Sunday Selections

Well, here we are, another week gone and it's time for Sunday Selections again with River at the helm. 

Mine aren't random this week but show an impressive sound and light show I saw at Melbourne Town Hall. I was there for about thirty minutes in total. The action was on the main floor of what I guess is the Town Hall ballroom. As I was leaving, the door person asked if I enjoyed the display and I said yes, and she then directed me to the stairs to climb to the balcony. I've been up there before. She asked if I could manage the stairs, and there our relationship cooled, as I felt like slapping her. I exaggerate, and there was a lift which I noticed later.  

From the balcony I had an overview of the display. But first a photo of Jass I took around the same time. 

I am not sure which photos were taken from above and which were taken at ground level. No matter. You get the idea. The music was themed to whatever the lights were doing. 

The music was loud, and it needed to be to create the atmosphere.

It was a little unsettling at times, as I heard the sound of Martian laser guns that I remember from the 70s or earlier.

Slipped in was some music from the movie ET, a film that made me cry. I just searched for ET and a question people had asked, 'Is the movie ET a true story?'. God help us. 

The ballroom is quite lovely.

The Fluff

We missed Jass' birthday, and we have missed the day she found her home with us by four days. Jass' idea of a great birthday celebration would be no food for the day, just treats. We have reduced the treats because she kept nagging for them, in the way that cats do.

She is a strange cat, but perhaps not as strange as I think. While experienced with cats in past, they could come and go as they pleased through the cat door. I can't even if I remember if they slept inside. They found the radiant lounge room heater very attractive, as did our dogs, and during winter, at times they would all be curled up in front. Cats like the radiant heat and don't appreciate the overall warmth that air conditioning gives. Jass is obviously a fully indoor cat, although she can spend time on the balcony but at the moment, she finds it too cold. 

Anyway, when she arrived last year, there was no superfluous shedding of fur. This year, she is dropping huge tufts of fine and soft underbelly fur. Individual hairs float around everywhere. 

If trodden into the carpet, Rover struggles to pick it up and a manual vacuum is needed. There might be five clumps daily. 

I gather is this is a winter coat of soft underbelly fur that is shed. But isn't it curious that she didn't have such underbelly fur at the same time last year, given she was probably in a colder environment than she is here being warm for 16 hours a day, and hardly that cold for the other 8 hours.

Here is Jass displaying her soft underbelly fur, welcoming a belly rub, but at your peril. The claws and the teeth will immediately become active. You can see a bit of her fluff on the carpet on the bottom left of the photo. 

Anyway, all good and no regrets. 

Limericks and words

The first limerick I think I heard was by my father, 'The boy stood on the burning deck, his pocket full of crackers...", you know how it goes.

The next I can remember was in a book I was reading, "Doctor Foster went to Gloucester in a shower of rain. He stepped into a puddle, right up to his muddle, and never went there again". This puzzled the very young me for two reasons. I must have known by the then how limericks should be constructed, and Foster could not possibly rhyme with Gloucester, which of course it does. The second issue being muddle, clearly meaning middle. Was muddle ever an alternative word for middle? Now online, I see the word middle is used, which makes it wrong as a limerick. I suppose you could say, 'He stepped into cow piddle, right up to his middle'. 

I had to look this one up as I had forgotten the main verse. This is also my father's quoted version.

"Not last night but the night before,

Three little monkeys came knocking at my door.

One had a fiddle, one had a drum,

And one had a pancake stuck to it's ???

Don't be mistaken, don't be misled,

One had a pancake stuck on it's head.".

I assume everyone who knows this verse also knows this version? Maybe that was my first introduction to word play.

I'm sure I could do much better than this off the cuff limerick, but;

There is a cat we know as Jass,

who could behave like a bit of an ass.

While she seems rather gruff,

she is not really that tough,

in fact she is just a bit sass.

 

Less Serious

This post is kind of like a Sunday Selections. I haven't posted many photos of late. 

The tram approaches the tram stop at New Preston Tram Depot stop from the distance. Once out of the city, trams only stop if someone wants to get on or off. If you sit on the seat within the shelter, you can't see the tram coming and if the driver can't see you as they approach, they could go straight past. Meanwhile, the other end of the shelter is clear glass. A Yarra Trams advertising slogan once was 'Think like a passenger', for their staff. Perhaps Yarra Trams should have thought like a passenger at this tram stop. Idiots, idiots and imbeciels. . 

Jass with her friend Amber. 

Stomach unprotected and eyes closed. She trusts us.

They could do with a repaint, but I do like these Russian style dolls. 

Monday was a dramatic sunrise. 

And there was more drama below where a motorist got in the way of a tram in an unimaginable manner and they bumped together.

 

It was all over in ten minutes, I guess details quickly exchanged. The car driver was wearing a full length overcoat while driving, far too restrictive for driving, in my opinion. You know, cars do have heating and can make you very toastily warm.

