Sid is still lame. I took her to see her friend the vet last week, who was disappointed to see she is still limping intermittently. It now seems she will need an operation followed by two weeks cage rest.

I explained we were all going on our holidays shortly, so immediate hospitalisation would be impossible. The vet opined that a delay would not matter - it would give us time to complete the course of medicine and give it every chance of working and the operation can wait until we return in August.

Sid has not yet been told this. But then, she doesn't know she is going on holiday either. So she is hopping about fairly happily, luckily not too concerned about going outside while this rain persists.

Meanwhile, I'm counting down the days - 2 days to hair rejuvenation; 3 days to deposition of vacationing cat; 4 days to collection of Aged Parents; 6 days to return of errant husband; 7 days to cessation of work; 8 days to departure to USA and reunion with errant son &co!!!