I have a post simmering gently on the back burner, but there are a lot of photos to be gone through and worked on and background information to research, so it will have to wait until I can step off the merry-go-round. Music practice takes up a chunk of every day and I’m busy keeping my promise to catch up with your blogs, which I’ve sadly neglected in recent weeks. I can hardly expect you to take the trouble to read and comment on my blog if I never return the compliment.
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| Ben Loyal with his cap of cloud |
So to keep you entertained until my mad frenzy settles down again and I too stop chasing around for a bit, here’s the latest, and very appropriate, escapade of Simon’s Cat.
Hello Perpetua:
ReplyDeleteWe have been much entertained by Simon's Cat!!
How good to know that all continues to be well with you and such fun that your life is taken up with so many things. We just hope that they are all equally enjoyable.
As it happens, we have been out every night since last Tuesday and our first free evening this week is not until the very end, Saturday. That said, they have all been such joyful occasions. Last night, which we think you would have appreciated, was Rameau's 'Les Fétes de Polymnie' with the Purcell Choir. Simply wonderful with outstanding soloists.
Thanks, Jane and Lance. I'm so glad you've enjoyed the antics of Simon's Cat.
DeleteI'm pleased to report that all my recent activities have been from choice and very enjoyable. It happens to be a particularly busy few days in this small community and next week looks like being much quieter. I'm just revelling in being able to be involved again after so many weeks of enforced inactivity.
You sound like you've been having a wonderfully busy time yourselves and you're absolutely right in surmising that I would have loved the Rameau performance.
Another great vid from Simon's Cat. Thanks for that. :)
ReplyDeleteIt's a good thing you're retired. You'd never have time to go to work!
I'm subscribed to Simon's Cat, Sarah, so the new ones always get notified. so that I can share them. :-)
DeleteYou're so right about retirement. I used to think life was busy when I was out at work all day, but i'm not exactly stagnating nowadays. :-)
And people ask what one finds to do in the countryside....all too much is my reply!
ReplyDeleteWhat you think is going to be a quiet day, with a number of jobs planned, can turn upside down after a visit or a 'phone call......I'm ruefully looking at last week's backlog.....
Nice to see Ben Loyal again, and the colours of Scotland.
In the countryside people know each other and news of activities gets around. As soon as we arrived friends made sure I knew about everything that's going on and the calendar started to fill up. :-)
DeleteGood luck with clearing the backlog. What's the betting another phone call or visit will turn up to disrupt all your good intentions?
The colours have been very muted so far, with little sun and a good deal of cloud. Just wait until the cloud cover clears.....
You Tube is still banned here so your lovely post is graced with a Turkish court order. It is however in both English and Turkish!
ReplyDeleteOh dear! At least I gave you a couple of photos to look at. I'd been hoping that the unbanning of Twitter (according to the news item i read last week) would have resulted in the unbanning of YouTube. I can't see how the Turkish government can ever hope to achieve EU membership if it keeps stifling freedom of expression like this.
DeleteI watched it because I'm using a VPN at the moment...Loved it!
DeleteI think it's great that your social life is taking precedence over blogging....that doesn't sound quite right. I mean I miss your blogs, but am happy you have such an enjoyable life...that's just how it should be xxx
LOL, Ayak! I know just what you mean. :-) I will admit it's fun to be having more social life than I've had for ages, but it should quieten down soon. I still miss my blogging friends and have enjoyed catching up gradually since we arrived.
DeleteI'm glad you're on a VPN and thus not shut out from the pleasures of YouTube. I'm having to curtail my YouTube usage, just because we're on a capped broadband contract up here. Sigh...
However often you write or don't, it's always a pleasure to read your posts! I am in a tiz myself -- off to the States for 3 weeks to visit with my Mom on her 95th birthday, and then on to North Carolina to visit my brother who has not been very well. Lovely pictures and Simon's Cat is always a treat!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Broad. Glad you enjoyed it. I'd been thinking your trip must be coming up soon. I hope the tiz is soon over and you can relax on the plane knowing you haven't forgotten anything. :-) Enjoy your mom's birthday and your trip to see your brother and I hope you find them both as well as can be expected in the circumstances.
DeleteGlad to have you back, Perpetua. Your weeks have been much busier than mine, and I could never keep up with you. Love the picture of the mountain, and of course, Simon's Cat is great.
ReplyDeleteIt's great to be back, thanks, Bonnie. I've certainly been very busy in comparison with the past very quiet months, but I can't keep up the pace like I used to do. There'll be plenty of restful days among the busy ones soon.