Incompetents abound. 

Jass, be safe

Someone, or more than one, mentioned about Jass on the balcony. We, that is Phyllis, Kosov and I were incredibly cautious when Jass first went on to the balcony, ready to grab her or pull her back. 

She would stick her head under the glass to look at the birdies nesting on the balcony below. Her body could have fitted under the glass. If she stuck her neck out too far, we would just call her name and she would pull her head back in.

She has shown no inclination to jump on the balcony, though she is an expert jumper, and only rarely sits on my balcony seat. She mostly just sits at floor level and watches. I just sit on a seat and watch, so I get that. Well, she did in warmer weather. She doesn't like the balcony in winter.

 

I see it as risk assessment, as you might do with your children. Yes, there is a risk to them if you let them out on their own, but I must say, young children who used to be let out on their own to learn the ways of the world, are now so mollycoddled and supervised, I doubt it does them good. 

Segueing, Neighbour HH is so stressed about her 23 year old granddaughter staying in her apartment while HH is in New Zealand, her son had to bring HH back to earth. 'Mum, she has travelled all over Europe, stayed with strangers, and had a wonderful time. She will manage without Nonna being there'. No, HH is not Italian and it's a long story why she is called Nonna, which I forget. 

Nevertheless, I will let the granddaughter into the building and show her where the key and fob is hidden in HH's  apartment, as I have access to HH's apartment. For id purposes, HH sent me a photo of her granddaughter, who I think is 23 and very attractive. There are already some written instructions pinned up in HH's apartment for her granddaughter. Lordy, HH is more of a control freak than I am.

In other news, I did not know Australian mudlarks swoop people, and I was swooped. Apparently they go for your eyes, but in this case one just bumped on my cap twice. I never saw the bird. I've been swooped by wattle birds who don't make contact, with just making a clicking kind of sound as you feal the flutter of their wings. I've not been swooped by the worst, Australian magpies, that are very different to magpies elsewhere in the world. My horror is encountering a drop bear, but as an inner suburban dweller, I am safe. It's just when I leave the city environs that I'm at risk. You just at times have to take your chances.

Every few days we give Jass a wet meal, that is tinned food. She doesn't really like it but we persist and she eats some of it. But oh my, aren't the ingredients such wankery, bought by Phyllis at $4 a tin. Jass, did not eat the long grain rice, and whatever else she left in her bowl was probably spinach, spinach being part of normal cat's diet. No? 

Life happens

A couple of Sundays ago I caught a tram and then a train to Moonee Ponds Station to meet my friend Wombat in Puckle Street. We had a very pleasant lunch and then walked to the the local Court House Museum, where we saw an exhibition about the history of public transport in the locality. Naturally I found this very interesting. 

I can't believe I didn't take photos. I must have really been enjoying myself and my company. Well, I did find a mural to snap. 

I needed milk, so I caught the 59 tram to the city, alighting close to an Elizabeth Street supermarket. 

While I have no photos, it is worth noting this outing. 

In other news, HH's grandson is off to New Zealand to work in some kind of Hobbits amusement attraction. HH's daughter is going with him to help him establish himself, and asked HH to go too. But HH's son's daughter was coming to stay. It was a hard decision for HH, but she said yes. Her granddaughter can stay in her apartment alone, and I will let her into the building and give her keys.

At the age of 80, opportunities to travel overseas don't come too often but HH is doing it, although quite stressed.

Today, a month after buying Perl, she had to return to the dealership to have her nuts and bolts tightened, and any loose hanging wires tied up. I think Perl was washed too. On the way home I briefly gave her maximum acceleration, and boy does she go.

A couple of random photos. Kosov with Jass, and Jass peaking out from a shelf. Jass adores Kosov.

Sunday Supplement

We watched an interesting YouTube clip about the seven stages about cat acceptance of humans. When Ray and I had cats, this would have been a load of nonsense with our cared for cats, fed and watered, given medical care if needed, and affection on demand. Having a house bound cat who was a pregnant stray is a very different kettle of fish.

The first big step came when Jass would sit on Kosov's lap where he would give her a paste treat and then brush her fur. 

Then came the time when Jass stopped running away from the at times screeching Phyllis. He could pick her up and hold her for short time, bribed with treats.

Then one night she slept on my bed next to my thighs, and then it happened most nights, but not for all of my sleep. Instead of walking down the bed to get off, she would walk over me to get off the bed, and wake me. 

As is my wont, I was lying on my bed this afternoon, about to watch something on my tablet when Jass came and lay across my legs. This was a first. After a couple of minutes, Kosov got out of his bed after a day sleep after not getting home from work until 7.30am, and Jass jumped up to go to greet him. I think we might be at about stage five of the seven of cat acceptance levels. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mVoQ2d4WyY  

Wednesday Bits

Does #47 ever visit the west coast of the US? 

