CATS ON TUESDAY # 7 ... plus more !!

Hello Everyone,

It's been an interesting few days in the world of Meow. Some parts of it I would rather not have had happen ...

On Saturday afternoon, Chicky was down the other end of our street (which is a double ended court / cul-de-sac) playing with a couple of friends who live down that end. They were playing with their cat, who is the same age as our Bambi. They were having lots of fun, as kids and cats always do !! All of a sudden, one of the residents of the street (a young girl, on P plates) started her car, and began speeding out of the street. The cat freaked out at the sound of the car, jumped out of Chicky's friend's arms, and ran across the road, right under the car. The girl driving didn't even stop. The kids were horrified, and somewhat hysterical, to have witnessed their friend, Jack the cat, being run over. Initially, the cat picked himself up and ran home (as seems to be the way with cats and dogs), but passed away quite quickly thereafter. Chicky's friend's parents barely had time to wrap up the cat, put him in the car to take to the Animal Emergency Hospital, before he stopped breathing. Those poor children, Chicky included, were absolutely inconsolable. What a horrible thing for them to see. None of them were able to sleep much that night ... I'm sure the scene was replaying itself over and over in their minds. I imagine it will be the source of nightmares for some time. I have to admit to shedding quite a few tears, myself. You know, as hard and horrible it was that the cat was killed, all I could think about was ... what if had've been a child on the road, and this girl (or any other person) was racing down the street in their car. The residents all know that there are heaps of animals and children in the street. They should know better ... they should drive SLOWLY at all times. I hope this has taught the girl driving the car a lesson ... a very hard one, yes, but a lesson none-the-less.

The past day or two, my kitty Bambi has been struggling with her wee-ing again (she had this problem mid-December last year). Back in December, the vet suggested she may have a problem with crystals forming in her urine, but at the time, we decided it may just be a one-off urinary infection, and would wait and see. It did go away, and all was fine again. Well, it has happened again. Poor kitty, it isn't nice when you need to go all the time, and you sit, and sit, and nothing happens. I took her to the vet this morning, and the vet (a different one, this time) told me about an interesting study she has read the report of. Apparently, cats that eat almost exclusively dry food, have a water intake of at least 50% less than those on a "wet" food diet. Even thought they may appear to drink an adequate amount of water, it still may not be enough. In some cats (although not all), this can lead to crystals forming in their urine (as has happened with Bambi), causing the problems she has been experiencing, and worse. The solution used to be to put them on a Prescription Diet dry food (Hills have a good one) to assist with reducing this problem. But, no more. The solution now, apparently, is to take them off dry food completely. So, this is what we are now trying. I don't think Bambi will be too impressed, as she is almost addicted to her dry food, and isn't a great fan of tinned or fresh food. We will have to perservere, though. Hopefully this will do the trick. Maybe down the track, when I am confident this won't happen again, I can give her a treat once or twice a week, of dry food (it is good for their teeth), and see how she goes. The vet also gave her an anti-inflammatory injection, to ease the problem, and hopefully by tonight she should be right as rain again. Poor little kitty.

OK, onto other (non-cat) related things.

We had a pretty quiet weekend. Hubby watched alot of TV (a change from working all weekend ... it appears there is not alot of overtime on offer at the moment at his work), and did a few little Mr. Fixit type jobs around the house and garden. I spent most of the weekend (and yesterday) at the computer, fiddling around with my photos from our trip to Broken Hill last year. I am using a program called Magix Photostory for CD & DVD, to turn these photos into DVDs, by adding transitions, zooms, commentary, music ... whatever. It is great fun, if somewhat fiddly and time consuming (I'm a bit of a perfectionist at times ... if it isn't quite right, I will fix it, over and over and over !!!). It's looking great, so far ... not much more to do !!

So, how was your weekend, what did you get up to ??

I'm on my way to come and visit you all now ... look out for me, won't you !!

Enjoy the remainder of your week.

Take care,

MEOW

How To Wash A Cat

Now, you all now I am a mega cat lover .... I found this video on You Tube and just had to share. It is very funny (and very, very true !!!). (You might need to turn off my What's New Pussycat song in the background first, so you can hear the commentary ... just press the stop button on the control in the side panel.)



Enjoy.

Have a great weekend.

Take care,

MEOW

A PINCH AND A PUNCH FOR THE FIRST OF THE MONTH ...

Hello everyone !!

