From strangers to swamps.

The other night as I  sat here, probably typing a post or peering at the weather forecast I heard the cat flap clattering and then the sort of noise that usually means Tosca is blowing her own trumpet and will soon give me a mouse (condition – live or dead – to be determined after delivery).  I was a bit surprised; there presumably aren’t many around at the moment and anyway, she’s getting arthritic and dignified in her old age.  I looked up, preparatory to leaping into action with a dustpan and brush to see, not Tosca but a complete stranger, poised in the doorway looking for all the world as though he/she thought they lived here and was surprised to see some other stranger in their dining room.  Tosca is daintily black and white and this person was solidly black and fluffy.  After giving me a slightly embarrassed look the stranger turned and nipped back out through the flap and vanished into the night.  Can’t help wondering if recent, apparent appetite variations may be due to somebody else helping out when Tosca’s had enough.

I don’t know what to do about it really.  Short of shutting Tosca in, there’s no obvious way to keep the stranger out.  Oh well. Perhaps this kind of thing hasn’t been happening regularly.  Tosca herself watched the whole event with a faintly bemused and disapproving expression from her bed above the washing machine.

Last night we went to a quiz.  We came fifth out of seven teams.  Not very good really and now I’m wondering why Perseus is always shown with wings on his helmet when all it did was make him invisible.

Anyway, before I have to deal with late night trespassers again, I’m going to roll away to bed.  Tomorrow our new bed is going to arrive!  Yay!  I have no idea how we are going to organise the switching of beds but at least I’ll be able to stroke the boxes lovingly and lean on the mattress.  I wonder if I should strip the old bed tomorrow or wait till Barney isn’t going out to a stamp evening?  Probably I’d better wait.  I wonder if we can do it before we go away on the boat?  Goodness!  It’s so exciting.  I’ve been dreaming about that bed but truly, I’d rather sleep in it.

Found a swamp

and a pigeon

yesterday, both next to the canal at Aldermaston Wharf.  Grey day, water drizzling out of the sky whenever it could be bothered.  Quite appropriate really.

I’m quite looking forward to visiting this spot in Spring.