Manly Monday With The Boys

Tom: #1 and I have ben having a bit of a discussion and we don't seem to be able to agree on this, so we decided to ask your opinion. I think that having a muddy nose is an extremely manly thing, like so:

#1 says I look a mess. What do YOU say?

The next topic we definitely agree on. It is most manly to guard the car whilst the chauffeur is off running errands:

It is also most manly to stand motionless behind the winter grass, waiting for the tennis ball to be thrown!

and last but not least, it is manliest of all to exchange a quick cuddle with one's tiny sister Hime-Chan, who was back for a few hours yesterday to meet her new Forever Family.

Yuu-Chan: Today, I have something quite overwhelmingly manly to show you... my TOES! You may laugh at the thought of his but behold:

Those are the toes of an extreme climber!

... Who knows also how to lie in the sun and be an extreme charmer

Bibi-Chan: I am apparently a Mancat-in-Training since I am only three months old. But I think that the essence of being a true mancat is to make everybody want to hug you, and Im already an old pro at that! What do you think?

and don't whiskers count too?!

Sniffles on Sunday

Bibi-Chan here. You have no idea how keen I am to go beyond the door and settle into the main part of the house, but I still have the sniffles. In fact, #1 says I am pretty congested and I need to take my meds and keep quiet until I'm better. But my mummy, Tama-Chan, has decided that she has had enough of kit-raising and so she isn't doing much in the nursing category. Very fortunately, I have #1 who sleeps with me and lets me snuggle with her all night, whispering nice things into my ear. And there's my very big brother, Tommy. He is always ready to give me a lick, and he lets me play with his tail! So I guess I'm a pretty lucky boy.

And even though she is not snuggling much with me anymore, my mummy is always ready to play!

Have a nice Sunday, everyone!

SEI WHATurday?!

Sei-Chan: I AM CONFUSED!!! #1 intimated last week that there would be all kinds of excitement this week. I thought that maybe, my sister Tama-Chan would come back and you know what? She did and then she was gone, and we see her from time to time, and then she is gone again! What is going on?

We were out in the run together:

I looked closely. It really was her!

I tried talking to Yuu-Chan about it as we watched the birds, but you know him, Mr. Easy-Going...

I thought about it all really hard!

And I STILL can't figure any of it out!!!

So I decided there is only one option left:

A Note from #1: The three kits went off as scheduled yesterday. Bibi-Chan still has a bit of the sniffles so I have decided to keep him apart from Sei-Chan and Yuu-Chan for a few more days, until he is all better. Tommy and I slept in the back room last night with Tama and Bibi, so that they wouldn't feel too lonely!

Fond Farewell Friday

#1 here. I am taking over the blog today because this is the day we wish a fond farewell to Fuku-Chan, Hime-Chan and GoGo-Chan as they leave their mummy and the world of the back room, and start their new lives. These past three months have been a truly extraordinary experience, from the drama of the Caesarian delivery and Tama's initial (and thankfully very short-lived) lack of interest, to their thriving on mother's milk, growing, opening their eyes, climbing out of the box and becoming playful, affectionate and naughty. The last few days have been a little stressful, with everyone having sniffles but I think we have turned the corner. Even Fuku-Chan is playing more and eating everything in sight!

Way Back When...

Hime-Chan is going to friends of Uncle U's and Fuku-Chan and GoGo-Chan will be at Uncle U's for now, so there will be regular news and photos, and I hope to visit the boys next week.

In the spirit of what I have shared with the kittens, I would like to post today a series of photos with them, most of which taken last weekend by Gabriel, Tora-Chan's big brother:

With Bibi and GoGo:

With GoGo:

With Fuku:

With Tama and GoGo:

With Hime and GoGo:

With Bibi and Hime

Wth GoGo

... And with the lot!

Fare Thee Well, Fuku, Hime and Gogo. May you be "Chans" forever! And a warm and enthusiastic welcome to The Poupounette to Bibi!

Bibi-Chan Thursday!

Bibi-Chan: I know I'm still only very little but I wanted to tell you that us kittens are THREE MONTHS OLD today! So, I asked #1 if I could have the blog today, on behalf of my brothers and sister, as a kind of celebration.

