Degu or not Degu, that is the question.

10/09/2012

      I was locked out of the room with the seats. Me! Kept away from the seats. And I could hear the scrabbling on the floor of things I should have been catching. I could also hear My ‘The Him’ and ‘The Her’ calling to them and cursing their speed. If only they hadn’t closed the clearway I could have put a stop to that straight away. The only place they’d be going to fast is my mouth.

      It took a long time but finally the clearway opened and I was allowed in.I was disappointed to see the rats were still in their cage but oddly enough the degus weren’t. They were in a small carrying case on the seat. I went over to check on them and they ‘chittered ‘ at me and hissed. I ignored them since I have the last laugh, they’re in a carrier and I’m not.

My ‘The Her’ put her fur on to go out and My ‘The Him’ picked up the arm sticks he uses and followed carrying the degus. It looks like they’re taking the new rodents away and I’ll just have to cope with the rats then, unless they’re next of course. It was quiet at home since the rats make most noise at night so I left through one of the small clearways left open for me.  I strolled towards the village and met Ginger. He told me there was a lovely smell coming from one of the houses at the bottom of the hill. It had to be worth a closer look. As we approached we could see there was a clearway open and on the ledge inside were two plates with a fish pie gently steaming. Though these had probably been left as gifts for us I was still  careful in my approach since the Longlegs can be moody creatures for no reason. Proof of that came as I got close to the sill and the Longlegs inside saw me. She shouted ‘Oi’ or something and pulled the plates out of reach. Strange behaviour. Stranger still was her next move which was to throw a jug of water, complete with jug, at us which drenched poor Ginger and missed me. He was not happy and let out a screech which said so before he ran off. I chose the same moment to beat a hasty retreat too.

Since Ginger wasn’t in sight and the Longlegs had withdrawn her gift ( perhaps it was not meant for Ginger to share) I headed for home to eat. I had just got there when My ‘The Him and Her’ arrived. They still had the carrier which I guessed was now empty and ready for the rats. But as we got inside I saw it still contained rodents. Less of them to be sure, but they were still there. Only three now instead of six as before. It was a blow but it was a better situation than before. I heard My ‘The Her’ saying she hoped they’d go to good homes so I guess she’d given some away. I went to eat to ward off my disappointment in the day. I heard the head rat Amy saying she was cross that some had come back. I guess they don’t get on. But then, who gets on with rats anyway?

                                                                         Hat thief

                                                                       The climber.

                                                                  Engine coolant.

This has been a bad week with the news of the fire engulfing a tower block of flats in London. The death toll has been rising steadily all week and I don’t believe they’ve found everybody yet. I’m hoping it proves to be a tragic accident and that other blocks aren’t at risk but if it proves to be criminal negligence after millions were spent there last year I hope the culprits are made to pay. You can’t put life below cost in importance.

The fire crews called out to tackle the blaze worked tirelessly above and beyond. Nothing short of heroic. I ‘d like to pay tribute to them that even more lives weren’t lost.

I wish you all a wonderful week filled with happiness and Hugs. Don’t forget to make someone’s day with a smile and/or a hug.

Enjoy the song for tonight. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntuqTuc6HxM

Ding, Dong, Dell

23/07/2012

      You could say I’ve had my up’s and down’s recently. Possibly you could say Pride Goeth before a Fall, though I really wouldn’t recommend it since saying it could prove painful..

Faithful Old Ginger had stood on the gate to catch my attention, Gizmo lying at his feet until he did so. Since My ‘The Her’ was asking My ‘The Him’ why he couldn’t stop the caterwauling he finally did and I was able to hear Ginger. Why My ‘The Him’ tries singing I don’t know since everyone says the arrow of tunefulness missed it’s mark by a mile when aimed at him.I went out through the open clearway. The skywater had stopped and the light was just warming everything up. As I approached the gate Ginger jumped down on the other side next to Gizmo who now stirred himself and in an excited mew told me to hurry up and see what they’d found. Temporarily firgetting that I don’t hurry for anyone, I jumped up onto the gate and over to join my friends. “So what have you found”? I asked.
“A big hole” Gizmo replied. “A well” said Ginger, “and we’ve not seen this one before”.

