One Last Time!

Adieu 2010, goodbye
It’s been a ball and doesn’t time fly?
I laughed and I cried, I wrote and I sighed
I got sick so many times but that’s all by the by!

Today I will make mulled ale
From the spices I got in the Sale!
I’ll stay within limit, won’t make it a habit
For 2011 is the year of the Rabbit!
(Or the Cat if you are Vietnamese!)

Charlie says: Your last bad poem for 2010 is truly awful. Thank goodness for my string.

Bloggie friends!!! Charlie and I will see you all on the other side!

xx

Thank you to lovely Bin for the info about the Year of the Cat and the Rabbit! Amazing!

Sorted!

Bloggie friends !!

I swear that I ventured to the centre of town with the single minded and sole purpose of stocking up my quota of fruit and veg.

I did not intend to return laden with bags –BAGS!! – of sale items from the shops!!

My summer wardrobe is now all sorted for next year!

Charlie says: My quota of treats need stocking up too.


Still being frivolous on my holiday!

Michelin man's wife.

Bloggie friends!

Of course it wasn't all sitting around for me, I went for a walk too.

Et voila! Below is the footpath leading to Cambridge!

I did take a load of pics but all the scenery was sort of like the one above! LOL!

Charlie says: I too went for my own walk but next door were out.


What I need to know bloggie friends, is why rambling gear (goretex boots, waterproof trousers, fleece layers and waterproof jackets) are so darned UN-SEXY! LOL! I seriously looked like the michelin man's wife trudging across the tundra!

I'm so on holiday!!!!

:-)

String theory

Charlie says: While you watch telly, I pull the string!


Yes bloggie friends!! I am vegetating in front of the telly!! There's a brilliant docu-drama called When Harvey Met Bob (BBC) - about how in 1985, Bob Geldof and promoter Harvey Goldsmith managed to pull together a concert to raise millions to help the poorest and starving in Ethiopia.

I remember the concert very well! Live Aid, 13 July 1985. Magic.

I'm still on holiday bloggie friends! LOL!

All tied up!

Bloggie friends!!

It felt so good to have a full day in bed just reading!!

I can finally cross one book off from my “to be read” pile of books that has been growing – worryingly - up to the ceiling all year! I seriously didn't think I'd have the time or energy to read them all!

Now on to another tome! Yay! Bring ‘em on!!

Charlie says: While you read, I play with my Christmas string!


Charlie says: Thank you Santa for my Christmas string!


We hope everyone is having a great day too! I'm still on holiday! Hoorah!

The Hat of Doom!

Go on Charlie you know you want to wear THE HAT!

Pretty please??!?!

There's extra extra treats for you!!


Charlie says: Nay, nay and thrice nay!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS BLOGGIE FRIENDS!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

This is our first Christmas in blogland! And my first Christmas with Charlie!

We would like to wish you all a joyous and peaceful time! May you all be enveloped with peace, love, happiness, understanding and kitty or dog furrs! LOL! Enjoy! xx

On the Eve

Bloggie friends!!

My Christmas tree is on fire!! LOL!

I really should stick to what I know best – baking cakes and eating them and not dabbling in photography! Oh but the tree is so pretty when lit and I want to share this today - the day before Christmas!

Charlie says: I stick to what I know best all the time – whapping the nip toy!

It's Christmas Eve bloggie friends!!!!

Who is staying up till midnight!??!?! *Me - waving my hand in the air - squeaking me, me, me*!

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!

On the Edge

Bloggie friends!!!

Today is my last day at work before the building shuts for 10 glorious days!

Oh but in true bah-humbug form I have one last big work project to finish off before 5.30pm sharp.

But I can do this, darn it! I’ll show the powers that be that I may be the lowest form in the organization but by golly I’ll show ‘em!! I’ll show em all!!! *insert evil laughter here*.

Ok, I think I need my holiday now.

Charlie says: I roll with my nip toy! La-la-la-la!


Have a thoroughly whacky Wednesday everyone!

