I need a Dragon!

Ripple, "Helping" with the Blog

One of the things I have found since moving into my flat is the lack of companionship, not so much human companionship as the non-human.   We used to have cats, and then fish as well, when the cats left home the fish stayed, but in my new flat I just don't have space.   With plants on all the windowsill, books on the shelves, and tubas on the floor there is no room for an aquarium.   It may sound strange but I used to say "hello" and "goodnight" to them, watch them while I ate, or sometimes just sit and look.   Realistically I know I don't have the space, indeed ideally I would like to get rid of a couple of pieces of furniture, so any additions are definitely not on the cards.

A friend of mine keeps guinea pigs, another has hamsters, I even had a friend who kept ferrets, I don't think I'll be trying any of them.

Indeed I shall just have to get used to being on my own, with my plants and my clutter, that may be just as well since I am far from being the tidiest of people.   I do have a few stuffed animals, and I do have a few ornamental ones _ Ebony elephants, and china dragons, there may even be the odd dinosaur, but seeing todays Wizard of Id I thought I could do with a dragon like that!

Advent Calendar XXII

When our Daughter was younger we had a cloth Advent Calendar in the shape of a Christmas Tree, it had a little pocket for each day at the beginning of Advent we would put a little treat, usually chocolate, in each pocket for her to find that day.   I used to love the way she would look forward to finding the treat, the build up of excitement as we got closer to the great day itself, and then the total mayhem of Christmas morning.   She would come into our bedroom with all the gifts Santa had brought during the night, bouncing on our bed with excitement.

After breakfast we would all go to Church, it was only when we got home afterwards that we would open the gifts from under the tree from each other.

It was my wife's drive for the perfect family Christmas that brought me back to Church and then both of us to faith, in the process without even realising it we actually had the perfect family Christmas.   Maybe not the one that John Lewis and the rest of them try to sell us, but it was perfect for our family!

Now my Daughter has grown up, I no longer live with her and my wife, the house is somebody else's, my Mother is in a nursing home and I'm broke.   I see a lot of people saying similar things to this, "I've lost my family, my home, my job ~ I can't carry on!"   Well the good news is that you can!

I know for a lot of people Christmas is a tough time, especially if you are feeling lonely, abandoned, or desperate. It can be hard to see the way ahead.

The point of Christmas though is that we are never alone, never abandoned, and the way ahead is prepared for us.   There have been occasions over the last couple of years when I have experienced all of these negative emotions, but it has been the knowledge of the love of God that has kept me going.

It is the healing power of God at work in me, just as much as the hormones and the attentions of the London GIC that is now making me grow into the person I was made to be.   It has not always been easy, but knowing that God is with me has meant that I have not felt like giving up.   Well not since I've known Him, I did think about it (and even try once) before then.

I'm sorry if this is a little heavy for you, or if you don't recognise what I'm expressing, so here's a picture of cat in a Christmas tree to cheer us all up a bit!

Addendum

What do you mean? there are no cats in Star Wars!?

A quick trawl through the internet find quite literally hundreds of these pictures.   Clearly some people have the sort of relationship with their cats that allow them to see the inner feline thespian.   On the other hand maybe they just have too much time.

I wonder if the producers could be missing a major opportunity here by limiting themselves to a purely human cast.   How different would the output have looked if that first film had been produced by Jim Henson instead George Lucas?

Just writing this I have noticed that I had a "Label" for Cats but not "Films" I think that tells you a lot about me, I have now changed that!

good tips

I am writing this on Saturday evening, ready for publication on Sunday morning. We have had a pretty full day going down to Brighton to look at new Guitars for my daughter.   A friend who knows about these things went with us, and we all had a great time.   Eventually we did manage to make a decision but the guitar my daughter wanted had a small, intermittent, but important electrical problem, so they are ordering a new one for her.   A bit of a blow but I am sure it will be worth the extra wait to have the right instrument.  She had her audition for the BRIT School on Friday, and although she thinks she sang and played well, is not so sure she did as well as she could in the interview and aural tests, so a new guitar will either be a nice present to celebrate success or something good to hang onto if disappointed.

This afternoon (Sunday) I will be rehearsing for the LGSO concert on the 17th Feb, the rehearsal is at 4:00, it will take me about an hour of travel and an hour to get ready so I will have to leave home by around 2:00.   Given that I am playing for the morning service this could be a challenge.   On Friday evening we had a rehearsal for Sunday morning, and I think that is the best I have played the electric bass yet, I hope that I will do as well at the service.

Anyway this week one of my favorite caqrtoons, 9 Chickweed lane have been running a short series fo tips for performers

You have been warned

Nice Pussy?

So I see that yesterday I managed three separate posts, that must be a record, for me anyway.   Don't expect me to keep up that rate, I think I'll be doing well to manage one a day.   There have been a few good days recently and I think yesterday was another one ~ mostly.   After a rather odd service in the morning I came home expecting my wife and daughter to be champing at the bit as we had agreed to go to Foal Farm to find another cat to keep Smudge company.   Well when I got home my wife was up, but still in her PJs and my daughter still in bed, by the time they were both ready I would not have time to go with them and make my rehearsal.

