Invalided out

 Fred is out of circulation after being hit by a car on Friday evening and I've been absent from Blip in consequence.

The accident was witnessed by people who knew me and were able to tell me straight away. They saw him disappear into the hedge dragging his leg and we went to look for him immediately, expected to find him lying injured, if not dead - but there was no sign. I returned twice more that evening and again the next day, calling and searching in a wilderness area of swamp and briar thicket about half a mile from the house.

My younger son came up from Cardiff and late in the evening we heard an odd sound in the porch and we found Fred collapsed on the doormat, unable to make the final push through the cat flap. He was as limp as a rag doll, cold and dirty with the bone  exposed in one of his lower back legs. A friend drove us to the on-call vet and he spent the night there, medicated, re-hydrated and stitched. His leg wasn't broken and he didn't appear to have any internal injuries but he was in shock and severely traumatised. We can't imagine how he managed to drag himself home across two fields and through several hedges and fences. in such a state.

Now he's resting at home wrapped in a blanket with a  hot water bottle and today (Sunday) taking his first food and drink. He's barely able to stand or stagger: it's unlikely he'll recover full mobility. But he's been a rambler and a gambler - with his life - and maybe this close call will keep him nearer home in future.

We didn't tell Fred we'd seen a stranger already on his territory (actually in the garden!) last night. The news gets around quickly if you leave your turf unguarded.