When the going gets tough, the tough get going and it's been a hard time for The Royal Gazette columnist, Jennifer Wills. Meanwhile, our other columnist taking part in the 100 Day Challenge David Paynter, has reached a personal milestone.

With only two weeks left in the Live Healthy Bermuda Challenge, Jennifer has found herself bereft with grief and unable to exercise.

Not only did she lose her cat, Jake, but her workout partner, Marathon Melissa and her husband also had to say good-bye to their cat Newtie.

She said: "I usually sit down to put together my journal on a Wednesday night but diet and exercise have not been foremost in my mind these last few days. My heart has been broken twice and I can't bring myself to write about anything else this week.

"On Saturday Marathon Melissa and her husband Brant said good-bye to Newton, aka Big Boy, their handsome, fluffy, ginger and white cat.

"Newtie was actually the reason I met Melissa and Brant. I was working at Endsmeet when Melissa called two-and-a-half years ago looking for a pet sitter for him. I ended up with the job, fell in love with Newtie and found a firm friend in Melissa.

"While Melissa now tries to whip me into shape, Newtie used to encourage my lazy side and we spent many happy hours curled up on the sofa together. Although he struggled against cancer and heart problems in his last months he remained the same sweet Newtie, motor always running, happy to be in the presence of his family. My heart goes out to Melissa and Brant as they mourn the loss of their boy.

"By Sunday afternoon I was starting to worry about my own cat, Jake, who hadn't been around all weekend.

"He had taken the occasional 24-hour jaunt in the past so I was hoping that he was off gallivanting.

"He had been living wild until he was four-months-old and he was skittish and wide-eyed and spent the first few weeks of his life with me refusing to leave the safety of the bathroom cupboard.

"Gaining his trust was a long process and although he never became a lap cat he was affectionate, happy and loved to be fussed. Apparently Jake used to spend a lot of time at a house across the road. He would sit up on their tank, sun himself and observe the world.

"Over the weekend the owner was working on the tank and left the lid off of it. I can only imagine that Jake hopped up to lounge in his favourite spot only to find himself swimming for his life.

"He didn't make it before the neighbours found him. They didn't know who he belonged to but word finally got around to them that we were looking for our cat. They called tonight to tell us what had happened. They were extremely apologetic and told us they had buried him in their yard.

"My heart is broken but I'm grateful to finally know what happened. Hopefully, he and Newtie are hanging out together and watching over us."