This meant I had to let them go on their own, and trust them to make a good decision, while I stayed at home and then went up to town.   I had initially planned to go by public transport, but as I ended up running late I decided to drive up instead.  

I initially planed to wear a long jumper with skinny jeans and boots, but when I couldn't find my skinny jeans I changed my mind and opted for a tunic dress and leggings.   I would have been in time but I had a little panic over my presentation, a nail related disaster and I ended up getting a bit lost at one point and then had trouble finding somewhere to park.   This was a new experience for me in so many ways, but crucially I realised that A/ I can play with my knees together and B/ lipstick does not help the embouchure, I also ended up with a bit of a smudge.   We only rehearsed the Borodin and I am pretty confident that I will be OK with that, I still have to play the Schostakovich 5 but the part doesn't look too bad.   As far as I can tell from this one limited experience this is a pretty good orchestra, with all sections well filled with competent players.   I am sure that next week I will will allow myself a little more time to get ready and will.be a little more confident.   If any of you are around the area on the 17th February, please come and support us, I can promise a good performance, just be gentle with the overdressed bass trombone player.

When I got home the family had returned from their expedition and had brought back a captive, a mature female called "Sparkle", apparently she is very shy and so is in hiding under my daughters bed, I have yet to meet her, but I am sure that she will fit in and soon be part of the family.

Not Great

Sorry folks, but I don't have much that I want to post about today, as I said yesterday one of our cats died, we have just buried him and planted a hydrangea on the spot as a remembrance.

I also heard today that one of my elderly customers died on Thursday, so forgive me if I am not very effusive.   I have started preparing something, maybe I'll put that up in the morning.

In the mean time a quick well done to Fernando Alonso the first driver to win two grand prix this season.   I was expecting a pretty boring race, shows what I know!

Smudged out

Tonight we are all very sad, a little earlier my wife went up to our bedroom and found Smudge, he had been quiet ill for some time, but we hadn't realised just how bad he was. To find him dead in our bedroom was a very distressful shock for her, and for all of us.

We will miss him, he was part of our family, a friend and comfort.   He was only young and had been with us for about three years, although we will remember him with love and affection at the moment we just hurt and miss him.

Too much to say

As I keep banging on I am busy, so busy that i haven't even turned my computer on for three days, that's a lot of cartoons to catch up on, here are a couple of them

Both of me really likes mini skirts

Glad I've only got cats

I've got lots to write about but right now I need a bath to prepare myself for an early start as I am travelling pretty tomorrow.

Pets

Sometimes I am so glad that we just have a couple of cats

I often have this problem with Smudge

And this one with Ripple

On the other hand I don't have this one with either yet, that's why I keep my trombone and tubas in thier cases

Non human family members

Not much today of any particular trans content.   But of course we are all members of families, and life beyond clothing goes on.

Smudge is getting better, yesterday he was at last beginning to eat a bit, then last night we gave him a steroid pill, since then he seems to have got his appetite back.   Although he is still painfully thin I get the distinct feeling that he is past the crises.   Now we just have to feed hi up so he can get his strength back.

I have got to replace Gloria.   There is nothing wrong with her, she would happily give me another 3 or 4 years service, she is just the right size and power for what I do.   I love he driving position and "feel" of how she drives, the steering is just the right weight.   All in all she suits me, added to that all the experts tell me that this is the best model Transit Ford have made.   So why replace her.   Simple in January the London Low Emission zone is being  extended to include light vans.   Being well over 10 years old Gloria cannot get through the new restrictions, if I use her after early January I will have to pay £100 each time I use her.   As a self employed tradesman I simple can't afford to pay this, but in the current economic situation I can't afford a new van either.

Gloria, somewhere in France

This is a real catch 22, I can;t afford to not work, I need a van to work, I can't afford a new van.   I know that some micro businesses are just closing up as the need for a capital outlay at this time when we all have reduced income is the final straw.   I can't stop working as I need the income for a few years yet, so I have a bid in on e-bay for a new van, can you all keep your fingers crossed for me please.

Update

Smudge is still not well, but he is getting better.   At the end of last week we were very worried about him, we have now found out that the vet was not really expecting to him to make it to this week.   My wife took him in again today and he had another steroid shot.   He is on the mend but not yet out of the woods.  

He has a viral infection, but is fighting it off, now he needs to drink a lot more, and feed up he is just a bag of bones at the moment.   He has always been a bit skinny but now it is extreme, so he is going to get spoilt rotten over the next month or so, the only trouble is trying to find something that he likes.   He is such a fussy eater that it is difficult.

Ripple "Helping"

His brother, Ripple on the other hand is a totally different matter, he is in robust good health and is very muscular, as can been seen from the photo he also takes a keen interest in my blogs.

I'm still not sure whether I will get out to my support group meeting this weekend, but it is not looking hopeful,   If I don;t go then I shall have to find myself another opportunity, I just need to let Paula out every now and again.

Smudge

This is Smudge

He's not well

This morning we couldn't find Smudge, eventually we found him under a chair in my daughter's bedroom.   He has been off his food for a while and has been losing weight.   This morning we just had to take him to see the vet.   He was very subdued and is very quite and still.   The vet thinks that it may be a kidney infection and has given him an antibiotic and taken some blood samples, we will know more tomorrow.   In the mean time we can't help worrying.