MadLamb

MC was in jubilant mood. Great Britain are so short of seeded players for Wimbledon, he thought he'd offer his services. That was until we pointed out that he'd misread 'racquet sport' as a 'rat-catcher sport'. Needless to say his paws didn't cope with the racquet that was as big as him.

However, not to miss out. He decided to see how he'd cope with being ball-boy. I must say he did very well at chasing a loose ball and catching it - not so good at passing it back. Still that's what you have staff for.

So here's some photos...

The publicity photos - every star needs one.

Checking his pose - ready for the ball.

What a catch!

Right - what next?


Staff!!!

Off to the locker Room

That was hard work.


Hopefully that will satisfy MC's fans for a while. (Thanks Carol)

I'm surprised no-one has risen from the Westray folk to take over my blogging mantel. There's ALWAYS news on Westray. Come on folks - don't let the island down - or make me come back here illicitly to keep up your profile.

Seeing as I'm here, I thought I'd post a few pics of MC. He took pity on FC in his behind-bars state. He's been en-cage for a few trips recently - to cattery, vet and on his August hols to Edinburgh.The last of that list he loved, the others were not so enjoyable.

He's single-handedly keeping the vet very busy at the moment by regularly fighting with Big Ginger Thing that passes through our garden. Strangely, always on a Thursday night. I am beginning to wonder if there's some sort of cat-bar where they all get drunk and get into a brawl over some queen they fancy.

His most recent thing is a dose of the runs - though thankfully everything is better in the bowel dept today but he's has to be confined to the ward for another 24 hours to make sure all is okay.

He's so keen to share. He woke me up at 3am this morning so I can watch him wee in his litter tray. Oh, how kind!!! Then he goes to the front door, which makes me thinks he actually does understands it when I say he can only go out (when he's ill) after using the litter tray.( so I can check he's healthy)

Unfortunately his frequent bouts of open flesh and poorly-ness had stopped me taking him to task about the hitchhikers that he's carrying by giving him a bath. The house has never been hoovered so often or bedlinen washed so frequently.

Any ideas on how to stop him fighting?

To let you think, here's some photos...



PS
Guess MC's favourite pastime.

With Orkney Ferries on the brink of shutdown on a strike, causing disaster for Orkney's outer isles - where is this news on BBC Scotland or even on national UK news?

It wasn't even covered by the traffic news.

Okay, so it it may only affect a few hundred people, but many stories on the 'big' news affect a handful of people. Come on - let's get the Isle's issues a higher national profile.

What about the Island Games in Rhodes? Is Britain blind to it's periforal communities? If the rains continue, we could see more islands within the British Isles.

PS
Dear IBHQ, can we have the title of a blogger's last blog on the 'view all blogs' page. There are only a handful on the first page.

Okay complaints over - now to MC....
He's stalking his grounds against invasion from a Big GingeryWhite thing and a little GingeryWhite thing. BGWT knows when to back down, but LGWT just wants to play - which isn't helping MC trying to act all macho. Mind you MC didn't look too macho when he was up the arbour looking down on both GWTs.

Thankfully there's been no offerings of a ratty nature recently, but as he's only just returned from a weekend in the cages while we swanned off to London, and has taken two days of sleeping to regain full MC mania, perhaps more is to come.

MC wasn't keen on the cages as he has to put up with being in the vacinity of other cats. He hisses and grumble all the time, which is making nice friendly woman (that nothing deters) begin to get a bit nervous of him. Yet transfer him to another house with no other cats and he's a big softy. Oh, he's a case and a half!

Well must get on. Hope this satifies Three Cat Gang....

I promised a photo of the slightly damaged MC, but he has been so much on the go since he came back from his tooth extraction and, more recently, cattery visit, I've not managed to stop him still enough to persuade him to show his lacking of bite or his lovely scar on his chin. However, he did look cute long enough to get one photo.



As you can tell he's fighting fit and in and out the door so much I'm thinking of relacing it with a revolving door. I even caught him up next door's tree after a pigeon and it wasn't exactly an easy tree to scale. It was five feet before any branches appeared and absolutely vertical.

At least we have his insurance in place now so he can be rebuilt in any future unpleasant escapade without us having to sell house and home to do so.

I'm off under the cover of darkness again. Take care.

