She lives alone but for her cat. so if she has to go away, for work or pleasure, the cat has to go into a cattery.

I have said to her that it matters not one jot what I or anyone else thinks about cats, the simple fact is that the cat HAS to go into a cattery, and, unlike a child, which can be farmed out to another child’s parents in an emergency, only said colleague can be her cat’s carer.

It would be bizarre if you and she were the only pet owners in the county, but it has come to my attention that you’re not.

The other one that several of my colleagues use is ‘working at home/will be in late’ because the car has to go for a service.