Silas Marner

Embittered by false accusation and imposters, disappointed in friendship and love, the weaver Silas Marner retreats into a long twilight life alone with his loom and his gold. Silas hoards a treasure that kills his spirit until fate steals it from him and replaces it with a golden-haired foundling child. Where she came from, who her parents were, and who really stole the gold are secrets that permeate this moving tale of guilt and innocence. A moral allegory of the redemptive power of love, it is also a finely drawn picture of nineteenth century England "in the days when spinning wheels hummed busily in the farmhouses" and of a simple way of life that was fast disappearing...... George Eliot's tale where love transforms the hardest of hearts, where love replaces bitterness. Enough said.

36 feet .......

I have woken up to find Bagheera sleeping on my bed. There must have been something like 5 or 6 cats on my bed. No wonder I have not slept properly. But Bagheera is settling in, the other cats may hiss at him, he just doesn't care. He's also wickedly intent on seeing whoever it is once the doorbell rings. I have to neuter him and fast, it's not long before the cat season comes. At least he's male, male cats do not suffer as much when neutered.

So I am doing some Maths here. I have 36 feet in the house, including mine. Not bad. So much pitter pattering going on. But I like the sound, it means nobody's sick, it means everyone is running around and happy. I'm glad I took this cat in, it's so tame and loving. Not even my other cats behaved like him at first. It took them more than a month to start trusting me. This cat already does. I keep trying to think of a reason why the moron threw him out. I find none. Maybe poor Bagheera misses his other family, but I cannot do anything except shower him with love. He'll be fine here, it's a big house, good food, and plenty of love. Tomorrow I'll just have to call the vet, maybe neutering him will stop the others hissing..... a bientot.