The Life of Plumpy

While Mum's Away...

2008-08-29T01:02:00.001+12:00

Real emails between Plumpy's Mum and his Auntie Casey while Mum is away in another country:

From: Auntie Casey
To: (Mum)
August 23

Hey [JLS],

Finally got the Plump here :) Him and Harry haven't fought yet and I hope it stays that way! Here's a photo of their first meeting :) Plumpy tried to drive his way home (didn't have a cage and he wouldn't sit on my sister!) He was so funny :) He's checked out the house and he seems to be happy - it's Harry who seems to have packed a bit of a sad... I'm sure everything will be fine though. Hope all is well in Texas.

Case

From: Mum
To: Auntie Casey
August 24

Thanks for the photo! Did Ginge pass my wee note on along with the food? Let me know how that goes!

Glad he remembers you, you were obviously more comforting that your sis ha ha and goodness me does this mean Plumpy might actually be the boss cat for the first time in his life? Sorry to hear that Harry isn’t so happy though. I hope they come to an arrangement.

Let me know what and when I owe you for more food etc.
[JLS]

From: Auntie Casey
To: Mum

Yes, I got your note - he's no drama to feed as well. I thought he'd be into Harry's food every chance he got but he's been quite good! He still goes for Harry's meat but I just have say 'oi'! and he he runs off cos he knows he's not allowed it!! He's fit in real well - like he's lived here for ages! Neither of them are the boss cat as such - it's just that Plumps doesn't mind when Harry's around, where as Harry will wander off if he Plumps is around cos he's not quite as comfortable. They're all good though - they are both always waiting on the porch for me when I get home :) We found Plumps a new bed as well - Em bought one for Harry but he doesn't like it, so I put it outside for Plumps last night and he was in it pretty quick smart!!

Plumps will need more food soon so I'll let you know how much it costs.

Talk to you later!

Nora the Pianist

2008-06-15T15:40:00.001+12:00

Jackie Got Caught

2008-06-04T13:17:00.004+12:00

From: Ju's Little Sister [mailto:######@gmail.com]

Sent: Thursday, 1 May 2008 6:37 p.m.
To: '####@nzfrogs.org'
Subject: Frog ID

Hi,

I found this wee kung fu master in my house on Wednesday night. I suspect my cat brought him/her in.

I tried your ID chart, but couldn’t really be confident as to which kind of frog had visited me. As far as I could tell the frog was pretty much 60mm in length which didn’t help much with the greater than / less than comparison. It’s certainly the largest specimen I have ever encountered!

I managed to use a plastic container to return Jackie Chan to the small lot of native bush behind my house, but wondered if you would be able to spare a moment to let me know which frog I have encountered?

Also, I have locked the cat door to allow Jackie a clean get away, just in case.

Thank you for your time,

Sarah.

-----Original Message-----
From: froginfo [mailto:####@nzfrogs.org]
Sent: Tuesday, 3 June 2008 5:39 p.m.
To: 'Ju's Little Sister'
Subject: Re: Frog ID

Hi [Ju's Little Sister]

Your Jackie Chan was Litoria aurea - the green and golden bell frog - hope you
gave your chat a good chastising!?

Phil

-----Original Message-----
From: Plumpy [mailto:plumpy.prouting@gmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, 4 June 2008 5:39 a.m.
To: '####@nzfrogs.org'
Subject: Litoria aurea

Hi Phil.

I have developed an interest in the local wildlife around my home as I often hear some beautiful music at night but until now have not known what sort of creatures made these wonderful songs. I have recently encountered the lovely green and golden bell frog, and through extensive research of my own I have even learnt its latin name - Litoria aurea. This is such an interesting creature and I find myself fascinated by its song, its appearance and the interesting way it jumps rather suddenly when you touch its tail.

Would you be able to send me some more information? I would be interested in its day and night-time habits, choices of habitat, the food it eats, and the best way to observe one in its natural environment. Especially how to find one without it knowing you are there, just so that I can see how it really lives. Because apparently they aren't allowed to live behind washing machines or in shoes. That's what Mum says anyway.

Thank you for your help.

Plumpy.

Techno Mantis

2008-03-31T22:55:00.001+13:00

The filming isn't very good, because Mum's no good. But T-Rex isn't the only guy around here with musical friends.

It's a pity he got away, Mum sent it out the door.

Something's Not Quite Right Here

2008-02-26T13:20:00.002+13:00

A Present from Kiwi Mother

2008-02-14T09:39:00.002+13:00

Kiwi Mother gave me a cup. It has a picture of me, AND Scaredy on it!!! I'm not so sure about being called Fat, though. That's a bit unfair.

Now we're getting flash!

2008-01-22T22:15:00.000+13:00

Here's our latest creation!

The lighting was horrid when I filmed this, and as Plumpy mentioned earlier we have an awful motion picture recording facility so I apologise for the yukky quality. Nevertheless we worked hard at this with fading scenes and all!

Plumpy chose the soundtrack!

So prepare for: PLUMPY PROUTING AND HIS CATNIP PARROT

Plumpy gets Plumpier...

2008-01-21T21:29:00.000+13:00

Keep Scratching, Please!

2008-01-18T14:12:00.000+13:00

Hello all!

Finally Mum has found the time to help me out with my next post. We are sitting in the living room and lots of sun is streaming through the doorway. Mum has opened up the large glass sliding door to let some air into the house but there is no breeze. There are a lot of cicadas chirrupping though. I am HOT!

I needed help for this blog because it is a video she took and I don't know how to get videos working. Mum only has a normal digital camera, so when she takes moving pictures with it they don't come out very clear. So sorry that the picture isn't any good.
Also, it's completely UN-edited, so the sounds and music you hear were playing at the time, it hasn't been added for extra effect. We don't know how to do that yet.

Anyway, here's my first ever video:

Did you all know Scaredy has his own blog now? It's here.

What was Christmas?

2007-12-29T11:41:00.001+13:00

I'm sorry I haven't posted. Mum left me for the holidays and she took her computer with her. I am being looked after by Stace which is hard because she and I don't like each other very much. But we're getting there. Do you like my festive picture friends?

But really, this is what my Christmas was like;

I can't use the computer much until Mum comes home with hers, so I'm sorry that I haven't had time to read everyone's blogs and comment on them. Merry Christmas Scaredy and the Ladies - I hope yours were better than mine. Love Plumpy

2007-11-22T20:08:00.001+13:00

Plumply R. Prouting (Esq.)
Dean's House
Auckland
New Zealand

To my most dearest fans and readers - and the rest.

I regret to inform you of the untimely death of my mother, who was only twenty four years old at the time of her demise.

The police inquiry finally (after much deliberation) declared the death an accident, despite what they called 'suspicious chewing' marks on the brake lines of her car. Eventually this was attributed to poor maintenance and an underfed cat.

Join with me, friends, and mourn for the monster who dared publicly display that which she did not have permission to publish.

All condolences to be donated please to your nearest Cats Protection League or SPCA.

Thank you,

Plumpy.

Take that Photo...

2007-11-21T21:50:00.000+13:00

... and i KILL you

Someone has to do it

2007-11-15T21:20:00.001+13:00

Mum won't put me on a pedestal,

So I found one for myself

It's All Mum's Fault!

2007-11-14T11:02:00.001+13:00

Hello everyone.

Look, I know you all think I've been rotten and selfish and ignoring you but it's just not true!

Mum took the computer away and Dean wouldn't let me use his! Dean has done a really good job of feeding me, he's much more reliable than Mum! But there was mention of something called a 'feeding chart' and he had to cross things off when he'd fed me so he knew where he was up to. I didn't think this was nessesary because *I* would have told him when it was time to feed me. Mum gave him all sorts of unnessesary warnings like "Plumps will pretend he's hungry when he's really not."

