A pussy story

A pussy story

budgeting shopping cats food

Hello. I've just been out for a second walk tonight. It's very windy, but dry, I quite like walking in the wind. There are a lot of comments from you, with your mileage, that's great. I'm chuffed that you are doing so well. Anyone who hasn't yet checked in can do so at any time, just go back to that same post on the 1st of February, then it's all in one place. 

Oh dear, someone was a little too enthusiastic covering up in the litter boxes yesterday. Heidi uses them, usually does a poo in one, then goes into the other one for a pee. Sometimes Mayze might do something in one, but she mainly goes outside. 

Oh dear, even more mess today. She has stood on the side of it at one and and her weight has flipped it up. Best get the dyson out.

I am eating plenty of eggs this week, managed to get two boxes half price from the £1 shop.

I was over the other side of town on Tuesday so I called in at Morrisons to check for yellow stickers. here are some of the items I was lucky enough to find. I got quite a lot for my £5.35. The Naked smoothie is very nice, but I wouldn't pay £2.32 for it.

I've just been reading that there is a shortage of fresh fruit and veg in the supermarkets and they are rationing some items to two or three per person. Prices have gone up as well. It's all down to bad weather in European countries. I suppose the story will trigger panic buying now.

Feeling a bit tired, I'm off to bed now. Thanks for popping in, we'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip

It should get better.

It should get better.

arty stuff cats crafty stuff

Hello. Thank you everyone for your kind and thoughtful comments. It's a great comfort to me that I have so many understanding readers. I am grateful for your support, through the good times and the sad times. There is now a big empty table in front of me, and a sadness in my heart which I hope will ease as time goes on. Some things we have no control over, life changes all the time, and all we can do is get used to new situations. 

Garcia comes every morning, he is waiting at the back door and comes into the kitchen and jumps on the worktop looking for food. He is in his own house overnight, but is let out when everyone goes to work, so he comes straight round here. This morning he didn't find any food in the kitchen so he did what he normally does, comes into the living room and jumps on the table to finish off Bugsy's food. He looked a bit confused,  nothing there, everything gone. I have a few sachets left so I opened one for him. Then he settled down on the easy chair next to the table. He is gone now, back home for the night. His owners know he comes here, they don't mind, he commutes between the two of us. 

Here are a couple of pictures that I was going to post yesterday. This little bag is a smaller version of a shopping bag. Inside is Helen's birthday present. I thought it would be better than wrapping it in paper which would be thrown away. The bag can be used again. The gift tag is cut from an old greetings card. 

The band that played at the party on Saturday night. They were very good and everyone was up dancing, including me.

Today I've been keeping myself busy. I woke up at 5am, and made a coffee and went back to bed. I am half way through reading a book which is quite good. It's a true story about a man who gave up his job to travel the world.

Before breakfast I finished off sewing three more shopping bags. I went to Crafty Club this morning. Not many of us there, one member is away on holiday, and another is having an operation. We still had a nice chat though.

I did my three mile walk this afternoon. Only one day left of this month. I made a target of 100 miles for January, and I will hit that when I have done the walk tomorrow. I hope you are all doing well. I will post up a list of Walking Group names on Wednesday the 1st of February, then you can post your comments on there, how you have done, and your mileage for January.

I have painted this frame today, it was gold, and didn't really suit the picture. The black frame looks a whole lot better. I love the picture even more.

The best thing for me to do is keep my mind busy. Waves of sadness come from nowhere. It's early days, it should get better. Bugsy is buried wrapped in a piece of patchwork that I made nearly fifty years ago. It has fabric from a couple of dresses I made for myself  in it. A little bit of me has gone with him.

Got to go, crying again. We'll catch up soon.
Ilona

Goodbye my little friend

Goodbye my little friend

cats

Hello. I'm not saying much today, my beloved Bugsy has passed away. I went out last night to Helen's 50th birthday party, and when I came back I sat in a comfortable chair with Bugsy on my knee, for an hour. I put him to bed with his hot water bottles. He hadn't eaten very much in the last 48 hours and I planned to take him to the vet on Monday morning.

This morning when I came downstairs, I knew he was very poorly. He was laid stretched out and had been sick where he lay. I rang the emergency number for the vet and she said to bring him straight away. I asked for a home visit, but she said it would be quicker if I brought him in. He was barely conscious so wouldn't have known what was happening. When the time came to say goodbye I think he knew I was there, I held his head and he gave a little murmur. One hour later I was bringing him home.

He is now buried in the garden. He loved the garden, lying in the sunshine watching me and the other cats, and Rocky, coming and going. Rest in peace my little boy, my best friend for 20 years. He came to me when I was in need of some comfort after a messy relationship broke down. His previous owner kept going away and leaving him when he was only a kitten. We both needed someone to love, and we found each other.

Sorry, no more words.
Ilona

Homebird

Homebird

cats chitter chatter enjoy

Hello. What a change in the weather again, no two days the same. Damp and drizzly and overcast. I did the Jade dog walk this morning, and was glad to get back into my comfortable house. After lunch I finished off the six bags I started the other day. The fabric is not bright and jazzy, but when I saw it at the Scrapstore I thought that will do nicely for bags. 

I was thinking the other day that I haven't been out in the evening for ages, except for the WI talk I did the other night. Can't remember the last time I got my glad rags on and painted the town red. I think town centres are to be avoided at night, they seem to be geared up for boozy youngsters partying. I am too old for that sort of thing. My social life is virtually nil.

I shall be going out next Saturday night however, been invited to a birthday party at a pub in the next village. My good friend Helen is celebrating her 50th, it will make a nice change. I won't be stopping long though, about an hour will be fine. There is a band and as you know I can't cope with noise, I also won't drink, have to drive home. 

