France is in shock. Outside the Bataclan concert hall, where more than 80 died were killed.

Today I went out for about six hours from around 8 am to 2 pm. I went to the Lord Mayor’s Show in central london. It was cold and wet – typical British weather but it was fun. When I arrived home my cat, Gabriel, immediately came to me in the lobby of my home and trilled. It was plain to see that he was delighted that I was home. Behind that delight was his love for me. I felt the same way. I was pleased to be home and pleased to see him and that he came to me as usual.

We are two very different species of animal but we can both love and what is lovely is that we can love each other despite our differences in attitude, mentality, culture and behaviour.

That love transcends the barriers that our differences present. After watching some television I surfed the internet to catch up on events while he played next to me with a new mouse I had bought him. We were both doing the things that we do. We were doing them together and in harmony.

We should remind ourselves how beautiful that is. Two species of animal so different but so close emotionally. Doesn’t that say something about the world and how it can be?

How we all have the same fundamental desires and emotions. If I and all the other great cat and animal lovers can be in tender harmony with their cat companions why can’t humans be in harmony with themselves?

In memory of the French people who lost their lives to Muslim terrorists on Friday 13th 2015. Our hearts are with them.