The Rat's Nest

Rattus has had a facelift!

Google made this story out of my adventures in the US. It is a good incentive to use my phone for taking photos in fact because I'm often too lazy to sort through photos later. There will be more photos to come, especially from the Rodent Party, but I will put those up probably on Flickr later.

https://plus.google.com/110978269106056674656/stories/e4d63fe4-ecfd-3c2f-8a31-1fdab3ee0a5c14a389477f6

I survived another Mardi Gras and I had a great time while I was down there. I felt my performance was a bit "off" this year (as will be evidenced by the coverage of the furry float on Foxtel) but I had been sick only a few weeks earlier so I shouldn't be too hard on myself. There's always next year. Other than that, this was really a great Mardi Gras personally. Relatively low stress, and surrounded by lots of great furries.

We did quite well for media coverage this year. There was the Foxtel pay-per-view coverage of course where I heard we got 45 seconds. Unfortunately, that features me stumbling when the truck took off with a jerk. >_< I want to apologise to the whole Australian furry community for embarrassing them on national television. <makes plans to leave the country for a while>

Ahem, but better than that, we featured on the ABC's national TV report on the march! They've also put it up online for a limited time, just go to http://www.abc.net.au/news/video/ and search for Mardi Gras. The furry float appears very briefly at 1:25. Considering the length of the report and the number of floats, I think we did very well to appear at all.

higgs_raccoon also pointed out a YouTube video that gives you a better view of this year's float.

And there are hendikins's photos and he will hopefully have some video up later. I haven't had a chance to go through them all myself.

None of this would have been possible without the help of a lot of people. Most of all, Barbary for organising the whole thing and giving me a place to stay. You made this rat very comfortable. And there was also Lupie and Thakur and Dustan and Techfox and so many others who made the float the success it was. On a more personal note, I want to thank Lupie and Thakur for keeping me company when I was crashing at the after-party (the march plus dismantling the float proved to be a bit much for me) and to Barbary and his housemates Harley and Techfox and Yuumei for making me feel so welcome there. It was all of you who made this personally my best Mardi Gras ever. It's only a shame I didn't have Ristin to share it with me.

I'd just got back from a day out with ristin and sat in front of my computer when I saw the news. pouchhopper passed away in his sleep. Ristin and I had been talking about how they were planning to come down to Australia just today on the way back. It was my great privilege that I got to meet him at Further Confusion this year. At the time, none of us thought it would be the last time.

Pouch first touched my life in December 2003. That's when I met Ristin, through a suit he made. The suit was called Pouch (no doubt in honour of his creator) but when I showed the photo to Pouch he identified it as Spaceroo. At the time, I was living in my own shell, I guess afraid of the world out there. I thought I was ugly. I was down at ozkangaroo's house and he owned the suit at the time. He wore the suit for me, held me, cuddled me, and let me see myself for the first time as he saw me: a person deserving of love. (That's him in the photo below.) Spaceroo/Pouch got under my radar, gave me confidence in myself and helped me come out of my shell. Spaceroo/Pouch was just so soft and sweet. Thank you, Oz. I owe a great debt to him for making me ready for Ristin. Ristin was one of several who wore the suit for me, but to me he is the one who most beautifully channeled the spirit of Pouch. The morning after I knew it was love. It was Pouch and Ristin together who saved my life.

( Photo of Spaceroo/Pouch )

In the years that followed, I grew and learnt to love myself just as Ristin loves me. It all started from that beautiful suit, so imbued with Pouch's spirit, and I've never forgotten the debt I owed him.

In January of 2007, at Further Confusion, I got the chance to tell him in person. FC was my first furry con and it was the most wonderful and spiritual experience. I got to do so many wonderful things there. But easily the highlight for me was getting to meet Pouch and his husband rainhopperroo. (Photo of the couple here. Pouch is on the right.) They were the warmest, kindest people I could hope to meet and were so glad to hear my story of how Pouch changed my life. Made it possible for me to be at FC at all. They welcomed me with open arms, and far more kindness than I would have any business to expect. I am still warmed by their heartfelt acceptance of me and my story. He told me that he puts part of his spirit into every suit he makes, and there's no doubt that it was that spirit that shone through in Spaceroo/Pouch and that healed me spiritually when I most needed it. Rain told me that my story gave Pouch a big lift (he's been ill and in pain for quite some time) and that hardly a day went by that he wouldn't mention me. It was quite by chance that I got know he was at the con at all. Sometimes things do work out just as they should.

Pouch has left a lasting legacy of happiness behind, and I know that is what he would have most wanted. I love you, Pouch. I'm so sorry to have lost you, but so glad I got to share a few hours of your time. When I look at how I feel, I can only imagine what this must be like for Rain. If you knew or knew of Pouch, or he or one of his suits touched you at some time in your life, please leave a message on the post Rain made in Pouch's journal.

As promised, you can find photos of my trip here, many of which feature Tristram exploring Sydney.



But these are the photos (and videos!) you really want to see. This is my personal favourite one of me. Still raving when many others appear tuckered out. And what a cute tail! Many thanks to Michael Hendy for taking so many great photos.