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.

Christmas has come and gone and now New Year is upon us, a thoughtful start.

My Father in Law with Harvey as a kitten

Well just a short post to wish everyone a fantastic New Year. I sit typing on a chilly but perfectly crisp day, the blue sky clear and the hard frost crunching under foot. The layer of ice on the pond and the canal being frozen indicates how cold it has been but a touch of snow would be nice.

Finally a day with minimal eating.....my OH adores cooking and he makes the most fantastic food although he is a bit of a tyrant, a Gordon Ramsey in the kitchen, it is his way or the highway so to speak. We have continued to eat well however there is lots now in the fridge just to finish up and no more large volumes of washing up for me!!!!!!!

Luna

The house is finally looking like a semblance of itself although we still look rather over stocked on furniture, Xmas trees forcing a rearrangement. The tree is surviving well, no interest by five cats in the tree or ornaments, I must have the oddest cats!!!!! and with watering the base we have a tree still looking good.

Bertie

Harvey

Monty

Reuben

The cats have found the frost too much especially the grass which they seem to treat incredibly suspiciously. Bertie has found launching himself up the maple gives him a good view into the neighbours gardens, I just try not to look at him coming down!! He is our slightest cat, the one who broke his leg this year and probably the one everyone feels protective to. Monty on the other hand is truly looking massive and the ground does shake when he pounds in, looking down across his shoulders I've measured his bones to be 5 inches(13 cm) across. He is just one big beautiful unit, a rugby player in a former life! Luna has now become most beautiful, her coat hangs from her as if she has been groomed daily but I barely touch her and her tail makes up half of her size, a plume to be proud of. Harvey and Reuben are most loyal in the most different of ways, Reuben detests attention but loves to be by you always, he will never be more than  a couple of metres away whilst Harvey runs to me and push in for love but I do have to say he is almost a one person cat.

On the saddest of notes, January 2nd will find us having a day of thoughtfulness as it is my Father in laws funeral, a man of great gentleness, a man I never heard a bad word from in all the 30 years I knew him. He didn't like fuss and the funeral will show no frills just those who knew him being respectful, so here is to you dear gentleman......you loved your walks, the birds, the family and the cats, especially one!!

The Supreme - delayed post

A beautiful Mainecoon

We have a large exhibition centre near Birmingham, called the  NEC, it generally holds massive concerts or nationally large exhibitions. This year having not been once, I know I will now have to go again in 5 days. Once a year the 'GCCF Cat Supreme' is held at the NEC, this is similar to the much more well known Crufts for dogs. I went last year and enjoyed seeing the various unusual breeds, as well as all the merchandise which is there specifically tailored for cats which you find hard access to in the run of the mill pet stores.

Daughter with a Stormtrooper

To add a bit more fun they had Comic Com on at the same time in the adjacent hall so whilst we walked around you suddenly came across Darth Vader or a Marvel character!!! Weird.......but fun.

Comic Com

I did feel it was all a bit surreal as normally pens for the cats are only allowed to have plain white bedding etc in them, however as judging in the Supreme is different, all the pens are dressed up in a theme which this year was 'Winter Wonderland.' So what with Comic Com Characters and fake icicles coming out of our ears at the Supreme it was all a bit strange.

Petaluna - Selkirk Rex, Longhaired Curly

Burmese

Going around I found Luna and Bertie's breeder who was showing three cats and a kitten, as usual her cats are so relaxed that the kitten she had just melted my daughters heart as she looked up at her whilst ignoring all the rumble of sounds around.

They also have breeder club benches which have some cats on each demonstrating the breed and explaining pros and cons to each. I think we fell in love with the Burmese, small but laid back with a velveteen coat, the Maine Coon just so solid and steady as a cat bred to go on ships to kill rats, and the gorgeous but slightly cooky looking Devon Rex, not to everyones taste but really human orientated, small and quite crazy!!!

After a day of walking around and aching feet we left with catnip toys, a popup cube, and some "plague rats" probably the smelliest thing invented, a canvas made rat filled with stinky valerian root, sold sealed in plastic bags and to be kept there until used for a toy as they are loved by cats but not the household, pphewww.

Winter Wonderland Theme

Owner showing a Persian

That time again - cat photos from the last few warm days of autumn.

The colour on the trees has been stunning this year, our lovely Maple has only just finished with a gorgeous display of deep red foliage. On a day with bright sunshine and bright blue skies, a little warmth behind the sun and barely a breathe of wind it becomes a necessity to go out and take photos.

A quick wave of a feathered flying toy and suddenly I am surrounded by cats and I can take a myriad of photos.