See what happens ....

When your computer decides to throw a wobbly and go diddy gaga? I ain't been able to get in here to post!

Where did I leave the story? Oh yeah. Here's the rest.

They had many adventures, good and bad. Socks would still misbehave just for the fun of it; he still enjoyed winding the humans up occasionally.
Socks started it of course, but Mitzy soon joined in as she discovered the contents of the cupboard could be, and were, as delicious as Socks claimed. Not that they could open cans of course, but ripping through flimsy and not so flimsy bags of biscuits and other delicacies was irresistible once they had started.
Both were batted out of the kitchen firmly while their female human cried her eyes out. Neither slept in the warm place that night, they had to shelter by the garden shed in misery.
No more kitchen adventures then. But Socks could not be kept out of any cupboard for long. Both humans laughed fit to burst as their pets vanished from sight one day and did not come to calls or banging of food dishes.
They found the pair in the ironing cupboard where all the linens and towels were kept in warmed air from the old boiler. Both were fast asleep wound up in sheets with angelic smiles.

Then Socks disappeared for the whole week. Mitzy moped, why had her friend left? The fun had gone out of life. The Friday came, and Mitzy smelt something on the air; she ran for the front gate as their male human left the door open just too far.
“Mitzy! Here girl! Heel! Heel!” He was starting to go red. “Dratted dog! Darling, can you give me a lift? I’ll miss the bus running after Mitzy.”
A sigh came from inside. “Of course, dear, but don’t take long. I can’t afford to be late again.”
Mitzy ran back to the front gate, bouncing up and down, barking her head off
“What is it, Mitzy? Can’t it wait? You want me to follow you? I haven’t got time, girl. Come on in, please!”
Mitzy was having none of it as he grabbed for her collar. For all she was tiny, his single finger that hung on was near torn off! She was adamant and he was forced to follow bent double to the back lane.
All he could see was that tangle of bush that grew through the back fence, he had meant to tidy it for ages but never got round. Mitzy twisted and his finger came loose. She gave a low whine and poked her head underneath. He was reluctant to look, what poor creature had she cornered?
Socks! Socks was in a terrible state, he had wandered too far near the neighbourhood boundary and been well and truly attacked. Worse, his back legs were useless. A car had hit him as he fled.
Mitzy followed their human with a proud look as he carried the pathetic bundle that could not move another inch.
Their female human screamed as she saw the sight and promptly called in to work saying they had an emergency. Mitzy lay on the double bedding as Socks was gently positioned in the cage and taken to the healing place. She spent many anxious days running rings round the humans, but neither bothered to tell her how he was doing – or not.
She was ecstatic when he came home, legs in plaster and stitches all over the rest of him. At first he wallowed in pity, then cheered up as Mitzy helped him with mere presence at times. She would push his bowl that bit nearer when he could not reach it, and even push her own bowl over to share a treat.
The plasters were gone, but his legs were weak. The humans tortured him with even the gentlest exercise of the limbs. Then they hung the thing with catnip just out of reach. How could they be so cruel? Mitzy watched as Socks strained and failed, and winked at the cat before pulling the thing down enough for him to reach.
How had he managed that, without moving an inch they wondered. Mitzy was out in the garden, playing with the ball. Socks was glad that even if Mitzy was dumb at times, she was fastidious; even he would leave the occasional paw print of guilt that Mitzy never did. There was something to be said for clearing the last crumb and wiping paws as well as face thoroughly.

Caesar and the gang congregated near the boundary and challenged their opposites; Socks’ honour had to be claimed back, never mind the interlopers know who was boss here. Caesar now sported a rakish ear and the next neighbourhood gangs never crossed over again.
And it was Mitzy that brought Socks back to proper health again. She would take Socks’ ball and play with it urging him to do the same. At first, it was at a sedate and wobbly walking speed that the game of pass the ball played out, before slowly growing in pace as strength returned with use. Both humans shook their heads in mock despair as the ball ran under the fence and both animals jumped the thing with ease, appearing in a scramble minutes later with ball in mouth.
The local kids soon noticed the antics, and would playfully take the ball down to the playing field with Mitzy and Socks in full charge after it.
They joined in the kick-abouts, much to the delight of the youngsters, and soon there were other animals watching from the sidelines as Socks became an excellent defender, whilst Mitzy preferred to help the goalie.
The humans shook their heads in mock disbelief as they often found their pets on the playing field rather than the garden.