After a couple of days Mum still hadn't come home. She might not be as good as Dean at feeding me, but his cuddles just aren't the same. I really started to miss her. I missed Elbi too, and couldn't even TALK to her 'cos Mum had the stupid computer. And now I hear she's been flirting with someone else. Oh well I suppose that is the price an ex-tom must pay for not being attentive enough. Though I am sure I could show her why she should come back to me.

So I went on a bit of a hunger-strike and by the time Mum came home she accused Dean of over feeding me because there was so much left in my bowl.

But Mum is home now. And while she's up doing the ironing I have managed to get onto the blog all by myself. I reckon she'll be telling you all about her weekend away - but not till I've caught up on cuddles.

Love, Plumpy.

Leave Me Alone Mum!

2007-10-21T17:38:00.000+13:00

Can't you see I'm busy?

Photo Journal!!

2007-09-23T15:28:00.000+12:00

What's this? Mum has finished with the phone!

Hey Scaredy! Scaredy! Hey, should I make some international phone calls while she's not looking??

Oh, Hi Mum!! Um, no of course I wouldn't do that to you - I was only kidding!

Who cares about the camera - that hand better be coming back here where it can give me a good scratch!

Yes that's right - you should be cuddling me, not embarrassing me in front of my friends!

Tagging Tagging

2007-09-10T16:41:00.000+12:00

I am very excited. Lorenzo the Llama tagged Mum and she was going to follow the rules exactly, but after some serious reconsideration (prompted by yours truly) she has agreed that I would do better!

So here goes!

Rules of this tag:
1. Name the person with link who tagged you.
2. Complete the questionnaire without changing the questions.
3. Tag 6 or more people.

Q1. Are you happy/ satisfied with your blog, with its content and look? Of course I am. My blog is one of the best. Especially when my best friend Scaredy and the girls drop in for a visit.

Q2. Does your family know about your blog? Mum knows about it, but she's only really allowed to read it when I'm too ill to write up a post for myself.

Q3. Do you feel embarrassed to let your friends know about your blog or you just consider it as a private thing? Why would I write about my life on the internet if I didn't want anyone to read it? That's what diaries are for. Not blogs. Silly.

Q4. Did blogs cause positive changes in your thoughts? My thoughts are perfect already. And now they include Scaredy, Mahou, Beeps, Elbi, Llamas and Raelha. These are positive things. Maalie likes birds, and so do I but for different reasons so that's not so good. On the whole though I think things are okay.

Q5. Do you only open the blogs of those who comment on your blog or you love to go and discover more by yourself? Sometimes Mum visits my friend's friends. But I'm too busy babysitting the sun, or keeping the couch warm to do too much on the internet. It's all about prioritising one's life.

Q6. What does visitors counter mean to you? Do you care about putting it in your blog? Mum has one on her blog. I already know where my friends live.

Q7. Did you try to imagine your fellow bloggers and give them real pictures? No. I have pictures of the girls and Scaredy, I have seen a picture of a llama. All humans look the same to me, and there's no way you can send smells over the internet yet.

Q8. Do you think there is a real benefit for blogging? Can you get food out of a blog yet?

Q9. Do you think that bloggers’ society is isolated from real world or interacts with events? Both of course.

Q10. Does criticism annoy you or do you feel it’s a normal thing? It is a normal thing for people to criticise. Anyone who criticises me is wrong, of course so it doesn't annoy me.

Q11. Do you fear some political blogs and avoid them? What is a political blog?

Q12. Did you get shocked by the arrest of some bloggers? Huh?

Q13. Did you think about what will happen to your blog after you die? Mum will turn it into a temple in memory of my life amongst the mortals.

Q14. What do you like to hear? What’s the song you might like to put a link to, in your blog? I like to hear the sound of Mum's car arriving in the driveway. I like to hear the sound of the biscuits pouring into the bowl and I like the sound of Mum inviting me onto her lap. Oh, and birds.

And I'm not going to tag anyone, because there is an obligation for them to answer the questions. Also - it is dinner time and I can't be bothered thinking of 6 people who haven't been tagged yet.

New Things

2007-09-07T13:42:00.000+12:00

Today didn't start out very well. Mum is on night shift this week and that means I don't get fed breakfast until at least nine in the morning. Usually a lot later!

So I had to wait around for breakfast, with nothing to do but wait outside her bedroom door. The night before she had let me sleep in bed with her which is a big change. I made the most of it - I tried sleeping on both sides of her and on the pillow and on the other pillow and just on the edge of the covers too in case that was any different. I thought it was very comfortable but for some reason Mum didn't get a lot of sleep. Maybe that was why she didn't let me come back again last night. Anyway the reason the day was starting out so bad was because I didn't get fed a very good breakfast and then instead of apologising like she should have she ignored me! AND she kicked me off the computer so she could check her stupid emails.

And then the worst happened. Scaredy I know you will sympathise. She started talking about the V-E-T!!! And there is NOTHING WRONG WITH ME! Except of course that I'm not being fed enough. It happened suddenly, without warning. No cage hanging around looking innocent by the door. No towels for picking me up, and no long and lavishing cuddles as she told me how sorry she was. One moment she was here. And then she was gone.

With out me.

I knew something was up! How dare she go visit Nicki without me? She knows I am Nicki's favourite, my Mum just can't be trusted. But I guess there is little I can do. Except claw her for it.
This left me stuck in the house with Stacey. Now, Stacey is okay. She and I get along. I mean - she gets along with her business over there, and I get along with my business over here and there is no reason for us to be on the same couch at the same time. I know that sometimes she wants to yell at me. She's not scared of Mum so I don't know why she doesn't. She does complain to Mum a lot. She thinks I have the most annoying meow in the world. Well you have the most annoying human voice Stacey!!! Also, Stace doesn't like the way I sharpen my claws. She thinks it is ruining her carpet. I ask her - "Well then why did you put it there for me in the first place?"

But Stace and I co-existed well enough until Mum came home again just over an hour later. I knew there was trouble when I saw how much stuff was in her arms. She lifted the first box out of the shopping bag. Out from the box came a strange flat rectangle which she placed on the tiles in the kitchen. She fiddled with it, then stood on it. It smelt interesting but I have to say her socks rather needed changing. It had intrigued me enough that I forgot to run when she bent down to pick me up and stand back on the new item again. "Hmmm," says Mum, " # kgs I see Plumpy. I don't think you've lost any weight at all!"
I don't think I like the rectangular thingy very much.

Mum took this downstairs and put it in the bathroom. This was of course one of her nasty little tricks which she pulls on me about eight or ten times a day. You see to get to the bathroom from the couches we pass by the washing machine which is where my food bowl lives. So she indicates quite clearly (by going down the stairs and to the washing machine) that she intends to feed me. Then she laughs at me cruelly when I go there too ready for my next meal. Sometimes she really winds me up!

Back up the stairs she goes and I follow, ready to show her by my silence exactly how annoyed I am with this behaviour. From the bag comes another box, and this one reveals an assortment of parts which require simple assembly. One thing I will say about Mum in her favour is that she is rather deft when it comes to assembling.

Here is a picture of what she made:

"It's for you Plumpy." She told me.

For me?

Just for me?

All mine?

I've never had anything that was just mine before. Except for the sleeping pig and my food bowl. And the litter tray I guess but they don't count. I didn't really know what to do with it though, so Mum got my old feather toy (which, I suppose, is all mine too) and we played about for a while. I noticed the post has a nice surface which might be fun to claw upon. It's not going to be very efficient at sharpening my carefully honed killing weapons however, so I might stick to using the carpet for that.

I was still a little uncertain about this new toy and what I was going to do with it when Mum brought out the real reason for going to the vet. As I said we had been playing together and we had settled down to a bit of a cuddle as I think she actually realised I wasn't too sure about this post thing (though I will say the blue furry base is quite cool). She was getting nice and deep into the hair on the back of my neck when BAM! That old stinging sensation that screamed of flea treatment. I hate that stuff! It's horrid.

Well congratulations Mum. You just ruined my day.

Around the House

2007-08-24T16:48:00.000+12:00

Here's the outdoor spa pool. By regulation it has to be fenced in, or have less than 400mm of water in it. Dean emptied it to about 20cm, then it rained for two weeks. I used to drink out of it, but not any more.

At the old house, with Auntie Casey and Auntie Emma, there wasn't a cat door and they always put me outside when they went to bed at night. IT WAS SO SELFISH!
Auntie Casey did buy me a nice warm bed though. Here it is outside the new house. I don't use it anymore because Mum put it in a place that gets wet, and there's a special door for me anyway so I sleep on the couch at night.

YUK!
Stupid Diet.

This is Mum on the couch, posing for the camera and trying to look casual. Fool.
I was busy correcting her spelling for her.

This is a picture of a moment I always dread. Dean picked me up. It's not my most flattering side!

Updates and Apologies

2007-08-21T20:45:00.001+12:00

Plumpy R. Prouting
Downstairs Bedroom
Mum's House
New Zealand

21 August 2007 (GMT + 12)

To the Cats, Llamas, Birds, and Humans who read my blog,

First I wish to apologise for my silence these last few weeks. I promised you an up-and-coming post and have failed to keep my promise. This is, of course, all Mum's fault. She has banned me from the computer for no reason at all. Further to this insult she has failed to play with me, cuddle me and even on occassion - to feed me. Certainly she will play with me sometimes, cuddle me sometimes, and feed me twice a day - even if it is not until after one o'clock in the afternoon - a full SEVEN HOURS after my breakfast is due! But this is not enough! And I am most seriously depressed.

Some of you have been asking after my health, which I appreciate very much thank you. Mum hasn't asked at all. One time she did say "What's going on now fatso?" but I don't think she was genuinely concerned. My state of health has very much recovered since the surgery (yes I can say it out loud). I miss my eye teeth very much of course but what can a cat do? "Eat dry old biscuits every day" seems to be the answer.
Scaredy - our plan not to ever eat the Science Diet did not work. Mother left me for A WEEK! SEVEN DAYS she was not in the house and The Other Ginge did not feed me anything but the new food. When Mum finally came home she was very very ill and I took pity on her. To make her life a little easier I decided to eat the new biscuits. What a mistake that was folks! Now they are all I am given. In the mornings I am so starving I am forced to gobble them too. I guess the quicker you eat them - the less you taste them. Mother does not appreciate the kindesses I bestow on her. Ungrateful little...well, human I suppose.

You will, no doubt, be wondering what I have been up to as you have been waiting patiently for news. Well, there are some interesting new parts of the house I have discovered. There is a cupboard by the oven. I cannot believe I missed this on the first inspection of the house. I am yet to get in there for a decent exploration but I assure you there will be a fill situation report as soon as I have it sorted. There is also a cupboard downstairs where the water cylinder lives. This is very dry and very warm. It is carpeted, dark, quiet and very very comfortable. I get in there whenever someone opens the door. Mum thinks she is punishing me by closing me in. "That will teach you!" She says. She claims she won't open the door until I have begged for ages to be let out, but I like it in there. She opens the door and chases me out long before I am ready to move! And of course the garage always needs exploring - it changes so often. It is also a dry place and has many interesting smells but it is colder than the house and I don't like being locked in there so much! One of the walls lifts into the ceiling, but it screams when it does so and I don't like that at all! I have sensitive ears!

At the moment I am sitting on Mum's lap and using the laptop. She is studying for her test on Friday, very vigilant of her. I wish she was studying the art of head-scratching. I better seal this off and post it before she sees.

Love to you all,

Plumpy.

A Message from Mum

2007-07-19T19:38:00.000+12:00

Hello to you all,
Plumpy and I are both sorry that he hasn't been on the blog for a while but we have been fighting over cat-food and I told him he wasn't allowed on the computer until he ate at least half of his dinner which he has refused to do for quite a few days now. I paid $30 for 1.7kg of Hills Science Diet when I could have paid $12.95 for 1.5kg of his favourite Optimum (with Ocean Pilchards). But the more expensive food provides him with a nutritious and balanced diet which fills him up whilst not fattening him up, so the Hills remains.

Last week when we visited the "funny smelling place" Nicci informed me that Plumpy had bad teeth and he would have to come in again for full surgery - a clean and polish and possibly extraction. I would like to reassure Scaredy, Mahou, Elbi, Beeps and families that at no point was it ever suggested by Nicci or myself that ALL Plumpy's teeth would have to be removed.
By Saturday night/Sunday morning came around Plumpy had begun to sneeze, and although I was away for most of the day on Sunday playing hockey my flatmate (Uncle Dean, the other Ginge) informed me that Plumps had been most annoying - he didn't stop sneezing the whole time. Fortunately Plumpy was downstairs by his dinner plate refusing to eat Hills and didn't hear his uncle's loving comments. I am suspicious this was part of Plumpy's plot to escape. Do you know anything about this Scaredy?

Tuesday was the busiest night I have had in a long time and under a great deal of pressure to get all my chores done in time I managed to get Uncle Dean to the supermarket and Plumpy to the...erm, place... all in one fell swoop. Like all cats Plumpy is more than capable of making it perfectly clear exactly how he feels at any given time. I wish I could say he was angry and sulking at my brutal treatment of him but the truth is he was very scared and frightened and wanted very much for it all to just go away. If Dean wasn't with me at the time I may well have found myself in tears. Plumpy certainly was.

Nevertheless I signed the forms authorising Nicci to give him all the painkillers in the world at my cost and left him with the nice cat-lovers at the...ahem...place.
The house was very quiet without him and I was at a loss at 0600 the next morning when he wasn't screaming at me to feed him! BEFORE your shower thank you Mother!!!

At work the next day I was involved in helping another avionics corporal take a broken piece of motorised equipment down the flight line to the "Support Equipment Maintenance Flight" (more commonly known as SEMF), when one of the junior tradesmen came out to tell me I had a phone call in the flight line office.
"Get their name, I'll call them back." Says I.
"It's the vet." Says junior tradesman.
So I left Loons (afore mentioned avionics corporal) high but not dry and raced inside. There I was debriefed over the phone as to my darling's condition and informed I would be able to pick him up any time after three. I had to do a quick mental arithmetic to ascertain she meant 1500 hrs, thanked her for her time and good work and raced back out into the rain to help Corporal Loons deliver the Talon Lifter.

I had promised rather faithfully to help a friend of mine move house as she wasn't taking any time off work in order to make the move, and I had a long way to go. I was in such a flurry to get home from work, changed, and on the motorway that I went the wrong way home from work and nearly....!! But no, I remembered in time and made the loop to come pick up my baby.
I was attended by the nurse who instructed me in the requirements for his food and antibiotics as Plumpy demanded from his cage on the floor to know where I had been and what I thought I was doing mucking around with her when we should be on the road home. The most humiliating part, he informed me indignantly, was that I had provided these people with his real name - which I knew he hated - and he was sure I had done it on purpose just to rub salt into his wounds. I knew though that he was just venting all the stress he had been through and didn't get offended at his high handed treatment of me as I handed over $315.40 to the nurse for their work.

Here is an excerpt from the bottom of the receipt (right under "balance due")
[Plumpy] may be a bit sleepy for the next 24hrs but should be getting back to normal after this.
Hmmm, I thought, Plumpy is usually a bit sleepy. In fact all he does is sleep all day. It seems my cat might be a bit odd. I little inverted perhaps. Topsy-turvey. Because he jumped out of the cage. He ran down the stairs. He wolfed his dinner. He ran up the stairs. He clambered over the couch. He sharpened his claws in the carpet. He ran down the stairs again. At this point I had to leave to go help my friend so I made sure he had fresh water, soft food and a box of litter as he wasn't allowed outside. I kissed him goodbye and away away!

ooo 000 ooo

When I opened the door around 2138 hrs (that's twenty to nine) he raced up the stairs to meet me, demanding more food. He wanted to know why he didn't usually get jelly-meat instead of that bollox I was trying to make him eat. But he didn't push the issue because I discovered he hadn't used the kitty litter after all. Oh no - nothing so crass as that! Apparently the bath is a much more appropriate place to release the demons! I wasn't too upset though because it could have been much worse! At least this was easy to clean.