4 freaky days to Christmas!

On being picky

Charlie says: I am not amused with this toy

Charlie says: I hope you kept the receipt

Charlie says: Before you return it, I shall give it a good licking first.

Catnip toys from Culpepper! The only catnip toy that Charlie will play with!

What may I learn from this? Er.... never settle for second best - cos you're worth it!

Have a terrific Tuesday everyone!

Five fanatastic days to Christmas!

A Lesson learned

So I am lying horizontal on my lovely dentist’s chair looking up at a blank tv screen hanging from the ceiling above me.

My dentist inserts a camera in my mouth, the tv screen lights up and oh my stars bloggie friends, I see my teeth! In full gaudy technicolour! In extreme close up!

I swear then and there that I shall always and forever more never forget to brush BEHIND my front teeth.

Charlie says: Finally, snack time!

Have a mesmerising Monday everyone!

6 oh so exciting days to Christmas!

In the Bleak Midwinter

Snow flakes settle down
We shiver in winter’s grip
Puddles ice over

Trees stand bare and shorn
Plants shrivel from the cold air
Birdsong falls silent

The above haiku attempts are for the lovely Madeleine's Let's Haiku blogfest over at Scribble and Edit! She's got an excellent tutorial on how to Haiku!

Charlie says: I would like to hold a Snack Time blogfest, starting now.

Have a snoring Sunday everyone!

7 oh-my-gosh-really???-days to Christmas!!

Thank you for reading and I hope you didn't mind me ambushing y'all with my bad poetry! Thank you!

My Screensaver

Charlie says: I interrupt your blogging cos it is snack time. For me.


Bloggie friends!!! Some of my favourite bloggers have signed off for the holidays to be back by the New Year (I hope!) and everytime I think I ought to do the same, I can't.

Cos my name is Old Kitty and I'm a Bloggie-holic! :-)

Have feathery Friday everyone!

8 snowy days to Christmas!

P's and Q's

So there I am queueing at the till with my “buy 2 boxes of Felix Meat Gravy pouches for £5.00”!!! cat food on the conveyor belt when the woman in front turns to me and asks:

“Is your cat fat?”

Bloggie friends!! My eyes flew wide, my jaw dropped and I lost my voice momentarily.

But it’s ok – it turns out she’s about to adopt a stray where she lives and she’s never had a cat before and didn’t know the correct amount to feed her soon to be kitty.

So I forgive her.

Charlie says: I don’t.

The above pic was taken this morning with my super new memory card!!

Have a ticklish Thursday everyone!

9 terrific days to Christmas!

Techno, techno, techno- phobe!

Bloggie friends! I have a silly question!

Where does one store these little mini-memory cards from the digital cameras? Do they have a special Lilliputian case/holder preferably in pink that anyone knows about?!?!

Charlie says: I know this is an old pic because Mr Macdoonagoogle is intact!


Not to worry bloggie friends!! I just need to buy me another memory card for my camera to get new pics of Charlie! Yes - SHOPPING! Woo-hoo!

Have a whoopie cushion Wednesday everyone!

10 whole days to Christmas!!!

The Day After

Charlie is hiding for shame, bloggie friends!!!

Why?
Cos my tree is embarassing!! LOL!!!

Feel free to chortle!! I did!!

I've just had my work Christmas dinner thingy and am a little worse for wear so please bear with me as I visit y'all very very late!!!

11 rollicking days to Christmas!

A Christmas Tale

The Mistletoe Wish

Under the mistletoe I stood
Looking glam and gorgeous and good
Got a gym membership and ate diet food
Did up my hair to get in the mood
Dreamt of Prince Charming who perhaps would
Sweep me off my feet as I know he should.
Instead I’m assailed by drunken colleagues, so rude!
Work Christmas do’s ain’t the place for finding such dudes!

**************************************

So endeth my very bad poetry entry to the lovely Ellie's Christmas Tales Blogfest!

Charlie says: Be so kind as to wrap my pressie in proper wrapping paper thank you.

