Sunday mewsings

From the desk of Mama Piggy:

We visited Phyllis' cattery this afternoon together with Senor Achiwawa's family.



Senor Achiwawa's sister took a liking to this pensive-looking cat called Summer, who clung on to her and Senor like a baby. Phyllis said Summer has an auto-immune illness, and gets mouth ulcers very often which affects her appetite.



Pei Pei's adoption notice should go up on the CWS adoption bulletin real soon, this spunky girl has found a fan in Mei-mei :)

Earlier in the day, Kootoo Boy found himself groped, hugged and smooched by his No. 1 fan, Mrs H, Senor Achiwawa's mama.


Kootoo: Has she gone yet? Is it safe to come down from the shelf now?

Life is about going through and letting go ...

From the desk of Mama Piggy:

The death of a loved one is a gift - it teaches us the true meaning of life and love, so that we, the living, can value the purpose of life, and celebrate its beauty.

So says Ajahn Brahm at his talk "Losing Loved Ones" this evening at the Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery.

Of course, it is and never will be easy to see a loved one pass on and not grief.

For me, it felt as if a part of me died too when my father passed away some 14 years ago. I was into my second year of undergraduate study when my father was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. His health deteriorated rapidly after an operation, and within months, he left us. It was tough coming to terms with it because I was the youngest child and he doted on me. What have I done for him to repay his love and care? He had worked so hard all his life, and was just getting ready to retire and enjoy life, but Death robbed him of his well deserved rest. I was resentful, and allowed myself to grief for a protracted period of time.

My father's death had been "premature" - I was not ready. But will we ever be ready for death?

Ajahn Brahm says we don't cry for the person who pass away, we cry for ourselves - we are not ready to let go. The dead wouldn't want us to be sad. In fact, they want us to let go and be happy.

To love, therefore, is to let go.

Death is not the end. We shall meet each other again, in another time, another space.



What "unfinished business" do Kootoo and Mama Piggy have in their past lives that brings them together again in this life?

Perspectives

From the desk of Mama Piggy:



Levitation or hallucination?

It's a matter of perspectives.

Pei Pei

From the desk of Mama Piggy:

Pei Pei is now at Phyllis' place.

Why "Pei Pei"? Cos she reminds me of the pugilist actress in the movie "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon", Cheng Pei Pei. Feisty and fearless. Oh well, never mind.

She has been vaccinated (second jab due in a month's time) and will be de-wormed in the next few days.

She is up for adoption. Anyone wants a manja and playful 4-month-old kitten?

Hello Houston ...

From the desk of Mama Piggy:

.... we have a "problem".


This is the little Calico girl we "catnapped" this evening. We chanced upon this newcomer while feeding Milo's mummy at the void deck.

Don't be fooled by her sweet demeanour. The pink-nosed girl is a feisty chilli padi - tiny in size but packs a fiery punch. When I spotted her, a Jack Russell on a leash was barking at her furiously, one metre away. Kitty was initially unperturbed, but suddenly she decided to march up to the noisy barker and hissed and spat at him! Her defiance caught the dog owner, me and another onlooker by surprise.

I wanted to carry her away but she turned around and swiped at me. Thanks to Muffin Terror, I am now quite adept at dodging such unpleasantries. The dog owner finally dragged his hyper pooch away, and I fed the hungry girl who wolfed down the wet food with great gusto.

After eating her fill, she was contented to remain at the void deck to play with me. She is about 4 months old, very affable and trusting, and is not afraid of human contact at all. What shall we do with her?? We went home, undecided. But my mind was in a turmoil. How could I leave her alone?

So I came down again with some dry food. She was still at the void deck!! I guess there is no running away from Fate. I buzzed the hubby to bring down the carrier, and little Calico girl walked straight into it!

She is now in our flat's kitchen toilet, and took to the litterbin without a fuss. I think she is a very good candidate for adoption.

This is the only time I could snap a picture of her keeping still.


Her calico patches.

Tomorrow, I will try and speak to Phyllis to take her in - I will pay for the boarding and medical fees of course.

I know I wouldn't be able to sleep well tonight if I didn't bring her home.

Beast of burden ...

From the desk of Mama Piggy:



... is Papa Porky.

HRH Milo Poopster likes to be carried around the house in this manner.

Mother board

From the desk of Mama Piggy:


We got this mother of all scratching boards/posts from Loving Pets at East Coast on Sunday.

It looks small in the picture, but it's actually a one metre tall monster.



But it's still kinda short for Kootoo, who can easily reach the top when fully stretched out.

All's well ...

From the desk of Mama Piggy:



... that ends well. Well, almost.

*Dabs sweat from forehead*

Muffin Spitfire

From the desk of Mama Piggy:



Muffin showing why he is called The Terror.

Kootoo and Milo were absolutely clueless as to why he is behaving like a deranged kitty.

We managed to "trap" Muffin and he is now isolated in our room.

If he calms down (which he did for a while when the other two cats were kept in the room), we'll try and bathe him so that at least he smells the same as Kootoo and Milo.

I am so stressed out by this behaviour of his that I am developing a cold. Dammit.

High and dry

From the desk of Mama Piggy:

We decided to bath the kitties today, as they are beginning to smell.

Made the deadly mistake of bathing Muffin last. He was scared stiff after hearing the yowling (thanks to Kootoo Monster) from the bathroom.


Muffin: Move one inch closer and I will claw your eyes OUT!

He scrambled on top of the fridge and refused to budge despite my efforts to lure him down with yummilicious treats.

With Muffin, you cannot use force as he would go into hysterics.

As of 7pm, our friend has been up on the fridge for 5 hours :(


Muffin: Stay AWAY from me, you EVIL woman!

Milo masters Hokkien!

From the desk of Mama Piggy:



My friend couldn't resist having another go at this Crazy Talk 4 thingy. Thanks to Vegancat for the link.

Milo can talk!!

From the desk of Mama Piggy:

Thanks to my dear friend Tenzin Lobsang, who did wonders with some Crazy Talk software, Milo can now talk!



But the computer generated voice is not very clear, so this is what I can decipher so far:

"Papa and Mama, are you ?????? I hate it, do you understand? I don’t like it, so please take your hand and this stupid hat off my head. I am not a little girl. I am the family of lion, I am Milo, ok? Understand or not? Meow meow. Papa and Mama, have a nice year ahead and show lots of love to me. Meow meow."

Papa's boy

From the desk of Mama Piggy:

You can see why Milo is Papa Porky's Prrrecccious, since Day 1!

Then:


(23 June 2006)

Now:


(25 December 2006)

How do I love thee?

Let me count the ways ...

What have you come for?

From the desk of Mama Piggy:


Wild flowers in Halls Gap, Victoria, Australia (Nov 2004)

Are you here to merely indulge in the beauty of this transient life?

Or have you come to make it even more beautiful?

Me? I am learning that letting go can be a beautiful thing.

Lucky strike

From the desk of Mama Piggy:

I could hardly drag myself out of bed this morning ...



It was a hectic start to the first working day of the new year.

But it was a lucky day too - I won the top prize at the company's new year lunch lucky draw!

Will be giving twice the amount to charity :D

2007 feels like a good year.

Hello 2007!

From the desk of Mama Piggy:



Wishing one and all a Happy Mew Year!

Love from Papa Porky, Kootoo, Muffin, Milo and Mama Piggy (in descending order of girth width)