Nope, not much socializing happening here at the moment. My nights are spent in my comfortable living room, on my super comfortable second hand sofa, the whole suite cost me all of £50 from my friend who emigrated. A brilliant buy. Reading a book, listening to the radio, or watching something on yooootoooob, just me and my kitties. Trouble is, I put my feet up, and it doesn't take long for me to drop off to sleep. Reading always makes me drowsy. 

Bugsy has a choice of dinner as usual. Now what shall I eat first, Felix or Gourmet Gold. A quick lick of both and he goes for the milk. It's a good job he has, I've ground the tablet to a powder and mixed it in. I started by giving him the tablet whole but it was so stressful for both of us, it's easier to dissolve it in a drink. You should have seen him earlier on today, he scoffed every bit of his food. I reckon I will come downstairs in the morning and most of this will be gone. Only two more tablets left for tomorrow, then we'll see how he goes on after his medication has finished.

Right, time for relaxing on the sofa. Thanks for popping in, we'll catch up soon
Toodle pip.

Bills Bills Bills

Bills Bills Bills

cats utilities

Hello. And the bills are piling in this month. Vet, car MOT, petrol, and Tesco food, all on the credit card. Been on the phone today paying for car insurance. Meters have been read and the gas and electric bill have arrived. The water bill came last week and that has been paid. Next month will be the car road tax. A lot to go out all around the same time. Never mind, there is money in the bank to pay for it all.

Big hike in the gas bill for the last three months. Piddling small amount for the previous quarter, and £99 for this quarter. I've been treating us to some heat, although I have known previous winters far colder than this one. My excuse for spending a bit more? Bugsy needs to be warm. The electricity bill is slightly higher due to longer dark nights, need the lights on more. My supplier also sent out an annual summary which is quite useful. Based on the actual annual cost last year, the estimated costs for 2017 are £197 for gas, and £179 for electric. If I was on a monthly direct debit, which I'm not, it would be £31.50 a month. I can live with that.

I went to Crafty Club this morning, it was a good turn out, a new lady joined. I took Bugsy to see Marian the vet this afternoon. It's a drop in centre so no appointment required. I was a bit concerned that he had stopped eating again. She found a sore spot in his mouth so he has had an antibiotic shot, and something to stimulate his appetite. I have some tablets to give him over the next three days. Hope fully there will be some improvement soon.

Jade dog walk when I came back from the vet. No sign of the regular walker yet, we don't know when he is coming back off his holidays.

Got to cut this short, need to go upstairs and spend some time with Heidi. She seems to be forever in the spare room, can't get her to come down and stay with us in the living room. She is a little bit subdued, I don't think she is feeling too good. I've had a word with Marian and we both think I should up her medication dose slightly, and go back to the original dose of one tablet per night. Her gums are not as pink as they should be, she is becoming a little bit anaemic again.

Thanks for popping in, we'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip

A learning curve.

A learning curve.

arty stuff cats

Hello. I'm going out later so I'm whizzing this quickie off a bit sharpish. I have a new picture project on the go, fancied doing a bit of painting, abstract style. Here is a little piece of it, it's not very big, 11.5 inches by 10 inches. I'm not much good at painting pictures but this is the cheats way of doing it, ha ha. 

Have been meaning to get this snap for a week or more, just at the crucial moment Mayze leaps out of bed and spoils it. She sleeps on the bed with me every night. At around 4 or 5 or 6am I feel her little face burrowing down under the bedclothes next to my shoulder. I spread my arm out and she snuggles next to me, purring away with contentment as I stroke her. Then it's back to sleep for both of us for another hour.

Ooops, I disturbed her, she jumped out. What a cutie.

Must dash, got two parcels to post before the Post Office closes at 11.30. Then it's lunch, then off to Hull on the bus. I'll tell you all about it tomorrow.

Thanks for popping in, we'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip

Puddy tats

Puddy tats

cats

Hello. I'm cheating today, Janet one of our cat rescuers has sent me details of our cats, so I'm doing a bit of copying and pasting. I know you like puddy tat stories. 

EVIE

The tabby fluffy cat who was pulled from the fishing lake at, aged about eight weeks.  She was either very frightened or semi feral and wouldn't come out of her igloo. She is now very playful and let's you touch her nose although we haven't been able to stroke her yet and it will be a little while before she is ready for re-homing. She’s about fourteen weeks old now. Will be spayed when old enough.

COSMO AND MOON

Came from a flat eviction with another cat called Percy who we had neutered and has now been re-homed.  Very timid when they came into rescue but are now happy, affectionate and very playful.  Cosmo had to be neutered but Moon had already been done. They are about two years old and are to be homed together as they are very loving towards each other.

CARA

Cara’s family were moving to accommodation where they were not allowed to take Cara.  A lady they knew had promised to adopt her but backed out on the day the family were moving.  She came into rescue that evening very frightened and hid for a week in the igloo.  The last few days she has gained more confidence and is becoming very affectionate. She even allowed us to take the collar off her today.

Thank you for that Janet. Our rehoming policy is that we don't let them go to homes near a busy road, or homes with small children. That may seem harsh but we get lots of requests to take in cats from families where the children have lost interest, or a baby is on the way and the cat no longer fits in. What we are looking for are forever homes, preferably in the countryside with space around them, where the new owner genuinely wants a companion for life. Each applicant is assessed on their individual circumstances, and new homes are checked.

Bugsy update. He has been eating, sometimes a lot, sometimes very little. He is still a bit picky with his food. Yesterday I warmed some cooked chicken for him but he wasn't interested. I left it out on his tray and he tucked into it overnight. I change his hot water bottles three times a day, he likes that and is now snoozing on them. Two normal poo's in 24 hours. Just a case of watching him.

Right, I'm going to get on with stuff, so I'll say tatty byes for now. We'll catch up soon. Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip