Goodbye My Sweet Shibella

My beautiful Shibella was helped over the Rainbow Bridge today after suffering a stroke and kidney disease. The stroke came on suddenly and she lost the use of her legs and other problems.
Shibella was 14 years and 6 months old and we were together for 3 years.
Love and miss you forever Shibella. My life will not be the same without you.

Shibella's 14th Birthday

 Happy Birthday to me. You can see I am almost a new cat! I have been to the Vet. (again) and had most of my fur shaved off because I refuse to be groomed. I had my teeth cleaned as well. While I was there I scratched the Vet's hand and made it bleed so that was a bit of good news..

 Every night after dinner SHE insists we have a walk around the Estate together. That should take about 5 seconds max. but she makes it last about half an hour. The only good bit is rubbing my head on this spiky plant.

 So first I go this way.

 Then I go this way.

 Now I am ant watching.

Now looking longingly up the stairs and wondering if SHE will notice if I escape and hide. It is my birthday so I might get away with it. No, I didn't get any gifts. I don't like gifts or surprises.

Shibella is Afraid

 That's right, I am so afraid I spend most days now on the bed or under the bed. I dare not set a single paw outside or that awful noise starts up. Read on and find out why!!!!!

 These birds look harmless enough here but I know they are plotting against me. Note the guards in three of the corners. This is a very secret meeting.

 And screech loud they do.

There's the evidence. They are plotting against me to screech louder than ever

This is only the first wave of those wretched cockatoos. There are a few hundred more coming behind them squeaking and screeching. I hope you now understand why I cannot leave my bed. SHE will have to bring in food and water. I am a prisoner.

Thanks to Ashley at Aussiebirder for allowing me to use her very funny but true pictures.

Coronation and Jubilee Souvenirs and a Warning from Shibella

 I wish someone had warned ME about the type of house I was being adopted into. It's a Museum I tell you People. I dread days like today when SHE comes back happily from the Post Office with parcel tucked under one arm and starts rearranging everything to display the latest purchase. I would run away but I don't like to be too far from my dinner dish as I am now on the 3 meals a day diet with dry food left out for midnight snacks.

 But look at this amazing swimwear Shibella, made for the Queen's 1977 Silver Jubilee. It's a Speedo design made under licence in Britain. Speedo is an Australian label but this one was made for the UK market. It is a child's size but I managed to squeeze it onto this model for display

 Matching swim trunks for the young man at the beach. I've teamed it with a Charles and Diana Wedding beach hat and Royal Visit 1954 Tee Shirt. The swimwear looks like it has never been worn. There seems to be no end to the very unusual souvenirs waiting for me to find them.

 Another pretty hand embroidered Coronation 1953 sampler I managed to find space for.

 A length of fabric from the Coronation of Edward VIII 1937. The souvenirs were already made when he abdicated. Top left hand corner is a small bag made from the fabric that I already had in my collection.

 A porridge plate also for Edward VIII. I try to only have fabric or embroidery in my collection now but some items turn up that I can't resist

 A Coronation Duchess set, I have lots of coronation doilies but this is the first duchess set. It came beautifully starched and I want to know the sellers starching secret.

Now for something completely different. The young man playing the piano is a concert pianist from Romania. He is the son-in-law of a member of our Senior's club. He played our old piano which has not been tuned for years with no music and stunned us all into silence. His talent is amazing and just to watch his hands fly over the keyboard was a treat for us all.

Shibella's Thirteenth Birthday

 Yes it's true today I am thirteen years old. I am looking a bit startled here because SHE remembered my birthday. Last year SHE forgot to remember.

 My eyes are still my best feature and I think I look very good for my age.

 Looking a bit tired here because I am ready for my afternoon sleep.

 We both like the same side of the bed so SHE sleeps this side at night and I sleep here in the day. A bit like Box and Cox. (Google them if you don't know the story) We might rent out the other side of the bed as it is never used.

 This is a handy hint for those very hot days we are having. Sleep under the bed! I find it a little bit cooler down here and am trying to get HER to join me. No luck so far.

I know the postman has been I will look at my card when I've finished eating. I bet It's from that blue budgerigar I met once and never managed to get close to. What a cheek!!

