My family has a habit of making a drama out of Christmas. It began with my older brother having his birthday on 27 December, making Christmas a three-day affair back in the post-war era when it was unusual enough for a family to have even a two-day celebration. Fast-forward to 1966, and as a 17 year-old I was at a Christmas dance with a friend on 23 December, when I met a boy who took me home that night, and then took me out on a date on Christmas Eve. This was the boy I marr

Where d'you go on bonfire night?  You gave us such a dreadful fright. You should've been here, safe at home. What a night to choose to roam! The fireworks banged and lit the sky. Next door's bonfire burned so high. We searched and shouted, called your name, felt so anxious, felt to blame. We looked in all your favourite places - under trees, in hidden spaces, Under cars I shone my torch, stood and shouted from the porch. What if you'd been spooked, and run - then forgot whi

Criticism : there’s something about that word that makes us cringe, or feel uncomfortable, isn’t there? I think we all imagine it must always mean disapproval. It might evoke memories of childhood misdemeanors – being ‘told off’ – or of arguments, where someone pointed out our faults, and perhaps not in a kind way. But you know, that’s not the only meaning of the word. It can also be related to the word critique , which implies someone, hopefully someone knowledgeable, listin

I've sometimes been asked what prompted me to become a novelist. Well, I was a writer long before I became a novelist. I was a published...

I’m not your cat - please don’t say that! I don’t belong to you. A cat is wild - I’m not your...

A Message to Mum's Friends' Cats Dear all Good Meows to you. This is obviously translated from Cat to Human by my human carer. I’m asking...

As mum to three daughters, who in turn have two children each, I know how important it is for, perhaps, the majority of us, to have at...

MONTY, my brother Mum says everyone misses Monty’s diary and she thinks they’d like it if I meowed on her blog to take his place....

Hello, humans I’ve been told off again for not having anything to say in this diary for a long time. Apparently people (Mum calls them my...

In my new book A Good Enough Mother, I explore the difficulties of parenting two young children completely alone, while also holding down...

Maddie: the 'Calendar Girl' Hello, humans It’s been a long time since I’ve meowed a new diary entry for my human carer – ‘Mum’ as she...

New Year Resolutions Hello again, humans, it’s me, Monty, your favourite feline commentator on the bewildering business of living with...

November 2022 I have something weird to talk to you about today, humans. And that is, basically, you! I like to think I’m a reasonably...

Guest Interview with my sister Maddie Maddie. She's pretty, but very nervous. Hello, Maddie. Now look, I know I’m your brother, and...

Hello humans. Are you happy that your outdoor territory is beginning to warm up now? Maddie and I certainly are. We like being outside,...

Hello, humans! I have to warn you, I’ve got a lot to meow about this month so I hope all you humans have got a bit of spare time to...

Hello, all my human friends. I hope your tails and whiskers have all been nice and spruce since I last meowed on this blog, and that you...

We all love our pets; I hardly need to say that, whether they’re dogs, cats, rabbits or any other kind of creature. But however much we...

Strange goings-on in the Great Outdoors; and an exciting birthday present. Hello, friendly humans. I hope you, and especially the cats...

Hello humans. I want to meow to you today about sleeping (one of my favourite hobbies), and specifically about places for sleeping. When...