Quantum theory bit – it is currently not possible to observe an atom “doing things”‘, only to understand they have done it by observing the change caused by the action.

Cats bit – Mira has a new cardboard fire truck (we all know cats love cardboard boxes). she has not been observed in it at all so far, but we can infer she has been in it as one of her mice has appeared in there.

At no time have I seen Orion attacking the Christmas tree, but the presence of small bits of tinsel in other rooms in the flat shows that she has, at least in a thankfully small way.

Ergo, cats behave like atoms

And now, I have quantum pigeons – pigeon defecation on my balcony rail, but I have never seen a pigeon on it, and the cat is too calm when I get home, so she can’t have seen them there either.

A familiar noise in the kitchen indicated her return.  The fact that she then ran into Geds bedroom, as opposed to taking a languid walk into the living room, indicated that she had definitely been up to mischief, so they both went into the bedroom to investigate.  Mira was frantically trying to get under Geds bed, which meant one thing – she had captured a mouse and it had escaped and was now under the bed. It was going to be a long night !!!!

A torch was soon produced, and used to verify that it was definitely there and, thankfully, alive. Now the “fun” would start.

Nico lifted the bottom of the bed, and Ged moved to get the mouse.  This move, however, became a frantic defence action to keep Mira from the mouse.  This went on for a while, doubtless to the amazement of the mouse, who had hardly moved.  Nico was finding the bed heavier and heavier, and eventually called  “I cannot hold this up any longer, get out from under Ged”.  He then lowered the bed as gently as he could.

The bed was now resting on Ged’s back, who was now trying to extricate Mira from the danger zone and unexpectedly supporting the bed.  The mouse had now moved and disappeared again, and Mira was in a high state of excitement.  Eventually she moved, Nico lifted the bed, and Ged was able to remove himself.

The search for the mouse resumed again.  Mira was now excitedly sniffing around the (Heavy) chest of drawers, the huntress in her now fully in force.  Nico and Ged began to search the area there, but no sign of the mouse was found,  so extended the search to the rest of the bedroom.  Mira, however would not move from her position, so it was decided the mouse had to be there somewhere, and the drawers were pulled back from the wall, no mouse.  Heads were duly scratched.  Mira now tried to get in the gap generated.  Ged tried to calm her “the mouse is not there darling”, and reached down to pat her -  the talons just missed him!!

Nico, meanwhile, remembered something special about the clock on top of the drawers – it did not have a back.

“Ged, keep the cat busy”

“Oh thanks” said Ged, desperately dodging the talons as he tried to keep Mira distracted.  Nico genly moved the clock, and there was the mouse, tucked behind one of the springs.  He quickly put the clock against the wall, to keep the mouse “in situ” and, relatively, safe.

Nico found a cover for the back of the clock, and the meticulous planning of operation Extricate Mouse began.  Ged, gingerly, manoeuvred Mira into the living room and, much to her disgust, closed the door.  Nico took the clock out into the garden, just as the dawn was breaking.  He went to the bottom of the garden, only dressed in a pair of shorts, and knelt down  by the hedge.

” Off you go to safety little mousy” he said, whilst tilting to now backless clock, close to the hedge, feeling a sense of relief and happiness as the mouse dashed into the hedgerow.

“Morning Nico, what are you up to?” said his neighbour Ken.  Time for a little quick thinking.

“Ummm, just shaking the dust out of the clock.  It is best at this time as the pollen is very low, and there is no wind to blow the dust around and aggravate my asthma”

“Oh right” said a puzzled looking Ken “Good Morning then, er, good idea”

With that, Nico headed back into the flat, and everyone decided to try and get some sleep.  As for Mira, she was now asleep on Geds bed.  Gotta love her!!!!!!

So innocent when asleep

I recently purchased a Panasonic breadmaker, and started making bread again. Much to the delight of my boyfriend Nico and his brother, I began taking fresh baked loaves over to him on visits.

Before long, mutterings of “it’s my bread and you can’t have any”, “that slice was far too big” came into the ether. As with many men, they are children when it comes to some things.

I decided to try and calm things, and one Saturday took my (heavy!!) machine over to his place. The master plan was for them to make 2 loaves during the day, each making his own (i.e putting in the flour, oil and water and closing the lid). All seemed to go well, until I heard the immortal words from the kitchen – “Mine’s bigger than yours” – ” No it isn’t” etc. I pointed out that each loaf had the same quantity of ingredients. “Mine’s still bigger!” came the muttered response.

When I left all seemed to be harmonious in the household, but I knew it could not last. A text arrived Sunday morning “All sorted”. Shortly after, I received a picture by email :-

The time has come to surrender gracefully and bow out. I will just deliver the bread and retire to a safe distance in future!

The opening headlines were bad enough, though nothing to the details that followed.  Political duplicity, murder justified in the name of one cause or another.  Further disagreement  as to how many horrifically destructive weapons the superpowers should cut their immense arsenals by, whilst still retaining enough capacity to destroy the planet several times over, of course.

Learned comments and informed opinion flooded in from around the globe about political manoeuvres in the dark, and which massacre was right or wrong and for what reasons.

Ten minutes of pure misery, though distant and remote, with not even a hint of the real human suffering behind it all.  The shattered lives of the PEOPLE, our fellow human beings.

How can we dare to worship gods of love and peace, when we practice and condone things like this, mans inhumanity to man.  The guilt is collectively ours, for although we may not actually commit these acts, neither do we move to stop them.

We could be great, a tremendous force in the universe.  Together.

First, however, we must grow, for at this moment, I fear, we are little more than children with very powerful matches.  I only hope and pray that we do not burn our house down.

What did I do next?

I went back outside and hid under the stars. Like almost everyone else, I closed my ears to the sounds of suffering.

After all, what you do not hear cannot hurt you.

Can it ?

Original written 11 July 1987

I wrote this 24 years ago.  What would I write now, much the same I think, as nothing seems to have changed since then.  We have nuclear treaties, but technology has moved on now, especially when it comes to warfare.  More species have become extinct, and the environment and nature seem to have acquired some better defenders.

Believe it or not, I actually feel more optimistic, or perhaps I should say cautiously optimistic – it we can just hang on a bit longer.