Tuesday, July 11, 2017

Distractions


Bingo at 7 months now collared & tagged

It’s all topsy turvy at the Cat Politics domicile with big changes in the offing, not to mention the continuing distraction of raising a crazy Siamese kitten.

Since his misadventure a month ago, Bingo has stayed close to home and mostly prefers to be inside pestering his human slaves and causing chaos than roaming the streets, unlike his predecessor Willy who, at the same age, tore around the neighbourhood with his kitten friend Pickle.

Siamese cats are known for their devotion to their humans and take an interest in everything that the said humans are engaged in, particularly cooking. I’ve never known such a naughty recalcitrant cat as Bingo, who refuses to learn the meaning of NO.

He’s grown big enough to jump on the kitchen bench and has to be locked in the bedroom if you are cooking anything. I’ve had to wrestle with him over a block of cheese, which he stole while my back was turned for a second, and he has such a keen appetite that he also has to be locked away to eat, as he’ll try and steal Talya’s dinner after he’s finished his own.

He still likes to play fetch with whatever is to hand, in fact he’s addicted to it, and my hands have become a mass of scratches as he tries to snatch the toy back after dropping it at your feet.

As I write, he’s up on the antique dresser rummaging in a old teapot filled with five cent pieces, flipping the coins out with his paw.


Bingo atop the range hood

Speaking of Talya, she has taken to tearing her fur out again. The poor dear is stressed by Bingo’s antics, particularly when they involve her, even though he’s just playing.

She’ll be even more stressed in a couple of months when Cat Politics moves to a new location in another suburb.

talya 9
Talya on patio table – nice pic with bokeh

This all happened very fast, when B took a fancy to a house in Ivanhoe and practically purchased it on the spot. Then he sold the current house off market in no time flat, at least saving us the inconvenience of the real estate hoop lah of keeping the house spotless and enduring inspections, if he’d gone to auction.

I’m still rattled by this as I like where we live at present, public transport heaven for a person who doesn’t drive a car and likes to be independent.  There are two train lines, two tram lines and three buses all within easy walking distance, which will take you anywhere in Melbourne.

We’ve been here for almost 31 years, so it will be a big change for me as I’m not familiar with Ivanhoe at all and doubt the public transport situation will be as convenient.

However, the house itself is very nice and much bigger than the current residence,  with stacks of storage space, which has always been lacking where we now are. The house dates from the 1920s so is quite Art Deco inside, and it even has picture rails among its other charms.

All this has been very distracting, and along with the wintry weather, leaves me feeling quite saturnine – gloomy and unenthused by the usual things I find amusing.

I’m  looking forward to the Spring racing season, with fairly interesting  build up races scheduled fairly soon, though the first of the Group 1 races will not occur until early September.

4 comments:

Ann ODyne said...

oh no - after 31 years!
of course the house is better. just not near a tramstop.
the poor kitties. I wish you luck and ease in the Organisational Environment of it all.

Love the cheese-snatch story, although sympathy for your injuries.
In my years of nonstop house-sitting* the many times with The Burmese cat were the smoochiest. I miss dear Kitty gone a year now. The first time in my life I have had no pet, now too old to start with a new one.
* during the house-sit years Kitty lived very happily with 9 other cats on friend's huge farm. They had a haybale Hilton in a huge stables shed and plenty of ice for amusement.

I am thinking if you lock Bingo away during cooking, she is gonna wreck her cell. Good luck with that.

Ann ODyne said...

Mice.
not ice.

New locale handy to Moonee Valley I guess.

Whispering Gums said...

Wow, you're retired and moving to a bigger house? We are thinking of downsizing!

But, good for you. I do hope the transport works out fine for you. (It probably already has, since I'm way behind reading your posts so by now you've probably moved). I will continue reading your posts.

I think I know roughly were Ivanhoe is - en route to La Trobe?

Anne S said...

We are moving in two days. I've studied the transport available from the new house and there appear to be plenty of interesting bus routes that go in all directions.

Ivanhoe is a somewhat posher suburb to the one I currently live in but further north from where we now are.