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Thur. 28 Feb. 2002 ~ by Gemini
I think I must have had the devil in me today, I just felt like creating some mischief, playing up a bit, you know, (I can't be perfect all the time!). I started by playing George up at breakfast. We always eat the same way round, him on the right, me on the left, but today I went straight for the right hand bowl, his bowl. Then, when he tried to eat from my bowl, I gave him a swipe, so he didn't know what to do then! Later, when he was asleep I pounced on him from the back of the settee. Ha ha, the elephant of surprise! (I don't think he was impressed). We had a good chase though, and a 'bundle' on the landing, which I won. I still had some energy left, so I made a nice second hole in the net curtains in the office, to go with the other hole I made recently. I'd calmed down by the evening, so I let George cuddle up to my belly. I love him really.

Wed. 27 Feb. 2002 ~ by George
Interesting, exciting and scary things happened today in our kitchen. We had a visitor who I remember from ages ago as 'cheese sandwich man', who came today in a big van with loads of big tools in. Seems we're having another cupboard put in, only it doesn't yet look much like a cupboard. Cheese sandwich man likes me, and I like him, but I do not like his tools, they roar and bang and loud horrid stuff like that. He didn't finish the cupboards today, so for now me and Gemini have a great new place to play in! There are drawers that haven't got any tops on yet, so we can get inside, a George-sized space underneath that I can squidge into, and a 'walk the plank' bit along the top. If I had my way they'd stay like this, much more fun than boring cupboards!

Tues. 26 Feb. 2002 ~ by Gemini
The people who live opposite put a new roof on their garage recently, which meant of course that the old one had to come off. Lucky for me and George they haven't yet thrown it away, it's all stacked up in bits in their front garden, which makes an excellent playground. So considerate of them. We needed some new 'stuff' to play on since the 'Strange Garden' cleaned up it's act, and also since the folks haven't yet brought us that two-tier play and scratch post they promised us last year. Not that I'm hinting you understand, oh no, far be it from me to drop hints. That would be almost like begging, and I'm not a dog after all. I would like one though, and so would George. We'd like one soooo much. One with a tunnel in the middle, and a platform on top. No, no, I wouldn't dream of dropping hints. I'll get George to drop some instead!

Mon. 25 Feb 2002 ~ by George & Gemini
We've been keeping guard by the pond most of the day, but rather than go on and on about our frogs again, we thought we'd do a photo diary and show you them instead! (pictures speak louder than words we've heard) Aren't they excellent?

Sun. 24 Feb. 2002 ~ by George
Me and Gemini went on a hunt together last night, for the first time in ages. I don't do hunting when it's really cold outside, I figure anything worth hunting will be tucked up in bed or hibernating anyway, so what's the point. Last night was warm though, and Sooty Cat was out to play too, so I didn't want to miss out. All I got were spiders, and they're not worth bringing home, and all Gemini wanted was another rat, (since she caught the last one, she won't settle for anything less). It was a good job we were up all night though, because today it rained all day, and it was new duvet day today, so that's the best time to curl up and sleep the day away. We got up for coley fish of course, well you have to make the effort for the important things in life don't you? Anyway, sleeping all day is good for cats, we're like eco-friendly batteries, fully re-chargeable!

Sat. 23 Feb. 2002 ~ by Gemini
George did his level best to try and get me into trouble today, but our folks aren't that daft, so nobody got the blame in the end. What happened was the plastic cover off the bottom part of our cat flap fell off, and George, sweet darling little butter-wouldn't-melt George, tried to tell them I'd gone through it and knocked it off with my belly! (he won't be getting my last rolo, that's for sure, let alone share my last prawn). I reckon it probably came off when he did one of his hundred mile an hour runs at the flap, when he crashes through with such force I'm surprised the flap itself doesn't break. But, I didn't actually see it fall off, so it'll have to remain one of those things that 'just happen'. Like when all the magazines 'just happen' to fall off the coffee table, or all the towels 'just happen' to topple out of the airing cupboard. Things like this seem to have a habit of 'just happening' when George is about. Odd that.

