My dear cat Dandy is a big small cat, if that makes sense. He's just a kittie, but he's a pretty big boy, despite his thyroid problems. Dandy is nearly 18. He is very vocal, and I just had to film him "talking" to me, even at the expense of revealing my un-vacuumed floor...
Then there are the small big kitties at the zoo, who have just made their first proper outing:
Sunday, March 30, 2014
Sunday, March 23, 2014
Jaspa at 20
My oldest kitty cat Jaspa turned 20 on the 21st.
She is very slight, not much more than 2kg. She mostly accepts the pill she takes for hyperthyroidism, which she doesn't like, because she knows it is immediately followed by her kidney tablet, which she loves - she'd take the whole packet at once if I'd let her!
She is very slight, not much more than 2kg. She mostly accepts the pill she takes for hyperthyroidism, which she doesn't like, because she knows it is immediately followed by her kidney tablet, which she loves - she'd take the whole packet at once if I'd let her!
My pretty little old lady thinking about her next move.
Her next move is to approach the camera and show off the cat milk dripping from her chin.
Sunday, March 16, 2014
Thursday, March 13, 2014
Best. Day. Ever.
I was at the zoo today when the news broke. I was wrong when I wrote last month that Melati the Sumatran tiger was pregnant. She had already given birth, to three cubs.
)
The babies were born on 3rd February. They are not yet on show. However, as those who have the concentration of a gnat wandered away, I continued to watch Jae Jae over by the gate, where Melati joined him from the other side. Then she walked way - with a cub in tow! I was the first visitor - almost the first person - to see a cub in the flesh! I squealed, and people reappeared, one with a powerful camera with which she took a movie. She promised to try and send it to me if the file isn't too big. Jae Jae had already thrilled us with his athletic feats and his beauty.
And for those interested in meeting the neighbours from hell:
)
The babies were born on 3rd February. They are not yet on show. However, as those who have the concentration of a gnat wandered away, I continued to watch Jae Jae over by the gate, where Melati joined him from the other side. Then she walked way - with a cub in tow! I was the first visitor - almost the first person - to see a cub in the flesh! I squealed, and people reappeared, one with a powerful camera with which she took a movie. She promised to try and send it to me if the file isn't too big. Jae Jae had already thrilled us with his athletic feats and his beauty.
And for those interested in meeting the neighbours from hell:
Sunday, March 09, 2014
Founders' Day
The first Thursday in March is the day when my old school (my current employer) celebrates Founders' Day, with a celebration in a local church in the daytime, and a reunion for old scholars in the evening.
I wasn't working on Thursday, but I took my atheist body along for the service, which opened with the School Song (a very rare thing for a school to have, they usually adopt a hymn and call that the school song, but my school has its own custom written song).
These days, this sentimental old baggage can't sing it for crying. There's a verse dedicated to each House (Addeys - Green; Stanhopes - Blue; Pepys - Yellow; and Evelyn - Red).
Addeys are named after the Elizabethan shipwright John Addey, whose 1606 legacy for the poor children of Deptford was later used to co-found the school. Stanhope is for Dean George Stanhope, a local churchman of the early 18th century. Pepys (pronounced by us Peppies, not Peeps) is after the 17th century diarist. Evelyn is as after John Evelyn, another noted diarist from the 17th Century. All had local connections.
As I recently mentioned, next year is the 300th anniversary of the founding of the Stanhope school, which later incorporated the Addey bequest.
This year I managed to persuade one friend along for the evening. Next year, I plan to entice lots more, whether I'm still working there or not.
Meanwhile, enjoy the sight, as I enjoyed the taste, of the cupcakes bearing the school badge served up to the evening visitors:
I wasn't working on Thursday, but I took my atheist body along for the service, which opened with the School Song (a very rare thing for a school to have, they usually adopt a hymn and call that the school song, but my school has its own custom written song).
These days, this sentimental old baggage can't sing it for crying. There's a verse dedicated to each House (Addeys - Green; Stanhopes - Blue; Pepys - Yellow; and Evelyn - Red).
Addeys are named after the Elizabethan shipwright John Addey, whose 1606 legacy for the poor children of Deptford was later used to co-found the school. Stanhope is for Dean George Stanhope, a local churchman of the early 18th century. Pepys (pronounced by us Peppies, not Peeps) is after the 17th century diarist. Evelyn is as after John Evelyn, another noted diarist from the 17th Century. All had local connections.
The last verse of the School Song celebrates John Addey's craft, which would have been of great use to Elizabeth I at the time of the Spanish Armada. Britain's shipbuilding and ships are known as Hearts of Oak, and here's the final verse:
Hearts of Oak that Deptford made
Guarded England well.
The ships are gone, but stands the School,
The shipwrights' worth to tell.
As builded they right sound and true,
So builds the School, and shall for aye,
Sing Addeys, Stanhopes, Pepys, Evelyns,
Prosper School always!
As I recently mentioned, next year is the 300th anniversary of the founding of the Stanhope school, which later incorporated the Addey bequest.
This year I managed to persuade one friend along for the evening. Next year, I plan to entice lots more, whether I'm still working there or not.
Meanwhile, enjoy the sight, as I enjoyed the taste, of the cupcakes bearing the school badge served up to the evening visitors:
Sunday, March 02, 2014
Maledictus
Just goes to show how dysfunctional the rich can be, especially when they go to private schools. Not meaning anyone in particular, but the British cabinet may fit the bill...