Many thanks for the well-wishing for MC. He is feeling much better, but a bit one-sided in the mouth. I've been softening his crunchies to make it not so harsh. He'll have a really mean-looking scar on his lower lip, so that should strike terror in the local felines on his patch now.

I was also grateful for the info on the claws - as I hadn't worked out why the vet mentioned this.

MC was desperate to get out all weekend - but we had to keep him in to check his internals were fully operational. However, he was taking his time to produce all the evidence required.

So, after three days confined to barracks, we decided the only sure-fire way to get him to do No 2's was to take him a ride in the car. It worked everytime we had to take him to the vet when we were in Westray and so the Husband took him for a run. Sure enough before long, MC ponged out the car and we were all strangely happy. So all was well and he was allowed out again. Hurrah all round - as he was mewing for Scotland as if in a Purr-o-vision song contest. What do you give a cat with constipation?

We decided on your recommendation to get the broken tooth taken out. So he will be taken for a long snooze on Thursday. I hope we don't frighten the vet too much in the pre-med session to update with all his woes (MC , not the vet).

I was surprised the vet didn't spot the missing upper when MC was showing his full set (minus missing big-ones) - just in case he wanted to know, of course, but easily mistaken for his distaste at being in the vet. The vet was standing well back, so probably couldn't see properly. I've never seen MC so angry, but I expect he was still frightend by the experience. Though when in his box, with cuddle blanket, curled up and quiet. Curious.

I'm beginning to wonder if it's only MC that reacts so violently to the V-E-T. Are all you other cats nice and mild? Do I have a delinquent on my hands? The Husband will come with us this time - he has a wonderfully calming effect on our little boy, so it will be interesting if that makes a difference.

Another update then. Much love to you all.

And a picture for Carol....

I need help from the Islandblogging cat-loving population.

Poor MC came in from a midnight wanderings with a bloody mouth.

At first I assumed he had an altrication with another feline, but a visit to the V-E-T has shown he also has broken a tooth. He thinks he might have been hit by a car. His claws (MC, not the VET) are somewhat worn at the ends, and said-vet suggests an x-ray or two in the next week to check for ribcage injuries.

He's under medication, but getting up and around now and then, and has had something to eat (a nice bit of tuna - to suck), but I'm wondering...

What might have happened and whether it would be better to have the damaged tooth removed or leave it it - Vet says possible future infections may ensue.

I gave MC a cuddle from you all but he's mumbling about the wide-open fields of Orkney, despite his gallant rattings last week.

Is there no-one willing to take up the mantle of the Westray blogger? Do I have to keep coming from beyond the Firth to make sure Westray's place in blogging history is not lost.

I know there's lots in Westray who read IB, but don't contribute, perhaps you can at least leave a note on this blog, so we can see how many Westray folk actually peek in to see what's happening. Then one of the community may wish to take on the role of showing all the Islands what a busy and prosperous place it is.

I mean, there's Guilds, singing groups, painting courses, the Sailing Club, swimming pool AND the lovely new Gym. Then there's all the young ones with fancy cars (we heard you racing along the roads at night) they could talk to others on other islands to compare engine and woofer sizes (sound-systems, not dogs).

I'm sure there's Westray exiles all over the isles (and world), just itching for news of home, too.

Come on Westray there's all your envrion-energy-efficiency to share. Do your bit and join this community. Sure, it's barking mad in places, but at least there's conversations going on. Please join in.

If Stornoway Black Pudding can get a blog of it's own so can all Westray products (See Flying Cat).

Best Wishes MadLamb.

PS
IBHQ is coming to the Northern Isles soon (see IBHQ blog), so why not invite them to see how wonderful Westray is.

I thought I'd sneak back under the cover of the weekend, just to let you all know that myself, the Husband and MC have all arrived safely on the south coast.

We heard McAdie and Reeve were picking up someone migrating to Sanday on their return trip - so I hope they settle in okay - especially after the bad weather you've been having. It's been quite rough out at sea here too, but rather more sheltered than in Westray.

BBC Radio Devon has been keeping us up to date with the local chunk of the Shipping Forecast, relevant tides and the Torpoint Ferry schedule, so not feeling too out of things - alhtough no Mart Reports - or lost cats - or Bruck Programme. I think Radio Orkney should give all BBC Radio Stations training. The bunch here are a bit too chatty for my liking - I like the discipline of Mr Fergusson and crew.

