At approximately 12:30 Nico passed away cuddled up next to me on our bed.

Earlier in the year Nico had been diagnosed with two faulty heart valves after having a scan done, because the vet had detected a heart murmur. The faulty valves were inoperable.

Since then he’d been on daily medication to help.

The last week and a half Nico hadn’t been his usual self. Gradually getting worse.

Nico for some reason didn’t like stairs and would have to get the nerve up before making a mad dash up them. Once up he had to be carried down!

He was like that with my bed. He’d jump up, but refused to jump off, unless he needed to do a nature call during the night. If he wanted a drink of water he’d sit by the edge of the bed looking at me expectantly. I’d then lean over pick the water bowl and hold it for him while he drank. More often than not Loki would come over and drink with him.

Funny thing is. Round mums/nans he would happily jump up and down from her single bed. But mine (a futon) which is lower not a chance.

Apart from the nicknames that you read in the post title (I almost always called him noonoo, which could be said/sung to the John Cena entrance music) I often thought of him as the Alice Cooper of the dog/chihuahua world. Sometimes when you looked at him from across the room he looked like he’d got the Alice Cooper eye makeup on.

Nico along with Loki will go down in the annuals of family history as the most fussy of eaters, having turned up their noses to steak!

I will never forget the time Nico caught a young sparrow in our conservatory. The young bird had flown in on mums side, and in its attempt to get back out landed on the floor my side. Nico was faster than grease lightning and was on the feathered intruder. Luckily I was far behind and able to save it.

It’s hard to think I’ve carried Nico downstairs for the last time. I’m going to miss this little enigma.

Look after Nan for me Nico.