Finishathon voting and stuff

[vilakins]

The Finishathon voting is open at multific. I've given the comm link because that way you can see the cut-tag for each writer. I'm under my name, Nicola Mody; if you see anyone else you recognise, do vote for a story for them too. If you're not a participant, just vote in the first poll for each writer.

A tip for those wanting to vote for a lot of people: open each poll in a new tab and close it after voting, so you don't have to keep scrolling from the top.

And for the many penguin-lovers among you, here's a vid about one being knighted. Really!

In other news, I brought Tessa's ashes home today in a small rimu (native wood) box with a brass plaque. We were planning to scatter them in the garden but I think it's sealed. I've coiled her little leopard-spotty collar on it. It's been seven days now and the pain is a lot less and I'm starting to enjoy things more like a Thai lunch out today. Another 30 days and time will have done a lot of healing.

Comments

[daiseechain.livejournal.com]

I voted for idea 1. Like the sound of it.

Rimu is a lovely choice.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I rather think the one with the mention of Avon will win. Funny, that.

There wasn't a huge amount of choice, but the rimu boxes are very elegant. These are the people who did it (http://www.petcremations.co.nz/history.htm). The vet said that it's a family business and they treat the pets' bodies with dignity which was a comfort.

[san-valentine.livejournal.com]

I saw the film of the penguin being knighted on the news the other day. I had no idea that the Norweigans are as daft as we are.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

I just read a newspaper report about how he's been promoted up the ranks since 1962. This sort of news makes me happy.

[reapermum.livejournal.com]

According to the newspaper (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/2564823/Penguin-picks-up-knighthood.html) the penguin had worked his way up through the ranks since 1964.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

That's amazing! I also didn't know they lived that long.

[reapermum.livejournal.com]

I also didn't know they lived that long

I wondered if it was the same one, so I googled their life span and it does seem that they can live for ages.

[entropy-house.livejournal.com]

Actually, the current one is the 3rd. The zoo wasn't even sure when the first one died. *cough* They all look alike.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Ah. Well, it made a nice story.

[entropy-house.livejournal.com]

It did indeed. I may even have seen the first penguin, because I saw the penguin enclosure at Edinboro zoo during the time frame of its lifespan. I put up a picture of it fairly recently, by coincidence.

[kalypso-v.livejournal.com]

I'm glad the pain is easing, and I hope in time you'll just smile to think of your happy memories of dear Tessa.

The box sounds nice. Will you keep it indoors, or bury it? We buried my father's ashes in a wooden box a bit like that, inside his parents' grave - and later his sister and her husband went in, the same way, so we got five of them in one plot.

The only thing that annoyed me was that I'd very carefully copied the dating style of the original inscriptions for my father (Born:Apr:18:1904), whereas my cousin didn't notice that and put the dates in a completely different style (Born 13th November 1905). I don't suppose it bothers anyone else, but it's the sort of thing that infuriates me.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

It's getting better. Not it's just things like going to get the suitcases out for Greg from a strangely shaped storage cupboard under the eaves that Tessa loved hiding in so much we used to have to confine her in a room while it was open or lose her among the stuff in there for hours and hope nothing fell on her.

The casket is the small one of these (http://www.petcremations.co.nz/casket.htm), but the plaque which doesn't have a rose on it) with her name and dates is on the side. We'll keep it inside as we're not (I hope) staying here for ever. I'm not sure how long we'll have Claudia because she has kidney disease and her legs are getting weak, but the vet seems to think she's in good condition despite that. [is relieved] Anyway I hope to get the same style for her.

Having the dates in a different format would annoy me too.