even the dogs

Even the dogs (well the domestic ones) have their own outfits. This suit courtesy of U and O, to whom many thanks for a lovely dinner.

about that kitten....

So cute - but. I have been putting off admitting to the next stage in my stray kitten story - only because I did what I planned and returned it to the (warm) building corridor in which I found it, behind some heating pipes. No further news except to say that when I went back to look it had disappeared. So here's hoping... 

I know I know..

I know, Moscow is full of stray dogs and cats and the last thing you want to do is to take one home. But this kitten was so tiny, abandoned so late in the year, good at the piteous squealing, and unusually fluffy and fancy for a feral.

My current plan is just to fatten her up over the weekend and return her to the streets, but then I am such a sucker for small furry things. Or unless anyone else wants a cat.............

tales of the unexpected 4

Whilst we are on an animal theme, I should mention that these stuffed rabbits seem to have popped up in a lot of (arty) places here recently. The point? Who knows, although given that large painted cows have been appearing all over London - and for all I know other major cities - for a while, maybe it is just because they can.

goat in a coat

There are a lot of homeless and drunks in Moscow, mainly around train stations. There are also quite a lot of beggars, these usually ex-soldiers (or at least people in camouflage uniforms) with missing limbs or elderly ladies on their knees with icons. This man was the first I have seen begging with a goat.

dog-in-the-metro

I don't know why the stray dogs seem much more obvious in the winter. Do they take summer hols? Anyway, I have also started to see more of them underground; it is a well known Moscow belief that strays travel this way. The dog pictured here has just left the metro through the main doors, where it was waiting patiently and with much dignity to be let out. (I attempt to take quite a few pictures of these dogs; as with this one they seem not to like it much, and turn away as soon as you point a camera. Well, at least that is what I think it is, it might be me being a bit anxious about getting barked at - which has also happened.)

weather report

Good news and bad news. The good news is that they have turned on the domestic heating for this area (just a test I think as it went off again yesterday) and mine seems to work. The bad news is that the brief, beautiful autumn is soon to be over. Dropped from 20 degrees over the last few days to 7 degrees today, with - 1 predicted at the end of the week.

So last chance to see the old regulars who have been sitting out on the grass outside with deckchairs and a ginger tabby on a lead.

tales of the unexpected 3

I know. An elephant and a teddy bear with poles up their bottoms. What is that for exactly?

Snow going, dogs appearing

As the snow thaws, the stray dogs are beginning to re-appear. I was getting to know the pack near where I live (and the one on the way to work) last year - only by sight I mean; they are neither friendly or unfriendly, but would certainly attack if threatened.

These strays produce a variety of responses. Some people, particularly old ladies, leave them food. Others put collars on them, so that they won't be removed and killed. But others find them unsettling, both as potential dangerous and as yet another symbol of what is wrong with Moscow, its inability to be a 'civilised' city on par with London or New York.

Tales of the unexpected 2

I think tales of the unexpected is going to become not so much an occasional series as a horribly frequent one. But I have to ask, just what is this full sized plastic zebra doing here (with matching cow) - in the yard of a florist in a relatively poor part of town? It is a bling thing to have one in your garden/living room/balcony? Or is it just to attract us to buy more flowers?

and more creatures...

And here are some 'stuffed' animals, also on display near Red Square.... the bear is having a quick fag.

....and the animals

Another thing about the Garage show, that was just unexpected, was how many live animals it contained (also some stuffed bears and chickens). There were some pretty miserable small birds in one installation; and then another with snakes, tortoises, cockroaches and other insects - which was actually a very interesting piece.

May have particularly noticed as, having finally got to Red Square, I found myself taken aback by people posing for photos with chained monkeys. You just don't get that in London anymore. Oh, and I have just finished reading Me Cheeta by James Lever, which definitely makes one think about the peculiar history of our relationships to other species.