Of course, the less fun bit is that we should start with a health report. We were very touched by everyone's concern. I am better, and Hime and GoGo only have trouble-making in mind, but Fuku-Chan remains very congested. The vet has just switched him to a different antibiotic which should work better to clear his nasal passages. #1 is making sure he eats well and is properly hydrated, and she has been sticking him in the carrier (which he loves) for 10-15 minute periods, with a special spray of essential oils, and a towel over the carrier. We would be grateful for a few purrs to help him get all better very quickly.

Before I got the sniffles, #1 let me explore the outside world for a little bit. I was happy to see Tommy, and I met again the big red guy who had come into our room a couple of times. He looks so cool and I have a feeling I am going to be good buddies with him. He gave me a good licking in the nicest possible way:

and he even played with me!

There was another ladycat who sniffed me up a bit. I really like the look of her too!

Here is a nice picture of me with my sister, Hime-Chan. She is leaving tomorrow, but she will be back for a bit on Sunday as her new family are coming here to collect her. That way, they will get to meet our Mummy too!

and here I am playing with GoGo-Chan:

I know I am going to miss them, and Fuku-Chan, but I am looking forward to moving into the main part of the house and discovering the cat run. My mummy has been telling me how wonderful it is! And I will still be able to do one of my very favourite things:

#1 here. The Salon de l'Agriculture yesterday was a lot of fun, and very crowded! I spent most of the day with the Percheron horses and my only regret is that I didn't even get to the pavilions with the cattle, sheep and pigs. I have posted some photos of the horses here, if you are interested.

Tama-Chan Tuesday

Tama-Chan: Well, the news is a little mixed this morning. The kits have the sniffles which we are not very happy about. Fuku and BiBi are sneezing like crazy, GoGo less so, and for now, Hime not at all. But everyone is on meds and eye drops and we are keeping all paws crossed that it all blows over in a day or two.

As for me, the quality of my life has definitely diversified and therefore improved. For the last few days, #1 has been letting me out into the house and the run (when the weather is sunny) with the others for a while each day, so we can start getting reacquainted. So far, it has been going really well. Here are some shots from the run:

Here are a couple of pics that #1 took from outside, with funny reflections. They're good choices for "Toes on Tuesday" I think. The first one is of me and Bibi-Chan:

and the next one is of Hime-Chan:

#1 enjoyed another kitten nap yesterday afternoon. Here she is with Fuku-Chan and Bibi-Chan:

and again, with Hime-Chan in the background:

And finally, GoGo-Chan was in the mood for a photo session this morning, so here he is:

Tomorrow, #1 is leaving very early in the morning to spend the day at the Salon de l'Agriculture, the biggest agricultural fair in France. It is actually held in Paris and is one of the most popular events of the year. Needless to say there will be Percheron horses there, and that is the main reason for the visit, plus of course great food from all over France! Anyway, all this to say we will probably not to be either posting or visiting tomorrow. Tommy is off to spend the day with Pie, and Uncle U will come over and take care of us.

Manly Monday

Tom: As #1 prepared to help us with this post, she brought up Max's post for today, in which his mum writes about the autumn of his life, as actual autumn looms in South Africa. It made us think about how precious each shared moment is, and how lucky that, for now, we are heading into spring. All of us eventually face autumn and the losses of winter, and perhaps the fact that our hearts resonate with hers will bring a little comfort to Max's mum and the rest of his family.

We have felt the violence of nature closely these past couple of days. There was a huge storm blowing through France. People were killed and there was much damage to houses and nature. We were fortunate and would like to thank those who expressed concern. We also feel fortunate that #1's brother and his family, who live in Chile, came though the earthquake unscathed.

And so to today's post and its mega-dose of manliness! Actually, #1 says that's it should have been Muddy Monday as I look such a mess when I come home these days from my walks. But at least there was no wind and the Frisbee came out!

I'm ready!

READY!!!!!

Gotcha!

With just the occasional interlude to check out other stuff...

It's all part of being manly!

Oh, I almost forgot.... We were invited to dinner on Friday and the inevitable happened. I was chilling (Ha!) infront of the fire

and was assaulted by eager fans!

Yuu-Chan: Personally, I don't need props and stuff... I just need ME!

except when I'm demonstrating my manliness in a wild game of tail chasing...

Psssssssssssssssssst......... It's Bibi-Chan here. Can I join in on Manly Monday? Pleeeaaaaase?

Don't I look manly, standing at the window?

Tora-Chan here! I am hacking into this blog to show you what true manliness is all about! Does anyone else catch prey this big?

or look quite so happy?!