Category Archives: animals & pets

tickets to ride!

30 Friday Dec 2011

Posted by in animals & pets, art, cats, christmas, holidays, Malaga, tapas, travel, trips

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Got the word from Manolo last night – the apartment in Málaga will be available next week! Yay!

So this morning Peter and I went out and bought our train tickets. The plan is to leave early Monday morning and come back on Wednesday afternoon. Which means leaving the cats on their own for two nights (!!!). But after checking with two vets about Azar’s “condition” (which is basically old age) I’ve decided to not worry over much, because this trip feels much-needed. And also much-wanted as I really do want to celebrate my 55th birthday in style. Plus Peter has been working very hard the past couple months and this will be a bit of a reward for him as I think he loves Málaga as much as I do.

While there I want to see two art exhibits, both retrospectives. One of Alberto Giacometti at the Picasso Museum, and the other of Eugenio Chicano at the Museo del Patrimonio Municipal. The first one was actually on when I was in Málaga last October but I didn’t have time to see it, so I’m glad I have this chance as I’ve heard it’s wonderful.

Otherwise I guess we’ll be doing the usual. Well, other than dipping my toes in the Mediterranean – bit chilly for that, I think. But we’ll do a lot of walking and seeing what’s new. I’ve been told the shops and restaurants in the newly redeveloped port are now open. I also want to go up to the Parador Gibralfaro and have a drink on their terraza with spectacular views of the port and city, which is something I’ve not yet done there. And of course just being there at Christmas time is wonderful in itself.

By total coincidence a woman from Israel who took one of my Sevilla Tapas Tours last April, Sarah Melamed (she writes the Foodbridge blog), is also going to be in Málaga while I’m there, so I’m sure we’ll get together for a meal one day. And I may also meet up with some other Twitter friends who live nearby. After all, it’ll be Birthday Week! So stay tuned…

unexpected…

29 Thursday Dec 2011

Posted by in animals & pets, christmas, sevilla, spain

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Spotted yesterday under the Setas.

About a week before Christmas I went out to the market early in the morning, turned the corner towards the Mushrooms and went … whoah! Camels! A whole whack of them were being groomed. So of course I had to stop and take some photos, and also find out what they were doing there. Turns out they are part of the Christmas market that was set up in the plaza, and the camels are for kiddie rides. Well, it’s been almost two weeks and every time I see the camels they make me smile. But the shetland ponies are cuter.

What was the last unexpected thing you saw?

55

27 Tuesday Dec 2011

Posted by in animals & pets, birthdays, cancer, cats, change, travel, trips

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Wow, seems like it was only five years ago I was making plans for my 50th birthday! In fact, I started thinking about it months before and ended up being treated to a trip to Barcelona.

But it only occurred to me the other day that – eep! – I’m about to turn 55. Which is pretty amazing. When I think about all that has happened since my 50th, especially the whole cancer thing, I feel so lucky to still be around and want to do something extra special this year. So, what should I do to celebrate?

I’ve been invited to Florence in February, which may or may not happen depending on my next PET scan, but I would like to do something on the actual day, January 7th, or at least nearer to it.

If I can get the use of Manolo’s apartment in Málaga I think that would be my first choice. There are two art exhibits on right now that I’d love to see, and of course I adore Málaga at Christmas time. If I go early next week then the lights will still be on. Peter is busy working on a translation job that would actually pay for this trip, so that means he’ll be coming with me 😉 . It also means leaving the cats alone. For… how long? I wouldn’t worry about leaving them overnight, but ideally I’d like to stay two nights and I’m not sure about Azar. The vet doesn’t think anything would happen to him in that time as he’d only miss one day of his treatment, so maybe?

If not Málaga then the other option is to take a couple of day trips next week while Peter is still off work for the holidays. Perhaps Cádiz and Córdoba? We’ll see. Getting kinda excited…

plz sir, we can haz sum more?

13 Tuesday Dec 2011

Posted by in animals & pets, cats, diet & nutrition, health & happiness

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It’s official. Since last week’s visit to Yolanda the vet Loki & Luna are now on a diet. Or better said, their food intake is now being strictly monitored so that they end up getting the required amount and nothing extra.

To my chagrin, I knew Yolanda was right when she pointed out the obvious – that Loki was way overweight at 7.1 kilos and that even little Lunita was getting a belly on her. Thing is, I do measure their food every day and they don’t get more than they need of their own stuff, but they hang around like vultures when Azar gets treats and scoff whatever he leaves behind. And yes, I am guilty of leaving out food for Azar. I didn’t think it was that much but when you think about it, a few extra biccys several times a day can really add up. Obviously. Duh.

So now Loki & Luna are being fed three times a day and when Azar is given snacks (really, an all-day activity) either Peter or I grab a piece of string and keep the other two occupied. This has two benefits – L & L don’t eat Azar’s food and they get some exercise chasing the string. And they don’t even seem to mind. I mean, they are hardly going hungry, and after just a few days Loki has stopped begging for food (an annoying habit that he picked up from Azar), plus they seem to know when real mealtimes are now and start hanging around their bowls then.

I’ve always been a bit envious of people who can just dish out the cat biscuits in the morning and that’s that. Though with Sunny and Azar I noticed that the times both Peter and I were away for a few days and a big whack of food was left out, they barely ate anything. If I did that when we were at home they’d binge eat themselves into a cat food coma. Cats, eh?

two for one

09 Friday Dec 2011

Posted by in animals & pets, cats, health & happiness

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Today I did something I have never attempted before… I took two cats to the vet’s at once! Well, with the help of Peter. And I have to say that I couldn’t have done it without him. Not only was it a two-person job getting both cats into the carrier but I never could have lifted the thing. Turned out there was 10 kilos of cats in there (Loki 7.1kg and Luna 2.9kg). Luckily there’s a taxi stand just a couple of minutes from the house.

It was also less traumatic than I’d anticipated. Luna was her usual quiet self – I have never known a cat that didn’t scream blue murder when going to the vet’s. And although Loki was clearly upset and made a fair bit of noise, he seemed to be comforted by Luna’s serene presence. Though I did worry he might crush her to death as he was all over the place in the carrier.

Anyhow, got there and back again with quite a few things done. Both cats got their vaccination booster shots and a check up. They were also both treated for all kinds of parasites (Luna’s worms came back a couple of times and I was concerned they weren’t totally killed off) with a pill and then a topical solution that got dabbed on the backs of their heads. I now have to do the same here for Azar. Oh, and Yolanda also clipped everyone’s claws, which isn’t something they easily let me do at home. So, 112 euros later we were back home and everyone was relieved to have the ordeal over and done with.

That’s it now until mid-January when I’ll be taking Luna in to get sterilized… €€€!!!