Life without Tizit

Life without Tizit is not much of a muchness. It was as much of a shock as being shot. The shock hit me right in the heart. I felt alone with grief and lost interest in doing the things I normally do.

I love the water. Usually I’d be too busy to sit down and watch rivers, canals, lakes or the sea. I called a friend whose husband said she was canoeing and would be spending the night camping on an island. That day we went canoeing and I saw dragonflies, kingfishers and drifted around in the water. Nothing seemed real and I felt suspended in an altered state of being.

I couldn’t write about Tizit. To write about something gives me distance. As long as I didn’t write about Tizit she was still close by. I then began to receive the healing power of compassion. An honest outpouring from people who wrote e-mails and called. It was the people who asked no questions about what had happened - it was those who just expressed hope. One person almost pushed me over the edge with her persistent questions on what had happened - she just could not understand I couldn't talk about it. Another friend called round recently holding a beautiful flowers: delphiniums and sunflowers. She said 'For Tizit - the blue delphiniums for her eyes and the sunflowers for her beautiful spirit".

During this time, my tears would come as easily as the memories of Tizit. Tears are healing. They flow from our heart where we hold our feelings. I stayed with my sadness. I shared it with others and received comfort because they too have had sadness. This time of grieving is giving me a new way of looking at life; it has become my travelling companion as I aim to live more compassionately. I am learning that sadness enhances us as humans. It means we have the ability to love deeply. It is this love that will never die. My love for Tizit will never die.

Until May

There will be no blogs posted until May. Animals, health and home have to be sorted out and then back to slog the blog in the, hopefully, merrier month of May.
On May Morning
by John Milton
Now the bright morning Star, Day's harbinger,
Comes dancing from the East, and leads with her
The Flowery May, who from her green lap throws
The yellow Cowslip, and the pale Primrose.
Hail bounteous May that dost inspire
Mirth and youth, and warm desire,
Woods and Groves, are of thy dressing,
Hill and Dale, doth boast thy blessing.
Thus we salute thee with our early Song,
And welcome thee, and wish thee long.

In loving memory of Peter McLean who died recently after a long illness.

Karen: J'attends la prochaine Trabant pas une Aston Martin. Sagesse.

Lovingkindness

Thailand is one of the most devoutly Buddhist countries in the world.
Their national religion is Theravada Buddhism which is practised by more than 95% of all Thais.
Theravada means literally ‘the Teaching of the Elders’ or ‘the Ancient Teaching’ and is the oldest surviving Buddhist school.
Today Theravada Buddhists number over 100 million worldwide. Buddhism does not accept animals were created by someone for humans; if we animals were created for humans then it could follow that humans were also created for animals since there are some animals which eat human flesh.
Buddhists are encouraged to love all living beings and not to restrict their love only to human beings. They aim to practice loving kindness towards every living being. The Buddha's advice is that is not right for us to take away the life of any living being since every living being has a right to exist.
Us animals also experience fear and pain. It is wrong to take away our lives. You should not misuse your intelligence and strength to destroy animals even though we may sometimes be a nuisanc. Animals need your compassion and understanding. Every living being is contributing something to maintain this world. It is unfair for you to deprive them of their living rights.
TaTa used to have a Birman cat called Crumble. A long time ago high in the mountains in one temple there lived Buddhist monks who worshipped Tsun-Kuankse a goddess with sapphire-coloured eyes.
They believed souls settled in other essences and then were sent back to the temple in the form of a white cat with golden eyes. Monks looked after them with tenderness, esteemed and protected them. In a temple there was a gold statue of the goddess to which monks worshipped.
Once the temple was attacked by robbers who wanted to steal a statue of the goddess. The shock caused the oldest monk to die. Suddenly Moon’s favourite cat jumped onto Moon’s chest and the cat’s fur began to change colour and his eyes turn blue.
His paws remained snow-white as a token of cleanliness, sanctity and innocence of soul of the monk. After seven days and lamenting the death of Moon, Sihn the cat died and took the soul of Moon to paradise.
From that time if the cat in monastery Lao-Tsun dies, it means that the soul of the monk released forever and has found the place in heaven. But if anyone kills such a cat or is cruel to it they will never be released into paradise.

