Adverts...

Larry D's trip down memory lane with his breakfast cereals got me thinking about advertising. For quite some time before I finally ditched the TV, I was of the opinion that many of the adverts were better than the actual programmes. I rarely get to see TV ads these days, though there are plenty of bus shelter and poster ones around. But I still appreciate good adverts.

The psychology of it is quite clear: humour sells products (we all like to laugh) and "clever" sells even more successfully (we like to think we're clever enough to "get it"). Hence the success of the Silk Cut ads, which used the brand's colours (purple and white) and images of word play once the British government put restrictions on cigarette advertising which meant manufacturers couldn't say anything about the product itself (apart from the health warning.)

I was fascinated to spot an advertising company's debrief after the ad campaign for Silk Cut Ultra Light - due to the success of the original campaign, most people missed the "Ultra" references.

Anyway, I digress... I spotted a few references on Facebook to the latest T-Mobile advert, and how good it was. So, when I was checking out YouTube and I spotted the advert, I thought I'd have a little look.

It's great fun. I just want to know why nothing like this ever happens when I'm travelling... Definitely one of those feel-good video moments...

The Breakfast For Heroes Heretics...?

This contribution (at the end of some innocent childhood memories) from Larry D over at Acts of the Apostasy made me snort with laughter and scare Furretti...

Happy Feast Day...

Today is the Feast of St. Jude... and also of St. Simon, though he doesn't get much of a look-in. St. Jude was the first saint I really "got to know," and, although I have since made a point of acquiring as many patron saints as possible, he's one of my favourites.

You can read about how I was convinced of the efficacy of praying to the saints by checking out this post...

Sad News...

I got a phonecall from the vet this morning. Sadly, Cardinal Catzinger died during the night.

The vet thinks he had a congenital problem which didn't manifest itself until the stress of changing environments... I suspect that means that the vet just hasn't got a clue why the cat died. I've been advised to keep a very close eye on Monsignor Furretti, although, as she seems to have settled down, the vet thought it was unlikely she had the same problem as her brother.

Furretti appears to be determined to make sure she's kept a close eye on... she's lying across my chest while I type. Unfortunately for her, she's grown a bit in the past week, and, despite my generous proportions, she now keeps slipping off, much to her disgust...

Thanks for the prayers.

Education In Kitten Behavior - Lesson 2

Kittens, unlike elderly cats of 17 years, are extremely inquisitive. The shopping bags, which were safe from adult cat investigation no matter how long they were left on the floor, will be examined intently by kittens.

NB. Kittens have a very acute sense of smell. Do not assume that, because frankfurters are vacuum-packed in plastic they cannot be detected by kittens. Within ten minutes you will find that the frankfurters have been chewed...

Education In Kitten Behavior - Lesson 1

No matter how carefully you trail the cat toy around the floor, the kitten will take the shortest path of interception. If that path happens to be over your bare feet, tough. The kitten will not try to avoid them.

NB. Kittens, when changing from rough, high friction carpet surfaces to smooth, low-friction skin surfaces while in pursuit of cat toys, will not fully retract claws. Said claws resemble hypodermic syringe needles.

Feline Friends...

I phoned the vet this morning, and was told that Cardinal Catzinger was not showing any signs of improvement. He'd been sick, and so he was now on anti-sickness medication. Also, he appeared to be anaemic, perhaps because of fleas, perhaps because of worms. I pointed out that both kittens should have been wormed and de-flead on their visit on Thursday, but no-one seemed to have any record of it.

I was then advised to bring Monsignor Furretti back in so that she could receive the same treatment.

So, in the afternoon, I went in with Furretti. There was a different vet on (it's a group practice) so this was the third vet I'd spoken to. He admitted that he was expecting the worst for Catzinger - he was lying still, showing no interest in food, the IV drip didn't seem to have had any effect, and neither had the antibiotics. I asked if I could see him. We left Furretti in her cat carrier in one room, and went to the holding room where Catzinger was lying. He looked very sorry for himself. I stroked him gently, and he opened his eyes, but that was it.

The I heard Furretti miaowing in the other room. Catzinger appeared to stir, and tried to miaow back. I asked the vet if maybe I should bring Furretti in to see her brother, but he was of the opinion that it wouldn't be a good idea, especially if the illness was due to something viral. I bit back the comment which came to my lips, namely that, if she hadn't caught it so far, she was unlikely to catch it now. Feeling very sad, I closed Catzinger's cage and returned to see Furretti.

She was given the treatments for fleas and worms (both in drop form, applied to the back of the neck) and placed back in her carrier. I continued to discuss possible ways forward for Catzinger with the vet. He was, I could tell, trying to prepare me for Catzinger dying.

In mid-sentence, I stopped. "I heard Catzinger miaow," I said. "No," replied the vet. "There's another cat in the waiting room."

"No, I'm certain it was Catzinger."

Then Furretti miaowed, and there was an answering miaow from the next room. We both dashed over to see Catzinger, sitting up in his cage, and miaowing back at his sister, who was miaowing up a storm from the other room.

I haven't ever seen anything like it.

The vet was still adamant that Furretti was best kept at home, as he didn't want Catzinger to be over-stimulated, although he confessed himself encouraged by his response. I have to phone back again later to see how he's getting on. Furretti cried all the way home... though, in retrospect, it may be because she doesn't think much of my driving...

Prayers would be appreciated...

Caution! Competent Organist Might Be Required For Papal Mass...!

