He witnessed and arrived in my life at exactly the same time
as the love of my life in 1999 and has been with me every day since.
He lies next to me un-burdened by the arthritis that left
him having to bark to be helped up and unable to walk more than a short way
unaided. I hope now he is chasing
rabbits on the river flats, barking for stones and logs and feels ready to
spring off the wharf to chase the biggest log we could hurl in, and that his
bark is there not to ask us for help, only to tell us the log he’s swimming for
is not big enough.
Samson greeted every guest and all will miss him. I am sure he took the odd sausage from a
Kinloch camp BBQ and his affection sometimes was definitely motivated by his
stomach, though for all that met Samson they will have been loved for a passing
moment by an all-giving Golden Retriever boy who is not forgotten by anyone
that arrived at Kinloch.
Samson is the reason we are at Kinloch. When we looked at the lodge, we shook our
heads at the amount of work that needed to be done, though you could not beat
his enthusiasm and sense of rightness.
There is something about the lift of the head and the tail and the sheer
perkiness of a decision. He didn’t need
to talk to tell us that we had to convince the bank and that this would be our
home for what is now nearly 13 years.
We used to let our guests take the dogs for a walk and if
they felt like it they would go. I
remember two keen animal loving vegetarians take them off for a walk only to
witness Samson and Delilah tearing a baby possum apart.
Samson used to be an adventurer and I miss his tail raised
proudly as he found something exciting to smell or dig out.
In the early days we spent a very fraught three days looking
for Samson only to eventually find him down a canyon. Perhaps it was a ploy to go canyoning as Mike
Elvidge from Queenstown Canyoning had to come and rescue him. Samson seemed to enjoy the adventurous side of
life and even jumped into the driver’s seat on Dart River when Grimmer came to
pick up guests on the beach.
Once children arrived Samson was always there and understanding
of time and the push-me, pull-you affect of bringing up a young family whilst
still involved and responsible for a busy people-related business. He was a great comfort when our families on
several occasions questioned our sanity.
Samson according to my mother in law – bought up the kids. He has always given us great comfort and surety
and has been there for all of us – our regular heart-beat, an un-judging friend and a constant giver of un-yielding
love.
Samson left us tonight with pink lipstick on his head placed
for his beloved dog-mother Helen Cambell (Helly Welly) and I have struggled
down a Bombay Sapphire to remember the early days and to farewell him in style
and bring myself to write this.
We love you Samson.
You will never be forgotten. Rest in Peace
