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Kay Stratton's avatar

Awwww that poem! 😭 Isn’t it beautiful how our pets find their way into our lives - I often think about it, and believe there were “reasons”. That Tupi was there for you through all of that, especially during lockdown, makes such an incredible bond. And how he & Dotta have since bonded is so heartwarming. I would love another cat, but sadly K is allergic. Hugs to your family from mine - I just know Maeve would be excited to meet them - them, not so much. She’s… a lot 😬

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Jayne Marshall's avatar

It really is beautiful and it certainly feels like they know what they are doing and we just go along for the ride. Having Tupi in lockdown was a life saver and we really did get closer as silly as it may sound (know it won’t sound silly to you!).

I’m imagining the Maeve/Tupi/Dotta situation 😂 Reckon Tupi would just directly leg it and Dotta would go for a nose swipe!

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Kay Stratton's avatar

It really did make all of us closer to whoever we were locked down with - I was lucky to have Skye for part of that year, along with Ralph, so being stuck in the house was lovely. A dream for me! lol. Maeve is an arsehole, so both reactions are valid!

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Jayne Marshall's avatar

Maeve is an arsehole 😂 I do enjoy letting my two know they are little shits from time to time. Like when they wake me up by standing on my head, just cus, you know, cats!

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Kay Stratton's avatar

My cat who ended up in Chicago used to bite my nose to wake me up. Wasn't a fan.

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Jayne Marshall's avatar

They are so nawty!

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Kay Stratton's avatar

But so cute 🥰

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Pam's avatar

Such an enjoyable read, it made my heart bubble with joy a little. The animals we choose to open our homes to play such an important part of the ecosystem of our wellbeing I think, and indeed they are companions in the uppy downyness of life -loving us irrespective of it all. I adore your poem, and the little picture says it all. 🥰 I am rather glad it wasn't a male cat who needed castrated, as I think that might be an altogether different look by your front door. 😇 A beautiful read, thank you.

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Jayne Marshall's avatar

😅😅😅 I'm not sure I would have hung it by the door in that case, perhaps I could waited and adopted another male cat and made myself a nice pair of earrings 😅😅😅

You are absolutely right about pets being an important part of our ecosystem of wellbeing. I often say to my two ‘What would I do without youse!’ Thank you for reading lovely Pam! ❤️

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Pam's avatar

A matching pair!! What a thought....🥰

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Andrea Eschen's avatar

What a lovely piece. I love the poem you wrote. Clearly, you've had talent from the very beginning.

I enjoyed this for many reasons but one is because pets, people, things come into our lives without rhyme or reason at the moment but later on the meaning comes clear. It seems that these two cats have brought a grander meaning to your presence and permanence in Madrid, not necessarily a piso. They make this your home and theirs.

I trust the cat wrangler is our socia, Vanessa? How many can there be?

Thanks for this lovely piece.

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Jayne Marshall's avatar

That's so true, about the meaning. It is true of so many things in life, and it’s beautiful 🥰

Vanessa: cst hustler is indeed our socia! She has many different talents 😅

Thank you, as always, for reading ❤️

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Harriet Mason's avatar

The poem Jayne…

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Jayne Marshall's avatar

I know…! 🫣 I still remember how sad I was though, guess that is the power of putting things into words. Even if they are terrible 😅

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Carys Shannon's avatar

Lovely! The cat distribution system clearly sent you Tupi and Dotta 😊 there's no way to resist it! Lucky them ❤️ Writing this whilst sat next to our sixteen year old floof, family is family whether they've got paws, feet or wings - or possibly other things!

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Jayne Marshall's avatar

Family come is many shapes and sizes, and without or without fur - absolutely! I’m so in love with your ginger floofy grandad! I’ve always had a soft spot for long-haired ginger cats, maybe cus my first two were ginger, or maybe cus I’m one myself. Ginger that is, not a cat (ojalá!)

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Sabrina Simpson's avatar

What a sweet poem you wrote for your beloved kitty! I like that your thinking bubble is in black & white outline to distinguish it from the colorised real life. Very sophisticated! Pedro would be impressed with your visual storytelling :)

It's so lovely to share space with furry friends who entertain in so many ways. Also, you can talk out loud when you are by yourself and it is OK because you are actually talking to them and not just talking to the air. Thanks for this lovely story.

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Jayne Marshall's avatar

Hahaha, you are too kind about my early forays into poetry 😂 Maybe I should have recited it last night 😂

It really makes all the difference to quality of life sharing space with furry friends. And yes, also definitely helps make us look less weird when we start talking out loud 😂

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Daniel Puzzo's avatar

Such a lovely and endearing tale, and what a touching little poem for Tiger. Tupi and Dotta are lucky little cats, and so adorable.

My little cat is in Kyiv, keeping my father-in-law company. I miss her dearly but at least she's happy and well looked after, and I've seen her on a couple of visits back.

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Jayne Marshall's avatar

Thank you, Daniel! ❤️ Ohhh, you must miss your cat a lot. It’s good at least you know she is somewhere safe with someone who cares about her. Will you be able to be reunited at some point? I hope so!

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Daniel Puzzo's avatar

Probably not permanently, unfortunately. She's 13 now and I don't think my father-in-law would let her go now! They keep each other company. We couldn't take her with us when the full-scale invasion happened and in Vienna we had trouble finding decent accommodation and inevitably every place we found wouldn't allow pets.

It's sad, but I know she's in good hands, and I should be getting to see her again soon.

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Jayne Marshall's avatar

Oh, I’m sorry! But, as you say, the main thing is that she is in good hands and it also sounds like you wouldn’t want to breakup the love in! Give her a kiss from me when you see her next😊

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Vincent Raison's avatar

Aw. Loved that.

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Jayne Marshall's avatar

Thank you, I’m glad! A bit of an antidote to everything that has been happening this week. I’m about to read your latest…!

Oh! In other news, I met Almodóvar last night! What a lovely, lovely man. He kissed me and said he hoped I wasn’t disappointed with Madrid after moving there because of his films! Hehehe 🥰

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Chrissie's avatar

What a gorgeous story

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Jayne Marshall's avatar

Thank you lovely Chrissie! ❤️

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