The wandering Teddy, missing for four weeks, has been found alive and slightly worn out by untold adventures by a very kind young man called James, who lives with his father in Hervey Park Road.
We got in touch with each other in an interesting manner, which goes to show that the word 'community' still means something round here. After my morning treck on the off-chance of finding my missing cat and to see what Colinson & Co weren't up to in Forest Road I took a detour to look at the clubhouse of the London Anglers' Association. This led my eyes to alight on a poster on a lamppost detailing how an intrepid little fellow had been seen in the area scrounging dinners and telling everyone what a waif and stray he was.
Not quite the 'wanted' poster he'd always dreamt of, Teddy was described as a bit of a desperado, "a pale ginger tom cat with a damaged tail... he has been seen visiting our gardens in Hervey Park Road for several days and looks lost and in distress and is very vocal". Very greedy more like, but when I finally picked him up he was a bit ribby and he certainly smelled like a furry little beast. He'd also had some sort of an abcess on one of his cheeks but this was showing signs of recovery.
Having spoken on the phone to the kindly Helen who had so thoughtfully put the notice up and returned to Hervey Park Road in the afternoon, I met the keen-eyed James, who had been looking after Teddy on and off for some days and providing him with free tucker and some t.l.c. Teddy was out on one of his rambles when I first called round, but I returned after a fish and chip supper from Bonner's with my posse to stake out the surrounding streets. Some local builders who had seen Teddy that evening confirmed that it was almost certainly Teddy we were after.
As the beautiful evening was drawing to its close and a huge moon was appearing in the western sky, James phoned me up on my mobile with the news that Teddy was moving in for some chow in their back garden and that I should get round to his place right away. By the time I got there, Dad had a few claw marks in his forearms, but the situation was well under control. A very humble and shaken looking wanderer was firmly in hand, and I was able to take him home, cradled in my arms, to yet another dinner. A good team effort, and one which would not have been possible without the very kind and public spirited people in Hervey Park Road.