Off To See Some Old Friends

"You see, " said Greego, "I haven't always lived around here, oh no I've been all over the world on my magic carpet but those pesky Fairyville Fairies hid it from me when they dropped me off here. I've been stuck in that room for ages up on that shelf ever since your father found me in the garden."

I licked a paw, wow Greego was a Pixie of the world, I'd only ever been to a couple of places, where I was born, here, and to the Doctors. I knew the world existed, I'd heard my Daddies talking about different places they wanted to go to, it all sounded very exciting.

"and stuck me up on that shelf!" He didn't sound like he'd gotten over it completely yet but I didn't want to interrupt trying to defend them, I'm sure they were only doing what they thought was a good thing.

My magic carpet can take me anywhere I want but the only thing is, until my punishment is lifted by The High Council of the Pixals, I have to return within the week to where I was last dropped off, your Peace Garden, or in the near vicinity, also I've grown quiet attached to the coming and going on's in this place."

"So where did you go?" Greego looked at me a little annoyed.

"I was off to see some old friends, over the water and in the clouds, to the other side of the ocean and through the rainbow. You see my magic carpet doesn't just fly in distance, it can fly through to the other reality, my reality. Humans think they can see and know everything that's going on but they miss so much going about the daily lives, not even seeing what's right under their noses, and that's where I went, through the rainbow, to the land of bicycles."

"As I said I wanted to go see some of my old friends, the Merrymaking Dwarfs."

"Wow!" Dwarfs, I'd never heard of them.

"Pllllleeeeeaaaasssseeee DON'T interrupt, I'm on a roll." Greego rolled head over feet and laughed.

"Ah it was such fun, they really know how to party. Up all night we were, they were so glad to see me. Great drop of ale they can make and the songs, oh the songs, we danced and made merry all night. Killer handover the next morning, I had to sneak onto someone's breakfast table to pinch a little bit of bread to soak it all up. Us Pixie's don't need to eat you know, we don't mind the odd bit of food occasionally, if the fancy takes but as a general rule we don't partake, but ale and rum, now that's a different story!"


"I then spent the next day trying to track down me old mucker FancyPants, a mean tune he plays you know, I didn't want the party to stop but I couldn't find him anywhere. Up and down the canals and waterways I went, up and down, side to side, nowhere to be seen was he so off I trotted to see Makerlise, a distance cousin of mine who I could just smell was around."

I shifted my weight, drawing closer to Greego, he didn't seem quiet so jolly anymore and I didn't want to miss a word.

"He's a right stinker he is, but as I found a bit down on his luck, stuck, trapped in a window carrying water, which I know not why as he's never washed to my knowledge."

"Blow me down you could have. I asked him what had happened and he said he'd also been punished my the High Council of the Pixals, for some misdemeanour no doubt, you see he's a little, err, how shall I put this, light fingered. He can't help himself, in his DNA, probably got caught stealing salt, he's got a taste for it but I don't know he wouldn't talk much about it, the owls next to him were too busy eavesdropping and there's something I know about an owl, they are very, very noisy, never miss a thing!"

"I tried to tell them not to be so noisy but they just squawked at me and the one on the Cello started playing the most awful tune that my poor ears just couldn't take anymore so I bade Makerlise adieu and went off to think where I could go next to try and find FancyPants, the main reason I flew through the rainbow."

"I was just sitting there, wondering what to do, feeling a bit fed up if I'm honest, this travelling malarkey can take it out of you, when all of a sudden I heard a voice coming from the wall above me. Blow me down, how did he get up there, my old friend and sometimes sparing partner Potpot."

"Potpot I said, how are you?"

"Fed up stuck on this wall Greego, what you doing here, last I heard you were in punishment? He said."

"I still am, I laughed, but you know me, never down for long. Have you seen FancyPants? I've looked all over for him?"

"No and I don't like music either."












"Ok, don't think I asked that question but thanks for the info. I said to him, although I did laugh so hard I fell over and spent the next three minutes in convulsions, he always did have the ability to make me laugh. Ahh bless old Potpot."

"I asked him how he'd ended up on the wall by the water, apparently some tourists had thought it funny to take him down from his spot near the park and try and take him home, got themselves a bit worried as they neared the station and dumped him on the floor, where he'd been found by one of the waiters from the cafe and super glued back up. All very undignified, still it was another friend ticked off the list, it really was a fabulous visit I was having, seeing so many old faces."

"It sounds it, " I said.

Greego turned to me raised an eye as if to say why are you speaking, before putting a finger to his mouth.

"Shhhh! The best bit is yet to come."

He had my attention before, now he really had it.

