Saturday 24 May 2008

100th Post! A tale and a tail.






Baxterknits suggested that it would be a good idea to celebrate my 100th post with a Magnus retrospective. How could I refuse?! While looking through the old pictures of the Mog, I came across a file labelled 'Magnus Identification' which reminded me that I had not told the story of Magnus' catnapping. Now seems like the ideal time........

A year or two ago, Magnus disappeared. After two nights without sight of him we began to get worried. After all, this is a beast who never misses a mealtime. Days passed, then weeks and I began to fear the worst. Archie checked the main road for a familiar body and we walked throught the village calling his name. I used to stand at the foot of Magnus' favourite tree, by the circle where he had trampled the long grass into a nest. Tears were shed and the Mog seemed to have gone forever.

Then one Friday morning I was reading the local paper and there amongst the public notices for Jumble Sales and Evenings of Clairvoyance was a thank you from a Cattery about ten miles away. A lost cat had been returned to them at about the same time Magnus went missing and it had been found in our village in a street near to our house. I called the Cattery who were sympathetic but no, it couldn't be Magnus as the cat in question was female. Anyhow, the owners had collected their cat and were overjoyed to have her back. Something didn't feel quite right and I visited the people who found the lost cat ( it's a small village and people are easy to find. ) When they saw pictures of Magnus they agreed that it could have been the same fellow. The Cattery were having none of it though and they wouldn't let us contact the owners of the cat who had stayed with them. The people had also moved house and were living in the next county.

Time to bring on the big guns. Constable Steve, the village policeman took up the case and the Cattery owner cracked. We got the phone number and called the lost cat's owners. A visit was arranged but I didn't get my hopes up, after all, as far as everyone was concerned the lost cat had been a lady, not a big bruiser like Magnus. That weekend Archie and I drove to the next county and there, in a complete stranger's house, lying on a beautiful pastel sofa, was Our Boy. Magnus was so overwhelmed by our efforts to find him that he ignored us completely and the man we were visiting was convinced that the Mog was actually his female. In fact he went as far as to say: "That cat has a vagina." Yikes! However, we had done some forward planning and brought a selection of photographs with us, the resemblance was unmistakeable. The man began to waver and we agreed that the Mog could stay with him till his partner returned from a business trip and then they could both decide what to do. As we left, he joked that we would get Magnus back sooner if he misbehaved.

Two days later the phone rang - it was the man from the next county. "I'm bringing your cat back." he said. " It's just attacked one of my dogs."


******


And that is the tale of the disappearing Magnus. His own tail has had a reprieve - the vet is holding off from amputating as it looks a good bit better and there is a chance that it will be alright unmolested. It will never be as good as new but good enough will do us.

A competition to celebrate the 100th Post. The prizes are slowly being gathered and so far I've got a lovely tea towel with roses on the front, some of the most unlikely vintage knitting patterns and a hank of handspun. All you have to do is answer this question:

We got Magnus from the Cats' Protection League in Dundee. Which British footballer was he originally named after?

Hint - he has a famous wife and American connections. If no right answers, or all right answers appear, I'll pull a winner out of the hat. If anyone has been reading the Mogblog without commenting, now is a great time to come out and say Hello.

17 comments:

Purple Fuzzy Mittens said...

Great pictures! I have no idea about the footballer, but I am glad to hear Magnus' tail is getting better. :-)

Anonymous said...

Congrats on your 100th post! Quite a story about Magnus - he sure is a gorgeous cat!

Thanks for the fun contest! I went searching and I've come up with Magnus Hedman. He has the famous wife (a Swedish model and pop singer), but I didn't come up with the American connection, so I might be wrong!

heidispins

Cindy G said...

Yay! Loved the pictures and really loved the catnapping story. Don't mess with Magnus!

I couldn't even tell you much about American football players (and yeah, I know it's a different game altogether.) So passing on the contest, but sending congrats on the 100th post.

Orinda5 said...

I know nothing about football, but I love a good trivia quest, so I also searched and found Magnus Hedman.
Ya gotta love Wikepedia!

I love the photo of Magnus in the shoes.

Anonymous said...

My guess would be Magnus Hedman. But I didn't come up with that without Googling, so I don't suppose that counts.

I officially adore Magnus. I can totally picture him beating the snot out of a dog. Tee hee! Glad to hear his tail is getting better on its own!

Michelle said...

Magnus on his side completely looks like our recently dearly departed Thalamus. They must be related. Sorry, don't know anything about the footballer.
michelle

JuliaA said...

hi! i love your photography so i lurk. i'm juulia on ravelry fogknitters.

i asked a british friend who's a football fan and he thought of magnus hedman, but said that he's swedish...not sure if you're asking for someone who's played british football or someone who's british as well. (or maybe my friend is wrong!)

that's my official guess anyway, since he couldn't think of any other magnus. obviously i cheated a bit because i don't know anything about sports, much less british ones!

Pikku- Kettu said...

What an amazing story! I just found your blog through your Flickr account and through a photo of Magnus (how appropriate).

I'd say Magnus Hedman as well because as far as football is concerned, I'm at the mercy of wikipedia. :)

Leslie said...

Delurking here to say I'm happy Magnus' tail (1) was told and (2) is coming along well :)

Not knowing anything about "real" football I'll go with the crowd and say Magnus Hedman.

Life's keeping me from Rav and blog reading later, so keep well!Congrats on Post 100!

Julia said...

Congratulations on the 100th post!!!
These are brilliant Magnus shots.I'm still confused about how the man could have mistook your big butch boy with a lady cat(with a.....v*****!)
So glad his tail has had a reprieve :-)

Anonymous said...

first, so glad his tail is mending. i loved the pictures, he's so handsome and your story was great! what a lucky boy to have you keep searching.
i'll be honest, i don't know too much on the football end, but i think i might guess Magnus Hedman too. congrats on number 100! have a wonderful week.

Beatriz said...

Happy 100th post...I love your cat photos! Thanks for stopping by the Flickr pages to comment. Thanks for sharing the Magnus cat story!

magnusmog said...

Added for Hockey Kitten

Magnus Hedman is my guess, the American connection??? He played in the 1994 World Cup in the States. I got this from my ex whose originally from Manchester.

I hope I can be entered in the drawing.

Kitty hugs & kisses to Mags from Lily & Paris.

Louisa said...

Happy 100th post! And I'm glad Magnus is keeping all of his tail. What a great story! I have no idea how they could have mistaken him for a female. Just too funny. I don't do sports, sorry, so the prize can go to someone who has more of a clue.

nicantsoair said...

OOOH, it has to be Beckham, that is David Beckham.
I think you renamed him Magnus, didn't you? Because I am sure Magnus was not his original name.
So sorry about his tail, bless the boy, but I have a strong feeling that he will recover well....
lots of love
S

mary jane said...

Defiantly Magnus Hedman...easy...(when you read the comments). Disqualified! Happy 100th!

simplicitybegins said...

Aw, shucks. Wish I'd read this blog sooner! I'd have guessed David Beckham. He plays "soccer" in California now, is married to a Spice girl. Oh, well, I missed another chance to win. I'm so sorry about Magnus' poor tail!