08/08/2026
There are two tabby cats who have actually altered the course of my life. 😻
Poppy, delighter of my heart and menace to all indie bands, brought me across the sea to Twyford to look after her while her humans (the wonderful Oliver Gray & Birgit Gray) holidayed in their camper van in Europe. I spent four memorable springs in the most perfect of English villages, culminating in the making of my The JUNO Awards nominated record By Appointment or Chance with Tali Trow Tara Minton & Joseph Phillips and more importantly, the winning of the village pub quiz. 😻
Poppy passed away in December of last year but I bet there are a few touring band members that still bear her scratch scars. She never swiped me and remembered me even when she was quite frail when I visited her last summer. 💔
When I purchased my first house 5 years ago, the woman I bought it from called me to ask if I’d take the cat because she kept returning after being rehomed. After being on the road for 20 years and always wanting a cat, I said yes. Enter ZsaZsa. Truly, I bought her house and I’ve been her butler ever since. The most cat-ish of all cats, she is my tormenter, my queen and has my full heart. Living with her is like cohabiting with a teenage girl. I’m always hoping I’m cool enough, crumple when she delivers her withering kitty looks, and when she chooses to give me a cuddle, I am in heaven. 😻
When I asked the fabulous Kate Domina to paint a portrait for my album, I wanted to capture Poppy in it, but little did I know the painting would manifest another tabby for me.
Thank you dear Poppy and ZsaZsa for changing my life. 😻
🐱