"You cat's are not the only creatures with special intuitive powers you know. Whenever a Pixie doesn't know what to do we simply look down, the answer if we really are stuck will be in right in front of our feet and it was, there right in front of me a sign."

I struggled not to speak.

"As soon as I saw the card on the floor below me I knew where I had to go, even though she wasn't on my list, I must admit I was trying to avoid her we'd had a little alteration last time I was here, such a misunderstanding such a fuss over a doughnut and a bit of a boating mishap, anyway that's another story and not at all relevant to this one."

"Whom who did you have to go to see?" I'd forgotten I shouldn't speak and so must have Greego as he continued without reprimand.

"The Angel of Gold and Blue! She sits up high watching us all, making sure we are OK, protecting us. The sign was clear, if I was to find my old friend FancyPants then I would have to go and see her. I was a little nervous as I approached, I wasn't sure if she was still angry with me or not but she appeared pleased to see me. She always had a lovely smile."

"Hello your highness, I need a little favour. I wasn't sure how she'd react, such a long time since we'd seen each other and now here I was wanting a favour."

I was surprised at how Greego's tone changed as he spoke about her, he obviously held her in awe and with respect, something I'd never seen in him before.

"I'm searching for FancyPants, have you seen him?"

"She looked down at me, yes, yes I know how can she look down she's a statue, I hear you say. As I said my magic carpet takes me through the rainbow and when you go through the rainbow you can see everything that is really going on, not just what the world of humans wants you to see. Free yourselves people, free yourselves."

Greego was on a roll and leaped into the air before landing cross legged back in the same position.

"Greego, you want to know where your friend is, yet you come to me for what? Answers? You know what to do. The Angel of Gold and Blue said."

Greego turned back to me.

"I did, I must admit I was in a hurry though. it's the frustrating thing with these Angels Yes, yes they can give you answers but like The Wiseman they prefer to help you find them yourself, which is OK in itself but sometimes can really take some time and I didn't have all week, I knew I had to come back here or my carpet would not just be hidden, it would disappear for good for ever, the curse of the Pixie's, so many disappearing curses put upon us."

Greego sighed "Still we all have a load to bear."

"I bowed to our highness and apologised for my previous mischieviousness. I needed to find a quiet place to reflect, to listen to myself."

"After about an hour sitting and contemplating I had it, an image in my mind, an image of Popeye."

"Popeye!" I was so surprised I wasn't expecting that.

"Yes Popeye, the character, you know, the human invention, Popeye! I then knew I needed to fly around and find Popeye and when I did, which I did, I understood totally where I would find my friend FancyPants."

"Where? WHERE?" Greego had sucked me into his drama.

Greego leaned in towards me, "Look into my eyes."

I thought he was going to hypnotise me or something but no, there in his eye I could see an image."

"But how?" I stood back from Greego before moving in for a second look. There again exactly the same image.

"I don't know," Greego shrugged his shoulders "But there right in front of me was the answer, I'd been searching everywhere for FancyPants and all along I just needed to look closer to home. I guess he's on his way here, he'll turn up at some point but home is where I needed to be and home is where I am."

Greego looked me right in the eye and laughed, "Just like you, back home again."

An Adventure Through The Rainbow

"Are you OK?" I jumped up onto the table right next to where Greego was clear shaking his head.

"Yep my little friend I'm just fine and dandy." Greego finished shaking his head, looked at me and smiled.

"That was some entrance. Where on earth have you been?"

Greego continued to smile at me. "What on earth makes you think I've been somewhere on earth?" He giggled.

"An educated guess." I was getting used to Greego's play on words.

Greego nodded, accepting my answer with good grace.

"You know what David-Shiro, I' in such a good mood that I think I shall tell you where I have been and what I've been up to, if to hear you are s inclined..."

I knew there was but coming.

"But! Only if you accept a riddle from me, a trade for a trade."

"What sort of a riddle?" I knew it as better to confirm details before making agreements with this Pixie.

Greego huffed, ha I'd out smarted him.

"A riddle that is in your future, a riddle for you that one day an answer you will need to know and be glad I'd set."

Um he'd got me curious now.

"Go on then." I was ready.

"A circle of three, a circle of three,

One of us here, is it you or is it me?

A circle of three, a circle of three,

Two more to come, then you'll be free!"

"What?!" I should have guessed his riddle would make no sense, mind you the last one I didn't think made much sense and then it did so maybe this would also prove to be useful information.

Greego laughed, "A riddle my pretty a riddle, oh how I love spinning." he then spun again on his little finger, he really was quiet the acrobat.

"Go on then, where have you been this past few days?" 