I followed my friends through the village, letting them set a brisk pace so no-one else got there before us. Not that it really mattered to me if they did since wells aren’t something I especially claim an interest in. We reached the Church and all in turn jumped over the stile and headed for the path. Ginger and Gizmo walked on the grass beside the path on either side of me who sauntered gently along it. At least I did at first because you will remember the Church path is very steep and it had been collecting a lot of skywater . Though most of it had run away along the sides , some had remained in the soil. My feet were becoming quite muddy and I was starting to slip and slide.

Eventually we reached a point where the slip and slide couldn’t be stopped and my body picked up speed. “Hey, wait for us” called Ginger rushing along beside me.
“Sorry Ginger, I’m just so interested in seeing your well” I said rather than admit I had no choice since even putting my front paws down hadn’t slowed me. On I went gathering speed and leaving my companions behind until my forward motion was checked suddenly and my feet felt nothing. I was just congratulating myself when my motion took a different turn, downwards. Judging by the bricks I could see before me I guessed I had now found the well.

The journey downwards took a long time it seemed and when the landing finally came, fortunately for me in water, the light seemed a long way away. I heard Gizmo call “Are you alright Oscar?” to which I replied as nonchalantly as possible, having just lost at least one more of my nine lives “Yes, thanks Gizmo. Just wanted to see if there’s anything interesting down here. There isn’t so you can help me out as soon as you like.”
There was a lot of muttering from above until Ginger finally leaned over and said ” We have no way of helping Oscar. Gizmo will have to go and find a Longlegs to help.” I told him “Not one of my Longlegs please” but Gizmo had already gone.
Time passed with Ginger asking me what I could see down there until I finally convinced him that he had the light up there and down here it was still dark time. Soon enough I heard voices.
“Sorry Vicar” said one I recognised as My ‘The Him’ this damned cat seemed to be wanting me to follow so I did. I was just going to show Mellor’s where to plant my rhubarb too.”
“Interesting “said the Vicar, “I thought he’d be the one to know the right spot since I gather he did a lot of planting with Lady C.”
Hello, I thought, I’m down here waiting……….
The Vicar stuck his head over the edge of the well. “My word, there’s a cat stuck down the My Lord, and I think it’s yours.”
Joining the Vicar in blocking out what little light there was came My ‘The Him’ and stating the obvious said “Yes, that’s Oscar, in trouble again I see.”
The heads disappeared for a moment then I heard the Vicar call out to his verger “Hoskins, be a good chap and bring me a rope and a bucket.” then turning to My ‘The Him’ said “They only found this well yesterday, I think it dates from before the civil war and I wanted to see if there were any marking on the wall to date it. Maybe it could be brought back into service, even as a wishing well for the children.”
“Interesting Vicar ” said My ‘The Him’ “but I don’t think it’s that old since there were no buildings here then. I’d say Victorian.”
I let out a mew to remind then I was there and they shut up. Just at that moment Hoskins returned with the rope and bucket. In short order they had the bucket on it’s way down to me and I was able to stop pedalling water long enough to climb in. In less than a minute I was back on dry land and able to say thank you to my saviour. “Well done Gizmo” I said “I’m very grateful. I entwined myself round the ankles of the Vicar and of My ‘The Him’ as a small thank you for the part they’d played but My ‘The Him’ jumped back saying “Oh no Oscar. You’re not sending me down there.Back away.”
I did so reluctantly.

Later on, back at home safely I cringed when My ‘The Her’ saw me and started singing, “Ding, Dong, Dell, pussy’s in the well.”
I tried to tell ‘The Him’ that he was right as coming up in the bucket I’d seen scrawled on one brick in the well, Joe Bloggs woz ere 1839, but as usual he didn’t understand me.

                                               Shazam, I turn you into a frog.

                                    Ooh, get you Harry Potter. Ribbit

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIlKKPDppDo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SD4lI9GKUE

Have a wonderful week everyone. Hugs all round…

Honest Oscar. Would you buy a used chariot……?

