Christmas Throwback the Music for Throwback Thursday and Flashback Friday

Nostalgia with Athena and Marie 

First, here is a photo throwback to July 2013

My, what a big paw I have 😸

And now for a special Throwback the Music post. We haven't done one of these for quite a while!

Now, many of you who have been reading our blog for a long time know that Mum struggles with depression and anxiety. She is also an introvert. But burning deep within her is a creative spirit who won't settle which makes her even more depressed. She worries about getting on as she is in her early 50s now and is crazily worried that none of her dreams have come true. Her anxiety has restricted her for so many years.

Being a cat mum is her proudest achievement and she would love to do that forever. But she tells me that to live in the human materialistic world she has to do things other humans find so easy to do.

Talking is not her thing. Especially participating in small talk. That's why she became a writer. It's so much easier for her to communicate her thoughts that way. She does find it hard to talk to people and has gotten worse over the last few years. She is like a cat really as it takes her a while to trust people. 

What I'm leading up to is this:

I believe inside my mother is an extrovert trying to get out. There is nothing wrong with her being an introvert. In fact, it's a gift because it's what makes her HER.

So, to CHALLENGE herself she has made the choice to take the next step up from blogging to become a VLOGGER.

Don't worry. She is not giving up blogging, but she wants to try to build up her YouTube Channel (which she has had for years).

She will also try to build mine up too, but for now, she is concentrating on my Instagram, which is where I seem to be the most popular. I'm popular here in the blogoshere too, which is all thanks to you great guys 💚 We both love Instagram and I have so many more followers than Mum, which she is cool with and says she wouldn't have it any other way. We've started TikTok too, but she's a little confused with that one. It seems to be more for the younger generation.

Have you guys heard of REACTION videos? They are so popular on YouTube it seems.

Mum has become addicted to watching them (mainly reactions to music videos). The vocal coach ones are the best as you gain super tips if you are interested in singing.

Anyway, Mum sings (she says she will record more singing videos) though for the moment she has decided to react to music and we might do reaction to some cats too. You must watch because I'm in some of her reaction videos.

Here I am in two CHRISTMAS ones.

We are reacting to two Christmas songs from 1984. A year that was truly one of Mum's favourites from her teens. She says she went to a lot of concerts that year and most of her favourite musicians from that weird hairstyle decade are in the Band Aid video.

WHAM! LAST CHRISTMAS REACTION 

Click to view on YouTube

MY CAT AND I REACT TO BAND AID'S "DO THEY KNOW IT'S CHRISTMAS" 1984

Click here to view on YouTube

🎄🎅🤶

Athena Cat Goddess is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

 We are also participating in tomorrow's Feline Friday, hosted by Comedy Plus

Happy International Cat Day!

Happy International Cat Day!

It's always cat day for us but it's great to have a day like today to celebrate cats and for the world to be reminded of our awesomeness 😻

As it's also Throwback Thursday we are sharing this photo from late 2013 and if it looks familiar it's because we've posted it before and Mum also used it for the paperback cover of The Cat Years: How My Cat Soulmates Saved Me.

Right, book plug over now let's help some cats - the real purrfect way to honour International Cat Day, is it not? 

Adopt a Cat

Sad to see that these two wonderful chaps are still at Wood Green, The Animals Charity (where I was adopted from).

We've featured them before on this blog and we can't understand why they have not yet met their forever human.

So we are sharing them again. They deserve it on this special day!

Keano (Photo: Wood Green)

Ozzy (Photo: Wood Green)

To find out more about Keano please click here

To find out more about Ozzy please click here

Help Save The Scottish Wildcat

Did you know that today is also Scottish Wildcat Day?

 

photo credit: Peter G Trimming 'Kendra' (3) via photopin 

The elusive Scottish Wildcat is a descendent of the European Wildcat that colonized Britain around 9,000 years ago and due to deforestation and the loss of habitat in Britain, there are only a few of them now left in Scotland. It's heartbreaking to know that these beautiful wildcats are on the brink of extinction.

Save the Scottish wildcat by protecting Clashindarroch Forest

Please sign this petition urgently calling on the Scottish Government to immediately halt the logging and exploitation of Clashindarroch Forest to ensure the iconic Scottish wildcat survives.

