Layby is a Great Way to Buy
 By
Cheryl Marshall... Australia
Hi, my name is Cheryl Marshall and I am going to tell you all about how
I first came to buy my beautiful neuter boy Kaiwara Hokioi.
It was 1993 and we had owned two Great Danes who we loved dearly but
unfortunately both had died 12 months apart from conditions related to
old age. It was a great loss and they were sadly missed however about
six months after the last one had died a poor starving stray cat wondered
in, and yes, you guessed it, we fed her and consequently were presented
with three lovely domestic kittens.
After having been "dog people" for years we suddenly realized the joy
of owning a cat. They are much easier (most times!!!) to look after and
there is none of the puppy training that you have with dogs. You know
the newspaper etc. Yuk!
Well it wasn't long before I wanted to investigate the different breeds
and at the time "Burkes Backyard" had a program on showing Gerda Stapel
and her Ragdolls. Gerda, of course, was not living in Queensland when
the show was taped. I had little trouble talking my ex husband into the
Ragdoll as they appeared quite "dog like" in their nature and I think
he rather liked the idea of the status symbol that a rare breed brings.
We talked about it for quite a few months but not having taken any details
down at the time of the program didn't really know where to start.
When we were on holidays in January 1994, I purchased a magazine called
the "Thistle Pet Advertiser and Pet Information" which contained an article
regarding a NSW Ragdoll breeder. This was avidly read and discussed and
we decided to call her and enquire about the Ragdolls. She informed us
that there were no breeders in Queensland at the time, but we could buy
from her.
We obtained all the details and decided to think about it, as we would
be buying sight unseen, never having even seen a Ragdoll.
About two weeks later I was reading a weekend paper and low and behold
there was an advertisement about Ragdolls and they were only about 20
minutes drive from us.
Well, you can imagine my excitement. I wanted to go NOW. I phoned the
number and spoke to Gerda who told us we could visit anytime and see the
cats. It was love at first sight. If I had been allowed to I would have
taken one home then.
My husband had decided that he wanted a Seal Bicolor just like the one
in the magazine and in our ignorance did not realize that it wasn't that
easy, beautifully marked bicolors don't just drop out of the sky.
Money was always a problem but Gerda explained we could place an order
and pay by installments and I gladly agreed to this arrangement. I regularly
sent a payment to Gerda and she would send me a receipt in return until
the day finally arrived that I had paid and we arranged that the next
Seal Bicolor born would be ours.
Well, the day arrived and Gerda called to say that she had two lovely
bicolor boys, one blue and one seal. Off we went to choose and of course
my husband selected the seal, I would have been happy with any color or
pattern as long as it was one of these beautiful cats.
Well, I have to tell you, I must have driven Gerda mad! I visited my
baby most weekends, so that he would know me when I took him home.
My darling Hoki has seen me through many times of sadness and sickness
and he has always been there for me. When I work too long at night he
tells me to go to bed. If I stay in bed too long he tells me to get up,
that is if I am only being lazy, if I am sick he seems to know and lets
me stay in bed - and he stays with me. He talks to me and stays by my
side constantly when I am home and he never, ever goes mad at me if I
am late home. Sometimes he tries to tell visitors to go home because it
is my bedtime but they think he wants to go outside, but he knows, and
I know, that he never goes outside, he just wants THEM to go outside.
I read an article some time ago by Tanya Vagg in which she stated that
Ragdolls were addictive. Well, I'm here to tell you Tanya was right, I
now own three Ragdolls, (or do they own me) and yes you've got it, layby
is a great way to go. Thanks, Gerda.
Author Cheryl Marshall
© 2002-2003
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