And at the end of the day, Plumpy finally got his ultimate dream.
I let him sleep with me.

Though it cost me a cold nose in my ear, eye or neck every ten minutes; though it cost me regular lifting of the blankets to let him under the covers or back out from under the covers and though my 500 thread count Egyptian cotton pillow cases were ripped from pawing and stained from bloody-dribble, it was worth it. Because even though he doesn't think I do, I love Plumpy very much and he has been through a lot of stress lately. I have never heard him purr for so long without pause, he was still going at 0100 and still strong at 0330. I might have fallen asleep around 0430. He was still purring at 0600 when the alarm went off. He is still purring now, Thursday night, but he didn't want to relive the trial and so I promised I would write for him. See - I do love you Plumps!

But I suppose you have all been waiting to know what the damage is? Well I'm not sure he wants you all to know, but I think you should in case you make a faux pas in a future conversation.

As well as a clean and polish on the teeth he still has, Plumps had to have all four canine teeth pulled. Nicci informed me they came out very easily which suggests they were particularly bad, and he also had to have a fifth (upper) tooth removed. He also had an extra dose of pain relief before he came home and is on a course of antibiotics for six days. He's not to bad at taking pills,but doesn't like me sticking my fingers in his tender mouth. :-(

You will all be pleased to know that he totally won over Nicci. I'm sure she's seen plenty of cats in her time, but she told me she really enjoyed his company and it was a pleasure to have him for the day.

Mind you, he was on drugs. ;-)

Love from Ju's Little Sister a.k.a. Plumpy's Mum.

I am so ANGRY!

2007-07-10T14:18:00.000+12:00

There are no words. NO WORDS to describe the terrible day I have had today.

AND IT IS ALL MUM'S FAULT!!!

She conned me, wooed me, tricked me into her arms this morning and before I could say 'meow' she had me locked in a metal cage and threw me in the car. Then she drove me forever. I think she deliberated drove there and back and there again just to make the trip as long as possible. Then the next thing I knew we were at the vets.

I couldn't believe it.

And to make matters worse she left me. SHE LEFT ME THERE!!! All by myself with the strangers and they had a DOG and they smelt funny and Mum wasn't there. She doesn't care. She did it all to make my life miserable.

I don't want to talk about what went on in there. Lets just say there were some jabs, some stabs, and a pill. (A dignity-destroying capsule of evil)

When she did come back she took four times as long to get me home. Then she started muttering some silly nonesense about me having bad teeth. That my teeth are the reason my eye is sore. Yes Mum, your foolish human logic is inherently flawed! Now she says something about having a dental. I don't know what a dental is, but I do know somethings she was talking about. She used filthy swear-words like 'no breakfast,' 'anasthaetic' and 'operation.'

Well I tell you. When the time comes, I won't be around - and then she'll be sorry!

Maintaining Control

2007-07-06T22:01:00.000+12:00

It's not always easy, looking after Mum.

It's raining this week and we have been getting on each other's nerves a bit. Uncle Dean is always on the Xbox racing cars, or in the garage fixing cars, or with his mates talking cars. Flatmate Stace is never home, and Mum has being doing her jigsaw puzzle. But Mum decided she wanted to have a break and go race on the Xbox too.

But there's no room for cuddles when there's a controller in her hand. Puzzles! That's what I needed to keep her in full cuddling form. So when she threatened to put the spare pieces back in the box it was time for action.

HA! TRY TO USE THE BOX NOW!!!!

Computer Tutor

2007-06-12T07:28:00.001+12:00

Mum was having some trouble with the laptop today. I couldn't be bothered doing it all for her so I sat next to her and instructed. Didn't get many cuddles though!

Scaredy - note she has a picture of you instead of me on her desktop - traitor!
Simon - See the bottom of Mum's Corpse Bride poster on the wall!

Invasion!

2007-06-11T13:26:00.000+12:00

I cannot believe the AUDACITY of that stupid little tabby next door!
I was sitting in the sun, minding my own business at Ginga's feet when she came up the stairs and started poking around as though the house belonged to her!

It was bad enough that she tried to tell me when I moved in that the lawn and the trees were her pad, it was bad enough that she made vague remarks about eating my food and stealing my family. She tried to tell me she'd had pats from the humans who lived here but I knew better. Ginga and Stace didn't even like cats until they met me. Okay, so that might be an exaggeration, but by crikey this place is mine now!

So I did the only thing any other self-respecting King would do.
I told Mum to get rid of her for me.

Photo Shoot

2007-05-23T17:24:00.000+12:00

I know - I can't help loving me either!

Bachelor Pad

2007-05-06T14:01:00.000+12:00

This last week Mum has been moving all her belongings out of her room. She has been very stressed out and I have taken a lot of time to calm her down by making sure she scratched me every night after work and let me stay with her for as long as possible each night before putting me out for the night.

But on Thursday things started to really change. Mum moved absolutley everything out of her room before work, and she didn't come home that night. She only came home for a few minutes the next day. I was really freaked out. I mean, this was even worse than trying to avoid my nemisis during a night out with the boys! She wouldn't stay to tell me what was going on. I could tell the Auntie's weren't going to talk about it either, and I wasn't too interested in asking them what was going on. They have been a bid strange lately.

On Saturday the changes got even worse. Mum and Sarge came around in Sarge's big red truck and started collected up all my belongings! Sarge is one of my favourite visitors to the house - he gives the best cuddles in the whole world, and boy was he giving me some lovely cuddles on Saturday. Both the Aunties wanted cuddles too but theirs are nothing like the ones I was getting! Then the terrible part:

Mum took me off Sarge and to my consternation she clambered with me in her arms into the truck.
Now I've been to the vets before, and I travelled in Mum's car when I first came to live with her. But it was very different in the truck. The truck was louder and higher than the car, and we didn't go nearly so fast. As soon as we made it to the new place Mum immediately took me inside and down a whole lot of stairs. It smelt funny inside and I was sick of being held by Mum so I tried to get away but she held me firmly.

Down the stairs and around the corner we went until I could barely stand it but at last! Into a room we went that smelt right. It almost looked right too. There was Mum's bed and her chest and drawers - her music was playing and there was all my food in the corner waiting for me. It wasn't home, but at least it was safe. So I spent the next three hours making sure there was nothing in the room that might endanger Mum as she was nervous and insisted on staying in there with me.

Later on that night when she had calmed down I convinced her to let me out of the room so I could check out the rest of the house for her. The place smelt different, and there was someone I had never met before. His name was Dean, and he had the same colour hair as me which he thought was absolutely fantastic. Then he gave me a nice wee scratch without trying to pick me up and squeeze me which I thought was absolutely fantastic.

So when Mum went to bed I thought it would be a good idea to make sure she got a good sleep and wasn't waking up at every moment jumping at shadows and worrying about this strange new house she was in. I don't particularly like going too far under the sheets but on Saturday night I inspected the whole bed before settling down around her feet to keep them warm for the night. I had a good night, actually, but Mum tossed and turned all night. I think the new house made it difficult for her to get comfortable.

The next day Mum had a game of hockey and when she came back she let me outside. I took the time to inspect the whole back yard to make sure there was nothing dangerous out there. Actually the yard is wonderful - much better than the old place. And there is a lot of trees and undergrowth to look after.

Now though she's about to go grocery shopping with the other people who live in this house and I'm not allowed to use the internet without her around, So I had better go.

Bye

Wahooooo!

2007-04-18T22:12:00.000+12:00

Oh yeah!

Mum has secured a place for me to live!
Yes, I will be moving with her into the new house - one of her new flatmates also has Ginge hair and so she thinks we'll get along pretty well. He said he never had a problem with me living there - he even likes cats! (of course, he was going to fall in love with me anyway!)

And Mum reckons the only reason the other flatmate wasn't saying yes was because she thought it best to discuss the whole deal with Ginge first.

