We all agree about Bobby, though.
Saturday, June 29, 2013
Best Defence
Don't you just love those nonsensical anomalies between English and American? Defense/ License verbs in English, nouns in American, Defence/Licence the opposite.
We all agree about Bobby, though.
We all agree about Bobby, though.
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Monday, June 24, 2013
Farewell, My Mitzi
On Saturday night I noticed my little Mitzi had a lump on the side of her face. It seemed quite hard, which made me very concerned. But I hoped for the best - a bad tooth, an abscess caused by a bite. I took her to the vet's today, and he kept her in for exploratory surgery.
Then came the call. Cancer was eating away at her jaw. She'd hidden her pain and discomfort for so long, there was really nothing he could do. I gave the go-ahead for him to euthanize her without waking her from the anaesthetic. I didn't get to say goodbye.
I went along to kiss her poor dead body farewell, then leave her to be taken for cremation. She was barely 15.
I adopted Mitzi when she was about a year old, along with one of her kittens. She had been rescued from a back garden, abandoned by owners who hadn't bothered to get her spayed, then left her to care for her babies.
Mitzi remained tiny, having used all her energy raising her babies. Her daughter Twiglet is gigantic.
It took a long time for her to settle in. Her first venture outside was nearly permanent. She just didn't come back. I leafleted the area, and locals located her and helped me put out a trap. It was six months before she was allowed out again.
Gradually she became strokeable, on her own terms. She enjoyed her garden and her home, and would climb on to my shoulder for a fuss. But she remained nervous and wary.
She was especially fond of the chicken coop, back when I had hens. She would sunbathe on top, or sneak inside for a nap. Once she even got herself locked inside when the hens went to bed, which gave all of us a shock.
I know she was happy. I just wish it had been for longer.
Then came the call. Cancer was eating away at her jaw. She'd hidden her pain and discomfort for so long, there was really nothing he could do. I gave the go-ahead for him to euthanize her without waking her from the anaesthetic. I didn't get to say goodbye.
I went along to kiss her poor dead body farewell, then leave her to be taken for cremation. She was barely 15.
I adopted Mitzi when she was about a year old, along with one of her kittens. She had been rescued from a back garden, abandoned by owners who hadn't bothered to get her spayed, then left her to care for her babies.
Mitzi remained tiny, having used all her energy raising her babies. Her daughter Twiglet is gigantic.
It took a long time for her to settle in. Her first venture outside was nearly permanent. She just didn't come back. I leafleted the area, and locals located her and helped me put out a trap. It was six months before she was allowed out again.
Gradually she became strokeable, on her own terms. She enjoyed her garden and her home, and would climb on to my shoulder for a fuss. But she remained nervous and wary.
She was especially fond of the chicken coop, back when I had hens. She would sunbathe on top, or sneak inside for a nap. Once she even got herself locked inside when the hens went to bed, which gave all of us a shock.
I know she was happy. I just wish it had been for longer.
Sunday, June 23, 2013
Friday, June 21, 2013
Riddle
What did the tiger...
...say to the okapi...
...about the tufted ducks?
Nothing, silly. They're in completely different parts of the zoo! But the ducklings managed to find a piece of sacking the gorillas had thrown into the pond and use it as a temporary island to rest on.
JaeJae was in full display-my-bits mode.
Melati was up a fake tree again.
The new okapi baby wouldn't leave its mum's side.
But the tufted ducklings did their habitual disappearing act under the water, while mum watched without concern. Tufties dive for so long, and travel such distances underwater, that you keep thinking they must have drowned!
Meanwhile a famous face was seen around the zoo. I was too proud to take a photo of that face, just snapping a rear view:
For those not good at identifying people from the back (and probably most of my non-British readers) here's a googled photo:
Yes, folks, it was Charles Dance.
...say to the okapi...
...about the tufted ducks?
Nothing, silly. They're in completely different parts of the zoo! But the ducklings managed to find a piece of sacking the gorillas had thrown into the pond and use it as a temporary island to rest on.
JaeJae was in full display-my-bits mode.
Melati was up a fake tree again.
The new okapi baby wouldn't leave its mum's side.
But the tufted ducklings did their habitual disappearing act under the water, while mum watched without concern. Tufties dive for so long, and travel such distances underwater, that you keep thinking they must have drowned!
Meanwhile a famous face was seen around the zoo. I was too proud to take a photo of that face, just snapping a rear view:
For those not good at identifying people from the back (and probably most of my non-British readers) here's a googled photo:
Yes, folks, it was Charles Dance.
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Monday, June 17, 2013
Saturday, June 15, 2013
The neighbours may object but...
...by feeding the foxes they see as vermin, this is the kind of thing I see in my garden.
It's a female fox with two of her cubs, and I think they were suckling, though they are a bit big for that!
It's a female fox with two of her cubs, and I think they were suckling, though they are a bit big for that!
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Sunday, June 09, 2013
Whoops!
As a faithful supporter of the World Wildlife Fund, I was privileged a couple of weeks ago to receive an invitation to their London conference yesterday at ZSL (ie. London Zoo). I sent my acceptance, but heard no more, and forgot all about it till I checked my diary on Friday night.
Whoops indeed. If I'd realised a day sooner, I wouldn't have gone to the zoo on Friday, but would have done my weekend shop then, to leave me free for Saturday.
Well, I rushed the shopping, and managed (despite engineering works on the train lines delaying me) to get to the conference less that 40 minutes late.
It was about east Africa, both land and sea conservation projects. There was also a talk from Andy Hodge, a marine biologist who also happens to be a double Olympic gold medallist in rowing.
It was a joy to be among so many like-minded people. I even managed to ask a well-received and important question about the involvement of native women in their projects (every picture they showed was of men and boys). The reply reassured me that they are fully aware of the different roles of men and women in the various communities they deal with and make sure they approach the right people in the right way.