Hope you have had a nice couple of days, and the weather hasn't been too warm / cold (wherever you may be !). It has been quite mild here, which is nice, although we are looking at some really hot weather over the next few days. I guess the air-conditioner will be getting another work-out !!

Chicky started high school yesterday, and it went wonderfully. She was very excited in the morning, and was ready to go well before time. I drove her in, as I will continue to do (then at least I know she got there safely !!). She came home by bus, and arrived in our front door much earlier than I expected. Good, that made me happy !! She was full of chatter, telling me about her day ... her locker, her combination padlock, her classes, her friends, her teachers ... she had a great day from all accounts. It was, however, only the first day, and it was kind of still the orientation process. Only the year 7s and the year 12s were at school, with everyone else going in today. That will be the test, I guess ... a school FULL of kids. She thought there was a lot of them yesterday ... she's in for a shock, I imagine !! Reading her timetable was a challenge ... it was all in code !!! What do all those letters and numbers mean ??? I suppose it's not really my problem ... it's hers ... but I like to know what she's up to, too !! So, anyway, she had a great day, and I am one relieved Mum ... here's hoping for a continuation of the enjoyment for her !!

I am off to work at the boarding cattery for a few hours today and tomorrow. I will be doing the bookwork, and any admin type stuff. I hope it will become a regular thing, as I enjoy working there ... being able to cuddle all those kitty-cats, that are boarding there, is always nice !! There is such a huge variety of kitties ... from your basic moggies (which I have a particular soft spot for), to your hugely expensive fancy pedigrees. I love them all !!

Can you believe it is aleady February 1st ?!?!? This year is flying by ... before we know it, we will be putting up the Christmas tree again !!!!

Gotta go .... I hope you all have a fantastic day.

Catch ya !!

MEOW

CATS ON TUESDAY # 6 ... and other stuff !!

Cat Kisses

Sandpaper kisses

On a cheek or a chin

That is the way

For a day to begin!

Sandpaper kisses

A cuddle and a purr.

I have an alarm clock

That's covered in fur!

Author Unknown

And now, on to my weekend ......

We left on Friday morning, for a long weekend (due to Australia Day ... see previous post) at Bonnie Doon. Now, I know that's not very original ... we always seem to head up to Bonnie Doon ... but it is only 2 hours from home, and we have everything we need there ... all we need to take is clothes and perishable food !! It was quite a warm day on Friday, and when we arrived, all our friends had headed off to a nearby lake to play in the water with their boats and wakeboards. We had a relaxing afternoon, doing absolutely nothing ... sigh, bliss !!

Saturday, the weather was cool and cloudy, and threatening to rain. We decided to go for a drive. Originally, we wanted to drive up to nearby Mount Buller, but due to the recent fire activity up there, and it being a fairly windy day, we decided against it ... the thought of the wind pushing over already fire-damaged trees was rather scary !! Instead, we drove in the direction of Jamieson. Approaching Mansfield (which is only about 25 km from Bonnie Doon), we passed this tree, which was decorated in the Aussie Soccer colours (since the World Cup last year). In previous years, it has had various pairs of bikinis, and AFL football colours. It is in dire need of a new paint job, I feel, as the paint is beginning to peel. (Peter, I thought you might be interested in this picture, as I know you have posted a pic of this tree in your blog in the past !)

Anyway, we drove to Jamieson, had lunch there, and visited my cousin and his wife, who were staying in her family's holiday home for the weekend. On the way back, we decided we just had to have a sticky-beak up the Howqua Track (which we thought would be still closed, due to the bushfires, but it wasn't !!), to see if we could see any areas where the bushfires had been. I know it sounds kind of morbid, but we were terribly curious. As we drove along the track, we caught glimpses of the burnt areas (if you click on the picture below, you should be able to see the brown patches of burn-out bush). The track you see in the picture is the one we were on !!

We continued to follow the track, until we rounded a bend and came across an eerie landscape of burn-out trees and totally burnt out underbrush. It was really creepy, very quiet (no wildlife or birds), and it somehow felt wrong to be there, almost like we were trespassing. We jumped out of the car, explored a little, took a few photos, and then high-tailed it back out of there !!

On arriving back on the main highway, instead of turning left back toward Bonnie Doon, we took a detour by turning right, toward Mount Buller, in the hope of getting a glimpse of the mountains, showing all the fire damage. It was incredible to see, and very very sad. So much damage ... I would hate to think of all the wildlife lost. (If you click on the following picture of Mount Buller, you might be able to see all the brownish areas, which are where the fire burnt through.)