Fri. 22 Feb. 2002 ~ by George
Our frogs are a major source of entertainment at the moment. We've just got so many of them, heaps more than last year. It's a good job we haven't got many fish in the pond, or we'd have to get the folks to build a bigger pond altogether, (we would have had more fish, but a sneaky seagull decided to have a goldfish lunch one day last year). Every day now there's more and more piles of frog jelly, but I'm going to restrain myself from eating it yet, I'll wait til it's a bit more 'mature' and tasty. Something about our frogs is definitely different this year, apart from being bigger than last year, they are several decibels louder too! Honestly I sat out with Thermal cat by the pond, and the croaking was so loud I couldn't hear myself think. Gemini said not to worry, there wouldn't have been very much to hear anyway. Oh, that's all right then.

Thur. 21 Feb. 2002 ~ by Gemini
Me and George have been doing our bit for the local birdlife today. No, I don't mean catching them and eating them either, although I shouldn't be surprised if George has a go at that later in the year. No, today we got seriously combed, and all our fur collected in a jar. Then the folks pegged it out in the trees, for the birds to use for making nests. Mine will no doubt be warmer than George's, as it's that much thicker, (which is why to the untrained eye I may appear fatter than George, but it's simply that I have fat fur). So, if any of our birds are reading this, go for the brown bits not the white bits! Also, if there are any generous spirited cats reading this who don't mind donating their fur for free, why not pursuade your folks to get the comb and the pegs out. Being combed isn't something I like much, but it's all in a good cause.

Wed. 20 Feb. 2002 ~ by George
I've never been very keen on windy weather, but it made today quite exciting. Today is the day when the 'rubbish men' visit and take away all the rubbish from everyone in our road, (what do they do with it, and surely they've got enough by now?). Anyhow, the people who live opposite Marmaduke's place put big bins out, not just a bag like us, and today after the rubbish men had gone the wind blew one of them right down near our gate! Me and Gemini went out to investigate, and I went right inside it. It was a bit smelly, but not as smelly as fox poo so I could handle it. The really exciting bit came when the wind blew it further along the road, while I was still in it, so I had to scrabble round inside to keep up with it, (luckily I'm brilliant at scrabbling.) I got a bit mucky, but hey, I'm George, mucky is my middle name. George Mucky Cat, that's me.

Tues. 19 Feb. 2002 ~ by Gemini
I've decided there are right times and wrong times to bring up your fur balls, and this morning I found out that one of the wrong times is straight after breakfast. I'd eaten all my food, and was just having a wash, when I got the urge to chuck up a fur ball (excuse the common language, but it really is the best description). I did the decent thing and found a newspaper to bring it up on, (makes it easier for the folks to clear up, aren't I considerate?) The only problem was, I brought up most of my breakfast as well, so I was hungry again more or less straight away. It seemed ages before dinner, I won't be doing that again, I'll make sure I'm sick first and eat after! The folks went off out tonight, and when they got back they smelled of no less than three strange cats. What's that all about? I suppose as long as they don't bring them home, I don't mind too much. We haven't got room for any more cats, no spare food bowls for a start.

Mon. 18 Feb. 2002 ~ by George
I'm sure you'll all be impressed to hear that I've been playing the National Lottery lately! I have, honestly. I've played it in the hall, in the kitchen, and today I even played it up the stairs. I heard it's a popular game for people, and now I know why. If there are any cats out there who haven't tried it, it goes like this: you get your human to screw their lottery ticket up into a ball, and then flick it across the room for you to chase! It's a bit like newspaper football I suppose, only the paper is better on lottery tickets. It screws up into a better ball, and doesn't go all soggy in your mouth like newspaper. Sometimes one of our folks gets right down on their knees and they flick it across the kitchen floor, so I can go skating after it, excellent fun! Even Gemini joined in today, so that proves how good it is. It was strange to be playing it today though, usually it's Saturday evenings, I haven't figured out why yet.

