Terence has left the planet

I was making the first (damn fine) cup of coffee of the day when I heard a text message ping into my phone. Turned out to be the news against which I've been slightly braced for ages now; my dear old friend died during the night. I last spoke to him about a month ago, just before he was taken into hospital again - our conversation had ranged over astrophysics, spaniels, and his possible previous existence as a religious gentleman of some kind who had witnessed the battle of Culloden but had ended his days in Leith (something to do with Lord Elcho, I think)! His mind was as sharp and curious as ever, but he was being let down by his increasingly frail body - I mourn the loss of his gentle and intelligent presence on this planet but I am very relieved that he slipped away so peacefully.
I was looking for a photo of him but the only one I turned up was this, which was sent as a Christmas card in 2009. Terence is stomping away towards the headland at Tintagel with the help of his stick, accompanied by Phillipa and the dogs. Percy in the foreground is gazing back at the photographer - he is a 'people' animal and loved Terence dearly.