And here is a key courtesy of the fab Madeleine to all you lovelies who read my Through the Keyhole blog entry!

Have a scintillating Sunday everyone!

13 days to Christmas!

Tail End

Bloggie friends!! Guess who put the above Christmas tree together where I work????

Of course me!!!

I was aiming for the minimalist art deco look! Ahem!

Now hands up who’d like to see a World Preview of Santa Claws from the ever so fabulous Simon’s Cat???

Go here, go here!! It’s ever so funny!!

Charlie says: Off I go next door!



It's Friday, it's Friday and it's 15 caroling days to Christmas!

A Shopping Experience

“You’re not buying a Cuisinart Soup Blender, you are buying a status symbol,” says a presenter in one of these fabulous shopping channels!

I always knew soup was good for you!!!!

Charlie says: I spot a snack spider!

Bloggie friends!! Thank you all so much for reading my Through the Keyhole entry yesterday!!!! You are all so lovely!!!! Thank you thank you thank you!

Who owned The Garden? The narrator's very elderly parents!

Have a tuneful Thursday everyone!!

16 nailbiting days to Christmas

Through the Keyhole with Brian

The divine Ms Madeleine's Through the Keyhole blogfest's rules are:

Describe someone's living space in no more than 500 words so that we can vividly imagine the absent person. Then guess from the descriptions posted the type of who lives in a room like this?

This is my entry (it kinda very loosely follows the rules. Ahem!):

*************************************
The Garden

The first thing you will notice is the apple tree. It stands at nearly ten feet tall in the middle of sorry tufts of bits of lawn clinging around the tiny garden space.

Two sheets of wood panelling fence the back with slats broken and rotted through.

Green chicken wire encloses either side, but wind and rain and neglect have bent and misshapen them.

Rosebushes edge the borders. Their days of giving lush cream and red pink blooms are long gone. Unchecked they’ve grown gnarled and woody.

You wonder how small the garden truly is once the tree is cut.

I can tell you with certainty that a child could run from one end of the garden and back in the kitchen in 15 seconds flat.

******************************
I wrote the above with the very modern idea that a garden is so an extension of one's living space. *looks shifty and then runs away!*

Charlie says: I live here with my own palm tree and fevvers!

For a lovelier story not related to the blogfest, please do read "Trees of Life - a Christmas Story" by Brian of Brian's Home. He is one talented and amazing kitty!

Have a wispy Wednesday everyone!
17 frivolous days to Christmas!

The Other

Bloggie friends!!!

I was trying to edit my Through the Keyhole blog entry but Charlie had other ideas!!!

So let's join him as he watches a gorgeous large Great Tit (stop giggling at the back!) flutter and hop amongst the branches of next door's giant tree!

His tail was really whooshing here!

Charlie says: Come to papa little birdie!

Have a tipsy Tuesday everyone!

18 surreal day to Christmas!

RED ALERT! RED ALERT!

Bloggie friends!!

I’ve been writing. Creative writing! Yes I have!

I joined a couple of writerly blogfests and hope to ambush you all with my scribblings this week.

You have been warned!!!

Suspend all incredulity and eye rolling to the ceiling!!!!

Cancel all lectures, Christmas shopping, pencil and pen biting and marvel as to why I was voted “girl most likely to have a zit growing on her nose on a monthly basis”.

Ahem.

Charlie says: I am so blinded by the spot on your conk I have to scratch myself!

My offerings will be:

A very bad but very seasonal poem of 64 words for the lovely Ellie’s Christmas Tales blogfest. (for 12th December)

A 124 word "who lives here?!?!" narrative for Ms Maddocks' Through the Keyhole blogfest.
(er... any day this week!)

Love you all! Do join in if you wish (click on links for more info!)
19 preposterous days to Christmas!!!

Happy Monday!

Smile and the world smiles with you!

Bloggie friends!! There's more to teeth than I realised!

Before my dental appointment the practice sent me a questionnaire to fill in. This is a new procedure apparently!

