Jingle Bells

Bloggie friends!!!

Ever since I put my tree up I’ve been trying to get Charlie to interact with it a little!

You know do crazy kitty things like destroy it or something proactive like that!! But would he co-operate?

No he would not. Until tonight. When he knocked off a ball ornament and started chasing it around!

And guess what I didn’t have to hand???? My camera to capture the moment!! Talk about missed opportunities!! I could draw a writer-ly parallel but instead I’ll leave you with this:

Charlie eschewing his saliva drench catnip toy for his ol favourite one – Mr MacDoonagoogle!




I’m officially not at work anymore – YAY!! BUT I’m still very much in Blogland bloggie friends!!!!

I may be very late commenting on all your lovely blogs but I’m around!!!

3 ecstatic days to Christmas!

My Perfect Companion

I sought you out and you were brought to me
Looking lost and a little shy
Your preferences were a mystery
I had to start from scratch.

How to understand your little purrs
How to listen to your heartfelt sighs
How to brush your long fur
What toy you loved the most

(Mr MacDoonagoogle)!

Nearly four months you’ve been with me
A sumptuous eternity
Today you turn eight years old

Today I dedicate this post

To you my perfect companion

Happy birthday my glorious Charlie!

And a happy Fourth of July to my American bloggie friends!

Have a cracking Sunday everyone!

No pain, no gain

Now I’m all for alternative treatments that help to beautify and de-stress.

Gentle yoga for instance or a drop or two of lavender oil in one’s bath and scalp and maybe a stick or three of lit josticks to clear the air of cat-litter smell.

And maybe some rosewater in a bowl of pot pourri to chase that garlic aroma from the kitchen.

But I think this is one too much even for “I will try anything once” me.

Beautiful bloggie friends, may I present : A bed of nails:



“ The pressure of the rounded nails against the skin may help the body release endorphins, which provides a sense of joy, energy and pain relief, and oxytocin, which makes you feel calm and relaxed.”

Available exclusively at Harvey Nichols.

Charlie says: who needs nails when you can relax by simply stretching like so after hours of fun with Mr MacDoonagoogle?




Have a lovely stress free Tuesday everyone!

J'Accuse - A murder mystery and how to do it.

What makes a good crime story?

1) A complex character – is he the hero or the villain or both?


2) A heinous crime – WARNING: not for those of a nervous disposition!

3) An eccentric victim - poor Mr MacDoonagoogle - who would want to decapitate such a sweet and innocent character?

But was he all he seemed?!?!

4) A cliffhanger of an ending - making way for Book 2.

Did he or didn't he?

Disclaimer: Following these rules does not necessarily mean your story's gonna be any good!

Have a love Saturday everyone!

Practice makes perfect

I discover that I’m unable to get any good action pics of Charlie because I just don't have enough pairs of hands!

I have to be dangling Mr MacDoonagoogle in one, leaving the other to hold the camera, focus and press the button.

It doesn't help that Charlie is also very, very fast.

The results are mainly pics like these:








Anyway, practice as they say makes perfect.

I don’t have another person or any other gizmos to rely on to help so I must learn to master the art of taking action shots myself!

Just as I must learn to master the art of writing fiction myself. If I fail it’s because I’ve not tried harder. It’s no-one’s fault but mine. I don’t have anyone to blame but me (and maybe my ditzy muse).

You see, Charlie gets Mr MacDoonagoogle every time no matter how hard I make it for him. He never gives up. He is patient and remains focused and determined until he gets his prize.

Have a lovely Good Friday everyone!

Welcome Mr MacDoonagoogle to the 21st Century

Guess what I got today?

My laid back muse was trying to tell me something yesterday as I tore my hair out over my password protected document.

Re-write everything from scratch.

My novel has always been in my head and I am lucky enough not to need a password to access that. Well not yet anyway! In the meantime, may I introduce Mr MacDoonagoogle who keeps Charlie company while I tap away at my masterpiece. :-)

I have six weeks to get at least three chapters done. Charlie has at least another week and a half before I introduce him to the big wide world outside my front door. Yikes!

I think Charlie is doing ok. His appetite grows, he speaks to me more often, he visits "downstairs" without wanting me to accompany him and he allows me to groom him and clean his left eye (a torn tear duct from when he had cat flu as a kitten). I think he is settling down well.

So long as Mr MacDoonagoogle is around of course. Charlie has his muse close to hand, I mean, paw, I need to wake mine up!

Oh and this is what Charlie thinks of my photographic efforts!



He doesn't even blink at the evil flashy thing...! What a trouper!

A Tail to be told

So here is Charlie or rather Charlie’s tail.

He came to me via the ether of the internet from the lovely Jane Smith of How Publishing Really Works who knew of Charlie from her friend Jo who couldn’t have him anymore because her new home didn’t allow furry creatures and who kindly had her brother and girlfriend drive Charlie for two hours in the rain to me before going on further to Clacton - for a hopeful seaside trip.

Charlie arrived at 10.40 am, 20 March 2010.

Phew.

I forget how young an 8 year old cat can be. I forget how agile a cat can be. I forget how curious and how full of curiosity a cat can be. I am reminded on an hourly basis how his mind is zipping through feline thoughts at a zillion times per second – wanting to touch this, smell that jump here, squeeze through that gap - any gap.

What’s behind that door? Boxes of clutter I can’t seem to part with, Charlie!

What’s that on the windowsill? My sister’s floral arrangement she gave me for Christmas. I think the flowers are all dried up now…

And who is that mad woman waving outside at me? It’s the lovely Sue, Charlie! She adores kitty cats and doggy dogs.



What’s that noise? It’s the new next door neighbours – the young couple having a errr.. very good time! You’ll soon get used to it, Charlie!

At 4.30 am he woke me up by leaning with his furry paws up on the edge of my duvet and going: “purr-eow”.

So I took Mr McDoonagoogle and we both ran along the hallway with Charlie chasing after us.


I shall leave Mr McDoonagoogle for another day.