Monday Blues?

Ha, I enjoyed an extended weekend today. I was very busy at work for the last two weeks with a major project. It is finally completed so I decided to be good to myself and take the day off. "To take a break is to take on the longer journey". It probably has more depth if I could put it in Chinese text (I shall go figure out how to do this).

It rained in the late morning. This photo is taken from my master bedroom. Can you tell the short white building in the background is a mosque? It doesn't have the onion-shaped dome on the roof. The flat piece of land is actually a park. Can you see some construction going on in the lower right-hand corner? There will be four blocks of new HDB flats.

Thunders could be heard. Mikki went hiding under the sofa and Braun took cover in the bomb shelter under the storage racks...

"Tell me, what is there to be afraid of?" While taking cover is the SOP for Mikki and Braun on stormy days, Skoda simply "bo chup" and goes about her usual business.

Mikki is lured by the smell of my lunch and emerges from her hiding place to check it out...

It didn't rain for long. Braun came out of hiding, and looking so poised on the SCV cable box...

I heard Braun hackling away. On and off, we've found furball patches on the floor but we've never come close to confirming which of the girls they came from. So this confirms it! But there was some yellow liquid (usually it is transparent) - hope Braun is not falling sick. Must be firm and not give her any of the cod fish treats!

Mikki keeps following me everywhere I go. Here she is, scrutinising my blog. I wonder if she approves of it, ha ha...

Went to watch the movie, "Pirates of the Caribbean - the World's End" with Grimlock in the evening. Not as good as the previous two parts.

That's it for today. Back to work tomorrow. Aye, aye, Captain Mighty Mouse is gonna set sail - into the Land of Sweet Slumber she comes!

'Tan Ku Ku' - 25 September

Here is a dose of Singlish for you. 'Tan ku ku' is a Hokkien/Teochew expression and it means 'wait long long'. I completed the entire course of driving lessons, 30 in total, on last Thursday, 28 May. It took me about three months, having started my first lesson on 22 February.

I started off all excited and looked forward to finishing my course. It was a huge let-down to have found out that I've to wait FOUR long months for the driving test. I may have not have perfected my skills yet but I know I won't be doing too badly either, and with a little more focus and care, I just might stand a chance of getting my license at first try (I'm not boasting here but I do have that confidence and determination). One must strike the iron while it is hot, correct?

My skills would have become 'rusty' four months later. And so I'd have to spend more $$ on taking up a couple of lessons closer the test date. The 30 lessons, including the driving test, already cost me $1,854.80. The driving centre sure is earning good revenue, man!

Breakdown of driving test charges as follows:
Practical test - $20
Vehicle rental fee - $105
Warm-up lesson (one hour prior to the test) - $29.40
Class 3C course extension - $42 (Needed to do this 'cos my PDL expires in Aug)

Why the long wait? Don't tell me the authority is trying to control the number of driving licenses being issued because I don't see them doing the same for COEs. Just look at the number of cars on the roads. And if I fail my first test, another three- to four-month wait for my second try?!? I'm quite tempted to write in to the ST Forum page.

Another Beautiful Sunday

Yeh, it is another restful Sunday. While the humid weather is "killing" me, the girls seemed to take in the heat so well. They just kept at their favourite past-time: snooze, snooze and snooze.

I don't seem to tire of taking photos of Skoda, Braun and Mikki. That is one of the reasons why I started this blog. I like photography (and I think my skills are pretty decent, hee hee). I've tons of their photos and the collection continues to grow. I've only got a little time in the evenings on weekdays for them, and sometimes I'm just as busy during the weekends. They grow up so fast, so photos help me to keep track and serve as good reminders of things/events I don't wish to forget. I've a smaller collection of their photos in my office desktop. They never fail to perk me up when I need a boost. Alright...are you thinking I'm really crazy over my cats? Whatever...

"The cat, like the genius, draws into itself as into a shell except in the atmosphere of congeniality, and this is the secret of its remarkable and elusive personality." - Ida M. Mellen

Mikki getting all comfy on my beanie seat. I think this has got to be her favourite snoozing spot. Maybe she likes my scent, ha ha...






My sexy babe, Skoda has settled down well on top of the fridge. Look at the budge :)






And where could my Braun Braun Sweetie Pie be? She too was in the kitchen, in-between the microwave oven and fridge. I'm quite pleased with this photo :)







Oops, I've awaken the sleeping beauty!


