Sunday, April 03, 2016
The Investigator
I've only ever read one O Henry story - The Green Door, on which this film is based.
Sunday, March 20, 2016
Lion Emergency, Tiger Doze and Ape Adoption
I knoew the new Land of the Lions exhibit was due to open at London Zoo, but I didn't read the preview invitation letter properly. The Queen opened it on Thursday, which I had read as preview day, so I went along on my free day, Friday, only to find that it was still previews.
Without having ordered a ticket, I thought I was going to be out of luck. But at the entrance I found that just giving my name as a member was enough to get me a tick on a list and entry into the new exhibit.
There was no sign of the new male, but the females, Rubi, Indi and Heidi, who've been on holiday for a couple of years or so from the place where they were born, were wandering about mainly in the area they spent so much time in as cubs. So much for increasing their space!
Then there were shouts from behind to clear the way - injured lion coming through. And there were some - what? keepers? actors? - apparently carrying in an injured lion on a blanket. Of course, it was a dummy, but a pretty realisitic one. It even appeared to breathe. They enlisted the help of some rather nervous kids and priceeded to perform wound clean-up before declaring the animal to be on the mend, and carrying him back out.
Meanwhile, JaeJae and Melati have been reunited in the hopes of them producing a new litter of cubs. But apparently Melati, though half JaeJae's size, is seeing him off. SHe's not yet ready to commit another two years of her life to raising demanding cubs!
On the other hand, something extraordinary, and almost completely undocumented, has happened in Gorlla Kingdom. Mjukuu, who has a daughter just over a year old, has acquired a foster child. Effie, so desperate for a baby, has dumped her 3-month-old boy and Effie has taken on the care of her little stepson.
This is Mjukuu-s daughter's head peeking round mum's back:
And here's the little boy poking his head out from the other side:
Lucky little boy!
Without having ordered a ticket, I thought I was going to be out of luck. But at the entrance I found that just giving my name as a member was enough to get me a tick on a list and entry into the new exhibit.
There was no sign of the new male, but the females, Rubi, Indi and Heidi, who've been on holiday for a couple of years or so from the place where they were born, were wandering about mainly in the area they spent so much time in as cubs. So much for increasing their space!
Then there were shouts from behind to clear the way - injured lion coming through. And there were some - what? keepers? actors? - apparently carrying in an injured lion on a blanket. Of course, it was a dummy, but a pretty realisitic one. It even appeared to breathe. They enlisted the help of some rather nervous kids and priceeded to perform wound clean-up before declaring the animal to be on the mend, and carrying him back out.
Meanwhile, JaeJae and Melati have been reunited in the hopes of them producing a new litter of cubs. But apparently Melati, though half JaeJae's size, is seeing him off. SHe's not yet ready to commit another two years of her life to raising demanding cubs!
On the other hand, something extraordinary, and almost completely undocumented, has happened in Gorlla Kingdom. Mjukuu, who has a daughter just over a year old, has acquired a foster child. Effie, so desperate for a baby, has dumped her 3-month-old boy and Effie has taken on the care of her little stepson.
This is Mjukuu-s daughter's head peeking round mum's back:
And here's the little boy poking his head out from the other side:
Lucky little boy!
Sunday, March 13, 2016
Baby kitties
On Friday I finally got to go to Wingham Wildlife Park in Kent to see the jaguar cubs that were born in December.
There they were when I arrived, playing like...er...kittens. Needless to say, I was thrilled.
At present I have not managed to find a way to play the video I took on my iPad, but here is a still that can convey some of their cuteness:
Meanwhile, I found a beautiful 8-month-old puma girl who had been hand-raised.
All she wanted was humans. As soon as anyone walked past the apparently empty enclosure, she bounced out to see them.
And when it happened to be a keeper, inside the outer wire, she fixed all her attention on him. Later one even gave her an ear-rub.
At present I have not managed to find a way to play the video I took on my iPad, but here is a still that can convey some of their cuteness:
Meanwhile, I found a beautiful 8-month-old puma girl who had been hand-raised.
All she wanted was humans. As soon as anyone walked past the apparently empty enclosure, she bounced out to see them.
And when it happened to be a keeper, inside the outer wire, she fixed all her attention on him. Later one even gave her an ear-rub.
Imaginary Crimes
Not a very good picture - it's a bit squished. But he was a lovely traditional sort of guy in this film.
Sunday, March 06, 2016
Founders' Day
My school - the one where I went and where I now teach - was 300 years old last year. Every year we celebrate Founders' Day on the first Thursday in March.
The day begins with a service at a church. Then the students go home (except those with impending exams) and the staff return to school.
In the evening the school is open so that former students can visit.
This year, the new headteacher, who was obviously delighted at being associated with a school that has such a history, discovered she had five Head Boys and three Head Girls at the evening do, so she quickly photographed and tweeted us.
I'm happy to report that the fat old bag has the excuse of being several decades older than the slimline younger versions...
The day begins with a service at a church. Then the students go home (except those with impending exams) and the staff return to school.
In the evening the school is open so that former students can visit.
This year, the new headteacher, who was obviously delighted at being associated with a school that has such a history, discovered she had five Head Boys and three Head Girls at the evening do, so she quickly photographed and tweeted us.
I'm happy to report that the fat old bag has the excuse of being several decades older than the slimline younger versions...
Sunday, February 28, 2016
Household Saints
Delicious though he may be at the beginning of this, anything religious just makes me irritated and annoyed.
Sunday, February 21, 2016
Finally Fine
At last there was a good enough day on Thursday for me to go to the zoo for the first time in ages.
Melati and JaeJae are finally able to be reunited because the cubs are two-years-old and have gone to their new homes. Apart from one swipe that I didn't catch (Melati on JaeJae) they didn't seem all that interested.
