Eversham Cats Protection, Sunday 23rd January, 2011.

1) 'Elsie' is still here and in need of lots of love. Luckily, she has an army of volunteers (excuse the pun) queuing up for a turn.

2) Aiyeeeee! Run fer yer lives!! It's the dreaded cyclops-cat and it's got you in its evil eye!

3) I don't care how nice you say my breakfast is. I'm staying in here.

4) Like most of us, Pandora is not getting any younger. She doesn't do herself any favours, does she? But she's much friendlier than she looks. No, really.

Gheluvelt Park, Sunday 16th January, 2011.

It's a 'hot ticket' in some quarters and the queue has already started to form for the traditional performance of Swan Lake due to take place on the park's bandstand later this month (possibly).

Sunday 2nd January, 2011.

1) Banished from the kitchen. It's an outrage! Just because I was taking a natural interest in the cooking of the Sunday Roast. Getting in the way, they said, under their feet. As if. It's beef, if I'm not mistaken. I can smell it. Taste it. Oh the exquisite torture.
2) I was right. It was beef. Lovely it was an' all. Served in a puddle of gravy made with the juices of the meat. And yes, you're right, I could have managed a little bit more. Mmmmmm, I can still taste it now. Still, mustn't grumble. It'll soon be supper time.

Evesham Cats Protection, Boxing Day, 2010.

1) 8:45am. Off to the Cats Protection are you? Don't worry about me. I've got everything I need right here. Don't forget to close the door behind you on the way out.

2) It's been an epic, but we have got here. It took 30 minutes to get the car de-iced and out of the car park. Once off the side roads and onto the main roads it was OK apart from some patchy freezing fog but, despite having the heater on full for the entire drive to Anne and Derek's and then to the CP itself, the inside of the windscreen was still icy. We get to the CP at 10:30am - an hour later than usual - not too bad considering.

3) Pandora is waiting for us. She's learnt a salutary lesson this long hard winter: don't go outside and definitely don't stray far from your heated cushion. She's guarding it with her life.

4) Pandora, let me in!

Naaaaaah!

5) The 'you don't have to be mad to volunteer here, but it helps' club has arrived.

6) Anne and Derek, happy in their work.

7) Elsie (for it is she) is happy to get a shoulder to purr on but not so happy to be taken outside.

8) With all cats fed, medicated, and cleaned-out, it's time to drive back through a Worcester Winter Wonderland for a Boxing Day lunch at Anne and Derek's before driving back home to give Emlyn his second Christmas dinner. We conclude that this winter wonderland-lark is all very well as long as you don't have to drive in it.

Christmas Day, 2010 (Pt II).

1) I say, madam, stop right there. I hope you aren't thinking of putting the remains of the turkey in the fridge when I still have spare capacity in my tummy for some more.
2) Mmmm. A nice tasty morsel of the juicy underside to complement the giblets and neck I had earlier. Just the job.

OK, you can put it away now.

Christmas Day (you should know the date by now), 2010.

1) It's a traditional Christmas Day walk for us today with the added task of assessing the roads (mains clear, sides not) prior to tomorrow's drive to Evesham CP. BBC CEEFAX says the temperature will get no higher than minus 9 Celsius today but it's now gone one o'clock and it doesn't feel as cold as that to us. Freezing, maybe. One or two below, possibly. But not that cold. Mind you, the Severn is frozen in parts and it doesn't look like it will thaw any time soon.
2) It certainly feels colder down by the river than in the Park or between the buildings. We conclude that the BEEB's thermometer must be atop an exposed hill and not actually in Worcester itself. Not saying that the BEEB like to exaggerate or anything (heaven forfend).

3) Vicky and passing dog walker, and his dog, watch and debate whether a swan family will make much progress between/along/through the ice floes on the river. Conclusion? No, not much.

4) Swans are happier now as they have found a pool of unfrozen river to mess about in. So, Merry Christmas everyone and wish us luck with our early morning drive tomorrow.

Thursday 23rd December, 2010.

1) Worcester Cathedral. We've walked here via the 'top side' of the racecourse. Vicky's had her haircut in town (whilst I had a bit of a wander) and, after lighting some candles for loved ones now sadly departed, we're off to get a Christmas Eve-eve meal at the bistro opposite as a bit of a treat. Roast dinner of the day - £6.99 with all the trimmings! Oh, and a pot of tea, of course. I have the roast pork and Vicky has a hot pot (only £5.99). Bargain. Who says you can't eat out nowadays?

2) Now we are back at the Racecourse and it's all north from here. We've walked around town twice getting one or two foodie bits and pieces from Marks and Sparks but gave up on HMV and Smiths and other places like that on account of them being hell on earth. Too busy, too hot, too long queues at the tills. Can't remember where else we went into - it's all a bit of a blur now. We have been walking for about two hours, had one hour in the bistro, and we've still got about another hour's worth of walking to go. Still, definitely better than driving in to town. We shouldn't have to drive anywhere now until Boxing Day morning when we are due to volunteer at the CP. That drive should be interesting......................