C is for Cats

We are a bit of a cat family. It hasn't always been so. When I met my husband I had a cat called Puck. I got him when I was in 5th Form (year 11) I had 2 actually. The white one was called Kimba, after Kimba the White Lion cartoon.

I still had Puck when we met but when we married in 1982 Puck went to live with his parents and when we eventually moved to a home where we could have had a cat Fixit Guy said it would be cruel to move him. We got a dog instead... a series of dogs and they always had to be outdoor animals. There in lay the rub. Fixit Guy thought that cats, like dogs should be outdoor only animals and I thought what was the point of having a cat if they couldn't come inside.

We got our first cat in 1997. We'd been married 15 years by then. I told FG he'd had his way for 15 years and now it was my turn. I had promised our oldest son  (known on this blog as Massage Man but am going to have to change that as he is no longer studying massage) a pet of his own when he was 10. He had counted the days down for about 3 years. Our daughter (Fangirl) said she wanted a kitten too so (to my husband's horror) I got them both one. She  named her female cat Zanzibar

Our so named his male cat Tiger. Fortunately these names were unisex as when they were about 4 months old we found that the people who gave them to us had got the sexes mixed up.

Zanzibar died when he was only 15 months old but Tiger lived till he was 15. He and our son had a mutual admiration society. When MM would go to university Tiger would search for him for several days. When MM returned from university for holidays Tiger would ignore him for several days to punish him for his desertion and then stick to him like glue for the duration of the visit, only to mope when MM would depart again.

We  got Chrissy just after Zanzibar died when friends moved to the USA and needed a home for their puss.

She died in 2007 and we got Tango in 2008 for our middle son but she disappeared whilst still young and we got Pippin to replace her. We still have Pippin.

Fixit Guy who wasn't keen on letting the cats come inside has become devoted to all the cats we have had and spoils them more than I ever  had.

So we are down to just one cat. Sort of. Fangirl has her own home and since she moved into it she has adopted 2 kittens. One, Eevee is now 12 months old and the boy kitten, Skimbles is about 6 months old. They come to stay with us whenever Fangirl has to travel away with her work (about once every month to 6 weeks for 3-4 days) or for vacation.

 

We have also had other friends' cats come for stay overs too when they have been away. These cats are all indoor only cats so its always just a tad nerve wracking as we have to remember to SHUT THE DOOR.

 

Mr Tibbs on the left teasing the dogs who were outside the window and Patrick right assisting me with my quilting.

I have made one cat quilt in my time. ( although lots of my quilts have cat hair on them courtesy of help such as illustrated by Patrick)  My cat quilt was a kit that I bought at a craft fair incorporating stitcheries and patchwork. It hangs in our rumpus room and the stitcheries are so true.

I do have plans to make another quilt using cat fabric for a cat lover in my life.... but I have mislaid the main fabric I bought for it. It will turn up ... one day... I'm sure... we at least I hope.

Packing

I have had a busy day today trying to get ready to go away. Only 2 days now till I leave. Exciting and scary. Actually it is a day and a half till I leave Emerald and 2 days till I leave Australia.

This morning the electricians arrived to finish off some work in our new car port. They installed 2 double powerpoints and two fluro lights. I think we get to declare the carport finished.

While they were here, because they had to turn the power off I couldn't do some work I needed to do on the computer so instead I worked on my bag. I wanted to get it down to 7kgs as we are trying to "one bag" it ie travel with just one cabin sized bag for our trip which means that we don't have to wait for the baggage to be unloaded from the plane and so we get to the head of the queue for customs. As well as that and perhaps more importantly we don't have to lug so much stuff around with us. When we get to our first 3 destinations on the plane ie Narita, Rome and London we have to get public transport to our accommodation. As well, all around Italy we are travelling by train so it is going to be much easier to do this if we don't have to lug so much stuff. It was pretty tricky but by wearing all my heaviest gear, putting my camera in my pocket, and carrying my folder of papers I managed to come in under 7 kgs - woot woot. This is the link http://www.onebag.com/ I am not sure if that will work as a hot link... not sure how to do that in blogs. Will see if it works. At least you have the address if you need it.

Once I got through the packing I went out for a while to try to get a few jobs done. I got myself a long sleeved shirt. I am beginning to panic about being cold. I also saw the accountant re last years tax (mine is all done) and did some P&C stuff. Isn't this riverting stuff.

Later on in the day went back up the street with youngest son and got him a jacket for camp. He goes while I am away. Tonight while the rest of Queensland was watching the State of Origin match I entered the P&C bills, then paid the bills and did the wages so I am all up to date. I have to hand the stuff over to someone else while I am gone.

Oldest son, G, went back to Brisbane today. He has to pack his bag and get himself organised to go with me on Friday. He also has to finalise his prac assignment and hand that in. I am expecting his cat to give us all a hard time. Tiger adores G and the feeling is mutual. After G leaves Tiger misses him terribly and whinges and looks pathetic. So far she hasn't reacted... but I am waiting for it to start. I was thinking I would miss it as orgingally G and I were going to leave together on Friday, till G decided he needed to be back earlier and also that he needed his car back in Brisbane.

I am sorry I don't have any photos for the post yet. I have to work out how to add them and also I haven't taken any yet.

I got onto our internet provider today about increasing our download both in speed and in amount. Ended up being offered a deal which does both for a lesser amount than we are currently paying which is good. It is supposed to kick in at midnight tonight. Perhaps I will wait up and see if it works.

Middle Son C just got home. He was watching the State of Origin with other blokes from his Cell group from church. Apparently Queensland won by 4 points which is good, but given that they were leading by 18 at one point it was a close call. Since I was staying up to go and get him but he ended up getting a lift home with a mate, I can now go to bed. Night all