Phyllis bought some flavoured maple syrup and didn't like it. You need real maple syrup Phyllis, Queens, from Canada. OMG, it was AU$10 for 275ml/9.3oz. That's CA$10.00 too, US$7.00, GB£5.00, €6.00. This seems a bit excessive to me. I don't remember it being so expensive. 

Kosov's parents sent this cat hut for Jass, but she's never used it. She must have heard I was going to take it to the charity shop, and so has used it a couple of times in the last week. While I was having my annual hearing test today, Kosov sent me a clip of Jass in the hut.

I don't normally buy mixed flowers for home, but a week after Mother's Day, this bunch was 75% off the full price, so $8. They have lasted a week, and still seem ok.

"Kosov, I don't like this gory dinosaur display". I need to make my opinion sound stronger.

 

I went to the bank yesterday to sort out money to pay for my new car, and then get a bank cheque. As staff was ready to print the cheque, I said stop! I realised the figure I was given to pay did not allow for the $1000 deposit I had paid. I returned today for the cheque with the corrected amount to pay. I pick up the car on Friday. It seems like Kosov can come with me, but Phyllis is working.

My car still has the scratches on the side. The first quote was outrageous and where I went for the second quote never got back to me. Through the books, the car repair would cost $4200 I think. The new car business said, although your car is in excellent condition and low mileage, it will cost us about $1500 to get the scratches repaired, and so that devalues the trade in value. I did get a better trade in price than I thought I would. I'll take some pics of my current car tomorrow and the new one once I pick it up. Although a different colour, the body is the same shape.

Later edit: Kirk mentioned that Jass wasn't in the cathouse. I was sent a video of Jass in the cathouse. She went in late today, so here is a photo of Jass in the cat house.

Catch Up

My neighbour HH's foot is healing much slower than she expected. She never asks until I offer, which I do almost daily, if she wants anything at the shops, as she can't drive and can't really walk, only hobble around. Last Thursday she asked for a loaf of Abbott's wholemeal bread when I went out shopping.

Yesterday she asked if I could get her a prescription medication, plus painkillers. 

Late that afternoon Phyllis cooked her a meal of spicy air fried chicken, a dressed salad and a fried egg, and served it to her hot at her dining table. She said it was the first proper sit down meal she'd had for two weeks.

Gratuitous photo of Jass as she waited for an answer to her question, did we think she is pretty.

Andrew, said Sister's wife, while I know you don't wear tee shirts, I couldn't resist buying this for you. Bone Doctor was right about me wearing tee shirts but I do like this one featuring different Melbourne tram models. Kosov wears it well. I've told him he must hand wash it.

Saturday morning I met up with my Sydney friend Victor for brunch before he went to see a local performance. He was only in Melbourne for the day, and jetted home later that day. 

Once home, we three went off to the big green shed to buy cat grass, grass for cats to eat. It was absurdly expensive for a tray of a bit of grass, but we bought a tray. So far, Jass has shown interest but not eaten any.  

Saturday night we three met up with a couple of my friends, the Fijian Indian heritage guy and his Hong Kong born partner at a Pakistani restaurant in St Kilda. It was very popular with South Asian community and locals. It was quite good, and I wanted to take the very handsome waiter home with me. Noooo, Ondrrrrewww. You cannot, I was told. This catch up was to celebrate Phyllis' 23rd birthday. 

Come the day, Sunday, gifts were unwrapped, one wrapped by about 20 metres of cling wrap, and gifts spread all over the place.

I had said ok to visitors Sunday afternoon to help Phyllis celebrate his birthday. I think five people came. I left them alone, taking with me half a meals on wheels sandwich, a strange Asian small cake and a couple of chocolates. At Albert Park Beach I sat on the bench where Ray and I so often sat during Covid lockdown and consumed my food with a takeaway coffee.

Sitting on my own on a bench, eating and and drinking my coffee as I stared out to sea and a stormy sky, just as old people do.

I went on to Port Melbourne shops to buy something, then to the Mazda car dealer to look at a a new car, but it was closed. I did walk around looking at cars. I found my way to Westgate Park to look at the salt water lake and lean back my car seat to untenion my body. 

I returned home while the afternoon party was in full swing with all guests sitting at the dining table consuming a feast. I went to my bedroom to play on my tablet while fun went on until I was called out for the birthday cake. Last year Phyllis bought Kosov a sword online. So much for our strict weapons laws. 

The cake was cut with the sword, but later divided by a proper knife, and at my suggestion, served by a cake slide, on side plates, with a dessert forks and serviettes.  

My boring life

Hairdresser Friend's birthday was last Friday. We had tried to make an arrangement to catch up and kind of settled on the following Monday, but Friday morning she called me and asked if she could come for a drink and maybe have a meal across the road that night. So we did at Gentleman George, and I invited neighbour HH to join us. It was a really nice night together. Phyllis and Kosov were at work.