"Hey you, are you done or not?!?!"


"Is this the power switch? Now, BUZZ OFF!"

"Seriously, I can't be bothered with you!"

"Where is that rascal, Mikki?"

Can't Get Any Better

Hot from the Press! Looks like things are on the mend between Skoda and Mikki. To exchange a kiss is always better than hissing,...

...though the encounter may be brief. Taking it slow and steady, and giving each other space :)

The Cove's No. 1 Drama Queen

In my last posting, I told you I brought Mikki for spaying on Sat, 19 May. Well, what was to unfold after bringing her home has earned Mikki her latest title as the Cove's No. 1 Drama Queen!

When the clinic technician handed over the pet taxi to me, he told me Mikki was still quite sedated. She was all quiet on our way home. After we reached home, I opened the pet taxi door and Mikki seemed to have some problem getting out of it (her cone kept hitting the sides). Grimlock unscrewed the top cover to ease her exit. She still couldn't clear the height with the cone around her neck and kept trying to clamber out. We left out one screw and while I was trying to get it out, Mikki clearly couldn't wait any more. She finally succeeded in getting out and in the process, she hit a chair that was nearby (it was our negligence that we didn't move the chair away in the first place). She went bersek, started jumping up and down, and tried so hard to shake off her cone. Balls of fur flew and she even pee on the floor.

We were completely taken aback by her outburst. I kept telling Grimlock to move the chair away but his feet seemed to be rooted to the floor. We waited for her to calm down. Exhausted from her struggle, she gave up and was panting away very heavily and started to whine. I was so worried to see her in such a state. Grimlock held her down so that I could snip off her cone. He got a deep scratch across his wrist while doing so. Once the cone was off, Mikki dashed to take cover under the dining chair. She was scrowling away, hissing and refused to let us check her belly. We couldn't touch her at all. She ran under the sofa. We moved the sofa away to get her out (very dusty under there and we didn't want to risk any contamination to her wound).

It started to rain heavily, thunders could be heard - making the situation on hand seemed even more 'drama'. The vet's clinic was already closed for the day so if the stitches came off, we would have to brave the rain and bring Mikki to the animal hospital. Fortunately, we didn't see any discharge on the floor so we decided to leave her alone for the time being.

Mikki all worn-out, Grimlock and I just as equally tired.

We went to look for Skoda and Braun who were nowhere to be seen. We found Skoda trying to balance herself on top of the window in the study. She was looking all edgy. Grimlock got her down. We then looked high and low for Braun. We finally found her hiding behind the study door, all "pushed" up against the wall/door (she was standing upwards like a squirrel). Both were on high alert. It was only in the evening that Skoda stepped out of the study. Braun stayed in the study and constantly went back into the cosy corner (area behind the computer screen). It was only two days later, after lots of coaxing, stroking and bribing that Braun started to hang out at other spots in the house.

Since that eventful day, things between Skoda and Mikki have not been quite the same. If they come face to face, Skoda would scrowl at her (like a cobra with its fang all out) with ears all pulled back and Mikki would get frightened, retreat and run off (prior to the spaying, this 'chia char bo' would take Skoda on). All of a sudden, Mikki seems to be ostracised. One can't stand her and the other one stays away from her.

This time round the vet shaved off a substantial amount of fur off Mikki's belly for the surgery - a bigger area as compared to when Skoda and Braun were spayed. Very heart pain leh! It is going to take a long time before the fur grows back. Mikki sure is a tough gal! There was almost no downtime for her, she was less active in the evening following the surgery and then she was up and running the next day. The vet also prescribed three Tolfedine tablets for pain/fever, to be taken on a need-be basis. The tablets were left unconsumed. Mikki puts up a fight whenever we try to clean her wound. We couldn't clean her wound properly so a scab had formed on top of the wound. Most of it has come off and her wound is healing well.

This week, Skoda's unfriendliness has worn off a little but I miss her wrestling matches with Mikki and their high-speed chases, and Mikki used to follow her around. Some consolation in that while Skoda is on a time-out mode with Mikki, Braun now "entertains" Mikki a little more, ie there is more "contact sports" (ie friendly sparring matches) between the two of them. Previously Braun would just walk away. And you know what, Skoda and Braun are closer than I thought. When Braun was taking cover in the cosy corner, Skoda would stay in the study with her or snuggle up to her in the cosy corner.

