Our pet cat Puschka has gone to Pet Heaven.

No photo's today. Yesterday was one of those days when it starts off with everything going smoothly but doesn't end that way. I couldn't do anything wrong at cards and won both in the morning and in the afternoon. It was a lovely day, not too hot, a nice spring day. That all changed when I got home. The GD was working in the garden, the dog came to greet me and tell me it was his meal time but then I went looking for Puschka our 16 year old cat who hasn't been real well. I found him in one of his favourite areas and he looked like he was sunning himself but sorrowfully he was dead. When I went to touch his fur was sort of tacky - strange I thought with tears in my eyes. I went down to the garden to tell the other half that what we expected could happen, had come to pass. After he'd taken him down to the vege garden to prepare his last resting place I went back to the place I had found him. I heard a whimper nearby and discovered that the neighbours Fox Terrier dog was cowering in a corner and his mate from next door had his nose under the fence where the Foxie had dug his way into our yard. I think he knew he had done something terribly wrong. It became pretty obvious what had happened to poor puss. He would not have had the strength to defend himself. I went back down the garden to have another look at Puschka and yes there was blood on the other side of him and the tacky fur was because he'd been in the dogs mouth. Puschka was old and not too much time left for him anyway but he didn't deserve to die like that. Well I've got that off my chest but there's still a few tears left. He had been part of our family for a long time. The GD informed the neighbour but apart from her saying she was sorry her other half hasn't shown his face with the same commiserations. I don't know why some people have pets when they are never home through the day and sometimes late at night. The pets get up to mischief and they don't get the attention they deserve. We wont be replacing Puschka - we are getting old and it's too heartbreaking when a pet goes to pet heaven. Now it's just the GD Couch the dog and me. Today is another day.

Hi

Cool Dude (The GD) in Papeete

I think I have just about caught up on all the mundane things around the place. I've managed to edit about half of the photographs taken on our long voyage. I've trimmed most of the overgrown plants in the garden - them that didn't die on me. This afternoon I started to tackle the bouganvillia. This has to be done in stages to avoid nasty injuries from the thorns. So far so good.

I don't think I mentioned that the cat was just skin and bone and flea ridden when we got home so after a week we took him to the vet because he also wasn't eating. Well, they couldn't find anything wrong with him other than he's quite old and any further tests for things like bone cancer would be too invasive for him and we wouldn't be following on any treatment if he had it. He's not in any pain or miscomfort. The fleas are no longer a problem and he's still not eating much and fussier than ever about what he eats, when he does eat, so we think he's just a senile old cat and will live out the rest of his life in his garden as he sees fit. That all resulted in a pretty hefty vet bill. The dog didn't take long to fit back into our daily routine - looking for too many treats.

We received a little much need rain today but nothing like the rest of the area has had in the past couple of days.

After all my Contract bridge lessons on the ship I came back to find that my community centre played Auction Bridge. I think with a little practice I'll to able to adjust to the difference. I found Contract Bridge a little more challenging and interesting though.

Off to play cards again tomorrow, thursday - 500 and then Hand & Food Canasta.

I don't know when I'll get back to painting but I have a few ideas up my sleeve for when I do. I think I'll give pastles a go as I have seen some really great works using brilliant colours, which always appeal to me.

See you soon with a couple more shots from the cruise.