After my experience with the parcel sent via Aberdeen last week, I wasn't at all surprised when the man from Tesco Direct 'phoned at 9.15 this evening to say that he and our shopping were waiting outside... a house in Keswick. Some mix up straight out of One Foot in the Grave had resulted in our online shopping being dispatched to an amalgamation of my flatmate's old and new addresses; whilst the road name was (by fluke) correct, the destination was actually some 291 food-miles further north than was ideal. Slightly less than Direct, then.

The Reading end of the conversation was a delight to hear:

"No - that's not my address. You should be in Reading... near London... Yes - in the South!... I realise that, but could it be sent from another depot?"

Unsurprisingly, it couldn't, which meant a late night visit to the supermarket for poor Bryony, waiting on me hand and foot as I battle with a nasty dose of flu. But for all at the southern end of our transaction, there was to be a little silver lining...

Late night shopping brings unexpected bargains, like this one:

For just £1, here's a whole feline toy box full of goodies to keep your cat amused. A cuddly fish on an elasticated string, which dives tantalisingly into padding range and then quickly springs back again; and a little toy mouse which looks (and squeaks) for all the world like it might make a tempting dash for freedom at any second. Ideal reward for young Basil, who's really coming out of himself these days, and occasionally now dares to join us in the living room. As the bag says, cats love catnips...

... except Basil, it seems:

Being scared of unfamiliar human beings we can fully understand, and try as we may to persuade ourselves that he ought to be used to his latest owners by now, we forgive him for the odd moment of cowering as we enter the room. But as for being this petrified of a tiny pretend mouse, I don't think so.

Having taken refuge under the coffee table the minute his new toy was unveiled, Basil had greatly underestimated the tenacity of the 'mouse' when in the hands of his new owners. Little by little, 'mouse' was moved closer until he too was sharing the shelter of the table. Eye to eye, there was to be a stand-off.

Minutes passed, and only when we both grew bored of watching did a little white paw reach out and roll the mouse over, perhaps in curiosity as to why it had remained so still, but probably only because Basil wanted to get it sorted before he was forced to cope with a menacing white fish which was now bouncing onto the horizon...

The mouse will be useful as we try to reacquaint Basil with the outside world. Bizarrely, his days as a street cat have left him nervous of outdoor life (not that he's King of the indoor party, as we've seen). We're having to tread very carefully. Most days we take him to the front door and show him a little sunlight, but he rarely wants to know. One of these days he'll show an interest, and knowing him, he'll decide it's what he's wanted all along. Doubtless we'll be getting another call from Keswick that night...