"I'd like to take you on an adventure David-Shiro, an adventure I've been needing to have ever since I was first trapped her and my magic carpet was hidden away from me, an adventure that took me back to see some old friends and to learn some new secrets, an adventure David-Shiro, that took me THROUGH THE RAINBOW!"

And With A Thud

I was just having a little, sniff around the garden, it's hot, I'm brave and feeling very inquisitive. My catty powers did not let me down, they've told me grass is good for my stomach so I've been taking a dose, just to top up, when all of a sudden I heard a crash of what sounding like a glass or a pot breaking.

Instinctively I honed in on where the sound originated from, I knew it wasn't Daddy or River they were both at the end of the garden and this sound was coming from out the front, past the gate.

"Weeeeeeeeeee, jimber." 

A loud cry outran, but just for a second, Greego The Pixie flying over the gate on his magic yellow carpet, hands rodeo gripping the front, riding a wave of air, in through the open back door and straight to the table where he crash landed.

I ran in just in time to see Greego pick himself up, eyes spinning like a Catherine Wheel.

"That was fun!"

And with a thud, Greego The Pixie was back!

I'll Be Back

I made it back indoor just in time, Daddy was in the kitchen making a cup of coffee, he heard the flap go but he must have thought it was the wind as he didn't turn towards it straight away.

I ran straight upstairs, good the bedroom door was still closed Daddy and River must still be in bed asleep, the coast was clear, with one powerful leap I jumped up at the door handle to The Secret Room and pulled all my weight on it.

The latch fell down and the door swung open an inch. I jumped back down and knocked it open with my paw, the yellow cloth still in my mouth, in I went.

"About time too!" I'd hardly got through the door before Greego spoke.

"You're not exactly quick at finding things are you?" He said.

"And you're not exactly clear with instructions either are YOU!" I retorted.

I'd not got half way across the room before he squealed."YES. Yes! That's it, you found my thing." Greego leaped up and spun around, landing on his index finger he spun again using just the tip.

"Oh you have done well, now come on bring it up here, I can't get down."

I went to leap up on the table to go straight to him then paused,

"Before I give you this bit of yellow cloth," goodness only knows why he was attached to such a silly thing "I would like some answers from you."

Greego scowled. "Some answers?" He smiled. "What do you mean?"

"You know exactly what I mean? Setting me up like that just so I would meet The Wiseman. Why?" I held all the cards for once, he seemed to happy to see this bit of yellow cloth and he's just let me know he couldn't get down so I was in a great bargaining position.

Realising he was beat Greego took a deep breath. "Ok, Ok so I wanted you two to meet, big deal."

"Yes but why and why didn't you just tell me to go and meet him?"

Greego laughed. "Really, you ask me that question, the little cat who's taken months to master going outside, the little cat who's scared of the Peace Garden. Now come on, if I had just told you to go up there would you have? No thought not." He flipped over and sat crossed legged on the shelf.

"Ok I might not have, true but why did you want me to meet him."

Greego sat forward. "I will tell you but only ONCE you have given me my thing!"

He sounded very determined but so was I. I was about to try and bargain with him further to give me the information before I handed over the bit of yellow cloth that he seemed so attached to then I remembered what The Wiseman had said, Pixie's cannot lie. I jumped straight up on the table, moved carefully over the book underneath the shelf, stretching up I placed it right next to him.

Greego immediately jumped onto the yellow cloth as if he was riding a surf board "Fly my pretty, fly." he screamed.

The clothe, with Greego still on it, sudden shot up into the air.

"My magic carpet, my magic carpet, oh how I've missed you." With that he flew around the room twice, before shooting out into the hallway. I was stunned but still chased him out to see where he was going.

Downstairs he flew, downstairs I chased. I got to the bottom of the stairs just in time to see him do one lap of the living room before settling on the table.

I jumped up next to him.

"Wow!" My head was spinning, "A magic carpet!"

Greego smiled, hunched his shoulders and opened his mouth. "I know! And it's mine!" He giggled and did a back flip.

The carpet rose off the table again.

"Hang on why did you want us to meet, me and The Wiseman I called up to him as loud as I could Daddy was ironing his shirt in the kitchen and as much as I wanted answers I didn't want to alert him to what was going on.

"Oh yes, I nearly forgot, so he could give you some answers LIL' CAT!" With that the magic carpet flew towards the back door before sweeping back towards the table, a laughing Greego holding on tight.

"Don't worry I'll be back, I'm of on an adventure!" And with that the carpet swooped down and sped through the still open doorflap. This time daddy heard, walked over to it, looked around saw me on the table smiled and said hello and locked it again.

What a night!

Wish Me Luck

"But if Greego wanted us to meet why didn't he just say, and why lie to me about losing something?" I was actually quiet hurt, being lied to by someone who, ok wasn't exactly a friend but well he was something to me.