Part of the deal was free entry into the zoo, which of course I don't need, but it allowed me to nip in by the back door and capture a few more pictures of Melati posing on top of the giant climbing frame.
Showing off her bright orange back and stunning markings:
Displaying her fluffy chin:
Treating us to her beautiful profile:
All these poses struck within a couple of minutes.
Privileged indeed. Me, not her!
Whoops indeed. If I'd realised a day sooner, I wouldn't have gone to the zoo on Friday, but would have done my weekend shop then, to leave me free for Saturday.
Well, I rushed the shopping, and managed (despite engineering works on the train lines delaying me) to get to the conference less that 40 minutes late.
It was about east Africa, both land and sea conservation projects. There was also a talk from Andy Hodge, a marine biologist who also happens to be a double Olympic gold medallist in rowing.
It was a joy to be among so many like-minded people. I even managed to ask a well-received and important question about the involvement of native women in their projects (every picture they showed was of men and boys). The reply reassured me that they are fully aware of the different roles of men and women in the various communities they deal with and make sure they approach the right people in the right way.
Part of the deal was free entry into the zoo, which of course I don't need, but it allowed me to nip in by the back door and capture a few more pictures of Melati posing on top of the giant climbing frame.
Showing off her bright orange back and stunning markings:
Displaying her fluffy chin:
Treating us to her beautiful profile:
All these poses struck within a couple of minutes.
Privileged indeed. Me, not her!
Friday, June 07, 2013
Two Zoos
This week I've been to two different zoos - making hay while the sun (for a change) shone.
On Tuesday it was Howlett's in Kent, where they have the giant Siberian tiger Malchek. He's an old boy of 17 now, and he's really looking it. He knows where and when his grub's coming, though.
There's also a young girl cub sent over from the sister park to be hand raised. She and her brother were rejected, and it was only after they'd been rescued by staff that it became clear mother was right. He was epileptic, and when he failed to respond to treatment he had to be euthanized. SHe had brittle bones, and surgery has so far been only partially successful. Sadly they will be unable to include her in the gene pool.
Then there were the black lemurs. Only the male is actually black, but the tiny head of the baby one female was carrying was pretty dark. Difficult to get a clear picture though.
Today I've been to London Zoo again, and managed a few shots of JaeJae on the prowl. You can hear how excited he makes the crowd. If only those who destroy these creatures, and those who believe in the "medicine" nonsense, would appreciate them alive instead of colluding in their murder.
On Tuesday it was Howlett's in Kent, where they have the giant Siberian tiger Malchek. He's an old boy of 17 now, and he's really looking it. He knows where and when his grub's coming, though.
There's also a young girl cub sent over from the sister park to be hand raised. She and her brother were rejected, and it was only after they'd been rescued by staff that it became clear mother was right. He was epileptic, and when he failed to respond to treatment he had to be euthanized. SHe had brittle bones, and surgery has so far been only partially successful. Sadly they will be unable to include her in the gene pool.
Then there were the black lemurs. Only the male is actually black, but the tiny head of the baby one female was carrying was pretty dark. Difficult to get a clear picture though.
Today I've been to London Zoo again, and managed a few shots of JaeJae on the prowl. You can hear how excited he makes the crowd. If only those who destroy these creatures, and those who believe in the "medicine" nonsense, would appreciate them alive instead of colluding in their murder.
All In
No need to ask how we feel about this episode.
Only one good thing in it.
Darling in the dark.
Only one good thing in it.
Darling in the dark.
Wednesday, June 05, 2013
Hellifax
One of the banks that had to rely on government intervention to stop it going under was the Halifax. I have banked with them for some time, and have not found them to be particularly clever. For example, when they sent me a letter containing my details and those of a complete stranger, saying one account was going to pay the credit card bill of the other in monthly payments, I phoned them up straight away so that it could be put right. All I asked was a couple of pounds put into my account to pay for the phone call. Their later letter refused, saying that, as they had already refunded me £12 over another of their mistakes, they didn't owe me anything! Pay for one mistake, get the other one free. After the intervention of the regulator, they paid me £100!
Well this time, I won't be laughing. Today I came home to a letter, dated 31st May, saying that on 3rd June and every month thereafter, they would be paying £995 from my account into the account of a total stranger. It obviously did not occur to them to check in advance the legitimacy of this uncharacteristically large sum, so by the time I heard about it my account was nearly £1000 light. That's close to four times the amount of my largest standing order, for the remainder of my mortgage. Yet it has been nodded through as though I did transactions like that every day, or indeed every month "until further notice".
Well I did notice, and they say that the money will be back in my account by close of business tomorrow. But if they find that it isn't a mistake by the bank or a fraudulent transaction, they will take it back again.
What the FUCK do these people think they are doing with MY money?
Well this time, I won't be laughing. Today I came home to a letter, dated 31st May, saying that on 3rd June and every month thereafter, they would be paying £995 from my account into the account of a total stranger. It obviously did not occur to them to check in advance the legitimacy of this uncharacteristically large sum, so by the time I heard about it my account was nearly £1000 light. That's close to four times the amount of my largest standing order, for the remainder of my mortgage. Yet it has been nodded through as though I did transactions like that every day, or indeed every month "until further notice".
Well I did notice, and they say that the money will be back in my account by close of business tomorrow. But if they find that it isn't a mistake by the bank or a fraudulent transaction, they will take it back again.
What the FUCK do these people think they are doing with MY money?
Monday, June 03, 2013
Acts of Contrition
I've gone back to A-Z mode, though my list doesn't include later series, so be prepared for some episodes to be missing for now.
I know this picture is ever popular.
I know this picture is ever popular.
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