Diary of Ship's Cat "Harvey" on Board "Nanok" with My People, Brian and Angela (Them)
Friday 26th Feb 1998
"They" are rushing about filling the car with all sorts of rubbish - what the hell's going on? I was quite happy in my cottage with lots of garden to hunt in. Now "they" have shoved me into a box and put me in the car with all their bits and pieces. "They" don't look too happy, perhaps they are not sure what they are doing. Hours later in the pouring rain "they" put me on this thing that floats on water. I am very puzzled but I am finding lots of places to hide.
Saturday 27th Feb
"He" thought I was lost and went running up and down the pontoons looking for me, but I was just sleeping behind a backrest. Silly sod - as if I would get lost. I'm a cat!!!
Sunday 28th Feb
Thought I would have some fun last night, so I kept "them" awake half the night. This floating thing ("they" call it a boat) does a lot of creaking.
Monday 8th March
Getting to quite like the boat now - lots of hidey holes. Have been to explore some other boats near by - "they" don't like this very much and run about after me. Silly sods, they never catch me. I'm a cat!!!
Saturday 20th March
"They" are getting a bit clever. Got me this red harness thing with a bit of string attached so I can't go exploring so much, but I still go when "they" forget to put it on. "He" put it on me last night, which I forgot, so when I jumped off the boat I landed in the wet stuff. "He" hauled me out and "she" gave me lots of hugs and kisses. Ugh, horrid!!!
Thursday 1st April
Just got used to the boat when "they" started a big noisy thing and went out to what "they" call the sea. I stayed below!!! Then they stopped the noisy thing and put up big white things - "they" think it is great fun. Can't think why, but I'm just a cat!!! "They" made a right hash coming back to our moorings, ropes were everywhere and people running about. "She" was shouting at "him" and "he" was shouting at "her". I stayed below and had a sleep. I'm a cat!!!
Saturday 10th April
Lots of people have been to see us - Paul and Lin, Roger and Sue, Tim and Mitzi, Ray and Lyn, Woody and Hailey, all the family for Easter (the young one is still a pest), George and Heather, Paul and Fi with their little people who try to catch me for a stroke. They never do - I'm a cat!!!
Tuesday 20th April
Sometimes I get a bit cold on this boat thing, so I go into "his" bed for a warm. "He" thinks I am being affectionate. Silly sod - I'm a cat!!!
Friday 30th April
Those George and Ray people came back, they seem to like this boat thing. Yesterday "they" took me to the cat doctor. "He" was holding me whilst the cat doctor stuck a big needle in, so I bit "him".
Saturday 1st May
Popped up on deck to stretch my paws only to find we are at sea again. There is thick fog but "they" seem quite excited - something about crossing the channel. We are at sea for a long time and that Ray person keeps pinching my seat on deck but when he moved I was too quick for him. I'm a cat!!!
Sunday 2nd May
We are at a place called Cherbourg and some people around here speak a funny language. The "people" went for a French meal and wine tonight and left me in peace, thank goodness!
Monday 3rd May
We are on the move again to a place called Le Havre. The sea has big waves on it and the boat thing is going up and down. The "people" think it is great. After a while, my people come below looking very sorry for themselves - they are seasick. Silly sods forgot to take their pills. I'm OK, I'm a cat!!!
Tuesday 4th May
The George and Ray people left today so I don't have to worry about my seat. "They" went off to arrange for the big tall thing to be taken down. That's all for now, I'm going for a long sleep.Harvey, Ship's Cat