Under the bridge

At about midday today the inevitable happened.

Above is a picture of where he is buried, right next to where Rex the staffy X was buried nearly 3 years ago. Daddy thought it was appropriate because Tommy and Rex were best friends. They grew up together, shared many adventures and whenever Tommy needed help, Rex would protect him. If it was cold they would snuggle up to keep each other warm.
I know all this first hand because for my first 6 months on the farm Rex was still alive. I remember seeing Daddy giving him 2 needles every night to help with his liver cancer (to much grog in my opinion) and saw him die in Daddys arms. Much like Tommy today. Aunty Gianna was there too, she came all the way from the city.
And like Tommy, Rex had deteriorated to a pretty thin state over the last few months. In a way I hope I go in the same way. I don't want to disappear one day from everyone because I was hit by a car, or killed by a snake or eagle! I hope I get a dignified death like Tommy and Rex.

There's not much of a garden anymore because of the drought over the last few years. Nonna hopes to be able to make it all pretty again with roses and maybe even a fountain around the grave.

Rip Tommy- born 23rd October 1994, died 05th June 2007
and Rex too- born 10th July 1994, died 22nd July 2004

Axel. Brrrr....

Tommy update

Well he is still with us. Only just though. He still hasn't eaten anything, its been a week now. At best he has a few licks of milk.

He has been in good spirits though. He is enjoying the fireplace a lot, staying inside every night (he was never house trained, preferring to go jungle style like his ancestors did) And, as the pics below show, enjoying some sunlight through the big glass doors!! Its been sunny here over the last few days. Nice, because its been raining lots lately- I don't like it but the farm peoples love it.

As we speak he is outside on the grass. Daddy will bring him now, its startng to get cold.

by for now

Brrrrr.....

Tommy- on his 9th life

Hello all. This wont be happy post I'm sorry. Below is pic of Tommy, the other farm cat her on farm. The 1st pic was taken last week. He is, literally, only a fraction of the man-cat that he used to be. He is over 13 years old now, daddy says he doesn't have much longer to go. He has lost alot of weight over the last couple of months, and hasn't eaten at all this week. At best he manages a bit of milk. He stays indoors all day and night.

As you can see, he's all skin and bones.

This pic was taken only about an hour ago, with Nonna.

He was never an affectionate cat. Since I've known him (when i moved here 3 1\2 years ago) I've only seen him get a quick cuddle from Nonno and Gianna- daddy's sister. But over the last couple weeks he has never been without physical contact. He has turned from a very shy and reclusive cat, to 'demanding' to be be on all the farm people's laps. Even aunty Kate, Pablo's house person, couldn't get more then a running glimpse of him on her visit here.

I would be jealous, but I must give credit where its due. Us cats are very smart, we know when death is approaching. Tommy has know for a while now, and has made an effort to make peace with everyone. With the farm people, and me. We never got along very well. Except when we teamed up to 'acquire' a snack from the kitchen- I would do the climbing, he would keep guard and meow out load if someone was coming. We would bash each other up all the time, usually over petty things though.

I have never experienced another cats dying last days. Please keep Tommy, mine, and daddy in your thoughts.

Axel. Brrrr....

Another Wedding! YAY

Well on the subject of weddings, daddy was a guest at Sturt White's marriage to Alisha yesterday!!

Alot of the tassie crew will know Stu from the earlier days before he went to college in Sydney. Stu moved to Melbourne for work nearly 2 years ago now after finishing his studies, and actually lived with daddy for his 1st year in Melbourne.

There were other tassie people there too- Ian Harvey, Jono Haynes and Rob Slarks (who is actually living here too now), amongst others. The boys enjoyed a relatively quite time together the night before. Something called a 'bucks nite"?? It was no big party, just dinner out and a few drinks, though apparently some waxing strips got involved later on...

It was a beautiful wedding on a beautiful day, and daddy wishes them all the best. Here's a few pics:

Da boys...

Farewell Stu and Elisha

7 Things about me!

Well I've been pressured so much, and yes I did say I would do this, so here goes:

note: pics will be added in a few days when daddy can get to a computer with broadband...

