-Those were the days my Friend-

In 1984 I bought the handsome, Lovinamist Talisman to be my new seal point stud. I visited Margaret and Bill Lord to see “Ticki”, his father, the famous Champion Lovinamist Cavalier (24) and his mother Shekoa Claudia (24). The Lord’s had some superb seals, I particularly loved Frenchelle Loretto, Ticki’s grandmother and the lovely Champion Lupaz Miss Pixie. Here is a photograph of Talisman taken in the Lord’s garden – he was another cat that enjoyed posing and looking wickedly haughty!

He was only four months at the time, but you can see that all the promise and style was well in evidence. We were delighted Margaret and Bill let us buy Talisman and took him home to Kent.

Talisman proved to be an excellent stud and sired some beautiful kittens. He had the perfect temperament for a stud and enjoyed living in his quarters with the birds, squirrels and his radio for company when we were indoors. It was his kingdom and he was the lord of the manor. He could be a bit of a Rhett Butler with his queens, they would be paddling away desperately on the mat while he would be on his shelf looking out of the window…then, he would choose his moment and mate them! Below is a picture of Talisman with Brian and I when we took him to the Supreme Show in 1985. I find it amusing to look back and see how we “dressed up” for the Supreme – it was expected at the time – Brian is looking very sartorial in his suit !

As I judged more frequently, it meant that I was frequently away at the weekends. Talisman used to miss me and would sometimes be very naughty when it was Brian looking after him rather than me. He would pace up and down and one day he had Brian cornered! I realised it was not fair and I was also not happy with some of the politics at the time, so decided to have Talisman neutered. He had a very happy time, he did not really like coming indoors but we could let him in the garden with us, he enjoyed climbing the trees and strolling though his domain and he became much more of a pet than before. Talisman had some beautiful pictures taken by Marc Henrie but unfortunately the best one is just too large for me to put in the scanner. The picture concerned was used by Pedigree Masterfoods as their computer example of a Sealpoint Siamese. Here is one of the pictures Marc took in his photoshoot.

Talisman was long, svelte and muscular. He had a strong wedge that was long and well proportioned with superb ear size and set. His eyes were a deep blue with a wicked expression. He retained his warm colour and contrast and was a really intelligent, confident male who was “my” cat. He was very affectionate and wonderful with visiting queens whether experienced or maidens. I can also remember a day when someone came to collect their queen and their toddler walked into Talisman’s run, picked him up and said, “I love your cat”! Ticki was balanced precariously with his long back legs dangling to the ground, but he didn’t react and I was able to rescue him from her clutches, though I have to say my heart was in my mouth for a moment or two.

 In those days, seal point males were forces to be reckoned with!

In 1988 I had my last Killdown female, a seal tabbypoint, who had all the beauty, type and personality that prefix evokes. The “Killdown head” was always legendary with the breadth at the top to balance the length. When I used to steward for Isobel in the 1970’s, she could not tolerate a Siamese with a pinch and would not consider it for the CC. Elektra had a wonderful show career, always with red card days (apart from a disastrous visit to the Coventry and Leicester one year). She was not a wonderful mother though, she had the attitude, “The baked beans are on the stove and I’m watching TV!”  My British cats would be disgusted with her behaviour and Bluecream Babe (28) would even come into milk and feed Elektra’s Siamese kittens! I have a video of Elektra stretched out on the lawn one summer, looking beautiful while Babe is washing and generally looking after a litter of Siamese hooligans, racing around the garden and being very naughty! Elektra’s photograph is part of the title of Memory Lane, wasn't she exquisite?

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