Inspiraton, perspiration, desperation

What do you think Colin the Carrot?
I can't do this writing thing - I am a dog.
One thing I have to do is to say thank you to the lovely Karen in France. TaTa was very happy when she read your e-mail because you asked no questions and just offered hope and compassion.
I must say it is too quiet and lonely here without Tizit around - no-one to tell us the time, where to go, what to do and how to do it.
Tell me a joke Colin, I feel so miserable - please cheer me up.

How do you know carrots are good for your eyes? Have you ever seen a rabbit wearing glasses?

New beginnings

Tizit didn't think it fair that she should be the only one to slog on the blog so she has handed over responsibility to all The Furry Beasties who resided with her.
So you will be getting blogged upon by Treacle, Muddle, Cumfy, Mumfy and The Fish (yes we know fish aren't furry but who want's a blog called the scaly beasties).
There may also be the occasional comment from various other beasties who drop into the garden or house from time to time.
As you can see Treacle is well up for the job.
He thinks he is too old and would rather spend his time lounging on the sofa or leaping into ponds and the sea than doing anything literary.
He says: 'I am a typical Field-Bred Springer Spaniel - friendly, eager to please, quick to learn (and quick to forget unless bribed with a pheasant or three). I am affectionate and easy-going and am alert and attentive make me the ideal hunting companion (which is what I used to be before I became domestoscated).

I have exceptional stamina and need moderate amounts of activity, to focus my mind and to provide exercise - what I focus on the most is runing around in every-increasing circles through brambles, water and crashing into the occasional tree. I really like cats and ferrets. But don't bring a pheasant or wood pigeon into the garden because I will eat it but I am scared of sparrowhawks and the like. I am energetic, cheerful, happy and playful with a great sense of humour (I am beginning to sound like one of those Looking for Love ads). I love living with TaTa and KeKe because something interesting is always happening and I go to places like Northbumbleland where there are huge hills for me to climb. I also stay with Jim the Fisherman and sometimes with Ellen in the woods. I have a passport and will be going to The Neverlands with TaTa in October.

Having a rest

After all that scrumming we are both a bit exhausted - we have decided to start a Rugbee team which will include Tizit as the Loosehead Prop, Woo-Bee as Openside Flanker, Boris as Scrumhalf, Harry as Fly Half, Blossom as Inside Centre, and Poppy as Fullback.
Of course we need some more players as there should be 15 but us Siamese could outrun and outscratch any rugbee player even that Frenchmen called The Horse.
Whilst we are in training Treacle is taking over as editor of my blog for a while.
As you can see from the photos he is not too happy about it.
He is definitely not getting my editor-in chief chair.
His first assignment was The Barton House Railway which re-creates a traditional railway atmosphere where you can enjoy the nostalgia of the golden age of steam with two ride-on railways, a fully working signalling system and authentic tickets.
During your visit you can also explore their museum of railway artefacts with a Midland & Great Northern theme, enjoy delicious home-made cakes (Treacle’s favourite part of the day) and light refreshments by the river.
For some reason Treacle was not allowed on any of the trains.

The offside rule

Now listen very very carefully Woo-Bee because I will explain this only once: ‘It is not an offence in itself to be in an offside position.
A player is in an offside position if nearer to his opponent's goal line than both the ball and the second last opponent.
A player is not in an offside position if in his own half of the field of play’. “Tizit”
“Don’t interrupt, this is very very important.... if level with the second last opponent, if level with the last two opponents’.
“Tizit, you’ve become very English”. “What do you mean”.
“Well, all this football rubbish—have you forgotten about our national Walesland sport—rugbee”.
“Rugbee, so you want rugbee do you, well then let’s have a scrum”.