Dearest Feline Friends and Friends of Felines
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for the wonderful outpouring of support, love and affection you’ve given me during this year. The number of emails I receive personally, both asking for the benefit of my advice (because I know SHEDLOADS of stuff, don’t forget!) and helpful suggestions when I’ve had one of my bad turns, has been truly phenomenal.
It’s been a good year in parts and I’m grateful to my Mum for being open to new ideas in treatments for me. As you may be aware, I’ve been having acupuncture for the past few weeks, and it’s put a spring in my step, not to mention helped my appetite and made my bowels and kidneys work a bit better. Poor Mum accompanies me in the garden with a torch at night when I need to go so that she can write down in her special book what I’ve managed to do and then she has to tell Emma, the vet, who does the acupuncture.
Personally, I’m a bit embarrassed at having my toilet arrangements discussed in public but I know they are both trying to help me live a happier more comfortable life. And they are succeeding.
Ollie, my protégée, has grown into a wonderful little cat. Come December 23rd, he’ll have been here at the Daily Mews Mansion for 3 years and he is a real little character, a great joy to have around – although at times he can be a real pest. But not too often.
He often stops by my bed and has a chat about life and the price of fish and he tells me things he’s been getting up to around the neighbourhood. He said that our Mum going into the pet shop when she did was the best thing that ever happened to him – and he’ll always be grateful.
Ricky continues with his self-help groups and his alternative lifestyle. He has blossomed since the garden was landscaped and he has somewhere to practice his yoga. It’s apparent to all that he is a much happier and confident cat and the sad Ricky of old has been replaced with a new and youthful Ricky who always seems to be smiling.
Sam doesn’t usually speak to me much but he is a nice cat, for all that. He likes to sleep in strange places and under things so that he can’t be seen. Mum has often sat down on the sofa bed for a rest and Sam has been under the throw and she’s not seen him. She’ll hear a loud squeak and he’ll emerge grumpily!
Billy can be a pain in the bum at times; I think he is jealous of the attention that Mum gives me because she does do a lot for me. He comes out in the garden when we’re out there and winds himself around her legs and if she’s brushing me he’ll try and put his face under the brush so that Mum will brush him. We both understand how he feels and Mum, to her credit, gives him tons of cuddles – she really should have a medal for cuddlesomeness – but Billy only seems to want cuddles when I’m having them.
Timmy – what can I say about Timmy? He is my best friend; he cares for me and looks out for me. He’s saved me many times from falling down the stairs after that one or two times when I fell down. He lies across the top stair so that I can’t get past him and he’ll call out to Mum to come and get me. Then he waits for me at the top of the stairs until I come back up again.
He is a true friend in all senses of the word.
And Mum – what can I say about her? She is always there for me, nothing is ever too much trouble, and I know she’ll do anything for me, for all of us Daily Mewsers. I try not to be too much trouble during the day but sometimes I need a bit more help than at other times, but she is ALWAYS smiling and never grumpy – never mind what the time is, or how cold it is outside when she’s shining the torch on my bottom. She is the greatest Mum in the whole world.
So this is the first Christmas letter I’ve ever written and I hope that everyone who reads the MEWSLETTER and who takes the time to visit the Daily Mews website will ALL have a wonderful Christmas and a happy and peaceful MEW YEAR!!!!
I look forward to hearing from you with your news, views and problems in the coming months. Thank you for your friendship, and many kindnesses to me, and my Mum – because you’ve all been good to her at times when she’s needed a helping paw to lift her spirits.
Take care, and God bless you all.
With SHEDLOADS of love – Garfield
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
A morning kiss, a discreet touch of his nose landing somewhere on the middle of my face.
Because his long white whiskers tickled, I began every day laughing.
Janet F Faure