The sign you just don't want to read

Hello readers.

It is with great sadness that we have taken the decision to have Jaws, my cat, put to sleep. The treatment for his injuries is sadly not working. He cannot use his back legs, or pass water by himself. In this condition it would be cruel to let him suffer, and the build up of waste in his intestine would only lead to slow kidney faliure. It is therefore better if he can peacefully pass away without any discomfort.

As I write this, I find myself crying. Something that I have not done for many years. I find my thoughts wandering also to my first two pets, "Sootie" and "Blackie" my Guiney-pig and Rabbit, respectively. Also I think about my pet dogs. Shep, who was given to a dog-home after he developed a dodgy hip, and Phaeroe, My Great-Dane who had to be given to a sanctuary when we couldn't afford his insurance costs, which upset me greatly.

I will always remember Jaws as a kitten. Full of life and energy, a true pet.

TTFN readers

The tears of a clown...

Hello readers. I haven't blogged in over a week now and I appologise. Work has not been very interesting and so there is nothing to report. I went out with Donna, Mark, and Benji during the week to see Mission Impossible 3 at Cineworld Solihull. I will probably go again on Friday to see The Da Vinci Code, and the following Friday as well to see X men 3... And then a couple of weeks after that to see Superman... And then to see The Simpsons Movie... Blimey!

Last Wednesday (I think) Me, John, and Adam went to the Driving range so that John could take some "flash-blur" photographs. Adam had lost his tough with the sport so I was the "model."

Sunday morning we got up and went to Sarehole Mill with Marcus. It was the "Tolkien Weekend" which we all went to a few years a go. I bought a plastic sword and had my photo taken (By John, again) "fighting" with a Ring Wraith. We also watched some kiddies doing archery, firing at life-size models of Lord of the Rings Baddies. Much fun was had by all...

Well thats the fun bit over with... Now for the main part of the blog.

***Warning: sadness***

I was woken up early this morning by my mum who told me that we had a problem with our cat ("Jaws") He was in the entry at the side of the house making a weak yelping noise and was lying down next to a food bowl. Mum tried picking him up but he just flopped back down again, unable to put any weight on his back legs. We waited an hour untill the vets opened and her and Selena went down to the vets on the A435, while I had to go to work. At about 10:00am Selena texted me to let me know that the vets had said that it could either be a small blood-clot along the spine, causing restricted blood-flow to the lower half of his body, or he had taken a fall and broken something. If it was his neck or back, there was little they could do. He would be going in for an Xray during the day and they would let us know the results.

After School finished I shot down to the vets to see if anyone could tell me if the Xray had been done and what the results were. The vet who trested him said that there was no sign of any breaks or fractures, so it must be a blood clot on his lower spine, probably caused by a fall. They can treat it but she said that it was not always successful, and that if it didn't work then we would have a difficult decision to make...

He will be in the vets at least until tomorrow. I will let you all know what happens.

Well, thats all from me readers... TTFN

Mutated Turnip!!!

The end of an era (and bald chimpanzees.)

Hello readers. Well, it's finally happened. I have officialy left the Legion.
On Saturday evening I was presented with a card and 18 cans of Guinness by John Barrett, the club president, in front of the whole concert room whilst the band was taking a quick break. Everyone applauded (which was nice) and I was handed the microphone because everyone expected me to give a little speech. I thanked the committee for their support over the years, and the guests for being a joy to serve (most of the time) and I went on to say how much fun it has all been. Which, if I am being honest, it has. Yes it ate into my social life, but it has been a good run.

My final day was actually Sunday lunch which was very quiet and dead boring, so enough about that.

Bank holiday monday: Ah, a day off work. Most excellent. Adam text me asking how we were going to spend the day off. He suggested Twycross Zoo which I haven't been to in years so I said "OK" and phoned John. Adam came round to my house whilst I was collecting John and after filling my car up with petrol we set off down the M42. It took about 45 minutes to get there and when we did, it decided to rain on us... Typicall! We came prepared, however and had brollies with us. After parking my car in a field we went in.