Mitzy and Socks had no truce, it was not necessary, they were now more than firm friends. When Mitzy took long walks on the hills, Socks would often follow them at a distance and show her his old places when they were out of sight of the humans. He told her to avoid the holes though, even though she loved chasing the rabbits into them. It was a true rabbit warren down there; it was far too easy to get lost.
Mitzy had listened and understood well enough, but the urge to hary the rabbits was just too great. When the last creature had turned and made a raspberry face at her she forgot all the excellent advice and followed it down the dark hole. Of course, the rabbit disappeared in the dark immediately and Mitzy was disoriented. She could not turn round to return to the initial entry point and could only continue into the dark.
She was terrified. She was so weak she knew she could not climb out even if she found a hole big enough. She would die down here. Why had she not listened to Socks? She whimpered small cries as yet another night passed.
Socks was worried when Mitzy had not returned that day, and was soon near out of his mind as a terrifying ten days passed with no sign of her. It did not take long for him to ascertain where she had gone missing. The stupid mutt he thought, she had finally gone after a rabbit. He would have gone on the search with his humans, but they had locked him inside with no chance of following them! Stupid, stupid humans he fumed, they don’t know where to look while I do!

Finally, on the tenth day the cage door was left unlocked by accident as their humans went on the search. They were becoming increasingly sure they would find a dead dog rather than a living one. Socks scrambled through the one open window he found in the bathroom and ran for all his worth.
Steering clear of the lines of humans, he saw Caesar running towards him at a full gallop. He had heard whimpering from the far place but was unable to make the humans understand.
Socks perked up at this and asked Caesar to show him. The place was far beyond where the lines of humans searched of course. Was that a slight sound he heard? He howled his best impression of a dog’s call and was near ecstatic as he heard a definite whimpering call back. Stay there Mitzy he called down the hole in front of him. We are coming!
That was Socks! Mitzy’s heart near burst with love for the feline. But this hole was far too small for either of them to find each other. She was not to know that both cat and dog were even then running back to their owners in the front line, barking, howling, asking them to follow them. At last the humans understood and followed the two excited creatures back to the small hole. A light was shone down and a now dark coloured small shivering shape was seen, trying to speak back to the welcome shouts.
Half an hour later and Mitzy was free. She wanted to thank both Socks and Caesar but was not given the chance as she was swiftly bundled in a warm blanket and taken to the vet who admitted her ahead of the waiting line.
Mitzy was happy with the small cage she was placed in at the animal hospital, it was warm and welcoming with all the food and water she could take. They fed her small amounts hourly so as not to upset her malnourished frame.
Socks was ecstatic the day she came home, still weary but well on the way to recovery. Their humans smiled to see the licks were given from Socks this time and Mitzy seemed to perk up all the more for them.

But the ordeal took a lot more out of her than was realised, her small heart had weakened and she was not up to the longer walks, at least not the running fun she used to have. She now plodded in a dignified manner whilst Socks still ran off in playful mood, but he always returned to her.
The humans were now used to seeing the pair sharing the same pet bed, and replaced the two with one huge one. Both animals were content.

Neither human saw the small tears drip down Socks face as he watched the frail body being lifted into the cage and strapped into the back seat. Somehow he knew Mitzy would not return from this last visit to the vets.
He tried consoling his humans as they returned with the empty cage. He wound his way around their legs and cried with them. But the despondent mood lingered, only to be lifted slightly two days later as Socks was put on Mitzy’s leash and taken to the hills. He noticed several other humans and their pets on leash as a pitiful small canister of ashes was emptied and let to blow on the winds. Mitzy’s spirit had been set free he realised If only his people could know this was what both creatures would want.

Socks became somewhat of a recluse after Mitzy’s departure, he never visited the hills again, he rarely visited the weekly pets gatherings by the school playing fields. In short, Socks became an old man overnight and moped. His mood would never lighten.
His old nature returned with a vengeance when his people dared present a new small bundle of fur to him. His fury at the sight instantly convinced the humans that he would take no new companion. He was left to mope and wander aimlessly for a while. He perked up a little as Caesar howled for him to join the gang outing, but his heart was not in it, fun had disappeared with Mitzy.