After this, we turned around and went back to Bonnie Doon, where we caught up with our friends, and had a lovely evening of laughing and drinking !!

On Sunday, we decided to once again explore the dry lake bed ... there is always something new to see. We were lucky enough to catch sight of a Willy-Willy (or whirly-whirly) going through the dust. By the time I had my camera ready, it was almost in the water. We followed it's path through the water ... it was fascinating. We get lots of these in dusty areas ... they can be quite exciting. We were once buffeted by one whilst driving ... you could really feel as it hit the car !!

We packed everything up Sunday night, ready for an early departure Monday morning (Hubby didn't have to work until Monday night ... night shift ... so we had plenty of time to get home).

Monday we left bright and early, taking the back road across the hills, across to Eildon, rather than our usual path home on the highway via Yea and Yarra Glen. We wanted to visit the Eildon Dam wall, where the original wall was partially exposed, due to the low water levels. I hadn't been there for a couple of years, so it was about time. It was very fascinating, as I had never seen it this low, with the old water tower thingy, and the old spillway on display. These two photos were taken from opposite ends of the wall.

We had lunch in Eildon, and then headed home through the Black Spur, a very tropical looking mountain range, just outside of Healesville. We can actually go this way, rather than our usual way, when we head to Bonnie Doon, but the Black Spur way seems longer, so we usually go the way we always go !! The Black Spur drive is very beautiful, with an abundance of ferns and the tallest of trees. It is always very much cooler here, when it is warm, and also very much colder, when it is cold. It quite frequently snows here, in the middle of winter.

So, that was a little bit about my weekend. Hope you enjoy the pictures.

I hope your week is going well. My Chicky is off to high school tomorrow (Wednesday) ... she tells me she is a bit nervous, but very excited. I'm sure she will be totally fine, but I'm a mother ... I'm allowed to worry about her.

Enjoy the remainder of your week.

Take care,

MEOW

January 26th ... Australia Day !!

Hello Everyone !!

I know it has once again been awhile since posting properly, but that is only because I continue to enjoy our Summer Holidays, which come to an end next Wednesday 31st January, when my Chicky goes back to school, and I start back doing a few hours here and there at the boarding cattery. (I have already had a bucket-load of typing, so in one way, my holidays are already over !!) Poor Hubby, he has already been back at work for 3 weeks !!

We have been pretty busy, doing all sorts of things ... visiting, being visited, playing, going to the beach, relaxing, shopping, sleeping in, reading, watching TV, and generally having fun !! We are well and truly prepared for school resumption next week ... all the stationery and uniforms, shoes and other paraphernalia have been purchased.

We are off tomorrow, for a long weekend (Friday is a public holiday) to our caravan at Bonnie Doon (we are truly very unoriginal ... but we really like it up there !!). Friday's public holiday is due to it being Australia Day. Here is some information on Australia Day, for those that don't know what it is all about. It is a fairly long read, but very interesting.

HISTORY OF AUSTRALIA DAY

A Day for the People

Australia Day today is a community day. With formal ceremonies around the country - flag raising, citizenship ceremonies and the presentation of community awards - combined with local events and fun activities, the day belongs to the people.

Celebrations actively encourage participation of all Australians regardless of age, ethnicity and culture. Increasing numbers of communities are also making efforts to recognise the meaning of the day for indigenous Australians with events such as indigenous flag-raising and welcome to country ceremonies.

While the historical aspects of the day will always be acknowledged, there is now a greater awareness of the need to celebrate contemporary Australia with our diversity, remarkable achievements and bright future.

First celebrations

On January 26, 1788 Captain Arthur Phillip took formal possession of the colony of New South Wales and became its first Governor.

The fledging colony soon began to celebrate the anniversary of this date. Manning Clarke notes that in 1808 the "anniversary of the foundation of the colony" was observed in the traditional manner with "drinking and merriment".

The first official celebrations were held in 1818 to mark the 30th anniversary of white settlement. Governor Macquarie officiated at a thirty-gun salute during the day and a dinner ball at Government House that evening.

Foundation Day

During the early nineteenth century the anniversary was called 'Foundation Day' and was usually marked by sporting events. Horseracing was popular in the 1820s, whilst regattas became popular in the 1830s.

One of these, the Anniversary Regatta which was first held in 1836, is still held on Sydney Harbour on January 26 each year. Now called the Australia Day Regatta it is the oldest continuous regatta in the world.

A growing sense of patriotism was also being expressed in other ways. In 1824 Charles Tompson, reputed to be our first Australia-born poet, composed Wild Notes from the Lyre of a Native Minstrel.

