2024 The Smile for Today

[Serinde]

These are so cute (especially for slugs). Have made me forget my “troubles”.

[Mabel Figworthy]

Old English, I'm looking at you....

[Serinde]

Can't do without those mead halls!

[Mabel Figworthy]

I don't know if you need a FB account to watch this, I hope not, because it's a treat - two cats on a frozen pool. If you haven't got time to watch the whole thing, do go to 2 min 35 or thereabouts for a positively balletic cat (play) fight!

[richardandtracy]

Oh dear. Silly creatures. Really amusing though.

Reminds me of a couple of stories my parents told me. They had been posted to Kuala Lumpur in 1960 and had army quarters. They also had a dog, and agreed to look after a cat for a pilot from the flight who was visiting the UK for a few weeks. On the first day they put the cat in the living room on the right, and the dog in the dining room on the left (looking at the doors from the hall). The doorways were right next to each other. The dog came out and turned right. The cat came out and turned left, so they came out of the doors nose to nose.
Both turned tail and ran away as hard as they could. On slippery parquet flooring, and got absolutely nowhere. Apparently both tails were touching and both animals were running at full speed, getting nowhere, for about 5 seconds before they both simultaneously got a grip and took off.

A few months later they got a lightning strike on an empty plot on the patch of houses, 30 yards away, in a tropical thunderstorm. There was a huge sizzle-BANG as the lightning hit. The dog had been asleep on its mat, and awoke running. The mat shot out from under the dog, and the dog ran full speed on the spot as its mat slid across the room, hitting the wall behind.

Regards,

Richard.
(corrected the direction the cat turned)

[fccs]

I can picture what you describe. When I see Jackson (my cat) or one of my grand dogs try to get traction on a tile or wood floor, it reminds me of watching cartoon characters trying to escape.

[Serinde]

@Mabel: so funny. The tell-tale shake of the head, which says "I meant to do that, and you'll never persuade me otherwise."

Yes, the cartoon getaway. Only missing the bongos. Known to ruin sanded and waxed floors.

[Mabel Figworthy]

Be careful when you try and rescue a baby hedgehog....

[Steam.Jo]

They dropped it off a few days early

Jo

[richardandtracy]

The look I often get from my cats when I get dressed:

https://cheezburger.com/9899249664/just-sayin

And..


Regards,

Richard

[Mabel Figworthy]

Ha, both very recognisable

[Steam.Jo]

Only the British could go to the expense of excavating 1.5 meters down a hole ( possibly a "pot hole") to rescue a hedgehog that had fallen down it: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-68734314

One rescued George the hedgehog:



After a few days of TLC he was let returned to the wild. The rest of us would also like the pot holes filled in so we too don't fall down them

Jo

[Mabel Figworthy]

Hurrah for Curious George!

[Serinde]

Huzzah indeed for the rescue of George and the British penchant for this sort of thing.

[richardandtracy]

Not having an external perspective from coming into the UK with fresh eyes, I ask 'Is this actually a peculiarly British thing?'.

If it is, it's hard to credit, but I do wonder because the UK does seem more bothered by cruelty to 'dumb' animals than 'horrible' children. The RSPCA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals - 1823) came long before the NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children - 1883) . And the Children's Society hasn't gained enough Royal approval to put 'Royal' in its name, either. It's odd.

Regards,

Richard.

[Serinde]

Yes, the British take it to a different level, presumably because it's easier to care about dumb animals because they are "dumb" (unless you want to eat them, of course, but sometimes even then because, after all, self-interest is a thing). I also have a theory about this. It always made sense to look after your farm animals who either worked with you or were raised to provide food and cash. But historically the people living on this island had two means of letting their emotions out -- and this was exacerbated in the last 200+ years of stiff upper lips and empire. One was alcohol; although even in the Middle Ages, the English (in particular, but Scots weren't far behind) were famed for their ability to pack it away and the violence that ensued (in their cups, the Scots just got maudlin rather than murderous). The other was their lavishing of love on their animals and pets which clearly found no other outlet in a society which valued other things and found outward displays of emotion towards their fellows unmanly or, even worse, ill-disciplined.

And you are not the first to notice the difference between RSPCA and the NSPCC; in Scotland, neither the SSPCA or the NSPCC are "royal" and I always wondered why. To add injury to insult, the RSPCA campaigns and raises donations in Scotland, but NONE of the money is spent north of the border. Grrr. In the US, there are practically as many animal protection groups as there are counties (lots), but last I knew, no national organisation existed.

[Mabel Figworthy]

A friend shared this memory from early on in the first Covid lockdown:

[richardandtracy]

That's brilliant.

I rather like this one: https://cheezburger.com/9903826432/nice-and-warm

Regards,

Richard

[richardandtracy]

There are some days when this feels so true...

https://www.reddit.com/r/technicallythe ... /#lightbox

Regards,

Richard

[Mabel Figworthy]

followed by groan...