Friday 10 August 2012

Thank you, Your Majesty!

Completely out of the blue, I get a cheque in this morning's post from Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs enclosing a cheque for £227 ($355 American) being refund of over-deducted income tax from my pension for the last tax year. Oh joy!
   Well, naturally the first thing I thought of was to go to the big local pet store and buy some 'special', more expensive food for my pussies (as one does). I blew 1/3 of it there. It would have be intolerable to have neglected them by not allowing them to share in my good fortune and then have them sulking at me.
    But let it not be said that I've neglected myself. Oh no. I've bought myself a bottle of cheap 'n cheerful red, for just over a fiver, with which to celebrate. The rest of this windfall will go into my 'unexpected events' fund - which is being built up, essentially, for my having to travel to sudden funerals. The hard fact is that at my age people I know, relations and others, are starting to drop like flies, so one simply has to be prepared.
    However, let's not get maudlin. Where's that corkscrew? I want to raise a glass to Her Majesty the Queen. Long may she continue to bestow her bounty - especially on those of us who pay our taxes!  So, bottoms up!

12 comments:

  1. well well well, dog save the queen! jolly good fun for you and the pussies! :)

    "So, bottoms up!" - bwhahahahahaha! some of our mutual friends might take advantage of that phrase! :)

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  2. Well, A.M., I was going to add to "Bottoms up!" the phrase " - as the priest said to the choirboy". But then I thought that might be in poor taste - but probably not to the priest, eh? - or maybe not even to the choirboy. Who can say? ;-)

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    1. nope, NOT in poor taste! every time a see a priest now, I wonder how many innocents he has molested.

      I have known priests in my past that could drink me under the table, or who got a new car every f-ing year, or who took very expensive vacations. so much for the vow of poverty!

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    2. Oh A.M., I could write SO much on the plummeted reputation of the R.C. Church that it will have to wait for a separate lengthy blog. But despite all that's happened they STILL don't get it, do they? Carrying on preaching to us on 'morality' as though recent history was a minor detail which they assume we will pass over - or at least hope we will.
      I never knew personally any priests who turned out to be molesters, but who's to know that there weren't any among them? But, though hardly in the same class, I did know some regular over-drinkers - as well as a good number of them (the majority?) being smokers, sometimes heavy. As you imply, one wonders where they got the money from for their indulgences.
      But enough for now. We agree on the salient point.

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  3. Cheers to Her Majesty for her generosity! Don't you just love those kinds of surprises? So rare!

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    1. Exactly, Mitch. One never knows what's just round the corner. True, sometimes it's something nasty, but those negatives are occasionally alleviated by the 'smiley' ones which seems to make it all worthwhile. I hope there's such a turn about to come to you too - I'll keep an eye on your blog.

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  4. Congratulations! I hope that you're still in a euphoric state. I imagine that the pussies are feeling it too. You realize now that Ginger is yours forever. Hope this is the start of good things coming your way.

    For her generosity let's drink a toast to the Queen: God Save The Queen.

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    1. I am indeed still feeling 'high', Paul - and that's unaided by any artificial 'recreational' means. The final full day of the Olympics is helping, though not because it is the last full day. Just the general hoop-la about the whole thing has been so infectious, which I've revelled in. You too? Perhaps not.

      Ginger? Oh dear, but I think you're right. He seems to be coming in for all his meals and when the weather turns downward I fear he'll be sleeping here as well. I still don't know where his proper home is/was. I wouldn't mind so much but I do wish he'd been de-balled. Also, the expense of occasional vet checks are already high enough with just my 'confirmed' two. He's going to be one MAJOR problem. (Oh, there'll be another pussy blog, with several pics. coming up in the next few days - and featuring yet ANOTHER new regular visitor).

      'God Save the Queen' is not a particularly attractive national anthem for some. Having both 'God' and 'Queen' in the title alone jars for us atheist- Republicans. I think it may be the only anthem in the democratic world which asks a Deity to grant longevity to its unelected leader - though I may be wrong about that. But at least I have no problem in drinking toasts - in moderation, naturally.

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  5. Is it possible that Ginger does not have a "proper" home? If someone owns him, it is obvious that they don't care about him. His not being neutered and his long hours away from home, apparently concerns nobody.

    You have me intrigued about "yet another new regular." Eagerly awaiting that post.

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    1. Paul, re Ginger - I'd honestly never thought of that possibility. I suppose it could be so. He very rarely sleeps here, though. When the weather starts going downhill, as it shortly surely will, I'll be watching to see what he does. He's certainly a headache I could do without - but now that he IS around I could never prevent him coming in.

      The new 'arrival' is a curious one, but not such a problem is Ginger (apart from all the food he scoffs). But at least I not only know where his true home is, his owners (both 'softie' cat-lovers like me) know that he comes in here - and mine isn't the only place he pops into to. More later.

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  6. Very good news indeed. Your pussies are very fortunate to keep you around ;-)

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    1. Thanks very much, Cubby - but I've only just noticed your comment after having posted my NEXT blog, which may rather take the shine of things - let's hope not by too much. But thanks for your thoughts anyway.

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