Travelling to Padua (III)

I forgot I was supposed to be continuing on with that list.

(11) Ever since we've been married Grumpy and I have been on the lookout for a cat to adopt. And yet after nearly twelve years together we're still a little shy about making that final commitment. We like bad tempered cats and, as it happens, The Burp and The Rooster have a delightfully cranky cat called Gypsy. Neither of them seem particularly enamoured of her. She bites! One evening we were round at their place and The Burp offered to let us have Gypsy. After we'd gone, Gypsy-less as it happens, The Rooster turned to The Burp and said, "You can't give away Gypsy! We've got history with that cat!"

(12) Don Mary's parents owned a faithful old farm dog. One day they got a new dog, a spritely little fizzy thing that would leap in the air and turn somersaults and all that. How the hell would I know? This all took place, like, 200 years ago. Anyway, the old faithful farm dog didn't like the new fizzy dog and would snarl and snap at him. Fizzy never gave up trying to make friends with Old Faithful, constantly snuffling around and panting with delight in OF's presence.

Oh I hope you can see where this heartwarming tale is going.

One day Old Faithful had a change of heart and started to play with Fizzy. Can you imagine Fizzy's joy? I'm sure his bouncy little heart nearly flew right out of his chest with delight when OF then suggested they go looking for some adventure together. Don Mary's father watched them toddle off into the forest behind the farm. Forests can be big and dark and lonely. When OF returned that evening, alone - as he would be for the rest of his years, he was never again anything but the mild and placid dog he'd always been.

(13) When he was a boy Grumpy called his three pet fish Burke, Wills and Camel. He always wanted a fourth that he could call Initials in the Tree.

(14) QEII who won't eat pig. However, she would like to have a pet pig. She sees no irony in the name she's already picked out for him: "Mr Crackles".

(15) My uncle, Raffles, had a cat called Ginge. Ginge only had one testicle. My grandparents eventually took custody of Ginge as Raffles proved to be an affectionate but somewhat careless owner. The Fuehrer and Ginge never really got along. The Fuehrer was always kicking at him (with his good leg) if Ginge came within range. One day Grumpy and I were visiting and we looked outside to see The Fuehrer sitting in the sun and Ginge reclining next to him; not touching, but the distance between them was companionable. To this day we like to think that after years of unspoken animosity, these two battle-scarred veterans had developed a mutual respect. Also, maybe they liked to compare war stories.