Happily Ever After

Life in The Rural Retreat with a beautiful wife, three cats, garden wildlife, a camera, a computer – and increasing amounts about running

Earlier posts can be found on Adventures of a Lone Bass Player, where this blog began life. Recent entries can be found here.

Moggies On The Move

by admin - 13:43 on 24 August 2014

My Chatterbox duties are over (for this edition); garden duties have resumed. Today's long-overdue collection of arboreal debris was followed by an impressively smoky bonfire so it's fortunate that the wind direction was away from the road. The bonus was a good excuse to leave lawn-mowing and other horticultural pursuits until tomorrow, although if the weather forecast is correct – three days of sun after two weeks of dismal autumn-like conditions – snappery and Kawasaki San might be a more appealing prospect.

While in the garden, I made sure to hack down the undergrowth close to one of our bird feeders. In the last few weeks it's become far too verdant, creating the perfect hiding place for cats with ambush in mind, as demonstrated this morning by Pandora. The grey-and-white tabby streak that rocketed out of the bushes was far too fast for its target; the luckless robin didn't stand a chance.

Someone else who's shown an impressive turn of speed is Willow. It's a while since I've left the Bushnell out overnight, as it's too depressing to watch pine martens on video that I used to be able to see in the flesh, but occasionally I check up on garden visitors.

Last night, the action was non-stop. No deer were spotted (Matchgirl saw mum and two young roe deer in the early evening when I was out a couple of days ago) because the camera was pointed at the gate, but martens, all three members of The Pride (at different times), Mystery Moggy and two hedgehogs were captured.

The highlight was a demonstration by Willow of who's the boss. The brief film is now on YouTube, so you can share her nocturnal antics. Matchgirl, of course, was horrified.

Music Update: The Strays are together again. Rehearsal has happened. Another is scheduled for Wednesday, then Jim's off to his oil rig. This is rather inconsiderate because we return to the Balconie Inn in Evanton on September 13 and we won't have another opportunity to rehearse before then. But we'll be fine. It's a nine o'clock start. We'll see you there.

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