Saturday, 02-09-23

Good morning, everyone.  I woke very early after a great night's sleep and it is quite mild at the moment.  The French window is open, letting the air in and it feels lovely.

Well, where do I start.  Yesterday was quite a day.

First of all, Slimming World.  After my co-codamol induced slight gain last week, I was hopeful for this week but didn't expect three and a half pounds off.
Then it was time to vote for our group's 'Woman of the Year' and looky look!

I was so surprised and happy.

After group, I came home and the cleaners were already there, doing their usual wonderful stuff, so I finished off my list and headed for Sainsbury's to get out of their way.
As expected, I spent quite a lot but now I'm all set up for the month as far as non-food items are concerned.  Also, as a sort of 'well done' to myself, I suppose, I bought a denim jacket, something I've been wanting for quite a while.

Dave, Anna and the food turned up and we'd pretty much finished eating (lovely, delicious food, very acceptable wine and great company) when Anna checked her phone and discovered a message from Beth saying that Peter was home.  No more details at that point and I'm afraid I cried!  I've been worried for Peter himself, of course, but more worried about the impact his disappearance was having on Beth.

This is what Beth posted later on last night:

Oh my goodness. So, 48 hours ago we heard there was a sighting of Peter near some allotments. We searched the allotments and Alex caught a glimpse of a cat he thought was Peter, and he had a red tag, but was scared by the flashlights and ran away. I sat there calling for a good hour after we left the allotment, and a nearby resident scaled the fence to look in. But it was a lead.

We targeted that area, and some hedgerow by the railway line. My sister in law Anna Taylor was round that area earlier today and I know Diana Bond was there this evening, not to mention sundry allotmenteers and neighbours who had been looking out/ calling.

I simultaneously had a call and a message at about 7pm to say they had seen Peter. Got down there and called... and Peter answered! Loudly! It took another 10 minutes of howling and a bowl of Whiskas shoved through the fence before he would show himself, and as soon as possible I grabbed him and hauled him through the bars and into the basket.

Got him home as soon as possible, and I can pinpoint the point he started to recognise his surroundings as he stopped howling and started sniffing... he started howling again once inside but after 10 mins or so remembered who he was and who I was and that actually he has 8 days of cuddles to catch up on thank you very much and that was that.

That was that indeed. She also posted a few photos - here's one. Catching up on sleep, obviously!

It's wonderful how Beth's neighbourhood has rallied round here, looking out, sending messages about possible sightings, climbing over allotment fences to check, etc. This week, Peter seems to have achieved a certain notoriety locally!

What a day, eh?

So, on to today.

I don't have a lot to clear up after last night. Just some containers/bottles to recycle, some best glasses to hand wash, a small portion of butter chicken to pop in the freezer (and hope that it freezes OK) and a dishwasher to start off once it is full.

What I do have is a slightly muggy head so I will spend the morning rehydrating, first on coffee (because you have to) and then with water.

Beth's invited me round for coffee this afternoon and I have offered to go out taking 'Peter is Lost' posters down from what looks like every single lamp post in the area.

The other thing I need to do is make my meal plan for the week. I usually have quite a good idea of how the week's going to go before I go shopping but not this time. Bad me! 😉 To be fair, I have other things on my mind!

And that's about it for today. How about you - what does your weekend look like? Doing anything really nice? xx