Phyllis had asked a week earlier if he could use my car on the Sunday to visit Healesville Sanctuary and I said yes. They packed up an Esky with food at 8 o'clock and set off. Instead they drove on to Marysville where we stayed a couple of nights last year, so they could see the avenue of honour of poplar trees in autumn colours. Nice. 

Tuesday, with Phyllis having the car for work, I decided we desperately needed a can of gas to fill stove lighters, used here to light large deep candles. Don't ask. Carless, I decided to go to the big green shed in West Footscray, a quick trip thanks to the new Metro rail. However, I stopped off at Footscray first for coffee at Maples Cafe. As I walked along the street I passed a cigarette shop, paused and backtracked to the shop, and sure enough, it had cans of butane. No need to visit the big green shed. 

I was just finishing my coffee in Footscray when neighbour HH called. On her way to Morning Melodies at Hamer Hall, she had fallen over and hurt herself. She limped in and sat through the performance, then afterwards a first aid person on duty strapped up her foot and she made her way home. She asked if I could take her to emergency at The Alfred, and I replied I would be home in half an hour and would do so. Thanks to a bit of luck with the Metro train and a tram, I was home within 25 minutes. Phyllis had my car at work, so I drove her in her car to The Alfred and dropped her off. Some detail has been left out, but no matter.

We messaged back and forth and she had to stay in overnight for a full round of scans and tests, as they would do with an 80 year old. 

Kosov and I were just heading out the next morning to shop for girlie pants for Phyllis for his birthday when HH called to ask if I could pick her up. Sorry Kosov, and I drove my car to pick up HH. She had a chipped bone in her foot and a hairline fracture of one rib. She should be pretty well ok and out of any pain by the weekend. I offered her food and shopping, but she had all she needed in stock at home.

Today Kosov and I did go to the city, to a shop called Valley Girl to buy pants for Phyllis. Kosov knew exactly what he wanted. I assume the name Valley is a reference to the valley in California and not our industrial Latrobe Valley or Brisbane's 'interesting' Fortitude Valley. Valley of the Dolls was quite enlightening book to read for a rather young Andrew.

Oh, it is hard to write for an international audience and keep track of today and tomorrow, when as I write is today and tomorrow is my tomorrow but could be your today. 

Tomorrow I am meeting up with Ex Sis in Law for lunch in Elwood, after I shop for Vim and topping up the cellar supply. 

I have not heard back for the second quote for my car repair, but I have almost decided to buy a new car. I have not heard back if I will receive cash to compensate me for the extra electricity used to dry my apartment out after the flood, and today I submitted a painter's quote for paintwork damage for consideration by the Owners' Corp manager to forward to the insurance company. 

Cooking can happen anytime in my kitchen, just not by me, and it is utter chaos. This evening the rice cooker was bubbling away, the range hood roaring, the microwave singing its tune regularly. Voices were loud as the pair bitched at each other, and a lovely meal was prepared for them to eat immediately and for me to eat later. Jass sat watching them and then after eating they both went to work. Jass looked quite desolate at the end of entertainment and the disappearance of her two fave men, with silence reigning over the apartment and just boring old me at home. She sat near the door, hoping they would soon return, but they won't until after midnight.

Wednesday on Friday

Phyllis and Kosov were supposed to take Jass for a fur trim. Phyllis had to work so it was me and Kosov who took Jass into town for her clip. Kosov, you are correct by calling her coat fur, but not correct to call the excess on her feet, hair.

Kosov tried to coax Jass into the box but she wasn't having a bar of that. I would have just picked her up and forced her into the box, but instead Kosov traumatised her by chasing her around and trying to pull her out from under beds.   

The strong cardboard box that Jass was originally used to bring the stranger Jass to her new home, and then used for two subsequent visits seemed less strong, and in spite of my complaint that a proper cat cage would take up too much space to store, perhaps we will have to buy a proper cat cage. I could see the box was not looking as secure as it once did. The repercussions of Jass escaping on a tram or on the street aren't imaginable. 

Jass took her first tram trip. Kosov was paranoid that people were looking at him while carrying the box. He was correct, they were, as they guessed a pet was inside the box.

From the tram stop, Kosov carried her to the grooming shop. Kosov said something mentioning the letter z, pronouncing it as zee. 

'Kosov, your former colonial masters would be appalled at you using the zee pronunciation.'

'Which is correct, Onndrew?' 

'Both, but in Britain and Australia it is zed. In the US it is zee. You are showing disrespect to your former colonial masters by pronouncing it zee.' 

The grooming was interesting. Our plan was to leave Jass there and find somewhere to eat. No, the groomer said in fractured English after she eventually understood what I was asking. One or you must stay. I went off and I was dying for something to eat and I had half an hour. I confess to visiting Hungry Jacks, Burger King elsewhere. I ordered a cheeseburger and I knew staff misheard me and repeated back to me a double cheeseburger. I did not correct her. Bad things happen.