So... in only a couple of weeks I'll let you know all about the new house and new neighbourhood.

Regards, Plumps.

Bribery and Corruption

2007-04-14T08:01:00.000+12:00

I think Mum is trying to butter me up.

She bought my absolute FAVOURITE biscuits to eat, let me in early on a Saturday and fed me with a generous portion.

Well I'm more than prepared to take the perks of the situation. I'm still not going to help her move though.

The Shapes Of Pears

2007-04-12T18:24:00.000+12:00

I am not your child. I am not your brother or your friend. I am a cat and if I don't feel like writing a post nothing you do or say will make me.
However, if you chose not to give me a scratch when I have decided that it is time, you will find me quite put out.

And speaking of being put out - we are all in uproar. Mum has had a terrible time of it these last few weeks. She has had a falling out with the Aunties. To be honest, I really don't know what it's about and I don't think Mum does either. It is a long story but the Aunties have told Mum that she has two options. Option 1: They move out and she finds two new flatmates to help with the rent or Option 2: She finds a new place to live and they find another flatmate. I don't really mind what they do. As long as I get my food and my cuddles they could live on the moon for all I care. I am having problems of my own - my old nemisis actually had the audacity to come into my house they other day, and try to eat my dinner. Speaking of dinner - Mum and the Aunties are horrible. They have taken me off my premuim biscuits and switched to dull supermarket food. Only on occasion do I even get meat and when I do it's from a can!

And so. Well - Mum came back from a visit today, I heard her talking to her parents about it on the phone. I did wonder why she came in from work, got changed and went straight back out again - she usually stays and potters about in her room or on the computer before going anywhere. But tonight it was different, she only had time for a moment's scratch before she was out the door again. It worked in my favour actually as I had been dying to get out of the house and Auntie Casey was blatently ignoring me. Anyway - she was similar when she came home again, only in her room for long enough to put a jersey on and then it was straight on to the phone. She called home and got her Mum. I was around hoping for a scratch so I heard everything.
Mum is moving out. She had been visiting at a possible place to live and has decided that is where she will move. She mentioned the room was small but thought the people were quite cruisey and she reckoned she could live with them no worries at all. Then I heard the worst news I have ever heard in my life (since I had to leave my old Dad and learn to live with a new Mum). I might not be allowed to live there!!

Woe! Woe! Woe!

The two people that Mum is moving in with aren't sure they want a cat in their house! And Mum isn't giving up on a new place to live just because I might not be able to live with her. She says that even though she doesn't like Auntie Casey so much anymore, it doesn't mean Auntie Casey doesn't love me still, and I should be allowed to keep living with her. Mum has got a lot of work ahead of her to move into this new house - and you know what? For deserting me I am not going to help her with any of it.

It will serve her right.

Terrible Sad News :-(

2007-01-16T18:20:00.000+13:00

Mum and I have been sitting on the couch watching the news, and the New Zealand Department of Conservation (DOC) has announced that the South Island Kokako is now officially extinct.

I had held dreams of being the first person (or cat) in forty years to have a confirmed sighting of this pretty little native bird, but Mum has been thwarting me at every turn. She thinks my motives are less than honest. But I say there's nothing like wild bird!

Mum found the link to a news article on the internet for me so here it is here:
Kokako

And we had a hunt around for some pictures to show you too.

In this painting, the North Island Kokako is the one in front with the blue wattles. It is endangered and there are projects in place to rescue them. The bird at the back is the lovely South Island Kokako and I think they have much prettier wattles. Well they would if they were still around. I blame the dogs.

DOC may have declared the South Island Kokako extinct, but there are some people who reckon DOC is wrong. One of these people is a person called Ron Nilsson. He's an ornth... ornathlo... bird man, and I want Mum to get me to meet him. I think he must have some good methods for catching birds. I wonder if he's seen as many as Maalie and Simon?
Here's a some links to learn more about them (Mum helped me google for them).
2006 sighting
A Little bit more

My aunties have just got home with the groceries, so I might go find out what they bought! I hope you are just as sad as I am :-(

Thank Goodness That's Done With

2007-01-10T18:43:00.000+13:00

Oh boy, was this Christmas a trial.

Mum and Auntie Casey both left. The three of them had big plans for a roast chicken Christmas Dinner before they did, but No - It Didn't Happen. I blame Mum, she's always trying to get out of any work going on around the house. Though she did have a big clean up before she went.

So there it was - just Auntie Emma and me. And man was it TOUGH! She hardly ever got up in time to feed me for breakfast. I had to settle for 'brunch' which sounds to me like a lazy person's excuse. THEN on top of all that, she didn't want to give me all the cuddles I am due. No siree. Instead of picking up where Mum and Auntie Casey had left off, she only gave me her cuddles, which are not nearly enough for me!

But you know what? My prodigal relations came home on the same day! So I got a DOUBLE dose of cuddles on that day! Oh yeah and they really know how to scratch a cat. They got a few of my bidi bidi's out too which was good once it was done, but I don't much like having to suffer it.

So the new year has kicked off pretty much the same as the old one - with everyone forgetting me once something more important comes up. My nemisis came in for some of my food today and since Mum was wrapped up in a book I decided to take him on myself. I don't normally do this in the house - usually Mum or one of the Aunties are around to chase him away. I'm big enough to take care of myself mind - I just don't like getting my paws dirty. But I got him outside, down the stairs and out under the apple tree before Mum even made it herself. She threw some apples and squirted some water at him but I told her I'd already taken care of the situation. She pretented to be all worried about me and wanted to pat me but I knew really she was proud of me. And why shouldn't she be?

Big Day Today

2006-12-15T19:03:00.000+13:00

Today Mum took the day off work to go Christmas shopping. I asked her what she was getting me for Christmas but she just laughed at me. I wonder if I can make a complaint to CYF (Child, Youth and Families) about her attitide to me?
The two aunties went off to work as usual but Mum slept in a little bit. Unfortunately her door was closed so I could wander in for a morning chat. When she did get up she launched into a big clean up. Hang on a second! Wasn't she supposed to be out shopping? No, no she wasn't. In fact since she won't be around very much this weekend she decided to do her share of the spring clean today. She went a little overboard but.

I wanted the shower - she was cleaning the shower. I was hanging out on the toilet when she came in there and shooed me out! As if she owned the place! Okay, so she does, but that's not the point - I was there first!
I huffed off and had a look to see what was available for a snack but the pickings were pretty lean. It didn't matter that much anyway as I'd had a big breakfast for once. But the next thing you know she's in the laundry moving my dining set and everything else either up onto the whiteware or outside and I must suffer the indignity of her chasing me about the place with the vacuum. Of course she thought it was hilariously funny. The saga continued of course. She was not happy unless she was moving in to clean where ever I had settled. Finally I got fed up and went outside.

It was a gorgeous day. Hot and sunny with the slightest of breezes. The sort of weather you can hide in the grass in and watch the birds. I like watching the birds. Not so into ringing them though, like Uncle Maalie is.
Mum finished all her cleaning and jumped in her car and raced away. She didn't even say goodbye or let me know she was shutting the house up. Not that I cared until I wanted some lunch. I paced around the house looking for open windows but the girls have cracked down on their security lately. I was really beginning to starve.
The ginger and white cat that likes to hang around on our territory came over to sneer at me and I gave him something to think about. He likes to start fights at night time - a lot like my nemisis - but I sent him packing that's for sure! He raced away like a scared little kitten. The problem was I was still on the other side of the door to my lunch!

I wandered round the back to check that door again and imagine my surprise when I saw that same ginger cat EATING MY LUNCH!
Mum had put it outside while cleaning and didn't bring it in again! I could have been eating those delicious morsels at my leisure and I had missed them! I was so wild I launched at that cat and left him with a spinning head. He disapeared again and this time over the back fence. I hung around the remnants in my bowl to make sure he didn't come back. Not that there was anything for him if he did, but it's the principle of the thing.

