New Car

My humans took delivery of a new car today. It is very smart and has a special place where I can stand. It is actually the same type as their previous car. The make is Honda and the model is Jazz (at least that's what they call it in the UK: it may have a different model name elsewhere). There have been a few improvements over the years. There is a little round space in front of the passenger seat where a toy cat can stand; there is one of those hybrid engines for fuel ecomony; and there are lots of new electronics. And did I mention the special place where I could stand . . .

The salesman wanted to take a picture and here it is (or part of it: for some reason the salesman wanted to get the whole car in the original!). I even got out of my special place to stand and stood up at the front so you can see me clearly in the picture.

It's nice to see my humans are both wearing Disney sweats. Mikki has a DVC Member one and Andrew a Cruise Line one (the logo on his is a bit smaller). They bought both - at different times - at the Disney outlets. Mikki felt quite irritated that they were selling DVC "member only" merchandise at the outlet - but at least she got the advantage of it.

We had a very smooth ride home. It is only the first day but I am sure the car will be a great success.

I like car rides with my humans.

Preparing for January

Mikki has started to feel WDW withdrawal symptoms! Yes, we have a cruise this summer, but she needs her Florida fix too. The humans prefer to go when it is not too hot and not too busy (when it can also be cheaper in DVC points). January can be a good time so Mikki started thinking about January 2012. For many years, this would have meant that she made the most of her 11 month priority and we would have the accommodatiohn at Old Key West booked by now. Mikki used to do this before bookings for flights became available but was pretty confident she could change the accommodation dates if necessary.

This year, it's quite different. "11 months out" has come and gone and there has been no call to Member Services. Flights are, however, booked. We have some thoughts about where we would like to be - but Old Key West has struck itself off the list.

I'll hope to find a picture of where we are going when we know but so far I can only offer this one of happier times at Old Key West (notice there was carpet). That's me with my travelling companions of Floppy cat and Travelling Beanie and a couple of friends who came back with us. They have lived in Mikki's study since then.

Prrrr.

Lotso

My humans are (well, Mikki is) starting to think more about Disney holidays so I thought it was time to remember some more of the characters from our last trip to Florida. Here I am with Lotso (or is it Lots-O as in "Lots-O'-Huggin"). He was in the Animation Building at the Studios.

Yes, he is rather big isn't he? He is only supposed to be a toy bear so I don't know why they decided he needed to be that big. I was almost lost in his arms. I suspect he couldn't see where I was or what he was doing with me so I was quite pleased my Mikki stayed next to me while Andrew took the picture.

I'm still very disappointed that Lotso didn't redeem himself in any way in "Toy Story 3". He was the first cuddly toy character in the films and he turns out to be a total villain. Meeeoww!

Here's a little reminder in case this giant Lotso has caused any confusion. Hugs with your cuddly toys means you give the toy a hug. Mikki, Andrew, did you hear me. . . Oh yes, Prrrr.

By the way, Lotso did smell of strawberry.

We were Attacked

My human Andrew had his computer attacked by a virus. It was one of those nasty ones that puts up a message that looks just like one of the real security messages from Microsoft and then starts attacking your computer - starting with your own anti-virus software.

Fortunately, my humans are alert to this sort of thing so knew pretty quickly that it was a bogus message - but it had already set to work.

It had sailed past Andrew's McAffee security suite and was busy making itself impossible to remove. Andrew keeps all his data on external drives so he was quick to disconnect them and save that. Mikki then started doing research on her own computer - which had not been affected.

We tried a ffew things and were afraid we were looking at re-formatting the hard drive when Mikki discovered a stand-alone cleaning tool from Kaspersky, downloaded it to a USB Flash Drive and used it on Andrew's PC. It worked - or at least sufficiently to get the machine up and running again. We then installed the full Kaspersky protection (ditching useless McAffee) and caught a few more of the nasty little Trojans.

OK, that isn't the only reason I haven't posted anything for a week or so. We have been away again. This time, no photos of me!! Meeoww.

So I have put a photo up tht has nothing to do with the subject except that it is a lot more cheerful. It is me playing with a statue of Ariel on "Disney Wonder" during our previous cruise. Yes, we are stil looking forward to our "Magic" cruise in the summer.

Prrrr.