While in rainless London I found myself in Gough Square (named after a former Spurs player), a tiny back-place off Fleet Street, former home to Doctor Johnson, the man who wrote the first Dictionary of the English Language, an excellent and hilarious book, if slightly disparaging with regards the eating habits of Scots. That statue, that was his cat, Hodge (named after another former Spurs player). I don’t know why he didn’t just get a real cat. Cheaper to feed I suppose, and it never crosses your path or pees behind the telly. LBC used to be based here. I used to listen to LBC, back when I used to stay up really late (he says, writing at 1am).
petescully 
Hi Steve,
The cat I remember is the WHITTINGTON CAT, on Highgate Hill!
A friend of mine is reading a biography of Johnson. I’ll send him to your page for a look at his house. I love the cat!
who’s steve? no, this isn’t whittington’s cat. That one’s in a cage…
Cheers jana! Johnson’s house is really hidden away – but only steps away from his favourite pub, the cheshire cheese.