Sun. 17 Feb. 2002 ~ by Gemini
I thought the kitchen roof was about to fall in this morning. All of a sudden there was these great thuds overhead, like thunder only a lot closer. Me and George legged it upstairs out of the way, like the sensible cats we are. Through the upstairs window we saw all these seagulls, dozens of them there were, flapping past the window and thudding onto the kitchen roof. Honestly I've never seen so many all in one go, they're a bit scary when they're that close (and just to think, George's ambition used to be to catch one, ha! no chance!). Good job there was a window in the way. The people who own the 'Strange Garden' had left a pile of bread on their grass, and seagulls from miles around were swooping in for their share, then landing on our roof to eat it! A good day for seagulls then. I wonder if they make a habit of leaving food on their grass? I'll keep an eye on it in case they ever leave prawns out there!

Sat. 16 Feb. 2002 ~ by George
I've been watching some of these people's olympic sports on the telly lately, largely because there's lots of snow and ice there. Snow is one of my favourite weathers, but we only seem to get it on special occasions, a bit like coley fish only less often. Anyway, I've watched skating, skating, and more skating and I think they've missed something out. Where's my favourite sport, coffee table skating? I'm champion at that in our house, so it was disappointing not to see it in the olympics. Maybe it's just too skilful for humans, that must be it. Come to think of it our folks don't skate on the table like I do, but I'd thought they were just lazy. What we need is a cat olympics, then you'd see some real talent. There'd be the 'hundred metre sparrow chase', 'frog plopping' against the clock, plus of course the international 'pouncing and leaping' championships. I'd be Britain's brightest hope, after all, I've been practising for years!

Fri. 15 Feb. 2002 ~ by Gemini
After all this time living with humans, you'd think I'd have sussed them out, but they never fail to surprise me with their unpredictability. Why is it that sometimes they're quite happy for me to jump up on their laps, and sometimes not? (when they're on the loo for example), then some days they're pleased when I jump up on the desk and give them a big furry headbutt, and sometimes not (usually when I land on some of their 'important' bits of paper). I thought that they'd know by now that nothing in the world is as important as fussing cats. Well, feeding cats is the most important thing humans do I suppose, but fussing cats comes a close second. Playing games with your cat should be high on the list as well, but mucking about with bits of paper, however important, is surely well down the list. Priorities is what they are, and I'm good at those. Trust me, I'm a tabby.

Thur. 14 Feb. 2002 ~ by George
What about this for a coincidence, I'd been contemplating life and frogs with my parallel cat (the one in the parallel universe through the mirror), and later I found out there was a programme on telly about parallel universes! I bagged my favourite chair in time to see it, but it wasn't anything like my parallel universe at all. There were no cats for a start. I really think they should have asked me first, I am an expert after all, but no, so it's no wonder they didn't find one. Gemini said I was universally challenged. I think what she meant was I should be on University Challenge! I can see it all now, Jeremy Paxo-man introducing me: "...and here's George, from Cat Chat College, reading Parallel Universes". Gemini could be on my team too if she wanted, she could specialise in bicycle maintenance, or maybe food. Yes, most likely food.

Wed. 13 Feb. 2002 ~ by Gemini
One of the folks decided to do painting today. Not painting a picture, nothing nice like that, just walls. I can't see the point of it myself, the walls looked fine before. All they achieve as far as I can see is making half the house stink of paint, and the walls change colour, how useless is that? It got in the way of my routine too, because upstairs was all smelly and covered in newspaper, so I couldn't lay under my favourite radiator. Still, clouds and silver linings came to my rescue, and I discovered a completely new warm spot to lay in instead ~ on top of the cooker! It's got a lid that comes down over the cooking bit, and I happened to walk across it just after they'd finished cooking and put the lid down, and found it was lovely and warm. I spread myself right out all over it, and my belly was so cosy, I fell asleep up there. I love having a cosy belly.

Tues. 12 Feb. 2002 ~ by George
I haven't visited the Strange Garden since they cleared all the strange stuff out of it a while back, but I've noticed the new people have started collecting some strange stuff of their own. Different to the last lot, but interesting nevertheless. It's because they have 'small people', so there's big plastic toys, balls, bikes and things there now. I got as far as their fence, but I'm not sure about exploring yet, I'll have to wait until I have my brave head on, (thanks Wurzel). Tonight was unexpectedly delicious, the folks cooked pancakes! I'm not keen on the finished product, particularly when they're covered in lemon (yukk!), but I do love the mixture that makes them. So, as soon as they'd finished the cooking bit, I stuck my head in the mixing bowl and licked it clean. Saves them washing it up too, what a handy George I am!

