Alas, whilst Limpit and I are down in the Southern hemisphere enjoying a family reunion, my Shadow cat has passed on to that great litter tray in the sky.

She hasn't been that well recently, old age was gaining a stronger hold and she was reluctant to leave the house.

Apparently she went out on Friday, was seen on the roof of a neighbour's shed, but didn't come in again. Manitas found her on Saturday morning, behind the shed.

My Shadow has been with us since before our first wedding anniversary and we're getting on for our 19th this year. She was a stray that I brought home from the library I worked at, where she'd obviously been dumped or left in the area. She was about 2 then, making her upwards of 20 now. She was a faithful companion and I'm going to miss her most when we get home to our door on Wednesday... she won't be there to greet us with her loud, insistant meow.

LTS