The Cat Who Went Up The Creek*

“Meow meow meow,” I hear as I wake up from my afternoon sleep.  The whimpering sound is coming from the garden.  It’s raining out there. Pulling some shorts on, hauling myself through to the lounge, I see Dad dozing in his chair. “Dad, have you seen the fluffy monster,” I say.  “I can hear him […]

Holes*

“Look,” Mum says, pointing to the grass at my feet.  We’re standing in the  parental garden.  Looking down, I see a small hole, about four centimetres in diameter.  You can see it in the attached photo. “What is it?” I say. “No one knows,” Mum says.  “The garden is covered in them, look.” Walking around […]

The Scent Of Rain And Lightning*

“Arrived safe and sound, by the way xxx”.  The message comes through from Seb at 12.45pm today.  Am so happy to hear from him.  Have been wondering whether or not he’s arrived. “Ah great.  In Bangkok?” I reply, at 2.10pm when I see the message.  Am at the parental home where there isn’t much phone […]

The Fugitive Pigeon*

“How is my fluffy?” I ask Mum when I call to let the parentals know that have made it to my Office.  If I don’t call, they just assume that am Still In Bed or have snuck off to the gym. “He’s a very naughty boy,” Mum says, in her Teacher Voice. “What has he […]

A Scanner Darkly*

It’s cool, calm and quiet in the waiting area for MRI scans.  Am the youngest person here by at least forty years, as usual.  The only sounds are the squeak of doors opening and closing; the patter of footprints and the thud of walking sticks up and down the corridor.  Listen carefully and there’s a […]

The Mystery of the Disappearing Cat*

“Did he follow you into your bedroom?” Mum says.  The fluffy monster was in the house but now he has disappeared, leaving nothing but a thick coating of orange fur all over my black top. “I was just in there for a few seconds,” I say.  “Not long enough for a huge person to squeeze […]

The Hidden Window Mystery*

Painventory: 1.  Bum ache: too much sitting today.  And the glute machine yesterday. 2.  Thigh pains from going up and down the stairs.  Well, exacerbated by that.  The pains date from many many many squats yesterday, plus two different sorts of leg press. Leg pressing a hundred kilograms at a time, for three sets of fifteen.  Doing […]