The topic of this Editor’s Diary is working with animals. Or cats, to be more precise, in my case. And the pitfalls that can ensue!
You would think I would be used to this after nearly two years of working from home. It is not as if my two playful puss-cats don’t have form!
I have written before about the time Matilda managed to send a garbled message to Features Ed Alex. And her many appearances at virtual team meetings.
This time it was fluffy ginger Zorro who was up to mischief.
He tends to stay away for most of the working day, content to snooze beside an upstairs radiator. But the recent colder weather has put a temptation in his way. He loves the soft fleecy blanket I’ve been draping over my knees while I work to keep draughts at bay.
Matilda does, too, and frequently curls up on my lap on top of it while I work.
Zorro, however, is a bit bigger and was unsure if he could fit between me and the edge of the kitchen table. But since he summoned up the courage to try and found he could, there has been no stopping him.
Only trouble is, he likes to snuggle into my right arm (see picture!) It’s very cute and lovely, but I’m right-handed . . .
Typing with one hand is not the easiest way to work. Although Fiction Team Alan was amused to hear why my message about a recent story was rather oddly put together!
Locked out!
And then, earlier this week, Zorro surpassed himself. My fault, of course. I left the coveted blanket near my keyboard when I went for my lunchtime walk and returned to discover I’d been locked out of my computer completely.
You know that kneading thing cats do with their paws on a soft and snuggly blanket? Well, somehow he’d managed to make multiple attempts to log in as me with the wrong password.
Our long-suffering IT department have, of course, heard it all before. I was soon up and running again – and the keyboard is now unplugged before I leave the computer unattended!
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Angela Gilchrist I am the former Editor-in-Chief of “The People’s Friend” magazine. My passions include cats, Highland ponies, good books, vegetarian food and long walks in the Scottish countryside. My favourite place to get away from it all is the magical Isle of Skye.
