Catch up

Monday, 28th April, 2008

OK, it’s been a while, but with good reason. I’ve had a few things to contend with: being ill, being very busy with work, and dealing with one of the biggest decisions I’ve ever made.

I decided a few weeks ago that it would be better for my cat if he went and lived somewhere else. I’ve had him for about three and a half years, and he was the best thing in my life. He was affectionate, he was fun, he was a reason to get up when I was feeling hungover, or just like I couldn’t be bothered - he could always be bothered eating, so miaowed you into a guilt trip that got you out of bed.

We’ve been through a lot together; he only ever got outside when I was at home, so that when he came back I was there in case he needed to be rushed off to the vet - which happened on a few occasions! His last vet trip was because he appeared to have been knocked down - he came limping in one night, with his front right paw pouring with blood, and in a lot of pain. Unfortunately for him, this incident meant he was kept indoors for around ten weeks. He was at the vet every couple of days to get his cast off the leg (which was broken) and to get his wounds cleaned and dressed. When he seemed well enough to get back outside (which in him mind was about ten minutes after he’d come back from the first vet visit…), I let him out.

As it had been quite a few weeks, it seemed that in that time a new tom cat had appeared on the scene around where I live. And even though Treacle had been here for over three years, this new tom thought that this was his territory. He and Treacle didn’t really get on (fighting viciously whenever I let him out), to the point that I started to keep him in again.

With no reason to be kept in, he wasn’t very happy. He wanted to be out there, even if it meant getting into fights all the time. But I figured he’d had enough of the vet for a while, so didn’t want him getting injured, and so he was housebound again.

Every morning I’d go to work, and eventually I’d come home, and he’d be there. Sitting by the door, waiting on me coming in. But I knew, he was desperate to get back outside.

I eventually took the decision to see about getting him re-homed. I made some enquiries about this, and after a few weeks Treacle was fostered, while they tried to find him a new permanent home. It took a week for someone to come and see him and immediately decide they wanted him, and I’m glad to say that he now lives in a house with nothing but fields out the back, and has a cat-flap that will allow him to come and go as he pleases.

I miss him a lot. The house is so quiet without him padding about, and I definitely miss the company; the affection; his personality. But I know I did the right thing…for him. This was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do, and I didn’t do it for me, I did it for him.

I’m sure he’ll be happy where he is - in reality all he needs is love, care, attention, food, and to get outside to play. He’ll get all of these things where he is now. As much as I loved him, I wasn’t able to give him all of these things any more.

Thanks for everything Treacle, you will be missed.

Great. I’m crying. Again.

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16

Apr

Buggy

Wednesday, 16th April, 2008

I’ve been ill for the past ten days or so, hence the no posting around here. I’ve had very little energy to do anything much at all.

I’ve got a few posts in draft that I’ll finish off and get on just so there’s some new-ish content over the next few days.

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2

Apr

Overheard

Wednesday, 2nd April, 2008

In buying fuel for my car, I heard this exchange:

Petrol Station Worker: “Do you have a Nectar card?”

Woman being served: “Not with me, no”

Eh? Do you have a Nectar card? Surely a straight yes or no answer at the point when the question was asked?

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1

Apr

Bad day

Tuesday, 1st April, 2008

Ever had one of those days when nothing seems to be going you way?

Today was one such day for me. I knew it was going to be bad, I don’t know why.

When I got to the office and started my up my laptop, it threw up some warnings about suspicious behaviour from our corporate Anti-Virus system. That was my cue to flatten the thing and start again. It’s good to do this now and again with Windows as it’s such a shit operating system, and I had been looking for that final push to do this for a few weeks.

So I went ahead and backed up the important files I needed, and then re-installed Windows on the laptop. I then spent most of the day getting it back into working order, moving back my files and preferences for various bits of software, downloading updates etc. A total waste of a day, which didn’t put me in the best of moods.

However, I got to about 6pm and decided to leave the office and head home. My plan was to continue to work on the laptop and hopefully have it fully up and ready for use tomorrow for a full day’s catch-up at work. I lifted my mug off my desk and took it to wash it. I dried it, and headed back to my office, and somehow (I’ve no idea how) managed to drop the mug, which smashed into bits. I know it’s just a mug, but I really liked that mug, and it had an element of sentimental value for me, for reasons I won’t mention here.

That just about summed up how my day had gone. Here’s hoping for a better tomorrow.

I’m off to look at mugs online, see if I can find something that I like…

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