Mum finally came home, stroppy and tired. She had one grocery bag and complained she hadn't gotten any Christmas shopping done at all. She had gone to see her friend Megs and take her to Meg's mother's place so she could get fitted for some skirt or top or something, I wasn't really listening. (It was well past my tea time.)
Then she had to make it back to the place where she works so she could borrow some tools for the weekend and then had to go back to the supermarket to buy something for tea. It didn't sound like she had that much to do so I gave her a withering look and asked where my dinner was.
She looked a bit guilty at that and brought everything in from outside. Instead of giving me something decent though she was lazy and told me to eat biscuits. I mean - is that really healthy? Meanwhile she drags her little barbeque out from under the house and starts cleaning it like mad. Would have been smarter to clean it after the last use wouldn't it Mum? She only scowled at me when I told her that. But all cleaned up she put it together and made sure it was going okay. So when Megs and Sarge come round tonight they'll have some yummy barbeque - because it's summer!

She must have felt guilty about neglecting me all day though because she took about thirty minutes this evening to spend some decent time with me. In fact she took out all the bidi bids which have got themselves stuck in my fur over the last couple of days which was wonderful, I'm all smooth again.

Now she is eating ice cream as she waits for her friends to turn up to the barbeque. She thought she'd be cooking by 1830 and it's already 1930. I guess she's about as loved as I am!

A New Toy?

2006-12-11T18:18:00.000+13:00

Things have been just fantastic!
Mum came home after her few days away and I got lots and lots of cuddles, she was so friendly and loving. She and her friend watched some tv in the evening and I got to sit in between them getting a double hug!

The weather is so warm it's no longer a pain when they shut me out of the house at night. I love getting out and about, prowling the night life. I've had another scuffle with the arch-nemisis and got a nasty scratch on the nose but as usual none of my family noticed until it was practially healed itself. Not even Mum in her excitement at seeing me again. So it's good to get away from them and their selfishness and be by myself - or with people who care - for a night or two.

Auntie Emma received a parcel in the mail today - her sister in Ireland had sent her a Christmas present. I didn't really care when she was unwrapping it because Mum was busy not feeding me my dinner and needed a bit of a hurry up. But later on, when she came back from work, Auntie Emma showed me.

I had been helping Mum in the kitchen, we were cooking satay chicken stir fry, and Emma came in raving about her new money box. She showed Mum but since they were working up high on the bench I couldn't see what they were doing. Then Mum remembered me.
"Show Plumpy, Em. He'll love it!"
I didn't like the sound of her voice. After our good times it seemed as though she was going back to her usual mischievious ways.
Auntie Emma put the money tin on the floor. It was furry, and had four legs. She put the coin through the slot in the top and SUDDENLY!!! What a racket it made as it snorted and waddled it's way across the kitchen floor! I circled it with care but it didn't seem to be causing too much damage. Mum and Auntie were watching me with laughter in their eyes so I sneered at them and stalked off.

Stupid new toy.

Goodbye isn't Forever

2006-12-04T20:42:00.000+13:00

Well!

Mum had a 'mare of a day today! She left the house about 3.40 in the morning to go to work. She arrived back here at home around 4.20pm. She kept telling everyone she worked from 4am to 4pm but I think she was trying to sound impressive.
It started raining this afternoon but I didn't mind as Auntie Casey was home in bed all day. She said she was sick but all she did was sleep all day. I stayed in the room to keep her company, just in case she really was sick, but she didn't appreciate it at all. The devil inside me thought nasty thoughts about getting my own back for the antibiotics but mostly I was uspset that my family still don't want me. I hung out at the end of her bed for a while but when my cleaning routine took longer than half an hour she kicked me off.

Auntie Emma came home from her early start and crashed on the couch too. I like her mink blanket and she was cool enough to let me use a little bit myself and we both watched tv and dozed. I was getting hungry though and wondered if either of them would feed me any sort of dinner. Sometimes when they really aren't thinking - or caring - I have to starve.
But joy of joys! Mum came home! She looked really tired and didn't have a lot to say, as I mentioned she'd had a hard day and didn't even make it to the islands, but the first thing she did when she got home was make me some dinner YAY!
She sat down to watch some music videos and doze on the other couch and I thought it was pretty cool - all four of us asleep at 4.30 in the afternoon! But Mum wouldn't let me sit on her lap for a cuddle so I was pretty gutted. I was just so excited that she hadn't gone away after all! However! When she moved from the couch to her bed for a proper sleep she let me crawl in under the covers with her and we had a really nice few minutes together with no other distractions. That's when she told me she was still going away - it was just delayed till tomorrow morning. I was a bit upset but she comforted me well enough until I fell asleep. It was a pretty good day all up - but I'm not looking forward to tomorrow when Auntie Casey goes back to work and Mum leaves the country again. I will have to spend the day outside in the rain :-(

Goodbye Mum

2006-12-03T21:07:00.000+13:00

I haven't seen Mum very much at all this weekend, she's been out and about with her friends. Mostly she hangs out at a place called Muz's Place, but I'm not allowed to go there with her. She tells me it is because I would have to go in the car to get there but I think it is because she is scared I will get in a fight with Angus. Angus rules at Muz's place - Mum calls him a scottish terrier but I know he's really just a wimp and I could take him. I'm not scared of terriers and would definitely show him who was really boss which is why I'm not allowed to go there in the first place, I'm sure.

I wanted a cuddle when she came home about 8.30 tonight (Sunday) but she waltzed in the door without noticing me and when I tried to get her attention Auntie Casey kicked me outside for the night. I was glad it has been getting warmer these last few days as I'm sick of being out in the cold.

I did find though that Mum was out and about with her friends because she's going away for a week. She didn't say where but I don't even think she will be in New Zealand! She's going away somewhere with work but promised she would be back this Friday. She will give me lots of cuddles then. She'd better!
Auntie Emma is away this week too but she's just living at another house while the owners are away and feeding their pets. It will just be Auntie Casey and I this week.

I wish Mum was going to be here though. Today one of the lads came into the house to look for food. I asked him to go away - that this was my house and my family, but she just came right on in anyway. When Auntie Casey found out she chased her out, but I wished it was Mum. Mum would have thrown water at her and chased her all the way off the property for me. She looks after me like that. Not that I can't look after myself, mind. Because I can, you know.
But Mum will not be here and I can only hope Auntie Casey keeps a stern eye out for them.

I think I will have to go out actually, and prowl the streets tonight, to make sure everyone remembers who I am. I might do it now.
Catch you next time.

(untitled)

2006-11-28T15:12:00.000+13:00

The Ground and I are one
I am the Earth
I am the Grass, the Weeds, the Earth

I scent the Air without breathing
without moving, I watch
I am the Stillness

She is the Air,
like a Leaf in the Wind
she twirls, she floats, she flits

Now here, now there
she is never still
she is the playful Breeze

without moving, I watch

she flits close, a length away
my Heart races
Muscles tense
Boom boom boom boom
I hear nothing but the Pounding
See nothing byt her Form
a length away
boom boom

I leap!

Claws out
fast as lightening
strong and powerful
there is no escape!

I missed.

Orion

2006-11-24T17:20:00.000+13:00

Mum made this for me;

It is a picture she took looking out from her parent's garage, and Jethro Tull's poem which was given to us from the Maalie King.

She reckons she'd been starting to worry about losing the passion for 'pondering,' since she wasn't at uni any more, but Simon and Maalie seem to be looking after her!

Good Days and Bad Days

2006-11-24T16:13:00.000+13:00

I had a good day, Mum had a bad day.
Mum suffered a pretty nasty mood swing the other night which started shortly after she went to work about 1600. By the time she arrived home no one wanted to be around her - least of all her own tortured self. It was up to me.

I'd had a great day - the air was warm, the wind was mild and my evil nemisis was nowhere to be found. Mum had been reading her book in the afternoon before going to work so I managed a sneaky snuggle with her on the couch. She's still been on night shift so didn't have to rise early in the morning and let me look after her all night.

