Arts & threads

Yesterday we ticked off our latest opera experience, The Cunning Little Vixen by Leoš Janáček. Wasn't quite sure what to expect; I didn't know the venue, Solstice Arts Centre in An Uaimh, nor the composer. It was thoroughly enjoyable, partly philosophical, partly hilarious, as it's not every day one can see opera singers performing in fox costumes.

I was wearing a new beanie that I'd finished knitting last weekend. In my head it's supposed to be a hat with cat ears, but because of the colour and depending on the way I style it, the ears can resemble fox ears or even devil horns ;) Love it.

I chose this yarn colour to match my husband's beautiful present, woollen fingerless mittens I got in December. Unfortunately, over two weeks ago, on a lovely Friday afternoon, I lost one of the gloves matching the beanie, and now I still wear the one that's left, refusing to accept my loss. It was the same day when we went with my Fred to watch Hamnet (the film is absolutely fantastic!). 

Discussions, books, knitting, and films – that's how I spend my time outside of work. Also, I've discovered something completely new, which I hope to enjoy very much:

In the background, Clanbrassil street on Valentine's day:) The book's still waiting in a queue.

Take two

The story goes like that: on Friday I got a call from ***, the woman on the line asked if we’re still interested in a black-and-white kitten. It was fairly clear that the little tuxedo one we'd hoped to adopt on Sunday was already gone, but there were still two kittens left from a litter of three we saw a week ago; she mentioned one of them was a shy little girl. 

After checking in with Fred, I rang them back around half an hour later. No one picked up the phone, so I left a message saying we’re ready to take both kittens, because, clearly, we’re not right in the heads.

 

The next day, once I’d finished work, we shot over to see who was still there and what’s going on. Reality check: there were two black-and-white kittens, but both turned out to be males; in addition, whoever I’d spoken to before had been mistaken – one of the kittens was already booked (again!), and his new family were due later that day. 

Well, we didn't waste time: we’re taking the smaller, quieter fella, since no one wanted him yet (his brother was much darker). But! Just as things were settling in my mind, I spotted another pair of eyes. Tucked away in a cage was this tiny calico kitten, sitting there like she was trying to disappear. She hissed and spat when we came near her, terrified out of her wits.

We had to talk it through again, and to be honest, it was one of the fastest discussions in my life: we came here for two cats, and we’re leaving with two cats. That was that.

Paid €50 for each one, got their health info (both microchipped, both had their first jab), Fred whipped out the carrier, and just like that – off we went. No hanging about.

Now, the kitchen has to stay shut all the time, we’re squeezing in the hall, trying to walk around a drying rack, and we're very happy and proud when we see a poop in the litter box. Healthy, I say, what a smart boy, what a lovely girl. Surely, we've lost our minds.

They are here, our little ones

Grand in small ways

Not everything goes the way I’d love it to go. This morning, I helped my husband deal with Social Welfare. Seems that because of my promotion, we’re too wealthy now by some standard, and Fred’s having issues with his DA.

I’m coming to terms with the fact that the little one, the kitten booked by someone else on Sunday, is gone for good. I also reckon the one I asked about yesterday – an eight-month-old – has been taken too. The people on the other end of social media are acting like I never messaged them. Ah well. Feck them.

We're trying to shake off some anxiety. Yesterday, instead of heading straight home after my work, we went to Dún Dealgan, first for lunch in Lisdoo (nice, not many people around at that hour, just perfect), then we visited our friends, the Condrads, and had a chat while sipping teas and basking in the sun in their back garden. This evening we strolled down to the beach and back.

Our neighbour, Old Anne, is back from wherever she’d been – most likely hospital or a rehab centre, I don’t quite remember. Good. We’d been thinking of her and had started to suspect she might not be coming back at all.

A week in shifts

Last week one of the groups I was tutoring finished up, Thursday was their last day. I wasn't expecting any presents, but they surprised me with a few gifts (sweets, flowers and a mug with a fitting inscription that I’m going to use in the office). It was a great group, lovely young people from all walks of life. Hope the future opens wide for them.

The weather didn’t spoil us, Fred felt a bit unwell and it lingered through the weekend. On Saturday, I was wrecked; not sure if it was connected to Fred’s flu rubbing off on me, but I had aches in my joints and could barely keep my eyes open. Still, we had two bigger things on our minds.

First, we'd been looking into adopting a pet from one of the local shelters. We found a perfect kitten on Saturday, a black-and-white tuxedo, brave and full of chat, but we wanted to talk it over. When we went back to the shelter on Sunday, ready to book her, we found out someone had beaten us to it. In a few weeks, the little one will be off to another home. I was gutted. We’re still on the list as a backup, in case the other person changes their mind, but I’m not holding out much hope.

Second, we wanted to take part in an event on Sunday afternoon. Went out to Inchicore, to Biblary, the Polish centre and library in Dublin, for an author event. It was part of the 5th O’Czytani Literary Festival. I also took the chance to buy five books and borrow two more. We were still a bit down about the kitten, but the afternoon turned out to be a real lift for both of us. We had lunch in Loaf, walked over to IMMA, then came back to the library for a brilliant talk with Mariusz Szczygiel, the well-known Polish journalist and writer.

Today we made another attempt to book a kitten, this time from a different place, and a young male, black and white, more of a bicolour type than tuxedo. He seems to get on well with dogs, which could be important, as we still dream of having a small, funny dog around the place. Fingers crossed.