Question 41: Have you ever had the following: emotional problems
Question 51: Are you considered a touchy person?

[And my favourite question of the lot:]

If you could change your smile, would you?

Oh my.

Charlie says: I am cleaning my paw.

Have a whimsical weekend everyone!

20-21 gregarious days to Christmas!

It's ALIVE!!!!

Charlie says: This white stuff again??


Bloggie friends!!!! Do you see the fir tree to right of Charlie? That’s my Christmas tree!

It wasn’t supposed to last after its first Christmas with me but this Christmas marks its third year! I hope to bring it inside this weekend to allow it to acclimatize.

The only problem is that it’s home to many many MANY bugs and other creepy crawlies and I remember spending a good few hours last year taking them all outside one by one.

This time I hope to do this with less squealing and swooning!

Charlie says: I'm outta here!


Have a frothy Friday everyone!

22 Stupendous Days to Christmas!

You say potato, I say potato

Bloggie friends!!

In my attempt to make a dental appointment, the following telephone conversation occurred towards the end!

Me: So I'll be there on the 16th of December at 11 am.
Receptionist: No the 15th of November at 10 am.
Me: December?
Receptionist: Yes, the 16th of December.
Me: At 10 am?
Receptionist: No, 11 am.
Me: On the 16th ?
Receptionist: The 15th at 11 am
Me: Please could we start again?

She was really nice but got me most confused!

Charlie says: Easily done.

Have a tickly Thursday everyone!

23 GLORIOUS DAYS TO CHRISTMAS!!

Snow yesterday, Talli today!

Charlie says: What the...?!?!?!?

Yes bloggie friends - SNOW!! Wonderful glorious Chrismassy Snow - the above pic taken yesterday at 7.25 am!

NEWS FLASH, BLOGFLASH! IT'S TALLI DAY!!!!!

Help Talli Roland's debut novel THE HATING GAME hit the Kindle bestseller list at Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk by spreading the word today. Even a few sales in a short period of time on Amazon helps push the book up the rankings, making it more visible to other readers.

Amazon.co.uk Amazon.com

No Kindle? Download a free app at Amazon for Mac, iPhone, PC, Android and more. Coming soon in paperback. Keep up with the latest at http://www.talliroland.com/.

About THE HATING GAME:

When man-eater Mattie Johns agrees to star on a dating game show to save her ailing recruitment business, she's confident she'll sail through to the end without letting down the perma-guard she's perfected from years of her love 'em and leave 'em dating strategy. After all, what can go wrong with dating a few losers and hanging out long enough to pick up a juicy £200,000 prize? Plenty, Mattie discovers, when it's revealed that the contestants are four of her very unhappy exes. Can Mattie confront her past to get the prize money she so desperately needs, or will her exes finally wreak their long-awaited revenge? And what about the ambitious TV producer whose career depends on stopping her from making it to the end?

Have a warm and wanton Wednesday everyone!

A Chip Off the Old Block

Bloggie friends!! I am falling apart
I chipped my tooth eating a pecan tart!
I wouldn’t mind but it’s the front molar!
My dazzling smile is now no longer!

And this means *gulp* *shiver* *lose all colour from face* a, ahem, trip to the dentist.

Charlie says: Kindly fill blank page with words, thank you.

Have a twinkly Tuesday everyone!

Steamy Glasses

Bloggie friends!!

You so know it’s freezing outside when you enter your home and your eyeglasses steam up asap.

That’s if you wear eyeglasses like moi!

And that’s if you live north of the hemisphere and winter is well and truly settling in.

Am I dreaming of a snowy Christmas? Darn tootin right I am - because such a prospect sings to my romantic heart! But not to my eyeglasses!

Charlie says: I have a long tongue! And I know what you want for Christmas!


Have a melodious Monday everyone!

Yes to Yen!

Bloggie friends!

Never leave home without a pen! Not only are they handy for scribbling down conversations verbatim like I am wont to do, they’re ever so handy for completing the Evening Standard quick crossword!

