Herding Cats

Two – or more – years ago when it appeared that I was in danger of being released by the parole board, the Editor bought a kitten for me. Alas, my release didn’t happen at that point. And the Editor’s incumbent cat, Henley, was so underwhelmed by the new fluffball’s appearance that he packed his bags and went to live in the garden shed. He has refused to enter the house ever since.

The kitten, Bella, grew up and had four kittens of her own. In another fit of optimism the Editor decided to keep one kitten for me; the other three were adopted by neighbours. Given the vagaries of the parole board,  that kitten, Jack, has itself now grown up. And the Editor decided that we had reached the natural ecological balance between cats, humans and wildlife in this little rural enclave.

As all sensible people know, when you move into a home then making friends with the cats is a vital part of the process. And quite simple – I fed them. Twice. Detente now reigns, although I am having to watch where I place my feet as they park themselves seemingly at random around the house and garden.

You will, I hope, have an inkling that the Editor has created a warm and welcoming nest, a place for us to grow into the future. This home leave is my first experience of so very many things and the Editor is making the whole experience seem effortless.

Reality does intrude. I now have to go off and report to Probation.

Ben Gunn is “one of Britain’s best known
prisoners…he constantly questions authority and exposes the futility
of the system” The Times. Pleading guilty to the murder of a friend when
he was 14 years old, Ben has since renounced violence and consistently
fought for the recognition of the inherent dignity of all human beings.
As a result of speaking truth to power, Ben has served far longer than
the recommended 10 years, leading Education Secretary Michael Gove to
argue that Ben “has been punished excessively for a crime committed as a
child”, and Lord Ramsbotham to state that “It is expensive and
unnecessary to keep Ben Gunn in prison”.

Read more at Ben’s Prison Blog