Salem

Last year, at the behest of the insurers, the communal land we share around the lake and the river sprouted a forest of brightly coloured health and safety signs planted in positions that have ruined many a good photograph.

One stands out. It says "Beware of the Bog" Said bog measures 2ft by 1oft and is behind five foot high spiked metal railings - and oh gosh, is that a high speed railway line just behind it and much more likely to kill you?

Anyway how hard can it be to get a slightly amusing picture of a bemused looking dog staring up at a sign saying "Beware of the bog", especially when one of your dogs has a constantly bemused expression?

Well draw your own conclusion from the fact that this is today's blip instead. This is Salem our black cat, and the subject of my recent experiments to reproduce those grainy pictures in the press of mystery "Big British Cats" roaming the countryside. So far those experiments have been ruined by either a) Having something obvious that makes it easy to judge his size in the frame b) Simba the tabby insisting on being in the same photo c) Salem rolling on his back for a tummy rub in a way no self respecting big cat would.

This was actually a tough choice. I only managed a quick walk at lunch time and although the light wasn't obviously promising I got a handful of good shots. But then as I was rushing to hit a deadline I looked down and there was Salem lying at my feet where the dogs normally lie. It is so unusual to see him there that I just had to grab a photo.