The vet said Mikki would need to regain the trust of Skoda and Braun. And as she grows in size, all three would try to establish dominance in their own ways. So, such behaviour/desire is not unique to the male species. Hopefully the tripartite dynamics would be amicably restored soon...

"Do you spot Monster Mikki coming this way?"

Mighty Mikki, small but deadly (rhymes, doesn't it?) After her spaying, she has become quite fond of suddenly "dropping down" on her side (something like what you see in this photo) and she seems more 'manja' than before. Wonder what else we can expect from her?

Private Mikki

Hurray, Mikki has been "demoted" from General to Private! Brought her to the vet for her review this morning. Her liver enzymes are within the normal range. La, la, la...what a relief!

The vet said the results go to show that diet makes a big difference. Premium brands may just be too rich for our kitties and these foods are manufactured overseas like in US, Europe where living conditions are different. I told the vet that Mikki still is lukewarm towards the Prescription's Hill L/D kibbles. He said a 50-50 mix with the Royal Canin kibbles is good enough and to keep to this diet until Mikki turns one year old and then switch her to a light formula.

Since the blood test results turned out to be OK, we're proceeding with Mikki's spaying so she is now at the vet's. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that everything will turn out fine. Will be bringing her home later today around 3-4pm.

Mini-Me Mikki

On Monday, 7 May, I was looking through a smaller collection of the girls' photos on my office desktop and came across this one...

That is Mikki, taken when she was about two months' old in December 2006. She was perching on the digital camera charger. She was that tiny.

One-Star General

I brought Mikki for her spaying on 5 April. Prior to the surgery, the vet did a blood test on her to check her hematology profile, as well as kidney and liver functions. The results revealed that her liver enzymes exceeded the normal range by like three times. Normal range is between 14-111 U/L and Mikki's was 197 U/L. This came as a surprise because from Mikki's physical signs, there is no way of telling something is not quite right with her liver, so we were glad that we stuck to getting a blood test done for her (as what was done for Skoda and Braun prior to their spaying). I think this is a good procedure - cost is secondary.

The vet said that it could be due to a deficiency in her system or the kibbles we're feeding aren't suitable for her (all three are on Royal Canin Indoor 27). He gave her an Ornipural injection (liver tonic) and put her on Prescription's Hill L/D feline dry food. We decided not to proceed with the spaying (not recommended because of the general anesthesia). To inject some humour into the situation, I nicknamed Mikki as Three-Star General.

Mikki didn't like her new kibbles. She refused to eat them unless we mixed in a little of the old kibbles, and even when we did so, she wasn't eating as much and she would go for the old kibbles first. So I brought Mikki back to the vet earlier for her review, on 19 April.

The vet did another blood test. Her liver enzymes still exceeded the normal range, but this time by a lower measure - she was 'demoted' to a One-Star General. Whew...if results were still unsatisfactorily, I was planning to bring her for a second opinion. No medication but she has to continue on the Prescription's Hill L/D kibbles and to bring her back for another review in a month's time. And if she clears the blood test, we can schedule a spaying appointment for her.

I've an issue with feeding food that has by-product in it so I'm hoping I don't have to feed it long-term. I raised my concern to the vet who explained the ingredient is OK because it is properly processed under stringent standards, but I'm still uncomfortable leh...(I know I'm not a vet). Let's see how Mikki's next blood test turns out to be. Just about six months' old, Mikki is already a drama 'mama'...

Mighty Mikki, the Cove's One-Star General standing tall and looking strong and smart

Mischevious Mikki taking a nap after finishing her 'artwork' (she was at it again - had great fun pulling out tissue from the box)

Melancholic Mikki looking so docile. She is a MONSTER when it comes to clipping her nails. Puts up such a big struggle, growls angrily and dispenses deadly bites. I've to wear jeans when doing so. Definitely a two-man operation; I'm the one in-charge of holding/restraining her while Grimlock does the clipping. I always feel like I'm having a workout whenever we've to do this...help!!! (Fellow cat lover, any tips to share?) Mikki, won't you be nice the next time, please?