At least he was spared the last trip to the vet; he fell into exhausted sleep one night as Mitzy came to him in a dream. The humans wondered what the strange cat smile meant as they found his body stiffening the next morning.
Socks ashes rose in glee as the morning sparkled over the hills, where his soul met and gambled across the winds with Mitzy, both chasing the white rabbit shaped clouds.

out on the lash

Out on the lash, if you can call diet coke/pepsi that, maybe one or two small wines ..... saving all the calories for the Italian bash up to follow lol

Girls night out, a lovely evening of chatter and news. We haven't met for a good six months so there will be plenty to go round.

Weather can do what it will - as long as I get into town and pub DRY. I don't give a hoot how wet I get going home.

Have a good night everyone.

A further bit for you

As said, Socks indeed mellowed. Not a typical house cat by any means, but the malicious streak had gone with his boy bits. He was now fun. Our humans were very happy we were now friends, and even moved our padded beds next to each other. We got used to each other’s kicks and snorts as we dreamt our dreams.
Then came that awful day that Socks was cornered by Caesar, the neighbourhood bully of a bullmastiff. Caesar was well known to hold a grudge, particularly against other creatures. He had savaged many a cat and rabbit in his time. But he made the mistake of pinning Socks to the ground right outside our house.
Mitzy’s heart was nearly in her mouth. Her feline pal was in peril! Mitzy astonished her people by rushing out at full pelt, barking in fury in full suddenly not so high-pitched voice. Caesar looked up in astonishment as Mitzy launched herself up on to his back and began clawing. Caesar howled, both in shock at the assault but also in pain. How dared this little pipsqueak of a poodle attack him, why he was four times her size! He spun trying to dislodge her, to no avail. She cared for the cat that much? What on earth was she thinking?
Socks in the meantime recovered from the shock of seeing Mitzy’s terrific flying leap and rolled out of the way. But he would not leave his friend who was apparently getting the better – for the moment at least – of the bully. Then she finally slipped and Caesar rounded, his jaws attaching to a hind leg. It was Mitzy’s turn to howl in desperation. Socks flew forward and sunk his own teeth and claws into the front of Caesar’s legs.
Quite a crowd of animals stood, joined by humans, at the spectacle. Then the friends’ owners took control, out came the brooms and Caesar’s owners joined them. The fight broke up. All three animals were held apart, bloodied and bruised. Truce was made as the three waited in line at the vets place, more needles and even some stitches were required.
Caesar caused no more trouble after that, he was always on a leash and muzzled to boot. He changed, much the way Socks had changed. He was polite and respectful, especially to Mitzy; and the neighbourhood became a relaxed place. Whoa betide the wanderers that strayed into the small territory still. But Caesar was all bark and no bite from then on in.

oh dear me ....

Oh dear me
Whatever can the matter be
Susan's tied to the l*******
Oh dearie dearie me!

What on earth made me polish off the entire bag of marshmallows in one sitting?????
They were scrumptious though, lol
My stomach and digestion are complaining, loudly
That'll teach me to be so greedy.

Hope it settles before I can't stay awake any longer.

Sorry I have been missing

I really have been tardy with both blog and twitter posts. Very good reasons though - the old IBS has been horrendous this last week plus I have been trying to review my entire story files (that's still ongoing by the way).

No comments re Mitzy and Socks? Is that a small chuckle I hear from somewhere?

And - Wilkommen to Germany and välkommen to Sweden.

Dare I make comment re the Eurovision contest? The winning song was passable but I liked the second much better. It was still a curious mix of political voting imo at least. It seems that a lot of expert jury votes totally contradicted the public votes so who knows who was most popular in the end

next bit

I hope this story will give you all a little chuckle, here is the second bit.

Hi, readers, I’m Socks. This initial bit Mitzy has got our human to describe comes a lot nearer the end of our story than the beginning. I arrived at Mitzy’s home as a bedraggled small lump of mangy fur that had lived all of its life out on those very hills. Mitzy was a full-grown mini poodle in her prime when my sorry older kitten form entered her life. Yes, we were both horrified! It took months for me to learn to behave as a house cat should behave.