DeleteI can never stop taking photos of the mountains as they change so much according to the light and weather. As for Simon's Cat - it's brilliant!
Enjoy your frenzy while you can and when the dust settles we''ll be waiting.
ReplyDeleteBlessings
The frenzy has already eased off a bit, Ray, as tomorrow's outing has been postponed and I have a day in. I'm enjoying being busy after being so quiet for so long, but there are limits. :-)
DeleteHari OM
ReplyDeleteI totally sympathise Perpetua and The Cat looked like me trying to sort out stuff here! Gradually getting there though and am sure you will too. Be glad to see more when you can get down to it. YAM xx
Lovely to see you, Yam, and glad to know you're settling in. Yes, Simon's Cat does seem to reflect our lives rather well at times, doesn't he? The rush should be over in a few days and I've a few ideas gently simmering for then. :-)
DeleteAlways good to see that cat. I hope you're enjoying yourself, it looks really beautiful there. I'll still be here, whenever you're posting something new. :)
ReplyDeleteSimon's cat always seems to hit the mark, Jennifer. I'm having a lovely time, thanks, as I always do when we're here. The scenery is awe-inspiring in all weathers, though I'm hoping for some sun before long, as the colours are then so vibrant.
DeleteAlways a pleasure to see you pop up in the inbox, Perpetua. Simon's cat kills me every time, so true to life. It is wonderful to see you out there enjoying your Scottish community and the photos are great as always. I do hope I see Scotland one day - it has attracted me since forever. Enjoy your time there!
ReplyDeleteI'm just not popping up very often at the moment, Patricia. :-) I love this particular cartoon as we had a cat once who went mad exactly like that. I'm really enjoying meeting up with people again after a long gap and my camera will go everywhere with me, just in case. With your eye for colour and shape you would love Scotland's wonderful landscapes.I do hope you make it here one day.
DeleteThanks for reminding me about Simon's cat! And what wonderful mountains those are.
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed it, Jenny. I love the acute observation. The scenery of the North-West Highlands is truly marvellous. Ben Loyal isn't called the Queen of Scottish mountains for nothing.
Deletehttp://perpetually-in-transit.blogspot.co.uk/2011/05/queen-of-scottish-mountains.html
I just reread your comment on my post – I am busy but there is one thing, and that is we are very isolated, no friends around here, no neighbors to talk to, so when we were are home there is more time. You on the contrary look like you have a busy social schedule. The area around you looks beautiful. I really enjoyed watching Simon – it reminded me a lot of my little Mitsuko. A couple of days ago she jumped on my lap as I was on the computer – by mistake, I placed some YouTube videos for cats – videos of birds, etc. now she keeps jumping on my lap and mowing while looking at my computer screen until I get back on some YouTube videos of mice or birds …. She is spoiled.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like your home situation is like our in Wales, Vagabonde, with no near neighbours and a drive to meet up with friends or go shopping. It's quite different when we're here in Scotland .We live in the village with immediate neighbours and I can walk to the two shops and the church.and village hall. The village is in a truly amazing setting with hills and mountains on three sides and the sea on the fourth. I never tire of taking photos in all kinds of weather and light.
DeleteYes, Simon's Cat is very well-observed and accurate. Your little cat sounds such fun an d I love the idea of her watching videos on YouTube. :-)
I love the Simon's Cat video! Thanks so much! Glad to hear you're settling in at last!
ReplyDeleteIsn't it brilliant, Kathy? It's the latest one and I was glad to share it. A week after arriving I feel very settled and glad we're here for some time. I'm getting too old to do the long journey twice in quick succession. :-)
DeleteLoved the Simon's cat video as always. I often wonder how I had time to go to work. There are never enough hours in the day.
ReplyDeleteI really haven't seen a Simon's Cat video I haven't loved, Susan. You're like me and all the retired people I know, with the days too short for everything we want to do.
DeleteIt 'tis relief I am feeling, Perpetua; so glad you are filled to the brim with life's offerings and not under the weather. I've had a similar conundrum, which is finding who has been stealing my hours. Unable to find the culprit, I just seem to keep stuffing more "things" into the hours I have. Isn't life grand? As always, Simon's cat is such fun to watch.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Penny. I really hadn't expected life to get so busy so quickly after our arrival, but I've enjoyed every minute. Many of the activities have been church-related, but things will quieten down later this week until we get to Holy Week and Easter.