The Scottish Wildcat is one of the rarest animals in the world; there are only 35 of them left on earth. A third of them live in the publicly owned Clashindarroch Forest in the Scottish Highlands, but they are in danger from logging by the Scottish Government’s Forestry Commission Scotland. If this doesn’t stop immediately, the wildcat will become extinct"

https://www.change.org/p/scottish-government-save-the-scottish-wildcat-by-protecting-clashindarroch-forest?


Links 
https://www.wildcathaven.com/scottish-wildcat/

http://www.scottishwildcataction.org/about-wildcats/



Athena Cat Goddess is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Throwback The Music: The Day Diana Died

Music always evokes memories for you humans (and for us kitties too). It becomes the soundtrack of our lives. So, a while back I had an idea for a new regular feature on this blog.

For Throwback Thursday, why not do a post about your favourite song (or songs) that conjures up memories from your past? Or it can be a favourite album that takes you right back.Then you write a short piece about that particular time (if you want to). And if you wish, how about linking to us when you post? (Actually, it would be greatly appreciated if you could!)

The Day Princess Diana Died

On this day, 20 years ago, Princess Diana tragically died in a car crash in Paris so Mum wanted to write a post in honour of this remarkable lady. 

Mum says she isn't a supporter of the monarchy, but she did like and admire Diana because she was different and was so in touch with the common people and wasn't afraid to show her emotions. It's just really sad that the princess was only 36 when her life ended. So incredibly sad that she never got the chance to see her beloved boys grow up. William and Harry had a wonderful mother and she would have been the most amazing grandmother. 

 [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

On the night Diana died, Mum was with her other soulmate kitty Suzy at her flat (apartment). Suzy actually still lived at home with Mum's mother and brother, but that weekend she was staying with Mum because Granny was having some work carried out at the house.

At the time, Mum was living the life of a vampire, sleeping all day and staying awake all night, (though please note, she wasn't actually a vampire and she never lusted after blood!)  

Just after midnight, the movie mum was watching on TV was interrupted by a news flash that the princess had been involved in a car accident. 

Mum's first thought was how unlucky Diana was as over the past few months the princess seemed (according to the press) to have found happiness at last. Mum hoped Diana would be alright and the injuries she'd sustained weren't going to be serious.

A few hours later the dreadful news that Diana had passed away was to shock the whole world. 

A week later Mum actually joined millions of others at the funeral in London. I'll let her tell you about it below.

" I wasn't going to attend the funeral but a friend at the time wanted to go so I went and, looking back, I'm glad I did. As I'm a bit of a history buff, I feel honoured to have been a part of history. 

Even now, 20 years on, I can still remember the surreal quietness and stillness of it all. It was a crisp early autumn day, slightly misty morning and my late dad drove us there early as he used to work in London. After we had breakfast at a cafe he dropped us off at Hyde Park. We made our way along the Serpentine towards Kensington Palace and then Kensington High Street and found a space to stand in the crowd and wait for the procession. 

At just after 9am the funeral procession began and we waited in stunned silence for the cortege to pass. I heard the horses' hooves clicking on the ground in the distance. Cries of "Diana" from a few grieving women pierced the eerie silence. 

The clicking of hooves got nearer and nearer and I was lucky to be at the front of the crowd and could see it all so clear. I immediately caught sight of the flowers with the "Mummy" card on it. It was heart wrenching. At this point, as it was at the beginning of the almost 2 hours procession from Kensington Palace to Westminster Abbey, there were no royals walking along behind the coffin. They would join the cortege later, so I didn't get to see the two young princes. Not that I wanted to. I think it was unfair that they had to endure the torture of walking behind their mother's coffin, with the eyes of the crowd and the world watching. I don't know how they did it. I wouldn't have been able to. But I'm not here to judge. They were very brave.

After the cortege went past, we started walking and made our way to Hyde Park and found a space on the ground to sit and watch the live broadcast of the funeral on two giant screens.

We watched the entire funeral there, and though I felt immense sadness I couldn't cry, though others around me did. When Diana's brother Earl Spencer had said those words about the royals and everyone around me rose to their feet and clapped, I did too. I'm glad I was part of that. 

It's a moment in time that will live on in my memory forever, something to tell my kids and grandkids (though I don't see myself having any), but I'm happy to share with my furkid instead!"

