Thank you Claudia and Paul

For looking after us while Helena was away. We loved the Christmas tree and availability of toes to nip (well 'Shy Boy' did anyway). As always I appreciate a change of scenery.

Our journey back went smoothly, bar a brief hitch, which presented Gordon with the opportunity to explore a street planter, but as you know, he's never been one for getting his feet dirty.

see you soon. tony x

This Evening's Activities

This evening Helena offered us the conservatory, in which she transported us to the big room; with my favorite curtain, the linen press and the rocking chair, not to mention the mass of paper and electrical cables. We all accepted the offer. 'Shy Boy' was a total pain; why he was ever brought to the house I'll never know. Gordon chilled out, as usual, belly up. Bless. I found a huge piece of paper this evening. What a find! I bounded, with it, to my hideaway under the sofa. Sadly it was confiscated almost immediately, along with a note I'd found.

This evening's been heaps of fun. I've been absolutely allover the shop. As for 'Shy Boy', he's spent forever under the throw; I think he might be lost.

Tony Blair
Artist rat

Shy Boy's a pest

What a pain he's being; Gordon's taking it easy in the conservatory, I'm happy under the rocking chair and he (Shy Boy) wants to tussle.

Just had to share that.

The bed we made last night

Time to myself

Shy Boy's been a pest this week; I had to let him know, in no uncertain terms, that I wanted to be left alone before he finally got the message. This evening I had the opportunity to sit behind my favorite curtain and be on my own for a while. Blissful. I later continued an exercise I began some time ago, which was to strip an electrical cable of its wiring instructions. However the project was thwarted when Helena took me back to the house.

Ciao!

Yesterday evening was a little disruptive; food was served in the bedroom for some reason. We'd had a lovely, quiet day then Helena came home, cleared out our bedroom, lined it with paper and laid out three bowls of pasta. I got stuck in. Gordon found the space disorientating and left. Shy Boy didn't come up until the second course; yogurt and honey. Yummy.

Avocado Shoot

Training

This is me on the last leg of the kitchen to living room run. I got back to the house just in time to have some yogurt and honey before Shy Boy polished it off.

Run around

This is something I created last night, though I have to admit it was something of a joint effort, which is usually the case when it's an in house job. Had a good day yesterday; in the morning I did the kitchen to living room run. I was fast. Helena was still looking for me under the kitchen cupboard when I was already up on the landing. She seemed happy when she found me. In the evening I had a run around the living room. Shy Boy came out too. I didn't like him going into my space, under the sofa, and things got a bit tense when I communicated this to him.

We now have a tube in the house; we took turns walking through it.

Out of Sorts

Been back home almost a week now. Don't feel like going out; happy to chill with Gordon and 'Shy Boy'. I know where I stand inside. Out there I keep getting mixed messages; I'm cajoled out them I'm chased in again. What's that about?

Happened again tonight. Received an invite to take the floor, headed for the linen press, where I like to hang out, and before I'd had a chance to take in the scenery was being 'manoeuvred' out from under it. I'm confused.

Don't Panic!

Rumour has it that Gordon slipped through the upstairs window this morning! Hysterical! You should have seen Claudia's face. I love the skipping rope lattice work she introduced before setting off to work. Helena's been since with her chicken wire. This has all been something of a shock to her system, especially after catching 'Shy Boy' on a walk about yesterday and learning that he's been getting out through the front door window. Padlock or no padlock.

Now where?

I was just starting to feel I was settling in to being back home when Helena loaded us back into the car again! We're staying with Claudia and Paul for a few nights. Should be cool; I overheard talk of being fed fresh figs.





Tony Blair
Artist rat

Back Home Again

Returned home yesterday. Feels a little strange, especially as we've not been returned to our usual location. Don't know why. It's very disorientating. I miss the living room; the curtains; the sofa; the records. It's a lot quieter where we are now and not as warm.

Today I hung around Helena for a while. She took some photos of 'Shy Boy' and I got a chance to climb over her camera. Didn't get up to much else; wasn't inspired to wander around the table we've now been perched on.

Tony Blair
Artist Rat

Relocation

We're over at Joyce's now. The journey was a bit hairy. We had to pull over twice, once when the house front came off its hinges and again when Gordon threatened to go on a walk about. Good job Claudia was with us to advise Helena. The trays were sliding all over the place and I felt quite queasy at one point. It was a relief to be set down in the house; perfect view of the T.V. and next to the radiator. Snug! Gordon was tucking into the food before the front of the house was back on its hinges. Absolutely nothing daunts him. What a brick.

Tony Blair
Artist Rat

Night Out

Managed to get out through the front door last night by chewing through the wire tie. Can't believe I hadn't thought to do it before. Stole a walk on the chest of drawers; I was careful not to disturb anything, but a couple of things did get in my way and I couldn't resist the four-leafed clover. I have to note that the foot on the clay figure was already broken. I later spent some time collecting pink, sticky notes from the papers on the floor. I also found some tissue paper, which was wrapped around some photo paper, inside a packet. I was very careful to leave the paper stacked neatly on the floor. I took the sticky notes and tissue back to the house and shared them with Gordon and 'Shy Boy'. I've put mine in my bed and shredded it a little. Helena was a bit slow to spot the evidence of my evening's activities. I think that the padlock she's since put on the front door, and on the front of the house, are a tad excessive.


Tony Blair
Artist rat