Ronemeda, Toby and me

Oh the news! Where to start, where to start?

First: I moved! To Ascot Vale, a rambling old house on a hill overlooking the valley formed by the optimistically-named Moonee Ponds Creek (‘drain’ would be more appropriate), the other side of which is Brunswick. I feel I have moved to the country, a quiet, green, tree-filled area, a house with strange cupboards, many doorbells (including one, randomly, on the bath), an overabundance of hooks and a rock band sometimes in the basement. It also has a sewing room which I am converting into a studio. It is small but light-filled and once day I will produce some masterwork or another in there. Or just attempt to paint David Bowie a la Man Who Fell to Earth and sigh about not having a live model. All these things are great but the two (or is it three?) best things are my excellent new housemates who are so easy going and relaxed that there was none of the customary ‘adjusting period’ of new share-houses/new housemates. The other best thing is ….

Toby! My new, four-legged, furry, purry baby. Who is currently asleep in my lap. Finally, after an eternity of four years (yes, sometimes eternity doesn’t last forever) of not having a cat to call my own, I now have one. Mr Tobias Took Johnson – the explanation for his continual hunger being that he’s part hobbit, part tabby. He has little white socks and over-sized ears and is one day going to grow up to be a librarian (according to Rachel – it’s the white socks) or a star soccer player for Manchester United or Real Madrid (you should see him with that little ball with the bell in it). He’s also a climber. And he is developing quite a fan-club, which we (me and him) are thinking about charging, per pat, extra if he purrs. Should I stop doting now? Just a little bit more… He’s very gorgeous and has made the family cats, Diesel and Morris, look like ginormous lions.

Oh yes, also: this: the house is - hilariously - called Ronemeda. I like to think Hermione built it for her beloved. And Draco and Harry have set up shop down the road in Travancore.