Allotment Cats

(Amanda)
A big Thank You to everyone who voted for me and Janet.
We don't know how we got on, but we will let you know when we find out.
I've been thinking about competitions.
Sometimes they have them at the allotments.
Some of the humans try to grow the 'Heaviest Cabbage'.
One year Colin won!

(Janet and Amanda)
We are in a Valentine Virtual Cat Show!
It's organised by @herefordcats
We've never done anything like this before but Auntie Rachel thought it'd be a good idea.
We haven't had many votes for us yet.
If you have time, would you vote for us please?
We are in category 2, 3 and 4.

(Amanda)
Auntie Rachel's taken another Dumpling Photo of me.
I don't mind, I'm quite happy with how I look.
Do you think it matters if I'm a bit chunky?
Betty says there's more of me to love.
I hope she's right.

(Amanda)
How did I know when it was the right time to be friendly with humans?
Colin wasn't used to having a cat jump up onto his lap but I just knew he would like it and he did.
Betty says it's a thing called 'instinct' but that's another word I haven't heard before.
Is it good to have instinct?

(Maurine)
I was having a little walk around the allotments yesterday when Auntie Rachel took this photo of me.
She seems very kind but I'm not ready to be friends yet.
I've watched Amanda and seen how she lets the humans make a fuss of her.
Do you think I will ever be as brave as Amanda?

(Amanda)
Do you think it's true that some humans have a special friendship with cats?
They don't do anything special, we just seem to be more relaxed with them.
Have they learned this or is it a gift?
Auntie Sammy took this photo of me with Uncle Andy.
I think he's got the gift, what do you think?

(Amanda)
Betty laughed when she saw this photo.
She said that I'm a contortionist!
I've never heard that word before, maybe only ancient humans like her use it.
I don't think I was doing anything unusual, I was just trying to get comfy on the chair.
Is being a contortionist a good thing?

(Amanda)
I can't believe it's a year since my best friend Barbs left us so suddenly.
I hadn't known him for very long but I miss him so much.
He was such a kind, gentle boy with everyone, espcially with Betty.
He will never be forgotten, rest in peace sweet Barbs.

(Amanda)
I never realised that I have such a massive tongue!
I'm not complaining, a big tongue is useful when I'm washing myself.
I don't think humans wash themselves like we do, their way seems very complicated with baths and showers.
I think the cat way of washing is the best.
What do you think?

(Amanda)
Auntie Rachel showed me these photos of me and Janet and I noticed something strange.
Why are Janet's ears much hairier than mine?
Is it because she's a lot older than me?
I know that some ancient humans have hairy ears.
Maybe it's to keep her ears warm?
Betty says I'm overthinking again.

(Amanda)
I went to see Janet the other day but she didn't seem too happy about it.
She saw me walking up her path and she did a little hiss at me.
Betty said not to worry, Janet is getting old and we have to make 'allowances' for her.
I'm not sure what 'allowances' are but I'll try to make some.

(Janet)
I was a bit cheeky yesterday.
Auntie Rachel forgot she had put a tub of Dreamies on the path and I just couldn't resist them!
She let me eat some but then she took the tub away.
I could have eaten all of them but that would have been too greedy.
x.com/i/status/201...

Oh come on, Amanda, we all know that cats can seem ghosts or at least look into other dimesnions which our feeble human senses can't perceive! 😸

(Amanda)
I seem to spend a lot of time just sitting and staring at nothing in particular.
Is this normal?
Betty says it's a good thing because it's a way of relaxing.
What do you think?

(Amanda)
Betty says that sometimes I have a 'far-away look' in my eyes.
It doesn't make sense to me but I suppose she knows what she's talking about.
Does it make sense to you?

Thank you Auntie Rachel for another lovely photo.

(Amanda)
I feel so relaxed on Uncle Mick's lap and I could easily stay there for hours.
It's a shame he has other things to do at the allotments but I think he likes spending time with me.
Auntie Rachel took lots of photos of us together.
Would you like to see more of them?

(Amanda)
One of the humans at the allotments made this picture of me.
She didn't do it with a camera, she drew it herself.
I didn't even know that humans did things like that.
They are very clever, aren't they?

(Amanda)
Look who Auntie Rachel saw yesterday!
It's the first time she's ever seen Maurine and she managed to get this lovely photo of him.
She said that he is a big boy and I'm not surprised because he keeps coming the veranda looking for food.
Auntie Sammy feeds him and Colin feeds him too!

(Janet)
It's good to have a littel stretch sometimes isn't it?
I think lots of humans do it too but maybe not at the allotments.
It doesn't bother me where I am.
Sometimes I combine stretching with balancing.
Do you do much stretching?

(Amanda)
On Sunday the humans are having another 'Tea & Chat' morning.
One of the humans brings some cake to share.
I think it's a good idea because some of them are a bit lonely and it helps them to meet other humans and have a chat.
Betty says that allotments are not just about gardening.

(Amanda)
Before I came to the allotments I used to live in a house.
Some of the allotment humans love cats and they come to the veranda especially to see me.
They even take photos of me, like this one that Uncle Andy took.
Betty says I'm a little Celebrity... I have a feeling it's a good thing.

(Amanda)
Betty says I should be proud of my whiskers.
I know that lots of male humans have them but not many of the females do.
I wonder why they don't?
All cats have them but according to Betty mine are something special.
She's weird, isn't she?
(Thank you Uncle Andy for the photo)

(Janet)
It was a sunny day when Auntie Rachel took this photo.
It's funny how sunshine cheers everyone up isn't it?
I know humans feel a bit fed up at this time of year but the weather doesn't really affect me too much.
So long as I have food and a fuss I'm happy.
I'm easily pleased, aren't I?

(A)
What do you think when you look at this photo of me?
Betty says it makes her think how cute and cuddly I look.
I'm not sure I agree with that.
I was just relaxing on a table when Auntie Rachel took the photo.
I wasn't trying to look cute or cuddly.
I think Betty has got too much imagination.

(Amanda)
I've heard Betty talking about dear Robert and his friend Dorothy.
Robert would sometimes call her 'Dorothy Dumpling'.
When Betty saw this photo that Rachel took she said I looked like a dumpling too.
I have no idea what she meant and I haven't got a clue what a dumpling is.

(Janet)
Have I told you that Amanda keeps coming to my plot?
I don't think she is coming to see me, she comes because she loves Colin and wants to be close to him.
I like watching her at a distance.
She jumps onto his lap, I'm more reserved but Betty says that's okay.
We're all different, aren't we?

(Amanda)
A funny thing happened yesterday.
Colin fed me in the afternoon and of course, I ate every bit.
After Colin went home Auntie Sammy came.
She saw the empty dish and thought I hadn't been fed so she gave me some more food!
I didn't want to disappoint her so I ate all of that too.

(Amanda)
This is one of my favourite places on Colin's plot.
It's an old bench and needs a bit of painting but that doesn't matter.
It's somewhere we can both sit together and that's the main thing.
It gives Colin a chance to rest and, as Betty says, to 're-charge his batteries'.

(Janet)
This is another of Auntie Rachel's lovely photos.
I'm used to having my photo taken by Betty but never by anyone else.
Things have changed recently and I let Auntie Rachel and Auntie Sammy take photos now.
Betty says they are my 'Cattarazzi' but I don't know what that means.

(Amanda)
Do you ever have dreams?
I know that many humans dream but I don't think it's something that cats do.
I think I would like them, so long as they weren't frightening.
What do you think?