Kosov had asked me to get some treats to reward Jass, so I found a supermarket and Kosov called me to tell me Jass was done.

While he waited for me to return, he had been looking at cat cages but the white one he found was marked but staff would not discount the price, so we left with Jass in her cardboard box. 

Kosov, are you sure you don't want the proper box, paint damaged or not? Ondreeww, this cardboard is sagging badly underneath. There was a grey one in perfect condition. Ondreew did roll his eyes at this point. We returned. I saw a cat cage for $110, and it had battery powered air conditioning, perfect for a hot pussy. But we bought the $42 model that is a a backpack that sits in front of your body, so I suppose you call it a front pack. Staff suggested we collapse the cardboard box and leave it next to a bin on the street, and someone would take it, so we did.

Onndreew, even more people are looking at me now. No Kosov, they are looking at Jass in the backpack through the diver glass porthole. 

I had intended taking the car out for weekly shopping but I was exhausted by the time we reached home. Jass doesn't seem too upset by her outing. 

It was not my idea to have her clipped and Jass looks awful. Ray and I never clipped a cat in the past. Ah well, they paid, the cat care and cage costing them $125.

I rallied and caught a tram to Malvern Vale Hotel for dinner with my long time Indian friend and his Asian partner of about three years. They seem to get along so well. The craic was good, although those thieving gambling machines took $20 from me and $50 from my friend.

Jass doesn't look so bad in this photo, but it is a very rough cut. We could have done the same at home with body hair clippers.

  

Dinner for Jass

Jass likes her dry food and not wet foreign muck (Who gets the Alf Garnett reference). She took a small taste and decided to not eat that night. 

I don't blame her really. 

Brand name Cachet. Mousse with lamb, spinach and feta. It sounds ghastly.

Jass went without dinner, and while I know a cat won't starve to death when any food is available (my mantra to Phyllis and Kosov), why do I feel criminally responsible for almost starving a cat to death? 

Pissed orf Jass

After the new lounge chairs arrived, access to sit under the old chairs for Jass was blocked. It was her safe space, and her behaviour changed. Kosov Googled and came up with this result that perfectly describes Jass. Substitute under chairs for cushions. Her behaviour is returning to normal.

[3:26 pm, 01/03/2026] : Kosov:She is a "Bush Dweller"

Some cats are "Tree Dwellers" (they like high places), and some are "Bush Dwellers" (they like low, enclosed spaces). Your cat is a confirmed Bush Dweller.

The Fix: She isn't "being difficult"—she’s just looking for a "box." As soon as you provide a "better" box/cave in your vicinity, she will likely trade the  room she is in for it.

[3:29 pm, 01/03/2026] Kosov: I would classify her as "The Secure Loner." She loves you, she knows she’s home, but she deeply values her autonomy. She is the type of cat that will eventually sit near you on the couch, but maybe not on you. She will show love through "slow blinks" from across the room rather than constant meowing.

How to work with this personality:

Respect the "Greeting": When she meets you at the door, give her 2–3 minutes of high-intensity focus (treats, soft talking, gentle pets). Then, let her go. If she feels she "checked in" successfully, she’ll feel more secure.

Quiet the Path: See if you can make the "path" from her room to yours more appealing. A rug or a small "stepping stone" (like a stool or a box) can make a sensitive cat feel safer moving through open spaces.

[3:29 pm, 01/03/2026] Kosov: The "Sentinel" (The Observer)

Her choice to sleep in the hallway and foyer early on is the biggest clue. In a cat’s mind, the hallway is the "hub" of the house. By sleeping there, she was positioning herself as the Manager of Traffic. * The Logic: She wants to know where everyone is and what everyone is doing, but she doesn't necessarily want to be part of the action. She is a "passive participant" in your life.

2. Low-Stimulus Preference

She is likely an Internalizer. When she feels overwhelmed—whether by noise, a change in furniture, or just the "energy" of a room—she doesn't hiss or scratch; she simply withdraws. * The landlord's (that's me) room is her "Sensory Deprivation Tank." It allows her to lower her heart rate and feel completely invisible, which to a cat like her, is the ultimate form of relaxation.

[3:30 pm, 01/03/2026] Kosov: She is a cat that loves you from a distance of about six feet. Her personality traits include:

Discriminating: She chooses her moments of affection carefully.

Environmentally Driven: Her mood is 90% dictated by how "safe" her physical surroundings feel.

Self-Sufficient: She doesn't look to you to "entertain" her; she looks to you to "provide" a stable, safe territory.

Will she change?

She won't suddenly become a lap cat who never leaves your side, but she will become more visible again. Right now, she is in a "withdrawal phase" because her favorite safety anchors (the cushions) were removed. She is essentially "pouting" in a feline way—retreating until she feels the house is predictable again.

