Diary of a ginger tom cat.

Life had been tough...

2009-07-09T20:27:00.002+01:00

The man of the house would trudge every fortnight to the post office. He would collect his benefit. Every two weeks for eight years but (with an intermittence of proving that he was still clinically depressed every six months to a state funded psychiatrist)he would make that journey.

Life had been tough, a roll of the dice and a bad call at cards. Or so the woman of the house thought. The man of the house would later claim, when he was alright, and signed off, and with a new woman in tow "life is what you make it!"

This woman lived with him then when no one wanted to know him, or he didn't want to know them; out of shame, or fear or ridicule -even his own son -but he's ok now!

Under the polypropylene he could see the stars...

2009-06-25T21:45:00.001+01:00

Ferdinand lived in Shepton Mallett. A small house built from stone. Although it did boast a conservatory with a plastic corrugated roof. It had one bedroom and a downstairs bathroom, an avocado bathroom suite with pine cladding varnished burnt orange; nails tacking the wooden panels were rusted and competed for vibrancy.

In the hall was a phone that had a slot to push coins in when a human being wanted to speak to another being over the wires. Buckets would catch water that dripped from the ceiling when it rained. This room proclaimed itself as the kitchen; although it was the front hallway and the only entrance to the house.

Three doors led to this kitchen/lobby. One door in a wall directly off the street - no pavement! Entrance was accessed directly from the road. This led to an inner yard. 1.5 metres square. Facing the first door was another door which had two bolts, a hole -28 x 20 cm- had been cut, a home made wooden shutter fitted, this also was bolted, but would afford the resident time to determine whether friend or foe before drawing back the bolts -or not!

Through this door an alley. Directly ahead was yet another door -which opened onto a shed. But turn 45 degrees left advance a metre or so then another 45 degrees and there was the front door. This door orange or red depending on the strength of the sun was THE front door. It had a letter box! (Although the post was delivered into a home made box stuck onto the back of a hole hacked onto door 1.

Ferdinand lived in the conservatory, amongst the clay and the paints and detritus of an artist's 'studio'. Ferdinand needed a roof and under the polypropylene he could see the stars...

The hurts of lust's arrows.

2009-06-17T20:57:00.003+01:00

There is nothing that can be done against the force of love. That's what Susan says!

BUT.
Love shouldn't be a chimera, a token or a reliance on the silence of those that is a struggle to contain against the hurts of lust's arrows.

No I didn't get it either but this is Susan's diary!

But if you are lazy and desperate...

2009-06-08T20:39:00.001+01:00

It's spring.

Ferdinand's diary...

But if you are lazy and desperate...

The only way she could hold onto a bloke (and if it works once...)Was pregnancy. But, and it is a big BUT, she did not allow for the vasectomy...

So. We have F.A.T proclaiming 'support me I'm with child...'

Another knowing that parenthood was impossible -but not denying it...

Who then is in the power position?

On this then he must be congratulated...

Both; feel sorry for me 'I have to stand by F.A.T' plus child...

BUT also at the drop of a hat; feel sorry for me 'I believed her and she lied; twas not mine...

I await the next move...

Ferdinand's diary. In no particular order...

2009-05-27T20:11:00.001+01:00

I'll just copy exerts from Ferdinand's diary/jottings. Change I, to him and me to Ferdinand. From first to third person.

I think he would like that.

Plus when it's all typed out he can edit it. If...

Anyway so I'll just jump in: Ferdinand's diary. In no particular order...

Life's wierd!

2009-05-22T20:11:00.000+01:00

Susan has a whole sister, Lesly; that she doesn't see.
Martin has a half sister, Rachel; that he doesn't see.
I have a naught sister, Lillian; that I don't see.

Wierd.

Life's wierd!

I have a cure for swine flu!

2009-05-05T11:46:00.003+01:00

Oinkment!

Susan bought me a pressie. It's a mouse in leopard suit! It's full (plus you can refill it) with my drug of choice -catnip!

I've tried to pull it's tail off - which is turquoise - who on earth thought up a mouse with spots and a blue tail! bitten it's ears. It's still in tact though as yet. I'll have another go at it later.

I was dragging it out the catflap and Susan caught me and brought it back in.

Human beings eh-what can you do? I'll show it to Lil later. She loves catnip. Lil loved catnip.

THE cat.

2009-05-02T08:13:00.001+01:00

Susan called me THE cat.

She normally calls me, No Dolly.

Or, DOLLY!

Sometimes, DOLLY don’t.

Or simply OI!

Not my fault she has tangles!

2009-04-28T09:16:00.003+01:00

I was combing Susan's hair last night. Arranging it over the pillow. My claws a comb. It's very soothing to have your hair combed. Just like me having my ears rubbed -I suppose!

Unfortunately there was a bit of a snag. My deft claw in velvet glove hit a tangle! I yanked her awake! Not a good start to the day but an early start -4.30am.

Not my fault she has tangles!

The reader's digest!

