We have a friend

 A very beautiful and dignified (mostly) friend.

 This is the face that greets me in the morning; with eyes half closed with emotion, she prepares to melt.

 She hangs around on the landing, and when someone wants to come downstairs, it is compulsory to sit on the top step beside her and give her a hug. I love the way the ears stick out sideways, as though they are draped over brackets.

  
She waits so very politely in the kitchen, when I am cutting up meat. She doesn't nag or harrass - just sits there.

 She takes her little treats so delicately

 and cleans up nicely,

 then says thank you with a big expressive yawn. At the top of her tongue is her little "distinguishing mark" - she has a black patch like the map of an island.

We've found the easiest way of stripping out some of that moulting hair is to stroke her all over with gloves that have little rubber pimples on them.

 At least, it works well until she comes over all silly and wriggly.

And size is no barrier to being a lap dog - although we are considering that it might be a good idea to look for a nice second hand sofa. Something that doesn't need to be worried about. It would save him getting pins and needles. She is heavy.

The amazing thing is we have only had her three months, and it is now hard to imagine life without her. She gives us so much. My blood pressure has come down by about twenty points!