Melati and JaeJae are finally able to be reunited because the cubs are two-years-old and have gone to their new homes. Apart from one swipe that I didn't catch (Melati on JaeJae) they didn't seem all that interested.
Melati
JaeJae
Some of the hunting dog puppies seemed to be interested in the people watching them from the canal towpath.
Sunday, February 14, 2016
Good Luck - After
Once affected by blindness, gorgeousness is enhanced by stunning acting. He really does look as if his eyes won't focus.
Sunday, January 31, 2016
Sunday, January 24, 2016
Flood Damage
There has been plenty of news within the UK about flooding over Christmas nd the New Year, although I imagine elsewhere people are too busy dealing with their own freak weather to notice.
I didn't know anyone who was directly involved. Or so I thought.
Then I was contacted by the Orthotics department at the hospital, who send off my left shoes for a raise.
The company that does the adaptation was flooded, resulting in the loss of all the shoes awaiting their services. They will compensate (though they are not making it easy) but I will never get back the fellow of this gorgeous boot.
On Friday I went on a shoe hunt. All I could buy in this style was boring beige. Of the other shoe there was no sign. I had to buy a shoe that cost twice as much.
I am severely pissed off. I only get two pairs a year adapted, and it is harder every year to find even two suitable pairs.
But really, I just want my shoe back.
I didn't know anyone who was directly involved. Or so I thought.
Then I was contacted by the Orthotics department at the hospital, who send off my left shoes for a raise.
The company that does the adaptation was flooded, resulting in the loss of all the shoes awaiting their services. They will compensate (though they are not making it easy) but I will never get back the fellow of this gorgeous boot.
On Friday I went on a shoe hunt. All I could buy in this style was boring beige. Of the other shoe there was no sign. I had to buy a shoe that cost twice as much.
I am severely pissed off. I only get two pairs a year adapted, and it is harder every year to find even two suitable pairs.
But really, I just want my shoe back.
Guy
My best pictures of this are not on Photobucket because they are too racy. This one is not bad though...
Sunday, January 10, 2016
Baby Hunting Dogs
But no more baby tigers.
All the tiger cubs - now coming up to 2 years old - are still with mum, so she cannot get back with dad to make some more. Apparently the animal parks that were supposed to take them have delayed time and again. So meanwhile mum and daughter come out on alternate days with the two boys. And dad paces in the hope he can persuade his beloved to join him and make him happy.
Here is mum giving daughter a quick lick.
But the African hunting dogs have really done the business. Eleven pups! I arrived at their enclosre at feeding time of sadly very recognisable bunnies. (I've spared everyone that vision.) Some of the puppies were still inside, obviously not feeling very hungry yet.
Meanwhile, at Wingham animal park, my new discovery last year with one black and one spotty jaguar, the babies I'm pretty sure I saw being conceived in August have arrived. There's a black girl like mum and a spotty boy like dad. The photos are not mine.
All the tiger cubs - now coming up to 2 years old - are still with mum, so she cannot get back with dad to make some more. Apparently the animal parks that were supposed to take them have delayed time and again. So meanwhile mum and daughter come out on alternate days with the two boys. And dad paces in the hope he can persuade his beloved to join him and make him happy.
Here is mum giving daughter a quick lick.
But the African hunting dogs have really done the business. Eleven pups! I arrived at their enclosre at feeding time of sadly very recognisable bunnies. (I've spared everyone that vision.) Some of the puppies were still inside, obviously not feeling very hungry yet.
Meanwhile, at Wingham animal park, my new discovery last year with one black and one spotty jaguar, the babies I'm pretty sure I saw being conceived in August have arrived. There's a black girl like mum and a spotty boy like dad. The photos are not mine.
Sunday, December 27, 2015
Efficiency Plus
Last week, just in time not to be able to do anything about it because of the holidays, I received official notification that I can start collecting my old age pension.
I already knew that my date was March 16th. In fact, they don't mention that in the letter, so it's just as well I knew it.
The letter said I need to apply four months before the date that I plan to receive my first pension payment. So that means they would have had to notify me by November 16th. December 23rd is a little bit late.
Just as well I don't want to claim till July at the earliest...
I already knew that my date was March 16th. In fact, they don't mention that in the letter, so it's just as well I knew it.
The letter said I need to apply four months before the date that I plan to receive my first pension payment. So that means they would have had to notify me by November 16th. December 23rd is a little bit late.
Just as well I don't want to claim till July at the earliest...
New baby, "old" baby and two tamanduas
Since breaking my foot in the summer, I haven't really been to the zoo, but a couple of weeks ago I managed a couple of hours.
I discovered that Effie, who has been longing for a baby for years, actually had a month-old baby His tiny head is just visible in her arms
Mjukuu's baby, a little girl who is now a year old, looked a bit thoughtful about no longer being the centre of attention.
The female tamandua (or tree anteater) was sleeping in ...a tree.
The male tamandua was on the wander.
I discovered that Effie, who has been longing for a baby for years, actually had a month-old baby His tiny head is just visible in her arms
Mjukuu's baby, a little girl who is now a year old, looked a bit thoughtful about no longer being the centre of attention.
The female tamandua (or tree anteater) was sleeping in ...a tree.
The male tamandua was on the wander.
Feeling Minnesota
Sorry, folks, I seem to be slowing down with my posts. I blame my iPad, which won't let me do posts in any way I've yet discovered, and my internet connection, which I must get round to phoning up and complaining about.
Vincent may not have looked at his best in this film, but it was entertaining, and he showed how good he can be at comedy.
Vincent may not have looked at his best in this film, but it was entertaining, and he showed how good he can be at comedy.
Sunday, December 06, 2015
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