2009-04-26T10:32:00.009+01:00

Susan is reading White Tiger. Now I don't believe in false modesty; I am beautiful but I have to admit tigers are exquisite but a white tiger! Just too beautiful. Susan says I walk like a big cat -I flick my front paws- which is a very big compliment. I'm practicing keeping my head still as I walk like the big cats do.

Martin says Susan doesn't read books she devours them. I do that. I like paper. I like to sit the other side of the book when she's reading, my eyes just above the top edge. When Susan has her nose in a book her eyes move from side to side; she looks like she's watching a toy swinging to and fro on a string. I rub the paperyness. Chomp at the corners of the book. Nibble at the edges. It's fun this reading.

Oh yes books are very easy to digest.

Daniel doesn't do cards.

2009-04-24T22:25:00.003+01:00

I was looking in the basket today. The basket Lil was in when I last saw her. She's not there. She won't be back Susan says...

Martin's project wasn't so good, apparently. So he's a bit of a grump. He wants me to let him rub my ears... I'll think about it.

But he has been given a grill thingey. A very belated b'day pressie. It grills things. Think he's pleased, can't tell. He says it was from Daniel- his son the head hunter- which is better than a card I think. Daniel doesn't do cards.

I know I'm not Grey Friars Bobby. I am NOT a dog!

2009-04-23T10:48:00.007+01:00

Susan say's, "you have to eat!"

I'll eat when I feel like eating and at the moment I don't.

This video is intrusive... Sometimes I just want a moment alone at the henge. But see the little yellow blob by the henge, that's a yellow lily. They were a gift for Susan on her birthday. This lily flower is a gift to Lilly cat.

"Don't be Grey Friars Bobby!" Susan said rubbing my ears. I'm not Grey Friars Bobby. I am NOT a dog!

I am cat.

Most other times though I'm with Susan, she needs my company I reckon. So she's at the computer, I'm on the computer; shed, I'm there; studio, she has my company; kitchen, me too. In the bathroom, she's closed the door! but I can rattle the handle...

Some things are just meant to be.

2009-04-23T00:29:00.002+01:00

Ok, I've come to a decision.

Some things are just meant to be.

Ferdinand is gone and Susan says Lil can't come back (I'm not sure about this! I keep leading Susan to where the henge is -she doesn't understand that Lil is there...)

But if this newspaper is deleted so be it.

I don't like spam.

2009-04-23T00:10:00.005+01:00

I don't like spam. Pink flabby stuff. Sort of grub Lil would...

I got a message from google that this blog is to be closed because of spam. (Even though it's not pink.)

These are not good times...

'Hello,

Your blog at http://diaryofagingertomcat.blogspot.com/ has been identified as a potential spam blog. Your blog will be deleted in 20 days if it isn't reviewed, and your readers will see a warning page during this time.

After we receive your request, we'll review your blog and unlock it within two business days. Once we have reviewed and determined your blog is not spam, the blog will be unlocked and the message in your Blogger dashboard will no longer be displayed. If this blog doesn't belong to you, you don't have to do anything, and any other blogs you may have won't be affected.

We find spam by using an automated classifier. Automatic spam detection is inherently fuzzy, and occasionally a blog like yours is flagged incorrectly. We sincerely apologize for this error.

By using this kind of system, however, we can dedicate more storage, bandwidth, and engineering resources to bloggers like you instead of to spammers.'

In our garden we have a henge – A Lilly henge.

2009-04-21T11:10:00.004+01:00

I was looking beneath the chest of drawers; this is the place Lil sleeps while she’s convalescing. There’s an ancient Chinese bowl under there wrapped in bubble wrap -a perfect curled up asleep cat size bowl. It used to be my place but I gave it to Lil (on a temporary basis until she’s better and providing she doesn’t throw up.)

Susan said, “She’s not there Doll.”
Well I can see she’s not there...?

We live in Wiltshire; home of the henge -Stonehenge.
In our garden we too have a henge now – A Lilly henge. That’s what Susan said.

I poked her in the eye with my paw

2009-04-20T13:07:00.001+01:00

I woke Susan at 2.o'clock.

‘Lil’s not back yet.’

‘Shh Doll it’s ok.’

At 3am I poked her in the eye with my paw (just to let her know that it was not ok and I was going out...)

It was a lovely night. Clear and dry. Stars shimmered on ink blue sky. No breeze.

I hate to say this. And I always thought it would be great to be THE cat of the house. But...

She’s been out all night and she wouldn’t like that.

2009-04-19T09:30:00.002+01:00

Last night I reminded Susan that Lil was outside. She wouldn’t like that. I reminded her at 3.o clock. Then again at 3.30. Susan got herself a drink.

Good she’s up, 'now go get Lil.'

She didn’t.

She’s dosing off again. There is a glimmer of light in the sky must be about 4 am. I tap Susan on the forehead. She rubs my head.

‘Lil! Outside! Go!’ Susan told me to shh.

I purr in her ear. And snuggle. At 4.30 Susan puts the news on. I’m on her head.

I’ve been ignored for hours -every half hour throughout the night. At 7 am I go out. I can smell Lil. Susan scattered the contents of the litter tray earth on the plant borders. I can smell Lil. The paving stone are damp and it’s breezy. Lil doesn’t like the wind in her coat and she doesn’t do damp.

