Sunday, 9 August 2009

Don't Send This Cat Down


Last week it was reported that, in much the same way as humans, cats can be either left or right-handed. Even since then, it seems, their dexterity has come on another giant step. A man in Florida, being held on ten counts of possessing child pornography, has blamed it on his cat jumping on the keyboard.

NB: I'm not certain that the above cat, which The Guardian have used in reporting the story, is the actual cat in question. If it's currently on its laptop and reading this - presumably whilst simultaneously looking at pictures of naked kittens - I apologise for so unthinkingly reusing its image, but presumably when it decided to take a career as a cat model, it went into the profession with its eyes fully open and knew the risks.

Saturday, 8 August 2009

Guest Cat Of The Month For August: Bertie Wooster


Name
Bertie Wooster.

Nicknames
I answer to Bertie, but I'm variously known as Mr Woo, the Wooster, B-Dub and Beh-weh.

Age
A youthfully exuberant two.

Owners
Ably attended to by L, to whom I'm a good deal attached.

Catchphrase
What ho! (Sometimes misheard as me-ow!)

Favourite habits
Following L around; voicing my opinion; waiting under the letterbox for the postman; licking and nibbling L's nose and generally being an affectionate popsy.

What constitutes a perfect morning for you?
I'm up with the lark and like to start the day with a dash of parkour around the flat to invigorate the system, before stretching myself across L's face and purring like the rumble of distant thunder, which ensures breakfast is served promptly. After I've fortified the old self with food, it's time to play - viz. a round with the practice golfball, chasing after a toy mouse, and so forth. Now some coves will use play to hone their hunting skills, but for me it's a chance to show off my rather spiffy interpretive dance moves. My carefully choreographed starjumps have been known to bring down the house. And of course no morning would be complete without a little light grooming. A gentleman likes to look his best.

Favourite food?
Cuts of toothsome chicken from M&S with a dainty saucer of cat milk on the side.

Defining moment of your life?
Meeting L. It's not easy to find words to describe that defining moment, if you see what I mean. What I mean is, you get a moment like that - defining you might say - when you know you've met the person you're supposed to be with. And I say that with a lot of not unmanly sentiment.

Any enemies?
Lick and let lick is the Wooster motto.

If you could do one thing to make the world a better place for felines, what would it be?
I'd introduce every child to a puss like me, in the hope that they would learn to care for animals and never be cruel to them.

If you could meet a celebrity who would it be and why?
Stephen Fry. He seems a brainy old bird and a jolly good wheeze to boot, by Jove.

Biography
Being a young chappie, my memoirs at this time are dashed slim and short on scandal. I'm content just to exist beautifully.


Thursday, 6 August 2009

Janet's Retro Litter Lake: More Discoveries


Name: Blackcurrant Flavour Ice Snapper
Place Of Origin: Bromsgrove
Tagline: "Do not refreeze!"
Estimated vintage: Best Before Date is 10.6.10... so probably about 1987, then.
Signs of attachment: None (dumped heartlessly in the hedge).
Weirdness rating: 5/10

Name: Original Pom-Bear
Place Of Origin: Corby
Tagline: "The Teddy-Shaped Potato Snack!"
Vintage: 2003
Other vital information: "Pom-Bear is The King Of Bears (allegedly)... his fur is a rich golden yellow and is quite short, not at all shaggy or scruffy, but still wonderful to touch and he's great for cuddling."
Signs of attachment: Lots: carried by Janet up three flights of stairs, onto first floor balcony (which also would have entailed death-defying jump across four foot gap between balcony and conservatory roof with packet in mouth).
Weirdness rating: 6/10

Sunday, 2 August 2009

Janet's Retro Litter Lake: Latest Find



Name: Expo Stillwater Groundbait
Country Of Origin: Norfolk (yeah, it's a country - do you have a problem with that?)
Tagline: "Marcel Van Den Eynde, 3 Time World Champion" (World Champion at what - having groundbait?)
Vintage: 2-6 years
Signs of attachment: Top garden step priority placement (above Walkers crisp packet, Somerfield carrier bag and something that looked worrying like an extra large algae-flavoured condom).
Weirdness rating: 7/10