💜💚💖

Here are a few tracks that remind Mum of the summer of 1997

 

Where were you when you heard that Princess Diana had died?

Throwback the Music: Suzy #throwbackthursday

On this day 19 years ago Mum lost her beloved angel cat Suzy (the fur daughter before me) so we are dedicating this Throwback The Music post to her.

If you remember a few months back I had an idea for a new regular feature on this blog and came up with Throwback The Music.

Copy this badge and link-up if you want to share your Throwback the Music story.

Music always evokes memories for you humans (and for us kitties too). It becomes the soundtrack of our lives.

So seeing as it's Throwback Thursday, why not do a post about a favourite song of yours that conjures up memories from your past? Or it can be a favourite album that takes you right back. Or a list of fave songs that remind you of a certain time in your life.

Then you answer a few questions to make it easier to write up your post. Or maybe don't answer questions (which can be of your own choosing) and just write about your memories that relate to your chosen track(s).

And if you wish, how about linking to us when you post? (Actually, it would be greatly appreciated if you would!)

I've asked Mum to tell us about music which reminds her of Suzy. Not specifically music that she was listening to when Suzy crossed the bridge, but music or any songs that reminded her of her precious girl. 

She's chosen a few tracks from YouTube which you can see below.

Suzy came into Mum's life as a young kitten.  She was adorable as you can see. Apologies for the poor quality of most of these photos but they were taken back in the very olden days of the 1980s and 90s.

The year was 1985, it was summer and it was the year of Live Aid. 
Mum's favourite bands of the time were Duran Duran and Spandau Ballet, and of course Wham/George Michael.

She liked a lot of other artists too but here's the end of the concert from Wembley before everyone switched over to watch the concert live from the United States.

Here is the Live Aid Finale from Wembley. So sad that some of the people we see on this stage are no longer with us too 😿

As the 80s drew to a close Mum got more interested in Rock music and began to look back to the 1960s for music inspiration. She's always loved sixties music and most of the bands from that era. The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who, etc. But she also rediscovered The Doors after watching The Doors Movie by Oliver Stone. Jim Morrison soon began to inspire her poetry and other writing.


There are so many songs that remind Mum of the years she spent with Suzy, but that would make one very long post. So to keep it short, here are two songs that sadly will always remind Mum of the days she lost her sweet little girl 💚

Even though Mum isn't really a Robbie Williams fan she does love this song a lot.





And she isn't a Celine Dion fan but this song always reminds her of the loss of Suzy and makes her cry.

💜💚💖

Throwback Thursday: Chris Cornell

It's a sad day for music once again. Chris Cornell, another musician from my Mum's younger days, has passed away quite young. Mum tells me that back in the 1990s she was really into the grunge scene. Her favourite bands from that scene were Pearl Jam and Soundgarden. For those of you that don't know, Chris Cornell was the singer of Soundgarden. Here is one of their songs.



He also sang one of the best James Bond themes ever:




Rest in Peace, Chris Cornell 💔

Throwback the Music: George Michael #tbt

I had an idea for a new regular feature on this blog.

Music always evokes memories for you humans (and for us kitties too). It becomes the soundtrack of our lives.

So seeing as it's Throwback Thursday, why not do a post about a favourite song of yours that conjures up memories from your past? Or it can be a favourite album that takes you right back.

Then you answer a few questions to make it easier to write up your post.

And if you wish, how about linking to us when you post? (Actually, it would be greatly appreciated if you would!)

Copy this badge and link-up

I've asked Mum to tell us about a special album that she's been playing a lot lately.

She's chosen the George Michael album Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1*

Listen Without Prejudice Vol.1*

Mum says: "This has to be my all time fave George Michael album. In the 80s, I really loved Wham. I went to their gigs and was sad when they broke up in 1986. I was at the Final gig. It was amazing. Even though it was a really hot day, I enjoyed myself immensely. Unfortunately, on the way home, I twisted my ankle."
After Wham called it a day, Mum went on to follow George Michael's solo career and she loved the more mature sound of his second solo album Listen Without Prejudice and has been playing it a lot after George Michael tragically passed away on Christmas Day last year.

How old were you when this album was released, Mum? It was in 1990 and was 24. 

What were you doing? Working as a quality controller at a dress manufacturer and singing in a pop duo with another girl, hoping we'd be the next Pepsi and Shirlie.