2/7/2012 

I’m not quite sure what Ginger means when he says of me “Would you buy a used chariot from this cat”. Everyone knows I’m the very definition of probity. I confess there are times it pays to bend the hard angles of truth a little or exaggerate slightly but that’s about it. I do after all have a reputation to uphold. To prove it I’m going to share a little secret but if it should get back to Ginger or one of the others I’ll know where it came from. I’ve been a bit down in the dumps . Only three of the rodents came out to be fed yesterday morning. My ‘The Him’ does it religiously every morning AFTER he’s fed me of course. He issues them cornflakes and then toast. It’s actually quite funny to see them trying to pinch the cornflakes off each other or drag his fingers into the cage as their next course. I noticed just three of them on the cornflakes and thought it odd but expected number four out when the toast arrived as they love the butter.It just didn’t seem right that he’s cut four pieces of crust and yet only three of them were there to eat.

What’s most odd about this situation is that the missing one is Penny, the one who causes me most trouble. I even went to the trouble of trying to wake My ‘The Her’ though if an oaf like HIM can’t do it how could I? Anyway, eventually he got her up and she came through. Always following their food My’The Her’ has them out to play two at a time which is usually the time for me to show discretion and retire to doze or perhaps eat. Penny is always first out and out longest. It wasn’t looking good. But, she put her hand in the cage and picked up Penny’s house and brought it out then went back for Amy who is their chief negotiator of the current truce. Penny came out of her house when Amy was placed on the long seat they run about on. She was definitely sluggish and seemed to be coughing as though she wanted to be sick. ( Rats can’t be sick. Just thought I’d impart a little knowledge). That lasted a few minutes until finally she jumped up and ran up the back of the seat and buried herself in the throw that’s kept there. Since she didn’t seem to want to move she was put back in her house and the house placed back in the cage.

I was out all day with the gang. We were in the woods since it was water from the sky time again. This is the time the Longlegs laughingly call Summer so perhaps the water was expected as it’s done little else for ages. When I came back home to eat, the rodents were back in their cage ( where they belong to my mind) so I thought no more of Penny until dark time. That’s the time they rouse a little again and sometimes come out to play again. There was no Penny coming out and I remembered she seemed ill. Again My ‘The Her’ put her hand in and brought Penny out. She just lay there being stroked and things just don’t seem right. She had to go back in early and everyone seemed subdued taking the whole sparkle out of the day.

Today it’s too early for their breakfast and playtime so I’m worried about what will happen when the cornflakes arrive. Two days without trading insults is just too much.

So now you know a secret and that I’ve shared a truth. But, don’t misunderstand me, if you tell anyone I’ll say you’re lying and my record of probity will stand me in good stead. After all, you’ve never heard me tell fibs on my blog yet……….Have you ?

 The Mahouts

                                                     Why you watch me eat?

Wishing you all a wonderful week full of hugs. Don’t worry about Penny.

Oscar’s New World Order

6/5/2012

    It was CATastrophic. There I had been, contented after my sachet of prime beef and ready for sleep. Within minutes I was in a world I couldn’t recognise, couldn’t understand and didn’t like.

I had walked to the village to check on my interests and seen small groups of the local cats and kittens along my way. In the centre by the Fursty Ferret sat Ginger or rather stood like  a Longlegs reading from a paper tacked to the wall. “What are we to do Oscar?” he said “we can no longer be friends.”
“What rubbish is this Ginger” I asked, ” how can we not be friends after having been so for such  a time?”
“Ti’s no longer to be allowed since this new Cat Council has come into being.”
“Cat Council? What are you blathering about Ginger.”
“Read it” he said.

                                                  By Order of the Cat Council.
Let it be known in the world of Moggies that the Council has in it’s wisdom decreed changes that are to be implemented immediately.
No more will there be mixing of breed. 
From now on Pure White Persians are the true breed and are selected for rule. Only they shall sit on the Council.
Ginger and marmalade cats are to be the troops under the direction of the Council and who are to enforce the rules.
Black cats are the workers and are to perform all the duties decided for them by the Council and told to them by the troops.
Manx Cats are to be pitied and laughed at.

No groups are to socialise with each other since obviously only Pure White Persians are worth socialising with. We, the Council will decide whether anyone from one group can rise in  the ranks to another- simply they can’t.
All worship shall be decided by The Council. We shall decide on a deity suitable for each rank. That deity shall be governed by the rules of the Council.
If any kitten should be found playing in a way thought not suitable or playing with a kitten from another group,  that kitten can be beaten by the Deity’s Pastor of the flock. Especially if they are found to be playing with others of the same sex.
Any older kittens found to be with others of the same sex will be ostracised from all groups and deemed to be unclean.

