I want this tray

I love this tray mostly due to Anne's luxuriant hair.

Cat not for sale

"Don't let them take my sofa"

Cross Panda

Don't say no to Panda

Robbie Savage dancing with Emu

stagecraft at its best

Not every artist needs giant robots, aerial wires or trap doors to come in or out of in a puff of smoke at their live shows. Peter Gabriel opts for cycling in the round on his trusty two-wheel, yes, two-wheel! (very brave) bicycle. There's a camera on the handlebars for added drama. The crowd go wild! There is also a cup of tea by the keyboard. I hope it's Assam, for that is the most rock and roll of all the teas. It's a heavy brew, man.

Shoe news

Good things come in small, folded packages

Drawing by Mario Jambresic

Clay creatures by Masami Yamagiwa

By Guiseppe Bomparola

I'm not digging the new location for the Museum Of Everything's new exhibition - Selfridges is just wrong, wrong, wrong. But there are some real art gems - this time around made by people with various learning difficulties.
The work of Mario Jambresic was a good find. He draws solo male figures with pencils and crayons on paper, then folds the work up into a small piece and keeps it in his pocket until he is ready, sometimes after many months, to give it up and allow it to be displayed. Loved it.

Small dolphin for sale

A photo successfully highlighting the miniature-ness of the item

Poodle update

A wonderful display, I think you'll agree.

Over the next few days I will give updates of my progress on buying kitsch dogs to adorn the house. Here are some for starters.

More reasons to go to Greece

Hydra harbour - the view from our balcony window

Carrying cat biscuits in my pocket is a must for occasions like this

Cat fashion: The mum's tail scarf. So on trend.

My favourite Flatty

So we were back in Greece - this time on the Greek Island of Hydra, which I loved. No cars are allowed on the little island that's about an hour and a half away by boat from Athens. So you have to walk, get in a water taxi or take a donkey ride. We mostly chose our feet. Hydra's not as ramshackle as Skopolos, which is a shame. And it was quite expensive. But the views were fab, the food delish and everywhere you looked there were cats. Now you can't argue with that.

Ouch

Animals with moustaches

"Take your scissors and fuck off."

I didn't realise horses could grow moustaches. This is the story of Alfie, the horse who won't let his owners clip his face hair. Good job too - it's bloody brilliant!

More animals should go for it.

My beautiful new clock

Serious eyebrows

Good tail display

I've been waiting for ages to be able to afford one of these lovely old German, musical clocks from the 50's. Apart from a bit of surface damage and a few wobbly legs, this one is a gem. The ballroom couple spin around in the room of mirrors, while a tinkly, music box type tune plays. I love it! Thanks Ebay.

get stuffed

Dear old Tiddles

Lovely smile

I'm a big fan of very old taxidermy that looks a bit wrong. Here are two classic examples. What's not to love?

shoe for sale

With such wonderful presentation it's hard to not love this shoe that's for sale on ebay. Tempting.

Dogs say cheese

I really want to go and see this photography exhibition at the Kennal Club Art Gallery. It's dogs from 1850-1950. One hundred years of super-cuteness!

3am wake up call

Just as I was singing the praises of Miss Marple, she goes and wakes me up by bringing a live mouse into my bedroom at 3am and flinging it around the place. Luckily I managed to rescue the mouse by catching it in my shoe. (nb: this is the best tactic. I must have used my converse to successfully capture and free at least 25 rats and mice in my lifetime). Meanwhile, Miss M is in disgrace but doesn't seem to care. She's gone all silly and is purring her head off.

My winner

What am I saying!? Nobody will beat Missy!!

Miss Marple the model

Today I discovered that the Mayhew are looking for rescued animals to appear in their 2012 calendar. Obviously this means I'll now start following Miss Marple everywhere with the camera. She'll make lots of cross faces I expect. Whatever happens she will always be a model to me, but she might have some stiff calendar competition from other beautiful beasties like these...

Cottontail

Martha

b-b-b-biscuit bass

Masterchef Synesthesia

Fum & Gebra - it's true love

This owl and cat are best friends. It makes me very happy.

Olympian alert

A nice view of Chesil Beach

Spent a lovely weekend away in Portland. A particular highlight was seeing a whole pub full of white-blond Swedes with ridiculously tanned skin and small noses. They were all trying out for a place in the Olympic sailing team. With them was an ex-Olympian who was training them up. His name was Steven but he said in Sweden that translates as 'stiff one'. I think that was some kind of misinformed chat-up line. It would never have worked. He was in his late fifties and looked like Michael Eavis.

Flowers and cats

Sweet Williams

Some kind of daisy

I know it's good for the garden but I'm fed up of rain. Luckily there are cats to cheer me up.

Mabel on the lookout for trouble

Flap watch / "Why won't it stop raining!"

I'm starting with the dog in the mirror

Another Ebay classic picture. Cute face not for sale.

Say cheese

One of my favourite things is coming across people in Ebay photos. It's good when it's accidental but it's even better when they give us a smile, like this man...

Lovely Lisbon

He won the staring contest

This building makes me feel a bit seasick

Gormenghast!

Freezing mist

Not even I have this much tat

Way back in February I had a lovely weekend in Lisbon. The best bits were the incredible Palace of Pena, which seemed to be built on a load of impossible angles, and a weird bric-a-brac style bar.