Alt.Mustardland

I had a bit of a shock last night. An E-mail. We never know our Cats age, but can only rely on the previous owner, or in Georges case, from the Carer to the lady who George had previously owned Which seemed about right). When registering with Vet and Insuerer I told them the same age, which at that time was about nine years. But Having no definate date, one has no actual Birthday for Him. Last Night The insurers contacted me with some special plan as their records based on the figure I first gave them .... He is 23 years old.

Copy from Last niights Meet. from Coockiepus n Peets. I think altogether there were 21 of us, including 2 guests: Whitby-Rose, Annakist, Sheena, Leggsy, Fee, SFA, Sally, Redbookish, Sheps, Lili, Beau Thai, Loosewheel, GLO, XTD, Melusine, Guzzinut, Virtual-Jan, Merrilily, Suke, Hilary and myself.

So sorry, it was my fault not paying attention or coming back to my thread without checking it was still the first one.

You needn't have done that, I was going to delete it after you'd read it.

What sort of Birthday Cake should a 23 yr old cat get?

A very small one. You've been saying he's a fat cat. It's the thought that counts.

A thought cake in a cardboard box nearly big enough for him.

DON'T LET HIM READ THAT - He will beat me up if He thinks I said that He was FAT. Vet says he is not fat, He is just a BIG cat - all 6.2 Kilo of him. Vet felt all over his bones - no fat there.
But maybe a cardboard box will entertain him.

My apologies. If the vet says he's not got anything that shouldn't be there, a cardboard box may do the trick of giving him a treat. I could always send some dreamies in ignorance.

Vet Happy with Georges figure (but dont let him step on your foot), but Sugesting that at some time (not urgent) would be a tooth scrub - Sedative necessary. George does panic a bit if in a carrybox (Heavy breathing, and Moulting), So I don't want unnecessary stress unless it became urgent (Unlikely), but ... The 23rd birthday seems to have triggered the "Free advice" from vet/nurse, so I will seek advice there on how to calm him when it becomes necessary. The vet now covers the Carriebox with a Blanket sprayed with Feliway when in the Waiting room. I suspect that merely covering him into darkness is more effective than Feliway.
Waiting rooms reminds me. Vet has now separated the Waiting room into: Dogs: and cats and small furries (I hope the cats don't meet the Hampsters/mice etc). The odd thing is, that when Dogs and Cat waiting rooms were "mixed", I took Rocky (Georges predecessor and a Cat "Wiv attitude"), and little yappy dogs could try (unsuccessfully) make Rocky uncomfortable, but a damn great Alsatian laid down, head on paws, eyes half closed, next to Rocky's Carriebox was totally ignored; Alsatians know their place, perhaps they knew that they were big enough not to be ignored

Cassie used in her youth to try and befriend cats but they used to run away. Then she met one sunning itself by a tree, took a few steps towards him whereupon he stood up, growled and spat. Cassie shied away and yelped in surprise, but treated cats with caution thereafter. Our friendly neighbour who used to look after her for me, adopted a rather small tortoiseshell cat which ruled his house, Father, mother, two boys and German Shepherd and big Border collie with a rod of iron. Cassie, slightly smaller but otherwise identical border collie obeyed along with the rest.

I sometimes think cat servants don't realise that dogs quite like cats, but cats are repelled by enthusiasm.

Ahh, Yes, but Dogs are predictable as each breed will behave, But Cats are much less Predictable.

I wonder if this is worth a visit. Not that I want to arm a Cannon??



Ahoy shipmates! Here's how to explore a 1665 shipwreck from Southend's coast
By Poppie Webster
3 minutes

Ahoy shipmates! Here's how to explore a historic shipwreck just off Southend's coast

Ahoy shipmates! Here's how to explore a historic shipwreck just off Southend's coast

Swashbuckling shipmates can join in on an interactive event to learn more about the historic shipwreck of The London, which lays just off the Southend coast.

Archaeologists and historians have been studying the 1665 wreck, which lays at the mouth of the estuary, and will be giving talks about their findings as part of the free event, which will take place on Saturday (March 7).

Guests will be able to learn how to load a cannon, see other firearms and instruments on display, and be wowed by members of the English Civil War Society, who will be in 17th century costume.

Councillor Kevin Robinson, cabinet member for business, culture and tourism, said: “It is going to be a great days for families, as some of the display will be interactive and educational.

“It should also be of interest to anyone with a passion for England’s nautical history, plus anyone with a long standing family connection to Southend. Samuel Pepys wrote about the explosion and sinking of The London and it remains an important part of the town’s heritage.

“This is a chance to hear more, directly from the experts who are studying the wreckage and see some of the items the ship holds.”

The event will take place at The Forum in Elmer Square, Southend, between 1am and 5pm.