Signed
Supreme Mog

” But this is patently ridiculous Ginger” I told him.” We’re far too civilised to live this way. Just ignore it, obviously a big joke.”
“But……” he said, and at that moment I woke up. I laughed to myself. How silly, I thought. After all, no-one could live like that could they?

                                                             It’s for you.

                 Not a good idea to say “Where’s your nose Amelie?” Excavation due.

Confrontation and Lies

9/4/2012

I decided to take a walk round my village this morning just to make sure all’s well. It’s been a few days since I did so. As I was getting to The Fursty Ferret I saw Ginger and young Frisk, a newcomer, talking. Or rather Ginger was doing the talking and Frisk the listening. I wandered over in time to hear Ginger saying “And I  suggest you don’t say a word about it from now on”.
“About what Ginger?” I asked.
“Oh hello Oscar, nothing important” he said.
“I was just asking if it’s true that two rats rule the roost in your house” said Frisk with what looked like a smirk.

“I don’t know who you’ve been listening to kitten” I said, “but make no mistake, I’m still as much in charge there as ever.”
“Just what I’ve been saying” added Ginger.
It was easier to feign indifference to what Frisk said than to actually work out in my mind whether what I’d said was true since the unfortunate incident with my tail, but I wasn’t about to voice my doubts.

I continued with my stroll as though nothing was wrong but it worried me that a newcomer could so easily voice thoughts that made me look silly in front of my friends. I have to fix this and quickly I thought. With a new determination I turned and headed for home. Just inside the gateway there was a rustle and quick as a flash I pounced showing Frisk and Ginger who seemed to have followed me that I’d lost none of my speed. It was a small field mouse and as my jaws caught it, the mouse played dead. I realised to my relief it was a mouse I’d caught before and had asked to play dead in exchange for it’s life. From the corner of my mouth I spoke to Frisk “Do you really fink anyone oo cud catch a mouse vis fasht is not boss at home?” I didn’t wait for his reply but went indoors. Inside I made sure I avoided the screaming Longlegs and went straight to an open clearway and dropped the mouse outside again. “You’re lucky I didn’t bite” I said “now why not find somewhere else to live?”

I went to the room for sitting and stood before the cage where the rats live. Hmm, daylight, they’re asleep I thought. I called out.”Hey rats, come on out and talk for a minute”.
Two heads duly appeared followed by two bodies that stretched out from sleep and lastly came two tails, huge long hairless things.
“What do you want?” said Rat 1
“Is it food time?” said Rat 2.
” Stop thinking about your stomach Penny ” said Rat 1 “it’s almost dragging on the floor.”
“Listen” I told them, “I want a truce and a little favour!
“Have you got anything to eat?” said the one called Penny”even a little tail would do.” and I swear there was a little snigger there.
I picked up one of their chocolate drops between my teeth and leaned towards the cage. Penny came to take it and as she did I caught one of her whiskers. “Ouch”she said.
“Perhaps it’s time I made meal of something “I said and let go.
“I repeat, what do you want” said Rat 1.
“As we both have to live here, I suggest we make the best of it” I replied, “but, as you have your own little kingdom here and I have mine everywhere outside your home, if you help me regain my good name I’ll agree to leave you in peace.”
“Sounds reasonable” said Rat1 “so what’s the favour you want?”
“I need to carry one of you outside in my mouth to show I’m still the Superior here. After I’ve been seen I’ll bring you back unharmed.”

