Saved from the Flood

Did I tell you about the flood just before Christmas? In case I did, I'll just do a quick recap. A couple of days before Christmas, Mikki was having trouble using the shower. It was very cold and we suspected a pipe may have frozen. In the afternoon, she was walking outside the garage and heard a strange noise. She opened the door and - woosh - water several inches deep flooded out.

Yes, a pipe in the garage had burst (well, actually, come apart at a join - so it was easy for the plumber to fix). We had only one night without water or heating.

The big job then was to rescue as much as we could of the things in the garage that had got wet. Fortunately, lots of things are in plastic crates (no holes) or on shelves but there was still a lot to move and dry out - and quite a bit that had to be taken to the tip!

I was most worried about some large Disney cutouts. These are cutouts of various characters. I think they were sales material used in stores. There are things from Snow White, including a complete cottage with the seven dwarfs and some brooms with Mickey from Fantasia. You won't be surprised to know which is my personal favourite - it's shown in the picture.

Fortunately, all the cutouts were saved. They had been in boxes and we got to them before any lasting damage was done. The spent a week or so combining drying out and enhancing the Christmas decorations in the house.

Some of the cutouts - including Snow White's cottage - will be going to a Disneyana sale we are planning to attend in Birminghan (England) at the end of April. Figaro will, of course, be staying with us.

Snow has Gone

Happy New Year everybody.

The snow has now gone from our village and things are settling down to normal. At least, I hope they are: there is plenty of winter to go. The last few days it has just been rain. At least we can get out in that without worrying about slipping every step.

I thought I would use this picture as my - belated - Christmas picture and another illustration of how cold it was. It was so cold even our smowman didn't want to go outside in it. Yes, the humans have an illuminated artificial snowman and up to now he as stood outside the front door over Christmas to welcome guests. This Christmas he stayed indoors - in the dining room so he could watch the humans have Christmas dinner.

No, I wasn't upset that I wasn't invited to sit with the humans for Christmas dinner. Toys don't eat and I didn't want to risk those clumsy animals spilling food and drink on my fur. Of course, I got a few extra cuddles.




With the New Year, the humans are saying lots of things about doing more things they want to do this year - like helping me with my Blog. Well, we'll see.

Prrrrr.

Cold

Brrrr.

It's been jolly cold here - and so much snow there were a few days the humans didn't get out of the house. I was very glad of the extra cuddles, but I'm pleased things are getting a little warmer now. They were getting a bit irritable wandering about the house!

Mikki went out and took this picture of one of the neighbour's lights on the driveway we share. She thought it made the village look like Narnia in the winter of the White Witch. She said I could go out and get into the picture. I do a lot for my fans - but there are limits.

You can add this to the list of ways toy cats are better than real ones. We don't need to go out in bad weather - and don't need litter trays either.

We all got away for a few days last weekend to the Lake District. The humans were joining a group from Mensa (yes, the high IQ society). They had a lovely time with lots of parties, food, drink and good company. I had a good time snuggling up in the bed there. Apparently, it has been even colder there since we left. On Wednesday the temperature was minus 18 celsius (High IQ people can work out that that's still below zero in Fahrenheit).

Today, we are celebrating that the thermometer is above freezing - and the forecast is that it should do this again tomorrow. With luck, the snow will thaw enough that Mikki can drive the car in and out without getting nervous. That means we will be able to get out to get everything the humans need for Christmas. No, I don't even need a Christmas present buying for me. I just hope for a special little cuddle.

Prrrrrr.

Mugs

Sorry to have been away from the Blog for a long time. We have been to Walt Disney World and I have been busy posting some trip reports on Intercot.com but my humans have also been busy at home so they have not been able to let me near the computer for some time. I hope that, at least, I can soon complete the trip reports. For one thing, I have to report a visit to the refurbished "Walt Disney Story" at Disney's Hollywood Studios where there is a new exhibit about the film "Pinocchio" and its "breakout star".

