The man of the house would trudge every fortnight to the post office. He would collect his benefit. Every two weeks for eight years but (with an intermittence of proving that he was still clinically depressed every six months to a state funded psychiatrist)he would make that journey.
Life had been tough, a roll of the dice and a bad call at cards. Or so the woman of the house thought. The man of the house would later claim, when he was alright, and signed off, and with a new woman in tow "life is what you make it!"
This woman lived with him then when no one wanted to know him, or he didn't want to know them; out of shame, or fear or ridicule -even his own son -but he's ok now!
Ferdinand lived in Shepton Mallett. A small house built from stone. Although it did boast a conservatory with a plastic corrugated roof. It had one bedroom and a downstairs bathroom, an avocado bathroom suite with pine cladding varnished burnt orange; nails tacking the wooden panels were rusted and competed for vibrancy.
In the hall was a phone that had a slot to push coins in when a human being wanted to speak to another being over the wires. Buckets would catch water that dripped from the ceiling when it rained. This room proclaimed itself as the kitchen; although it was the front hallway and the only entrance to the house.
Three doors led to this kitchen/lobby. One door in a wall directly off the street - no pavement! Entrance was accessed directly from the road. This led to an inner yard. 1.5 metres square. Facing the first door was another door which had two bolts, a hole -28 x 20 cm- had been cut, a home made wooden shutter fitted, this also was bolted, but would afford the resident time to determine whether friend or foe before drawing back the bolts -or not!
Through this door an alley. Directly ahead was yet another door -which opened onto a shed. But turn 45 degrees left advance a metre or so then another 45 degrees and there was the front door. This door orange or red depending on the strength of the sun was THE front door. It had a letter box! (Although the post was delivered into a home made box stuck onto the back of a hole hacked onto door 1.
Ferdinand lived in the conservatory, amongst the clay and the paints and detritus of an artist's 'studio'. Ferdinand needed a roof and under the polypropylene he could see the stars...
Susan has a whole sister, Lesly; that she doesn't see. Martin has a half sister, Rachel; that he doesn't see. I have a naught sister, Lillian; that I don't see.
Susan bought me a pressie. It's a mouse in leopard suit! It's full (plus you can refill it) with my drug of choice -catnip!
I've tried to pull it's tail off - which is turquoise - who on earth thought up a mouse with spots and a blue tail! bitten it's ears. It's still in tact though as yet. I'll have another go at it later.
I was dragging it out the catflap and Susan caught me and brought it back in.
Human beings eh-what can you do? I'll show it to Lil later. She loves catnip. Lil loved catnip.
I was combing Susan's hair last night. Arranging it over the pillow. My claws a comb. It's very soothing to have your hair combed. Just like me having my ears rubbed -I suppose!
Unfortunately there was a bit of a snag. My deft claw in velvet glove hit a tangle! I yanked her awake! Not a good start to the day but an early start -4.30am.
Susan is reading White Tiger. Now I don't believe in false modesty; I am beautiful but I have to admit tigers are exquisite but a white tiger! Just too beautiful. Susan says I walk like a big cat -I flick my front paws- which is a very big compliment. I'm practicing keeping my head still as I walk like the big cats do.
Martin says Susan doesn't read books she devours them. I do that. I like paper. I like to sit the other side of the book when she's reading, my eyes just above the top edge. When Susan has her nose in a book her eyes move from side to side; she looks like she's watching a toy swinging to and fro on a string. I rub the paperyness. Chomp at the corners of the book. Nibble at the edges. It's fun this reading.
I was looking in the basket today. The basket Lil was in when I last saw her. She's not there. She won't be back Susan says...
Martin's project wasn't so good, apparently. So he's a bit of a grump. He wants me to let him rub my ears... I'll think about it.
But he has been given a grill thingey. A very belated b'day pressie. It grills things. Think he's pleased, can't tell. He says it was from Daniel- his son the head hunter- which is better than a card I think. Daniel doesn't do cards.
I'll eat when I feel like eating and at the moment I don't.
This video is intrusive... Sometimes I just want a moment alone at the henge. But see the little yellow blob by the henge, that's a yellow lily. They were a gift for Susan on her birthday. This lily flower is a gift to Lilly cat.
"Don't be Grey Friars Bobby!" Susan said rubbing my ears. I'm not Grey Friars Bobby. I am NOT a dog!
I am cat.
Most other times though I'm with Susan, she needs my company I reckon. So she's at the computer, I'm on the computer; shed, I'm there; studio, she has my company; kitchen, me too. In the bathroom, she's closed the door! but I can rattle the handle...
