Nicki Averill – illustratör

Behind a thin veneer of respectability, life in a small English village is not all it may seem. Through the eyes of Chumleigh the cat, the rural goings on are recorded in this funny and poignant diary.From a cat’s perspective, Chumleigh tells all about life in his house and the antics of his neighbours. From domestic disharmony to a cannabis farm in next door’s garden shed, he sees it all and shares it all in his diary.This is a cat who enjoys the finer elements of feline existence like tuna, sleeping in the warm and cat treats. But life doesn’t always pan out the way he would like.Supported by a rich cast of locals, as odd and individualistic as still found in many small villages, Chumleigh charts a year in his life. Traumatic visits to the vet, turf wars with the local ginger tom and a desire to eliminate a neighbour’s yappy dog are all set down with great humour and insight.If you’ve ever lived in a village or owned a cat, this will make you laugh. If you’ve never lived in a village and never owned a cat, this will be a wonderful insight into what you have been missing.The Secret Diary of Chumleigh the Cat is full of adult humour covering a year in the life of a cat who never ceases to be amazed at just what goes on around him!