Although tickets are free, there is limited availability. Please visit https://www.visitsouthend.co.uk/whats-o ... e-Capsule/ to avoid disappointment.

People who do not have tickets can still drop by to see the cannon and some of the other items on display.

The event has been arranged in partnership with The Nautical Archaeology Society, The London Shipwreck Trust, with the support of Historic England, Southend Museums and Southend-on-Sea Borough Council.

Campaign Save the London has been set up to fund the reclamation and preservation of the wreck and the items on board, which are being washed away and destroyed with every tide and passing vessel.

It's a bit far for me. If it was in the Bristol Channel I might be tempted.

I went to a parish magazine editor's training this morning. The road was slightly flooded in places, but only shallowly, and it has almost dispersed on the way back. I had a rest on the bed in preparation for tonight's quiz. Our favourite opponents won but fed us well. I'll take my blood pressure and go to bed now.

Gotta go - only one bus an hour to Doc's.
I eventualy got a Ticket (£1) to Lecture Re The HMS London - (Sunk in the Thames) on Saturday - but what a convoluted way to get a ticket - several link's including E-Mail a place called USA.
So are you now an Editor - You'll be Famous - I've only met two Editors before - My Cousin was Editor of a Cycling Club (in his Later years He was Editor of a Model Boat club), and My Colleague Fiona was an Editor of A Ladies Mag called "Good Housekeeping"... Neither publications showed much here???? Hope Yours goes well.

Iv'e been a co-editor of a local magazine which took the mickey out of local politicians one of whom was leader of the city council. Over a couple of years the power shifted to the opposite camp. We mocked the corruption and the lack of accountability of the Business district and that went well. We printed hard co[y and there was a website, and my other editor said we were getting hits from Canberra, Langley, Moscow and Beijing,

When I came here I said to someone in the parish, that I'd really like to edit the Parish Magazine and she said she knew the current editor wanted to give up and find someone else to do it. I reassured the rector that we wouldn't be controversial, but encouraging people to be nice to each other is pretty revolutionary, and I'm into the 4th year of doing it. The meeting was for established editors to exchange good practice. One woman was doing it all herself, but we have a good team of people contributing, checking and distributing. We have an advertising manager who also designs the covers.

I hope you enjoy the course and don't sink without trace.

Mocking Pollyticians - That must be difficult?
I have met the odd MP (some VERY Odd), but some were actually useful, and some were even attempting to do good for the community - or at least, finding some common ground between opinions - The Recent (now deceased alas) Teddy T (Southend) was a good bod who actually spoke to his electorate, and a Good emmloyer to boot. Even some Local Gov bods are also honest, but I'm far from convinced that they have any real-life idea of Management. I also recall a ... shall we say "weak" ...MP who used to visit my boss when I worked in a ball-bearing factory in Chelmsford (odd how He only turned up when work on the RB2-11 Engines - Rolls-Royce-remember Concord?- was newsworthy). But He (MP) was accussed of nasty things which he ignored - Only recently disproved... far too late.

The Talk at Southend (if I can find the Universary - they have taken the name of a former Forum that I could find easily ) is only a one day course.

I also want to get to another Lecture at a different College in Southend later this month. A bit Gory, but it involves (very vaguely) in a couple of jobs a Did for NHS ... One of those jobs was surveying what/How Records hads to be removed out of London (The 250 year old patient record was just a single line in a book for each patient?), and the Second job I did was in another Hospital: our office was once the Home of a Royalness Who "May" have been involved in the Deaths of some of the records that had been in the Whitechapel Hospital.

We Editors must mock unsavoury political acts so that they don't go unnoticed. It is a sacred task. Besides, many good politicians try their best and should also be lauded. Most politicians start out with good intentions but the Whip system starts the downward slide.

In my work as temporary secretary at a Mental Hospital I typed up notes about a child abuser who had had a sad childhood being abused horribly by his family and others, so I understand that there is sometimes more to some tales than appears to be the case.

I did a course online in Forensic Archaeology by Prof Sue Black where we solved a (fictitious ) murder. It made up for not being able to do that module at university because of a timetable clash with my major subject. I went to a couple of day lectures from the Prof of my dept John Hunter who was also a specialist.

The Proff who's name you Mention is ... well, not known to me, but I have heard of her.

I'm feeling suddenly Tired, so I'll say no more until I can get more sleeps. How is Cassie now?

Professor Sue Black is chair at Dundee University. She's been on Desert Island Discs. Prof Hunter was at Bradford University but took the chair of Archaeology at Birmingham University. Just before my last year at Birmingham.

Cassie is fine. We went to Webbers Post below Dunkery Beacon for our walk and we left a donation of hair for birds nests after I gave her a good brushing.