Did you have a loving pet at this time? My beautiful black and white cat Suzy. She was my first soulmate cat. I loved her so much.

What was your greatest wish at this time? I dreamed of being a successful singer and escaping my dreary job. I loved singing and it always made me feel good. It was an escape from the problems at home. I really longed to be on stage singing and I needed to be famous. Looking back, it seems so egotistical now, but I wanted it so bad. Maybe it was due to the fact that I was really bullied at school. Maybe it's because I craved attention. I always felt my parents didn't love me enough. Fame isn't important to me now, of course. But I wouldn't mind a bit of success for once and not have to resign to the fact that I'll be the struggling artist forever 😞

After George Michael passed away, I began listening once again to his beautiful music. I will always love his earlier music. It's true that I wasn't much of a fan later (I was more into rock and metal during the 90s). 

Listen Without Prejudice floods my mind with so many memories. I become that young woman again - bursting with hope and dreaming of better future. But always prone to depression. That's something that doesn't seem to change.

This is one of my favourite tracks. Hearing it now, two decades later, it makes me feel so good. 


FREEDOM 90 from Listen Without Prejudice Vol 1

💜💚💖

Thanks for telling me about your younger days, Mum. Apparently, today is also National Cat Lady Day (or was it yesterday?) Anyway, here is a photo of my cat lady Mum and me...

And how about a photo of Mum back in the day with her beloved Suzy. Look at Mum's 80s hairdo!!! 😻

#ThrowbackThursday Old Videos of Me!

Mum found some old videos of me from 2011 that she filmed on her old phone. The quality may not be so good but I look too cute so it would be a shame not to share them with you 😺

Elegant Drinking Cat #ThrowbackThursday

Today it's Throwback Thursday to this video of me drinking water 'elegantly' from a mug.  Mum posted it on her YouTube channel a few years ago, before she got me my own channel. 

#ThrowbackThursday Me On The Window Sill 2011

#ThrowbackThursday The Snowflake Pendant & Kindle Countdown Deal

Two years ago Mum published The Snowflake Pendant. The reason I'm telling you this is not only because this is a Throwback Thursday post, but also because starting today, December 22nd , THE SNOWFLAKE PENDANT Kindle Countdown Deal begins on Amazon.com  

If you're quick you can buy this magical cat fantasy for 99 CENTS instead of the full listing price of $4.99. 

AMAZON REVIEWS

" Deeply moving and magical"

"Satisfying to the soul"

"It made me cry. It made me want to rush out and make a film of it"

"A must read for cat lovers"

"Beautifully written, straight from the author's heart"

"Brings justice, like a mighty beam of sunlight, to the sensitive, the caring, the loving people of this earth"

⛄

What is THE SNOWFLAKE PENDANT about? 

Mum wrote this time travel cat fantasy about the soulmate cat that came before me. You remember SUZY right? 

Suzy is the star and co-author of The Snowflake Pendant

Mum talks about her sweet black n white Tuxie girl a lot and still feels a strong connection with her, even though she passed over the Rainbow Bridge many years ago. Nothing new in that, I know, because I'm sure many of you feel the same after your sweet animal companions have passed on too. 

But Mum believes it is Suzy herself that helped her write this book, not just inspired the story, but actually wrote it through her, like she channelled Suzy in a way. 

The Snowflake Pendant is a time travel story, with Suzy helping lead character Cathy travel back in time to a magical land via a special pendant that binds them through all eternity. It is an entirely fictional tale. However, like most authors, Mum weaves her own life experiences into her stories to make them more realistic and believable so the reader can relate.

"It's a story I wanted to write in Suzy's memory," Mum says. "I also believe it's a story my beloved black and white cat wanted me to tell, and feel that she co-authored it with me from across the Rainbow Bridge."

Suzy is amazing in it, but my favourite character was the magnificent snow leopard who Cathy meets on her travels. 

So, dear readers and friends, if you love animals, and have been lucky enough to be blessed with a pet's unconditional love, this book is for you! 

💜💖

GET YOUR COPY NOW ON AMAZON BEFORE THIS SPECIAL PROMOTIONAL OFFER ENDS!*

*ENDS December 29th 2016
*Offer only available to readers in the US 

Throwback Thursday: Kitten Close Up

You can see my eyes beginning to change from their hazel kitten colour to the beautiful green I have now.