Instead of staying up and watching TV she went to bed about ten o'clock (her work had finished quite early) and I promised I'd keep her company. She wasn't crying or anything but Auntie Emma was out baby sitting and Auntie Casey was already asleep so there was only me to talk to. She poured her heart out to me for a while and I hadn't felt closer to her in a long time. About two in the morning I really really needed to answer a call of nature so I slipped outside. I wasn't inclined to go prowling the neighbourhood so I curled up in my little shelter and thought about what makes us feel good or terrible.

The next day Mum felt a lot better and had a good chat with her own Mum on the telephone. She spent the morning doing little chores about the house which meant I didn't get any good hugs. She kicked me off the internet to read all the comments on various blogs and write some of her own. I told her I'd already said all that needed saying and she argued that telling people I like to make music didn't count.
"Oh really?" I asked, "How are you feeling then? Going to through another hissy fit are we? Want me to leave you alone this time?"
She just smiled in that irresistible way of hers and gave me a hug.
"We all have good days Plumpy, and we all have bad days. I'm glad I can share both with you."

There was nothing left to do but hurumph and stalk off to look for food.

Not My Idea of a Foam Party

2006-11-21T21:14:00.000+13:00

One of my favourite things about Auntie Emma is that she never interfers with me by trying to inject me, kick me, bully me or force-feed me nasty pills that bruise my throat on the way down. Until today.
Today was the last day for my meds and since Mum was away at work Auntie Casey recuited Emma to corner me, hold me down and otherwise physically assault me. The pill went down the wrong way and I gagged, trying to bring it back up. I ran behind the table in fear, it hurt so much! The gagging wasn't working - I was just getting spittle and bad tastes. I could hear Auntie Casey coming towards me and ran out from behind the table, past them both and under the computer desk in a frantic bid to suffer alone. Auntie Emma was screaming out at me "He's foaming! He's foaming!" and all Auntie Casey could do was laugh at me. I wished it wasn't happening to me. I could still hear them, they didn't even care that I was suffering so!
I ran to my favourite part of the house - Emma's room. It smelt nice and calmed me a little but I was still salivating and trying not to throw up all over the bed. I could hear Emma calling out that she didn't want me to ruin anything in there so I ran back out again and for once I didn't complain when they shepherded me out the door. Outside I lay down at the bottom of the garden in the cool and shade and plotted my revenge.

Life Just Slows Down Again

2006-11-21T11:44:00.000+13:00

After all the hustle and bustle of the weekend - fights and visitors and parties - the week has become like a snail trying to cross our drive. The weather is cloudy and warm so it's nicer for me to stay inside. Last night Emma went out to babysit so the house was very quiet with just me and Auntie Casey. But she was gone too when Mum came home. Mum finished her work really early but for the first time ever she just sat and watched TV instead of going straight to the computer. I logged on to read some of my comments here. I like the Maalie blogspot, it has nice pictures of birds like the Maalie and the Barn Owls. We have owls here in New Zealand too but they are just little wee things and instead of hooting they call out "more-pork." I'm still working out the best way to catch one.
Mum and I staid up watching UK TV till about eleven and Auntie Emma came home. Emma was really annoyed because the people she'd been babysitting for had promised she'd be home by nine-thirty. After a day inside with Mum and a night on the couch I was suddenly full of energy and started running up and down the corridor. When Mum opened the front door I didn't mind hooning right on through, even though I knew I wouldn't get back in till the morning.

I wandered the streets for most of the night. Most of my friends were out and we did a bit of karoke for a while until someone tried to squirt us with water. Honestly no one appreaciates real talent around here. Mum is listening to music all the time at home but she has no interest in hearing me sing. In fact it's a sure fire way to get myelf kicked out of the house. There were a few ladies out as well last night but since the accident I haven't had any interest in chasing them. They laugh at me a lot for it and spend their time teasing the lads so I usually avoid them. I don't like their attitudes much. It was good being out and about but the night finally caught up with me and I thought I might curl up and home for a bit of shut-eye before beggin breakfast from Auntie Casey.

Mum slept in late this morning which is usual for her when she's on the night shift. The house was cool and quiet - just the way I like it. I thought about going in to see her but as I said before I don't really like her room very much. When she did emerge she didn't go straight to the computer as usual but instead lay on one of the couches and gave me a cuddle. It was fantastic! We didn't say much, just enjoyed the moment. It is during times like these that I know the language of love which Simon talked about definitely needs no translation. After her breakfast though she did jump on the computer and started complaining about all the things she had to do before going into work tonight. I played by myself. Mum buys me little toys from time to time to keep me occupied, but most of them need two people to play with and no one in my family really plays with me when I want. Though Mum is better than the rest. But Mum let me play with one of her things which she keeps on the computer desk. I think she stole it from work but it's good to chase about the carpet. Actually I think I might go investigate it now. Thanks for all the comments, see you next post!

Time To See Me

2006-11-20T09:33:00.000+13:00

Mum's on night shift this week which means IF I get kicked out of the house, it won't be until she gets home (YAY) and we get to spend time together during the day. Now that she's not busy on her project this will be grand.

She said I can't write a Blog without putting some pictures up, so that people can see what I'm talking about. So here's a pictutre from my last photo shoot;

When that photo was taken I weighed about 6.8kg, which is not the heaviest I've been, but still I was carrying around a little extra weight. Mum says I'm a gorgeous big boy, and that I'm naturally a large guy, but Auntie Casey calls me fat. Since the fight I have lost four hundred grams. This next photo is one Mum took of me while I was asleep. I think it's embarrasing but Mum reckons I look cute so she made me put it up. Enjoy it while you can because I'm taking it off as soon as she goes to work tonight.

And my shoulder is healing up pretty well too, see?

In fact it's healing so well you can hardly even tell there's a wound there.

So, only one pill to go tonight and then no more physical abuse from Mum and Auntie Casey getting me to take them.

I better go anyway, Mum's out of bed and wants the computer for a bit. I might clean up and have a nap. It's not a very nice day outside so I'm pretty stoked she's home today. It means I can just chill inside.

Ai Ai Ai!

2006-11-19T21:45:00.000+13:00

I had hoped things would get a little better, I mean how much worse can they get, really? It did start to get better for a while. It was the end of the week and Mum went out to a party. Now this is not like Mum at all, usually she stays at home on the couch and I get to watch a lot of TV with her. For the most of this year she has spent most of her spare time on the computer because of the project she's doing at Uni, but more recently she's had time for television and books. Mum likes to read books, though I don't have any time for them. They are a good way to get absent minded but loving attention from her though. She's a lot better when she's not thinking about what I'm actually asking for.

Back to the weekend though - Mum went to a party and I was home alone with the Aunties. For once they were awesome! Emma chats away and can get much more of a response from Auntie Casey than Mum can which is great because I like watching TV with the sound of them both nattering in the background. It sort of gives off a sense of well being. I got a lot of cuddles and a nice dinner. Mum came back a little late from the party but not too late. Just before midnight I think. Neither of the Aunties had kicked me out of the house so I followed Mum to her bedroom. Out of the three bedrooms I like Mum's the least. It is big and there are funny smells in it. She has a large bed which she doesn't even use all of, but sometimes there is something special about being in there with her without Auntie Casey or Emma around. She was tired because she'd been out late at night after an early start at work, but I snuggled under the blankets with her and we had a good chat about lots of things. When Mum is in a friendly loving mood she is my favourite to be around. She didn't ask me about my shoulder (even though she and Auntie Casey had shoved another pill down my throat before she left that night) and I could tell from the smile on her face that she didn't really mind paying the bill for the consultation and the anti-biotics. I thought things were going to be fine.

