J9 Blog

The lovely Sally Dog...but still missing THE Cat

Sally Berry a 6 yo labradour is a much LOVED component of the Berry Household and it has been lovely and very entertaining to spend time with her. She (like THE cat) is completely people focused/food focused.  There is striking similarities to how she (Sally) poses herself around the house like THE Cat. I am hoping THE Cat is behaving himself back at home (last time away his scab count was 8!) . He has about 3 different people all looking after/checking up on him. But it is Spring and an active time of scrapping for a LARGE MALE Cat with an impressive territory claim.  On my  visit (with THE Cat) to the vet 1 week before my departure ,the vet discreetly describes Cat fights/scrapping as....Cat to Cat Agression!

London visit report part 2

Read the previous post for most news on my London day.

After getting off the train from Manchester I wandered the streets for around an hour trying to get myself to regent street (I only had a underground line map on me). One of the highlights was buying a large punnet of fresh raspberries for £1. After not quite finding what I was looking for I did my first tube use to get me to Piccadily Circus. After my first trip I was already helping other visitors with limited english on where the stations were (and feeling chuffed with myself the CLEVER HELPER)...before I discovered something very important...you need to follow the WAY OUT signs to get out of the underground. I assumed stairs going up went to surface, I forgot there is about 10 different lines and I just ended up on different platforms!

So I got myself to Piccadily Circus (picture left) and wandered up Regent Street to find Liberty store.  I wandered a bit too far but came across the All Souls Church which I remembered reading about in several novels. Thats what I loved about the day- so much of it had appeared somewhere in a book I had read that it felt familar- but not.

By this time I was desperate to find a public toilet and this was one of my lessons. I had not realised that Perth and Australia in general has really accessible  public toilets in their cities. I had assumed department stores were a reasonable tactic. They were not. Only very few (ie 5 cubicles in a 4 story dept store) and really hidden...and not all train stations had them. And when they did they were 20p (so 60c to me) to get in. I did not care about the money...throughout the day I would have paid more to find a toilet!

Lunch was at one of the 2 eating places in Liberty. I choose the very elegant Art Bar and Cafe. Though in retrospect I probably should have gone for the Tea Room (Duh!).  I just wasn't quite prepared for the elegance of what was called a cafe in a department store and the matching prices! I actually felt quite intimidated by the service staff and the way they talked and the level of dress and conversation around me (many refined English and European accents - NO twangy, ocker Aussie accents!). Which isn't what I normally feel when eating out by myself. So that was interesting in itself and I have pondered a little of what was behind my reaction.

The lunch meal was lovely. A mushroom cream and lemon Thyme soup, lovely bread selection with top qualtiy Olive Oil and Balsamic VInegar. VERY GOOD pot of Earl Grey with lovely china and then a lovely dessert of a raspberry merringue (raspberries baked in it !) with clotted cream and a strawberry sauce.  Even I could not dare to take full on photos , but used my mobile discreetly.  For a $45 light lunch I was having SOME evidence!

By then it was around 2.30pm so after some Liberty browsing I spent most of the rest of the afternoon in Islington and on the edges of Camden. I did some vintage shopping and bought myself a set of French tea cups (what a suprise!)...there was an unfortunate incident late in the afternoon when I was VERY TIRED in the desparate attempt to find a flipping toilet somewhere- that at least SOME of those tea cups were dropped and  smashed. I have not yet surveyed the full damage- bit too sad to face it yet!

Islington was very pretty and was interesting to see where people lived and went to school etc.

After Islington and eventually finding the Loop yarn store, I went back on the tube (beginning of peak hour) to the London Bridge station to explore the edge of the Thames.  The next couple of hours was mainly spent trying, despite some tube delays, to get back to London Euston station and then the 4 hour train trip home to Leyland!

No wonder I am still a little tired. But my mind is chock full of memories. Next week in my 4 full days in Paris I am determined to have a somewhat more moderate approach to sight seeing. Although, we are actually STAYING IN Paris...so that is a big difference!

Watching World Cup Football with the only boy in the house

Australia has gone soccer mad (yes-officially soccer is of course known as football now- even in Australia...but with AFL football still known as footy...then soccer is still the most used term).  The Socceroos for the first time in 32 years making it to the World Cup final  has meant it has unprecidented public and media interest.  The team making it through to the round of 16 has deprived many an Australian of their sleep.  The last BIG match of Australia against Croatia was played at 3am Australian WST (so 3am in Perth and 5 am on the west coast).  It was an exicting match and worth setting the alarm for...Here I am at 4am in the morning watching the second half of Friday morning's match where Australia came back to tie (as they needed to -to proceed to next round).  THE Cat is obviously really interested in the game.....BTW this mobile shot is NOT flattering to him -he has early morning 'puffy face'

For Claire....

I was trying to resist ANOTHER post about the cat...but Claire (UK friend)  couldn't see this photo when I sent it via email...so here in its small blurry glory it is.

Bless his little grease stained furry socks- THE cat now comes and sits next to me as I spend HOURS marking end of semester assignments and exams at bizarre hours of the day and night.  This is a standard size desk and I have lost half its space accomodating him...but it keeps me entertained...notice his substaintial overhang!

Separated at birth?......THE Cat A.K.A Horse?

THE Cat is for many reasons is NOT named on this blog.  But it would seem that a very suitable pseudonymn would be Horse. Horse is a much loved main character from the New Zealand comic strip Footrot Flats.

I remember Footrot Flats being VERY popular in Australia in the 1980's and 1990's. More information on the comic can be found at this fan website. Visting this website page and following the characters/Horse link takes you to one of the comic strips that shows Horse's STRONG character.....

