Here’s something else that didn’t make it into my book:

In Memory of Mab

I have described in my book, Village Witch how Mab came into my life and the important part she played in it.  However, she has since sadly died and life is definitely not the same without her.  This is what happened…

Mab was in her 13^th year, so was a Grand Old Lady in cat years.  One day in the Spring of 2004 she presented with flu’ type symptoms and a few lumps on her back.  Then I noticed that her pupils were unequal and off to the vets we went.  I came back knowing that Mab’s days were numbered as she had incurable bone cancer.  Her demise was rapid as she became blind, and I cancelled all commitments so I could care for her 24/7.  Those 3 weeks of quality time with Mab are very precious to me, and also very moving as she followed the sound of my voice at all times.  She also took to sleeping with me under the quilt curled up against my tummy – something that was unheard of before.

Then the day I was dreading came.  Mab went very quiet and withdrawn and flinched when touched – Mab was in pain.  I had promised that once this point was reached that I would release her from pain and suffering, and so I made the phone call to the vets.  I specifically asked for a home visit, and fortunately for me, a close friend was with me at the time.  On arrival the vet confirmed that Mab was indeed now suffering and prepared the lethal injection.  I held Mab close as the anaesthetic was given – she was so weak that she could hardly hold her head up.  I was expecting her to just slip quietly away, but that was not to be…

To mine, and everybody else’s horror, she had a bad reaction to the drug and began to fight like a hellcat.  It took all my physical and emotional strength to hold on to Mab.  Five injections later, she eventually succumbed and died in my arms.
Other friends arrived and helped me to ‘lay her out’ on the hearth where she stayed overnight.  Many came to pay their respects, and not all of them human – the cat flap was banging most of the night.

The next day was spent over at Penwith Pet Cemetery where Mab was taken to be cremated.  Her ashes are now in a beautiful casket in a place of honour in my cottage.  When I die Mab will be buried with me.

The next few days were an agony for me.  I felt awful because she fought for life so much.  Then, quite by chance, one of my friends came out with a quote from Dylan Thomas that made everything fall into place:

Do not go gentle into that goodnight

Rage!  Rage against the dying of the light.

This encapsulated Mab’s experience so well.  Mab was such a drama queen; there is no way she would depart quietly.  She was going to have a memorable exit!

Another friend sent me a piece of writing that helped tremendously and I include it here so that it may help others who have had similar experiences:

Pet Epitaph

If it should be that I grow weak,

And pain should keep me from my sleep,

Then you must do what must be done,

For this last battle can’t be won.

 

You will be sad – I understand,

Don’t let grief then stay your hand,

For this day more than all the rest,

Your love for me must stand the test.

 

We’ve had so many happy years,

What is to come can hold no fears,

You’d not want me to suffer so,

The time has come, please let me go.

 

Take me where my needs they’ll tend,

And please stay with me till the end,

Hold me firm and speak to me,

Until my eyes no longer see.

 

I know in time that you will see,

The kindness that you do for me,

Although my tail it’s last has waved,

From pain and suffering I’ve been saved.

 

Please do not grieve it must be so,

Who has this painful thing to do,

We’ve been so close we two these years,

Don’t let your heart hold back the tears.

 

Three weeks ago a Facebook group was set up about my book, Village Witch for anyone who’s interested in the stories behind the story so to speak.  Here’s the description and link:

‘This group is for discussion about the book Village Witch, the life and work of Wisewomen. Feel free to ask any questions relating to the book and Village Witchcraft, Folk Magic and work within a village Community.
The emphasis will be on down to earth practical application of Cunning Craft.’

https://www.facebook.com/groups/137514883114996/

It’s been going well and we now have 70 members.  I haven’t been quite sure of what the members would enjoy but certainly for me, some of the comments have triggered off quite a few memories of events and anecdotes that failed to make it to the book – so I’ll talk about a few here and on the group.  🙂

So…about the curious cat.  I need to give a bit of background first.  Back in the late nineties I was approached by a woman called Carolynn Townsend who ran a group described as: ‘Nature’s Way is a monthly series of talks and events to stimulate the mind, body and spirit.’  It was my pleasure to give talks for this organisation three times whilst it was based in Buckinghamshire.  Carolynn and her husband Edward were very warm hosts during my visits and I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed myself at these functions.  Sometimes though I must have appeared a bit like a country bumpkin to some folks I met because there was a great difference in lifestyle/income; but I was never aware of any condescending attitudes from them, just an avid interest in old country ways.

In 2003 Carolynn & Edward relocated to a small but very lively old village in Somerset called Roadwater and she started Nature’s Way again.  In 2004 she contacted me again for another talk that October in the village hall…

I was walking around outside watching folks arrive, some of them standing around chatting before they took their places for the talk.  Out of the night appeared a beautiful grey cat who approached various people in a friendly way and got lots of attention as a result.  I could hear folks asking each other whose cat it was as it hadn’t been seen before – this became the subject of some discussion as they all seemed to know everyone and their cat in the community.  Soon it was time to start my talk and I waited at the back of the hall to be introduced.

Once in front of my audience I realised that unbeknownst to me, the grey cat had entered the hall and was sitting alert on a chair in the front row!  Apparently no-one had the heart to remove the cat and it appeared to be well-behaved, so there it stayed.  It watched me walk up and down the space delivering my talk and then came up to me,  pawed my leg and meowed.  I responded by saying that Question Time was after the break and that it should sit quietly until then.  Much to the merriment of the audience, it did just that.  During the interval it curled up on its seat until we restarted when it sat up again constantly watching me as I answered queries from the floor.  During this time when my attention was elsewhere it must have left the building as I never saw it go.   It  disappeared into the night just as mysteriously as it had appeared, and to my knowledge has never been seen again.

It was an extraordinary experience and very poignant for me as I had lost my beloved familiar, Mab just 6 months previously who was also a highly intelligent and crafty, grey cat…now I wonder what that cat was all about?

In a moving footnote I learnt that Carolynn sadly died four years later and the village still continue with Nature’s Way in her memory.

R.I.P. Carolynn – you had a very kind heart and I raise my glass to you.  I hope you are having a jolly good time in the Afterlife/Summerlands!