For no particular reason, other than wanting to post something that didn't involve a new update to some software script or other, I would like to take this opportunity to share with you all the latest picture of Harper, my cat. He was a rescue cat -though the pound wouldn't tell us why and what he was rescued from. He did have an aversion to feet for a long time, though, so we figured he might have been the victim of some injudicious kicks in his time. I called him Harper because of the lines in 'To Kill a Mockingbird': "Remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird. Mockingbirds don't do one thing but make music for us to enjoy…but sing their hearts out for us. That's why it's a sin to kill a mockingbird." It's a sin to kick a cat, too.
Anyway, he wouldn't have anything to do with me for the first year he was at home (in Australia). Literally: he wouldn't come to me for anything, wouldn't jump on my lap, nothing. A no-contact order was clearly in place.
But then he mellowed and he has been basically inseparable from me ever since, even making the trip from Australia to England in the cargo hold of a Qantas A380 without suffering any apparent harm (though my bank balance did!). These days, if I make a cup of tea in the kitchen, slipper-less, he likes to chew my toes. So much for fearing feet!
He particularly likes sleeping with me at night, preferably between my legs, which can make things uncomfortable (for me!) at times:
He seems pretty happy in that photo, I think!
I feel a good composer is one who likes a cat:
...though the rule is subject to exceptions:
But they are rare. Like Britten!