Horse was based on real-life cat that Murray Ball (comic Strip creator) got to know. I ask you to compare pictures of the 'real life' Horse   below ( I hope it is a bad shot of his eyes !! or maybe he is squinting....) and THE Cat , I will try and put up a photo soon showing THE Cat in the same standing position for the ultimate comparison!

Weekly Cat update #2

recent news from THE cat......

Week ending the 2nd June, 2006

Weight- Believe I am still 7 kg ish, have not been weighed recently...I feel this is somewhat negletful on the 'caretakers' part .....Would like more food.

Rodents killed in public- none- items killed NOT IN PUBLIC are part of Secret THE Cat business

Scab count- this week had EIGHT new scabs on head and upper torso. Impressive.  The one inside my ear gave me a little grief......you should see the other cats! Ha !

Health/Beauty- Have a few scabs, as reported above, have once this week covered by white upper body in motor grease. Am not telling how I get grease all over me.  I am still VERY beautiful.

Secret THE CAT business: classified

Other business- Have been removed twice in past seven days from giving small cat next door a swift whack around the chops. I have a spectacular three-whack attack (whack-whack-whack in QUICK succession). At this stage claws are IN....but really the little piece of fluff is asking for it.

Am SICK of the caretaker/feeder doing 'marking' at home.....have tried making it VERY CLEAR that sitting at a desk NOT looking at ME...is NOT acceptable 'at home' behaviour.  Techniques I have used so far to communicate this are walking up and down corridors meowing, knocking on doors and windows (but then not going out), and giving many other general 'I AM NOT HAPPY' messages. She does tend to be a bit slow in picking up on things. Will report on any progress next week.

What happens when cats listen to self-development meditation tapes?

I am sorry that there are not photo's to attach to this brief musing but when you read on you should understand why.

Peter has passed on to me some 'classic' (=old) self help style guided meditation tapes (that is cassette tapes 1980's style!) .  They are well done, sensible ones that focus on breathing, body awareness etc (the ones that have substaintial evidence for helping with relaxation and stress management not the type that lead you to want to go to India)- so for my more conservative readers you can stop panicing......although I do want to go to India (for the tea and cricket!).

As this blog CLEARLY shows I am in need of professional help in a variety of areas of life and so I gave a couple of  the tapes a listen. 

THE CAT likes to be involved in EVERYTHING that is going on at our house- so he was quite clear in his desire to join in. For the first tape he  (unusually)  laid quietly by me and waited for the tape to finish as if he was soaking up the content...for the second tape (next day) he took up his preferred meditation position known as the  'reverse stole' position. This is where, when I am lying down, he lies across my neck and upper torso (as if wearing a fox stole back to front)- remember he is ~ 7kg and a big cat......

My question that has amused me for the remainder of the weekend is what do meditations on self-acceptance and self esteem...do for the epitomy of self acceptance/esteem......THE CAT!

Weekly Cat update #1

Haved decided he needs his own weekly update in a Bridget Jones diary style. His report from the last seven days follows.

Week ending Mon 24th April

Weight- 7 kg ish, winter coat has 'come in'. Would like more food.

Rodents killed in public- 2 : one LARGE rat, one very small mouse ; both presented to 'feeder/caretaker'- surely she realises this means I need MORE food. I am a hunting legend.

Health/Beauty- Got a wound (from cat fight? rat attack?) anyway must have got infected, abcess formed and has now burst. 'Feeder/caretaker' somewhat attentive though misguided. I DISLIKE dettol (antiseptic). She did not even attempt to give me anit-biotic tablets (lesson obviously learnt from previous attempts) . Have worked on 'I am wounded I need more food' campaign- limited success, will continue to persue.

Flea ointment applied to back of my head- NOT HAPPY- but would enjoy absence of any fleas so will endure.

I am still VERY beautiful.

Secret THE CAT business: classified- My recent wound may have alerted owner/caretaker that there is some secret business going on

Other business- Small cat that has moved in next door VERY annoying and DUMB- gave it a whack across the face but was swiftly removed from scene by 'owner/caretaker' Hmmmm. got bought a new Cat Nip bush for easter (from the mother of the 'feeder/caretaker' ...enjoying it ~ 40% eaten...

Test pattern

I was wondering the other day...do younger people with all pervasive TV channels etc know what the old test pattern is....it still appears on SBS at obscure hours ....

Anyway, I digress.

If I had a test pattern to show when I am 'out of action' (in this case not regularly posting to the blog etc etc) then it would be THE CAT on a picture quickly sent from mobile phone- the easiest for me to quickly upload.

Here he is in fine form, once again giving decorating tips, on how to sculpturally work with 'girlie' cushions (he has to PUT UP with a lot....)

Bad Photo Angles

I have a theory (the theory is mine!- for those that remember Monty Python).  When really bad photos of yourself are posted somewhere in cyber-space - you start a process of change to resemble the photo. Don't panic yet......The effects are not necessarily permanent.....

I have a photo of myself on a staff page. It is known as the 'puffer fish' photo (thanks Denise for that title),  Because, well  I look like a puffer fish....that is VERY ROUND in the face.  This particular photo was taken a couple of years ago I think. I then spent those years putting on a few kilos to more closely resemble the 'puffer fish' look in real life.  I have spent a few months now trying to go back to pre-puffer days.

This photo is a bad angle shot last night of THE CAT. Will having this photo (aka 'puffer cat' when viewed from posterior)  posted mean he will start putting on weight again?  He has stopped losing weight....but is still quite a bit less than the 'cat terrorist' days.....ie 6.5kg versus 7.5/8kg.....