[3:32 pm, 01/03/2026] Kosov: This changes the diagnostic picture significantly. If she has stopped the greeting ritual—which was her last remaining "social bridge" to you—it means she has moved from "Seeking Privacy" to "Active Withdrawal."

In feline behavioral terms, your cat is currently experiencing a Security Crisis. When those cushions (her "safe base") were removed without an immediate, identical replacement, her world became unpredictable. To a highly sensitive cat, unpredictability equals danger.

[3:33 pm, 01/03/2026] Kosov: Why the Greeting Stopped

For a cat, greeting someone at the door requires confidence. You have to leave your "safe zone," walk through "open territory" (the hallway), and expose yourself to the noise and energy of people arriving.

The Loss of the "Safety Anchor": When she had her cushion "cave," she knew she had a place to retreat to if the greeting got too overwhelming.

The "Invisible" Strategy: Without her cave, she feels exposed. Her brain has switched to Survival Mode. In this mode, the safest thing to do is stay in the one room that never changes (the landlord's room) and stay there until the world feels "fixed."

She isn't "mad" at you: She is simply "shutting down" socially because her stress bucket is full.

[3:34 pm, 01/03/2026] Kosov: Behavioral Insight: The "Internalizer"

Your cat is an Internalizer. When some cats are stressed, they might hiss or knock things over (Externalizers). Your cat does the opposite: she becomes "smaller." She is trying to become invisible to lower her anxiety.

The hard truth: She likely feels that her "territory" (the cushions) was taken away by the giants she lives with (you), and she doesn't understand why. She’s currently "sheltering in place."

[3:34 pm, 01/03/2026] Kosov: My Recommendation

Stop trying to coax her out with your voice or by picking her up. For the next 48 hours, treat her like a "ghost." Provide the new "cave," drop the treats, and let her realize that the pressure is off. When a sensitive cat feels no "pressure" to interact, they usually start to peek out within 3 to 5 days.

Sunday Selections

River and others participate in Sunday Selections, as I do but not every Sunday.

Jass showed great interest when this toy arrived in the post from Temu. Lordy, the rubbish P&K order at Temu. She was never inclined to pursue it, but from a raised position, she liked to monitor it carefully. Today, she just ignored it and went off to another room.

The problem with it is it stops after five minutes when it could be under furniture. There is a second one but it is under a bed somewhere, and I ain't gettin' down to find it. A phone charger gives it too much current so I charge it via the desktops USB outlet. This is on its slow setting. 

It is always exciting to see balloons fire up their gas burners.

Can you work out what this map shows? New Zealand is the only yellow country, and Australia and England have something in common, and I think Ireland should probably be green too, or do you disagree with that from your Irish people experiences. Later edit: Think of a swear word.

And as Sandra Cox says each Wednesday, I didn't know that; in Australia men's shoe measurements are in UK sizes, as is New Zealand's, but women's shoes in Australia use American sizes. Why? I am a 9, which I guess is nine inches, a very satisfying number.

Frightful Friday

The new lounge chairs were scheduled for delivery late Friday afternoon. I received a call that they would be here in twenty minutes. I was in the lane waiting for them and they soon arrived but just before, Phyllis called. I had said he could take the car to a job interview and Kosov was with him.

"Andrew, Pearl won't start. What should I do?"

I was puzzled. By this time the delivery had arrived. I said, remember I told you to put the phone number of the Royal Australian Automobile Association into your phone? Yes Andrew. Well call the number to get help. 

The boxes would not fit through the door from the carpark into the building, so the men had to open the boxes to bring the furniture up. No big deal, but Phyllis called again. He needed my RACV membership number and my registration number. He didn't realise that was the car plate number. The rego number should have been enough but I could not drop what I was doing with the delivery. When I had a chance, I found the number and called him, and explained the registration number and gave him my membership number. 

He soon called back and said the RACV would be there in less than an hour, and it wasn't too long before he called back and said the man had arrived, and as I had guessed, Pearl needed a new battery. $400, ka-ching. Phyllis paid for it and I reimbursed him. 

As I was letting the delivery men out, they must have taken a little pity on this old man, and asked if there was somewhere where they could put the boxes. Not removing the packaging was clearly noted on the contract. They squashed the boxes through a door, down stairs and through two more doors and put them in the recycling room in the basement. 

Phyllis called again, the car is fine now and we are just leaving. 

Meanwhile I had to turn huge sturdy boxes into flattened cardboard to go into the cardboard recycling skip bin. I took down a cutting knife but it was too weak. Back upstairs, I found the Stanley knife with a blunt blade and used that. Over thirty minutes later, I had cut up all the boxes and stacked what wouldn't fit into the skip, next to it. This is a proper cutting knife, and I was only slightly tempted to use to cut a vein in my own arm. 