"There's one thing I can tell you Pixie's don't lie" The Wiseman sounded very serious, "They can't!"

"What they can't lie at all?"

"No, not at all, although as you've learnt they can talk in riddles."

No wasn't that the truth. "So he has lost something, that he can't remember what in some wood that he can't remember where after all?"

"Oh yes, if he lied to you he would simple have vanished into thin air, gone forever so that much is true."

"That's why I came here to ask for your help and no I'm more confused than ever and I'll be leaving here tonight with more questions than answers."

"I think you have some of those answers David-Shiro, it's just that at that moment you can't hear them. Listen! Always listen and observe and they will eventually come, the best answers are those we earn ourselves. People value what they earn, always remember that."

"So why do you think he wanted us to meet then Wiseman?"

"That is not for me to say, that is for you to earn, but I'm sure earn it you will."

I turned to Craig for help, his head was down a little noise was coming from his nose. He'd fallen asleep. It had been a long night, I could hear the Wood Pigeons beginning to sing, the birds were starting their mornings song. It suddenly dawned on me everyone would be up soon and me not waiting at the bedroom door for River and my Daddies would be noticed and I didn't want to be caught outside.

"But what am I to do about finding Greego's missing thing?" I was beginning to panic, I;d spent the whole night and not achieved what I'd set out to do.

"What is a wood David-Shiro?"

"It's a place full of tree's" I replied, time was running out and I wasn't thinking about my answers, "Come on please just tell me where to look." I begged.

"Up!" He replied.

I looked up, all I could see was the birds in the tree's harmonising.

"Listen!" The Wiseman said "Listen!"

I listen, yes all I could hear was the birds in the tree's. THE TREE'S!

"Is this a wood?" My heart began to race "Is this THE wood?"

I'm sure I saw The Wiseman smile again but no noise came out of his mouth.

I looked around, if this was THE wood, maybe what I was searching for was here, somewhere lying around me in the Peace Garden. Some twigs, no that couldn't be it, a few leaves, a bit of paper that had blown from over the wall. No, that couldn't be it. Come on David, think what was out of the ordinary.

"Craig! CRAIG!" I shouted "Wake up, help me look." Craig shook his head.

"What is it?"

"Help me look, look for something out of the ordinary, you know this place better than I do, you live here, what's out of place?"

Craig started to scan the Peace Garden, sleep still in his eyes.

"I don't know."

Then all of a sudden it hit me, the only thing I could think of and I reached over to where Craig was sitting and snatched up the piece of yellow cloth that he'd moved earlier as he dug up his monkey nut.

"This will have to do. I hope I'm right. Thank you" I called over my shoulder to Craig and The Wiseman as I ran back towards the house.

"Wish me luck!"

Yes Lil' Cat, Sorry David-Shiro

No it couldn't be. I turned to Craig, he must have known what I was thinking, he nodded and smiled.

"The Wiseman will help you, he helps everyone."

"What! I don't know what you are talking about, you point to this old statue and say he is here to help me but his mouth isn't moving when I hear the voice."

Again that voice "And never will you see my lips move, but don't be mistaken for I am here, yo hear me in my head, it's the way I communicate, always has been, always will."

This was weird, it didn't sound like the voice was in my head, it sounded like it was coming from someone right next to me, I watched The Wiseman closely, nothing, as still as the stone he was.

"Most disbelieve the first time we speak, but somehow they come back time and again." The voice was peppered with a smile. I didn't know what to say.

"Now how can I help you? Some come just to sit, most come with something on their mind."

"What do I do?"  I turned to Craig.

"Just relax and speak, out loud if it help you but you can do it in your head too, wither way he'll hear you."

I took a deep breath, this was madness but hey I'm still young and learning about the world, maybe this was normal after all?

"I need to find something that's lost, but I don't know what, in a wood, but I don't know which one."

All was silent, no answer. I turned to Craig. who was scratching around in the ground, before opening a little piece of yellow cloth he'd dug up and unwrapping a monkey nut.

"I can't hear anything."

Craig looked up from the monkey nut he was de-shelling.

"Don't worry he would have heard."

Another minute passed with everyone still sitting in silence, eventually The Wiseman's voice spoke to me;

"It appears a mystery in riddles and yet somehow I don't think that is your way, no wonder you are confused Lil' Cat! Do you seek answers for yourself Lil' Cat or do you seek them for another, that is the question!"

I was getting rather impatient.

"Would you please call me by my name David-Shiro or David whatever you prefer, everyone keeps calling me a little cat and I know I am but I don't need reminding of it!"

"As you wish, but are you sure, a reason and a rhythm in every riddle?"