Fifty years after Phillip landed Australia's first public holiday was announced to celebrate Foundation Day 1838. The inaugural holiday became an annual event and has continued to be held on or around January 26.

United festivities

Unlike previous years, when the celebrations were mainly private, the 1838 celebrations were a 'day for everyone' with the harbour foreshores crowded and a cracker display for the people.

By 1888, gold had been found and Australia's population had grown to nearly three million. All the colonial capitals, except Adelaide, proclaimed 'Anniversary Day' a public holiday and celebrations took place throughout the individual colonies.

The centenary was marked by ceremonies, parades, exhibitions, fireworks, banquets, church services and regattas. An estimated 50,000 people watched the Governor, Lord Carrington, unveil a statue in honour of Queen Victoria. Although the talk was of federation there was no question of the Australian people's loyalty to the mother country.

The 150th anniversary of white settlement in 1938 were marked with official ceremonies around the nation celebrating the arrival of Captain Phillip.

The show piece of the NSW celebrations was a re-enactment of Phillip's landing, complete with the deposition of a party of Aborigines. The latter group had been brought to Sydney when their city counterparts refused to participate in what they called a 'grossly theatrical re-enactment'.

Several hours before the re-enactment Aboriginal activists convened a 'Day of Mourning' conference aimed at securing citizenship and equal status for Aborigines.

Interestingly, the celebrations omitted any mention of Australia's convict roots.

Australia Day

Finally, in 1946, the Commonwealth Government, States and Territories agreed to observe one national day 'Australia Day' under one banner and on the same day.

During this period the celebrations continued to have a largely imperial feel consisting mainly of formal re-enactments of the First Fleet's landing.

The National Australia Day Council was formed in 1979, with state and territory councils and committees soon after. From their inception they have encouraged more 'grass roots' celebrations, working with local government authorities to promote the wider celebration of Australia Day.

However, the Australia Day public holiday was still held on the Monday closest to January 26 and to the broader community it was just another holiday.

In our bi-centenary year, 1988, the Australia Day public holiday was held around the nation on January 26. The highlight of the many celebrations was a re-enactment of the First Fleet's trip which departed from Portsmouth on May 13, 1987 and arrived in Australia in early January. Britain then presented the tall ship, Young Endeavour, to Australia as its bi-centennial present.

Alongside the celebrations 1988 was named a Year of Mourning for Australia's Aboriginal people, who also regarded the year as a celebration of survival. It was the most vocal indigenous presence ever felt on 26 January.

In addition to the celebrations the bi-centennial left a legacy of tangible projects. Often funded by the Federal, State and Territory Governments these diverse and useful projects are lasting monuments to the celebrations.

Since the bi-centenary Australia Day celebrations have continued to grow in number and stature with the celebrations continuing to involve a larger and broader audience.

It was not until 1994 however, that all the states and territories endorsed the celebration of Australia Day on the actual day instead of the closest Monday. United Australia Day celebrations have been held on 26 January ever since.

(Source: Australia Day Council of New South Wales)

I hope you found this information interesting, and not too long winded !!

Anyway, I would just like to wish all my fellow Australian bloggers and wonderful Australia Day Weekend, and I hope everyone else has a great weekend, too.

Catch y'all next week.

Take care,

MEOW

CATS ON TUESDAY # 5

Apologies for the quick, lazy way of posting a Cats On Tuesday.

Too much to do, too little time.

Hope everyone is well.

Take care,

MEOW

It's Raining ... Yippeeeee !!!

Yep, folks, it is finally raining cats and dogs !!! It has been raining on and off most of the day and night ... it's lovely. I can hear my lawn growing, and becoming green again. My plants and trees are laughing ... it's a wonderful sight !! I don't know if it is drought-breaking rain (I can only hope), but it is certainly good, wet, rain. In north western Victoria, they had so much rain yesterday that they had floods. Our rain hasn't been that extreme here in the south, but it has been constant. Now we only need it to continue for a few weeks !!! At least it is giving the weary fire-fighters a much-needed break ... hope it puts the fires out completely ... fingers crossed.

It is Saturday evening here, around 6pm. I'm about to make dinner. It has been a quiet day, basically washing, folding laundry, and pottering around. Tomorrow I am going to a Kitchen Tea, for my cousin, who is getting married in a month. Should be fun ... a pack of women being silly together !!!

How's your weekend going ??

Have a good one.

Take care,

MEOW