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Garfield

Greetings everyone! As some of you might already know, I've recently adopted a cat here. This little fella started showing up a few weeks ago at my porch. He would always be sitting or lounging around the door when I came back from my swims or runs. I thought he was kinda cute and since he was so friendly, I'd invite him in and give him some food.

Meet Garfield. He's an orange ball of fur with a bushy tail. Since I decided that he could come live with me, we had to do something about his hygiene and health. I personally gave him a bath and promptly sent him to the vet to be groomed and vaccinated. Then I realised something. Garfield is the laziest cat in the world! Ok thats nothing surprising right? Cats have been known to be lazy creatures that enjoy lounging around. But Garfield has a gift. You give him the right sofa to be lazy in and he'll provide all the entertainment you could ask for. For example:

This is how he sleeps normally

This is how he sleeps when he wants to have a different perspective of the world

This is him pretending to be superman

And then there's Garfield pretending to be road kill

Sometimes, he tries to camouflage himself and pretends to be a misplaced feather duster

Even though we've only spent like a week together, we've already developed a pretty good understanding of each other. Garfield knows what time I usually get up and will start meowing for his breakfast around then. He also has a certain style of meowing to indicate to me that he's hungry. Of course, standing next to his food dish gives me a good hint too. He also knows how to show that he's thirsty

Not all has been smooth sailing though and we have had our little arguments. When I refuse to give him any more food or buy him the latest cat toy, he'll sulk and try to be funny by sitting on his sofa facing the wrong direction, refusing to look at me.

Garfield is also a silent killer. He will stealthily sneak up behind you and then let a fart go. And I tell you, his farts are phenomenal stink bombs! And worse of all, they have no sound! By the time you realise, its too late and he'd be sniggering somewhere far away or acting blur (even though there's only 2 of us in the house). Of course I couldn't take this lying down so I got my revenge after dinner one night. 2 cans of coke plus some mutton curry is a great combi to churn up some gastronomical gases. When the time was right, I ran straight up to him and pointed my ass in his face. Before he could realise what I was up to, I let a big one rip.

That sure knocked him out good for a while. But despite all this, we're still the best of friends and he's still as affectionate as ever. Garfield is always following me around the house and wanting to sit on my lap. Even though I've always thought of myself as more of a dog person, this little feline has managed to warm its way into my heart. The only thing that pains me now is how the story will end when I get posted to another station...

Happy anniversary

28 August 2008, the day I arrived to Jeddah. Here I am now, a year later. Still alive, still ploughing on.

I guess you can actually survive here. However, it is tough and nearly impossible if not for the bi-monthly trips home to recharge and maintain my sanity. After spending so much time here, have I learnt to get by? Yes. Get used to this place and understand it? No.

In this world where normal rules do not apply, things still happen that make me take a step back to ponder why some of these people can be so rude, stubborn and thick headed. Other times I take a step back and wonder, why do you have to stand so close to me when you talk? Your breath stinks. You smell like a cow. And no, I do not want to shake your grimy hands. Bugger off.

But its not all bad. With the lack of anything else to do, I find that I exercise more regularly. I also eat healthily (read: bland home cooked food). So at least there is some good coming from this. I think I might also have learnt to be a more patient person. In fact, I've learnt to take things easy and not expect the stressful and brutal efficiency of home. You can't expect a donkey to gallop like a race horse can you?

In the midst of all this, I have also been able to make a new friend! Garfield. Garfield started showing up at my door a few weeks ago. It would always be sitting around my porch when I came back from my run/swim. It seemed to know when I would be back. I don't know why it decided to hang around but it always looked like it wanted to come in. I've decided to buy some cat food so that I can give Garfield a snack whenever it visits. Most of the time it's just happy to sit around and lounge though.

So here I am. Out of place, but exactly where I have to be. Hope there'll be some light at the end of this tunnel. Take care y'all.