A fond farewell

Len and Sid used to have pride of place in my living room back in Lincolnshire, and kept me company when my cats came down to Devon and when the girls both left home. They were brothers and always got on famously with each other, with only one or two minor brotherly spats when they were young.

It is sad to report that today, Len passed away. I shall miss him. The song I used to sing to him when I went into the rodent room seems even more apt now:

Oh Lenny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling

From glen to glen, and down the mountain side

The summer's gone, and all the flowers are dying'

Tis you, 'tis you must go and I must bide.

My other ‘Rat Boy Slim’ is looking fine, and I hope Sid will be OK on his own – he and Len did seem to have a touching relationship. Last week, when Len actually seemed to be picking up, I actually watched as Sid pushed some grapes to him as if to say ‘come on chuck, eat up’.

I think I shall make Sid one of my special rat sandwiches tonight in memory of his brother.

Goodbye dear Len, have a great ratty time wherever you are.