Sir,
I have just spend a distressing day with a very sick cat. Tilly was just over 12 months old, I rescued her and her brother 12 months ago this month.
She was the sweetest little thing and I could guarantee that she was always there waiting for me when I came home from work. I could hardly count to 5, open the car door and get a foot out when I could hear the tinkling of her bell as she came to greet me.
She liked to go out during the day for short bursts, and spend the whole evening and night in the house. Last night, I noticed something odd with Tilly: she was staggering as though he had a stroke and then seemed to fit. I stayed up with her until 2 in the morning, made her as comfortable as possible and took her to the vets first thing in the morning. I thought she may have been hit by a car, but couldn’t how and when. Then I thought she may have eaten something bad as in the morning she had been sick again and was fitting more.
The vets told me she would need to be kept in and monitored while they waited the result of blood tests. This evening I got the call with the results. She had been poisoned with ethylene glycol (found in anti freeze – it is apparently sweet tasting and cats like it). She was too far damaged and could not be saved, so had to be put to sleep.
Where had she found this? I searched my garage and there is no sign of anything that could have caused the harm. I don’t like to think that someone could have done this deliberately, but it seems, it is a possibility.
In the event that it was an accident, I would urge you to please make sure you do not leave Anti-Freeze out where it can be accessed by pets and especially children.
I would hope that people who do not like cats would look at more humane ways of deterring them from entering their gardens. To deliberately put a sweet innocent little creature such as Tilly through such an agonizing and painful death is just awful to contemplate.
Needless to say, it has been a very sad day for me.
Name and address supplied
Nordic Walking
Sir,
I read Dianne Allan’s article in a recent E2D with interest. I am also interested in living as long and as healthily as possible – I want my money’s worth out of my contributions and taxes over the years!!
Having introduced Dianne’s husband to the joys of Nordic Walking, to help him overcome his hip problem whilst exercising, I thought your readers might like to know the benefits of this modern (10 years old) exercise activity.
What is Nordic Walking?
Nordic Walking is simply ‘Walking with Sticks’, but you use the sticks in an active way, to propel you forward – in ‘4-wheel drive’ – rather than just a balance aid. (it looks like cross country skiing without the skis and snow) In this way Nordic Walking uses 90% of your skeletal muscles, giving you a full-body workout, whilst you walk. It keeps you fit and healthy by raising your heart rate during exercise so strengthens it, lowers your blood pressure, loosens your joints and builds stamina. What more could a person want?
Weight loss? It can help. Stress relief? Certainly: Easy to learn? Yes! About an hour for basic techniques. Tiring? No! Most people don’t realise how ‘hard’ they are working (I have to slow them down). Convenient? Yes! Once you have some poles you can walk anywhere.
If you can walk and go walking then why not Nordic Walk?
If your readers want to find out more about it, there is a lot of information on the web. They can also get in touch with me on 01946 810574. I can arrange lessons (I am a qualified instructor), advise about equipment and places to walk locally (or farther afield) and try to answer any other questions.
Tim Wood.
The Gondoliers
Michelle,
I was one of the students who took part in the 1960s production of ‘The Gondoliers’. My twin brother, John, took the part of Marco, and I was Tessa.
I have the original newspapers cuttings and copies of the programme, photos, etc. The teachers of St Cuthbert’s, especially Mrs Murphy, worked so hard to put it together.
The name of one cast member was missing from your list, that of James O’Hara, who played Giuseppi, (my husband)
Thanks for revisiting!
Mary Rothery (née McCann)
