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Debbie Leigh: Cats entertainment
AS a cat lover I found it impossible to resist a magazine promising an article on "the incredible link between pets and happiness".
It was a subject I had already been waxing lyrical over after a fit of giggles watching our cats acting the goat, so I figured I would be nodding my head in cheerful agreement while reading.
However, not only did it barely mention cats – it was all dog this, dog that – it was really rather sobering stuff about depression, far from the fluff-fest I had been hoping for.
So I decided to pen my own ode to pets, particularly moggies, in a bid to offer a more balanced, and cheerful, world view.
There are dozens of practical articles about how having a pet provides loners and oldies with a precious companion, gives others a sense of purpose and responsibility, and in the case of pooches, motivates owners to get moving.
But never mind all this serious analysis, how about the fact that owning a pet means you're guaranteed a right, royal belly laugh every day – at least.
However dire your job, wardrobe, hair or finances, your resident fluff-ball can always make you feel as sunny and sing-along happy as Giselle in Disney's Enchanted.
Our two are particularly adept at "helping" me change the bedding and like most kits, they also like to give their seal of approval to all reading material, always picking the page you're on to stretch out and fall asleep on.
And Yog is unable to resist getting inside anything with an inch of space, whether it's a chest of drawers, cardboard box, envelope, or suitcase.
With a pet or two, not a day goes by without getting that warm, fuzzy feeling of overwhelming love – the way Carrie Bradshaw must feel each time she steps into that heaven-sent closet.
You can't beat their sweet little sandpaper kisses, affectionate headbutt nuzzle or that padding thing they do with their paws, in the hope of producing milk.
They don't even have to do much to raise a smile, it can be as simple as looking up from a thorough fur-cleaning session with their tongue sticking out, or trying to look aloof with a piece of fluff stuck to their nose, right through to performing a full-on forward roll in pursuit of a toy.
As you can see from these photos (be thankful I've spared you the other 696) they're the best natural high anyone (except people with cat allergies) could wish for.
If you want to be happy, never mind about exercise, chocolate, booze and partying, I'm convinced nothing can make you happier than a kitty cat.
My culinary secret's rumbled
ANYONE who has read this column before is probably aware I'm not the next Nigella.
Still, after almost three years of marriage to a supercook I'm definitely improving.
I have cooked dinner at least once a month this year and have received a "very good" from Masterchef himself at least twice.
The other night I whipped up a salad for us both – I'm talking an "everything but the kitchen sink" kind of salad, not just a few limp lettuce leaves and raw onion – like they serve in low-end restaurants.
And to give you some idea of just how poor a cook I really have been, Mr N was visibly impressed by the fact I had managed to hard-boil an egg for said salad.
While for a few minutes I happily basked in the glow of rare praise in the kitchen, I soon came down to earth with a bump when I realised this was surely the most basic culinary test – and my husband was clearly amazed that I had managed it.
To make matters worse, when he borrowed my phone later that night he saw that I had actually had to Google Delia's instructions on how to boil an egg in order to succeed in my task.
Back in the Twilight zone
SO, unable to wait for the free, downloadable version out on Sunday, I rushed out to get a copy of Stephenie Meyer's latest Twilight treat at the weekend.
The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner came out on Saturday and I devoured the whole thing as hungrily as a vampire draining a human of blood.
Admittedly it is only 178 pages of large print and it isn't exactly a piece of literary genius.
Ok, if I'm honest, it's far from it.
But with the promise of a different perspective on the events at the end of third book Eclipse, plus further insight into the story we Twihards have fallen head over heels in love with, it was impossible to resist.
I'm not sure I know much more than I did before but who cares…I'm now back in the Twilight zone and counting down the minutes to the Eclipse film, out next month.
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Weather for Leeds
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 9 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
