This is probably some kind of record…

Even by my intermittent and random standard of blogging, nearly eight months between posts has got to be a record. Not a very good or enviable record, I grant you, but a record nevertheless.

For my eager blog followers (both of you, or is it just the one now?) I apologise for the extended leave of absence. If you also happen to follow Glenda’s blog, you will know that the last eight months couldn’t exactly be described as a time of relaxation and hedonistic, idle leisure around these parts.  There have been lots of busy and complicated things happening at work (which seems to be the normal state of affairs there); more than a little time has been spent caring for my elderly parents (particularly since the beginning of 2010); the normal day-to-day stresses and strains (and outright sprains in the case of my right knee) are with us as always; and, over the last couple of weeks, a wave of profound sadness has visited the house.

We are still coming to terms with the loss of Glenda’s Nanna.  She was a gracious and charming lady, with a fantastic sense of fun and humour, and she had a serenity and a calm, gentle wisdom that very few people in this modern world of ours ever seem to achieve.  I am so glad that I had the chance to get to know her, even if only a little. My life is a better one for having met her.

At the same time, we have said goodbye to a rather smaller soul, but one who was also very dear to our hearts, our Basil cat.  If you’ve been around here before, you’ll know that we lost his brother, Sesame, to Feline Leukaemia Virus in November 2008. At that time, a short poem came to my mind and, although it probably has no literary merit to speak of, I put it out there for all to see.  Not sure why.  Perhaps as some kind of memorial?  Perhaps because I just wanted to write down the words and know that they were out there.

Anyway, I was kind of expecting, or hoping, that something similar would happen when the time came to say goodbye to Basil.  In Sesame’s case, the words just appeared in my head the following day and that was that.  When the same thing didn’t happen with Basil, I felt strangely disappointed.  Almost guilty even.  It seemed like I was letting him down, not coming up with some silly little verse straight away.  Of course, I should have known better – these things happen in their own time.  For Sesame, the right time was there and then, almost immediately.  For Basil, and with all of the other things that have been going on, it took a week or so, but the words finally arrived.  Again, it’s a simple bit of sentimental doggerel, not in the best of poetic shape and rough around all of its edges, but it’s from the heart and it sort of brings an end to the story.  So forgive me for once again foisting upon the world my poor attempt at poetry, but it’s all I’ve got left to say for now.

How soon the time has come again
To do what’s right and bear the pain,
To end your hurt and say goodbye
And leave your spirit free to fly.

Free from illness and disease;
Free to go now as you please;
Free from bonds of flesh grown weak;
Free to find the peace you seek.

While we remain and carry on
And feel the spaces where you’ve gone
And think of you with aching heart
And wonder why we had to part.

But knowing still we did the best
We could to give you peaceful rest.
A passing gentle and serene
And softer than it might have been.

So thank you for your life and light
Your love and spirit, warm and bright
And when you see your brother one day
Please wait for us to come your way.

RIP Basil Cat (1996-2010)

And on that rather sorrowful note, I’ll end with a couple of little promises.

First of all, I will try to post something else to the blog at least once before this year is out.

Second, and when I do post something again, I’ll try to make sure it’s funnier and lighter than this one.

I promise.

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