And wow, did I have sweat up. I try to avoid anything that makes me sweat. I also have purple bruises on my arm of the type that anyone who takes blood thinners will know about.

That done, I checked if there was congestion on the West Gate Bridge or wherever as Phyllis wasn't back yet. Sometime later he arrived. 

"Oh Andrew. I missed the freeway exit and had to go through the tunnel."

His convoluted explanation as why he could not use the Power Street exit, the next before the tunnel before the was beyond my understanding. More ka-ching for taking the car through the tolled tunnel.

Remember a couple of weeks ago when I had new blinds installed. The company took the old ones away. I also had a quote from the company neighbour HH used for new blinds and its policy was to not take the blinds away. HH used the company and insisted the old blind removal should be part of the deal, and it agreed. 

I am a bad consumer. I should have insisted the old chairs be taken away, along with the packaging. If the company wants the sale, it will oblige, and perhaps charge a bit more. The stress of getting rid of the packaging, and having the old lounge chairs still here is not worth getting a bargain. There will be part two to this post. Jass is most unhappy with the disruption to her life.  

Jass at play

 

Jass' hiding spaces since she arrived:

Under my doona/duvet.

In my wardrobe, after she learnt to slide the door open. Ditton the spare room wardrobe door.

Under the spare bedroom bed.

The linen press, after she learnt to put her paw under the doors to pull them open.

But now her firm place is under the lounge room chairs, where she runs to when she sees Phyllis, or even hears him moving around in his bedroom. This will  change in a week or so after the new lounge room chairs arrive, well, after the old ones are disposed of.

Jass did not take to me initially but to Phyllis and Kosov. But my quiet daily presence when they were at work won her over. I don't spoil her, rarely giving her treats, but I do feed her most of her meals. I am now a bit harder on her when I think it is necessary. 

I think she grew to dislike Phyllis because he is loud and full on. Kosov it gentler with her, sits with her on the floor and talks to her, strokes her cheeks and lets her sniff his fingers. I'm sure she'll get over her hate on Phyllis in time. She doesn't hate him when he feeds her treats. We should be grateful she isn't as bad as John Gray of Wales cat, Weaver, but even he is making progress with his enemy.  

As predicted

As I type, the full extent of the destruction caused by bushfires in my state is not known. Many houses have been destroyed, including that of my neighbour HH's daughter. It is her second home, mostly used by her husband when teaching in the area, and not their principal residence now. 

Ironically, for her work during the 2009 fires that affected the same area, along with with her volunteer lifesaver work, the daughter was awarded an OAM (Order of Australia) , well deserved in her case, going far beyond her hospital job description; just napping in her office for two weeks straight without stopping her help to victims of the 2009 fires. Now her house in the same area has been burnt to cinders. 

The full extent of the destruction will become apparent in the days to come, but we already know many animals, pets, livestock and native animals were killed. There hasn't been any confirmation of lives lost, yet.

A man visited this morning to quote for new lounge room venetian blinds. I went across the road after he left for coffee and it was quite cool. Maybe 20/68 degrees. I then caught a 58 tram for two stops to the local Woolworths Metro supermarket. I bought a sandwich and a pastry. I forgot about the pastry, and it is still on the kitchen bench. By the time I reached home, the temperature had risen by over 10 degrees. 

The new aircon unit coped very well, and next to the external part of it, the hot air blasting out felt like it was burning my skin as the temperature reached 43/110. Inside, thermometers said 23/73.

Another blind man visited in the afternoon to give his quote. As he was here, the quote from the morning man arrived to my desktop email and he noticed it was from another company. What fun!

The hard sell from the second bloke began. Pay a 50% deposit today, and that will be $100 less. I did not as I await another quote. The two quotes I received are the same in dollars, but I know I can beat them down. 

Jass found it too hot outside on the balcony, but at carpet level, I think she found it cold.

When the new lounge chairs arrive in March, Jass will lose her refuge under the chairs and no longer will be able to show her pink bits.

One day, I thought was Saturday but it wasn't

I went to bed early last night, and consequently I woke early. Not a sleepy wake where I could go back to sleep, but wide awake. At 6.03 just as the sun was rising, fourteen balloons arose at the same time. I think the most I've seen in the past were seven. Quite wondrous and they floated in my direction, but not too close by.

I was out early to meet my friend, formerly of Japan, for breakfast. Yes, too early to call it brunch. I was hungering for bacon and eggs, and that is what I had, on sourdough toast, that I am not so fond of. But our meals were nice.

Phyllis and Kosov had invited two lady friends to lunch at home, with Phyllis cooking. Phyllis was out early too, to Victoria Market to buy fresh food. I'll give them some space. I used the Franklin Street entrance to State Library Station, far simpler than the Latrobe Street entrance, and the train, a couple of minutes late, shot off like scalded cat towards Footscray Station where I alighted to catch a train to Altona. The Werribee bound train was travelling via the Altona Loop! If the trains are running the same way back, that could be interesting ona single track. The screens at Altona Station were only showing Werribee bound trains, not city bound trains for me to return to the city.

