Saturday 28 January 2012

31 Days of Blogging - Day 28


Day 28 – Coldplay – Clocks



The opening piano on Clocks is wonderful.

This song is so infectious that I had it as my mobile phone ring tone for a while. It was one of those old Nokias and I had to painstakingly type it in, a kind of crude version of the tune.

Mates and work colleagues took the piss but I didn’t care.

Coldplay are one of those bands that people love or hate – I love them – Mrs PM isn’t too keen at all and this song drives her up the wall.

So back in 2002, when the song was released, we moved into the house we live in now. And the family increased by two.

That’s right – we bought two black kittens from the Cat Protection League, which in itself was a bizarre experience. Mrs PM had always wanted black cats, so I called the charity and was told that a representative would come to visit us and check us out.

The way it was phrased, it appeared as if we were being scrutinised to see if we were suitable “parents”.

And that’s exactly how it was.

A woman called on us armed with a book of photographs and then interviewed us in our own home. She had long grey hair and looked at me in particular as she asked the questions, probably because I was the less enthusiastic of the two.

“Do you consider this to be a dangerous road?” she asked me.

“Not really. It’s not a main road is it?”

“This IS a dangerous road for cats,” she replied, shaking her head in disbelief. “Just count the cars that go past.”

I did – and there seemed to be quite a few.

She then continued the interrogation – er sorry – interview – asking questions about how we would look after the cats.

I wanted to jump up and scream at the woman: “Look – I have owned a cat before. I know how to feed them and how to look after them. I will not harm these animals. For Pete’s sake – if you think we are unworthy then I’ll just go out and get some kittens from somebody else.”

I didn’t say those words. I just nodded when she suggested that the cats should be kept in ( “House cats are better” she said), knowing that I would let them out because that’s exactly what cats want.

Eventually, Mrs PM chose Jasper and Poppy, whom regular readers will now be familiar with. A couple of days later, she brought them round and sat with us in the lounge just to make sure that we knew what we were doing.

“I have brought up two kids. I KNOW HOW TO LOOK AFTER A BLOODY CAT!!!!”

I didn’t say this at all – though the urge to do so was almost totally overwhelming.

She stayed with us for one hour – ONE HOUR!!!!

When she finally left, I allowed these two delightful little creatures to roam our house and have fun doing so. They were already house-trained, which was a massive bonus.

And the woman even rang us up a couple of times to ask “how the kittens were settling in.”

“I’ve fed them to next door’s dog,” I said.

I didn’t really.

At the time she rang, I was reading in bed and had Jasper on my chest and Poppy was sitting on Mrs PM purring.

And they have been with us ever since.

Here they are, as they were in 2002:



I was going to tell you something about the house we live in but I got carried away with our moggies (as I so often do).

Well at least that gives me something to talk about in tomorrow’s post – unless I start waffling about the cats again, of course.

16 comments:

Elephant's Child said...

How I remember that interrogation. Jewel was a rescue cat and had already been returned once because she was noisy. Of course she was - her new owners left for work early and came home late leaving her inside. She has now been happily ensconced here for five years. Jazz was a later rescue. Same interrogation. Two black cats. Two happy black cats. A patina of black fur all over the house.

River said...

Oh no! Jasper and Poppy are such cute little kitties! I want one. I want one! But I've promised myself not to get one until I retire, so I can spend more time with it.

Pandora Behr said...

I was cuddling a little cat that looked just like young Poppy the other day - bliss.

You're right about Coldplay - I'm still of the opinion that in ten years they will be played on work's geezer radio. Jury is still out on Mylo Zyloto.

And ladies like that grey haired biddy is one of the reason I don't get a cat.

Kath Lockett said...

They are (were) adorable! They both look so bright and so happy!

As for 'Clocks' it was pretty much the entire reason LC and I bought Coldplay's album. None of the other songs appealed to us at all and they're part of the reason why i-tunes is so good as you only buy what you like.

I loved the piano of it too, but could never understand what on earth he was signing about. So, if you were as clueless as I, my internet research reveals it to be this:

The lights go out and I can't be saved
Tides that I tried to swim against
Have brought me down upon my knees
Oh I beg, I beg and plead, singing

Come out of the things unsaid
Shoot an apple off my head and a
Trouble that can't be named
A tiger's waiting to be tamed, singing

You are, you are

Confusion that never stops
The closing walls and the ticking clocks gonna
Come back and take you home
I could not stop, that you now know, singing

Come out upon my seas
Cursed missed opportunities am I
A part of the cure
Or am I part of the disease, singing

You are, you are
You are, you are
You are, you are

And nothing else compares
And nothing else compares
And nothing else compares

You are, you are

Home, home, where I wanted to go
Home, home, where I wanted to go
Home, home, where I wanted to go (You are)
Home, home, where I wanted to go (You are)

Plastic Mancunian said...

Hi EC,

You were interrogated too? It's ridiculous, isn't it?

I hear you regarding the fur!!!

:0)

Cheers

PM

Plastic Mancunian said...

Oh dear - sorry for that, River.

Perhaps I shouldn't tell you that they are still cute.

:0)

Cheers

PM

Plastic Mancunian said...

Hi Pand,

I can cope with ladies like that - I largely nod my head and agree even though I am fuming inside. When she's gone, everything that she says is ignored anyway.

Mylo Xyloto - got it for Xmas - not really listened to it yet.

:0)

Cheers

PM

Plastic Mancunian said...

Bonjour Kath,

Chris Martin is a little up his own backside. I like the music but I tend to ignore a lot of the words.

The words to clocks? Not a clue. As for the rest of the album - it was a toss up between Clocks and God Put A Smile On Your Face - and I agonised over it right up until I posted it.

I LOVE God Put A Smile On Your Face - maybe if I do another 31 Day memory blogathon ...

:0)

Cheers

PM

drb said...

I think I share Mrs PM's taste in music (not in pets) but I am on your side for this song. I am surprised that she doesn't like this song.

Plastic Mancunian said...

Hi drb,

Well somebody has to like Mrs PM's taste in music.

;-)

I don't understand why she doesn't like it either - I think she's decided that she doesn't like Coldplay and ignores anything they do.

:-)

Cheers

PM

drb said...

The other song I like from Coldplay is Yellow. Watch this please:
http://vodpod.com/watch/2623684-league-of-extraordinary-dancers-yellow-coldplay

Rob and I love it!!!!
He is now the biggest fan of the US So you think you can dance.

:-)

Plastic Mancunian said...

Hi drb,

I watched that and I was very impressed.

Thanks for that.

:0)

Cheers

PM

drb said...

I'm glad you like it! Great dancers make the movements looked so effortless.

That I hope is your initiation to modern ballet. :-)

If you can get a free ticket to the London Ballet Company, don't turn it down. ;-)

Plastic Mancunian said...

Hi drb,

mmm - the jury's still out on ballet, sadly.

:-)

Cheers

PM

Christine said...

Ahhh Yes... I have been interrogated, too. My music teacher, ( I learn the piano)is a cat breeder who also confesses to being an interrogator and has been known to refuse ownership.

Plastic Mancunian said...

Hi Christine,

Refusing us ownership would have meant that I would have looked locally for any cats that were "free to a good home" anyway.

Thankfully, we passed with flying colours, and as you can see from the pictures, we are not bad cat slaves.

:0)

Cheers

PM