Ageing Cat! Son doing well, considering things...

Hello again.

I've been so busy these days, I only have time now to do this blog about once or twice a month! Sorry to anyone who usually reads this.

Since last time I wrote: (1) Our cat Whitton, (adorable, affectionate ginger non-pedigree neuter tom, with a white "bib" and paws) aged 17 has been diagnosed with serious kidney trouble and is now on a special diet, and needs steroid injections every month; (2) Tom is doing well (much better and calmer - still keeping sober), still not in a residential home, but we hope he will get into the local one in Richmond. He had to decide whether he still wanted to go into such a place.

The news about Whitton (the cat) came just before Tom had to leave the other rehab. home where he had been for only 9-10 days; that was last month. Now Whitton has been on the special diet from the Vet. for about 5 weeks - he is getting used to it, and seems to be a little stronger. But we notice he is getting much thinner, especially around his back end and legs. He still thinks he is fit, however! Recently we saw him on the garage roof - my husband D. was alarmed, but Whit got down OK. We now keep him in more, in late evenings or bad weather, but for some time we have kept him inside over night. We have 2 wild urban foxes that live in our back garden - they co-exist with the cats (another cat lives next door), and do not seem to chase them. Whitton still looks big and strong, but he has only 2-3 teeth left. His claws are long and sharp; puss next door (Jack, a tabby aged 9) is still in awe of him. Whit is the "senior cat" and all other local cats know that - but he is fairly peaceable. (Our previous black long haired cat, Zebedee, was a fearsome beast, and other cats trembled when he passed. He behaved like a tom, patrolling wide territory, although he was neutered. Whitton only "took over" after Zebbie died.) We shall enjoy Whitton while we may, and hope he makes it to 18, like thae cats my mother had. Our oldest one ever was Brown Pruouw (a "Bombay-alike" black shorthair) who made it to about 19-21 (not exactly sure, as he came to us as a young stray cat of about 2 years old). He died in 1997, and Zebbie the year before.

Now, as to Tom and other things in my life... Tom is doing well - he has minor ups and downs but is going regularly to AA and is waiting to get into the next therapeutic home that is now being offered. We think it is still a good idea for him to go in, as it will help him to grow away from living at home. They teach the clients to be more independent (with money, shopping and planning their life), and to examine what's going on inside their minds. The staff are qualified psychologists; they can accommodate it if a client "flips" and gets angry (the last place could not). After all, all the residents are sensitive and have been mentally ill. Tom has also completed the paperwork for the gardening course that he had almost finished last summer (before he broke down); this means now he has a certificate in horticulture from his training centre, a real achievement. He may go and study more in this area.

I have been getting on with my driving lessons - mostly OK (like today), but I had a night last week when I lay awake worrying if I would ever get beyond the learning stage. I did pass my test in my youth: but never got going then. Now I am almost there. But then I go and make a mistake - then the instructor says we would have crashed; I did have a minor crash in our car last summer. I need to get beyond this. I want to be more independent, and if D. gets ill then I could take over the driving. Must persevere at this!

Today I also had my hair done: washed, cut and blow dried. Just a bob style, but it suits me - I've had this ever since the 1960s. It is because I will soon be on the public stage - talking about India and tigers to a women's group; getting a prize for services to teaching at my college; and giving a public lecture on international crime (at my college, Birkbeck, on Saturday in 2 weeks' time). So have to be a bit smarter. I seem to be a bit in demand just now... I have also booked a holiday - provisionally - in Polish mountains (Central Europe) at end of August - to go walking and enjoying scenery and wildlife (bears, wolves, early horses, birds of prey etc., as in 2003) - I hope I can go ahead with it and not have to cancel again.

As usual I can't go on any more - time and my family call: I have to dish up my son's supper as he's going out to AA. Will say more in about 2 weeks, aboiut how my lectures went. And I never mentioned the planned wedding of "Charles and Camilla" our soon-to-be royal couple! Our newspapers have plenty to say on that, so consult them... Also we will soon be having a General Election in the UK: the conflict is gearing up nicely. More on all these later on!

Love to all - Tigey