For the moment, I thought I would put up this new photograph, which allows me to play a little word game with the word "mug". In the middle is a nice "mug shot" of your favourite black and white toy cat

On the left is my favourite mug (drinking vessel for humans) from a series sold in the UK Disney Stores years ago featuring pictures based on Disney films. This one has Pinocchio and the kind wood carver on one side and on the other - as you should be able to see - it has nice pictures of Figaro and Cleo plus a ludicrously oversized picture of an insect. On the right is one of a pair of mugs some very dear friends gave my human Mikki for her recent birthday. The mugs are for members of the Disney Vacation Club.

Unfortunately, it looks like someone has put the (used only once) DVC mug in a dishwasher (yes, the one at our DVC property) and spoiled the decoration. I can assure our friends that the other, still intact, mug has now beel placed on display where it won't be used by mistake.

The left hand mug has been used regularly for years and machine washed as often. If the right hand mug is like its twin, it had a "not dishwasher safe" warning - instantly washed away. Disney must expect every blearly eyed DVC member to study the base of their morning coffee mugs. Only a mug (fool) would expect DVC's own crockery to be useable in the equipment provided in its resorts!

My British humans can not also help noticing another difference between the two drinking mugs. On the base of the new one it says "Made in China": on the long lasting one it says - in several languanges - "made in England".

Up

This week we have been watching "Up" on the television. It has come onto Disney Cinemagic - which is also in HD. No, we haven't seen it at the cinema. Mikki saw it on an airline seat back but that is hardly the best picture in the world. It is a lovely film - even if one of the heroes is a dog!

"Up" is a really sweet film - although also very sad in parts. It is really different from the early Pixar films. It is nice to see two lonely souls become friends and although I hate to say it the talking dog is quite cute.

Which makes it time for another picture of me with characters - taken in January during our last trip to Florida. Mikki has been checking out what characters there will be for me to have pictures with this time. Oh, I'm starting to get excited.

Gardens of Madeira

Here is another picture of me on my last holiday - to Madeira. Madeira is famous for its flowers and gardens. Mikki went to the most famous but came away a little disappointed. There were layouts that looked lovely from a distance but once she got close, she thought the individual plants were not very well tended. Also, she thought the paths were very uneven. Unfortunately for Madeira, my humans both come from towns in England that are famous for their public parks and displays of flowering plants.

My humans are also spoiled because they are accustomed to the gardens of Walt Disney World. They are also accustomed to the smooth and well maintained paths of Walt Disney World. Andrew was very conscious of this because he doesn't see well. When he has to spend all his time watching his feet, he missed what little he could see of the things around him.

My picture is taken from another garden. Mikki decided I had to pose on these stepping stones surrounded by water. She says she was very careful with me but I was a bit worried anyway.

Looking at the photo, I think I look quite bright and clean. My white fur is white. Mikki wasn't convinced and has forced me into my bath. Apart from the discomfort of the bath itself, I end up off the bed for two nights. At least it's over now: as I write this I am almost completely dry.

Less than 2 weeks to go now. Mikki is making a few more table reservations and fixing Halloween party tickets.

Prrrrr.

A Dragon in Paris

Mikki had a holiday in France in August - all on her own.

I say it was a holiday but she was only away 5 days and spend the all of the first and last travelling by coach. So neither Andrew nor I were enthusiastic about going.

During the first of the three days in France, the rest of the party wanted to see tourist sights in Paris: up the Eifel Tower (I think it's a bit like the thing thay have on World Showcase at Epcot) and a river cruise. Mikki went instead to Disneyland Paris. She came back with lots of pictures. She had a long lunch at "Walt's" and has pictures of all the wonderful furnishings and decorations - as well as the superbly presented food (she says it tasted good too - but I wouldn't know). But the picture I have chosen is of the dragon. This is a special for Disneyland Paris. There isn't a dragon in California or Florida. It lives in a dark cave under the castle and it surrounds itself with smoke and noise, so it's quite difficult to get a good picture. I think this on's pretty good - just a shame I'm not in it.

Firago.

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