World Enough and Time

Tall One came back for a couple of days and they went to see Flying Machines. I’m not sure I like the idea of Flying Machines. Sounds too witchy for me. One of these days they’ll catch her and then she’ll be in trouble. But I had a great day. Spent all day with the Little Dark One. She takes me out to play with a special toy that’s halfway between a ragger and a ball and throws it over and over again. They say that I get over-excited with “bonkers eyes”. True, when the game’s over, I’m ready for a couple of hours rest. Not exactly asleep. Just checking for light leaks.

She don’t half do a nice line in Woo Hoo skirts. When I first came she used to do Dog-Walkers and Sensible-Work. Since her legs have mended she’s been bringing out a collection of Woo Hoo skirts to go with the Legs and Shoes. Though I’d rather she wore Dog-Walkers, I’m happy if she wears the other stuff as long as I get to go with her.

My DB’s gone on holidays so I get to spend every day with the Little Dark One at the moment. She’s doing a lot of tidying which means that she puts lots of papers in heaps and The Cat rests in the middle of them. I supervise.

Then it’s another weekend and off we go. Car full of stuff with the Little Dark One, me and our MBNAD woman. Usual stuff : stopping halfway, meat and bread, then Throw-Money-at-it-Bridge.

“Wales, Powys, Mossie. Home”

Don’t matter how late it is when we get there, she always takes me for a walk round the village. I like that since I’m a bit stiff after the long drive and I get chance to own everything as we go. When we went down the hill towards the Tanners, there were people all over the road. Having a party. The Lady who owns the Tanners is retiring. Don’t think that anyone’s bitten her nose but I think that she must get very tired. I hope that I’ll be allowed in when new people come there.

In the morning, there’s a loud buzzing and clattering outside so we go out to look at it. Well, I can tell you that it wasn’t an insect or a red kite. It was one of them Flying Machine things. Perhaps it followed her and hunted her down. I wondered if she’d do some magic but she just watched. Looked dangerous to me.



Long sunshiny days. Lots of gardening for my MBNAD woman and the Little Dark One does cooking. Grand. I can sit in the sun and bake a bit, then go inside to keep the Little Dark One company when she’s cooking. You never know when something might hit the floor. Out in the sunshine, they put some creamy stuff on my nose and bald bum. To stop me burning. Metrosexual Mossie, they say. Not sure I like the sound of that, so I try licking it off as soon as they look away.

Meeouw. Little tiny creature with only one eye. Small cat. I stand up to show it who’s in charge but it don’t take notice of me. I don't see too good these days but at least I've still got both my peepers, even if I've lost some other bits that seemed pretty important to me.



It climbs onto the top of the coal bunker where it stretches out, wriggles a bit and slides down.




Cat on a hot tin roof.

They sit in the sunshine debating whether not to turn There to Here again. One of these days she'll make the sun stand still.

"Night night Mossie".

Edible Mossie

So I tried to remember all the Wise Things that the Princess taught me:

1) You’re never to old to frolic
2) Frosty days are good for wriggling in the garden
3) Flowerpot water is best
4) No matter how much they hiss, cats really do want to be friends
5) Always claim innocence, regardless of evidence
6) They can't leave you behind if you're sitting in the suitcase
7) A good nap is one of life’s undervalued pleasures
8) Always be willing to wait for a friend
9) You can go a long way with a smile
10) Always check if fishermen have biscuits. Settle for maggots if they don't
11) Postmen expect to be woofed at. Don't let them down.
12) A bed is more comfortable once it’s been thoroughly kicked
13) Being clean just creates an opportunity to get mucky again
14) However, dark the world may seem, bad times will end, even bath time
15) Kitten food is for everyone
16) Never turn your back on a bicycle
17) Be at home, wherever you find yourself
18) Remember, she loves us, always

But she didn’t offer any advice on grass seeds. They don’t half make you itch and these were itchy sharp. So I did the best I could and chewed a bit of my hair to get them away from the skin. Then once I’d done that, I pulled that bit of hair out. Then the bit next to it. No advice on when you’ve got a bald bum, either.

The Little Dark One is around a lot and between them they kept trying to stop me from nibbling. But the relief was exquisite. So the MBNAD woman started to wash my chewed bit with salty water.

We went to the vet’s place since the salty water had just me a bit tastier. MBNAD woman said that she’s put vinegar or pepper on me next. Really. Nice Girly Vet. She did suggest that I was a bit well covered. My story about it being just my winter coat was blown since there isn’t nearly so much winter coat left. Anyway, itchy bits all sorted and so I gave the Nice Girly Vet a particularly appealing gaze and nudgy nosed her. She gave me a treat. Well actually, three treats. I needed to stock up just in case they start talking diets and I don’t get much to eat in future.

Second to the right and straight on till morning

The day after the Border Collie party, they all came for a walk: Man with the Cat, Tall One, Little Dark One and MBNAD woman. And the Princess, waiting at the bottom of the stairs, on her favourite stair. Eager and ready.

MBNAD woman got a special box from a high cupboard. She's got cupboards where she keeps shoes and clothes and some high ones where she keeps hats and bags. And Princesses .... no corrects HRH, just one, Me.

They were all really quiet and we went for a walk by the pond. We got to the bridge where I first saw HRH on the day that I arrived. Standing in the middle of the bridge, she said, It's all up to you now, Colliewobble. You've got to look after them, especially our MBNAD woman. I was going to leave sooner but couldn't go when you needed me to help look after her. But now, you're brave and she's well again.

I'm not really brave, I wanted to say. And how do I know that she's properly well again? Brave enough and well enough. Both of you, comes one last Royal command.

And with a shimmer of dust in the sunlight, I see a little busy little white flash. A shade of love and joy and fun. Young again.

From the bridge to the stream.
From the stream to the river.
From the river to the sea.
From the sea to the sky.

"Night night Mossie"