I’m officially frozen stiff. I wanted to let Henry out but as soon as I opened the bedroom door to the garden, Johnny the neighbour’s tomcat appeared. He is an elderly gent, about twice the size of Henry. The approach lasted for about 20 minutes (I was dressed for indoors) with Johnny moving one step per minute into our house. He was very vocal, in a deep throated voice telling Henry what was, I think, his claim to the area. Henry first stood with his back arched but then tried to disappear as a black blob in the corner. When I could sit quietly no longer I closed the door and they stared at each through the window pane for a few minutes before both simultaneously decided that enough is enough and left in different directions.

One of the things I was absolutely sure of before Henry moved in was that I wouldn’t become one of those pet owners that buys unnecessary items from the pet store designed not for the care of the animal but for the whim of the owner. I have bowls I can use, I have blankets which will serve him well, I don’t need gadgets, I thought.
Of course, Henry now has cute eating bowls with a fish bone design (his interest is limited to the contents of the bowls), an extra fluffy blanket with paw prints (which he shuns in favour of fresh laundry or my discarded sweater), there are various toys specially bought for him which serve just as well but not better than some things I had around anyway …

I just threw out the placemat (with cute paw prints) for his food. It looks nice, I thought, it’s handy because cleaning it is faster than mopping the floor, more hygienic, too … I have just thrown it out. Henry is too interested in what is underneath and regularly turns over his water bowl to find out and then his corner is wet, water is running all over the place, leaking on the parquet next to it. *sigh*
But I’ll learn. Until next time I’ll pass the pet shop.

Henry post of the day: Henry still profits from being a youngster and relatively small. Here he sits on my (Betty Bossi) recipe books, spiral binding and all.
Yesterday, he gave us quite a start, though. He dissappeared behind our wall unit where there is hardly any room even for the tv and hifi cables and reappeared in a drawer in the middle under the tv. A few more pounds on his hips and he will get stuck!

2 December

1 December.

First breakage.

VoH (Voice of Henry): First the keeper of toys tries to hide her ball of yarn under a cover. THEN she is surprised that I am interested because the cover is SEE THROUGH. Honestly!!
When I manage to dislogde the cover, she goes and tries to hide the whole mess in the cupboard. And when I complain she goes and drops it all and breaks a plate. Clumsy human!! Below is a picture of the scene of the crime.

30 November:

Henry displays continued interest in my yarn so I gave him a heffalump of his own. I think it was love at first sight. He jumps high in the air to get to it, carries it around the flat, plays with it, and cuddles with it. The minions have lost the battle for his affection.