Happily Ever After
Life in The Rural Retreat with a beautiful wife, three cats, garden wildlife, a camera, a computer – and increasing amounts about running
Earlier posts can be found on Adventures of a Lone Bass Player, where this blog began life. Recent entries can be found here.
A Month Of Catlessness
by admin - 17:36 on 30 August 2012
Tess died a month ago today – although it feels much longer ago – but I still expect to see her snoozing in the sun (or the rain) when I return home.
Part of the reason that there's no sense of absence is because I see her nearly every day on the cover of her book, on my table at markets or being slipped inside an envelope for dispatch from the Highlands. Matchgirl, who finds it difficult to leaf through A Cat Called Tess, is having a much harder time adjusting.
One friendly offer of a new moggy has been declined, but she still browses the Cats Protection and SSPCA websites, filled with guilt that she can't offer a new home to any of the deserving little faces she finds there.
An old snap from Matchgirl's phone – no threat to the Pentax.
The time will come, but whether we'll rehome a post-Christmas cast-off or take the leap into renewed moggy ownership before that is yet to be decided. Whatever happens, somewhere out there is a cat, or possibly two, who may feel that times are hard but don't know how lucky they're about to be.
Also of note today was the sale of the hundredth copy of Tess's book – one of a pair ordered by wholesaler Gardners via the ISBN system, which means they've been purchased through a bookshop or on Amazon – by strangers. I don't know whether the book-browser at Kessock market who asked how many I'd sold and whether they were all to friends and family was being snide or socially inept.
My market diary is one of the reasons why we've not yet taken advantage of catlessness to enjoy a guilt-free weekend break. However, a gap in commitments that coincides with Matchgirl's need to be in Aberdeen on business means that tomorrow night we'll be able to sample all that the Granite City has to offer.
What we'll do on our second night I don't know – His Majesty's Theatre isn't even bothering to compete with Timmy the Talking Sheep at the Arts Centre, and Rhod Gilbert's sold out at the Music Hall. It might have to be Ted at the cinema, as Anna Karenina isn't out until November.
Chatterbox Update: A replacement ethernet cable did the trick. Printing will begin any day now.
Vote Update: You only have until midday tomorrow to vote for Eilean Dubh. We're counting on you!
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