"Oh you are as confusing as Greego The Pixie is!" If I was of the type I would have stamped my foot.

The Wiseman's voice smiled at me, "So you've got yourself mixed up with Greego have you. No wonder you are confused, clever Pixie."

What! I squinted trying to work out what he was talking about.

"What do you mean clever Pixie, he can't have been that clever to have lost something and not know what it was or where it was?"

Craig looked shocked at the way I was speaking to The Wiseman and slightly shook his head and lowered his head as if to say don't.

"Something you will come to learn about Pixie's, they may talk in riddles but they are some of the cleverest creatures in all the land and no more so than Greego. He knew exactly what he was doing, a Pixie always does!"

"I don't understand?" I turned to face Craig and then back to The Wiseman.

"Think about it David-Shiro, a fine name by the way, very apt considering what's ahead of you. Go on really think about it, Greego knew exactly what he was doing when he set you this task."

"But I don't understand he said he lost something in a wood but he couldn't remember what was lost or in what wood."

"And then what did you do?"

"I told George about it."

"Yes, and then what?"

"And George told Craig."

"Um, go on." The Wisemans voice had softened to almost a hum.

"And Craig said he would help me search."

"Yes."

"And he brought me here to you."

"Exactly!"

I sat there still not understanding. The Wiseman must have realised.

"What is Greego, apart from being a very clever Pixie. Listen to what you know?"

I sat and thought for a while as Craig continued munching on his nut.

"He's a riddle maker?" I hesitantly answered.

"Exactly!" The Wiseman replied, "And what is a riddle?"

"Confusing, that's for sure."

The Wiseman laughed, "Yes it is, that is very true."

I felt more comfortable after hearing his laugh. "Well a riddle is saying something, giving an answer without giving it. Am I right?"

"Yes Lil' Cat, sorry David-Shiro. I think you are very right.So let me pose this question to you. If Greego hadn't set you a riddle, where would you be right now?"

"Oh that would be easy, I'd be tucked up in bed on my warm blanket."

"So you wouldn't be...?"

"I wouldn't be here." Hang on something within my catty powers spoke to me.

"You mean Greego wanted me to be here?"

The Wiseman's voice relaxed even more, "A fine answer David-Shiro, a fine answer indeed."

"Greego wanted us to meet?" The penny was dropping "And so he set this whole thing up?" I was confused as to why he wanted to do that and angry at being played.

I knew it couldn't be The Wiseman was made of stone but just for a second, maybe a millisecond it appeared that he nodded before he voice rang out in my head.

"Now the next question I would be asking myself in such a position is why?"

Listen!

I'm exhausted, it's been a busy night I've not been to sleep yet but I'm enjoying having a little lay down in the sun shining through the window, thoughts of a very strange night and morning going through my mind.

It turns out there's an advantage to being naughty and waking everyone up at 4am and being shut out of the bedroom at night, I have free reign of the house at night.

Usual time everyone went to bed, kisses and strokes a-plenty and then all alone. I nervously approached the backdoor flap not knowing for sure if I'd be able to get out or not, Daddy usually locks it after 9 to make sure River doesn't run out and start barking.

I tapped the flap, it was locked as usual but I could see it wasn't full blocked, if I knocked it hard enough I was pretty sure I could bypass the blocking thing. I tapped it, yes it moved slightly but not enough. I needed more force behind it but I didn't want to wake anyone up, Daddy is a light sleeper.

Again I knocked it, no movement. 

I could see Craig burying something in the lawn, he was true to his word, waiting as he said, to help me. The knocking hadn't caught his attention so I guess I wasn't making too much of a noise so I knocked the flap again, this time with all my might. A loud crack n the flap made me jump and run back into the kitchen, I'd scared myself, I'd made such a noise. Had I woken anyone?

I waited a minute or so, no noise coming from upstairs, I was OK no one was awake, and then I gingerly approached the flap and gave it a slight tap with my paw, it swung open. 

Phew I'd done it, as quick as a flash I was out and into the garden. It was very windy out, it had been all day and it had still not settled down as night had fallen. 

Craig was looking my way and I ran over to him, it was night and night does not scare me.

"Hello." I was nervous and excited and so glad to see Craig.

"Hang on a second." Craig flicked a little bit of dirt with his paw, "Just covering my tracks, I don't want that Fox finding my stash of monkey nuts. Right you ready then?"

Oh I was ready alright a cocktail of strange emotions playing havoc in my stomach, no idea what the night would bring,

"What direction are we heading in?" I'd never been out of the garden before, apart from when my Daddies first brought me here.

"Not far, follow me." And Craig was off, jumping his way up towards the back of the garden.

