I was talking to Ivan the Russian Blue yesterday Sir Winston, and he informed me that the humans are still struggling with their vaccination programs. Their virus thingummy seems to have them all under control, the poor dears.

     Well, Suzy the Siamese told me that she had heard in her native part of the woods, a place they call Asia, I believe, that they had things under control as regards their virus. I think their Chinese people invented a vaccine to help the poor humans.

      Ivan said that his native people had also invented a vaccine which they have named ‘Sputnik V`.

I am not sure what a ‘Sputnik’ is but I’m sure Ivan knows what he’s talking about.

      I was under the impression that a ‘Sputnik` was some kind of satellite. It must have been difficult creating such a thing to put into the bodies of humans.

     I don’t know what a Sputnik is either, Sir Winston. Human beings do have fancy names for their things, don`t they.

      Perhaps you should ask Ivan if he knows what a Sputnik is. After all, initially, he does come from that part of the world.

      Can you remember Karen, the British Shorthair cat, Sir Winston?

     Oh yes, I know her. What is she up to these days?  She`s a great laugh.

      I met her as I was creeping around the back of the  next-door neighbours shed a couple of nights ago. After a general chit chat, we also got onto the subject of Covid19.

      Well, you can’t go about your daily routine these days without hearing something about Corona. I think the humans have banished all other illnesses and we only have one illness left these days.

      You’re right there Sir W. Anyway, Karen told me that in her country, the UK and Sweden had invented Astra Zeneca to help the poor humans. What’s an Astra? What’s a Zeneca?

      How about asking Marius the Norwegian Forest cat who lives two streets away?  He’s not from Sweden but Norway I believe, is near enough. Perhaps he knows.

      I don’t see him very often because he`s always in the forest. I’m afraid of the forest. It’s too spooky for my liking.

      I had heard on the grapevine that Astra deviates from the  Latin word ‘Astrum` , which means star, and that Zeneca means ‘one from the stars’.  I think they called it that because their Corona, as the name suggests, is shaped like a star or crown. I could be wrong though. You know how vague things are on the grapevine.

      It’s amazing that the humans can see the Coronavirus thingy. I thought we cats had good eyesight but the humans must see much more clearly than we cats. By the way, I would much prefer a bowl of milk to a grapevine, Sir Winston.

      Bob, the American Shorthair and Persian Afra said that there was also a vaccine called Moderna on the market. It seems to be working quite well. I met them both last week as I was playing with the leaves in the school garden over the road. They also mentioned  substances called BioNthech-Pfizer and Johnson& Johnson.

      Those two are very knowledgeable. They are always very well informed.

I must say, the humans seem to be getting their act together. Personally, I would be thankful when I am not inundated with Corona news every day. It’s serious stuff, but life still has to go on as normal as possible – at least for pussycats.  🙂

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      Sir Winston, have you also noticed that human beings sometimes appear to lack the art of looking after themselves properly.

We cats are always grooming and washing but some humans obviously appear to think it not so important, at least from what I´ve seen from my observations from the top of the boulders overlooking the school.

      I believe humans do like to get stroked and that they want to care for themselves properly but for some reason, possibly the “time” thingy, washing and caring for ones general appearance doesn´t seem to be high on some human agendas.

       Well, I haven´t seen many pussycats looking straggly and in poor shape. Obviously, wild cats are different but then again, they have to look wild don´t they?

I think it´s a bit of a shame because the human race likes to class itself as being at the top of the evolutionary ladder.  It´s a good job that “sights and appearances” are not part of the concept of classifying oneself as being at the top of the evolutionary ladder.  The human race human wouldn´t stand much of a chance of winning such an award as “Top of the Evolutionary Ladder” if such a contest was based solely on appearance, would they?

      I suppose one shouldn´t judge. Everyone must go through life as they see fit. After all, we cats are not perfect either are we?

      You´re right Sir W. We cats have many faults.

I suppose I noticed so many ragged-looking people simply because as a pussy cat, I like to look at beautiful things. I was a bit shocked, that was all.

Of course, everybody should do what they want and wear what they want.

       In my opinion, grooming not only stops at presenting oneself properly. For me, it also means that I have polite manners and am aware of how I interact with others in my immediate surroundings.

       Quite true Sir Winston. Manners and respect also appear to be traits of yesteryear.

Perhaps manners and respect among humans were also not so high on the agenda in times past but judging from the escapades of today,  values certainly appear to have done a dive.

I mentioned in a previous blog the importance of positive role-models. Orientation seems to be directed towards lower levels of habitation these days. A shame really, especially because it can be so easy to stand-out and be an individual if one applies basic etiquette and humanistic values to one’s life. I try to be a positive role model for other cats myself and although it´s often difficult, through perseverance, I know I can better my character.

       We cats have a lot of time on our paws for “perseverance” Mr Midnight. Humans are so time consumed by their electronic gadgetry. Perseverance requires effort. That´s why it´s easier for us than for humans.

Still, I often see people looking nice when they pass my vantage point, so not all is lost, is it?

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      My, my. What an interesting week we had not so long ago.  The humans had their Easter thingamabob again. Apparently, it is the most important date in their Christian calendar.

      Put the poor humans couldn’t celebrate as normal because of their virus thingy still going around. Still, at least for us pussycats, the virus thingummy and Easter mean we house cats get stroked a little bit more often.

      It’s easy to work out why Easter is so important for the Christian humans – it’s because it’s the end and the beginning of a lifetime.

      I don’t think Christian humans see it quite like that Mr Midnight.

That Jesus chappie managed to get himself killed on Good Friday and then on Sunday, he got up out of bed and was resurrected. A great guy don’t you think?

      A shame he had to get himself killed first though, Sir Winston. Still, nothing’s changed very much since those days. One cannot compare people with that Jesus bloke because he was spiritual, but people who generally, have a lot of good stuff to say on a major scale in society usually, become removed because they are seen as being a danger to those in power. It appears to sadly, be the way of human existence. Thank god we cats have nothing to do with such happenings.

And what’s that thing about Good Friday Sir Winston?  Forgive me if it doesn’t appeal to my sense of humour, but calling a day “Good Friday” for the death of an inspirational, spiritual leader doesn’t quite fit in with my common sense.

      I’ve read in one of daddy’s books that the term “Good Friday” comes from the obsolete sense “pious, holy” of the word “good“. It sounds a bit wired but there must be some truth in it. It’s sometimes difficult for a cat to understand human logic.

      Well, I think Easter is a fantastic thing.

One dies and then one is reborn. That’s total animal logic.  🙂

      Oh no, Mr Midnight, the good Christian people believe otherwise. One is born and then, one dies, usually going off to a place of fluffy clouds, harp strings and happiness in the blue sky, or if having been a bad human, one is sent to a very hot, dangerous place forever.

      I’ve heard all about those places and have mentioned once before that if such beliefs are true, then there doesn’t appear to be much hope for the human race does there? It looks like it’s going to get quite full in that hot, dangerous place of eternal suffering.

As all animals in the animal kingdom are aware, such places of eternal bliss or suffering are not a part of our conception.

At some stage, we all die, and then we come back again to further master our soul’s skills. For an animal, it’s common sense really.

      Well, everybody may believe what they wish Mr Midnight. There is nothing wrong with that but as for myself, I think I’ll carry on believing the way we animals believe. After all, nobody really knows, do they?

      It’s common sense, Sir Winston. You know, the sixth sense.

      I was aware Mr Midnight but as an Al Murray once stated, “Common sense is not good enough as it used to be, nor is it common enough”.  🙂

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