A sad day

It is a curious thing, the death of a loved one. We all know that our time in this world is limited, and that eventually all of us will end up underneath some sheet, never to wake up. And yet it is always a surprise when it happens to someone we know. It is like walking up the stairs to your bedroom in the dark, and thinking there is one more stair than there is. Your foot falls down, through the air, and there is a sickly moment of dark surprise as you try and readjust the way you thought of things

Lemony Snicket


One of our family cats was very sadly put to sleep on Friday night. He was my mum's cat and one of a pair. A little black and white cat with the biggest yellow eyes I have ever seen. He was quite a timid little cat, almost aloof, very unassuming and often overshadowed by the other dogs and cat who are very confident and much more demanding for attention. Saying that, he was always there with the others, sitting on the arm of the chair, always staring at you with those massive marble like eyes, you could never really tell what he was thinking but he was affectionate in his own way. He wasn't a hunter and the two things he enjoyed most were sleeping and eating.


He is at peace now and it was very quick, but he was a part of our family, another thing of my mum's gone and I certainly wasn't prepared or ready for letting him go. He was such a quiet, placid soul, but he has left a huge hole and he will be very sadly missed.


My Dad used to often recite 'The Owl and the Pussycat' to both cats. They would sit mesmorised. Every time they heard it, it was as though they were hearing it for the very first time and couldn't believe such a tale. They would sit transfixed and their eyes would widen, almost in disbelief at the line 'they sailed away for a year and a day in a beautiful pea green boat' and they would close their eyes and almost smile at the 'what a beautiful pussy you are' line.

For Frodo, our brave and magical little Hobbit cat. We will all miss you.


The Owl and the Pussycat

Edward Lear


The Owl and the Pussy-cat went to sea

In a beautiful pea green boat,

They took some honey, and plenty of money,

Wrapped up in a five pound note.

The Owl looked up to the stars above,

And sang to a small guitar,

'O lovely Pussy! O Pussy my love,

What a beautiful pussy you are,

You are,

You are,

What a beautiful Pussy you are!'


Pussy said to the Owl, 'you elegant fowl!

How charmingly sweet you sing!

O let us be married! Too long have we tarried:

But what shall we do for a ring?'

They sailed away, for a year and a day,

To the land where the Bong-tree grows

And there in a wood a Piggy-wig stood

With a ring at the end of his nose,

His nose,

His nose,

With a ring at the end of his nose.


'Dear pig, are you willing to sell for one shilling

Your ring?' Said the Piggy, 'I will'.

So they took it away, and were married next day

By the Turkey who lives on the hill.


They dined on mince, and slices of quince,

Which they ate with a runcible spoon;

And hand in hand, on the edge of the sand,

They danced by the light of the moon,

The moon,

The moon,

They danced by the light of the moon.