threw them outside you would give me a dirty look. I didn't want you to break your teeth, I didn't want to spoil your fun my boy.

It did amuse me when I refused to throw a stick for you and turned my back on you, you'd walk around me, drop a stick in front of me then bark at me. If I kept doing that and teasing you, you would really get annoyed. In the end I had to throw a stick for you. I was always amused by the fact that you and Spud always wanted the same stick, despite the millions of sticks laying all over the ground! Oh boy.

Time to go play and enjoy yourself my wonderful boy

I love you so much Merlin

Your ever loving Daddy

Good morning my wonderful boy.

Its another hot day today my boy, not a cloud in the sky and no wind. Only Spud like to run around in this weather.

Remember when you were a puppy and you had an habit of pulling my boot laces and undoing them? The times I nearly broke my neck, I'd shout "MERLIN ARE YOU PULLING MY LACES AGAIN????? You would look at me all innocent as if to say "Who me?" You only had to look at me and I'd let you get away with just about anything.

I must admit I did spoil you, but you are the kind of boy that deserves spoiling. Melissa my daughter said once, "You spoil Merlin more then you spoil me." I replied, "Well Merlin don't ask for money or lifts to the mall AND he don't play loud rubbish music!" She sniffed and walked off.

You and I had some really wonderful times together. How I miss those times my boy, I so wish we had longer together, but know this my boy you were so loved when you were here, I would have done anything for you, I would have even given my life for you my boy. That's how much you mean to me Merlin, you are my perfect boy and you always will be.

Time to go play and have fun Merlin.

I love you so much, never forget that.

Your ever loving Daddy

My wonderful big boy Merlin

Hello my boy, sorry I'm a bit late today.

Its quite hot and thankfully the wind has died down, a day that you liked to run and play.

People have asked me why I named you Merlin. Well here goes. Merlin the Wizard (of King Arthur fame) was said to have been born in Wales, well my mum was born in Wales so that was one reason, the second reason, the Rolls Royce Merlin aero engine powered the Spitfire, the Hurricane, the Mosquito, the Lancaster bomber, the P51 Mustang and many other aircraft types, as I had served in the Royal Air Force I named you Merlin as a tribute the the Rolls Royce Merlin engine and the aircraft it powered.

I gave Molly her name because my Grand father was Irish and he sometimes sang "Sweet Molly Malone.............." so I thought Molly would be a good name to call her and to remember my Grand father. Why did I give Hobo his name? Well Hobo didn't have a home and wandered the streets, he was a little Hobo so the name stuck.

Spud was Mike my sons idea, why on earth would you call anyone Spud???

You loved Sundays Merlin, you loved to help your mum pull weeds up, even though it drove her bonkers with your silly bark. Guess what? Molly is also forever digging weeds up just like you did, I think your mum is going to have another GSD making all kinds of noise. I can't wait!

Well my boy its time for you to go play.

I love you so much my boy

Your ever loving Daddy

Good morning my wonderful boy.

Hows my handsome boy today?

It's very windy outside right now Merlin, not very nice at all, its too windy to play. Although it really amused me yesterday to watch Molly chasing leaves that were blowing in the wind. She couldn't make head nor tail out of it.

My Grand Father would have loved you if he had been alive. He loved all dogs, horses, you name it he loved them. He would have loved your wonderful character, your devotion and your unfailing love. When I was a small boy I use to help him much out his stables, I loved being with him just to hear his stories. He passed away when I was 17, I still miss him today just as I miss you my boy. I do miss our times together, I just wish I had played with you more. That's one of my biggest regrets Merlin.

I was looking at spuds tail yesterday and I saw a slight tint of red. I was a bit disappointed that the puppies didn't take your black and red colouring, but at least Spud has got a little bit of red in him.

Time to go play my wonderful boy and enjoy yourself.

I love you so much Merlin.

Your ever loving Daddy.

Good morning my wonderful boy.

Hows my bestest boy today? I bet you have been having so much fun my boy. Knowing you, I bet you have been running and playing with all your wonderful friends.

You have received another gift my lucky boy, a beautiful rainbow from ROSCOE. So many have been kind to us Merlin and its all because you are such a wonderful boy.

I remember so clearly how you and my son Mike use to play, you would grab a huge tree branch that came down in a storm, Mike would stand on it and you would pull and pull until Mike fell off of it, then you would run off looking so pleased while Mike chased after you. You were always too fast for him, he couldn't catch you. Then you'd tease him by running close to him and then running away with your massive tree branch. It was so funny Merlin, you always did something that made me laugh. You are such a treasure my boy.

The weather isn't too bad today, there is a slight breeze but I think its going to be very hot later on.

Spud still tries to get Bella to play, but she's too old now I suppose. She snaps at him telling him to behave, but Spud doesn't give up too easily which usually ends up with Spud getting a warning nip from her.

Time to go play and have some fun my wonderful boy.

I love you and miss you so much Merlin.

Your ever loving Daddy.

Good morning my wonderful boy.

I see that you are getting more and more bones from wonderful people Merlin. For so many to be so kind to you, you must have touched their hearts my wonderful boy.

Remember how the ladies would fawn over you in my shop Merlin? You loved every minute of it and you played up to them acting so sweet and cute. Well it was no act as you always were sweet and cute and still are. I posted a couple of your photographs onto a web site I am on for ex military personnel with the title "My best Buddy." I got so many compliments about you, even a very down to earth Aussie (who tells it how it really is and doesn't hold back) stated "What a beautiful dog." That compliment alone meant so much to me.

You are so handsome my boy and when the right time comes I want to frame some of your pictures and put them on the wall. I cannot at the moment, because your crossing the bridge is still so raw and painful. I do try to be brave for you my boy, but it is so hard. I know you want me to be happy and not sad, but my love for you Merlin is beyond words. To me Merlin, you will always be the bestest big boy in the whole wide world.

Time to go play and enjoy yourself Merlin.

I love you so much

Your ever loving Daddy