A review of 2011:
I started the year off slipping back into depression. After finishing Tocal at the end of 2010 I get home from my month in South Australia with the lovely Jane and family at Moseley Park to discover that some scumbag stole my precious cat; Iris. Iris was involved in some sort of accident when she was 17 months old and had to have her rear left leg amputated about an inch from the hip but that didn't stop her getting around and hunting. I put a 'Missing' ad in the local freebie paper in early December but that was a dead end. I also went for a few jobs at the end of 2010 and beginning of 2o11, but it seemed like all the bosses were jerks or just never bothered to get back to me so I kept hoping that something would come along but meanwhile was trying to live off about $225/week.
However good things did happen. Late January I welcomed a beautiful pair of male kittens into my life; Castiel and Gabriel. My stepsister's cat had a litter of four kittens and after hearing about Iris' disappearance she said that one of the kittens was mine if I wanted it... at 4 weeks old I went up for a visit and my mother decided that the little grey kitten who didn't have a home to go to as yet would be coming home with me so my little tabby boy would have a playmate and wouldn't get lonely when I wasn't home.
I was invited to the annual NSW/Qld Graduate Woolclasser of the Year Competition down at the Sydney Royal in April, I went down nervous as hell, forgot a few things but although I did my best I didn't get a placing... however just getting there was achievement enough and apparently I did get the highest score in one of the non classing sections. I came home feeling a bit down that I was unable to do better and felt like I had let Stu; my long suffering Wool Classing teacher down but I'm sure he was proud of me none the less.
Mid June I applied for a job at the local Woolworths Supermarket, I made it through the first group interview stage and got called back for a second interview; they were mostly looking for juniors for the position but would I be willing to do night fill. I said yes and got a job. I started with the usual induction days before starting out on the floor... six months on I'm still there and although suffering a foot injury of some unknown cause I'm doing my best and so far haven't got told off from the bosses.
In early September I took in a rescue kitty; the couple had only had him a few weeks but he was causing their older, original cat to stress and throw up so they had to rehome him. I thought that he was only a young cat looking at his photos but as I soon found out he was at least 10 years old. He got renamed "Sir Puss" and settled in, despite the odd spit and hiss from the boys. I was also able to get in contact with the vet who did some work on him.. in Brisbane! She had estimated his age to be 12 although he could be a lot older than that. Sir Puss didn't seem to care.
October a miracle in my life happened. While out at dog washing one of the regular customers asked if I was still missing my 3 legged cat which I had obviously told her about previously. A friend in her Buddhist group had a 3 legged cat hanging around her place and had been for roughly the past 3 to 4 months. I passed on my information and got a call from the lady; Robin, after hearing the description of Iris she was pretty sure it was her. I went out to her place on the Sunday afternoon but there was no sign of her, but I'd come back. Monday morning I got a call, Robin had just seen the cat come up for some food and called out "Iris" to which the cat stopped and looked around, she recognised her name.
I went out quite early on Wednesday morning and sat in Robin's kitchen until I saw movement outside, I grinned when I saw a familiar figure hopping over to the food dish, I let myself outside with a container of milk and when she saw me she started to turn to run away... I didn't want her to disappear so I said "Iris" softly, recognising my voice she hopped over and let me pat her. I pulled a huge shellback/paralysis tick from behind her ear and gave her more pats, gingerly I picked her up and she let me cuddle her. Holding her against my chest I showed Robin who was so happy... knowing if she got away I'd never get her back I tried to force her into the carrier, she tried to get away but I managed to pull her back by the tail and after sinking her teeth into my finger and scratching Robin and I got Iris into the carrier and put her into the car to let her calm down a bit... we chatted for about 10 minutes before I drove back into town. I dropped in to see mum at work who went out to say hello, it was also just after 8:30 meaning the vets was open. I had been down on the Monday to let them know Iris had been found and when I got her I'd bring her in... so when I showed up on Wednesday the vet nurses were surprised. Iris got in to see Kim who was the vet who did her amputation surgery many years ago... after telling him what had happened over the past year he was not only shocked but surprised, she was in good condition and although scared didn't show any 'feral' signs. After getting some blood drawn for a FIV test I took her home and put her in the shower, she hissed and growled at the small of the other cats and to my surprise went straight to the litter tray. About an hour after I got her home I brought her into my bedroom where I was going to curl up for a quick nap, Iris curled up and purred her head off. She was more than happy to be home and definitely not feral.
It's been months since she got home and although she still hisses and growls at the boys she seems to be getting use to them and is even letting them into my bedroom where she spends almost all of her time.
Those are the highlights and lowlights of the past year and a bit. In 2012 I'm hoping to add to my menagre of animals with an angora rabbit, I've discovered a breeder down in Port Macquarie and am on the waiting list for a kit, whenever that will be. I'm now looking at how to build my own indoor rabbit hutch and what kind of things I need as I've never owned a rabbit before.
I'm also in a bit of a spinning rut at the moment but hoping that things will change this year.
