2015 : my own notebook

[Anthea]

I have just seen the weather forecast for Dohuk:

Today 36c

Wednesday 39c sunshine and very hot

Thursday 40c sunny and very hot

Friday 39c sunshine and very hot

Shortly afterwards the temp will start to go down

I have to be honest I think it would be far to hot for my fair skin and freckles

http://www.accuweather.com/en/iq/duhok/ ... her/505555

[Piling]

R.I.P Piling : July 1999 - August 2015.

[Anthea]

[Anthea]

R I P Piling

I hope that his passing was painless

Piling was there when you needed love and companionship and part of him will always be with you watching you

You no longer need him to be there for you because your life now lies elsewhere

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Author unknown...

Piling will be welcomed into Summerland

[Anthea]

What does the name 'Piling' translate to into English?

I feel sure you must have had a pet name for him perhaps you called him Pling Pling

[Piling]

It was not long and not so painful (but it is hard to guess with cats, who endure silently) : he suddenly had difficulties to breath monday evening, then tuesday I brought him to the vet. I saw it was not good. In fact it could be a heart failure or a cancer lung that provokes œdema in lungs, told the vet.

In any case, chirurgical intervention and a long hospitalisation would have been painful, and not with a good pronostic. I decided to euthanasy, because a 16 years old cat has lived all its own life and does not deserve a useless fight to live a few more weeks in pain. And also because dying breathless is one of the worst death.

So it was fast and painless. Vets were very kind and I stayed with him until the last injection.

That's our duties to give to our pets a comfortable life and a painless death. He had a good and long life as a spoilt cat and then, it is the end.


Piling means tiger or panther in Kurdish. But he had many other pet names, quite dozens varying with the mood (his mood) and the moment. He always knew it was him I called.


Pets can remember 20 of their names , except when they decide to be absolutely DEAF and not notice you reproach them something.

[Anthea]

You were correct in your thinking - it would have been wrong to prolong Piling's suffering

You will always remember the love you shared and all the crazy and funny things Piling did

When animals love they love unconditionally without reservation and with all their hearts and souls

Humans could learn a lot from their pets

Cats are very wise creatures and were highly revered in ancient Egypt

It was good that you gave Piling a Kurdish name especially as your entire future lies in Kurdistan

From now on your life will be one adventure after another

Remember the love and laughter

[Anthea]

I send to you this peace candle with my love and deepest sympathy

May the stars carry your sadness away,
May the flowers fill your heart with beauty,
May hope forever wipe away your tears,
And, above all, may silence make you strong.

Chief Dan George

http://www.sapphyr.net/peace/thecandle.htm

[Piling]

Thank you, I am sad and not sad, in fact. That is sad, but not bad, not unfair. I worried more to let him in France, and knew it was impossible to export him in Kurdistan. Things happened exactly at the right time.

As we say in France, 'partir, c'est mourir un peu'. Piling was a part of my soul and of my former life which should die for the adventure could continue.

[Piling]

Wondering if there is an English equivalent to our French Boscher Method :




which is an old schoolbook for primary and one of the best to learn reading, writing and counting, while modern methods made generations of illiterates.

[Anthea]

which is an old schoolbook for primary and one of the best to learn reading, writing and counting, while modern methods made generations of illiterates.

CORRECT

All the modern methods breed illiterates

Many years ago I used to study learning styles and I am trying to remember my favourite book

Honey and Mumford

http://www.nwlink.com/~donclark/hrd/sty ... mford.html

http://www2.le.ac.uk/departments/gradsc ... ey-mumford

It was MANY years ago that I became a teacher and even though ideas change I still feel that Honey and Mumford are one of the best in their field

I did not always read fiction

[Anthea]

CONGRATULATIONS on removing your last avatar

It might have upset our new lovely vegetarian friend

[Piling]

How do you now he is a vegetarian ? some Indians are eating meat

[Anthea]

I will let you know if I manage to turn Zulfu into a frog then you can eat his legs

[Piling]

Good, with garlic and oil, that's great.

A friend of mine gave me the same wand as a gift and talisman and I brought it to Kurdistan in 2006 or 2007. When custom opened my bag in Erbil airport it was quite embarrassing to explain what was it (not a weapon). If I have answered afsûn (magic) they would think I was mad. So I tried to explain that it was for being lucky and suddenly the officer exclaimed " :Oh yeah you are christian !"

He thought it was a sort of catholic holy wood. I confirmed and they let me passed the check-point