Cats calm me

What is good about having a pet?

Cats calm me,

Relax me..

But they trip me up

Knead my stomach

Paw my face

Insist on tasting my food…

But they make me laugh

Purr at me

But then they jump up

On cupboards

Climb up trees

Lie on the stairs

Entertain me,

Keep me company

Cost too much at the vets

Give me love. X

Bonfire night 2025

Remember, remember, the fifth of November, Gunpowder Treason and plot.

For the last couple of weeks fireworks have been going off in the UK to celebrate bonfire night and possibly eid and Halloween too. But last night was the loudest and longest session.

I’d been out and was driving home. At the top of our hill I could see the flashes and bangs of massive fireworks across the city. The weather was clear and dry so I could see a lot of sparkling colours. I’m glad I went home, my poor cats were petrified. I’d forgotten to leave the radio on to drown out the noise. They soon settled down though x

I was driving so couldn’t take a photo but decided to try and draw an idea of a rocket going off in my Artrage app.

He’s still here x

My old cat seems to be a bit better, he’s eating more and has gone back on to solid foods. He is more friendly and active too.

I thought his life was over, but he’s somehow stabilised. I’m hoping he keeps going, as long as he’s not in pain. The anxiety has settled a bit in me too. I don’t worry about going out  as much now. I can’t explain the relief I feel. And he’s getting lots of love. He’s lying on the mat near the heater at the moment. Paws tucked under. Typical loaf position.

A soul cake at 4am…

A soul, a soul, a soul cake,

Please good missus, a soul cake…..

Endlessly ringing through my head. We were singing this minor key song this evening at choir and it’s turned into an ear worm….

When I went to bed a few hours ago I was determined not to be kept awake by intrusive thoughts. I was going to think of the word ‘the’ over and over again to keep my mind on the straight and narrow path to slumber. It almost worked, but the ‘the’s’ started to form into the Soul cake tune, and soon it took over.

It didn’t help that I’d gone to bed on an almost empty stomach, not feeling well, I’d decided just to eat a couple of sandwiches, and I was being kept awake by the feeling of hunger. I’ve come downstairs for something and ended up eating a tub of curried noodles.

Now I’m sitting in my armchair wondering what to do. I can hear traffic outside and the patter of rain on the ground by my front door, almost like the soft sound as a cat licks itself before settling down to sleep.

Maybe I’ll stay downstairs and hope that I can doze, or go back to bed and try and sleep with the radio murmuring softly. Insomnia is not my friend.

Soon it will be dawn again, things to do. But with the change of the clocks I always feel jet-lagged, unsettled, trying to find my comfortable place.

Maybe writing here, using my thoughts of other things will clip the earworm and stop the repetitive tune. I do hope so. Goodnight.

My first cat…

She never usually sat on dad’s lap, but this time she did. Such a loving little tortoise shell cat. I didn’t know then that this sort of fur colouration is mainly female…. I may be wrong. We had another cat too but I dint remember him well, I left home a few years later, and I missed them so much.

Of course when I stayed in student accommodation we weren’t allowed pets, but a year later we took in an old straggly cat that someone was going to have put to sleep. And after that I’ve always had cats… 11 in total… My friends.

Still worried

He’s on my knee at the moment, purring. I thought I was going to lose him last week but I’ve been trying to pursuade him to eat and this seems to be working. He’s gone from just a liquid diet to a few solids. Tonight he had a bit of white fish, then he ate some kibbles. Later he ate a bit of normal soft cat food and then some soft pate style food with a gravy on top. Now he’s had a few treats! He still has to have medication but it’s good to see him eating again x.