Waiter, serve me some duck!

There is nothing quite like duck especially to us Siamese who have such a refined palette. I can see the chef chopping up the duck...now where is that waiter?

For Thomas Doerflein. Rest in Peace

Tizit comments: "How sad this man was parted from an animal he had reared from a baby. Even if Knut had killed him at some point I am sure Thomas would have preferred this to dying alone in his apartment. What a strange world you humans live in - you send people to war knowing they may be killed but you will not allow a man to be with and love another being because it may be dangerous. Please leave a message at the website below"

http://www.legacy.com/GB/Guestbookview.aspx?PersonID=117831992

The Berlin zookeeper who became famous for hand-rearing baby polar bear Knut has died. Thomas Doerflein, 44, was found dead in his apartment in the German capital yesterday, police said. Cause of death was not known. Thomas gained fame around the world last year when he began caring for Knut, Berlin Zoo’s most famous resident, after he was rejected by his mother. Thomas and Knut became inseparable and huge crowds flocked to the zoo to watch them frolicking in the bear’s enclosure.

But in July last year Thomas had to stop playing with Knut because the bear had grown too large. Zoo biologist Heiner Kloes said: "He was a highly-engaged keeper who contributed crucially to the development of Knut. "He had passion for him. I am shocked at the death of the keeper, one of my best, who gave everything for his animals."

Ta-Ta, Tootsie and tea

Of course this is my favourite place in the whole wide world with Ta-Ta. Here is Ta-Ta with another bird of prey - this one is a female kestrel called Tootsie - she has damaged her tail feathers so she cannot steer and also some primary feathers are damaged. One of her talons is missing and she has a broken toe. She is a little bit underweight but is full of life. She eats mice (yum), beetles (yuck) and worms (double yuck). At the moment she eats day old chicks (treble yum). Mike is going to make her some anklets so she can have detachable jesses.

Computers

The computer went wrong today. Ta-Ta thinks it's funny and sends an e-mail to Bill Gates who made the software for the computer and he sends a man round called Microsoft Jim. Ke-Ke doesn't think the computer going wrong is funny at all and tries to fix it but usually makes it worse.I liked Microsoft Jim because he thinks I am gorgeous.

Toot-toot tootsie hello!

Here I am with (well not with - more like well away from) my new friend Tootsie. She is a kestrel whose tail feathers are in a bit of a mess and she can't keep her balance properly when she flies. So she is going to have some temporary feathers put in. I am staying on top of the door until she goes. Douis fainted when she first saw her.

Can you really replace feathers?? Feathers are
made from keratin - like hair and
fingernails.   Once they
have grown hair and bird's feathers are
technically dead - so
you can chop bits off and implant good ones
until the time for the
bird's next tail grows in naturally.
If you walk about the pavements
now wood pigeons are losing their tail feathers
- the miracle is they
are often in extremely good condition.
Having been used by the owner
for a year, rain and shine and through
every bit of tussle with other
birds, friend and foe.
Falconers as observers found that birds
like goshawks which hunt
ground game - rabbits, hare, and
pheasants running, often found the
hawks tail feathers became bent and
damaged to the point where they
needed replacing or they would cease to
be manoveurable and not catch
anything and the falcon would starve.
So they left the shaft of all
twelve tail feathers sticking out about
two inches, cut it to length
and with the aid of a piece of shaped
stick they glued each piece
together. If you do it badly the bird
will pull them out and have even
less tail than before and to a kestrel
that would matter - so I keep
feathers. I like them anyway - I have a
collection of feathers from my
buzzards, eagles, a condor, harriers,
kites and owls. I have to keep
the moths out as they destroy keratin
very neatly. 

Words for Twizzle

I feel very sad today. I miss Twizzle because she was the catriarch of the family and bossed everyone around. Her breath could knock me over at 5 metres and she used to give me a clip around the ear when I walked by even though she was blind. She had a big catonality but I know she is okay. Here are some words from some of her friends from all over the world (photo is Twizzle with Sia)

I know just how you feel, having been there. And it doesn't get any better for ages.
I like to think of all the animal-loving friends who have made the journey before me, who will provide an affectionate welcome for a weary spirit, caring souls who will be happy to continue the caring for a new arrival, on your behalf. It's still so hard to let go.
I'll be thinking of you.
Love, Freda, Hebden Bridge

I'm so sorry to hear this. Twizzle is safe now.
Jamie, Utah, USA

We do know how you are feeling. Very sad for you.
C and D xx, Sheringham

Sorry about Twizzle. No need to reply while you're grieving.
XX  Mike, Sheringwood

oh what a sadness because twizzle is no longer standing
against the wall and waiting, is no longer trying to jump
on the couch, de bank.
it was margo's favourite.
we wish you strength to overcome.
margo and ruud, soest, the netherlands

Appropriate thoughts going out for Twizzle.
Must  say, you chose a good day to spin her out into the stars.
Full moon in Pisces!
She'll be just fine.
Karen from Limoges, France

cat heaven is a far better place!
Gary, Overstrand x

I'm so sorry.
It's funny the day before I thought about her so strongly
how dear Twizzle,
that huge personality Twizzle is getting along.
That individual and gracious lady.
I shall be doing a little bit of chanting and
she will be on her way safely.
Love Viv, London

"Of all God's creatures there is only one that cannot be made
 the slave of the
leash. That one is the cat.
If man could be crossed with the cat it
would improve man, but it would deteriorate the cat."
- Mark Twain Notebook, 1894

In loving memory of Twizzle 1982-2008

So here I am again. I have grown some more and also my colours are developing very nicely. A little sadness has come to the house because my sweet old friend Twizzle is not very well and she is going to visit Wessel at 5pm and Ta-Ta has told me she might go to The Great Cat in The Sky. Ta-Ta found Twizzle at an animal rescue and Twizzle was nine years old then and has now reached the age of 26. Twizzle had been thrown out of a car and had many broken bones in her body but was nursed back to perfect health. Now Twizzle is blind, a little deaf and recently falls over a lot, has some problems with breathing and drinks a lot of water. I go over and give her washes and kisses and she likes this but I know she is not very happy. Her poops are very hard and Ta-Ta told me that probably her heart, kidneys and liver are failing. I am very sad and I want her to come home all made better but Wessel is not The Great Cat in The Sky and She in all Her wisdom will guide Wessel, Ta-Ta and Ke-Ke on what to do. So please think of Twizzle at 5pm.
Photo 1 & 2: me
Photo 3: Muddle
Photo 4: Douis
Photo 5: La grande dame et ma cherie Twizzle
Ta-Ta and Ke-Ke have come home and Twizzle was sent to The Great Cat Paradise in The Sky at 17:45 by Wessel. She died very quickly and peacefully. One day I will see her again but I miss my Twizzle and her funny ways.

Back from La Belle France

Hurrah Ta-Ta is back from her vacation in France. She went to Limoges (pronounced Lee-moggies), Blois and Rouen and had to come back early because of the fire in the EuroTunnel. She told me the pope had gone to Paris - I don't know what a pope is but I thought I would tell you anyway. We did have a butcher called pope here in the town maybe he is a relative. I have picked five photographs from her trip. She stayed with the beautiful Karen in Limoges at her appppparrrrteement and it was very hot (the weather) at 30 degrees celcius with a little rain sometimes and lots of mosquitoes. Ke-Ke went with her and they drove 1399 miles in total which, for a Siamese, would wear out my paws. Ke-Ke was not very well on the boat back (mal de merde) even though the sea was smooth but Ta-Ta is a good sailor and said the journey out from Dover was better because it was very rough. Soon there will be some more photos of me.