Big cats (I hope)

[vilakins]

Bad: This summer has been long and glorious and only really started to fade into autumn a couple of weeks ago. I've been working for most of it though and of course once my contract finished (on Tuesday), so did the fine weather. It's now wet and cold and grey. Typical.

Good (in fact, very good): Greg just rang and he has a business trip to Whangarei on Thursday next week and apparently I'm going too, whether or not I get another contract. His client visit won't take long and There Will Be A Surprise. The Zion Wildlife Gardens are just out of town and I'm betting hoping it's this. [bounce] We're not that fond of zoos but this is different: Craig Bush hand-rears his lions and tigers (including rare Barbaries and whites) and his weekly TV program, The Lion Man, is among our favourites. It's amazing to see him playing with and kissing his animals as if they really are big pussycats, taking them for walks, and even introducing them to the surf. They sometimes do ads and filmwork and one of them, Zion himself, is to be Aslan in The Lion, The Witch, And The Wardrobe. I'm hoping Greg's booked us a tour; maybe I can even cuddle cubs.

Favourite quote from the program as cheeky Savannah sneaks up on Craig from behind: "Don't stalk daddy!"

Comments

[kalypso-v.livejournal.com]

Fingers crossed! You might meet Aslan!

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

I hope so! Zion's amazing; they say he's the tamest lion in the world. They do in fact have an Aslan and his sister Narnia, but Zion's the one who plays him in the film.

[kalypso-v.livejournal.com]

Did you know Aslan's Turkish for lion? It never occurred to me until I went to Turkey, and bought my own little Aslan from a pedlar.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

I didn't know that! Thank you. That explains why I sometimes come across it as a given name.

[reapermum.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you're going to get a break. You need it after all that commuting.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Yes! Though it's a long way there and back in a day, it'll be worth it! I'm really excited; even if that isn't the surprise, it's wonderful to have one.

[trixieleitz]

Summer was good once it actually got started :)

re: the Good:
Squeee! I do hope that's what the surprise is.

I adore those cubs, especially their gigantic cubby paws.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Oh, me too. I love their huge paws, and our cats' sweet little ones. [goes all soft at the thought] The way those tiger cubs pulled all the clothes off his shelves and trashed them so reminded me of Claudia as a kitten.

[trixieleitz]

Oh, yes, those naughty babies! *giggle*

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

I'm puzzled though about where Karen and Herms disappeared to. After the one comment that they were away for a week--which grew--they don't even get a mention now; I hope Karen hasn't split up with Craig, or even worse, become ill again. :-(

[trixieleitz]

Yes, we were worried that they'd split up, too. I didn't know that she'd been ill.

In either case, it's a bit odd that they haven't even been mentioned, especially as they were the ones who were doing most of the cub-rearing.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Exactly, and it's odd they'd just disappear when more cubs were about to be born. Karen had some treatment for breast cancer in the first series which they were quite open about, so I'm a bit suspicious about what's going on now. Maybe she and Herms are looking after the cubs now while Craig's in Thailand (I'd love to volunteer at that Buddhist tiger sanctuary) because it's also strange he'd take off and leave new cubs with that new assistant they just got. Perhaps they've had a huge tiff and Herms took Karen's side and they're not talking. [shrug] Maybe I'll find out.

[trixieleitz]

Hmm, perhaps they're protecting a third party from the public eye, or perhaps there has been a tiff, but they hope to reconcile without the public realising that there was a problem. Still, it would be less odd if Karen were mentioned occasionally.

In any case, I think they're sufficiently well-known here for the gossip mags to be taking an interest. I don't pay any attention to the mags, though, so I wouldn't have noticed a small article.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

I don't read them either; I call them trash mags.

[redstarrobot.livejournal.com]

Ooh, I adore cat-paws! And noses. The paws and noses are the best parts.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

They are (along with their eyes and ears)! Unlike some cats, mine love having their paws stroked, and Tessa often touches her nose to mine as a kiss. I don't even mind the cute noseprints on the windows. :-)

[redstarrobot.livejournal.com]

You know, the cheeks are fun, too. But they're just not paws. Paws fill me with glee. :)

Ooh, nosekisses are fun. Man, now I can't remember the last cat that used to do that to me, but I remember there was a cat that did.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Only Tessa does that. Claudia and Vic go in for butting which is also adorable.

You'd love my cats' paws. Claudia's are pewter grey and outlined in silver because of how her fur catches the light. Tessa's are soft and velvety and the colour of chocolate. Vic's are white but one has small black blobs which continue on his pads.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

I even love the Italian word for paw, which sounds like a soft cat's one: zampa.

[redstarrobot.livejournal.com]

One day, I'll name a cat that.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

:-D

[snowgrouse.livejournal.com]

Yay, if it indeed is the surprise! Zion is truly a magnificient creature. Amazing man, Craig Bush, for doing all that:). To sleep at night with a lion... wow.

Now I need to persuade my mini-lion to come to bed as I'm about to drop off, yawning here... Glad that you have free time at last.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

You should see Craig cuddling the lions and kissing their noses! :-) And the new tiger-cubs have been sleeping on his bed and pulling all his clothes off the shelves and shredding them. They're like big lollopy orange-striped kittens.

Noki has certain leonine qualities with her mane-like ruff and size. Give her a cuddle from me!

[snowgrouse.livejournal.com]

I want white tigers... they are my oldest deities in my childhood pantheon and my guardian angels. I'm convinced of that.. *sigh* I love tigers so much.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

The tiger-cubs are bred from a white parent in the hopes one will have the gene. I believe they've succeeded recently; maybe I'll see and touch one!

I love silver tabbies because they're as close to white tigers as you can get in a cat. All tigers are beautiful.

[redstarrobot.livejournal.com]

To sleep at night with a lion

You're treading dangerously near one of my "if only it weren't insanely fatal" lifestyles.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Craig sometimes sleeps with Zion, and he had tiger-cubs on his bed in a recent program. See, this is why I want to go to this place!

[snowgrouse.livejournal.com]

what lifestyles? I was just referring to how envious I'm at the guy to be such good friends with a lion that something like that is possible.

[kerravonsen]

Oh good! Even if that isn't the surprise, have a nice restful rejuvinating holiday, do!

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Well, it's only a daytrip, but I haven't got another contract yet so I'm taking it easy. Well, as easy as I can with three ficathons hanging over my head.

[astrogirl2.livejournal.com]

Oooh, have fun!

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

It's not till next week, but I'm already excited. :-D

[jhall1.livejournal.com]

Have fun!

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

I plan to!