Especially whilst stuck on a non-moving packed train held immobile on the middle of the track due to “line congestion”.

Oh and while the train didn’t move, the engine was turned off and so was the heating - on the first proper frosty and icy day of the month.

The clue: Three letters for “longing”.

The answer: Yen.

As in “To have a yen for”. Ahem.

Charlie says: I yen to be next door.



Have a superb weekend everyone!

A Thankful Interview and a call for Centurions!

Bloggie friends!!

The ever so gorgeous Sharde of Realm of Randomness was so kind enough to interview me, here

But the reason why I'm telling y'all is not to read my silly answers to her fab questions but to listen to Ms Sharde read one of my sillier poems!!

She makes the words sing with that lovely voice of hers! Awww!! I was so happy to hear it!

Charlie says: HAPPY THANKSGIVING to everyone honouring this day!


Bloggie friends - I will be offline AGAIN today (Booooo!!) but I will return - very late to your blogs - probably by the weekend - but return I will!!

ANNOUNCEMENT!

The ever so feared and fearless Maximuss Spittamus is recruiting centurions!!

Being the Centre of the Universe, he needs lots of protection! Here is what he says:

"If you would like to join my Centurions and be a part of the life of the one and only Maximus Spittimus then e-mail your pics to fourdinners@aol.com and The Two Legs will post your pics and you will be a part of my Centurion Army for ever and ever and ever"

Until then, have a spiffing Turkey Day!!!!!!!!!!!

The Speed of Light

Bloggie friends!!

Sometimes you lose your footing and go flying head first towards the pavement at such speed there is nowt you can do about it.

Except stagger up and pretend you’re super cool about what just happened and no of course your knee is not grazed and stinging like crazy and your pride hasn’t fled across the road yelling “You’re on your own mate, I’m off!”

Ahem.

I am treating myself to some Lindt Dark Chocolate Excellence range with a hint of salt to soothe my damaged ego.

Charlie says: I feel your pain. Honest I do.


Have a winsome Wednesday everyone!

Let's Limbo!

Bloggie friends!! I’m in limbo!
I’m impatient and waiting for Crimbo!

(Crimbo - Christmas!)

I won a random critique of the first ten pages of my novel (yay!! Thank you Shannon Whitney Messenger) so while they are being dissected (the pages, not Shannon! LOL!) I can’t seem to carry on with my edits or even write a short story until I know the verdict!

So in the meantime I am subjecting you all to my bad poetry! LOL

Charlie says: I like my hat



Thank you so much Andy and Sammy and mum from Sammy and Andy's Place for hatting Charlie and giving him a terrific cap!

Have a tantric Tuesday everyone!

Tis and That Hat!

Tis the hour before the cake is done
My eyes are droopy and I’m not having fun
My duvet and hot water bottle are calling
From my bed but I must continue ignoring
As the clock ticks towards midnight, I’m straining
To keep awake -for if I don’t there might be a burning!

Et voila!!!

Behind that brown wrapping inside that tin is the Christmas cake – 4 hours later!!!!!

Charlie says: I kick out your hot water bottle and keep your messy bed warm!

NEWSFLASH!! Charlie is about to be "hatted" today by the adorable Sammy and Andy and talented mum!!!

What does that mean bloggie friends? Wait and see.... *cue twilight zone music* LOL!

Have a marzipan Monday everyone!

Off-line Adventing

Bloggie Friends!!!

I love advent calendars that countdown to Christmas Day with a mini chocolate treat just for me per day.

So I bought this RSPCA Advent Calendar from their online shop because the blurb said:

"Count down to Christmas with your pets with these fun advent calendars containing a mini treat for each day"

It never occured to me one bit that they didn't mean a chocolate treat for ME each day.

They meant of course, a mini cat food treat for the cat each day.

Charlie says: Merry Christmas to me!




Bloggie friends - I will be offline ALLLLL DAY TODAY!! So I will be very very very late reading your blogs!! Hopefully I'll catch up over the weekend!

Have a fabulous weekend everyone!