Mon. 11 Feb. 2002 ~ by Gemini
I don't think George has too long to wait for his 'frog jelly' this year. I went on pond patrol today, and as soon as I got within a few feet, dozens of frogs went splashing off in a panic, diving down under the weed. I'm sure we've got twice as many as last year, so me and George are going to be busy 'plopping' them in the summer. I spent quite a while outside today, patrolling and checking on things. I think I've let things slip over the winter, which is probably why we've had our recent unwelcome visitor spraying up our swingbin, well no more! It's time to reclaim our garden, and next door's, and our swingbin, and make it clear to all comers that it's our patch, and no nonsense will be stood for! Hey, I feel better for deciding that. All confident and positive. Look out Ginger Thug, look out swingbin sprayer, look out world, Gemini's back!

Sun. 10 Feb. 2002 ~ by George
Now that the frogs are back, the fish are coming up to play too. They don't make much of an appearance during the winter, they stay hiding in the deep, (I'm glad I'm not a fish, imagine being wet all the time, Ughhh!). The good thing about the fish coming up to play, is that the folks get out those yummy pellet things to feed them, and the good thing about the pellet things is that I always get some to eat as well. Actually the best thing today, was playing hide and seek with one of the folks in the garage (I sneaked in through their legs). It's such a big playground for a little George, so they don't stand a chance of catching me if I don't want them to. They have to clamber over loads of stuff, whereas I can scamper wherever I like. Basically I can scamper a lot faster than they can clamber!

Sat. 9 Feb. 2002 ~ by Gemini
George says Spring is on the way when 'his' frogs come back, but I have a far more reliable signal than frogs. It's called Marmaduke cat. He has the most accurate temperature gauge of any cat I know, and when he takes up his position in the middle of the road, you know it's getting close to Spring weather. He sat in his best centre spot today, making sure everyone knew that would be his place again this year. My second clue was that George came out to help me meet the folks when they got back from their travels. He never does that in the cold weather, it's always left up to reliable old me. Well someone has to do it, they'd never find the front door otherwise, would they? I mean they're only humans.

Fri. 8 Feb. 2002 ~ by George
They're back! They're back! Our frogs are back! They must have flown in overnight, they weren't here yesterday. I never realise how much I miss our frogs until they come back, I wonder if they miss me too? Wherever it is they fly off to for the winter, I bet they don't get to play games like they do with me. I've only seen a few so far, but I know they all come back around the same time every year. Soon they'll make all their special jelly that they leave in the pond for me to eat, last year there was tons of it. Gemini says it's disgusting stuff, and she wouldn't eat it if it were the only thing left in the world to eat. Fine, all the more for me then. I just can't wait for when all the frogs are back, and I can play Plop Goes the Frog again. It's one of my favourite games ever!

Thur. 7 Feb. 2002 ~ by Gemini
I'm starting to think that George has either got a very over active imagination, or he's even more of a 'wussy pussy' than I thought. He came belting in from the kitchen today, straight up onto the back of the sofa (where I was napping peacefully I might add), looking as though he'd seen a ghost or the Ginger Thug. He wouldn't go out there until I'd gone to investigate, but there was nothing there. I found out later, when I witnessed him again practically jumping out of his fur, that he'd seen his own reflection in the cat flap window! He'd been scaring himself, which I tried to explain to him. I think he understood, because he went into his Big Bad George mode. 'Ha ha', he said 'that just goes to show how scary I am then doesn't it?'. Well he certainly scares me, but not in that way.

Wed. 6 Feb. 2002 ~ by Gemini
Sometimes an opportunity presents itself to sleep in a new place, that turns out to be so absolutely cosy that you just have to sleep in it all day. Today presented just such an opportunity. The folks decided to change the duvet cover and sheets on the spare bed, so before they could put the new ones on, me and George went to explore. Well, it's not every day you get to explore new duvets is it? What was so appealing was the way it had all been left in a huge heap on the bed, with big folds like caves. I got right down inside on of the duvet-caves and George had the one next door, and so that's where we stayed, all day. I don't know why they bother putting covers on really, beds are much more fun when they're in a heap. And what's more, we had fish for tea!