With not a moment to lose I chased after him, if we were going over the wall I didn't want to lose sight of him for even a second. 

Craig stopped in the Peace Garden, not my favourite place in the world, and turned to face me not saying a word. I waited for him to jump up on top of the wall by the Swinging Heart of Love but he just stayed there.

Maybe he was catching his breath, all that jumping must have tired him out? We just stayed still in silence, in the end it got too much, it was so windy and I'm sure I could feel rain in the air so I was keen to get on.

"What are you waiting for?" I eventually asked.

"Shhh!" he said, "Listen!"

"Listen for what?" I was very confused.

A deep voice behind me began to speak. "If one listens to oneself, one can hear all manner of things." 

I nearly jumped out of my fur. Looking around I couldn't see anyone. I turned to face Craig who was smiling at me, not in the slightest bit afraid.

"Who are you?" My head turned left, to right and back again, again I saw no one.

"Who are you?" I repeated the question.

"Fear not my little friend, for I am here to help you to help yourself. To help you to see yourself!"

Again I scanned the Peace Garden, I could see no one.

"Don't worry," Craig moved closer, "I've brought you to see a friend, a friend who can help you more than anyone else can, there's nothing to fear."

Craig moved away from the back wall, passed the Easter Island Head and pointed towards the old Chinese statue.

"Hello, little one." Again that deep voice all around me, "I am The Wiseman, at your service!"

Craig Prince Of The Squirrels

"The word on the street is you need some help, let me introduce myself, I'm Craig Prince of the Squirrels "

So began one of the strangest encounters I've ever had, well apart from that with Greego The Pixie, of course.

I'd spent the morning going in and out of the back door flap, getting used to the noise and movement of the swinging. I'm getting very adept t it, I even heard the Daddies talking about it last night and how proud they were of me.

So there I was just going in and out and when all of a sudden I saw some movement on the fence, a little skittering about before a little head popped up, followed by a furry little body, nut in hand before being popped into a very chewy mouth.

I stood there staring, I've never seen such a thing before. Dogs au-fait with them, cats oh yes and birds tick but what this little creature was I had no idea. He was fascinating to watch even though to begin with I felt very scared and nearly ran back off inside.

Out came those words, as soon as he'd finished his mouth of food.

"Hello." I said, a bit stunned to be honest.

"Hello." He replied, "So is it true, what I hear?"

"Er what to do you mean?" I could do with some help true but I wasn't sure what sort of help was being offered.

"George said he'd heard that you need some help with something to do with a wood and something that was missing that you needed to find." He puffed out his chest and smiled, "I'm your man, woods are my domain." 

He nodded towards a tree at the back of the garden. "That's where I live, up that tree, climbing tree's my speciality so if there's something you need help with that's to do with tree's...well I think I'm the one to be able to help you. Nothing I like more than solving a good mystery."

Stunned seemed to be the word for me today.

"You know George?" I didn't know where to begin.

"Do I know George!" Craig smiled, "Oh yes, George and I are very good friends, The Squirrels of Squirrel Tree and the cats of Catworld are very old and very good friends. I was particularly friendly with Lil' who used to live where you do now, so yes in answer to your question we're very good friends." Craig winked and smiled, scratched his ear and shifted his weight from his left to right foot.

This place never fails to amaze me, you never know what's going to happen from one day to the next.

"Yes all that's true, Greego The Pixie..." 

Craig interrupted me "Greego The Pixie, this is something to do with Greego The Pixie?" He appeared shocked.

"Yes." I nodded back.

"Oh well you really need my help then, I've heard about this in the nick of time!"

My heart danced in my mouth, doing a rumba down my back. "Why?"

"Oh little friend of mine, Greego The Pixie is a tricky minx, you should always be careful where he's concerned, have you not heard his history?"

Well no I hadn't. "What do you mean history?"

Craig smiled and nodded, "Of course not why would he tell you."

I was beginning to panic what had I got myself into?

"Greego The Pixie was expelled, by the Grand Order of The Pixals, the highest authority in Pixie World, dropped off her the Fairies of Fairyville a couple of years back. I thought he'd been quiet, I was expecting trouble but he just seemed to go to ground, I thought he must have moved on."

"No, he's living in the secret room indoors, upstairs. I went in there one day and he said he's been waiting for me and said I needed to go and find something he'd lost in some wood somewhere."

"Um" Craig nodded his head up and down slowly. "And did you agree to help him?"

I nodded "Yes."

"Oh dear, you've made a pact with a Pixie and you'll have to follow through with it no matter what, you can't break a Pixie agreement you'll have them all on you if you do, expelled or not and you don't want that, most are good a few well let's not go there."

