Friday Cat Blogging


George on one of my mum's Christmas presents


George looking incredibly handsome


Heidi enjoying a moment of peace and quiet


Heidi sharing a sofa with my niece

Happy Christmas

Nutcracker Grand Pas De Deux (Bolshoi: Vladimir Vasiliev & Ekaterina Maximova)

Christmas Music Blogging

Robert Earl Keene's Merry Christmas from the Family

The EU

EU extends passport-free zone

Border controls in European states from the Baltic Sea to the Adriatic are set to cease, as most of the EU's newest members join the bloc's passport-free travel zone.

The entry of nine nations into the EU's Schengen area at midnight on Thursday means citizens can travel between 24 European nations without facing border checks.

"Together we have overcome border controls as man-made obstacles to peace, freedom and unity in Europe," declared Jose Manuel Barroso, the European Commission president.

Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Malta are the new Schengen members.

As a condition for joining, the new members have tightened controls on their borders with non-EU nations and linked into an information exchange system for police and border guards around the EU, measures which Barroso said will boost security.

The UK is the only nation who has not signed up to this and its because the Government is scared shitless of the Daily Mail. They are frightened of signing the treaty because they might get bad press.

There is a certain section here in the UK who go apeshit over anything EU related and I think its because the majority are a bunch of racists

Its pretty sad that its 2007 and Britain still cannot move on and accept that we're European, I mean jeez stop with the umming and arring, make a commitment.

Of course the EU has problems, so does all big organizations. But the xenophobia coming from the Little Englander group does anger me, they go on about wanting to withdraw from the EU, but if they want that they should go and pull out of the UN, NATO, The World Bank, WHO and dozens of other international organizations. They need to realize that Britain is a two bit ex imperial backwater

Christmas Tree Blogging

Chez Moonbootica's Christmas Tree

Friday Cat Blogging


Heidi wondering what this strange thing is that has suddenly appeared in the lounge (The Christmas Tree was dug up from our own garden, my mum brought it a couple of years ago, planted it and it began to sprout new growths and has lasted us now for two years, so hopefully it will be around for next Christmas as well)


George not sure what to make of it


Heidi and George




Heidi the heat seeking missile, she luvs her some warmth otherwise she gets very irritated with any drop in temperature (it is her birthday today as well, she is also 3 years old)

York Adventures


Afternoon Tea at Bettys (before)


Afternoon Tea(the aftermath)


Me outside the South Gate at York Minster


a more detailed photo of what we had for our afternoon tea


more scrummy food




an artistic shot of a Chrimassy House


A brightly decorated house


Me outside the Jorvick Viking Centre


York Minster


More York Minster


South Gate, York Minster

you can see more photos here

Happy Birthday To The Most Handsome Cat In The World

George turns 3 today






In the Christmas spirit

Friday Music

As its the festive season, something glittery

Knock On Wood by Amii Stewart

Friday Cat Blogging


Mlle Heidi snoozing


Gorgeous George

Friday Music

DJ Tiga - Sunglasses At Night (with Amanda Lepore)

Friday Cat Blogging


George keeping his nose warm




All blotto from the radiator heat




Snuggled up on the cradle on the radiator

Cute Photo of the Week


Rare South China cub makes debut in South Africa

JOHANNESBURG (AFP) — With his eyes open for little more than a day, an 11-day old cub, the newest addition to one of the world's rarest cat species, the South China tiger, was on Tuesday revealed at his birthplace in South Africa.

The birth of the exceptionally rare tiger has generated huge interest from around the world as he is the first of his species to be born in captivity outside of China.

"There has been humongous (massive) interest in this little baby," said Li Quan, founder of the Save China's Tigers Organisation, of the male tiger who was born on November 23 at Laohu Valley Reserve in the Free State Province.

"It is the first time a South China tiger is born into a project and born outside China. Because of their highly endangered state there are only about 60 to 70 left (in captivity) and between 10 and 30 in the wild," she told AFP.

"They are highly precious, there are so few of them."

The cub, who has not yet been named, was the first born to mother Cathay and father TigerWoods, who have been successfully returned to the wild in South Africa.

and here's video from Sky News

Sunday Fun

You Are Japanese Food

Strange yet delicious. Contrary to popular belief, you're not always eaten raw.

What Kind of Food Are You?

You Are 52% Misanthropic

You're somewhat misanthropic, but you're not willing to write off the human race (yet!). There's a few people you like, and even them you like at a distance.

How Misanthropic Are You?

Northern Rock

JC Flowers tries to derail Virgin bid for Northern Rock

US private equity firm says it is being snubbed by Treasury officials and signals better rewards for investors

JC Flowers, the US private equity firm, made a last-ditch bid yesterday to wreck Sir Richard Branson's takeover of Northern Rock after it signalled possible increased payouts for shareholders as part of a revised offer.

The move is likely to heighten tensions between the three main bidders for the bank and the Treasury, which is thought to be keen on a quick sale to close the door on the politically and financially embarrassing episode.

Sources close to Flowers said attempts to sit down with Treasury officials this week had proved fruitless, despite promises from the government that all takeover proposals would be examined.

The Treasury denied last night that it was reluctant to engage in talks with the Flowers team. "We stand ready to have discussions with any bidder that meets the principles we set out," it said.

Oh my this hedge fun group hates losing, they will only get 10p back for everything they have invested.

They are WATB*, they took a gamble and now its not worked out as they hoped, so suck it up Hedge Fund!

*Whiny Ass Titty Babies

Insanity

Miliband bids for jailed teacher's release

David Miliband has personally reassured the family of jailed British teacher Gillian Gibbons that he is doing "everything he can" to secure her release, it emerged today.

The foreign secretary called Mrs Gibbons' family last night to offer his support for the 54-year-old teacher from Liverpool.

And two British Muslim peers have travelled to Sudan in an effort to secure the teacher's release, a move which the Foreign Office said was separate to their efforts to secure her freedom, but which they described as "very welcome".

The peers, Labour's Lord Ahmed and Conservative Baroness Warsi, made the journey on their own initiative after negotiating with Sudanese officials.

"Analysts believe it would suit the Sudanese government to be seen to be showing mercy in handing her over to a Muslim delegation, instead of appearing to 'give in' to their former colonial masters, the British government," said the BBC's security correspondent Frank Gardner.

My theory - this is classic dictatorial behaviour, the Sudanese government has engineered this for their own ends, they want to create a west vs islam confrontation.

These type of tactics were used by Stalin e.g. show trials.

The religion is just a veneer.