Ah, autumn at last, season of mists and mellow playfulness. My favourite time of year.
You won’t be surprised by now to learn that, as I’m the world’s foremost feline foodie, the reason for this is primarily the food. There’s definitely something about the change in the air that helps one work up an appetite for a lovely bowl of Gourmet.
Think about it. It’s not too cold to pop out and patrol the neighbourhood, yet it’s often cool enough in the evenings that the housemate heats up the wall-mounted metal plates. This provides me with even more warm places to park myself for that all-important beauty sleep.
Then there’s that extra hour I get to snooze on the sofa every year. I’ve no idea how that works, but the housemate seems to enjoy it almost as much as I do. And after a giant sleep, there are few pleasures greater than a brisk, jaunty walk through the autumn leaves.
Sometimes, when I come back, the housemate is putting the laundry from the spinning heating machine into a basket.
This is my absolute favourite spot for a bit of post-stroll shuteye. And if the laundry’s white, I’m practically invisible.
I wish I could say the same about Alan the pigeon. As the leaves disappear, he’s a lot easier to spot, pecking away at the laden fruit trees in the garden. I do my best to keep the housemate’s harvest secure, but keeping one’s eyes open to give him the requisite “clear off!” glare can be such a chore.
Other distractions at this time of year include the welcome return of the great smell of cooking. It’s incomprehensible to a born hunter such as myself, but whenever the weather’s hot, the housemate seems to subsist on a diet of leaves and berries.
Come October, though, she puts on an extra layer of clothes and returns to the kitchen.
There appears to be nothing she can’t slam into a pot and leave to simmer for five hours. Lamb, beef, chicken – you name it, I’ve smelt it. You know, I even quite like the smell of vegetables at this time of year – all soil and crunchy freshness.
These are aromas I detect in my regular meals of Gourmet Perle, too. There’s an amazing variety pack containing turkey, trout, duck and game flavours, which are all somehow in keeping with the new season.
Did I mention that this was my favourite time of year? Excuse me, must eat.
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