It was a last minute call for someone to help Ms D out, and being the excellent human I am, I signed up to make the visit on my way home from work.

I’d met Ms D several times over the past year and a bit, doing all sorts of missions for her - shopping, topping and chopping. Today it was for an emergency food shop.

I rang the bell, and was met by a solemn looking Ms D, who informed me that her beloved cat, Toby has sadly died that week. Having met Ms D several times before, I’d also let Toby. He was an old boy, with a beautiful thick coat and gorgeous green eyes. He made sure we were working hard in the garden, or would purr around my bike before I left. I was saddened by this news, and could tell Ms D was devastated too.

I shared a few kinds words in exchange for her shopping list, and did my best to get everything from the Tesco and Nisa up the road. What Tesco didn’t have, Nisa did - so it was a full shop, and less than £20. I had a guilty chuckle* to myself too, remembering the time I had to buy a ridiculous bag of cat litter for Toby from that Nisa, and couldn’t balance it on my bike, and nearly ended up under a bus**.

*guilty in that I was laughing to myself about never having to buy her cat litter again. I was very fond of Toby.

**note to everyone, I was trying to balance it to walk back with. I’m an idiot but even I’m not that much of an idiot to risk my life on the Uxbridge Road!

When I arrived back, Ms D was on the phone, so I dropped her bag off, and gave her some parting best wishes, whilst she waved me thanks.

This one is purr you, Toby. Enjoy your dreamies on the other side of the rainbow bridge.