Thanks for the kind words Chaps. It really does help. I still "see" the old guy out of the corner of my eye and it makes my heart sink when I realise it is my mind playing tricks.
The house was so quiet without several stone of lunging idiot that we now have a chocolate labradoodle male pup. He will never replace Khana but has brought some of the happiness back and you have to move on. We now have the maddest, most single-minded dog I have ever met. I have had to fish him out of the dog food sack 3 times so far. If you have never seen a sack of food inhabited by a puppy then you have not witnessed one of the funniest sights known to man.
When I took him for his jabs I bumped into the owner of Khana's mother and sister(who was there) what a coincidence.
Thanks again, you are a great bunch, now before I get all moist, I shall go...
Richard