I felt sick, Craig must have picked it up too.

"Don't worry though, I'm here to help, I've had dealings with that little minx before, talks in riddles you know."

"Oh yes I know that alright!"

"Right so something he knows not what is lost in some wood he knows not where. Is that correct?"

I nodded again.

"Well it's a start I suppose, meet me out here tonight after everyone's gone to bed and we'll go looking, can't be too difficult."

"What? I find that very difficult." What on earth was Craig talking about.

Craig looked at me smiled and pointed his finger at me. "You're a cat and the one thing cats have in abundance is catty powers, listen to those and we shouldn't be in too much trouble, and you're double lucky."

My ears pricked up.

"What do you mean I'm double lucky?"

"You're a black cat little friend, and black cats well you know the tales of them, they are lucky, they are Witches Familiars!"

I Decided To Go Out And Save Her

It's a beautiful day and the window up by the table was open, it's only just dawned on me that I can use this to get in and out when I want and get a great view of the garden.

 I spotted River out there doing some silly dance type thing on Daddies leg and I decided to go out and save her the humiliation. 

As ever she was really please to see me and decided it would be a good game to chase me up the garden. I didn't mind though, she's my best friend and unwittingly she was helping me, encouraging me to explore further and further with the comfort of knowing she was just there if I needed her.

I was feeling rather proud of myself having made it all the way to the Peace Garden when all of a sudden that pesky fly that's been bothering me for weeks came flying right past my nose laughing. So I chased him up the garden right up near the house. 

He's very fast, darting this way and that and I decided I needed to study him closely to see if I could see a pattern in his movements before making my move.

I thought I'd prepared perfectly and at the last moment pounced with my mouth open, tongue out I licked away and I was sure I'd caught him until I closed my mouth. I can unhappily report spiders webs are not nice tasting, don't order off the menu, leave the restaurant!

Cats and Dogs - Another Side

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A Kiss From The Universe

Sometimes, no matter how tired you are or how much you just want to be...

...a cuddle from the right person can be like a kiss from the universe.

Cats and Dogs - Another Side

www.riverssong.net/2015/05/in-world-ever.html

I Know How He Feels

It's s nice being able to have some totally alone time with Daddy it's not something that happens often, River's asleep upstairs with Daddy still, it was a late night.

I ran in to wake her up when Daddy got up to go to the bathroom but she just looked at me and blinked, I got the message she was staying put.

Daddy has been giving me loads of strokes and he said it reminded him of when Lil' was here, he said they'd spend an hour or two cuddling up first thing on a Saturday and he's missed spending time alone with cats, he likes it when we pad him he said. Well he must be happy I've been doing that lately, not sure where it came from but I find I like the experience, maybe all happy cats pad and I am very happy here.

Shenanigans

That was a great dinner, roast chicken bi of luck it's a favourite of mind, Daddy has gone roast mad. Now for a nice after dinner rest and a bit of a watch of the TV.

Erghh!

Sorry River, I'm just not in the mood for your shenanigans, I'm  little too bloated for run around tonight.

Cats and Dogs - Another Side

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I Felt Like I Was Doing Something Wrong

It's happening, it's really happening I'm mastering the outside world AND I'm getting help.

It's nice weather again and so Daddy had the back door open all day. River was in and out urging me to join her and a couple of times I did go out and have a sniff around but every time Daddy came near I felt like I was doing something wrong and ran back inside and around the corner.

I learnt I was wrong as on my one my sits by the back door he scooped me up in his arms and carried me all the way to the end of the garden by the Peace Garden and sat me down.

I had no idea what to do and froze for a second looking around, River running towards me. It was the furthest I'd ever been and my heart as pumping in my mouth and I didn't know what to do.

I needed to get familiar with the area, the wood must surely be further away than the garden and how on earth would I cope with that if I couldn't cope with the back of the garden.

I was just getting used to the new smells when Daddy started walking off back to the house. I wasn't going to be left up here without his protection and something inside me said run, so run I did, faster than Daddy could walk and before he was half way back I was leaping over the back door step and inside again, scared and excited all at the same time. I don't know why I ran, I knew I was OK out there but I guess it's just me pushing my boundaries and getting used to new things. 

Fair exhausting it is!

Coming Out To Play?

It's Wednesday so therefore it's cooked Salmon for tea tonight, one of my favourites and afterwards I always like to have a little rest in the chair in the window, let my food digest while I have a watch of the outside world.

Tonight I was lucky to have a visitor George. 

I was glad I'd been wanting to speak to him about Ginger Cat. He said he'd caught up with him but Ginger Cat was keeping very quiet as to where he had been and what he'd been up to and why he'd disappeared so quickly.