Tues. 5 Feb. 2002 ~ by George
Sometimes I find the cheek of the birds round our way amazing. We must have the cheekiest starlings around, or are they all as bold as this? I sit up in our kitchen window in full view, and still they come down onto our grass pecking at whatever it is they peck at. One cheeky little eye on me and the other on the grass. Today though, they went one step too far for my liking, they've only started to take their baths in our pond! There were two of them, splashing away in the shallow end, like they owned the place. Honestly, I'm surprised they didn't bring shower caps and a rubber duck! I belted out through the catflap to chase them, and boy, you should have seem them flap. I wasn't quick enough to catch them, but I gave them a scare alright. It's our pond, not a birdbath!

Mon. 4 Feb. 2002 ~ by Gemini
My perspective on life has changed completely since discovering the uncharted room that is our roof space. I just can't believe it's been up there all the time, and I never knew! Just how many other places are there that I haven't yet investigated? Up until last Saturday, my favourite place of discovery was under the stairs, and I honestly thought there couldn't be anywhere more interesting. Just goes to show. I can't wait to get back up there, but until the folks put the ladder up again, there's no way in. I'm convinced there's mice up there too. This afternoon I heard a ferocious cat-fight going on out in our front garden, so I rushed up to the window to check it out. No, it wasn't George, he couldn't fight his way out of a paper bag, (sorry George, but you know it's true). It was all over in less than a minute, what a pair of lightweights. Lucky for them I wasn't outside, they'd know what a real biff round the ear felt like.

Sun. 3 Feb. 2002 ~ by George
We had my very favourite food today, served in my very favourite way. Coley fish, uncooked of course, left to get warmish and a bit smelly. Coley fish lives in the freezer, which is a strange place to live, I can't imagine our pond fish fancying that very much. The odd thing is that it doesn't smell like coley until it comes out of the freezer, and then it gradually smells more and more like it the longer it's out. This is very frustrating when the folks have put it in a dish and shoved it away inside a cupboard that I can't get into! So all this morning, I could smell it, but couldn't get at it, Grrrrrrrrrr! It's great when dinner is finally served, but then I eat it so fast sometimes I don't even notice how scrummy it is. Gemini likes to drag it bit by bit on to the floor and chew it slowly, which is great because it leaves her bowl wide open to coley-bandits like me!

Sat. 2 Feb. 2002 ~ by Gemini
There's always been this mysterious square thing in the ceiling at the top of our stairs, and today we found out what it is. It's a sort of trap door to inside the roof, how exciting is that? One of the folks put up a ladder, pushed the door open and disappeared up there. I don't like to miss out on anything as you know, so I thought I'd follow them up. It was pretty scary near the top, even I'd admit that. 'Big Bad George' just looked up at me with eyes like saucers, being a particularly 'Wimpy Wussy George' right at that point. He wouldn't even go past the first rung! Inside our roof is very strange indeed, with woolly, spongy stuff all over the floor and the faint smell of spiders, cobwebs and mice! I felt like a real explorer up there, discovering new lands. Unfortunately I hadn't thought how I'd get back down again, so my fellow human explorer had to airlift me down in their arms!

Fri. 1 Feb. 2002 ~ by George
I don't know, one day nothing much happens at all (like yesterday) and then the next day two exciting things come along at once, strange isn't it. Exciting things are just like buses I suppose. The first exciting thing was out in our garden, well it's still there as far as I know (the exciting thing I mean, not the garden, although that's still there too). We've got a log pile from when some trees were cut back last year, and I can hear that there's a snuffly scuffly thing living inside. The trouble is the logs are heavy, so I can't move them. All I can do is try to squeeze my snout in bit by bit. I haven't got near enough yet, but I will, and it's jolly exciting. The second exciting thing was Gemini throwing up on the hall carpet when we had a visitor, (It's a good job it wasn't her turn to write the diary today, she'd have kept that one quiet). Way to go, Gemini!

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