Day 1 My Plea
Hello World!
I’m Simba and I am a fluffy white cat, so I’m told, with black hearts on my flanks. I live in a comfortable house in a village amongst other creatures, which, whilst they no doubt consider themselves to be important, are of no consequence whatsoever for my story. Just for the record, these creatures are fish, spiders, fleas, mice, humans, dragonflies and, of course, several varieties of household bug. The creature that is most important is black and white and is called Leo. (Here’s his portrait below)
Sometimes he bites. Sometimes he licks me, usually when I don’t want to be licked…. But he is my companion.
Anyway, enough background. I hope you get the picture. I am writing this at a time of great pressure in the world. I have constantly been hearing the word “coronavirus”. What is it, when it’s around? Whatever it is I just don’t like it and I would like you to tell it to go away. It seems to be more pervasive than Leo at his worst! I don’t want to be miserable all the time or to make you depressed by reading my diary, but I feel it may make me feel better if I write it all down. And.. you may be able to help.
In the last week things have changed from my normal routine which I have been comfortable with for the last 8.5 years. It’s bizarre. There’s no other way of putting it. The humans are home all the time (that’s not too bad actually, as I can now be fed on request) BUT they are rationing my Kibbles. RATIONING them. And I am being given Kibbles for ageing cats. I don’t want to be aged. I’m 9 and I am happy with that (Leo is 13). Why do they think I should be aged, suddenly?
Worse. I am being socially distanced. Yes, SOCIALLY DISTANCED. The newspaper man and the postman used to stroke me every day. I used to rub myself against their black trousers covering them in my beautiful white fur. I know they liked it. They always used to rub their trouser legs afterwards. I rub my legs when I’m happy. But now the postman has told me I need to observe social distancing and he doesn’t want to put coronavirus on me. Why? What’s wrong with it? Anyway, I don’t know if there is anything you can do. Perhaps you could contact the post office about the postman and the Daily Telegraph about the paper man?
Things have been very strange today. I woke up this morning and everyone was already up – AN HOUR earlier than normal A whole hour! Leo has told me this is British Summer Time (whatever that is). I like to take my time getting up, preen my fur, clean my paws etc to prepare for seeing the postman and the newspaper delivery man, but when I opened my eyes (and I had to because there was noise and movement all around me) everyone was up. Leo was on the prowl, the humans were doing whatever they do (that’s a mystery in itself isn’t it?) and the birds were tweeting annoyingly in the garden. (I must do some pest control!) Well, it was all a rush. That’s all I can say. I went outside and, apart from the birds making a raucous racket, it was horribly quiet. No cars, no trains, no humans …. and no strokes from my friends. I am bereft! Is it a coronavirus making all this happen? If so, it must be a very big thing. But it can’t be because I can’t see anything and as everyone knows cats have excellent eyesight. Even Leo.
Having dug up a bit of the neighbour’s garden, I came back inside and took refuge in my igloo for most of the day. At least it’s warm there and Leo has learnt not to poke me when I’m there as it is one of the very few occasions when I bite. I’m wondering whether I should venture out at all.
Anyway, I may have said enough for now. I will see what tomorrow brings. I’ll be back in touch then.
Much Love
Simba x
Leo