I'm locked down. I was going to meet my sister at Westonbirt tomorrow but we agreed last night that it was better not. I joined Gareth Malone's Choir today, even though I missed the first rehearsal, my daughter sent me the link and I caught up later on You Tube.

I sent a message to my nephew in Spain. He's well, but locked down. He used to go out to coffee and lunch with friends so he's a bit lonely, I think. I sent him some genealogy files so it will be a while before he gets back to me.

This is a second attempt to post what I had typed earlier today.

Yes, things have quitened down beyond exchanging minor discomfort. I assume you can get to buy food and essentials.
Last Fridays "stock up" encountered Sparse hunter-gathering, involving supplementary visits to more distant supermarkets. Each seemed to be in different "Cycles" of deliveries to each dept. (i.e., Thousands of Mutherng Days flowers but no Fruit? and plenty of fruit at another, but no bread).

I Bumped into a near neighbour (She is a Child minder and was "stocking up). I mentioned trouble getting catfood. Could only get "own brand" More Gloop/Jelly than meat, So I had to buy a Brand more expensive than usual brands, so that I could balance the two extremes between meals. Merely a "passing the time of day problem" We had only just stopped to exchange views of the enormous amount of "stuff" that had been dumped around my house - seems that my immediate neighbour has gone. - back to back with my house by being in the next courtyard. (There was a very nice fairly new woodturning Lathe on the back of one lorryload). This is an all pedestrian estate (Blollards preventing any vehicle wider than the sweepers vac m/c/rubish collector lectric) so the path into the next courtyard which goes under my upstairs story is forming a sheltered store for removed Furniture/broken furniture/matresses/Carpets/File boxes/Filing cabinets/unrecognisable electrical gear and... and...) - including an old writing bureau (soon snaffled) - and not started on his Garden yet, which is covered in Sheds - Which incudes the shedroof-mounted windmill (for electric power)Which I'd asked the Council to remove because the rotating blades produced a Sunlight Flashng frequency into my Lounge (distracting and tiring).

Where was I? Oh yes, On Monday I found a Note through my door (addressed to my cat?), telling me to call as an even more distant neighbour (unknown to me) was "Animal Mad" and had left some cat food for Ginger George. So I called her - an Outfit called "Purrs" had left supplies - unknown to me, but Coockiepus tells me that Purrs is a cat homing place in Romford (15 miles from here). Thus Neighbour and the Child she was Caring for brought me:
A catering pack of mixed variety of 84 pouches of Whska's catfood,
Three boxes of (12 pouches per box) Felix Catfood,
Two large packs of Dryfood cat biscuits (different brands),
A box of teabags,
a pack of (human not cat) Biscuits,
tin of Baked Beans (not eaten them since I was a Kid)
& ..... two toilet rolls.....

All very thoughtful, BUT... I had just bought a box of the afore mentioned Gloopy catfood (48 pouches for a possibly looong interval before another purchase) and a Second box (afore mentioned) of more palalable catfood to alternate (also 48 pouches), and I was not completey out of stock even before those recent purchases (I was aware of the "expected" Shortage), so I seem to have weeeks of moggy food here, and I am feeling embarrased/guilty of this feline wealth. The Vast amount of Dry food especially, as His Gingerness is somewhat fixed in his ways as one would expect from a 23 year old cat, and passionately refuses Dryfood. A big cat who needs 4 pouches of food a day (reduced to alternated 4 per day, and only 3 per day during warmer weather)
I have posted a note into the Neighbours door, asking to profusely thank her "Purrs" contact for her thoughtfullness but I'm quite happy to share the Bounty with any nearby hungry cats: What else can I do?

I assume that you (and Cassie) can get out for a walk. I used to get up to walk through .. well it is a Country Park (no tarmac paths, nor spoerts, pitches or playgrounds, and about 50% woodland) but is officially a "Nature reserve", nearby. Unfortunately The pedestrian Railway crossing is now closed, and necessitates a walk over the railway bridge and through the housing estate before it gets pleasant, and the (only) bus to the top of Langdon Heights is now on a reduced/unknown frequency.

Yes we can get out, but I time my forays for approaching dusk, about when everyone is having their tea. Shopping is easier then too. I received my instruction today from HMG by text to stay at home. I stopped socialising a fortnight ago

Today I walked round my garden enjoying the spring. Very excited to see a couple of clumps of fritillarias, so posted pics on Facebook. It's always difficult to get photographs of violets and bluebells, and my best pics of the latter were taken while it was raining, last year.

When Cassie went toddling off after her stroke she turned up at Cats protection where they treated her with love and anxiety thinking she'd been hit by a car. I gave them some cat food, so if there is a local branch they might be grateful if you have a surplus.

I could do with another filing cabinet and accoutrements so was just a little envious of the fortuitous bounty that has come your way. You could probably do with one to organise your paperwork.