Liz Williams's Blog, page 14

Henry

...is settling in nicely. Last night he stole a Chelsea bun, still in its paper bag, and I had to chase him all over the house before getting the bun (most of it) back. He has discovered that the bed is warm and has both humans and sometimes dogs in it, so he has joined us and spent most of last night curled up in Lily's long feathery tail. He does, however, have a habit of washing everyone which is slightly unpleasant: small sandpaper tongue.

Henry

We still haven't found the camera. Henry, however, is a bouncy, happy little cat. He snatched a pork chop from my plate the other night and ran out of the room with it (I got it back and yes, dear reader, I ate it). He seems to have come to an accommodation with Sid, as they were sniffing noses quite peaceably this morning. He has beaten up both dogs and he has been outside a little bit, but outside is Very Scary, even if you are a very fierce kitten.

Henry update

Prince Hal now has the run of the house and has proved it by hauling a rabbit carcase out of a pot and sharing it with the dogs. He has also hunted and slain several socks and hidden a pair of tights. The dogs think he is DREAMY and occasionally come and stare longingly at him (mainly Cass: PUP-EEEE!).

He keeps making overtures to Sid, but has taken to stalking him - rather like watching a Hogwarts first year stalking Snape, with similar consequences. Sid has stopped growling, however, and this morning was sort-of-I'm-not-really playing with Henry.

Henry

If you're wondering about the lack of kitten photos, it's because we can't find the camera. As soon as we find it - photos!

Cass is beside herself: there is an upside-down kitten 3 inches from her nose, and he is waving his feet. Despite the fact that a besotted Rottweiler (he is about the size of her head) is staring at him and making meeping noises, he is not growling. Cass is so excited that she has just given a little hop into the air. Honestly, it is pathetic.

Kitten can haz living room

Henry is in the living room, on T's lap and purring loudly. Lily and Sid are, remarkably, asleep, although Cass is staring at him ('PUPPY!'). If she gets too close Henry growls thunderously (and I fear that he shares his Uncle Sid's habit of weapons grade farting). He has swiped both dogs, but unfortunately has missed and bloodied both T and myself. But I can hear the purr from the other side of the room.

Henry update

Once more we have explored the world beyond our room: it is Big. And there is a Pickle in it - they have now met on several occasions ('o hai'), minus drama. Sid is grumpy when introduced but not more than that. Henry now goes up to look at the dogs if he sees them through the glass door; no formal introductions as yet. Otherwise he seems fine and I think this week will see a gentle introduction to the rest of his house. Meanwhile, I am covered in scratches.

Hundred Stories project

A heads-up - the first 7 stories have gone out tonight. If you kindly donated and have NOT received anything, can you let me know and I will investigate. I still need one person's email details.

As any fule kno....

Despite the sad demise of Ronald Searle, we now have this: if Nigel Molesworth had gone to Hogwarts...

http://www.alice.dryden.co.uk/ho_for_hoggwarts.htm

"But surely sir lumos hav a greek nom. ending whereas the root come from lat. lumen luminis a lite as any fule kno?"

"That will do molesworth. one trillion house points from huflepuf and see me afterwards."

Henry update

There is a world beyond My Room. Who knew? Even though we saw it 6 days ago. A kitten's memory is only little.

Now that Henry has come out from beneath the cabinet, he has a small hiding place in a bookcase. But as soon as anyone walks in, he begins to purr, like a mighty engine, and then emerges. He is skittish, but not really scared, and he is eating all his food. He has glimpsed A Dog but a proper meeting will come in time.

Happy New Year

The NY has started quite positively for us - lots of new projects and some interesting stuff going on - but not so for others. A young man died in the village on NYE as a result of being slipped a tab of acid by his 'friends' (a terrible thing to do): after the classic bad trip, he hanged himself. People tend to think that the English countryside is a safe place, but it is more like Midsomer Murders in some respects - there is a lot of drug use in our little village. Everyone knows who these people are, including the police, but nothing seems to get done.

Next day, J looked out of the window of the shop in Glastonbury itself and saw 5 teenagers (4 boys and a girl) storm a moving car in the street. The driver, naturally irate, got out and decked two of them - he must have been an amateur boxer, because he felled both of them with a punch apiece, which is quite hard to do. He was then attacked by the girl, shrieking and punching, and (being either gallant or sexist, depending on your point of view) said, 'Look, love, I'll give you three chances and then you're on your own.' She did not listen, and continued to attack him, so he punched her in the face and knocked her out as well - by this time J, who was phoning the police, said the road was littered with unconscious bodies like something out of the Keystone Cops. Then the remaining two tried to drag the driver's friend out of the car as well, and the friend laid both of them out.

Reding a copy of Pembrokeshire Life, which features a '100 years ago today' section, this was by no means unusual: that featured a rugby forward who was assaulted in 1912 in the street by a female supporter of the losing team. He did not retaliate, which was probably lucky for her.