Tinsel, Glitter and Baubles - the Excellent Cats prepare to knock Everything off your Christmas Tree

[TheShellBeach]

As we approach the festive season, they're already finessing their plans and recalling last year's successes............

Oh I love Kitty-In-A-Bag!

Vixen and Kitty appear to have similar tastes. Vix lived in her last brown paper bag for at least a week, leaving it only to use the litter tray or eat.

I've been a bit of a mean human today. Matilda was very disappointed that I wouldn't let her eat the present wrapping ribbon and I've disposed of all the boxes before she had the chance to chew them (it's like owning a giant hamster). I also hid the bin bag with the Christmas wrapping paper in the wardrobe after Boris got his head stuck in one of the handles while investigating. It's probably just as well they're house cats I hate to think what they'd get up to unsupervised.

Happy Christmas everyone, cats and humans! Hope everyone who's ill is feeling better soon and everyone has a good time.

Christmas starts at 6 pm here so we're all ready with the ham in the oven. Kettle's had his normal dinner, popped out for a post prandial stroll and immediately started mithering to be fed again 🙄.

He might get a little ham supper later! 😉

Thanks @Esgaroth! Hope Kettle enjoys his ham supper.

The cat tree has arrived so that’s going to keep me busy once I feel well enough to build it.

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and Peace to all excellent cats and their minions around the world!

Learnt about this folktale today from an Icelandic friend!
The Yule Cat, or Jólakötturinn, is a giant, vicious cat from Icelandic Christmas folklore that eats people who don't receive new clothes before Christmas Eve.

More here if you're interested!
https://www.historyextra.com/period/general-history/yule-cat-iceland-christmas-jolakotturinn/

The Yule Cat, or Jólakötturinn is a giant, vicious cat from Icelandic Christmas folklore

AKA Gizmo is it? 🤣🤣🤣🤣

Well... I didn't want to cast 'nasturtiums' 😂

Ah, that explanation makes sense now! I had read that Yule Cat eats people who weren't dressed well enough and I thought it was a bit odd, but reading about the community effort and receiving new clothes is much more sensible. Although I am in danger either way - I am not wearing new clothes and, in a fake oodie and tracksuit bottoms, I don't think I would comply with the requirements of sartorial elegance!

Gizmo responds to the Yule Cat accusation.

I’m wearing a hoodie & pyjama bottoms but Kitty doesn’t seem too bothered!

That’s really interesting, @CatsonPollock.

Talking of eating... did your butcher make it through in the end? @TheBroonOneAndTheWhiteOne

Yes, the poor sod. He started off by getting a boat to Arran, then he made several deliveries on the island, then got a boat off Arran, and started his deliveries in Argyll.

He reached us at 5pm and had another 15 deliveries still to make.

And then he had to drive all the way back to Paisley.

Only another 100 miles. Well, 98.

But we got our turkey, not to mention a large steak pie. Yay!

The unfortunate butcher would normally do Arran on one day, then Argyll the next.
But the weather was against him. No boats on the 22nd.

And we complain about the tube being cancelled! (Ex Northerner, now wimpy southerner 😂)

DH and I were thinking of alternative turkey emperoria, in case the butcher didn't make it.

I mean the Co-Op sells turkeys, so we would have got one...... but the Paisley butcher is really first class.

I was thinking about how irritated I was this morning when I had to do 2 separate online orders to get the stuff I wanted biked to my door within an hour.

God, I’m spoilt.

Yum ham!

I gave him just a small amount because it's salty, but mixed it with some of his freeze dried prawns and he seemed happy with it!

Then again he's not fussy and is usually delighted to be eating anything at all. 😄

Or he's licking his lips planning to eat us - but I think we all got something new to wear so better luck next year Jólakisi!

Yes. I was born and brought up in London, so I know how crap it is when there isn't a train to Harringay from Highbury & Islington. I met DH in London, too.

🤣🤣

But my esteemed husband was born in Argyll and we always planned to retire here. So we did.

And it's so lovely that two of my DC live here now, too.

That’s great, Broon. And I bet the cats love it.

Linney was brought up in Glasgow.
He was rehomed to us via Cats Protection in 2020, after his owner died. His sister, Emerald, came with him.

Emerald died last year and some months later, Mr. G joined the family.

Someone remind me how that came about..........

🤣

Oh Lord.

Does this make me and DH Maw and Paw Broon?

Is Jólakisi his actual name @Esgaroth ?

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring.... I discovered tonight that Vixen likes mince pies, or the pastry at least, as she took a nibble from mine when I stupidly left it unattended.

Ha!

So have you renamed the broon one to 'Oor Wullie' yet?
Like Linney - my first cat was a rufty tufty Glasgow street cat. I always reckoned he miaowed with a Glasgow accent. 😁