Well, if you had grown up wild you wouldn’t take to prison would you – even a gilded one. Even when I learnt to ‘obey’ (ha, that’s a good one!) I caused mayhem and disruption. I did learn quickly not to try keeping my claws sharp on the furnishings; a swift bat with the broom was all it took. Some humans may think they treated me cruelly, but I needed it. I would have thought less of them if they had put up with it.

Mitzy was a real cat’s dream of a foil. Mini poodle, such a stupid hairstyle they gave her, and as dumb – even dumber – than a snail. That’s being kind to the snail by the way. But Mitzy had a mother’s instinct about her and tried to take me under her wing. Oh boy how I fought this! But Mitzy usually dodged out of the way before my claws claimed more than a scratch and still came back for more.

Our first real fight was over the food. Wild thing that I was, there was never enough food and I gorged on everything put our way – including Mitzy’s share of course. This was one of the main things the little dog would not stand for, and I was initially shocked when her own claws were shown. This once, I lost! I lost, to a dog, and a mini sized one at that! All the stray mutts and visitors to the hills had long since known to avoid my extra sharp talons. We settled into an uneasy truce at that, Mitzy’s food bowl was well out of bounds, but the water bowls could be shared if need be.

Then the birds arrived in the garden as a new feeder went up. They lined up and mocked me no end, being inside where they were safe outside. I climbed the curtains and rested on the sill. Mitzy knew it was wrong, and tried to get me down. That started a fight again. Our female human came in and screamed in shock as the curtain shook. Well, I panicked and took off up the thing, ending up with my big claws stuck firmly in the wooden rail at the top, dangling like a proper fool but unable to move.

Why she blamed Mitzy for getting me up there I still haven’t figured out. The poor mutt was locked in the cage while I yowled in pain. It took three firemen to calm me and cut the pole enough to free me! I had feared losing my claws!

Another story!

As I am at a loss for something interesting to tell you, as nobody seems to want to talk to me, a short serialisation of my tiniest book, Mitzy and Socks. It is a cat and dog story.




Mitzy was terrified, she was well and truly lost. This labyrinth of small tunnels was just big enough for the small animal to push through; she even had to crawl in places. There was no light. How she missed the light! Even in the darkest night there was light from a street lamp or a bright moon.

Her mind wandered as she curled up and shivered herself into a form of rest. How long had she wandered these tunnels? Time had no meaning to the dog, other than eating the late meal before sleep and waking to a full bowl of breakfast food. She had grown little from the time she arrived in the household, a ‘miniature’ they called her. Whatever that meant. She only knew she was loved and petted and taken for long exciting walks on the hills whenever she brought the leash out. They took the leash off when they reached the acres of scrubland that held so many exciting scents. And those wonderfully enticing holes that the rabbits and other creatures called their homes. Those very holes had proven to be horrible, no food, no light, only a little water that leaked down from the constant rain above. She could feel the earth shudder at the impact and shuddered with it.

I want to go home, she thought, home to the warm fire, the food bowl, and – dear Lord forgive her – that awful cat that once made her life a misery. He called it fun and cajoled her to ‘get a life’. His purpose in life was to annoy her and get away with as much mischief as he possibly could think of. Well, a small smile twitched the pert mouth as she remembered - that was until the day he had visited the vet’s office. That once she had been sorry for him, seeing the spitting and desperately clawing creature being forced into the small cage was a heart rending sight. But he was mellowed on his return. There was something different about him. She could almost like him now. His company would make this dark bearable at least.

She woke with yet another shiver, a small rivulet of water was seeping into her now wet curl space. She had to move further. She did not want to move, the space had become a refuge, even a harsh one, but the thought of walking those tunnels again was even worse. She drank enough of the drips to slake her dry frame. But she was so hungry, and so weak.

She had howled for as long as she was able to begin with, but now could only raise a bare single and very feeble bark. She remembered doing this in outraged fury many years ago as the humans measured it. But then she was well fed and the feeling of being unable to raise a sound had quickly vanished. Yet this time she thought she heard an echo, not her own feeble whine but a strong cat voice! That sounded like Socks!