Happy Birthday, Clarice

One winter's Saturday at the end of July 2003, my son, Angus and I drove to the pet palour in the city to collect my three dogs whom we'd left there earlier that morning. As I got out of the car, a beautiful cat jumped up onto the passenger seat and purringly rubbed herself against my arm. I picked her up and walked to the office to pay for my dogs' grooming. Still holding this gorgeous cat, I asked the palour owner, Albie, if it was her cat. She said no, she'd seen it around a few times, but it kept disappearing into the veld/grassland beyond her property. I then asked her if she had a travel cage which I could borrow. Before she could answer, Angus said: No Mom, we have five cats at home already." So I placed the cat on the floor of the office and began to write out a cheque for Albie's services. Meanwhile the cat had strolled over to Angus who'd sunk into an easy chair at the back of the office. She jumped onto his lap. A minute later I heard him say: "Albie, do you have a travel cage for me?"

As they say in the classics, "The rest is history". (Angus later named her Clarice and she is technically HIS cat, but has remained in my home.) We loaded the cat in the borrowed travel cage on the back seat of my vehicle and she meowed all the way home. To this day, when I take her to the vet, she meows all the way to the appointment. My vet's wife says she always knows when I'm coming around the corner with Clarice, that's how loud her meowing is. Strange that she jumped into a car that first day and now when she has to travel in one, she protests. My friends and family say she knew a good owner when she saw one; just didn't realise a periodic car ride came along with the good life!

Clarice is a really good cat. She is well-behaved and a real lady. I always say she has no claws. When I have to administer worm or other medication to the cats, I normally get clawed and scratched to ribbons. Not so with Clarice; she swallows her meds without a murmur and not a claw is raised.

Clarice is not afraid of any dog. When a new dog is introduced, she, unlike the other cats who resemble toilet brushes until they get used to the canine intruder, walks up to the dog and rubs herself against its legs. The dog immediately shows her respect and consequently she is never chased or harrassed by the dogs.

On the other hand, when I spot a bird corpse in the garden or in pool room, I know Madam Clarice has been hunting. Above is a photo of her lying in the rocks between two of my ponds. Just to the left of her is where the pigeons come to drink and then she pounces.

Darling, beautiful Clarice, we still wonder where you came from; did your previous owners move away and just leave you, as people are wont to do? Well,we're pleased that you chose to come and live with us. May we have many happy years together.

Happy seventh birthday, my beautiful kitty!

For other stories and photos of pets, click here.

Moonrise over the Niger River

Continuing with my West African posts in the various memes, I found these photos which I took while overnighting in Bamako, Mali. We were on our way out on break, which is the term mining expats use when going out on leave. Our hotel overlapped the Niger river; I took these photos from the verander where we were served meals and refreshments.

African tranquility at its best

The Niger is the third longest river in Africa, stretching over 2 500 miles /4 000 km in a great arc that extends northward. Originating in the Fouta Djallon highlands in Guinea, the Niger river flows through four West African countries; 1 100 mile/1 700km of the river flows through Mali.

It turns back toward the south and makes its way through Niger and Nigeria to empty into the Gulf of Guinea. Mali sits at the northern apex of the curve, where the river splits into a vast 12 500 miles/20 000km inland delta before reforming itself to return southward. The Niger is of vital importance in Mali, providing irrigation for agriculture and serving as a major transportation artery. For a country that is so arid the Niger literally brings life to some of Mali's interior, with fruit and vegetables cultivated all along its banks.

The freshwater fish the river provides, especially in the Niger inland delta, provides food and a source of income for thousands of Malians.

For visitors to the country, the Niger offers a magnificent and leisurely means of travel and touring. During the high water months (between August and November), large river boats ply the river, traversing more than half of the country over a period of six or seven days. Smaller and slower vessels also offer river passage, including pirogues, Mali's small traditional canoes, and pinasses, slightly larger and motorized boats.

The moon rises over the Niger river which flows through the Malian capital of Bamako. 400km / 250 miles up -river is the legendary, but very real city, Timbuktu

For more Scenic Sunday scenes click here

What's in a Grasshopper?

A few weeks ago while preparing my dogs' baskets, I found this grasshopper amongst the blankets. I carefully lifted him onto a piece of cardboard and carried him to my succulant garden. He was very suspicious of me and tried to creep out of sight as quickly as possible. I managed to fetch my camera and at least got a few shots of this gloriously coloured insect before it disappeared completely.

When I looked it up in my "Essential Illustrated Guide to Southern African Wildlife" by Readers Digest, I saw that it is called a Stink Locust (because, when threatened, it emits a vile-smelling yellow fluid ) or a Gaudy Grasshopper.

This guy only has short, non-functional wings so when in danger, it can do no better than just hop away. The bright colours, however, serve as a warning to predators. Apparently they're a pest for fruit trees and vegetables but I've never had a problem with them. I use no pesticides in my garden. All are welcome to visit or live in my garden.

When I returned to South Africa in 2006 and began to revamp my garden in earnest, my husband showed me a fellow similar to the one above crawling up one of the shrubs. He said: "You'd better kill it, or it will wreck your garden" (Ole drama king!) I said, no, just leave nature to itself but I could see he didn't believe me. A few hours later he called me and excitedly pointed to a thorn on the acacia tree. A locust had been caught and hung there by the Common Fiscal which is also known here as Jackie Hangman or the Butcher Bird. This neat black and white bird is part of the shrike family and hangs it's food on barbed wire fences or on thorn tree spikes until it's ready to eat it.

I looked at hubby and said: "Well dear, I rest my case..."