I asked him if he asked him what he'd meant by his comments about one who thinks he's trying to help but isn't. George said Ginger Cat just put his head down and reiterated that he wasn't going to speak about it, it was personal business and as such he'd hope George understood and they could remain friends.

George said Ginger Cat had always been a friend to Catworld and if he was keeping something to himself he wasn't go to pry any further but he wasn't going forget about it all together, just bid his time.

Oh well fair enough, George must know what he's doing so I'll leave it to him although it does still bug me.

George then nodded over the road to where Chameleon was sniffing around,

"Coming out to play, we're playing tag tonight?"

As much as it would have been lovely to play out the front with George and to get to know Chameleon properly but as I'd said Salmon for tea, and it does make me rather sleepy. 

A Bursting Edge Of A Gossip Bag

I've had a very productive afternoon. 

I didn't manage to get to George in time, by the time I gathered up my courage to peak out the front from the gate he was gone.

I must admit I got angry with myself, if only I'd moved faster, if only I'd been more familiar with the territory around the side of the house I might have managed to get there to him before he disappeared and I wouldn't be standing here now knowing what had happened to Ginger Cat with a bursting edge of a gossip bag stuck in my chest.

Now I've heard Daddy say about turning anger into motivation and I did just that and strutted up the side of the garage to the edge where it disappears around a corner and sat down looking all around me.

To the front of me, the Peace Garden, supposedly a place of great serenity but I get a funny feeling when I look at it, de-ja-vu of some kind, it's not a place I think I'll be visiting much. 

A fence runs all the way around each side of the garden, good for using as a high wire walkway and convenient for getting to the top of the garage. 

A few bushes to the right, a tree in bloom and some nasty looking blackberry bushes, must avoid that don't want to scratch myself. Snow White and her little friends, a mole, an Easter Island Head, 2 Gnomes and some old bloke with a wonky head make up the garden people and of course the lawn that River likes to lay on sunbathing stretches from border to border.

Yes think that's got the lay of the land, knowledge is power and I could do with a teaspoon full of that at the moment.

Now I just need to measure some distances out the front to calculate a maximum speed I can go if need be, oh yes preparation to key right now, I'm going it alone!

And I'm Off!

Ooh George.

Fabulous I've been keeping an eye out for him, I want to speak to him and ask him if he's been to see Ginger Cat, I'm sure that's where he rushed off to before.

I'm getting good at this backdoor flap, time it right and...

...I'm off!

Ginger Cats Been Seen!

As good as my word I've spent the whole morning practising going in and out of the garden in the day light, I'm getting quiet good at it and then I heard a noise coming from out the front.

I ran straight in the house and up to the front window I thought I recognised the voice calling to me but River was in the way. Luckily I had heard a rumor that Daddy might be taking her out this afternoon and ran up to tell her. She got all excited and of course ran to Daddy who taking one look at her got his coat on and her brace out.

She jumped down, I jumped down, chaos of course but things settled once they'd gone down the road and George spoke again.

"Hello," It was lovely to see him but before I could go any further;

"He's back, he's back, Ginger Cats been seen!"

And with that off he ran. 

In The Tree Tops

It's been a funny old day, rain and sun, and people coming and going to see Daddy as it's his birthday weekend.

I went to have a sleep upstairs when the Daddymummy came to visit and when I came down River and I had a little cuddle on the chair. The Daddies and their friend went out for the afternoon so we spent a good hour or so cleaning each other before having a bit of a play out in the back garden. I'm getting very good at this back garden thing now, I think I'll try over the fence this week.

When they came back I saw them telling River all about their day and I had a listen in. 

First they went to visit some Ape in a wood. Now this got my attention, a wood, yes I need information on woods and what to expect when I find the right one to go and look for Greego's thing and came much closer to have a proper see.

So what I've learnt is that in woods you have to move about in the tree tops. How on earth I'm ever supposed to master that I've no idea.

Daddy seemed to love it...

That girls got a tight grip!

Well it left me all a bit shocked, this wood thing gets harder by the day where will it ever end?

Cats and Dogs - Another Side

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Nice Sunset

Um nice sunset tonight, foretells of a good weekend so I understand.

I've Got To Admire Your Tenacity

Oops I think Daddies caught us playing with the bag of Dreamies that I snuck out of the cupboard when he was doing things with River upstairs.

Oh I don't know what to do.

OK River good idea I'll just kick them under the sofa, he won't see them then.

Oh River it's not working, he's still watching us and I don't think you pretending to just be going for a walk is working, he's beginning to try and look around us both, no he's not falling for it.

Oh River I'm taking shame and your still brazing it out, I've got to admire your tenacity.

Cats and Dogs - Another Side

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