Rat 1 whispered to Rat 2 before turning back to me and saying. ” We agree. You can carry Penny out and I’ll watch to make sure you keep your word.”
Clever, I thought, making sure that one made sure she was safe. Easy to see who was the brains. When I opened the cage and Penny came towards me it was easy to see who was the stomach too.
I took her in my teeth and carried her outside. We were approaching the gate where Ginger and Frisky were still sitting when Penny said quietly ” Is there anything to eat out here?”
I shushed her and lay her inert body on the ground near Frisky. ” So the rats rule the roost do they? Here’s one that doesn’t and the other one is next.”
“Sorry Oscar” said Frisky ” you’re obviously still in charge.”
“Right”I said “I’ll leave this as a gift for my Longlegs” and carried Penny back inside. My jaw was relieved when I was able to set her down. It’s obvious rats don’t do diets. As a thank you I got two grapes from the room for food and brought them to the cage. I saw Rat 1 say thanks and start to eat while Penny ran with hers to the base to hide it and then come back to the top.”Come on Amy” she said, “share with me, after all, I was the one who went out.”
“Yes” said Amy “you did” and handed over her grape. Penny started eating and Amy ran down to get the one Penny had hidden to eat herself. “Oh , you’ve got another one ” said Penny, “that’s good.”
“Truce over Ladies ” I said, “from now on I’m the Superior round here and if you behave there’ll be more food. I left them eating their grapes.

Lesson and a Stroll.

5/12/2011

As the light was rising so was the warmth. It was comfortable on my ‘The Hers’ sleeping place but far better to be out and about. The small clearspace was open in her room but that would mean a long walk round the building. Far better to start by going out of the large clearway at the front.

I moved to sit by it. No-one was around. I called out but got no response. I called again a little louder but no-one came. This is not how it’s supposed to work at all, that’s why I chose these longlegs. I cannot be blamed for taking the drastic action I took next as I was being ignored.

My ‘The Him’ was on his sleeping place, lying on his back and making that stupid grunting noise he seems to make. How unfair that I had to disturb myself to get up and walk this far only to find he would rather sleep than open my clearway. I took action.

I started gently because of my innate kindness and only nibbled his ear gently. The insertion of my nose only caused him to shake his head and grunt a little more. So I bit his ear and withdrew quickly. He sat up, eyes open wide, hand going to his ear and coming away a little red. Not much, but a little. Lesson learned I think.

His legs swung out of the sleeping place quicker than I thought and I was virtually thrown to the floor in his haste. Of course as a Superior I know how to land well but he shouldn’t have done it and I stored the memory. For safety I edged away while he put on his funny fur feet and followed me…….. as far as the clearway where I sat down and waited. He also came to a halt and for a moment I thought he was going to suggest I was in the wrong. Luckily for him he didn’t. As I looked towards the handle he got the message loud and clear and opened my clearway. I heard him grumble something about 5 o’clock as I walked out and narrowly missed losing my tail as the clearway was once again shut.

Ginger was sitting by the gate basking in the warmth and mewed as I approached. We exchanged information on how we had spent the dark time and I allowed him to best me with his story of how he had caught an ugly flying thing that tasted like furry leather. Not nice at all. In truth he had bested me because I had not hunted and caught nothing at all. I had in fact been to the village and sat outside a house where longlegs had a lot of lights, had made plenty of noise but from which rich smells had come. It was that I was going to investigate now. Ginger decided to come with me.

We walked through the village, my village and saw only a few longlegs about. There was the woman who posts things who had jumped when my ‘The Him’ had put a fast running thing on the step. How silly, she was so much bigger. Soon we came to the house. The lights had gone and so had the noise but some of the smells still lingered but they came from round the back. We investigated. There were stacks of bottles that we had to jump over, but our noses, under my leadership of course soon found the source of the smell. Unfortunately it had a lid on, and the lid did not want to come off. How lucky that I have a Superiors brain skills, especially where food is concerned. I had Ginger go behind, brace his back against the wall of the house and raise his front paws to push over the container. I sat and supervised while he rocked it until it started to fall.

It landed with a terrible clang but the lid fell off. I pulled out a bag that held a fish smell and retreated behind the garden wall to eat. I suggested Ginger stay and search for something that smelled right to him. He agreed, and was half in and half out of the container when a clearway opened, a head looked out and a shoe was thrown. Poor Ginger, right on his tail ! He ran and instead of stopping behind the wall to join me, kept on running. I enjoyed a feast before picking a nice shrimp from the bag and carrying it home and leaving it beside my gate for Ginger or one of the others.

Fed and content I walked round the house and jumped in my clearway where I settled down on the end of my ‘The Him’s’ sleeping place so he could stroke me when he woke. I am so kind and thoughtful like that.