We have had some long, complicated, muddy, difficult and thoroughly horrid drainage problems recently. It turns out that you just don't appreciate your septic tank or sewage system until it point blank doesn't work anymore. Ughhh is all I'm saying on that one. Because these things are like busses and like to travel in groups we then had a problem with our water supply. Lets just say that it's been an interesting six weeks involving 2 mini-diggers (the tracks on those things come off really easily), 34 tonnes of 3 inch washed gravel (makes a pile 10 feet wide, 10 feet high and the length of the house) and the sad demise of 10 feet of fencing and one gate (unfortunately we didn't originally spec them to survive 34 tonnes of gravel being dropped on them).
You're probably wondering how this fits into the shocking news that Cheesecake ran away, aren't you? Because we're minus one gate the dogs have to be accompanied on every toilet break in case they decide to go play fetch with the neighbours swing bins (it's happened) or to hide in plain sight amongst a herd of cattle (a black and while Dane looks just like a calf from a distance y'know) or to generally cause mayhem (they're very good at that). The front door doesn't always shut properly behind me but the cats are good, they know not to try to escape. Except Cheesecake and he's been dying to see what's beyond that door for weeks now.
Tonight he managed it. The door was obviously slightly ajar, with just enough room for a daring cat to sneak out. Thankfully I was standing just outside and spotted the jet black streak of determined cat pass me at about 30mph. I legged it back inside, grabed a torch and OH (ever tried to find a black cat on your own in the dark? I wouldn't recommend it) and we rushed back outside.
Turns out there was no need. It's cold out there dontchaknow. And daaaark. And wet. And there might be monsters in the rose bushes. Monsters! I haven't seen a cat flee back in the front door at that speed since the time Homer tried to escape into 6 inches of snow (ever seen a cat twist midair when they realise that the ground is cold and wet? It's absolutely hilarious!) and Homer is a far hardier cat than Cheesecake. Poor Cheesecake, he's currently stretched out on the bed as far away from nature as he can get :-)
