Trygve's Photos

Our 4 legged friends are very attuned to how we feel. I often read about dogs that are trained to detect many diseases and to react when their 2 legged buddies are not in sync. No doubt cats are the same. Not sure about pet snakes. Do pet pythons squeeze their loved ones?

The Professor figured it all out early. The day after our distillery cat, Mrs Stubbs, was cat-napped (yes, really,) someone threw this little orange monster out of a car in the lane way behind the house. He made a beeline for the kitchen door, skinny, screaming and stinky. There were plenty of other cats around,we fed them, but we let this tiny and sick creature run into the kitchen and he stayed there for 6 weeks. If I or my assistant went outside, he came with, but stayed between our feet. I was frantically looking for Mrs Stubbs, and Hassan was the one who fed him and entertained him in the evenings. Eventually I had to admit Mrs Stubbs was gone; I blame my ex as he was obsessed with her. The Professor seemed kind of air-headed but sweet. We decided to call him Professor Maurice Pimblebrook, but hes registered at the vet as the Professor--this is hilarious in Arabic. Over time, and some vet visits, he got micro-chipped, treated for parasites, cleaned....everything to give him the appearance of being a normal cat. He was already fixed, which is why he has a notch out of his ear. Eventually, very slowly, he became a bit trusting, more and more, and hung out for the distillation, which still shocks me as it's so hot and the air shimmers with frankincense. It's an intense environment and most humans can't stand it. But he stayed with his friend Hassan and be barely even came upstairs,. He slept in the kitchen. Eventually we started letting a in a cat who was bullied outside. This is Henri. Something bad happened to him and he is ultra skittish,and terrified, but after a night or two of sleeping in my office, with safety, food, water, a cozy bed and a litter box, he was soon waiting at the door by mid-afternoon. The Professor decided Henri was a threat and tried to kill him so we kept them apart. When I went to Dubai for a few days in winter 2022, I was diagnosed with heart failure and needed surgery asap. My insurance paid for surgery in Abu Dhabi, and I probably would not have made the flight home anyway. So I had to gather everything in Muscat and get back to UAE. I grabbed an apartment in Dubai and took the Professor, as Hassan was to follow and he was better suited to deal with Henri. Hassan didn't get a visa due to his passport (Bangladesh) so we are making some changes and trying again. In the meantime, Henri is now an indoor cat, who actually got into the bed with Hassan a couple of nights ago. It took years for him to relax that much. I know Hassan will be pleased to see his friend the Professor again. And I'll be happy to see Henri. More information than anyone asked for, but I feel like the entire story needs to be told, at least in relation to the name.

That's a glorious story, Trygve! -Actually it's more like several vignettes all coming together to prove the power of love, patience and persistence. All four of you (two humans, two cats) have been survivors of ill circumstances that you didn't ask for, but fought to make better. It's a good sign for your futures! (PS Hope the Professor is more tolerate of Henri this time around. Both are adorable looking.) ❤️

So happy to see you looking so well, Trygve, despite the long time "on the inside" and new developments that are less than delightful. But going home at last makes up for so much! Wishing you a peaceful recovery filled with wonderful rediscoveries of luxuries like deep breaths and of course that magnificent feline companion of yours. Sending love and hugs!

I agree, not everyone looks that positive/excited before major surgery, Trygve. So happy to hear that the surgery has been successful and has given a better understanding. Now for some serious R&R as you recuperate. I do believe Professor Pimblebrook will be at hand for moral support, and am sending my very best wishes.

Thank you all! Some of the doctors came over just before this picture just to say some encouraging and nice things before surgery. Joking and stuff. When they wheeled me down the hallway, I saw what looked like a great mass of doctors, nurses and the like standing by the OR doors. All for me. That really was comforting. Cardiac surgeries have the entire team there who specialize in only cardiac surgeries. It's so normal for them. They do it every day. For us having Open Heart Surgery, it can be so scary, but for these guys its just what they do, they've seen it before, whatever it is, a hundred times. I found I could relax and laugh, even before going in