I know Lil. She’s been out all night and she wouldn’t like that.

This was Lil

2009-04-18T14:00:00.002+01:00

This was Lil. Lil two hours before she went to the vet. I'll remove this film later and just keep the pic the of her when she was looking at her best.

But just now I need to see the reason why she couldn't stay. And if I get all maudlin and want Lilly back then this is the Lilly that would be here, and this is the Lilly that was too sick to stay.

This is Lil

2009-04-18T08:25:00.005+01:00

This is a picture of Lil. A photo of Lil when she was Big Lil. An image of Lil when she could hear.

A picture of Lil when she was just a bit overweight and her belly would wobble (gently sway) when she ran.

This place where she laying is her favourite place, above the radiator atop the sofa with her eyes studying the kitchen for stray chicken legs.

Her second favourite place (before she preferred not to venture outside) was her stone bench by the forsythia bush, the stone warmed from the sun's rays and the light sparkling on her coat...

That’s a long time. A lifetime...

2009-04-17T22:52:00.001+01:00

Lil did come home.

But she is so very quiet, so very still...

She’s asleep in the basket wrapped in a white towel. Normally Lil snores. Lil isn’t making much noise. In fact I’ve never known her so quiet. And I’ve known her for a decade -a decade and a bit more.

That’s a long time. A lifetime...

The cat disappeared gradually until nothing was left but its grin

2009-04-17T11:18:00.008+01:00

The cat disappeared gradually until nothing was left but its grin. Lewis Carroll

Lil had her thyroid gland removed on February 5th we all had our digits crossed for her...

Lil lost her hearing a few years ago.

She developed an ulcer on her right eye two days after her operation. So she can’t see properly and she is deaf. And just when you thought Lil had 'disappeared gradually until nothing was left but her grin' she had a gum infection and they took out her teeth.

Yesterday her unsteadiness on her legs grew worse... Today, this morning Susan’s making coffee in the kitchen Lil followed her, dragging herself along with her front legs her back legs a useless twisted weight.

On Wednesday Susan had made an appointment with the vet. Now it's Friday 11.20 am -unlike Lewis Carroll's cat- she doesn’t believe Lil will reappear...
Lil’s appointment is at 2.20.

With a bit of Richard and Judy thrown in ...

2009-03-15T21:27:00.000Z

I'm wondering what and how this ginger journal should proceed? Ok. Ferdinand is not here. Do I continue in the same vein?

Rambling aside...

I could just copy write his diaries.

BUT, That makes me a secretary!

I'm thinking -The Guardian, Paxman, The Sunday Times...
Pepys.

With a bit of Richard and Judy thrown in ...

Oh yes!

My juices are flowing...

Standing and staring -AKA Wordsworth.

2009-03-13T21:04:00.003Z

That's it then!

Susan packed up his box. Swept the conservatory.

His bacon rind. Do I keep it? It's in the sweepings Susan has made.
No.

Lil -though being sentimental grabs the rind and walks off - probably to sprawl on the back of the sofa. Susan will find the rind at some point when she changes the throws and chuck it in the bin -a carrier bag hanging on the kitchen door handle.

Ferdinand the ginger fur ball is missing- presumed gone! Lillie the invalid is convalescing - but now needs dentistry -she has a loose tooth which rattles as she chews...

Me I'm watching... Standing and staring -AKA Wordsworth.

BUT I do have - have found everyone's diaries!

Missing the point.

2009-02-25T20:08:00.006Z

Lil, because she had an operation and is recuperating has been granted the right to pee in the house. (I kid you not!) Honestly!

Anyway. Susan lugs back a bag of cat litter- 12.5 kg. Dumps it in a tray marked 'Kitty'.

I of course ignore this contraption. Con-trap.

Lil is supposed to wear a plastic bucket on her head but Susan didn't tie it on that old turkey neck of Lil's. "Only if she really needs it." Susan said.
"She needs it. She needs it." Said I. Susan pretended not to hear me!

(Lil has had her hair shaved, the neck, the right leg and the left leg.)I had my camera waiting, poised ready, but no!

"Get that camera out of my face." croaked Lil.

Lil. Scratches at the kitty litter. Digs a nice little hole. Stands. Positions herself upon the tray..

(There is just one little part of her parts, not strategically placed...) and pees all over the floor.

Unbelievable! Ferdinand on the front page of N.M.E

2008-10-02T11:14:00.002+01:00

Unbelievable. Ferdinand on the front page of N.M.E

Ferdinand the mangy.

Where is he? Where's he been?

Sweden by the look of that link.

I'm not giving him the password for this newspaper. (I confess I changed it - yes I am the keeper of the ginger journals.)

So no Ferdinand you will not be able to write a thing (not that you wrote anything of interest anyway) until you get back in your box (which is being eyed by a very handsome black tom cat who we both prefer to you, oh mangy one!) So there.

Plus it gets very cold in Sweden in the winter and your orange overcoat is not what it was. Double plus Lil is going to have an operation at the end of the month not that you are interested!

Dolly editor, nurse and guardian of the password.