Midnight feast

Friday November 5th, 1999

I think I’ve lost track, in fact it’s quite likely that I’ve lost track but if this wasn’t the first of the autumn storms it was close.

I woke at something like 2:30 a.m. with the wind hammering on the west wall, Harry Cat trying most urgently to get in bed with me and Dolly the Mega Cat pounding about the house trying to get at whatever was disturbing the peace.

“It’s all right, guys, it’s only the wind,” I whispered.

Dolly was reassured, and came to sit by the side of the bed. Harry was going to make the most of it whatever the outcome and a little warm furry bundle scriggled in to nestle in the crook of my arm.

I settled back and tried to sleep but it was no good. The wind blustered and flustered about the house, trying our defences. That’s no situation in which to sleep easy and, when the rain started, I gave up, slid out of bed, donned my robe and mooched around the house making sure windows were shut tight. The wind was driving the rain almost horizontally against the side of the house.

The coffee pot called.

Dolly joined me in the kitchen and sat on the table by me as I slurped. A little while later Harry flumped to the floor and padded through to join us.

The all-night team was in action once more.

I know my duty in these situations. I warmed some Carnation milk through and put a generous saucerful down. Then I softened some butter and made myself a slice of toast, layered thick with good English marmalade. And a cup of hot chocolate to go with it.

Soon the team was gathered together around the table, the cats cleaning themselves carefully so as not to miss a drop of Carnation and me munching and sipping thoughtfully by turns.

And still the wind battered at the house. The noise was almost continuous now.

I pulled my book over, and my sparkling new reading spectacles, and pitched in for a quiet read. I’m reading Stephen Baxter’s Moonseed and thoroughly enjoying it, having put Kenneth Williams Diaries aside from exhaustion.

Well, it was about 4:30 when the wind finally dropped back to sensible levels. Harry was curled up by the side of me. Dolly was along the table a bit, swaying gently as she fought to stay awake.

“Oh, come on you two. Let’s try for a bit of sleep.”

And we all three of us curled up under a big thick Welsh wool blanket on the sofa, asleep in minutes.

It was way after 8:30 before I woke. The storm was still going, and the rain, and it has stayed that way all day on and off. Tonight it’s blowing up strongly again but I think it’ll pass over us in the small hours. Dolly and Harry are fast asleep on the sofa and look to be ignoring the weather. Just as well really. I have a feeling I’ll be away like Rip Van Winkle when I hit the pillow in about half an hour.