Throwback Thursday: Belly Rub Time, Mummy! #TBT

Come on, Mummy. I know you want to!

Hiding Under The Duvet #ThrowbackThursday

This is me when I was younger, fooling around while Mum is trying to change the sheets. 

I bet all you kitties do this too, don't you?

Fun in a Box From Last Christmas #ThrowbackThursday

This is one of my favourite videos of me. It's from Christmas last year.

ENJOY!

DON'T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL!

#ThrowbackThursday: Athena's Lullaby

Back in 2011, when I was a tiny kitten, Mum made up this lullaby for me. Some of you may have seen the video before but I told Mum to share it again. It's on Mum's old YouTube channel. She has a more reason channel here. 

But my fans can follow me on my own YouTube channel here. Actually, I'm quite disappointed as I don't have many subscribers. I don't understand why. I mean I'm such a pretty kitty goddess who is also very wise, charming and hugely entertaining. Do I have to beg for followers? Cats do NOT beg! Especially ones named after an Ancient Greek goddess.

(Sorry for the bad sound quality on this video. Blame it on Mum's old smartphone again!)

SPREAD WISDOM, PEACE AND JOY BY SUBSCRIBING TO MY CHANNEL NOW!

Throwback Thursday: Posing with the paperback copy of my book #TBT

Here's me in 2013 posing with my book A FOREVER HOME FOR ATHENA. 

It's my true rescue story (with a bit of make believe thrown in).  I wrote it with Mum to help raise awareness for pet adoption and also to raise some funds for 3 of our favourite pet charities.

Originally, Mum was only going to give a portion of the royalties to charity, but for the past year or so she decided to donate all the royalties to charity. She isn't in a position to help every animal charity as she isn't a rich author. But she wants to do her bit for the animals and I'm with her all the way because I'm a cat with a mission!

Please think about purchasing my book if you haven't already. It's available from Amazon in both paperback and Kindle format. 

Paperback edition

Kindle edition

Sweet Little Kitty Goddess Who Helps Her Mum Chill Out #ThrowbackThursday

It's still really hot in London and I just want to sleep all the time. I think Mum is the same, but she has a lot to do so can't nap as long as I can. She has to write posts for this blog as well as look after me. Plus, she needs to moan a lot about the heat and how much it should be autumn now and cooler. Yes, she is a moany human. Do your humans moan and complain a lot? It seems humans are really weak in this respect. I think humans are never happy unless they have something to moan about.

Wise cats know that complaining just isn't worth it. Best to focus on the moment, eat, drink, play a little hunting game, and then nap. Just nap the heat away and it'll pass.

Mum was up early doing her artsy thing for Caturday Art. She wakes up early (or rather I wake her) so she can work before it gets too hot and noisy. She'll drink a lot of coffee to stay awake and to help with the creative process. Then at around 1pm I'll make her take a nap with me for at least an hour or two. 

Hope you're all having a nice day wherever you are, and  that your humans aren't busy complaining about their rotten lot. Here's a cute photo of me to make them smile from 5 years ago. What a cute tabby kitten I was!

Throwback Thursday: #AnimalRemembranceMonth #TBT

A special Throwback Thursday post for World Animal Remembrance Month.

Mum's other special soulmate cat Suzy (1985-98)

Mum regrets not having better quality photos than these but they were taken back in the olden days before everything went digital. She would have loved to capture the true beauty of Suzy's eyes, and the super soul within this beloved feline friend, companion and fur-child that came before me. A very long time before me.

Rest In Peace, Sweet Suzy xx

You can read about Suzy in the following books from Mum:  

THE SNOWFLAKE PENDANT
THE CAT YEARS: HOW MY CAT SOULMATES SAVED ME

Throwback Thursday: The Kitten and the Hairdryer #TBT

Throwback Thursday to this video of me as a cute kitten watching Mum drying her hair with the hairdryer. I wasn't scared, I just found it intriguing :)

 

Click here to check out my other videos on YouTube and to subscribe to my channel!  

Do your pets like hairdryers?

First Day In My New Forever Home #ThrowbackThursday

Throwback Thursday to 21 July 2011

I am so happy now I've found my new mummy

Sorry for the not so good quality of this photo. It was taken on Mum's old phone :)