I see a strange and furious face.

Blip, meet Crackers.

Crackers is a tabby cat with a fiery temper. She is also, as it happens, the most tender and affectionate pet we've known. The glare above is a leave alone warning, on this cold, rainy day she did not wish to be disturbed, regardless of the fact that she had chosen to sleep right in everyone's way. That's our problem.

Crackers is at least thirteen. We don't know beyond that age, as she was a rescue cat from a local shelter. When I met my now wife, we each had our own pets, making a grand total of too many. Crackers is the only original pet we have left. Makes me feel kinda old. And sad. Our last original, a larger than life ginger tabby called Simmy, was her adoptive rescue "son", but he passed away in June after a short illness.

She's a cantankerous old ***** but she's one of us.