Kitty , again

D , on the phone in an intense exchange with a solicitor .

He paces , finding it impossible to engage whilst sitting , or at his desk . This winds Kitty up and coupled with the fact that its after the four o clock watershed , adds to her determination to disrupt proceedings .In her eyes , food should be imminent . She yowls wildly and he proceeds to pace in the general direction of the kitchen , perhaps intending to provide a scoop of food whilst he talks .

I listen from my perch in the other sitting room , where I am lurking with a book , avoiding doing the painting .

As he approaches the kitchen the Guinea Pigs get wind of him and set up an earth shattering series of squeals .

I wonder what the solicitor makes of it . Perhaps we need a phone on a cord , attached firmly to a desk .

Toby , messing in the sink

Strict morning routine . The cats usually wait for me on the landing , unless they've manouvered the bedroom door open and started nipping . The Guinea Pigs either sense the vibrations through the house or hear movement as the very minute I cross the threshold the squealing starts downstairs . They are first to be fed and they woffle my fingers . The coffee machine goes on next and the cats swarm around , Pearl on the benches in defiance of all the rules , Kitty attacking the legs till the food is down , Jessie waiting patiently in another room and Toby at the sink , more interested in water play than in food .