Winston...

...is my best friend,
when there's ice on the window he heats and defends
my toes, from being alone, cold or restless,
lucky he's nocturnal as I would just lay defenceless...


My friend made me this for Christmas last year, what a present eh? I never used to use hot water bottles but now, I could never go back. Now I am not gay, and I definitely don't fancy badgers, but I do feel like there is genuinely a nice someone in bed with me keeping me company. Is that sad? hmm... He now has a cotton liner under his fur due to an accident last year. I tried to walk on the canal after a New Years do (with Sandy Brechin and a free bar!?!) and went straight through the ice. When I got home, freezing, I very wisely had a hot shower, and filled Winston up with freshly boiled water. I went to bed with my furry-eared friend, and nodded off. When I woke in the morning Winston's insides had melted to my foot and ankle, which in turn were covered in golf ball sized blisters. I still have a scar on my right ankle, but have forgiven Winston as I think I was to blame for most of it. Apparently this is a fast growing problem in China...