For Friends of Grommet

Aline writes: For all of you Grommet fans, I thought I would give an update and show some pics of our favorite world-traveling cat!

But before we get to actual Grommet photos, I am amazed at how many depictions we see of Grommet when we are out and about. There seems to have been an extraordinary foreshadowing of Grommet’s arrival in Britain. Now keep in mind that many of these pictures are not of Grommet’s quite handsome exterior, but instead of his inner Grommetness, which as many of you know, is not always as attractive as his physical form.

Here is a picture seen in the museum of Brighton, a representation of Grommet’s capacity for happiness:


Here Grommet’s warrior side is depicted on a new book cover:


And finally, some graffiti at Brighton seems the essence of Grommet in his more, um, difficult, carpet-tearing, biting moods:


But enough of Grommet’s inner self – how about his actual physical self? Grommet has adapted well to life here in England, and only had a few sick days last week with what seems to have been an allergy; he made a remarkably fast recovery in only a few days, and was very good about his visit to his new vet. He has been absolutely thrilled about the screens we brought back from California (we haven’t yet seen a screen in a window here…). Here he checks out how strong they are:


They allow him to sniff at all the amazing scents, and give us all much needed ventilation on those warm days without allowing him to experience the 35 foot drop out our windows:


He is quite enchanted with our wall-to-wall carpeting, and the idea of having a whole flat-size scratching post at his disposal. I am sure our neighbors think his name is “No Grommet.” But he manages to make up for his badness by playing the “cute card,” rolling and showing off his tummy (Grommet still gets his "sun-fix" even here in England):


He continues his adventurous streak (for those of you who remember his adventure in the hole-in-the-wall). Here he decides (with two adult spotters, don’t worry) that he will climb the ladder that leads to our roof terrace (the ladder is usually hung up, but we let it down to let him explore.)


He clambered up quite adroitly for a fellow who hasn’t seen any stairs. We won’t discuss his little slip, since Bill was up there to catch him. He is still his fearless (foolish) self!

And just for good measure, here are two more pics of his handsomeness. Here he is on top of the couch back by the window, one of his favorite places to snooze:



And finally, here he is with “big red mousy,” a present from Virgin Atlantic that he loves to chase: