Some of you may remember that last spring, Frank was frightened by a little
girl in our yard, and he didn't want to go outside after that. This spring,
I've gradually convinced him again that it's safe to go outside. In the
beginning, I put the harness on him and opened the door, and he would look
out in the hallway. If he heard the slightest sound from out there, he would
dart back inside, especially if he heard the voices of children. Gradually,
he grew braver and took a few steps out in the hallway. Than I started
carrying him to the lift, we went downstairs and I carried him outside. He
would sniff the air for a while, but again, if there were children in the
yard, he would dart back to the door and want IN NOW!.

Well, he grew bolder and bolder, and when we got to the point that we could
walk once around the yard, he was looking like he quite enjoyed himself.
Lately, he has even ventured outside the yard. There's a little copse beside
our house, where both Frank and Nikki like to go exploring, and then there's
a larger wooded area a bit further on. Several times, Frank has wanted to
take a walk in the woods, but I won't go for such long walks with him,
because my legs are in pretty bad shape, and I suspect that he would get
tired and then I would have to carry him home.

I like our walks, Frank is nicer to walk with, because he actually walks,
while Nikki often stops and settles down to survey the surroundings. Frank
is almost like a d*g, as he walks by my side most of the time.

The problem here is, he wants out ALL the time. First thing in the morning
when I get up, Frank goes to the door and starts YOWLING. Yowl yowl YOWL!
When I leave for work, he tries to sneak out the door, when I get home he
tries to do the same, and then he settles in front of the door again and
yowl yowl YOWL! If I'd have known he would be like this, maybe I wouldn't
have taught him that there is nothing scary outside. ;o) I wish I could take
the cats to the island now, but we'll have to wait six more weeks.