Among the detritus of human misery surviving the council's Northcote flats, in Melbourne, Australia, is my old mate, a former Xavier boarder and Friar Tuck-lookalike with the booming voice of Peter Ustinov and the kindly smile of a content Peter Sellers.

The puss in one of its more friendly moments.

His name is Pete' Mallroy, a jolly, rotound bloke with an impish grin and a heart as big as his body.

This unemployed printer and reformed alcoholic had his left hip replaced (in grinding agony), his elbow rejointed and his shoulder mugged.

His furniture he created from cardboard boxes and covered them in shiny black fabric: it comprises chests of drawers, tables, wardrobe and his sole armchair, similarly covered, but built from used wine casks.

He once built a birdbath in his tiny lounge-room, concrete spilling onto the jaded and faded carpet.

A few months back he was out in the garden and found a bedraggled tom as worn and disfigured as himself.

The cat had a deep chasm gouged from his face, an eye almost clawed out and patches of fur missing.

The SodMobile from wherein Pete's savage puss sees the world.

Pete took him to the Lost Dogs' Home for repairs.

They had to give the cat a name. Pete looked down at his mate and said: "Poor sod." That became the cat's name.

Poor Sod and his mate ambled home to the flats.

Poor Sod, a loner, is unpattable. He claws frantically at walls, has his own Rat-Attack: a bit of fluff and feathers on string Pete nailed to a table corner.

Another view of the SodMobile.

Pete and the cat associated for several months. Poor Sod did his own things: attacked other cats at night, sunned on the council flats' lawn and, just occasionally, tapped at Pete's door for a let-in and bit of a feed.

The council decided to renovate Pete's flat and moved him out to another: Poor Sod became homeless again, too.

Pete took pity on him, bunged him into a supermarket trolley and slammed a meshed-wire top on it, then carted Poor Sod off to his new temporary home.

Because Poor Sod is getting old and doesn't know his new territory, the only way he can travel outside to see his world is in Pete's Sodmobile.

Neighbours smile, some laugh and all think this a most odd couple.

Pete is single and, all too obviously, so is Poor Sod. They get along.

Pete's phone number is 03 8430-4726. He would talk if invited.

Well, did you smile?