A Rollercoaster of a day

We have had a difficult and worrying day but - spoiler alert - it has ended very happily. It was another cold day and James and I threw ourselves determinedly into our photo project. It wasn’t until lunchtime when Ally pointed out that Tom wasn’t around that we felt the first stirrings of worry. Tom does his wandering at twilight and before dawn; he usually likes to spend most of his days sleeping in various favourite locations around the house. As the afternoon went on we grew more concerned, and Ally and Cat went out to search for him. Cat put a notice on Facebook on the “All About Cambuslang” page, and they went to investigate a sighting that turned out not to be Tom. James and I also went out calling and whistling for Tom along the terrifying sheet of ice that is currently on our pavements and road. 

I went round about half a dozen of our neighbours to ask them to check their sheds and garages in case he had sneaked inside and got locked in. They kindly looked for him to no avail. The evening was rather miserable and we went to bed feeling very sad. 

At about quarter past eleven I heard the cat flap opening and closing downstairs but I thought that it was probably Floof. I went downstairs and sure enough Floof was sitting on the kitchen floor, but I opened the back door just in case ..... and there was our Tom sitting on the doorstep!

I gathered him up into my arms and ran upstairs to bring him to James, who was delighted. I knocked on Ally and Cat’s door and they both came running through to see him, we were all so happy! I phoned Davie who was worried in Dundee, and messaged Chanel and Jennifer too. 

Tom is absolutely filthy. We think that it’s coal dust or soot. He must have been shut in somewhere, but where he was and how he escaped may remain a mystery. Amusingly, Flora seems to be very confused and suspicious about his identity, perhaps because his white paws and chin are currently very grey, or perhaps because he smells like a chimney! She keeps staring at him and hissing! 

Oh we are so glad to have our furry boy safe home.