now there is one...

See the little brown cat in the arms of his master? My heart is breaking when I look at his sweet face. Our dearest Oskar has lost his battle with liver disease despite putting up an incredible fight right until the end. 

We have the scars to prove it - administering pills to Oskar had always been challenging.

Actually the 13 years we spent with Oskar was often a challenge. The yowling in the middle of the night, just to remind you he was there. 

The nonchalant puke over the side of the kitchen chair on to the floor and going back to sleep afterwards as if nothing had happened. 

The chicken carcasses regularly dragged through the cat flap as a special, if greasy, gift. (We have no idea where he got these from.)

The tiny, but deadly, squirt of cat wee up against the skirting board which would have us armed with various potions to vanquish the smell.

But all was forgiven as he curled into your arms at the end of the day, warm, purring and ever loving.

So there it is, Oskar joins darling Bluebell in the next place. There's got to be a next place, right?

I can't believe we have lost two cats in less than one year. We have had these three for what seems like forever . . now we have only one. Poor Percy. and poor, poor Alexei, whose heart has been broken twice this year. It doesn't get easier.

But I have some cheery pictures to share too. The lovely Mr and Mrs Cupcakes on their big day.

I think this was the nicest wedding celebration I have ever been too. Relaxed and so, so pretty in every way.

Many, many congratulations to Catherine and Ben. May you have a long and totally fabulous life together.

 

And a new drawing always makes me happy (when it turns out alright).

I am fascinated by the moon and we all like to watch the night sky at Pixieland. I wrote a note to Alexei's teacher to explain why he was late to school last Tuesday. . .we stood in the garden on a balmy, honeysuckle scented night to watch the international space station fly over us. 

And space might come a little bit nearer this weekend as now Roland is whisking us off for the trip of a lifetime to the Space Center in Houston. I daydream quite a lot about being an astronaut but I suspect would be totally useless as I would spend my whole time gazing out of the window rather than flicking switches and recording data.

We are off this Saturday. There is still much to look forward to despite the sadness.

Sleep well sweet Oskar. We will be thinking of you as we look at the stars.

  

Comments

[Amanda]

I am so, so sorry for your loss... it is heartbreaking to lose a member of your family (and yes, I do count pets as family members - I was heartbroken when we lost our budgie and will be heartbroken even when our hamster dies!!) Of course these is a next place - well, I think so, anyway xx

The wedding looks just gorgeous... I hope ours is remembered as sweetly as you seem to remember this one!

Have an absolutely wonderful trip... I hope you will take lots of photos to share with us...

oh, and I mustn't forget - the new picture is glorious, just perfect!

[Veronika]

Hi there,
I'm very sorry to read about your cats!
Although our cat hasn't died, we are moving overseas and it seems we can't take him with us... We're quite upset about it. :(

Anyways, on a happier note, I hope you don't mind but I would like to link your site on mine. I've just started a little crafty blog of my own very recently and would like to invite you to visit me sometime :)

www.lalomino.wordpress.com

Thanks!
Veronika

[Tonia]

I am so sorry for your loss.

[sairer]

oh that's so sad Claire...poor you, we all dread that day. I hope the lovely break in Houston (how fabulous that sounds!) takes a bit of that horrid 'something's missing' feeling away.
I love your new drawing, it makes me feel all nostalgic when I see your work, like I'm 7 again,sitting on my granny's landing reading my dads old story books from the 1930s. Beautiful. xx

[Fiona]

So sorry to hear about Oskar. So difficult to lose pets. My Mum's cat is battling with kidney disease at the moment and I fear she may be in your position soon. I love your latest picture. Love looking at the moon too. There is something so peaceful about it.