7 things about me:
~ I was born in Hobart,
~ I have a big adopted family,
~ I live on a cool little farm that I rule over,
~ I weigh just over 5kg. I know coz daddy weighed me last night. I thinks he's putting me on a diet now...
~ I eat once a day, but often snack on the chicken's food,
~ I am now over 5 people years old- I was born in January 2002, and
~ I roleplay alot. ie: I pretend that I'm a jungle-cat and stalk the farm-people!

7 things I like:
~ sunshine on my belly,
~ 'Cloe', she's a cutie-cat, with purrfect blue eyes,
~ the chickens, we get along pretty good,
~ the overgrown scrub along the creek,
~ 'supervising' the work on the farm,
~ rubs on my tummy, and
~ scratches on the back of my ears!

7 things I dont like:
~ most other cats,
~ including Tommy, he's the other farm-cat here. More on him another time,
~ dogs. Period.
~ dog food,
~ the goats, especially Billy. I will expand on this another time,
~ getting up early in winter, and
~ gettng locked out at night.

7 things I love:
~ rubs on the back of my hind legs,
~ peoples feet! I cant get enough of em! They're good for smelling, for playing and attacking, and for using as a stationary neck-rubbing post,
~ winter- it means more cuddle time daddy and other farm-peoples,
~ summer- it means more farm patrolling time,
~ the 3 geese, they protect me from snakes.
~ cuddles, and
~ everyperson!

7 things I hate:
~ the roaming eagles- I'm lower on the food tree,
~ winter- its so cold and wet outside,
~ summer- it means less cuddles from daddy,
~ magpies, coz they swoop me from behind in the spring,
~ snakes, a constant danger for me,
~ daddy's sister- coz shes got a look-a-like cat of me! Only I can truly be me! And
~ tail-pullers, enuf said...

My eyes

Someone mentioned to daddy that they've never seem my eyes from the pics on here so far?! Well here's a quickie to appease you all, my admiring faithful:

More to follow soon.

Brrrr...

wow, well once again I'm overcome with all the international attention I've gotten so far. I didn't know that this existed?! Its great to see us cats getting the exposure we deserve, if I was a person I'd probably think it was a little disturbing though...

Here's a few pic's to keep you all satisfied for now. And yes, pictures with kangaroo's are coming soon!

on patrol

early wake ups are common on the farm, yes even in winter

...and pose'

Ciao for now, Brrrr

Whats to come?!

Well, thankyou everyone for the overwealming response already! Im trully humbled, and thats quite a feat for a cat, especially me.

Think of this short post as a teaser, a preview if you like. In the coming weeks and months I'd like to share with you all so much of what life on the farm has been like, but also tell of all my experiences in Hobart. Both the house people, house visitors, and my adventures! Heres a few I'd like to tell:
the story of how Daddy and Kate rescued me,
antics in my first house, watching the logging trucks go past everyday,
my second house, the 'beach' house in snobby Battery Point,
as requested, my attempted escape from Melbourne airport!!
I want tell about all my favorite house people and daddys family,
I will tell of adventures on the farm, both old and new,
tell you all about the farm animals I keep in line! (they're a cheeky bunch)
explain the finer points of grape growing and wine making, that I supervise,
and lots lots more.

First thing though, I must get daddy to find some pictures to post- you all need to see how cute I am.

Brrrrr...

About me

Brrrr, hello. I'm Axel, though I am known by many other names. My favorite is 'Piccolini', which is what daddy calls me.
I was born and grew up in Hobart Tasmania, but now live on a small farm north of Melbourne Victoria with my daddy's parents. This blog is about that farm, and life on it. I know that a lot of people miss me and love me, so I thought I'd start a blog!
I'm also hoping to find a kitty-wife, preferably from overseas. Apparently thats the trend these days?!

I'm now over 5 years old! Yes thats right, it seemed only yesterday that daddy and Kate (Pablo's house person) adopted me from the Hobart rspca.

I guess I'll aim to post about once a week. I'm very busy at the farm, I have to keep an eye on all the animals, make sure animals from other farms don't come though the fences, keep the birds out of the vineyard, supervise the wine production, and also keep the chairs warm for when Nonno and Nonna come home.
Woo, I'm tired now, time to get some rest.

Brrrr...