Gizmo Goes Home
ANOTHER FEEL-GOOD STORY for those who believe there needs to be more good news stories in this publication...
Around 10pm on Friday night, 22nd February, in response to some strange cat sounds in our garden, Kaye and I encouraged into our living room a large but thin young grey-brown stripey moggy, instantly incurring the displeasure of our own rather more well-fed beast, promptly despatched to an upstairs room to jingle fretfully to itself. Evidently rather lost, this large kitten was carrying no ID so I set off on a tour of the telegraph poles in the village in search of one of the 'missing cat' notices seen in recent times. If anyone saw a shifty bloke in a black car driving up and down the High Street stopping to shine a torch at lamp posts and telegraph poles that night, it was I. (And aren't there a lot of planning application notices out there? I'd never have noticed otherwise. Is this the best way to inform people?).
Eventually I found one - probably the only one left, as they'd been put up ages ago - and called the number (at about half past ten, expecting to disturb some slumbering soul) and yes indeed, this fitted the description of Gizmo, missing for a couple of months at least from the top of Fairview Grove. Chris, the long-lost owner, came down and provisionally identified him towards 11pm - he is a lot bigger at 7 months old than when last seen. It was the white socks and bib that did it. There had been sightings and possibly some kind people had put out food a while back, but the word was that he had gone the way of many moggies - missing, believed run over.
Neighbours of mine who saw a man heading up Fairview Grove late on Friday night with a cat basket guessed something was going on so yes, it was Gizmo going home.
But there's still some life in this end of the tale: on Saturday night while I was at the quiz, Gizmo reappeared in our garden to show off to Kaye his new reflective collar. I am reliably informed he has been home since, but he's clearly still got the urge to travel. If you see him much further than the bottom of Fairview Grove, do let the Wilsons at number one know. He may have forgotten the way back again.
My own mog is keeping constant watch for his return.