One of the joys of this job is the unexpected deliveries that can arrive at any time and faster than Amazon Prime! This morning I’m
Up early again the sun streaming in and the birds chorus ringing in my ears. This is an alarm I happily accept in retirement. I wonder where everyone slept last night? We all started off in the house when I locked up, two cats and the dog and me. I predictably, chose the guest bed assigned to me. Gus, who has a choice of beds, decided on the kitchen, possibly cooler downstairs but there is an Aga.. the cats weren’t on the Home Owners’ bed when I passed by to use the bathroom.
In the routine to get my breakfast I spot the special delivery: half a mouse. Have I been left the best half, the lion’s share? Sharing is caring, right? I clean up. It hasn’t put me off my breakfast. The cats are strangely dependent and independent. Should I view this as a tribute? A peace offering as Max went off walkabout for a couple of days recently?
I breakfast with the dog. I’m in the best of company.
I’ve just removed a decapitated bird from the patio. It must have been some nasty magpies that hang about as I haven’t seen a cat and the dog I’m looking after was in the house
A dead fox is very stinky…..as you can imagine! It smells of murder!
We’ve just finished a month long sit for 5 outdoor cats in rural Scotland. The smorgasbord of offerings each day was something to behold. Also on a fully belly of cat food one of the cats would cheerfully go straight outside- catch and eat a mouse. Not for the faint hearted. We are animals lovers of all types so the mixed feelings of natural behaviour V lovely garden birds being predated not an easy one.
I console myself with the fact it’s fast food.. if they do, in fact, eat it.. better that than hunting for bits under beds etc!
I feel your pain.
I prefer it when I have sits where the cats are locked inside overnight, as that’s when most murders occur. I used to have cats and I honestly don’t know how I coped with the menagerie that was brought in, dead, half dead or alive.
I’m been left a mouse head. I’m not sure which is the worst end to find ..
One of my sit cats left me a mouse with just its innards missing. He was a dainty eater, leaving no mess. Just a mouse corpse. And he called me from another room to gift me with it. 
Therein lies a tail! Best not begin! I also don’t like how they play cat and mouse all day.. one cat let the mouse run under a heavy piece of furniture I can only surmise the ending…
Cat calling! Guess who’s coming to dinner or more appropriately, guess what’s coming for dinner!
I’d rather dine with a dog than a cat!
Up at 6.00 but the serial killer is well awake before my cereal appears! Murder on the kitchen floor part 2
His immaculate white bib means he’s ready for meals at the drop of a cat!
Murder Before Breakfast
Maybe I should be writing a Pet version of a Who Dunnit!?
Are you in the countryside or such? How are there enough mice to enable him to do a lot of hunting?
We do a repeat sit in a beautiful home , the garden backs onto a forest . Deer come through the garden . It’s serene and tranquil BUT the first time we stayed the cat gifted us shrews and mice 1-2 times a day . Some alive some dead . The dead ones are much easier to get rid of !!!
( Picture the scene - me and my husband moving heavy furniture, and chasing a tiny mouse around with a broom . While the little cat looks on in amusement) 
reporting back to the HO - I’ve given the humans plenty of exercise time today .
Her owners have now given her a collar with a bell and we haven’t received any more gifts .
Saved by the bell! I looked after my sister in
Law’s kitten who is such a successful huntress a bell was added to her collar.. she managed to get the collar off whilst I was solo sitting at Christmas. I know it’s a traditional season of present giving but I had to stem the flow! Single-handedly I pinned the kitten down and got the belled collar back in place. I wonder how many lives I saved? Many had a happier Christmas as a result.
This is Oxford and yet it’s up a hill, close to great countryside walks in the vale of the White Horse. The garden receives visiting deer, badgers, foxes and there are extensive lawns and trees here. The whole site was larger when the Art and Crafts home was built. The home was commissioned by Anne Wynne Thackeray (1865-1944) , the great niece of the famous Victorian author William Makepeace Thackeray. She used it initially as a summer dwelling but moved in permanently in the 1930’s. ( The gardener tells me they kept horses and it was surrounded by fields…estates of houses are inevitably encroaching. )
In fact this house had the same architect who designed Portmeirion, Sir Bertram Clough Williams- Ellis.The Italianate village setting for “ The Prisoner” a 1960’s tv show . (The china is created there too I think. )
In the garden here performing guests included Gustav Holst and Ralph Vaughan Williams and the great British pianist, Myra Hess.
I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for my love of pets and THS ! Feeling very blessed. So glad it was saved as there was pressure to knock the house down, fell the trees and build 21 modern houses in its place. Pressure from local residents won the day! The original owner was a philanthropist who did much to help the feeble minded by opening a home and ensuring subsequent local hospital care. She warmly supported Women’s Suffrage . She involved herself fully in local civic activities, becoming an alderman of Oxford (1932-38)
One of her maxims was “ If you want a friend, be a friend.”
Photos are of the Music Room inside and out.
The house has been kept in the family. The present owners have raised their family here and lived happily in it for 30 years.
I’m here so they can take a trip for their 40 th Wedding anniversary. Very best wishes to them!
