Cherrywood Tails
In East Ayrshire, Scotland, Cherrywood Farm sits proudly on the summit of one of the highest points near the conservation village of Dunlop. The vista from the farm shifts with the seasons and the hour. Looking southwest down the Clyde coast towards Ireland, one can watch the surf trailing behind the Troon ferry bound for Larne, or glimpse the mauve silhouette of Ailsa Craig shimmering against the silvered Firth of Clyde. Around five each evening, the sun transforms the sea into an iridescent sheet of mercury for a fleeting few minutes as it journeys eastward. In winter, snow on the peaks of Arran evokes a miniature echo of the Canadian Rockies. And on many nights, sunsets of burning orange spill across the land like a slow, volcanic eruption.
Cherrywood is magical, adored not only by adults and children, but by the many animals who reside within its 16th-century walls.
Let us meet our cast of four-legged, furry players.
First among them is Jensen, the Tiffany cat, a masterpiece crafted by Mother Nature herself. His platinum fur, black eyeliner, and bright green eyes make him a creature of striking beauty. To this palette, add the occasional flash of a pink tongue when a pet-shop delicacy or an unfortunate field mouse presents itself. Jensen’s elegance is matched only by his arrogance; he possesses a supernatural intelligence and insists on using the human w.c. Were it not for neutering, he would undoubtedly be the Hugh Hefner of the feline world.
Millie, the tortoiseshell moggie, is an adorable little soul with a gentle disposition. Paradoxically, she transforms into a fierce huntress when pursuing anything roughly the size of a Cadbury’s Creme Egg covered in fur. At thirteen, she shows no sign of slowing down and continues to display impressive acrobatic flair. She craves human company, particularly male company, and the juice from a can of tuna.
Minky, the Maltese dog, lives in perfect harmony with her feline companions. Maltese dogs form an almost obsessive attachment to one human, and Minky is devoted, passionately, unquestioningly, to her mistress, Penny. Nirvana for this little cream-coloured fluff ball is a warm TV room, her beloved human to cuddle, and the occasional chicken treat between naps and junk television. Though she resides in the countryside, she is by no means a rural creature. Walking is an inconvenience, and her advancing years have relegated goat-chasing to the realm of fond memory.
Beyond Cherrywood’s principal animal cast, a large supporting ensemble of furries, birds, bats, and insectivorous beings contribute to the ongoing soap opera. The lady of the house once made the mistake of befriending a single ant, a miraculously clever creature, who promptly abused the hospitality by inviting 400 of his closest friends to gatecrash. The inevitable falling-out followed, and the hole in the living-room corner was swiftly dusted with repellent powder and plugged.
Bats, visiting canine chums of all sizes, sheep, goats, horses, and frogs have all played their part in Cherrywood’s unfolding drama. Only three participants have ever abused the famous hospitality: a goat who ate the garden plants, a squirrel who chewed through the lawn-mower petrol tank, and a Sheriff Officer pursuing a debt.
One thing is certain: if the furred and four-legged were offered a choice of billet, Cherrywood would be their preferred destination.
