Charlie and the Chocolate Factory tickets - a present

Yesterday was a treat. My daughter had bought for Christmas some tickets for both of us to go to the theatre. During the evening of BBC's Children in Need event they had members of the cast from "Charlie" doing a big score, at the time we both said "WoW." Along comes Christmas and I open to find two great tickets just four rows back and in the middle of the theatre.

Wa

After trying to find direct tickets to London we launched our journey at 8.00am to reach Marylebone by 10 ish and be met by my OH  who had been obliged to work this weekend down there. Off we routed ourselves for brunch in a corner shop to be surrounded by yellow protection vested work men so we knew our food would be good and wholesome. After a short stroll we hit gorgeous "Selfridges," the food hall being to die for!!!! at this point OH had to return to work and we just gauped at all the items for sale. Loving the idea we queued for named "Nutella" jars, so both boys now have ones with their names on.

We made our way across two tube lines to finally arrive near Covent Gardens where the Theatre is, one criticism why don't they have more big maps of the whole tube network up! we had to stand behind quite a few others to get an overview of which stations we had to head towards and change. Even when we arrived close by there are NO signs to any of the theatres???? at least where we live there are signs to all the different ones we have. In the end I used Google maps on the pedestrian setting only to find us following another two sets of families both using their phones to follow the route to the theatre, it was quite funny to see us all heads down following religiously the route. Finally we arrived there, beginning to get really excited.

  I was flabbergasted at the quality of the seats my daughter had bought, we certainly weren't going to miss a  look or a note from 4 rows back : )). The theatre was the first wonder, old fashioned and intimate, loads of boxes around the sides gilted and fully decorated. Then the music began and we were straight into the production.





















I've never been to a musical and it was just so fabulous to experience it live. The live orchestra just made the music live and the ernest nature of all the performers, even right at the back, all giving the performance absolutely everything made it a true experience. Certainly, although there was only one number you would remember from the films, it didn't matter all the songs were worthy and the sets were just a wonder. The Umpalumpas were fascinating, initially my science investigative head just wanted to work out who was doing what in the costumes but then I was just drawn in, it didn't matter.

Two and a half hours sped by and we were then swept outside to Covent Garden at dusk. A lovely sight, the lights all twinkling and the hubbub of the world rushing by. I think all the Matinees finished at the same time at the theatres around Covent Garden as we were suddenly surrounded by vast swathes of people rushing for food or the subway. We spent a little time meandering, but unless you wanted a lot to eat there were no obvious places to stop so we made the decision to make our way to Marylebone. OH luckily worked meeting us there into his route back to the hotel which was an extra treat. We finally landed on the train and found ourselves quite exhausted but smiling.

Check up time for two......my vet is great and sshhhh, a raw supporter, I think!!

Our big boy, Mont

I seem always to be getting reminders in the post for one of our cats to go for an annual check up and vaccination. Well this time I've managed to round up two of them into one appointment.

You know my feelings on vaccinations but I do have to reiterate them on the phone each time as last time the syringe was just about to be drawn when I reminded the vet that this was only an annual check up and dental check for the insurance to be valid on their teeth. We follow the protocol which is the kitten vaccinations, with the first year booster and then a three year boost after that, however I may just get them titer tested at that time UK Vaccinations

Catteries insist, as they do for support animals, for a full vaccination record. Insurance companies vary however, we are with Petplan and you are covered but not for anything which they could be immunised against in their annual vaccinations.............. in our case the cats are indoor with a cat proofed garden, no cats have got in so they have extremely limited contact with any feline which they could contract disease from.

Handsome Harvey

Well I have to say the consultation went really well. Monty our vast Shorthaired Curly Selkirk Rex, did as he always does play an Ostrich. Head down, eyes shut and loses the use of his limbs. The poor vet had to uncurl him, however the complements kept coming, perfect coat, bright eyes, great size.....what!!! I was a little worried as he his a big unit....but she said he is huge across the shoulders and the width between his hips is vast so he is perfectly covered for his shape. Just one tiny area of plaque on one back tooth but not bad at all. Harvey always gets comments as he is a Cream Colourpoint BSH and again he came out with an A*, just a little plaque again on a back tooth. Harvey doesn't mind the vets but it is not the place he would search out, luckily they are never stressed out that much as we transfer them via harness in the car, as they've done this since being kittens, a carrier would be most alien to them.

So the result is to do as we have been doing but I will just up the size of the chunks of muscle meat, sinew and bone in their food to ensure more chewing thus more abrasion on their teeth. It is interesting to note that the cats, in our household, that eat predominately the whole prey i.e. Docs and reptile frozen food mice have never had any comments made regarding their teeth i.e. Luna, and Bertie. White sparklers.

We do have our favourite vet, the partners in the firm are good however they do promote one specific company regarding food, loads being on the shelves, and the nutrition nurse obviously has been told to tow the line regarding being anti RAW, giving me the hell and damnation talk initially that they'll all have salmonella, get bones stuck in their stomach, lack a full range of nutrition and should not be around people with compromised health issues!!! I do however use human grade food prepared in a clean environment taking note of all hygiene procedures, they also have a short obligate carnivore intestine which allows raw to be processed through in a matter of 6 hours and not the dried plant proteined kibble that stays sluggishly in the intestine to fester and produce stinky problems after a long transit. I only give non weight bearing bones which are chewed easily from appropriate animals, I would not give them a beef leg bone, it is both weight bearing and the bone is too hard, a rib bone from a rabbit or  a chicken  (no bone ever cooked) would be chewable and suitable, no splintering. I continue to read extensively regarding feline nutrition , probably accruing way more up to date data and information than that which is given in the very few nutrition lectures provided by pet food manufacturers within veterinary school, and ensure supplementation and balance when and if needed.