The First Guest Chapter for Bertie and Bessie  

Although this story is about Tilly, I thought it only right to mention some of the other remarkable animals to have touched my life so far. I will be honest, even though this may be controversial, I am not a dog person. I am not a cat person either or a cat and dog person. To put it simply I am an animal person. I know some people will be disappointed that I can’t choose whether I am team feline or canine, as people have very strong views on this topic (people I know included!!!), but I just love animals as a whole too much and I am generally just a very indecisive person! In fact, to put it bluntly I prefer animals to people.. no answering back, good listeners and great cuddlers!

Anyway, I have had the privilege of meeting many wonderful animals so far in my life. Two of which are with me right now. Bertie and Bessie, the twin cats who currently rule our house. Bertie and Bessie have been members of our family since before we had Tilly and were rescued from a farm by my mum when they were only a couple of days old. They both have jet black fur, with no hints of any other colour except their eyes which are a piercing yellow. Most visitors cannot distinguish them, stating that they are absolutely without a shadow of a doubt identical! But this is not true, to people that no them well they could not be more different in personality, and they have subtle differences in their looks. To start with their physical differences, Bertie is large and lean whereas Bessie is very tiny. Bertie has long white whiskers which contrast sharply against which black nose, while Bessie also has long whiskers but hers are pure black. Bertie also now has flecks of grey and white in previously coaly coat, which highlight their distinguished age. The final obvious difference in their appearance is their eyes and is an acquired difference rather than a difference developed from birth. Bertie (who you will discover is horrendously, anxiety—provokingly disaster prone) injured his eye. Ever since he has had a black dot and white floating cloud blurring his vision in one eye where the vet performed a miracle and repaired his injury. Now to their character differences…. Where should I begin? Hmm, well I think if I describe what they are both doing as a write this chapter it should give you a good indication of how different they are. Bertie is sound asleep, cwtched up in a little ball on the sofa and has been all morning except when he was “helping” me do yoga. Bessie on the other hand has just finished walking along the table. On the table there was a pot of flowers which Bessie continually kept making a fuss of, because nobody can apparently give a head scratch as well as potted plants. There was also a balloon from a recent Birthday and Bessie was fascinated with the string and proceeded to wrap herself around it. Every time I took her off she would hop back up. Bessie is nothing if not persistent. She loves following us around and is very noisy in her frequent miaowing instructions of how we should be doing things. She is still nimble and agile, very much like a kitten. Bertie is the opposite temperament, very calm and placid. He likes constant cuddles and despite previously being an outdoor explorer, doesn’t often venture out these days. He is much more of a people person than Bessie who only likes her specific people. He will cuddle anyone, but Bessie will only choose her very special people.

They are both now the grand age of 16 and I cannot remember life without them.