"For My Tum-Tum Fan(s)"

A funny and cute video clip. Watch out for Skoda's fanning tail while she grooms her tum-tum.

A Father's Sorrow

I took a cab to work today morning. About 10 minutes away from reaching my office, the cab driver and I started to talk. I was surprised he could speak fluent English (he is 69 years old). He used to be a white-collar worker and when the economic downturn hit in 1985, he was retrenched. He was unable to find a job (due to his age) so he became a cab driver.

He has three children. The youngest, a daughter, is a teacher who gets in touch with him once a year and doesn't give him any allowance. His eldest, a son, recently passed away in his sleep. He is currently staying with his second child, another son who is single. This son will soon be heading to China for work for a month. He said he would be able to retire if only each of his children would give him $200-$300 a month. I listened all this while when he shared with me part of his life story. I think he just needed someone to listen to him. Sometimes, less is more and well, 家家有本难念的经 (each family has its own tales to tell of)

When I was getting off, he wished me a good day ahead and in the same breath, he said he'll try to. To cheer him up a little, I teased him for being so specific and he laughed.

Spaced-Out

On one hot summer's day, Skoda settled down comfortably in PG2 ('Pinky Generation 2'*)...

* Having served the gang well and long, PG1 had decided to call it a day permanently. PG1, thanks for all the fond memories.

Much Ado About Nothing

叫我如何不爱她？

"Please Drink Up" Campaign (II)

A status update on introducing flavoured fluids to Skoda:

We started first with milk because no preparation is required (a packet of Cosi pets milk costs S$4.50). We were a little afraid that the girls might put on weight if we give them milk daily so we took their weight. Skoda tipped the scales at 6.5kg, Braun at 3.7kg and Mikki at 3.5kg. I didn't expect Mikki to weigh that much (she looks petite).

(Thanks again, ST)

Both Braun and Mikki took very well to milk. That rascal Skoda wouldn't try any bit of it; she didn't bother to humour us, not even a little. Uuuurrrggghhhh... Braun and Mikki ended up finishing the packet of milk.



I'm not keen on feeding the girls fish on a regular basis so chicken stock was next. We bought two packets of chicken bones:

Her Royal Highness (aka that rascal Skoda) "responded" to chicken stock with much disdain. Braun and Mikki LOVE the chicken stock. I gave them the boiled chicken meat - Braun and Mikki chomped up all of their share; Skoda left hers untouched. If Skoda had shown any enthusiasm towards the boiled chicken meat, I'd let them have it on a regular basis.

The beans were now down to the last option, ie fish stock. In fact, they were optimistic that might just be it. When the cooking was done, the stock smelled so fishy that the Mouse kept chuckling away (so overflowing with confidence).

"Humph, I no like fish stock TOO yah! Mousie, I can almost see smoke coming out of your head..."

And again, Braun and Mikki finished up the boiled fish meat, Skoda left hers untouched. Mikki LOVES the fish stock, while Braun seems to prefer chicken stock better.


What else can we do to make Skoda drink up?!?! (Help...anyone has any method/tips to share?)

I went to the vetinary clinic one evening to pick up a packet of Waltham kibbles. I had a chat with Dr D on our attempts to make Skoda drink up (and the failures). She suggested trying IAMs canned food which has some gravy - to entice her to drink by mixing the gravy with water (gradually increase the water portion). I went to a few pet supplies shop - they have IAMs dry food but not the canned food. Aunty P passed me two cans of Fussie Cat - Skoda was lukewarm (the other two love them though). I also bought Burp! salmon in gravy - Skoda was more enthusiatic to it as compared to Natural Balance wet food.

We'll be bringing Skoda for her review next Sat, 28 June. I'm gonna update Dr K on our failed attempts. Fingers crossed that her urine indicators are within the acceptable range. I'm already at my wits' end >_<

Must remember to check with Dr K if it would be alright to be feeding Burp! salmon in gravy on an ongoing basis. There is no country of manufacture indicated and no breakdown of what the gravy is made up of (ingredients label: 52% salmon and 48% gravy).

"Please Drink Up" Campaign (I)

A "Please Drink Up" campaign has just kicked off at the Cove. Main target, as you'd have guessed it, is Skoda. Of the three, she is the only one who drinks off the dome of the drinking fountain so we decided to get a CatIt drinking dome. It also costs less than the fountain ($56.80 before discount). I picked up the dome from PLC (Bugis Junction branch) and Grimlock immediately set it up when I got home. The unit kept making a vibrating sound which isn't a good thing at all because the noise puts the girls off.



After several failed attempts to fix the noise, I brought the dome back to the shop. The sales assistant accepted my account and promptly facilated the exchange. We also decided to switch back to the drinking fountain. PLC stuff are overpriced but so far, I've found their service satisfactory.

The new drinking fountain is completely quiet, just like the other unit. A few days later Skoda was due for her review and I was disappointed to hear of her urine being very concentrated (see post dated 8 June 2008). The quest continues to make Skoda drink up >_<

1,000 (Green) Origami Cranes (VIII)

Skoda was due for her review on Sat, 31st May. At 6.30am, she started singing at the top of her lungs. I managed to distract her until about 7.30am (vetinary clinic opens at 9.30am and the urinalysis has to be done within two hours after collection). Then she stepped into the kitchen sink and got into the squatting position. I immediately whisked her into the room where the litter tray had been kept away and she wasted no time (that was how "urgent" she was). Here was how her urine looked:

I was relieved to see that Skoda's urine was no longer brown in colour and crossed my fingers this would mean better news. And we bought another water fountain on 26 May.

Urinalysis results as follows:

The inflammation had receded; protein level has returned to normal; no presence of blood; and the white blood cells level has come down. Skoda need not continue with Baytril. HOWEVER, her urine is very concentrated (in fact exceeded the parameters) and crystals are present again. She has got to drink up so Dr K said to introduce flavoured fluids such as milk or chicken/fish/beef stock. Other options would be to "run" fluid under her skin (there is a home kit for this) or syringe-feed water - both of which we're not keen (nope, we don't want to stress her up) or sprinkle pan salt into her kibbles so as to induce thirst. We're to bring Skoda back for her review in one month's time.

"What, get me to drink - what's that again?!?! You wait and see lor..."

As Busy As a Bee

I've become a weekend blogger.

There had been one event after another at work, and I'm juggling a few other projects at the same time. Thank God that I enjoy my work; for good health, the energy level and the mental capacity; and things are going well so far. The pace and volume will possibly be as such for me for this year. I'll take things one at a time and keep counting on God for His wisdom, grace and strength.

I've lots of photos and video clips to upload - I'll find time to do this. This is another of my favourite things when I get some me-time.

The tortise almost instantly came to mind when I was thinking of an image to accompany this post. To me, the tortise symbolises forbearance and being able to take things at its own pace. Very often I think of animals in describing a state of mind.