One of my mates over here, Brandon, had a big early 40th birthday bash here on Friday night. Somehow his wife had organised the whole thing and managed to keep it a secret, an even more exceptional task here in our rather small community of friennds and acquaintances. The usual suspects, me included, whisked him off to the golf driving range early before he was sent home to go out to dinner with Becky. She convinced him to have a drink at Patio 84 first, where he was surprised by a big group! The night rolled on in very merry fashion and it was great to catch up with a few people I don't normally run into. Cass was invited of course, but chose to stay home and watch the royal nuptials from go to whoa: a much better choice for her she decided! She gave me a full rundown the next day so I felt like I hadn't missed a second of all the pomp and ceremony unfortunately!
There is one day in the year that we dread above all others: the annual trip to the vets to have our two brown hairy babies dutifully vaccinated and teeth cleaned. This year due to their elderly status (they're now 7 1/2 believe it or not) they had to have a blood test first to see whether they'd be allowed to get anesthetized. Luckily they were, so we organized to get away in the day on Friday and bundle them into baskets and drive them to the vet. It's always funny looking back, but the stress for everyone concerned is rather palpable. The scramble to get them into the dreaded baskets has to be seen to be believed!! We picked them up on Saturday morning, but they were still slightly wobbly and hissing at us and each other. The young vet drew us aside when we arrived and at first, we weren't sure what was the matter: were the cats alright? He assured us they were, but wanted to relate a story from the night before. Apparently one of our two managed to achieve a feat no other animal has ever achieved in the history of their practice: manipulated the cage lock so skillfully as to open the door and escape!! The staff found them the next morning trying to hide in secretive separate corners of the shop, but luckily they got no further!
That drama aside, they were relieved to get back home and Cassy set about brushing them and fawning over them to within an inch of their lives. We did manage to get out for a great outing today, first trying an Italian Trattoria on Chung Chen before wandering back over to the Miramar to watch the "Lincoln Lawyer". Cass really loved it, but I wasn't as keen as I've read the book in the last six months and had a slightly different image of the lead character: you know how that colours your appreciation of the film? After that, back on the scooter and over to see my old mate Chris at Papa Poulet: we hadn't been there for a few months and he greeted us like long lost friends! We shouldn't be so neglectful in future!
Photos are from my phone or from Cassy's camera today. Kids at work and play at the mini Untied Nations in KL, Cass and Kristin, Cassy in and outside various places, including today's Fresca Trattoria. I'm back reading the Dragon Tattoo and Cass is reading "March" by Geraldine Brooks.
