Джеймс Боуэн - A Street Cat Named Bob

My trip to Australia hadn’t made up for the difficulties of the past, but it had brought me and my mother back together again. The wounds were being healed. I had the feeling we were going to become close again. My battle with drugs was finally drawing to a close, or at least, I hoped it was. The amount of Subutex I had to take was diminishing steadily. The day when I wouldn’t have to take it all was looming into view on the horizon. I could finally see an end to my addiction. There had been times when I’d never imagined that was possible.

Most of all, I’d finally laid down some roots. It might not have seemed much to most people, but my little flat in Tottenham had given me the kind of security and stability that I’d always secretly craved. I’d never lived for so long in the same place: I’d been there more than four years and would remain there even longer. There was no doubt in my mind that would not have happened if it hadn’t been for Bob.

I was raised as a churchgoer but I wasn’t a practising Christian. I wasn’t an agnostic or atheist either. My view is that we should all take a bit from every religion and philosophy. I’m not a Buddhist but I like Buddhist philosophies, in particular. They give you a very good structure that you can build your life around. For instance, I definitely believe in karma, the idea that what goes around, comes around. I wondered whether Bob was my reward for having done something good, somewhere in my troubled life.

I also wondered sometimes whether Bob and I had known each other in a previous life. The way we bonded together, the instant connection that we made, that was very unusual. Someone said to me once that we were the reincarnation of Dick Whittington and his cat. Except the roles had been reversed this time around, Dick Whittington had come back as Bob - and I was his companion. I didn’t have a problem with that. I was happy to think of him in that way. Bob is my best mate and the one who has guided me towards a different - and a better - way of life. He doesn’t demand anything complicated or unrealistic in return. He just needs me to take care of him. And that’s what I do.

I knew the road ahead wouldn’t be smooth. We were sure to face our problems here and there – I was still working on the streets of London, after all. It was never going to be easy. But as long as we were together, I had a feeling it was going to be fine.

Everybody needs a break, everybody deserves that second chance. Bob and I had taken ours . . .

Writing this book has been an amazing collaborative experience, one in which so many people have played their part.

First and foremost I’d like to thank my family, and my mum and dad in particular, for giving me the sheer bloody-minded determination that has kept me going through some dark times in my life. I’d also like to thank my godparents, Terry and Merilyn Winters, for being such great friends to me.

On the streets of London, so many people have shown kindness to me over the years, but I’d like to single out Sam, Tom, Lee and Rita, the Big Issue co-ordinators who have been so generous to me. I’d also like to thank outreach workers Kevin and Chris for their compassion and understanding. Thanks also the Blue Cross and RSPCA for their valuable advice and Davika, Leanne and the rest of the staff at Angel tube station who have been so supportive of me and Bob.

I’d also like to thank Food For Thought and Pix in Neal Street who have always offered me and Bob a warm cup of tea and a saucer of milk, as well as Daryl at Diamond Jacks in Soho and Paul and Den the cobblers who have always been my good friends. I’d like also to mention Pete Watkins at Corrupt Drive Records, DJ Cavey Nik at Mosaic Homes and Ron Richardson.

This book would never have happened if it hadn’t been for my agent Mary Pachnos. It was she who first approached me with the idea. It sounded pretty crazy at the time, and I’d never have been able to get it all down and turned into a coherent story without the help of her and the writer Garry Jenkins. So a heart-felt thanks to both Mary and Garry. At my publishers, Hodder & Stoughton, I’d like to thank Rowena Webb, Ciara Foley, Emma Knight and the rest of the brilliant team there. Thanks also to Alan and the staff at Waterstone’s in Islington who even let me and Garry work on the book in the quiet upstairs. And a big thank you to Kitty, who without her constant support we’d both be lost.

Finally I’d like to thank Scott Hartford-Davis and the Dalai Lama who have, in recent years, given me a great philosophy by which to live my life, and Leigh Ann, who is in my thoughts.

Last, and most definitely not least, of course, I have to thank the little fellow who came into my life in 2007 and who – from the moment I befriended him – has proven to be such a positive, life-changing force in my life. Everyone deserves a friend like Bob. I have been very fortunate indeed to have found one . . .

James Bowen

London, January 2012

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James and Bob at www.hodder.co.uk

and at Bob’s very own Twitter site:

@streetcatbob