Larry Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office- an unofficial portrait.
I,ve finally finished this miniature portrait in oils. Larry can't be bought ......well not at the moment. His coat needs to dry out thoroughly. Then a coat of varnish applied to protect it and to make the door glossy. He is on the shortlist for the Royal Miniature Society Nov exhibition . Fingers crossed he will be selected and make an appearance at the Bankside Gallery, London 
Larry is unsure how his pension fund is doing. Despite being Chief mouser to the cabinet office since 2011 he won't get a government or state pension when he retires. He also doesn't have access to a NHS vet. He is currently on a zero hours contract, any work he does is unpaid but his lodgings are free. (Off the record, he say's he's just an unpaid volunteer who can come and go when he pleases.)
Anyway its all a bit "hush hush" in the government about their plans for him. Unfortunatly a retirement to the House of Lords (as Lord Larry of Battersea) has recently been ruled out. He used to dream of a retirement wandering around on the sunny continent but the channel crossing isn,t an option anymore. Larry says he now feels he's being exploited and hates all the anthropomorphic stuff. He is even now expected to make speeches infront of a lecturn. Worse still he has to wear a British bow tie around his neck for promotional photos, when he is in effect stateless. The truth is he relies on the " big society", that is the good will of the staff at Downing street, not the British government to financial support him. Prior to No 10 his home was at the Battersea Dogs and Cats home. He like'd it there, but things were getting crowded so when the big " No 10 Downing Street" job came up, well ..he jumped at it.
Larry hopes in the future his portrait will be sold to help maintain the family historic home at the Battersea Dog and Cats Home. He is currently on the Royal Miniature Society shortlist, if selected his portrait will be on display and for sale at their November exhibition at the Bankhouse gallery London. Watch this space.
Anyway its all a bit "hush hush" in the government about their plans for him. Unfortunatly a retirement to the House of Lords (as Lord Larry of Battersea) has recently been ruled out. He used to dream of a retirement wandering around on the sunny continent but the channel crossing isn,t an option anymore. Larry says he now feels he's being exploited and hates all the anthropomorphic stuff. He is even now expected to make speeches infront of a lecturn. Worse still he has to wear a British bow tie around his neck for promotional photos, when he is in effect stateless. The truth is he relies on the " big society", that is the good will of the staff at Downing street, not the British government to financial support him. Prior to No 10 his home was at the Battersea Dogs and Cats home. He like'd it there, but things were getting crowded so when the big " No 10 Downing Street" job came up, well ..he jumped at it.
Larry hopes in the future his portrait will be sold to help maintain the family historic home at the Battersea Dog and Cats Home. He is currently on the Royal Miniature Society shortlist, if selected his portrait will be on display and for sale at their November exhibition at the Bankhouse gallery London. Watch this space.