But isn't Bobby gorgeous when he's playing? I could look at this picture all day.
But isn't Bobby gorgeous when he's playing? I could look at this picture all day.
Sunday, February 23, 2014
Baby Days
You know that human babies do absolutely nothing for me. Animal babies, on the other hand, send me into paroxysms of delight.
As I was taking my friend to the zoo as a birthday treat, I was very happy to see that a new emperor tamarin had been born. The official photos showed the baby with its mother, but the last time there were babies, the female-only golden lion headed tamarin group had acted as nannies.
So it was again - but their movements were so fast it was almost impossible to get a clear picture. Even when the baby got off and moved about by itself, it was incredibly brave and swift for an animal only a couple of weeks old.
The emperors tried to get the baby back on several occasions, and one must wonder how the poor little creature manages to feed!
On the nanny's back you can just make out the white mouth of the baby where its moustache is beginning to develop.
The tiny tail of the baby can just be seen as it follows the nanny tamarin it's just left. Not as brave as it thought!
When I entered Tiger Territory I was immediately struck by the fact that the opening alongside Jae Jae's favourite perch was boarded over. I wondered if the purpose was to limit his view of something or somewhere, or to limit someone's view of him. Such as Melati.
Later he came down and got his daylight and fresh air through another opening:
I did see a glimpse of Melati through the closed gate to one part of the enclosure, but she was not able to access the outside.
Then I saw the pool where the baby was allowed by keepers to drown - and it was not only drained, but filled with chipped bark. Ding! Light bulb moment. Melati's pregnant! I couldn't find anyone to confirm this, though the girl in the gift shop did smile a lot and said they "were not supposed to say anything" (ie. there was something to tell...)
Well, it looks like this time they've decided to be a bit cleverer about any new arrival and its safety. My meeting with the boss man seems to have paid off. I'm sure there were many other people who made their opinions known, but I'm glad to have played my part.
As I was taking my friend to the zoo as a birthday treat, I was very happy to see that a new emperor tamarin had been born. The official photos showed the baby with its mother, but the last time there were babies, the female-only golden lion headed tamarin group had acted as nannies.
So it was again - but their movements were so fast it was almost impossible to get a clear picture. Even when the baby got off and moved about by itself, it was incredibly brave and swift for an animal only a couple of weeks old.
The emperors tried to get the baby back on several occasions, and one must wonder how the poor little creature manages to feed!
On the nanny's back you can just make out the white mouth of the baby where its moustache is beginning to develop.
The tiny tail of the baby can just be seen as it follows the nanny tamarin it's just left. Not as brave as it thought!When I entered Tiger Territory I was immediately struck by the fact that the opening alongside Jae Jae's favourite perch was boarded over. I wondered if the purpose was to limit his view of something or somewhere, or to limit someone's view of him. Such as Melati.
Later he came down and got his daylight and fresh air through another opening:
I did see a glimpse of Melati through the closed gate to one part of the enclosure, but she was not able to access the outside.
Then I saw the pool where the baby was allowed by keepers to drown - and it was not only drained, but filled with chipped bark. Ding! Light bulb moment. Melati's pregnant! I couldn't find anyone to confirm this, though the girl in the gift shop did smile a lot and said they "were not supposed to say anything" (ie. there was something to tell...)
Well, it looks like this time they've decided to be a bit cleverer about any new arrival and its safety. My meeting with the boss man seems to have paid off. I'm sure there were many other people who made their opinions known, but I'm glad to have played my part.
Sunday, February 16, 2014
Sunday, February 09, 2014
Sunday, February 02, 2014
Honours Board
Working at my old school has certain advantages - for instance, every time I go up a certain staircase, I cannot help but see two of my three entries on the school's Honours Boards. When I first appeared, in 1969, 16-year-olds who had just passed five or more 'O' Level exams were included under the box containing 18-year-olds who had gained three or more 'A' Levels. But the numbers were getting so large that the hall would soon have been swamped with boards, so the following year only those with 'A' Levels were included, and that's where I am under the 1971 entry. You can see both in the first two columns, almost side by side in the top half of the board. Tried and failed to find a way to highlight it...
Sadly, I also have to look at the previous board where my bitch sister appears. Only once, though, 'cos she only got 2 'A' Levels.
Sadly, I also have to look at the previous board where my bitch sister appears. Only once, though, 'cos she only got 2 'A' Levels.
Sunday, January 26, 2014
Apologies
Sorry, folks, I've already spent a couple of hours just getting my computer to do anything but freeze. I'm going to have to leave visiting you all for a day or two more.
Lady's Man
I can't believe they now use this man as the DA in SVU. He has creepy eyes, and cannot act his way out of them. Sorry, he's perp material, not the stuff good guys are made of.
Unlike our beloved.
Unlike our beloved.
Sunday, January 19, 2014
Sunday, January 12, 2014
Sunday, January 05, 2014
1950s Childhood
When the hideously low-class Rab C. Nesbitt decided on TV this holiday to become Rab In Hoodie, we were treated to the iconic opening of the 1950s children's TV series The Adventures of Robin Hood.
Ah, memories:
Ah, memories:
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