We are told to use Journey Planner in case of disruptions. It was effing useless. I drilled down and down and finally found there was a bus replacement back to Newport Station. There was signage to direct passengers to a bus stop at the northern side on the roadway but I was still unsure until I arrived at the bus replacement stop. It took forever for the bus to reach Newport Station, where I could catch a train to the city. But the train with passengers onboard had come from the Werribee direction. I just gave up trying to understand at that point. Apparently these shenanigans will continue until April. 

I left the train at Footscray to catch a Metro train home. 

At home the lady guests were still here, one obviously Indian and the other seemed to be a blonde Anglo. I tried to hear her voice, and I thought it sounded Indian. A game of Uno was underway at the lounge room coffee table. There was food aplenty, and enough for my dinner later. I retired to my quarters to eat my discounted near use by date supermarket sandwich until they departed. 

Once the mynah chicks were born on the balcony below, I ceased harassing the parents, but Jass hasn't. She and the parents are at war with each other. I saw the chicks today, and they are just on ready to fledge, so for Jass, the bird excitement will end.  

Meanwhile back in the real world, I correctly guessed that Janice at Jabblog would win the annual Laughing Horse best blog award, at a terrific ceremony on Little St James resort island, just off the US coast. It is well deserved award and congratulations to JB. 

That was the year that was

Aside from my step mother dying in September, it wasn't a bad year for me. A family outing was organised for the first anniversary of Ray's death in April where we all met at Werribee Plains Open Range Zoo, and that was a good and distracting outing.

The attempt to avoid any celebration for my birthday by visiting Sydney was a failure, with just delaying the inevitable. 

December 2024 was a couple nights at Sister's on the Bellarine for Christmas and Boxing Day taking the car on the ferry to the other side of the bay for more family celebrations.

January I picked up Sister's cats from a cattery and took them to her home and stayed several days to look after them.

In April I took Phyllis and Kesav for an overnight stay in Daylesford, with separate cabins. 

Come May it was an overnight stay in Ballarat with my age closest ABI brother for a family get together and see the Sound and Light Show at Sovereign Hill.

I was back on the Bellarine to look after Sister's cats again in July.

As I mentioned, I was in Sydney for two weeks in October, the highlight being my return journey by sleeper train. I so enjoyed that, even though much of the time was spent asleep.

More recently in November were two nights away in Marysville, sharing a two bedroom cabin with Phyllis and Kosov.

Other outings with Phyllis and Kosov were day trips to, one to Mount Macedon with a stop off at the Organ Pipes National Park, a trip to the Bellarine for Jo's 18th where Phyllis and Kosov met most of the family, the trip to Geelong to see Jo slay them is the aisles in Anything Goes. There was also the surprise for Kosov with a trip to the Dinosaur Park, and a trip to travel on The Eagle chairlift at Arthur's Seat. I may well remember something else later. I did, a family trip to Funky Farm.

I was spoilt for my birthday once I returned, especially by being taken out for a surprise lunch by Phyllis and Kosov where we ate at a cafe in a train carriage (I want to say teetering, but that would be a lie) atop a three story building.

And who could forget the arrival into my home of Jass.

I can't take any pride in Phyllis graduating with a Master's degree in Food Science and Technology, but I sure as hell will take pride in teaching him to drive and obtaining his driving license. Once I realised he was at a level to pass a test, I worked hard on making him a better driver, smoother, more economical with fuel and reading other motorists' actions in advance. 

There was great sadness when the lovely Sue in Canberra unexpectedly died. She will be remembered by many of us forever. At times I return to her last blogpost, a Sunday Selections, which if her numbering is correct, they were over sixteen years. Just a week or so before, while weakened by treatment, she made the Out of the Shadows walk for suicide prevention. She has been posthumously honoured for her service at Lifeline over many years.

The world has seemed like a terribly messy place the year past, certainly not helped by the instability in the US and discontent in the UK. The year ended so badly in Australia with a horrific mass shooting, killing 15 people. We can make our own small efforts to make the world a better place, but we can't take the weight of world issues on our shoulders.

My evening was spent at home, declining an invitation from HH to watch the fireworks from her apartment with her city views. Instead being antisocial, I will watch the 9.30 fireworks from the tramstop below. By midnight I will be sound I was almost asleep, as Sister and her family prepare to party on for Hogmanay in Edinburgh. I warned Phyllis that I would probably drink too much and cry at some point, but he wasn't around to see that. Kosov was at work.

All in all, not a bad year for me. To all my blogmates, those of you who I know personally, and readers, my sincere best wishes for 2026. 

Happy New Year.