Oh dear, oh dear... I did wonder how on earth the Papal Visit organisers managed to avoid using something like the "New Israeli Mass Setting" or the "Mass of Creation" for the setting of the Papal Masses at Bellahouston Park and Cofton Park. It seems that, for once, the Bishops had a bright idea, and the news got out before the "liturgists" (sorry, should that be "performers" according to the helpful sheet given to the media?) managed to squash it.

I find it incredible that an objection to MacMillan's new Mass setting was that a competent organist would be required to play the accompaniment... I mean, I know organists are rare, certainly there are fewer good organists than guitar-strummers, but, well, for the Papal Mass, you think finding a competent organist wouldn't be too difficult... there might be one or two in the whole of Scotland who'd be willing to turn up...

A liturgical committee... That explains why they had those repeating bits - despite James MacMillan having told us at the Faith Summer Session that he hated verse-response stuff.

Worried...

My two cats have got very different personalities. Monsignor Furretti is into everything, and purrs at the slightest provocation. She is very demanding, and follows me everywhere. Cardinal Catzinger appeared quieter than his sister - and I assumed that, behaviour in the shop notwithstanding, Furretti was the dominant cat. I did my best to hold Furretti off while feeding cat treats to Catzinger, just to make sure that things were "fair."

By Monday afternoon, I was worried. Catzinger just seemed to get quieter and quieter. I encouraged Catzinger to sleep on my shoulder while keeping Furretti curled on my lap, but it was becoming obvious that Catzinger just wasn't very well, and that it was more than simple personality differences and difficulties in settling down.

During the night, Catzinger seemed unable to settle. He tried to be sick a few times, but didn't bring anything up other than a little fluid. I made a "den" for him, a nice, dark cave for him to hide in away from his more boisterous sister, and he crawled in... though, by morning, he was curled up at the foot of the bed. However, he wasn't comfortably curled up... he just looked all wrong.

He didn't miaow, and, more worryingly, he didn't purr. He wasn't interested in food.

Wondering if I was panicking unduly (I am not used to kittens - as I missed out on Sylvester's kittenhood, I have nothing to which I can refer back) I phoned the vet which had microchipped and innoculated him on Thursday morning. The only appointment available was at 10am. Mentally working out where the speed cameras were, I promised to be there. I thought it might be better to keep the cats together, so both Catzinger and Furretti went into the cat carrier.

The vet wasn't sure what was wrong with Catzinger, but agreed that he was a very sick-looking kitty. "I've never seen a kitten so quiet!" he remarked. Furretti was also examined, and declared to be in good health, though (as I suspected) very underweight. The vet was willing to take both cats in (to keep them together), but I thought that she might prove a little too wearing for Catzinger if they were both cooped up in one cage, especially since Catzinger would probably need to be put on a drip...

I wondered if I'd made the right decision, though, as Furretti cried all the way home. Part of me didn't want Furretti to feel she'd been abandoned again (I figured that Catzinger was too ill to notice) and a selfish part of me didn't want to be without any cats... but, now that we're home again, I think I made the right decision. Monsignor Furretti is currently balanced on my chest, fast asleep, while I type.

Catzinger is still at the vet's - I rang to check on his progress - and no-one is quite sure what is wrong with him. The vet will phone again later. I shall keep you all informed...

My Daddy Taught Me Good...

My father died when I was 15. I was his little girl, and there were a few things he thought I should know. One of them was how to defend myself - and, to this day, I remember his demonstration...

"If attacked from behind," he told me solemnly, "stomp on the man's foot, hard, so you break his instep, then move your elbow sharply back into his solar plexus... also, don't punch a man on the chin. You're a girl, and that sort of knock-out needs a lot of force. Hit him on the nose with the heel of your hand, sharply upwards, to break the bones and drive them into the skull... oh, and stick your fingers into his eye sockets. Right in..."

I haven't ever had to make use of the advice, fortunately. But I was reminded of it by this little snippet from Creative Minority Report - a news report of a robbery attempt which got turned into a musical masterpiece...





My daddy also taught me what to do if I was in a hostage situation and the SAS made a rescue attempt.* I have no idea why he felt that was necessary fatherly advice, and so far I haven't had to use that either...


* Just in case you are interested - "Get down on the floor when the stun grenades go off, keep your hands open out in the clear, and don't move until you're told to!"

Watching The Keys Of The Kingdom...

This lunchtime we were privileged to see a screening of Keys of the Kingdom, produced by Christian Holden. We had a screening of a previous DVD in the parish, Arise Once More, about the history of Catholicism in Britain. The new film concentrates on the Papacy, answering some common objections to its existence.

It was an excellent film, marred only by some beautiful weather - the Small Hall doesn't have blackout screens! However, the images used were beautiful, and the music for the soundtrack was especially stirring. I put up the trailer before, but it's brilliant, so you can see it again!



I particularly enjoyed a comment from one of the contributors, Stephen Ray - he commented on the Catholic Church having the fullness of Truth - "Trust me," he said, "I've tried the others..."!

Chatting to Christian Holden afterwards, I found out that there is a new film on the cards - albeit only in the planning stages at the moment - this time on Our Lady. Christian said that it was one he's been planning for a long time, but, of course, now it's on the blogosphere, it's official!

St. Anthony Communications has lots of DVDs, CDs and books, on the teachings of the Church, but also one or two other titles - I see that Master & Commander has made it onto their catalogue - so, with Christmas approaching, you might want to explore their site in search of stocking-fillers!