Shibella and More Royal Souvenirs

 I heard a knock at the door so I'm outside looking through the glass door till I know who it is. SHE knows I don't like anyone coming to the house-hope SHE doesn't offer them a cup of tea. Or worse-a glass of wine, then they'll never go home.

 You can come in now Shibella, they've gone and I want to write about my Royal stuff.
My Buckingham Palace cut-thru is finished and framed. I'm very pleased with the result even though I worked it in 14ct Aida not 16ct which came with the kit. The kit by Bothy Threads came with a generous supply of threads. Lots of back stitch but a separate chart made this a bit easier to work.

 A expertly stitched Gobelin tapestry of Princess Diana, Very tiny stitches like petit point or tiny tent stitches and the back is as good as the front. I bought this from Bulgaria and the parcel only took 2 weeks to arrive.

 A close up of the stitches.

 My favourite model Big Ted is showing a child's coronation party dress, the pocket shows a crown with Elizabeth R 1953 embroidered. The card in Ted's pocket reads The "Glenthorne" Party Frock size 22"to 24" suggested age 3-6 years. The frock came in original packaging and had never been worn, the price on the card is 19/6 or nineteen shillings and sixpence. Ted has teamed the party frock with a Charles and Diana sun hat from THE wedding in 1981. Thank you Big Ted for being such a great model and for being a BIG Ted.

 Is there no end to the souvenirs out there that I must have in my collection and on my walls?? This is a large wall hanging or rug from the Coronation of George VI and Elizabeth. I have placed it above the front door where there was still a bit of space.

 Some fabric bought from America just printed so not original. The fabric took 5 weeks to travel from America but my parcel from Bulgaria arrived in 2. Now I think I love Bulgaria.

 A friend had a big birthday last week and I made her this card as she loves Toucans and I found a chart on google.

As she is an Elvis fan and also shares his birthday this is her cake. Supplied by her daughter-not made by me.

Shibella and Queen Victoria

 Look at this people Fake Grass! I am walking on fake grass! I am at the back of the house where the washing line is and this area was full of huge weeds so what did SHE do? No SHE didn't pull the weeds up SHE threw fake grass over the weeds. Clever or disgusting and horrible? I can't decide.

 Good for sharpening claws so it is a bit useful.

 Oh no! I think the daisies are dead.

 And SHE never puts the hose away. Lucky SHE has me to point out HER many faults.

 Enough Shibella, I need to show the new additions to my collection. This is a length of cotton fabric from Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. The piece I have is about 2m x 40cm wide and is very fragile, I didn't dare wash it in case it fell apart. I am using it as a curtain end and well away from the sun.

 This memorial for Queen Victoria is painted on velvet and the hanging ribbons state Born 1819
Died 1901.

 My Queen Vic. cross stitch is finished and framed.

 I think it looks good in a matching frame with the Queen and corgi.

Love this cartoon. And the winner is? Well I think we all know now.

Shibella Charles and Diana

 Me first before Shibella takes over. Still getting used to my new computer and finding my photos. Latest addition to my collection is this tea cosy and two egg cosies from THE wedding and they came from an eBay seller in Australia. I was the only bidder. Has everyone else forgotten this great event in 1981. I love these cosies.

This is me Shibella and I am guarding my box. I overheard HER saying SHE was tired of the box always on the floor and looking untidy and was going to throw it out. The box stays... I've even caught HER heading toward the box doily in one hand and one of those Royal bears in the other.
I repeat-the box stays and any doilys or bears placed on top will be torn to shreads and tossed out in the rain. The Box Stays.

Shibella Writes Another Post

 SHE had a birthday this week and can you believe the gift SHE got!! HER children paid a plumber to put a tap in the courtyard because SHE is too lazy to drag the hose around from the front or back of the house and plants were begging for water.

 Trudge, Trudge. I was ready for a sleep but was made to inspect the hose and just watered plants.

 Now I am expected to stop and smell the roses. Roses???

 There must be a way out of here, if I look hard enough I will find it. Too bad I'm not one of those cats who can leap tall fences in a single bound.

 Wish SHE would do more knitting so I could have a sleep. SHE has plenty of Queen patterns to keep HER busy.

A posy of sweet peas from daughter's garden and a perfect card. That girl will go far in HER good books. I gave HER nothing as SHE has me so what else could SHE possibly want??