If March 2014 was the month of new beginnings, with a new job for me, April was a month for endings. On 1 April the lovely little black and white cat who thought she belonged to us even though she didn’t, was run over. Sadly, she died. She may not have actually been ours but we were all devastated. Continue reading Goodbye to fluffy the cat – first published 2 April 2014
The cat burglar hadn’t quite finished with us back in October 2013. We were just about to go on holiday and she was at it again. This time she went a step too far. Continue reading cat burglar part three – first published 15 October 2013
When I woke in the night for a second night running to hear someone in the house I was fairly confident I knew who the culprit was. In fact I was more than fairly confident because I could hear meowing. This time I wasn’t alone but Commando was either asleep or doing a pretty good job of pretending to be so it was down to me to sort it out. It wouldn’t have been so bad if Fluffy was actually our cat! Continue reading The cat burglar part two – first published 13 October 2013
When I heard someone moving about the house in the middle of the night in October 2013 it was one of two things. Either the cat burglar was back, or there was a real burglar in the house. Of course CJ could have suddenly developed insomnia. Whatever it was I couldn’t just go back to sleep and, as Commando was at work, I had to get up and find out… Continue reading A cat burglar and a rhino reprise – first published 12 October 2013
For almost a year we’d been puzzling over a mystery. How did the little black and white cat who thought she was ours keep getting into our house? Obviously there were times when CJ, Commando, or even I in a moment of weakness, let her in through the gym door. At other times she’d sneak in when the door was open. Quite often though, she’d be inexplicably inside when we knew we hadn’t opened the door at all. Finally, in the middle of the night, the mystery was solved although the answer was quite hard to believe.
19 May 2013
In the early hours of the morning Commando got out of bed to answer a call of nature and solved a mystery. As he stood there, a scratching sound caught his attention. It was coming from the bathroom window. When he turned to look there was Fluffy the cat perched on the window ledge outside. She was stretched up and scratching at the tiny top window which was open a crack for ventilation, trying to work it open enough to slip inside like a cat burglar. Top marks for effort Fluffy. That explains How she was getting inside last summer then, when the window was further open. I suppose the lure of cat treats is to blame. Even so it’s a long and difficult journey to the ledge outside our bathroom window, a very narrow ledge and a long stretch for a little cat. Good job they have nine lives.
In all honesty we had an idea that was how she was getting in although it seemed fairly unbelievable. Other than being able to walk through walls there really was no other way, unless she had an accomplice in the form of CJ. Even so, it seemed far fetched that such a small cat should make such a difficult journey just to get into our little house. Back in February, when we had the snow, I saw tell tale cat footprints on the roof next door and I suppose she must walk along the fence, over the top of the gate, across the gym roof and somehow make it up onto the windowsill from there. I wonder how many other houses she breaks into? Do other people give her cat treats?
Her owners, our loud, angry neighbours, have had a succession of pets. There was an Alsatian puppy that used to escape all the time and come into our garden if the gate was open. That didn’t last long, probably because a dog takes a lot of looking after, and we never did find out what they did with it. There have been other cats too but Fluffy seems to be a record breaker in terms of how long they’ve had her. Hopefully she won’t suddenly disappear like the others because I have to admit I quite like her and CJ would be heart broken, he spends hours playing with her.
Fluffy started scratching at the French window while we were eating breakfast this morning. We’ve made a rod for our own backs with the cat treats for sure, although, to be fair, she does appear most mornings as soon as her cat senses tell her someone is up. She’s like a little meercat, standing on her back legs trying to peer inside and scrabbling at the window. This can go on for hours, or until someone relents and let’s her in.
When Commando opened the door to go out for his run she was inside like a flash. There was a bit of sniffing round meowing, trying to find the cat treats, then her head popped up over the arm of the sofa and she looked at me accusingly. Commando, being far more of a soft touch, relented and got some treats to lure her outside again. At this rate she’ll be too fat to climb in through the bathroom window by summer.
While Commando was out on his run I went up the Big Hill with CJ for milk. No sooner had we closed the door than the rain started falling. I had to go back and get a hat and, as I opened the door, Fluffy shot inside. Of course this meant we had to chase her out again. Maybe we should install a cat flap then she could come and go as she pleased. It would also save us running round the gym like lunatics trying to shoo her outside.
Seems to me Sunday would be better named Rainday as I swear it rains more often on a Sunday than any other day. This is not a scientific study you understand, just anecdotal. Even so, it does seem there are grounds for contacting the Trades Descriptions people. If they’re going to call something Sunday then surely there should be sun! This particular rainy Sunday was a day of rest, apart from the little shopping jaunt and the cooking of a roast dinner. Next week is going to be a manic one so lazing about on the sofa watching Sky+ for most of the day felt like a necessary gathering of strength. Somehow I think I’m going to need it.
Mid May 2013 and, not only did we have a wedding to prepare for, but we had to get the house ready for a guest. Commando Senior was recovering from a broken hip and was going to be staying with us for a while. Logistically it was a bit of a nightmare and I was a little concerned he’d find the hustle and bustle of our house a bit of a culture shock after the peace and quiet of Commando’s sister’s farm. There was also a final walk through the deserted Bargate Centre.
18 May 2013
The day started early after more walking dreams. This time I was walking round London, there were square blue and white markers hidden on walls amongst the road signs, each had a little motto on and I had to find them all. It had a frantic, slightly panicked feeling about it and I woke with a start, almost breathless as if I’d really been powering along the London streets at top speed. It seems like the feet aren’t doing any walking but the brain sure is. How odd. As I was awake it seemed silly not to get up so I did. Continue reading preparing for Commando Senior and the demise of the Bargate Centre – first published 18 May 2013
Snow isn’t something we’re used to here in southern England and it was scuppering my plans for a seven mile Moonwalk training walk big time back in January 2013. Obviously I couldn’t walk so far in a blizzard and the forecast continued to say there’d be more snow so another day passed with no walking. On day three, despite light snow, I decided to get out, even if just for a short walk. It would turn out to be a winter wonderland walk that solved a mystery. Continue reading footprints on the roof and a mystery solved – first published 20 January 2013
It’s been a tough job slowly looking through the posts from my, now defunct, Fatgirlslimblog, deciding what to keep and what to discard. It feels a little like spring cleaning with a big pile of junk and a smaller pile of things to keep. Sometimes it’s hard to decide which pile to put things in. The following post is one I knew was a keeper from the outset though. Continue reading A cat mystery – first published on 30 July 2012