• Guest, the forum is undergoing some upgrades and so the usual themes will be unavailable for a few days. In the meantime, you can use the forum like normal. We'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

"What have you eaten" Parallel Chat

Been struggling with scanning images and this is one I thought you might enjoy. It's our two cats from long ago. We couldn't get others when they died because we found that Neil was, and is, allergic to cats.

The tabby is Jimmy - he was a big, strong, farm cat and a great hunter of rodents, but a gentle creature.
The ginger is Coco - so called because of his antics as a kitten. Not quite as gentle as Jimmy but a lovely cat. Jimmy taught him to hunt as well.
 
Sinterklaas time again in the Netherlands!
Surprises (pronounced 'surpreesuhs', it's a specific kind of surprise which involves a creative way of wrapping a present) and poems are what I'm busy with at the moment!

I found myself in a hurry for the one that has to be delivered to a friend by mail, and I finished it in time to post tomorrow!

First, essential information on her in relation to my present:
She developed an ugly type of gastroparesis a couple of years ago (not diabetes related), and can only eat a few bites a day, apart from that she's tube fed. This takes its toll on her energy levels and her strength.
Some two months ago we had a phonecall where she needed to vent about not being able to open pots anymore, extra hurtful because she always felt good about being a strong woman. Losing this part of herself causes the occasional grief.
Her husband's name is Tom, and she has two boys, the oldes now starting to get stronger than she is, I think.

At Sinterklaas, presents are supposed to be wrapped in a special surprising or funny way, and they come with poems. Obviously all written by Sinterklaas and his Piets.

Some two months ago she called me to vent about not being able to open pots, and about frustration with losing strength, independence and capability in general.
This week I was in a thrift store and found a pot opener for 85 cent, the perfect gift to go with a nice poem and surprise!

So I took the pot opener thing and turned it into an image of herself (only recognisable by her rucksack with the pump for tube feeding through a button in her belly to be honest).
I gave her one very strong arm for pot opening too!

View attachment 64477
View attachment 64478
View attachment 64480

And then there was the poem, of which I'm rather proud.
I'll try too translate, which will lose the rhyme, and I'll also have to asterisk some words thet are definitely not allowed on the forum.
You can substitute them yourself, they're bad enough to guarantee all the children present when opening (lots of nephews and nieces) bursting out in an unstoppable laughing fit from hearing their aunt read them.

Heb je soms last van zwabberbenen?
Lijken je spierballen wel verdwenen?
Kun je geen lange einden lopen?
Krijg je die **** ***** **** **** pot niet open?
Vind je hulp vragen aan je mannen stom?
Wil je sterker zijn dan Tom?
Wil je van de pot gerukt?

Ik denk dat dat je toch wel lukt!

Do your legs sometimes feel like jelly?
Do your biceps seem lost?
Do you have trouble walking far?
Are you unable to open that **** ***** **** **** pot?
Do you hate having to ask your men for help?
Do you want to be stronger than Tom?
Do you want to pull off the lid? (literal)/Are you completely out of your mind? (figuratively)

I think you can manage that!
 
Alistair tells me that poor old Hugo isn't settling as well as they hoped. He's fine with people and loves to be petted, but he hates it and seems to get very jealous when Banksie is petted. He growls and snarls at the younger (bigger) dog. Doesn't seem to bother Banksie but they are unsure whether he will, one day, bite whoever is petting Banksie. He probably should be in a home where he is the only dog. They are unsure what to do about him other than ask around to see if anyone would rehome him.
 
Some decs images. 2 yo grandson hid all the crib pieces in a dolls house at one stage. Big Santa in the red frame sings let it snow if people clap etc - took 2 yo 20 secs to work it out.
 

Attachments

  • decs3.jpg
    168.4 KB · Views: 110
  • decs1.jpg
    1.4 MB · Views: 123
  • decs2.jpg
    578 KB · Views: 113
ianpspurs said:
Some decs images. 2 yo grandson hid all the crib pieces in a dolls house at one stage. Big Santa in the red frame sings let it snow if people clap etc - took 2 yo 20 secs to work it out.
Click to expand...
Looks perfect to me!

Hope it didn't take you much longer than 20 secs to work out how to make Santa shut up again though. Those things are funny, but they have a habit of spontaneously starting their singing in the middle of the night...
Good luck!
 
ianpspurs said:
Some decs images. 2 yo grandson hid all the crib pieces in a dolls house at one stage. Big Santa in the red frame sings let it snow if people clap etc - took 2 yo 20 secs to work it out.
Click to expand...
The eldest grandson's nativity arrangement, when he was very young, was missing Joseph. Grandson decided this would not do as you can not have baby Jesus without Joseph. We decided against complicating matters with the Holy Ghost. Joseph was duly substituted with Jake the Pirate, who has since been called Joseph at Christmas time.
It was the same year he was Joseph in the nativity play at nursery, and he wouldn't let Mary anywhere near baby Jesus in the crib. He had decided she was an unfit mother!
 
Antje77 said:
Looks perfect to me!

Hope it didn't take you much longer than 20 secs to work out how to make Santa shut up again though. Those things are funny, but they have a habit of spontaneously starting their singing in the middle of the night...
Good luck!
Click to expand...
I've got one that sings, "If you're happy and you know it...." over and over, AND it claps hands at the appropriate points. I found out very quickly how to stop it!
 
Antje77 said:
Looks perfect to me!

Hope it didn't take you much longer than 20 secs to work out how to make Santa shut up again though. Those things are funny, but they have a habit of spontaneously starting their singing in the middle of the night...
Good luck!
Click to expand...
Needs batteries which are safe in a cupboard and the Little Guy isn't over 6 foot yet - dad and uncles all 6 foot 4 so he will be. He's not a climber either.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn More.…