DeleteAren't we fortunate to have so many interesting and enjoyable things to do and the health and strength to do them? As I get older (68 this month) I really feel the urge to do things while I still can, and that includes watching Simon's Cat. :-)
It's really wonderful that you are experiencing such full, and wonderful days! I don't think you need to apologize for not making the blogging rounds, Perpetua. You must be enjoying your music practice, knitting, and a change of pace! Keep it up for as long as you can. :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Debra. It certainly feels wonderful to be so busy with such enjoyable activities after so many quiet weeks at home over the winter. But I still miss my blogging friends and their wit and wisdom, hence my desire to catch up.
DeleteMusic practice takes up between 30 and 45 minutes most days and occasionally up to an hour in two stints. My poor lips and fingers can't cope with more than that as yet. :-) But I can hear the progress I'm making though it still often feels like I'm taking two steps forward and one back....
Pleased to hear that you've safely arrived on the north coast of Scotland & I love the photo of Ben Loyal. Looking forward to seeing more Scottish mountain photos in due course, especially if you get some fine Spring weather.
ReplyDeleteAs for the video, all I can say is that Simon's Cat has amazing similarities to Šárek :-)
We were very glad to get here after such a long haul up from Southport, Ricky, and it was great to see Ben Loyal again next morning. Such a lovely mountain and always changing with the light and the weather. The weather has been April-changeable since we arrived, though with much more cloud than sunshine, but there's plenty of time for that to change before we head south again, so I'll do my best to oblige.
DeleteI think it's great that so many cat owners can recognise their pets in Simon's Cat. :-)
I'm glad you found time to go to knit and natter in your busy schedule.... I have just found a chatty crochet group here in Hebden Bridge, and I intend to go along when we come back from France in October. I'm just sorry I've only found out about it with 2 weeks to go before we head off for France.
ReplyDeleteIts always a pleasure to read what you've been up to P. and we all know we don't have to feel guilty about being somewhat more relaxed about checking and commenting on blogs from time to time. I just hope you enjoy your Scottish stay and can have a healthy and relaxing ( eventually) time. Jx
Knit and Natter is a weekly fixture in the calendar when we're here, Janice. We drink coffee, eat cake and knit or crochet or sometimes even sew, while chatting all morning. I'm sure you'll really enjoy your group when you get back from your long stay in France. Safe travelling and enjoy your return to Caunes.
DeleteAs far as blogs are concerned, I do actually miss reading what everyone is doing when I' busy elsewhere, so it's been good to catch up gradually since our arrival. There isn't the slightest possibility we won't enjoy our time here and we're both feeling pretty well, thanks. :-)
Glad you're having an enjoyable time in Scotland with the change of scene and good fellowship with knit and natter etc. I've been in the same situation of renewed social activities, small home projects, sorting out the photos from our time away and reading up info for future posts etc. so I understand completely that regular blogging sometimes takes a back seat at these times of transition. Have a lovely time in beautiful Scotland and we'll enjoy hearing from you when you're able to post.
ReplyDeleteWe're really enjoying ourselves, thanks, Linda, and it's so good to be back here in this incredibly beautiful and remote corner of Scotland. It takes us a bit longer to recover from the travelling than it used to, but we find it very much worth all the effort we make to get here. You're doing a great job at blogging about your recent stay in Italy and I'm really enjoying your posts on the subject. I'll be doing the same once life quietens down a bit. :-)
DeleteSo pleased you had a safe journey and that you are now completely integrated into village life [when not practising your music!] Love the photos, enjoy your stay and please don't start climbing curtains like Simon's cat:)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Shirley. The journey is long and was very tiring as we did it all in one day. But we survived and are now recovered and very much enjoying ourselves. The music practice has become an important part of my day, though I'm still very much a beginner. As yet my mistakes haven't had me climbing the curtains. :-) More photos to follow, especially when we get some sunshine.
DeleteI am always amazed at the people who create Simon's Cat their minds must be exploding with cat ideas. It is strange, because I do actual feel a growing affection for that cat.
ReplyDeleteCarry on relaxing Perpetua, enjoy your Knit and Natter - the post can simmer away on the burner until you are ready.
Happy sojourns in Scotland.
As far as I know Simon Tofield still has the ideas and draws the stills, Rosemary, though he has a team of animators. I was given one of his cartoon books last year and it's full of very funny short cartoon strips or single pictures, some of which have been developed into videos. I think it's easy to feel fond of his cat as it's so very real and well-observed.
DeleteI'll be knitting and nattering again tomorrow morning, but the post is simmering nicely and should be ready before long. :-)
Thanks for letting us know you arrived safe and sound in Scotland. I can't wait to hear about your adventures while you are there. Hopefully you will take lots of pictures to satisfy all of us (well, okay, me) who long to go back there for a visit.
