9.10.2026 by Mervi
A very dear friend has left us. Patricia Roberts, our Belgian Mamselleken passed away on the 2nd of October 2026. We remember Patricia as a person with wonderful sense of humour but she was also a lady with a mind of her own when it was needed. Now she’s beyond pain and sorrow but we are mourning. Dear Patricia, you are deeply missed.
Patricia was with us in Knutitours since the beginning. We used to have so much fun together writing silly stories and making pictures. That’s why I want to republish an old illustrated story by her. It was first published 20.12.2009. Even though it’s only October I thought this Christmas story will make us remember Patricia with a smile on our faces. Patricia was a great cat lover so, of course, her feline friends will appear in this story, too.
Raspi’s Season’s Greetings to many Knut fans – with a little help from Patricia:
Dear friends,
I have a little surprise for you. As you will recall, a few weeks ago, I disappeared from the scene, so-called due to severe crumps in the belly. Well, actually, I took the magic Starship and went to Leuven. Babbelute, Crocodile and Fleur had promised to help me with the writing of my Christmas cards. While we were sitting around the kitchen table to think about the exact wording for the cards, Poppie came up with an excellent idea. She said: Raspi, you shall not only write your cards, you shall also draw these cards. So said, so done and Flurk brought us the paper and Luna the pencils.
Believe me, that was a serious job !!! Especially because the little Rapunzel always tried to bite in the pencils, and if not doing that, she wanted to scratch the paper. She is very sweet but extremely lively and sometimes she was so wild that she pushed my elbow and that I needed the eraser. Luckily for us all, at a certain moment, Missie decided to interfere and took her apart and kept her busy (thank you Missie).
And so, here are the cards for you all, with my best wishes. And I have asked Patricia to write your names with the golden pen. We have followed an alphabetical order, but of course you may prefer another card. The only thing I hope is that I have not forgotten somebody’s name. And now:
MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Liebe Mervi, das ist eine wunderschöne Erinnerung an Patricia mit ihrer großen Schar an Katzen, denen sie ein gutes Zuhause oder wenigstens eine Futterstelle
angeboten hatte. sie hatte vor vielen Jahren einmal ein Foto mit den ganzen Futtervorräten gezeigt und die Gartenvögel wurden genau so üppig verwöhnt. So haben wir in den letzten Jahren leider auch immer wieder von Abschieden einiger ihrer Lieblinge gehört. Baby Beau und Bagheera übernimmt ihre Schwägerin Karine, das wird es ihr leichter gemacht haben, gehen zu können. Ich weiß das nur zu gut von meinem Django!
Ruhe sanft, liebes Mamselleken, Wir werden dich nie vergessen
Dear Mervi!
Thank you for the wonderful story, which Patricia wrote in the happy times.
Rest in Peace, dear Patricia.
Liebe Mervi, liebe Freunde!
Der Tod ist groß.
Wir sind die Seinen
lachenden Munds.
Wenn wir uns mitten im Leben meinen,
wagt er zu weinen
mitten in uns.
(Rainer Maria Rilke)
Wieder müssen wir uns von einer lieben Freundin verabschieden. Das tut weh und macht traurig.
Schlaf schön Patricia! – in meiner Vorstellung auf einer watteweichen Wolke in Sicherheit, Geborgenheit, mit süßen Träumen, ohne Schmerzen und Angst!
mit traurigen Grüßen
Anke
Ich war ja 2009 noch gar nicht dabei.
Die Zeichnungen sind hinreißend !
Und so viele Namen, an die man lange
nicht gedacht hat – eine weite Reise.
Ruhe in Frieden, liebe Patricia…
Mervi, das ist ein sehr berührendes Bild für diesen Beitrag mit Knut und dem Sonnenuntergang.
Dear Mervi,
Thank you for posting this story from the past. Over the last 19 years Patricia had many feline roommates. The Christmas card brought back many forgotten names of her cats and Knutians.
Another star is added to Knut’s constellation.
Bear hugs,
DAVE
I will always remember my “Canadian cousin”.
dear Mervi,
thank you for the tribute to Patricia and for the nice photo , a wonderful Knut and Knuipefriend has gone, I will miss her comments “Hello Dear All..”
the season greetings are very lovely
Addio cara Patricia
sad greetings Filomena
Dear Mervi
Thank you for the photo of Patricia and her story. She was a good friend and gave us many such stories.
Dear Mervi!
Thank you for this touching Story about our dear Patricia.
We will her not fortgotten.
R.I.P. Patricia. 🥀