MC coped admirably with the journey south, involving one 12hour trip to Edinburgh, then a nine hours trip with me and The Mother-in-law (while The husband went ahead with my brother to greet M+R with the furniture and lay the red carpet for MC's arrival). He revelled in two days at my parents' farm just outside Edinburgh - on the Borders' side. I must admit he took to my father letting him out at 5:30am each morning quite well and didn't complain when Dad went searching for him at night with a big torch, even thogh he wasn't quite ready to come in yet.

MC is asking what the hectic homing pigeons is going on and WHY can't he just be allowed to access rolling fields filled with more-than-enough-for-everyone, rather than beating off local competition just to chase the occasional leaf going past. The lack of cat-flap and always-open-windows (or doors) is a sheer mystery to him. Of course being in a populated area, we can't just leave everything unlocked, but he is getting used to making wild gestures through the double-glazed-window to gain our attention as we can only ever vaguely hear him mew or ring his bell.

Well off to pop our heads above the sea of boxes still peeping from every spare place (and lots more hidden in the garage). Perhaps post-Christmas, we'll get more time to clear some floor space.

A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all.

Keep on blogging!!!

I thought I would sneak one last post - perhaps - before MC, The husband and I toddle off this mortal isle.

In all the excitement of the Children In Need Concert, I forgot to air my finest chattels, they being a few choice comedic lines, which I can only use in Orkney, so others beware - you may not appreciate this...[translation provided where necessary]

I mentioned CCTV which was installed in Kirkwall relatively recently, of course some farmers have been using it for ages to keep an eye out during calving season. It could be called KCTV (Kye Calving TV).

Mind you the cows now can't get up to the parties to celebrate each arrival under the glare of the cameras, but they could adapt and start up the Evening Moos.

[Kye is orcadian for cow or cows]

Or this...

Whassigo [Radio programme on Radio Orkney] has been good to help me, as a ferry louper, to get used to the Orkney language. I've been able to pick up new words like peedie, meaning small and bruck, meaning a dodgy radio programme.

It's also been good to find out that some words I'd use for one thing Orcadians would use for something else. Such as pooch. I'd use it for a dog, whereas Orcadians would use it for pocket. Before I knew that I was collecting money for charity when someone told me they were going to put their hand it their 'pooch' to get some change out - I was mortified.

I've also found out that raffle not only means a charity draw but getting into a tangle, or even a fight. So that makes charity events in Orkney a dangerous place to be - as there's ALWAYS a raffle involved.

Well that's that off my chest. Now to see if The Husband has packed MC in the process of clearing the office. I'm sure MC was last seen on top of the bookcase, but I hear a rustling from below a pile of boxes. But then, it could just be the mice celebrating MC's impemnding departure.

Only 7 days to go. It could all end in tears...
... and that's just my act. [[[drum roll and cymbal crash]]]

You'll be glad when I'm gone - they always are.

Well the anchor didn't work (see In for the long Haul). It is with sadness that I need to inform the Island Blogging community that Me, The Husband and MC will be heading sooth in December.

We will be attaching ourselves permanently to the Big Island, in a place called Devon. Not that I really want to give them too much advance warning as they may put up the barriers on the M5 to resist our arrival.

MC is currenty trying to work out how he can take severval bunnies (for long term amusement) in his luggage - especially with the new weight restrictions I have imposed to parallel Loganair's current wisdom. Though I'm not sure the chap who tends the rugby pitch behind the new house will welcome MC's friends.

I may manage another posting before we go, but I'm conscious that time and packing waits for no man, and especially a woman who can only type with repeated use of the backspace key.

However, I will be going out with a flourish. I am helping out with Radio Orkney's first Children in Need Grand Variety Concert, to be broadcast on the usual local FM frequency, but also available for lesser mortals via the Internet (oooh - aaaah). The 'Lamb will be attempting to make a few funnies, but they will have a distinct Orkney flavour, so translations will be available on request.

For anyone wishing to follow the events, I've added the usual Radio Orkney CHiN website to my list opposite.

Farewell. I will remember ye fondly. (And may even make the occasional comment)