"Levi's, Levi's, I Love You!"

"Ssshhhhh...leave me to enjoy this moment. Establishing a special connection with Levi's is no small matter."

My Skoda is quite a 'gu niang' (lady). Whenever she is settled down, she always tucks her tail neatly away under her body. When I hand out the cat treats, Skoda takes her own sweet time to nimble away (totally unaffected by the rocket rate that Braun and Mikki are going at). Has this got to do with cat etiquette/poise?

"It's the same dilemma again, ya? Is it the man's hairy feet or his Levi's that I love? Could it be I just love his smell? Or the attraction of human warmth. Heck, just let me enjoy my beauty sleep while I'm at it, ya?"

Going Bananas

"A kitten is more amusing than half the people one is obliged to live with." - Lady Sydney Morgan

I fully agree, just look at the following photos of Braun reaching for a bunch of bananas. Look at how focused she is and the moves are definitely tactical.

Braun to Skoda: "Promise you won't spill the beans, alright?"

Skoda to Braun: "You sure you want to do this


Braun's mind goes a-tickling, tick tock, tick tock


"Here I go!"

"I swear I'm not telling! Can't you see the innocence in my eyes? Oh boy, looks like I gotta shed some pounds to do what my pal just did..."

Self-Sacrifice

Lianhe Zaobao (3 May) - A dwarf hound put up a brave fight in fending off two huge American pit bull terriers from five children. He suffered serious injuries and had to be humanely put down. The incident happened in a northern town, Manaia in New Zealand Wellington. The courageous dog, named George was playing with the children who were on their way home after buying candy. Suddenly, the bull terriers charged at the children and George, who is less than a foot tall, took them on.

One of the children, 11-year old Richard related that the bull terriers’ attack target was his four-year old brother, Daryl. George pounced forward and barked away, in an attempt to distract the bull terriers. The terriers grew aggressive and started to attack George. The children quickly got away and shouted for help along the way. Passers-by stopped and rescued George.

George’s owner, Gay said that the bull terriers bite off big chunks of flesh from George’s neck, chest and back. Nine-year old George had a medical history of heart ailment, hence the vet diagnosed that he would not be able to recover and he was humanely put down to reduce his suffering.

The owner of the bull terriers voluntarily turned them in to the local municipal authority and requested that they be put down because the sudden attack was not triggered by any provocation. The authority confirmed the dogs had been seized and according to local laws, they would be destroyed.

Cats Need to be Paw Safe Too

Picked up this brochure when I brought Mikki to the vet. It says "AIA Paw Safe - The best assurance for your loyal pal" on the cover. My eyes lit up. Veterinarian fees are comparable (if not higher) to medical charges for humans so depending on what the benefits cover and cost, I'd consider insuring my girls. And AIA is a reputable insurance company.

I flipped the cover and was disappointed to read that the plan caters to DOGS only - why?!?! As I looked through the eligibility criteria, this question echoed louder (the same can be stated/required of cats in a similar context). For example, one of the criteria states that coverage is for all types of dogs except Mastiffs, Bull Terrier, Staffordshire/Pit/American Pit Bull Terrier, Argentina Dog, Canary Dog, American Bulldog, or a dog crossed with any of these breeds and/or wolves. Dog need not be a pedigree. The annual premium is $78 (with microchip) or $83 (without microchip).

Other criteria include applicant must be an existing AIA Elite HomeCare or AIA CoverMax Policyholder; insurance coverage is for dogs between three months and eight years; applicant must be the owner; maximum of one policy per dog; limited to two dogs per household for the insurance; and dog must reside with applicant at the address indicated in the application.

Puzzled why cats are excluded from this insurance plan.

If you've a dog and this sounds like something you may want to take up, here is what the plan covers:
1) Accidental death (for death of dog due to an injury within 90 days from the date of the accident / Coverage: $1,000 or purchase price (whichever is lower);
2) Veterinary fees due to accident / Up to $1,000;
3) Cremation or burial expenses due to death by accident (if dog dies as a result of injury within 90 days of the accident) / Up to $250;
4) Loss of dog due to theft (dog is not found within 28 days of being reported stolen) / $1,000 or purchase price (whichever is lower); and
5) Third party liability (for third party bodily injury or property damage caused by dog) / Up to $1 million.