:: agentX does cat-sitting ::

do you remember my neighbour's cleverest cats - the ones that pee/poop using the toilet?

i am honoured to be given the keys to their apartment to help them to 'cat-sit' while they are away on a holiday in the UK.

i do not know which one is more gracious - to be trusted with a house key (heck, i have only met them once for tea!) while they are away....or to be given a chance to play and look after their cats (knowing that i have a cat, sumoki, myself).

nevertheless, it was a wonderful evening routine (prior to dinner) that i will pay them a visit ...feed them, flush the toilets, play with them, and cuddle and pet them.

so when a story of how a cat was killed and dismembered back home, it really disturbed me and made me all emotional.

in this instance - i am touched by the human kindness (my neighbour's - for their trust in allowing me with their house keys) and the warmth and joy that only pets can share. nothing can beat the feeling of having to pet and play with these lovely creatures...

love all,
x

:: missing my pussy ::

i miss sumoki...it has been 2 years since i have left him back home in singapore.

no more having him lying on my right shoulder everytime i sleep, and him being near me when i am doing my work in the study or watching dvds.

despite my quarterly trip home, he has been keeping rather distant from me, especially when he knew that i am packing to leave him again. he would not even 'send me' away at the door like he always does. but i know that my mom takes better care of him, and i think he will deliberately show his affection towards her - in front of me. like my last trip, i sent him to the vet for his annual medical check-up, bath up, stock up his toilet and food supplies...but he didn't give me much in return, because he also knew that i will leave again.

sigh, i hate to thing the time when i have to make the decision to stay and live in the netherlands, or to return home. sumoki will definitely be a strong consideration to determine my decision...

there is a 'dutch-subsitute' for him, but he belongs to my neighbour. he would always appear from nowhere when i open the main door, and will hang around in my apartment, just to see if there are anything interesting - just to leave soon after. he is definitely more 'people-cat' than sumoki, but i know that he is just not sumoki, and he will never be.



i have been thinking about this after reading this article from oprah - about the death of her dear golden retriever, gracie. you may want to read it - so that you can really understand the relevance of this post.


x

:: neighbours - there and here ::

i have lived in singapore almost all my life, and all of my fond memories of neighbours happened when i was a kid - not as a house-owner. the relationships with my neighbours are cordial - simple "hellos" and "hi" when our path crossed, then closed the door and never talk again (thank you very much!)

the experience in the netherlands, have been so different for me, so far.

in less than a year of living here (at a real apartment, not at various hotels!) i have 2 summer bbq invitations (which unfortunately, i had to decline due to business trips elsewhere) , helping to keep my mail packages while i'm not home, paying for my window-cleaning services first and basically, being neighbourly.

and the latest invite that i had came literally by shouting across the balcony!
an english and taiwanese couple invited me over for tea (when it actual fact it involved kebab and snacks and lots of drinks).

the invite was spontaneous and casual - i was at my balcony, watering the flowers - they were at theirs , basically soaking the sun, and two days later, we met.

it is nice to meet new people in the strange land, and despite all, we do have lots of things in common... in this case, our love for cats, and not able to speak dutch well enough!

they have beautiful siamese (watch their youtube video below to see how really toilet-train cats are) and notice how close and adorable they are together.





and how i miss my cat, but it will be soon, when i will be home again (well, for a short trip AND the great singapore sale).

x