Thought that it was about time someone posted one here!

This isn’t exactly a dive story but it is dive related, sort of. It’s a story about triumph over adversity, it’s a story that will both inspire and sadden, and it’s a story ultimately about betrayal. It’s about a cat called Sophie.

Sophie is our cat. She must be at least ten years old. She’s a “rescue” cat that adopted us about six years ago and probably had a couple of homes before landing on us. She is pure black and fiercely independent. There is nothing unusual about here disappearing for a day or two but she always comes back sooner or later. We used to leave a bedroom window open for her to come and go.

She’s a proud and friendly cat. Many a time she has brought a live mouse into the house for us to play with and oh what fume we have trying to catch it when it’s running around the living room. Dead birds are a great favourite of hers too.

Two or three months ago we found her in our back garden obviously in some pain. Initially, we thought that she had broken her leg. We took her to the vet who told us that it was ligament damage but it had been inflicted on her by someone twisting her leg. Better keep a careful eye on her. She came hoe sedated and with a bandaged leg. How we laughed when she used to rip the bandage off so that we had to take her back to the vet’s to get it sorted out, money no object!

What you are asking is this got to do with diving. Dear reader, read on.

Things took a turn for the worse about five weeks ago. Sophie went missing. Nothing new, she does that. This time though, the days turned to weeks and then a month had passed with no sight of her. We were worried. The weather turned. She never stays out in the rain. We started to think the unthinkable. Something had happened and she wasn’t coming home. Sadly, we threw away her dish and cat litter tray, gave away her food and reconciled ourselves to life without her. We did keep one small pouch of food just in case but it was a forlorn hope.

Last Monday, Chris, my son (some of you with long memories night remember that he used to be a diver) saw something move in the bushes. We went to investigate – something black, bedraggled and emaciated. Could it really be??  Sophie?? We tempted her out with the remaining food and yes, Sophie had returned!! What tales she could tell if she could talk. Where had she been?

Off on an adventure? Captured and escaped? No matter, she was back!

The next few days were spent feeding her up; she hardly ever stopped eating and the sleeping. We were proud and happy to have her back.

Slowly, she started to improve. At first we didn’t want to let her out but she has her own life to lead and you have to give her her own space. She was somewhat reluctant to go out anyway but no problem, the window was left open for her to go out and answer the call of nature; we hadn’t yet replaced the cat litter.

Saturday morning. Going through my dive bag, putting stuff away that had been left out to dry from the weekend before. On the floor of the garage half opened. Opened it up. The f***ing cat has been ****ting in it!! At least three times. Thankfully, not on anything that I stick in my mouth or on my head but it was bad!! I’m going to kill her when I get hold of her. Does any pet lover out there want a partially house trained elderly cat Katie? Anyone want to buy a load of miscellaneous diver gear? Please contact me.