I know we asked for help naming our new arrival and then ignored all suggestions in favour of Lola – sorry to all those who put forward their ideas!

Lola was born exactly eight weeks ago today, daughter of Hazel and Tavistock. She was born in the boot of a Ford Focus because the vet assured the owners of Hazel and Tavistock that the birth wouldn’t happen for a couple of days so they took her out for the day and Lola arrived while travelling!

I am still heartbroken about Rosie (and Archie) but Lola has pressed my love button good and hard. She sat on my knee for the whole two and a half hour car journey from Bristol to home and in that short space of time, she became my baby.

She cried a bit when she left her family to come with us but soon settled down to sleep on my knee, only waking when we were about 20 miles from home. She travelled well and was looking around her with interest and excitement. I was looking only at her and my eyes were full of wonderment and joy at having our new baby in my arms.

Since we arrived home, only a couple of hours ago, she’s met JD. They did meet briefly when we went to choose her nine days ago but poor JD was a bit overwhelmed by the strange house, strange people, strange dogs and a whirling mass of four puppies so he went back to the car while we chose her. JD has been gentle and kind to her – he even let her steal his ball! Yep, I think they’re going to be fine together. She’s had a meal (Weetabix in warm milk – her usual lunchtime meal), explored, played and is now sleeping in her new bed with her new toys and an old tee-shirt that has been in the basket with her, her mum and her siblings over the last few days so she can smell them and feel secure.

In a few minutes, after posting this, I will get her out of bed and give her another meal then some more playtime. She’s already finding her way around and met the neighbours.

I think I can safely say she’ll fill my dog-shaped-hole very nicely. I’m in love.