Twycross zoo is unique in the fact that about 90% of it's animals are primates. They have a massive selection of monkeys, chimps, bonoboes, mandarins, etc. I noticed one chimp who stood out from the crowd though, because he was completely bald... Yes reader, BALD! I took a picture of him whilst he was sitting next to the glass...

Doesn't it look weird? I don't know whether he lost it naturally, or whether it is caused by an illness, but it certainly looks a bit freaky. The would-be biologists amongst you may like to take note of the prominent muscle structure, usually hidden beneath the fur. We spent a good few hours wandering through the different enclosures during which time I took about 60 photo's and a few videos.

I will share with you the best of the bunch:

The chimp seen here spent quite a long time clutching a piece of fire hose, used to swing on. Others wanted it but he clearly considered it "his" and would not let go.

This cheeky rascal was sat next to the glass but was facing the other way. I took several attempts to get a good photo and this was the best of them, taken whilst John annoyed it slightly by pulling faces at it.

This friendly little thing was sat next to the glass and was taking a real interest in people who walked past. Unfortunately he suffered from the habit of picking his nose, and then eating whatever he pulled out.... Lovely!

This here is "the daddy." 30 stone of male silverback gorrilla. He was looking rather bored, and sat quite far back in his pen. The photo is taken using the zoom feature on my phone which is why the picture quality has suffered.

After the primates come the Not-primates. Here are some photo's I took...

A fox lounging in his den. He did have his head down, but he looked almost straight at me a second before I took the photo.

Two giraffes feeding. Those twigs don't look to appealing though.

One baby elephant doing a show. It could courtsey and dance. (actually, it could dance better than me, although thats not to difficult)

And finally one of my favorites. A penguin. I can't look at them without laughing. Actually I got a good video of this one diving in to the water, about 10 seconds after I took this.

At 3:30 we left and went back to my house. Adam, John, and myself had a few games of Battlefield 2 before they left at about 6:50. I had planned to go for a curry with some friends from the Legion. All in all there were 8 of us. Me, Andrew and David who work at the legion, Andrews girlfriend, Gemma who works at the legion, Nick who works at the legion when they need a shift covering, and his parents Bill and Shiela who I get on very well with.

We got to the curry house (Millenium Balti, by the Maypole) for about 8:15. I had a Chicken Shashlik starter and a lamb balti with a plain naan bread for my main course. After devouring mine I then set about clearing the others of people who were full. I finished Nicks' and Davids' then Gemmas chips, and took a stab at clearing Annas' (Andrews girlfriends') balti but it had prawns in. Now I have a very special relationship with seafood. Namely, I don't like it, and it don't like me...

We left at about 10:30 and went back to the legion for a drink. I had one pint of Guinness (because I was driving) and a coke. By the time I left with everyone else at about 11:30 it felt like my stomach was learning to salsa, and my arse was learning how to chew...

... Not good.

I woke up this morning not knowing how I would feel, since seafood usually makes me quite bad. Luckily however, I felt fine and went to work as usual. This week will be a bit hellish as the year 9's are taking their SAT's, and it always throws the timetables in to chaos. I did however take my completed painting in for Tracy and she likes it very much. So much so in fact that she wants me to paint her daughter a tulip for her room...

Here is the finished piece. I think it looks rather good, myself. The centre petals stand out nicely from the outer ones.

I hope to get a few comissions from this. It would be nice to paint regularly again. (Actually if anyone wants anything doing, email me and let me know! Prices are negotiable.)

Almost time to sign out readers. As I write this I am looking on Ebay for a keyring torch. My old plastic one is no good, but when it was new it wasn't bad and came in quite useful. Especially when trying to put your keys in your car door at night with no street lighting around!

Ah well. I will need to sign out now. I am doing the pub quiz later with Adam and John, and I need my tea first.

TTFN readers.