Friday 6th January 2012 – The microwaving of Bagpuss

Aristotle has had to go through the same painful experience that I did several years ago. Of course I’ve had it all explained now, but I didn’t understand back then. He had to witness

Bagpuss being cooked in the microwave. He was beside himself. Now, I know that Bagpuss is just a cat, but both Aristotle and I are very sensitive dogs and care about our fellow creatures. When Bagpuss had come out of the microwave I found Aristotle trying to see if he was all right. It was at that point I took him on one side and tried to explain to him that Bagpuss wasn’t real. I could see the confusion in the little chap’s eyes. “Bagpuss,” I said “is like Mr Happy or your blue toy cow,” (both of which now lie shredded on the office floor, so not exactly like them or my Mistress would kill us!) “Bagpuss is just a soft toy. He is designed to go in the microwave. It won’t fry his brains because he hasn’t got any.” I paused at that point and thought I ought to add a line or two on behalf of the local cats. “Now I know being brainless doesn’t differentiate him from other cats. But being a

soft toy does. He’s safe in the microwave, other cats would not be!” I think he’d understood the distinction, but I will be keeping an eye open for the tabby who comes into our garden just in case. In my day, it was a bear that Granny sent my Mistress that used to be microwaved. We’ve still got him upstairs. Bagpuss was a Christmas present from my human aunt to my Mistress and if you ever saw the programme he was in, I have to say he’s rather good, although being a cat I do have an irresistible urge to chase him.

Alfie Dog with a little help from Rosemary J Kind alfie@alfiedog.me.uk

Alfie’s Diary – the Book is available at Amazon UK –https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B005NRFS2K