Friends

11 September 2016

The Phantom Ball Snatcher

Charlie - sunbathing
When pussycat arrived he was bombarded with toys, gifts from friends, neighbours and, of course, me. Some he liked, some he didn’t touch. Balls were his favourite playthings and I loved rolling them for him to chase after. But he always lost them. Truly lost. Cleaners and I have hunted every room in the house but can’t find them. 

I can see them now... one small red ball that had a flashing light inside, a fair sized furry green ball that had come loose from his scratching post, and a black one detached from a scratching play thingy, one he could get inside.

But the latest loss is a real life tennis ball which is an aid to killing pain in the bum. Seriously! Years ago a chiropractor recommended using a hard ball to kill a particular pain so Joe bought a pack of three yellow tennis balls. It did the trick and the balls were put away in a kitchen drawer for possible future use.
'yellow' ball

That time has now arrived.

The idea is to sit on the ball which has been strategically placed at the point of pain. It hurts but strangely enough it’s a nice hurt – if there is such a thing – and it works. Last night I sat on the ball until it ‘worked the pain’ and I almost forgot it was there. Then it was bedtime so I put the ball away ..... somewhere. Yes, another ball bites the dust!

I have searched every conceivable place where a ball might have rolled or been put but no joy. Every drawer in the house has been ransacked. The other two balls that Joe bought are where they should be and I would have thought I’d have put the one now in use in the same place. No!

the black thingy that
is scratching post and hidey-hole
All furniture, cupboards and pockets have been searched. Nothing! So it rather looks as if the phantom ball snatcher has been at work.

Dear phantom ball snatcher

Please note, I shall be using one of the other yellow balls for the purpose of killing pain, so if you have the audacity to steal that as well I promise there will be trouble.

Yours, frustratedly

PS ... and if you think I don’t know your real identity you are sadly mistaken.



The only bright side to the missing ball problem is that I don’t need it now. Chiropractor has diagnosed my problem as sciatica and the ball would only exacerbate the pain. Under these circumstances I forgive Charlie for losing the balls. However, I shall keep the remaining two balls safe in a drawer so that neither of us can lose them.

13 comments:

  1. Were missing a golf yardage indicator and a bag of chocolate covered pretzels. But we don't have a cat.

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  2. Valerie, that final photograph of Charlie peeking through the window is PRICELESS! What a GREAT capture! He has got such an adorable face!

    Funny you mentioned that balls are his favorite play-things because both my cats loved them as well. Cats are very particular about what kind of toys they enjoy. At the time I had my two cats, their favorite ball toys were these small (golf ball-size) sponge balls, sort like what we in America refer to as a Nerf Ball. OMG...they LOVED those things!

    Hope you're having a lovely Sunday, my friend!

    X to you and Charlie

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  3. Joeh, perhaps your neighbour has a cat? I should check it out before something else goes missing.

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  4. Ron, I knew you would like that photograph. I was thankful I had the phone camera handy when Charlie looked in at me. He stayed there for quite a while ... he definitely has the 'stare', don't you think?

    Did you cats lose the nerf balls or is it only Charlie that loses things?

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  5. Even my dogs lose things. I think it's a pet priority to lose their toys and occasionally ours. He sure has that look down pat, doesn't he?

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  6. S J Qualls... you are right, he does have that look... grins.

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  7. Funny post. Some day you will find that stash of 'all things lost'. I had a cat that would knock little things off of my dresser and take them in the bathroom and play hockey with herself....in the middle of the night of course. PS, Sciatica pain is the worst!

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  8. Oh kden, I loved your comment. I've now having visions of a cat playing hockey in the middle of the night!!

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  9. I love that last photo of Charlie looking at you through the window. Great post Valerie, and fun to read.

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  10. Charlie is certainly keeping you on your toes. Glad to hear the chiropractor was able to diagnose the problem and you are feeling better. Take care, Val.

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  11. Did he own up, though? :-)

    Greetings from London.

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  12. tee hee...Mr Cheddar is sitting on my lap right now. He gives this post two paws UP!!!! >^^<

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