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Donkey Work
You would have thought that having two curious Siamese cats and a tortoise with wanderlust was enough. Not so for Doreen and her husband Charles, who decide to take on a baby donkey to keep the nettles under control in the orchard. When Annabel clip-clops into their lives they realize that, from the ear-splitting nocturnal howling to the numerous escape attempts, living with a donkey won't be plain sailing. Annabel eats everything apart from the nettles, but eventually becomes a much-loved family member and particularly close to Solomon, the Siamese cat, who sleeps in her bed. Further dramas ensue when Henry, the jennet, is introduced as a companion to Annabel and love blossoms.
138 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1962
46 people are currently reading
85 people want to read
About the author
Doreen Tovey
21 books33 followersDoreen was born in Bristol on 24 October 1918. At this time a flu epidemic was raging and her mother died from this leaving her two week old daughter to be brought up by her Grandmother, as her father, being an engineer, was away from home for long periods of time.
It was this upbringing that introduced Doreen to a variety of pets, as Grandmother was an inveterate rescuer of anything in need.
Together with her Aunt Louisa they shared a house with cats, dogs and an owl called Gladstone whose perch on the bathroom door dictated that the use of this room was a swift one as no heat could be kept inside with the continually open door.
Doreen went to Grammar School and passed her matric (as it was called then), she would have loved to go to university but knew her grandmother could never have afforded it.
After a couple of boring jobs she joined Imperial Tobacco and was with them for many years. Starting as a typist, then a secretary and, when they discovered that she could write, in their public relations department.
It was here that she met Rene, who was in the Accountants Department. They met on the staircase one day and six months later Rene went to war in the Royal Navy.
Rene came home on leave and they were married in Bristol by special licence on a Monday afternoon and spent a two-day honeymoon on a farm and Rene went back to war.
She spent most of the time Rene was away with her Aunt Louisa who made life quite fun for Doreen after the austerity of her Victorian grandmother, who loved her dearly but had set ideas how a young lady should be brought up.
Two and a half years later Rene was on his way home. His convoy coming via the Cape to avoid the still roaming enemy submarines, the war was still on and he was sent to London where Doreen was transferred to be with him. He was then posted to a shore station in the West Country and Doreen and Rene set about to find their dream cottage. They rented a very dilapidated ex public house with an earth closet, the dream cottage put on hold, both back working in Bristol for their old firm, Doreen now as their statistical librarian, writing reports that were read by the Board. A job normally only considered for a man.
After a couple of further moves, a Georgian relic and a happy period in a farm, they found the perfect place at Rowberrow, Somerset. They had also found a baby squirrel, which had fallen from its drey and Rene refused to climb the thirty feet necessary to return the little bedraggled mite to its nest. So Blondin became part of the Tovey family and unwittingly the reason Doreen and Rene got their first Siamese cat, Sugieh.
Blondin was a hoarder and the cottage soon became infested with mice looking for Blondin’s nuts and pieces of bread that he had stuffed under cushions and carpets for his rainy day. Whilst the mice had plenty to eat they did not cause too many problems but when Blondin caught a chill and died, their supply died too and they took to eating anything and everything. Doreen decided to get a cat and having seen a neighbour’s Siamese out for a stroll one day on a rather fetching collar and lead, decided that a Siamese would be the answer, she could also have a litter and maybe raise the Tovey finances.
Sugieh produced a litter of four kittens. Doreen decided that one’s fortune was not going to be made that way and when Sugeih died whilst being spayed (a far less straightforward procedure in the mid 1950s than it is today), decided to keep a sealpointed boy called Solomon and his bluepointed sister Sheba.
The antics of these kittens, a donkey called Annabel and the following Siamese inmates of The White Cottage were to bring Doreen world wide recognition of her books and writings, starting with ‘Cats In The Belfry’ published in 1957. The Canadian Government sponsored her and Rene on a trip to the Rockies to write about the Canadian Wildlife, with special focus on Grizzly bears. This trip can be read about in ‘The Co
It was this upbringing that introduced Doreen to a variety of pets, as Grandmother was an inveterate rescuer of anything in need.
Together with her Aunt Louisa they shared a house with cats, dogs and an owl called Gladstone whose perch on the bathroom door dictated that the use of this room was a swift one as no heat could be kept inside with the continually open door.
Doreen went to Grammar School and passed her matric (as it was called then), she would have loved to go to university but knew her grandmother could never have afforded it.
After a couple of boring jobs she joined Imperial Tobacco and was with them for many years. Starting as a typist, then a secretary and, when they discovered that she could write, in their public relations department.
It was here that she met Rene, who was in the Accountants Department. They met on the staircase one day and six months later Rene went to war in the Royal Navy.
Rene came home on leave and they were married in Bristol by special licence on a Monday afternoon and spent a two-day honeymoon on a farm and Rene went back to war.
She spent most of the time Rene was away with her Aunt Louisa who made life quite fun for Doreen after the austerity of her Victorian grandmother, who loved her dearly but had set ideas how a young lady should be brought up.
