Hello, Ludo here.

It’s February. You might have noticed. We’ve been here nearly three and a half years. And I like it here.

I don’t really remember what life was like when I arrived, but I know I was not happy. Then I fell out with Locksley, which made life improve a little as I had a run to myself again. I know I was scared of having a high ceiling and a high sky when we were outside, and I’m better with all of those now.

The best thing is I’ve got used to Mummy and she’s got used to me.

I always enjoyed being cuddled, but these days I really look forward to it. If I seem reluctant to be picked up it’s because I’d like to do some business before sitting on Mummy’s lap. She doesn’t seem to mind when she hurries me and I leave my mark so to speak.

What’s nicest about Mummy is that she’s so reliable. Sometimes there are days when we don’t have morning cuddles, when she has to go out early, like today. She had an appointment with the specialist human vet in Romsey. He’s going to do something about her neck. She says ‘ow’ a lot when she has to move her head.

But yes, Mummy’s very reliable. She picks me up in my tunnel, and we go through to the kitchen, where I slide out onto a towel. Then she gives me my metacam, which is yummy. Then we go through to the front room and I sit on the red towel on her lap. First she puts cream on my back feet to stop them getting red and rough. Then it’s time for cucumber. Then there’s lots of stroking and cuddling and purring (from me). Then she asks me to come ‘up’ and I jump up onto her front so she can carry me through to the corridor. She puts me down there and I make my way back to our room. I have a lovely wander around, smelling all the places where the others have been, and checking out all the hiding places we have.

Then Locksley comes back from his cuddle, and we have some polite conversation. Then she cleans my run out (and Locksley’s too), and takes Victor out for his cuddle. And at that point I get ready to come up in my tent and go back into my run, because Victor doesn’t like lots of cuddles, not like Locksley and me. And when Victor comes into the room, I get in the tent quick, because I find him rude and pushy. Apparently he gets on with everyone. Except Pippin. Pippin is also rude and pushy, but funny with it. I can watch him for hours when we’re out in the garden, but we don’t talk otherwise.

And that is our routine. Oh, except the best bit – once Pippin is down and running around, and Victor is back in his run, she cleans Pippin’s run and then brings us our breakfast.

Yummy.

Is that anything like your morning routine. Does everybody do this?

See you next month,

Ludo xx