ReplyDeleteI should have done it sooner, Kristie, but the week just ran away with me. I hope you're not expecting anything too exciting from our stay in Scotland. If the weather's good, we'll get out and about, but neither of us is fit enough for real hill-walking any more, I'm sorry to say. Still, the mountains and lochs do look wonderful from lower altitude, so I'll do my best. If you click on Scotland in the labels section at the top of my sidebar, you'll get plenty of pictures to be going on with. ;-)
DeleteDear Perpetua, Simon's cat, in this episode, so reminds me of Matthew, with whom I live. Sometimes, he seems almost feral in his response to other people and other cats--for the past two months he's terrorized Ellie, with whom he's lived now for four years. Ellie hisses and growls and moans and Matthew attacks. I'm at my wit's end about what to do to bring about peace between them again.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you're settling in up there in Scotland as I can remember your postings from last year and they were so interesting--with new sights and new adventures. And I'm equally glad that you continue to pursue your music and that you visited my blog yesterday. I'm wondering how you found time to do that, but I'm grateful always for your wise words in comment. Peace.
Gosh, poor Dee! Having a crazy cat performing his antics on the screen is one thing, but to have this happening in real life is quite another. Have you thought of asking your vet about Matthew's behaviour if you're really worried?
DeleteWe're feeling very settled again now, thanks, and are looking forward to getting out more when the weather improves. It's rather windy and showery and cool at present, so not very conducive to outdoor activities, especially here on the coast. As we're here until the middle of may, there's plenty of time for better weather to arrive. As for the music. I can practise that whatever the weather and am so much enjoying it. :-)
Dear P. what you need is a Simon in your life to stand by when you race around like a mad cat. Why do you do it?
ReplyDeleteGo on, be honest, it’s fun, isn’t it?
Oh yes, it's fun, Friko. It's certainly much more entertaining than the enforced inactivity of the past winter. I have a Simon too - my DH who watches my social whirl with amused tolerance born of long experience. :-)
DeleteI'm glad you are on a social whirl. After the winter you had, you need it. Phew, Simon wore me out.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to see all your photos.
That's exactly how i feel, Sally. It's been a long, grey and very wet winter and it feels really good to be out and about now that spring is here. :-) I'm not quite as frenzied as Simon's Cat but I've been busy too.
DeletePhotos will definitely follow....
Don't worry, I have been struggling to fit in blogging too - real life takes precedence!
ReplyDeleteAnother perfect Simon's Cat episode. I love that 'mad half hour' that cats have, thundering about the house in the early evening with fur on end and eyes big as soup plates. Endearingly bonkers.
Especially in the school holidays, I imagine. :-)
DeleteI think this is a super video and reminds me so clearly about the way our cats would sometimes suddenly go mad. You describe it so well and it always seemed to apply to our older cats as well as any kittens. :-)
I can recognise and sympathise with the social whirl problem!
ReplyDeleteIt's a bit like that for us every time we go to France, which is why we like to stay for longer periods, just to give us chance to get a break!.............but it's wonderful too.
I love the Simon's cat video. Our dog Lulu was exactly like that as a puppy. At a few months old she was just a bit bigger than a large cat and we would sit on the sofa while she had her crazy time and whirled around us in a total blur!
I'm glad we're not the only social whirl victims. :-) We find it's true in France too, but not to the same extent as up here, as our friends are much more widely spread in Normandy. We're just back from having spent most of the day with a friend and will be out all day tomorrow, this time on a shopping expedition, the nearest town of any size being 40 miles away along a mainly single-track road.
DeleteI can just imagine Lulu doing her mad dance, as we used to watch my sister's Westie behave exactly like that as a youngster. He's a staid old gentleman now, but still manages to chase his tail on occasion. :-)
Brilliant! We call that 'the wall of death' when the whippets do it! I now measure time as BW (before whippets) when I had quite a smart looking home, and AW, in which I live in a glorified kennel and am lucky to get a seat on the (scratched) leather sofa ;)
ReplyDeleteAnd don't worry, all your posts are worth waiting for, and life is to be lived x
I love the thought of an animal wall of death, Annie. :-) A perfect description for this dizzyingly mad behaviour. As for the images conjured up by the new calendar eras chez knitsofacto. I'm chortling here :D
DeleteLive is indubitably being lived to the full up here and posts will eventually follow....
Hee Hee - I loved the video of "Simon's Cat" - oh to have the energy of a crazy cat sometimes!!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely, Sian, and the physical flexibility would be good too. :-) Does Madam Button ever have her mad moments nowadays or is she too much the mature lady?
Delete