The purrfect pose

It’s not usual for us to be up and about at going to work time when it’s the weekend, Weekends are for lazy mornings, not getting dressed and having a gentle ease into the day. This day was different though, mummy was up at normal time and dressed! I was curious about why but I gently munched my breakfast like a good girl while mummy made tea and pottered about being unusually active.

Then I heard the familiar sound of my accessory box being opened, I often get a morning walkies at the weekend when it’s a nice day but NEVER this early and not usually when it’s so chilly outside. Still I’m never one to turn down a trip outside no matter how brief. Then I heard the other familiar sound of my backpack and that was also unusual, in fact a morning backpack type adventure is unheard of so now I really was curious about what was going on.

“Where we going mummy” I meowed curiously “we’re going on an adventure Jen, I’m really excited about where we’re going but I can’t tell you as it’s a surprise”. With that I hopped excitedly into my backpack which felt different to usual, the bottom was all soft and fluffy, mummy had put a warm snuggly blankie in the bottom. As I was settling down mummy explained that it was really cold outside so I could snuggle down into my blankie to keep warm if I wanted. Then with mummy clutching her sippy cup full of tea we went outside and boy was it brisk! I got strapped into the car (yes, mummy straps my backpack into the seat to be extra safe) and then off we went with the heaters on full blast to keep us toasty warm.

Mummy and I chatted as she drove, and we drove a really long way, longer than we’ve driven together before. We turned this way and that way, I could feel the movements of the car as mummy drove carefully along, slowing down as she said the road was a bit slippy as we went along the little roads, we didn’t hear any other cars for a while. Then I felt the car slow down and we finally stopped, mummy sipped her tea and said “here we are Jenny, this place is so lovely, are you ready for a fun adventure? We’re going to have such a good time.” Then we got out of the car and oddly I could hear mummy talking to someone, not just the usual hello either. Mummy said, Jenny you remember Frankie from our oak tree Christmas photo shoot? Well we’re having walkies with her today. Mummy set off walking and I could hear Frankie next to us but as usual mummy unzipped the lid of my backpack, clipped my lead on and let me pop my head out. And oh wow what a place, I could hear familiar sounds around me, the sound of trees, mummy’s boots clomping on the path, then I could hear the sounds of running water away off to one side but slightly below us. The air was super cold but that just means the scents I could smell were extra crisp and clear, they made my nose tingle but I could also feel the faint warmth of the sun on my face. Mummy and Frankie walked and talked as we headed upwards and as I looked out of my backpack and as we walked further and further the warmth of the sun on my face became like little dots between the shade and the sounds of the water which was now in the distance was replaced with the familiar sounds and smells of woods. I love the woods.

Now I know I’m in woods I just want to get out and explore and that’s just what I did. The ground was cold but that’s ok, I fluffed up my fur to keep me warm and then I just wanted to get moving and follow all the exciting smells. So off I trotted leading the way with mummy and Frankie following along. Then, I heard a strange sound a kind of soft clicking sound, it was slightly out of place and definitely wasn’t a wood kinda noise but it wasn’t a scary noise so I just carried on exploring, minding my own business. Wandering this way and that sniffing and smelling and listening to the world around me. Each pawstep released little nuggets of sensory information. This was very exciting, invigorating even and I just wanted to explore further and further, often just going back over a smell a couple of times to make sure I could figure out just what it was before moving onto the next new scent. This way I can build up a full picture of where I am and start mapping this new space. I was having such fun but then I heard a familiar sound a way off in the distance, I stopped walking and fully focussed listening into the distance, mummy picked up on my change in behaviour and after a little while she realised what I was ‘watching’ there were doggies in the distance. I could hear mummy explaining to Frankie what I was doing and we all watched them together until they turned our way and got closer and then mummy scooped me up and out of the way until they had gone past.

Once they had gone and were a safe distance away mummy put me back down and I was off exploring again, with slightly warmed up paws (I warmed them on mummy) and mummy led me towards a lovely big log that I could climb along all the while with the now familiar sound of click, click, click, click and mummy and Frankie chatting away. Frankie was telling me what a good girl I was and gently calling my name, it was quite fun as I was absolutely the centre of attention. Frankie spoke softly, calmly and quietly with a gentle friendly voice which I liked. It was a funny way of having walkies coz normally it’s mummy saying come on Jen, let’s go this way but this time it was mummy who was getting the instructions!

I was just strutting my stuff like this is what I was born to do. And you know what? I really was born to be an adventure cat sight or no sight it really doesn’t matter. All you need is confidence, assertiveness, a little bit of curiosity and a love of nature oh and trust. Trust in a mummy who is willing to be that slightly crazy cat lady who walks their blind cat on a lead.

Then all too soon and just as I was really getting into this meowdelling vibe it was time to head back, the woods were starting to get a bit busier as it must have been morning doggie walkies time. So I hitched a ride in my backpack, warmed my paws on my cosy blankie and we headed back down the hill. As we left the shade of the trees I felt the warm sun on my face again, it was warmer than before and felt good. We said hello to the people that we passed who we’re quite excited to see me and gave me a little stroke. Then we were back in the car heading for home.

I had so much fun that mummy thought I’d sleep all day when we got home but no! I was so excited, I’d had so much fun that I was buzzing all day right up until it was time to nap by the fire in the evening. Mummy said she was so proud of me.

A while later mummy and daddy went to visit Frankie to see the photos she had taken, they came back home saying that it was so difficult to choose their favourite image, Frankie had taken such amazing photos they loved them all but there was one that when they saw it made them gasp. There was an immediate emotional reaction to seeing one image. They said this image just captures everything that is me, it captured my confidence, my spirit, my personality and my happy tail.

So whilst I would normally put lots of photos in my blog posts mummy was way to busy being my assistant and she was far too embarrassed to have any of her photos anywhere near this post.

So it is my pleasure to share with you this very special and stunning image courtesy of the super talented Photography by Frankie.

Please note I was always on my lead but Frankie cleverly edited this out for the photo.

Thank you Frankie, you made a little blind cat feel so relaxed, at ease and very special and you made a mummy and daddy so very happy and proud.