“I’m ready, I know I’m ready…”
Midnight swings into the kitchen early this morning like he owns it; the tentative side-sway replaced by a purposeful flat-backed stride.
No sniffing for food–he heads for the back door and out into the sunlight.
There’s been a change–no longer the youngest, running to catch up, eager to please, “I’m here too, let me play–pleeese!”
Beau and Ben–the Gang before Midnight’s induction
It seems he’s a fully paid up member of the gang–they are THREE now–the Mouseketeers!
Beau, Ben and Midnight–All for One and One for All!
As well as a “mouser”, he’s a “moler”. We’ve never had a cat that has caught so many moles–maybe that’s where he’s proved himself worthy of full membership–a specialist in his field–or rather our garden.
The lawn looks all the better for it!
His final initiation into the fraternity might have been last night.
As we set off for a post-dinner walk, just after 9h30, there is not a cat in sight.
Unusual! Some nights there’s a gathering,
“Beau!”
“Benny-boy!”
“Midnight!”
“Come on!”
After we go 30 yards, we look back and Ben appears from the driveway, looking a little uncertain.
“Come on, Ben Ben!”
Then out comes Midnight.
Ben starts to run and Midnight overtakes him–and makes a leap for the cemetery wall–
“Look at me!!”
It’s at least a five-and-a-half foot elevation at this point–I know because at six-foot-one-and-a-half I can just see over it.
His front paws claw at the top of the wall.
There’s a moment of doubt–will he pull himself up or fall back onto the grass?
He makes it and with that last heave–joins the Gang (the Grown-Ups)!
Impressive.
No wonder he reminded me of John Wayne this morning!
.
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Robin Ellis 
…what you need now is a siamese to round off your gang 😉 …..
So cute! Glad they’ve bonded. However, as an artist I’m more interested in the beautiful countryside beyond the kitties basking in the sun.
Bravo, Midnight! One of the “big” boys…well earned, it sounds. And the natural order of things re-establishes itself.
For my part, I’m down to the very last of a long (dare I say almost interminable) line of siblings and half-siblings I’ve sheltered over the past 20 years. They were all good kids, but youngest of them all, Carlo (black like Midnight) is at least 16 now, and seems to have adjusted to the “sole survivor” status he inherited in mid-March. He has learned how to get what he wants from me, more or less, and usually when he wants it. Now that it’s just the two of us, I do try to make a bigger fuss over him than he ever would have tolerated earlier. Pride of place for him now…number one “son”, and I think he likes it. And so do I.
Happy news! Midnight’s part of the fraternity.Your cat stories and Meredith’s picture are perfect for a storybook.
Hi Robin
Wish you would write a children’s book or an adult’s book! You are a great writer. I was captivated by this lovely tale.
What lovely photos too. Such a beautiful place.
Best wishes
Poppet
What a wonderful description of your late walk.
Your blog is filled with so many lovely vignettes of country life. I enjoy reading all of them!
Glad to be back on your list. Somehow I got bumped off. Just finished watching all of Poldark. Again. Started when I was supposed to be studying for the bar in1971…great to see it again. It handles the years well. As do you. Thanks for all the recipes and the cat adventures.
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Thank you for that lovely post, Robin, your love of cats shines through it. I have two cats myself and I recognise the antics of mine in your writing.
Good Morning Robin,
It’s a warm sunny morning here in Nottinghamshire and your little vignette further raises the spirits! I shall read it again with the first cup of tea of the day.
Thank you!
Fran Shaw
Hi Robin,
Love reading your posts. Very glad Midnight is ‘one of the gang’ now.
A great read over my morning coffee in sunny Devon.
Hilary Mepsted
Heart-warming stuff, we have three cats too, I wish I’d thought of the Mouseketeers! Ours are out hunting today, warm and sunny in this very dozy corner of the Vendee.
Love the cat tales!
I loved the Midnight story. It is great that Midnight has been accepted by the group.
No cats here in Santa Fe, NM, but lots of appreciation for yours and your life in la belle France.
Nancy D.
Way to go Midnight.
That was a lovely story Robin. The Three Mouseketeers, very sweet! There’s a poem called Cats are Wonderful Friends, I don’t know who wrote it but it goes…..
“Gentle eyes that see so much, paws that have the quiet touch, purrs that signal all is well and show more love than words can tell. Graceful movements touched with pride, a calming presence by our side, a friendship that takes time to grow, small wonder why we love them so…”
Love to you, Meredith & the feline family . Heth xxx
Thanks, Helen.
Thanks for the kitty tails! Andrea in Virginia
Lovely post as usual Robin. Several months ago, in reply to your post on your Father , I replied – telling you about my Dad who was 104 and still living with my Mum in their own home. Last Saturday night , my Darling Dad passed away. He spent his last 8 weeks in hospital and was in considerable discomfort – however he passed with such dignity and courage – showing us how not only to live and love but how to die ” well .”
Sorry to hear that, Helen. Sounds like he was a great father and human being.
I love to hear abt cats. I have 5; Bunbury, Bela, PangurBan, Ike and Horatio.
Robin, I enjoyed your blog….it is very entertaining. We had a cat that liked to walk with us. His name was Prescott.
Oh, my gosh, that photo of Midnight reminds me of our beloved Blackie!! When the sun shone on his coat, it had that slightly coppery-color. He, too, was a long-haired stray. Great photo, Meredith! Glad to hear everyone’s getting along, Robin.
Haha! Good old Midnight – one of the gang! Great story.
We have our Felix aka FatBoyFat, although these days, he’s ThinBoyThin due to hypothyroidism. He always loved to walk with us round the village much to the amusement of our French neighbours. He’s not so well at the mo, but doing OK and we are hoping that he will be able to join us once more. I’m thinking of taking a backpack so he could at least walk a little way with us, then enjoy a comfy ride if he gets tired.
Robin & Meredith, I just joined your site and I received my first blog titled “one of the gang – at last” and I thought how nice to be welcomed this way. It felt so encompassing until I saw it was about your cats. Silly me. But since I am also a cat owner I enjoyed the tale and hope to read more
Welcome, Moira-of course it was aimed at you!
Hi Robin
I love reading your blog! And especially love all your stories about your kitties…I’m a devoted “cat lover” 🙂
Thank you.
I have just read this out to my two Siamese boys, Jamie and Kelpie! Tales of wild, death-defying leaps are much appreciated by them, and at eight months old they too long to be recognised as “big boys”!
I follow all your cat stories with great interest and am pleased to hear that harmony reigns once more in your little corner of France 😊
Please give Jamie and Kelpie a stroke from me, Elspeth.
Hi Robin
I’ve been reading your blog for a while now, ever since I found your post about appearing in the Swedish Wallander, and I think I enjoy your cat posts the most! The stories about your feline gang and the lovely pictures that go with them really make my day. Makes me wish I had cats of my own again!
All the best
Emma