I had fully expected to have started a colonial campaign by now ... but outside events have diverted me from my projected course of action.
Firstly I am still getting to grips with Cyberboard. As I want to create my campaign map using the Cyberboard Design program, I need to spend a bit more time learning how to use all the program's main functions before I can draw the map.
Secondly I spent last Saturday taking part in a Megablitz battle set in France in 1940 ... and that rekindled my interest in operational-level wargaming, with the result that I have spent some time thinking about how I could modify Megablitz to work on hexes.
Thirdly my toy/wargames room needed to be tidied up ... and I managed to complete most of that on Monday.
Fourthly the spell of recent good weather has presented me the opportunity to do some much needed work in our garden. Over the years the action of rainwater running downhill had caused erosion of the right-hand side of our lawn, and the installation of wooden lawn edging should ensure that this prevents the problem recurring.
Finally our old cat - Big Boy - died yesterday. He had been suffering from major problems with his thyroid for sometime and had been on a course of tablets to help him cope with the effects. He also had to have blood samples taken from the thyroid every couple of months, and this had to be done under anaesthetic. It was during such a procedure that he suffered a heart attack and died.
I hope to get back on track over the next week or so ... but who knows what will divert me from my plans in the meantime?
Firstly I am still getting to grips with Cyberboard. As I want to create my campaign map using the Cyberboard Design program, I need to spend a bit more time learning how to use all the program's main functions before I can draw the map.
Secondly I spent last Saturday taking part in a Megablitz battle set in France in 1940 ... and that rekindled my interest in operational-level wargaming, with the result that I have spent some time thinking about how I could modify Megablitz to work on hexes.
Thirdly my toy/wargames room needed to be tidied up ... and I managed to complete most of that on Monday.
Fourthly the spell of recent good weather has presented me the opportunity to do some much needed work in our garden. Over the years the action of rainwater running downhill had caused erosion of the right-hand side of our lawn, and the installation of wooden lawn edging should ensure that this prevents the problem recurring.
Finally our old cat - Big Boy - died yesterday. He had been suffering from major problems with his thyroid for sometime and had been on a course of tablets to help him cope with the effects. He also had to have blood samples taken from the thyroid every couple of months, and this had to be done under anaesthetic. It was during such a procedure that he suffered a heart attack and died.
I hope to get back on track over the next week or so ... but who knows what will divert me from my plans in the meantime?
Sorry to hear about Big Boy. I hope he had a long and happy life!
ReplyDeleteMy sincere condolences on the passing of Big Boy.
ReplyDelete-- Jeff
Very sorry to hear about the death of your cat , pets are so sadly missed . Tony
ReplyDeleteSo sorry about Big Boy, Bob. We lost our two beloved beagles (brother and sister) a year apart, starting four years ago. I am certain we will be reunited with our furry friends in the future.
ReplyDeleteBest to you and the family.
Vladdd309,
ReplyDeleteBig Boy literally came through the cat flap ten years ago after his previous owner - an elderly man who lived nearby - died. He was not a young cat then, and the vet estimates that he was at least sixteen years old.
He was a very easy cat to live with. He never 'moaned', he never attacked the furniture, he was always pleased to see you, and he was affectionate.
He lived a full and - as far as we know - a happy life.
All the best,
Bob
Bluebeard Jeff,
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for your kind condolences. We are already missing Big Boy a lot.
All the best,
Bob
Mosstrooper (Tony),
ReplyDeleteBig Boy has been part of our lives for a long time ... and we really do miss him.
All the best,
Bob
Justin Penwith,
ReplyDeleteThank you very much for your kind comments. People who do not have pets often don't realise how much owners (although I don't think that anyone ever 'owns' a cat!) miss their pets when they die.
All the best,
Bob
Bob,
ReplyDeleteHaving had several cats over the years, I know how you will be feeling after Big Boy's death. I stll miss my Napier, who died twenty years ago. I hope you can take comfort from the fact that he clearly enjoyed a happy life with you, and did not suffer at the end.
Condolences on the loss of Big Boy from all at Airhead towers, including Pablo our Norwegian Forest cat.
ReplyDeleteall the best
Airhead
My condolences. Furry creatures have a way of becoming family members rather than just pets. Wherever Big Boy has gone, I trust it will be full of slow mice and high test catnip.
ReplyDeleteArthur1815,
ReplyDeleteThank you for kind words of condolence. We both miss Big Boy, but luckily we still have our female cat - Jazz - to keep us company.
All the best,
Bob
Airhead,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your heartfelt words of condolence. They are very much appreciated.
All the best,
Bob
Pat G,
ReplyDeleteEach of our cats has had a distinct personality of their own ... and Big Boy was no exception. He was such a placid and well-natured cat, and even the staff at the vets - who had got to know him very well whilst we owned him - were upset when he died.
We miss him a lot.
All the best,
Bob
So sorry to hear of the loss of your Cat Bob. You have my sympathies- I know how much they are part of a family.
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Pete.
Pete,
ReplyDeleteThank you very much for your condolences. He may not have started life as our cat ... but he will always have a place in our hearts.
All the best,
Bob
..it took me a while, but when my old boy died (and I had him 17 years) I found the best restorative was a couple of feisty kittens to replace him.... commiserations Bob, you're right, after that amount of time they're a member of the family...
ReplyDeleteSteve-the-Wargamer,
ReplyDeleteThanks very much for your condolences.
My wife Sue did suggest getting a couple of kittens to replace Big Boy ... but we both know that our small female cat (who does not get on with other cats at all) would go for them so we will have to put that idea on hold for the time being.
All the best,
Bob
Bob,
ReplyDeleteMy condolences. Our last cat was a stray we adopted and had for around 10 years. About 18 months after she died we took in a rescue cat from the local Cats Protection branch. She's been a delight but we were surprised to hear how hard they find it to re-home any cats over about five years old or that are black or black and white.
It's good that Big Boy came to you in his hour of need and gave you so much affection. He looks a lot like my cat Fang. Due to an irregularity in coat patters, it looks like she has a large fang hanging out of her mouth. I'm sure Big Boy gave you as much companionship as Fang gives me.
ReplyDeleteNigel Drury,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your kind words of condolence.
Strays or homeless cats - or cats that are unhappy where they are - tend to find people who will look after them ... and that is how we have 'acquired' all of ours.
We may try to replace Big Boy with a rescued cat, but we have to be wary of the reaction of our female cat, who hates other cats!
All the best,
Bob
PS. I had never heard that is was difficult to find homes for older and/or black or black & white cats. Three of the five who have lived with us were black & white, including Big Boy.
CoastConFan,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kind words.
It sounds like Fang is a real character, as was Big Boy.
I have been told by people who do not have or have never had cats that they are all the same, and that dogs have personalities. I rather think that the truth is the opposite, with dogs mirroring their owner's personality and cats only disdaining to recognise your existence if it suits them.
All the best,
Bob
Our cat was about 10 when we adopted her from Cats Protection. We do wonder how she came to be a stray. She was obviously used to home life as she settled so quickly. I suspect she may have belonged to someone who'd died. That's where I think CP do a very worthwhile job, re-homing animals of those forced to give them up through going into care etc.
ReplyDeleteNigel Drury,
ReplyDeleteWe have made provision in our wills to ensure that any cats that we may have when we die will be properly looked after. We have also set aside part of our estate to go to the Cat Protection League so that they can continue the good work that they do.
All the best,
Bob