Sunday, 3 July 2011

Sorry, folks - it's yet another pussy-blog.

The carry-cages are open and ready. I'm off for my annual away-trip tomorrow, to visit my sister (and family), brother (and family) and one or two others. Although back on Friday, this business of putting the cats into a cattery even for that short duration, causes me untold anguish which I always have for more than a week prior to the event, while the cats themselves remain in blissful ignorance. I do so dislike having to shut them inside the flat for 3 or 4 hours before putting their struggling furry selves in the cages just before the ordered taxi arrives. Noodles will be crying pitifully continuously and biting hard at the metal bars on the door, probably not sure what's happening even though it'll be his 3rd time. Blackso is a bit more resigned to it, this being his 5th or 6th time. Oh well, it's got to be done!
If I was going to be away a really long time my concern would be unimaginable. As it is, all the time I'm away, my heart will be heavy with the thought of them in the cattery. It's just impossible to put them out of mind.
Incidentally, because of lack of financial means it's now over 20 years since my last true holiday. All the times I've been away from where I resided have been to visit my mother while she lived, and since 2005, to visit my sister. (Well, all times apart from half-a-dozen compulsory week-long residential intensive courses for the languages I was studying for. They hardly count as a holiday!)

I should mention that the gull intruder business mentioned in my last blog is still not resolved. Having rigged up a bar to put across the gap of the open window I have now succeeded in preventing it getting in for over a week now - though it does still come several times a day to the window sill, perkily looking in and eyeing the cat food on the floor. Only trouble is that the cats themselves really have to squeeze uncomfortably tight to get in and out - and it's also deterring my other four pussy guests. Not a happy situation at all. Hoping that when I get back the gull will have given up trying. But that would really be a minor miracle. I think 'giving up' isn't in this bird's vocabulary.


P.S. Will be so pleased when Wills & Kate have finished their North American touring spree. Our news is just so full of it, I have to keep switching channels. And they've still to go to California yet. Oh, saints preserve us!


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11 comments:

  1. Craig3 July 2011 at 02:41

    I can very much relate to your anguish Ray with regard to putting your cats into a cattery even if only for a few days.
    We resigned ourselves to never again putting a dog into a kennel while we were away after returning early from a holiday many years ago and finding our dog not at all well cared for. But you've used this cattery before so you know and trust them.
    You're right, having a pet or pets restricts your freedom to travel and we've often had to take separate trips for holidays to visit family so one of us could stay at home with the dog! Have you considered a pet sitter who actually stays at your flat while you are away? They have a licensed body which you can find here:
    http://www.hgsecurity.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/New-Brochure-201104011.pdf
    Now we've moved back to be near my Mother, she can be a built in Boris - sitter for a weekend or even a week!

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  2. Raybeard3 July 2011 at 07:27

    Thanks for all that, Craig. My life is so very controlled by my cats - and the 'best' part of it is that they have no idea of the effect they are having!
    We do have pet-sitters around in this area too but my flat is such a mess - and, frankly, far from clean - that I'd be ashamed to let anyone in. The reason for that is that I get no visitors at all so I just can't be bothered. If you've ever seen Kim & Aggie's 'How Clean Is Your House?' on Channel 4......well, it's THAT bad, or at least very nearly!
    I've seen Boris on your blog site (on which I shall be leaving the occasional comment) and he won my heart immediately. I think maybe like you also, I feel acutely the distress of each and every animal, but sometimes it just can't be helped.
    I only wish that I too had a nearby relative but the surviving ones all live at least 300 miles away.
    Anyway, thanks very much for your suggestion and your sympathy. I'm now feeling a little better.

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  3. Ur-spo3 July 2011 at 12:28

    I am glad to hear you are having a real holiday - that is too long of a time without one! I hope it goes well.

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  4. Raybeard3 July 2011 at 23:40

    Well I've got to thank you for that thought, Dr Spo, but the fact is that these few days are NOT a holiday. I only wish it was so. It's done because of family obligations, and is always a bit of a stressful time. No, 'fraid will have to wait even longer for a proper hol - in fact I wonder if I'll ever have one again. But, as I say, I'm grateful for your visit here. Best wishes.

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  5. Cubby4 July 2011 at 13:21

    Oh give the Wills & Kate media circus a break! Don't blame them or the media for it. Blame the folks who buy the papers and watch the television programs.

    In the mean time, I hope the young couple can have some fun with it. After all, isn't fun what it's all about? And isn't the lack of fun a big part of why William's parents divorced? I hope William was old enough to recognize this and now makes it his personal mission to not repeat his father's mistakes.

    As for no holiday in 20 years, don't you live high on the hog in a luxury beach resort community? Tell the truth. You can't fool us. You posted pics of the beach just a few weeks ago :-)

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  6. Vương Tử Trực5 July 2011 at 23:34

    Have a great time Ray!

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  7. Raybeard9 July 2011 at 00:43

    Cubby, how about Wills and Kate giving US a break? Preening themselves as they go hither and thither around the world on a permanent binge funded by the British taxpayer - Really! Why can't they just lie low and leave the still surviving (just!) two royal elder generations to carry out the civic duties expected of them, for as long as we are condemned to maintaining this grotesque institution of hereditary monarchy.
    However, having said all that, I must say that this 'glamorous' couple promise a much more decent and low-profile reign when their time comes, than does Charles and his lovely (not-just-a-pretty-face) Camilla, both of whom may Heaven preserve - in aspic!

    As for myself deceiving everybody by living the high life whilst pleading poverty, all I can say to that idea is "Fiddlesticks!". I can promise you with total earnestness that for 20 years I have, of necessity, had to live so frugally that I've forgotten what the word 'luxury' means. Alas, poor me! (Whimper, sob, sniffle!)

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  8. Raybeard9 July 2011 at 00:47

    Tai - I'm back, and I've just read your message above. Thank you for your wishes but it was NOT..... repeat 'NOT'..... repeat 'NOT', repeat..... NOT a holiday!!! ;-)
    (But some photos will follow shortly)

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  9. Cubby12 July 2011 at 09:13

    I think anyone who can so effectively use "Fiddlesticks!" in a conversation deserves my eternal adoration :-)

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  10. Raybeard13 July 2011 at 08:30

    Must then use it more, Cubby. I was, honestly, initially inclined to use another word beginning with the same letter. But to use a word like 'fuck' on an open blog like this might have attracted censure. So I thought better of it.

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  11. Kyle Leach27 July 2011 at 11:24

    Ray, George doesn't like going into he carrier either. We have to tip it and put it in and he complains the whole time we are in route. We love him anyhow.

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