Mickey time again

The Lady Of The House's parents are off to Scarborough for a week's holiday (lucky things), so the LOTH is looking after their cat, Mickey, who has now reached the grand old age of 20.

Sorry I didn't tell you about his birthday when he reached it....but he is a cat and although I love him virtually you should know by now that me and cats in the flesh don't mix.

In fact, on that subject, there was a bit of a cat-related incident yesterday afternoon on our second walk of the day. But it wasn't ALL my fault.

Me and the LOTH were nearly home when I saw a cat (she didn't) and I lunged on my lead in the feline's general direction. She said "no" (she always does but I usually ignore her) and held my lead tight and taut and the next thing we knew she had tumbled backwards off the pavement and into the road. I averted my eyes so she wasn't embarrassed. It is a very quiet road so there weren't any cars and she picked herself up and headed home. But when she took her coat off her elbow had taken a really bad knock and it swelled up into ever such a funny shape as the evening wore on.

She is fine though and padded it up (because she said it was very painful if anyone touched it) and even did two hours rattling a collecting tin for Marie Curie Cancer Care this afternoon before coming home to watch the FA Cup Final. She asked me to ask our UK followers is anyone else knows why Stacey Solomon sang the National Anthem in an American accent.

Tonight it's apparently something called the Eurovision Song Contest - which is also a cause for great excitement in our house despite the fact that NO-ONE in Europe ever votes for the UK entry. The Girl Of The House and her boyfriend are coming home for it and they are going to drink Sangria and cheer on Blue who are singing "I Can" for the UK. I hope they can too.


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Now wash your hands

It's been a busy old few days here....and it doesn't show signs of slowing down any time soon.

Now, on top of everything else, the Lady Of The House's mum and dad have nipped off on holiday for a few days and so the LOTH is dashing between our house and their house to keep an eye on their cat Mickey - who's nearly 20.

Mickey obviously wants to stay in his own home at his advanced age and that suits me too.

I love Mickey because he's family. But he's still a cat and I'm a greyhound with years of hunting instincts topped off with the genes of racing champions and several years of my own racing career under my belt.....it wouldn't end well if we had more than a virtual relationship.

Here's a picture the LOTH brought back of Mickey after her visit tonight. He's looking good for an oldster, don't you think?

But I was a bit disgusted by the LOTH's behaviour. She had clearly been fussing and stroking him and she didn't have the decency to wash her hands before she came home.

I gave her a look that would have curdled milk and she nipped off to wash them pretty darn fast after that.

You HAVE to let them know who's boss, you see.

Oh Mickey! You're so fine! (for a cat)

You know I'm not much of a cat fan...but I do have to give an honorary mention today to 19-year-old Mickey, who belongs to the Lady Of The House's parents (well, her mum really).

You remember me telling you the L O T H's dad broke his arm? Well, he went into hospital yesterday to wait for an operation.

Now, the L O T H's mum tends to nod off in the evening while she's watching TV and she relies on her husband to wake her up around 11.30pm when it's time for bed (I know...I don't understand humans most of the time either...wake up to go to bed?).

Anyway, he always startles her awake her by calling her name even though she always tells him to wake her more gently by just stroking her arm.

So, last night she settles down to watch television with Mickey curled up in a chair. The next thing she knows there's a really soft stroking on her arm. She opens her eyes to see Mickey sitting on the settee beside her. He's pulled his claws in and is stroking her arm with his paw. She looked at the clock and it was 11.30pm.

Smart-Alec cat, eh? Next thing you know he'll be using the telephone........

Did I speak too soon?