Two and a half years later Rene was on his way home. His convoy coming via the Cape to avoid the still roaming enemy submarines, the war was still on and he was sent to London where Doreen was transferred to be with him. He was then posted to a shore station in the West Country and Doreen and Rene set about to find their dream cottage. They rented a very dilapidated ex public house with an earth closet, the dream cottage put on hold, both back working in Bristol for their old firm, Doreen now as their statistical librarian, writing reports that were read by the Board. A job normally only considered for a man.
After a couple of further moves, a Georgian relic and a happy period in a farm, they found the perfect place at Rowberrow, Somerset. They had also found a baby squirrel, which had fallen from its drey and Rene refused to climb the thirty feet necessary to return the little bedraggled mite to its nest. So Blondin became part of the Tovey family and unwittingly the reason Doreen and Rene got their first Siamese cat, Sugieh.
Blondin was a hoarder and the cottage soon became infested with mice looking for Blondin’s nuts and pieces of bread that he had stuffed under cushions and carpets for his rainy day. Whilst the mice had plenty to eat they did not cause too many problems but when Blondin caught a chill and died, their supply died too and they took to eating anything and everything. Doreen decided to get a cat and having seen a neighbour’s Siamese out for a stroll one day on a rather fetching collar and lead, decided that a Siamese would be the answer, she could also have a litter and maybe raise the Tovey finances.
Sugieh produced a litter of four kittens. Doreen decided that one’s fortune was not going to be made that way and when Sugeih died whilst being spayed (a far less straightforward procedure in the mid 1950s than it is today), decided to keep a sealpointed boy called Solomon and his bluepointed sister Sheba.
The antics of these kittens, a donkey called Annabel and the following Siamese inmates of The White Cottage were to bring Doreen world wide recognition of her books and writings, starting with ‘Cats In The Belfry’ published in 1957. The Canadian Government sponsored her and Rene on a trip to the Rockies to write about the Canadian Wildlife, with special focus on Grizzly bears. This trip can be read about in ‘The Co
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
June 26, 2018
When I was growing up, I read and enjoyed Doreen Tovey's books about her Siamese cats. The other day I was delighted to come across a dog-eared library copy (acquired in 1963!) of this Tovey book about her and her husband's acquisition of a donkey (with featured appearances by the cats, several tortoises, and a magpie). It's very much of another era (bit weird here and there, with references to "Red Indians" and to two donkeys having "got married" in the night). Overall, it was light and charming, and a pleasant little read that had me reading bits out loud to others and chortling happily to myself. 3.5.
November 12, 2018
A cute, fun story at times. A complicatedly written book, seemingly by a middle-aged woman for middle-aged women, at other times. The writing style was hard to cope with in many passages, and while I loved the parts with the various animals, they were anthropomorphized too much for my personal liking. There were also references to British culture that I did not always understand. Overall, a light-hearted story that most will enjoy.
If you are a 50+ woman living in the British countryside who loves animals, and nattering with other 50+ women about animals and gossip, this is the book for you.
If you are a 50+ woman living in the British countryside who loves animals, and nattering with other 50+ women about animals and gossip, this is the book for you.
February 28, 2009
self notes: mentions knitting
This is very short, very sweet, and made me laugh quite a bit. Just lighthearted fun. Nice for a wintry February.
This is very short, very sweet, and made me laugh quite a bit. Just lighthearted fun. Nice for a wintry February.
September 11, 2020
My mum gave me this book over lockdown to cheer me up. It sat at the bottom of a pile until yesterday when I really needed cheering up. It did the job. It's light hearted and silly but is just lovely tales of a couple who are mad about animals and have two Siamese cats they treat like royalty. In this book they buy a small donkey to help clear the orchard of nettles. The donkey never clears the orchard of nettles but it does lead them, and the cats on a merry dance. It's gentle and enjoyable and well observed. Apparently there are lots of books in this series and I feel I may read them all at moments of gloom, because it did cheer me up.
November 24, 2019
Really good laugh
I would love to have known the author and her husband. I think we would have been great friends.
I have done the Siamese cat thing, best cat I ever had. Smartest one too. Had donkeys living next door, so I understood first hand much of what is happening.
This series of books is out and out hysterical.
I would love to have known the author and her husband. I think we would have been great friends.
I have done the Siamese cat thing, best cat I ever had. Smartest one too. Had donkeys living next door, so I understood first hand much of what is happening.
This series of books is out and out hysterical.
February 2, 2019
Funny and endearing
More mayhem with Solomon and Sheba. Doreen and Charles add to the household getting a young donkey they call Annabel who is quite a character, as well as the host of other creatures. It made me laugh out loud . I am getting the next book in the series.
More mayhem with Solomon and Sheba. Doreen and Charles add to the household getting a young donkey they call Annabel who is quite a character, as well as the host of other creatures. It made me laugh out loud . I am getting the next book in the series.
March 19, 2019
I love the Doreen Torvey books about her troublesome but charming Siamese. In this book the family also acquires a donkey. Always good for smiles and laughter.
January 19, 2025
An old favorite that makes me feel warm and squishy
Ha, I think it was reading this book many years ago that made me want a donkey! I do love n her books, funny and warmhearted.
Ha, I think it was reading this book many years ago that made me want a donkey! I do love n her books, funny and warmhearted.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews