Guilty!

Well, it just goes to show. Criminologists are correct in asserting that the guilty party will revisit the scene, yet protest his (or in this case, her) innocence.

It has become increasingly clear who was responsible for the break out and wanton destruction of the living room...

To our surprise, it wasn't Dijon. He is far too dim. Being a boy, he would normally be governed by his testicles, but since they were completely removed he has had neither brains nor balls to guide him.

Mabel, however, has brains. She also has strength, persistence, and insight.

Since the Great Escape, Mabel has shown a persistent tendency to pull at the bars of the barrier we have in place around the living room. If we return it to its original location, she'll tug it again, moving it quite some distance.

This week she has shown great insight. It is clear she can form quite a complex 3D map of the living room, and can figure out alternative routes to her destination, despite never having travelled these paths before.

The area of mass destruction was by the telephone table which is between a wall and the sofa. Unable to gain access to the cables thanks to the barrier, Mabel has worked out that it is possible to gain access by leaping onto the back of the sofa, hopping along to the arm, then clambering from the arm onto the telephone table. Cable heaven lies just a couple of hops aways from there.

She is determined to get there; even my presence on the sofa doesn't stop her attempts. If I'm in the way, she just hops onto my shoulder, across my chest, and from there to the arm of the sofa.

Nothing stops her.

I smell trouble ahead.