Sean, I know absolutely nothing about the US situation with assistance of that kind (if you were in the UK I'd have all kinds of ideas), but I hope you get good advice and the food you need. I know too many people going without food in this recession - it's appalling.

Thought those of you who were so helpful with Merlin (the cat living behind the sofa) would want to know that he finally came out, but went straight outside via the cat door and hasn't come back. (We know we were stupid to leave it unlocked - I'm very mad at myself.) We've been putting food outside for the last three evenings - it disappeared the last two nights, but it's hard to know who's eating it. I'm sad and hope he comes back, but he wasn't microchipped and we literally hadn't been able to get near enough to put a collar on him. I feel like a very bad person right about now. We did try, at least.

I wonder if he's trying to go back to his old place.

We wondered that too, but I don't think there's anyone there now anyway. He has been here six weeks. And he was always an outdoor cat, so if he's decided to hang around, it would make sense that we wouldn't see him at first. Just going to have to wait and see, I guess.

Seska, I'm sorry. I hope Merlin comes back soon.

Oh Seska. How disappointing.

My hands still aren't completely back to normal. A little better than yesterday.

Oh, dear, Merlin. Be okay, grumpy little cat, and go back to your new home.

P-C, what position do you tend to sleep? Here are some stretches to try - [link] Set a timer and step away every 1/2 hr or so to do these stretches. You can get stretch software which combines a timer with stretches.

And oh, Merlin. Silly boy, come back to the nice humans with the noms for you.

We are setting up a sting operation with the food and the watching from the window tonight! At least we might be able to work out if he's coming back to eat.