On Saturday it was raining. The cooler weather gave me a little more energy but I had no interest at all going out and getting myself wet. Auntie Emma and Mum snuggled down on a couch each to watch some DVD's and I was very keen to join them.
Then Talia came round. Talia does not like me. Actually, I don't think it's that she doesn't like me, but more that she likes to be mean to me. Anyway, she hissed at me and I got such a fight I nearly ran out of the room. Emma laughed at my startled look and Talia hissed again. I didn't like the sound, or the look on her face - it reminded me of something primal and evil. Mum told Talia off, she said not to frighten me and Talia laughed. Mum gave me a hug.
Soon though Auntie Casey came back from where she had been to with her friend Amber. Amber is okay but sometimes she smells funny. Like a bad fire. Mum makes snarky comments about the little fires she lights so I know it's not just me. But Auntie Casey, Emma, Talia and Amber all started talking really loudly about all sorts of crap and it annoyed Mum. She kicked me off so she could sit close to the TV in an obvious attempt to watch the movie. I tried the other girls but Talia kept being mean to me so I spent the rest of the afternoon in another part of the house.

Auntie Emma and Amber went out that night on the turps. All hell broke loose when she returned. Mum was snuggled on the good couch under the duvet watching some movie on TV, and Auntie Casey was in her room reading a book. I was on the other couch debating whether I should fall asleep or go talk to Auntie Casey when I heard Emma coming up the steps to the door. Mum immediately got annoyed, she didn't want the girls to talk through her movie. Which they did. After a massive gossip about the night - which was quite interesting actually, Emma was being pushed to sleep with some young buck but although drunk she was very good and decided not to. I know when I get out on the rarks I always used to be into any sort of girl I could get my paws on, but I've changed a lot since the accident. Auntie Emma though, she had her morals and she stuck to them, which was interesting to hear the first time and a little taxing when repeated (drunkenly) for the fourth time. She wanted to go to the shopping centre for some Burger King, but Auntie Casey wouldn't take her - she'd had too much to drink as well. Emma decided to try Mum. Good luck sister I wished her. Boy you could have fried eggs on the lasers coming from Mum's eyes. She might not watch a terrible amount of tv - but when she does, don't ask her to leave the set! In the end Auntie Casey cooked the girl some cheese toasties.
after they went to bed and the movie had finished Mum got off the couch and looked out the window.
"It's stopped raining Plumpy."
Oh dear. I knew where this was going. True to form she kicked me out for the night. I was glad Auntie Casey had put insulation round my shelter. I still got a warm sleep even if it was outside. Things were improving.

Today Has Been Even Worse

2006-11-19T12:19:00.000+13:00

Mum finished work early because of her early start. When she came home she was being all smoochy and paying me a lot of attention. She almost immediately fed me and got changed into some more casual clothes. Then she gave me a hug or two and was quite concerend about the wound in my shoulder. It was looking a lot worse and felt awful, I couldn't bring myself to eat a lot. When I looked her in the eye I could see she really did care. Mum can be so self centered sometimes but it was good to know that when I was seriously hurt she was concerned for me. But the next thing I know she has me in the car and we're off to see someone about it! She knows I hate riding in cars, and boy did it stress me out. She tried to keep talking me through it but I couldn't help but wonder why we had to do it in the first case. It's not like she even consulted me about it! So consequently I had to suffer more pokes and prodding - this time from a stranger! - and even an injection. The woman was none too gentlte either. Then we suffered the unbearable drive home. Mum tried to give me more sympathy but I didn't want to have anything to do with it. Where are my basic freedoms? I left the house and went for a wander.
Mum must have been pissed off that I scorned her because she wouldn't let me back in the house on my return. She's so tempremental! I could see her tapping away at her computer not paying me an ounce of attention. Knowimg my luck I was simply out of sight out of mind.

Auntie Casey let me in with her as she came home. I asked her if I could have a key to get in myself but she didn't reply. I get the impression she's like Mum and likes the idea of banishing me when she wants. Only Emma lets me do what I like. But then she doesn't even bother to sort me out any food at meal times. All of them were all nice to me, I think they were worried about my shoulder. It took them long enough! It was sore, sure, but not that bad. It was nice to get some attention from them for once though. I spent most of the night in Emma's room. She's a busy little sparrow, usually flitting from room to room, talking to the other two but this time we had some nice time together without the others interfering.
Talk about interfering! The next afternoon they let me eat as usual and then Auntie Casey and Mum both cornered me, practically shoving a pill down my throat! I mean, they could have asked! But no! No choice for poor little me, I have to take what I'm given, and what I was given was disgusting. There was no sympathy from either and while they pretended to be sorry there were smiles on both faces. They thought it was funny. I avoided them for a couple of hours.
About ten at night I decided I'd had enough and went for another huss around the hood. There were a few others around but not really anyone I knew. I told a couple of stories about what happened to my shoulder then went home to bed. I bet they didn't even miss me.

My First Post!

2006-11-18T12:15:00.000+13:00

What a rotter of a day. It all started last night when I was kicked out of the house - again! I wandered the streets of Massey for a while but the whole place was pretty boring. None of the usual lads were out which was unusual for a warm night. I kicked around the district for a while but nothing was up.
After a bit I thought I might go home to bed and that's where the trouble started. As I came round the corner towards our house my arch-nemisis was waiting for me. He knew I'd been out on my own and I wondered briefly if he'd organised a distraction to keep my boys away tonight.

"I don't want a fight." I told him but he just sneered. I tried to run around past him but he came at me and I had no choice but to defend myself. I lashed out with a cry but he still got me a nasty wound to the shoulder. I got him good in the side of the gut though and he took off. There wasn't a lot I could do about my shoulder so I cleaned it up as best I could and slept on the other side.

The next morning Mum let me have breakfast early because she was working the early shift. I ate it as fast as I could, hoping I'd get another breakfast after she'd gone. She gave me a hug before racing out the door. I cleaned out my shoulder again and sat around waiting for Auntie Casey and Emma to get out of bed. Auntie Casey believed me when I said I hadn't been fed and I took my time eating the second bowl. I'd save it up for later. With Auntie Casey and Emma gone to work I mucked around about the house, doing this and that and taking naps when and where I could. The weather was warm and there was no sign of that ratbag who got me last night so it was a cruisey morning. My shoulder gave me a lot of trouble and it was leaking too, but I kept it as clean as I could. I was surprised no one had noticed it this morning, but then my family can be very preoccupied with themselves.

When they all made it home again they were tired and grumpy and paid me no attention. I kept asking them what time dinner was but no one would give me any sort of answer. After they had sorted themselves out Emma turned on the tv and Auntie Casey joined her soon after. I joined them, trying to get at least one of them to pay attention to me but they were so wrapped up in themselves they only paid me passing notice.
Mum was on the computer which is the first thing she does when she gets home so it was hopeless for me to get more than a hello from her. I asked her when dinner was but she avoided the question. Finally Auntie Casey asked Mum if I'd been fed and Mum got all upset saying she'd meant to but time had slipped away on her so in the end Auntie Casey got some food ready for me. To my absolute disgust it was dry and tasted foul. They rarely give me anything different and I nibbled a little bit to take the edge off my hunger. It wasn't worth eating as a meal. I drifted back to the girls of the house.
Auntie Casey let me sit on her lap, she's definitely my favourite. Mum is supposed to look after me but sometimes I think she sees me as a piece of the furniture, just a decoration to make her life look more active.

Then worse happened. Auntie Casey noticed the wound on my shoulder. She kept trying to look at it, but it was tender and I didn't like her touching it. She mentioned it to Mum and then Mum had to come and have a look too. They both poked and prodded it with little mercy until I mangaged to get away from them and move off to be by myself for a while. But Auntie Casey tracked me down and put some ointment on it before I could stop her. Well the bloody thing was fine until she interefered!! I cleaned it off but she put more on when she found out.

You know it's not the first fight I've been in, and I know how to look after myself. If I didn't then I wouldn't still be around, would I? Because they sure don't know how to look after me. They don't let me in the house when they're being mean, and sometimes they lock me in and won't let me out. I have no freedom. They smother me with hugs when I only want to be alone, and won't have a thing to do with me when all I need is a little bit of sympathy. I am so unloved.