I suddenly heard a squeaky meow noise and a flurry from the hall. There was a trail of feathers across the floor in R’s bedroom, but after investigating extensively under the bed, I couldn’t find the bird. It was perched on R’s trophy pole (his collection of lanyards from various conferences) – a seemingly uninjured […]

This is Lucky this week – nearly six months after we “acquired” him. He is lying on his back being brushed on his tummy with a bottle brush (bought for cleaning out my blender). This is his favourite occupation after eating and scratching people. He is still a very independent spirit, and now the weather […]

Anyone who reads this blog may have noticed that I haven’t said much about walking of late. I try not to be downbeat about things, so when I mentioned hurting my shoulder, I didn’t say that I also hurt my ankle in the same fall. My left ankle has a bit of history, starting when […]

I took the opportunity to throw away the awful uncomfortable mock leather chairs that came with our dining room table, and replace them with some old mahogany one I inherited from my grandmother. The seat covers were a bit knackered though, so I reupholstered them in some rather nice material with thistles and daffodils on […]

The squirrels are out in force at the moment as spring gets into full swing here. I saw five at one go outside yesterday – but that was at one time, we have an indeterminate but large number in the garden Here is one waiting on the window sill for its morning allowance of seed. […]

Sometimes I just don’t believe R. I’ve lived with him for nearly 30 years but he still never ceases to amaze. Consistently over the years he has asserted many many times that he doesn’t like tartare sauce. Yes he has definitely, definitely tasted it, and he definitely, definitely didn’t like it. So I never served […]

This is the cats on Mother’s Day. Saphy and Amber are on an old stone wall in our garden, which is actually the only remnant of the previous house on this site. Lucky is disappearing through the gate, so only his tail is visible – my guess is that he is in hot pursuit of […]

The frogs are back in the streams and our pond. With them comes the usual contingent of herons. There was also an egg shell by the side of one of the paths Sad to say, there was another sign of spring. A trail of feathers down the hall led to R’s bed and the dead […]

I was fully prepared for us to have to buy a new cooker, but the local electrician managed against all odds to fix the existing one. The reason for the short was very clear. This one was under the cooker and had been there for some time as there were quite a few poos in […]

Today is Sunday so this was my take on Sunday lunch without a cooker. Chop an onion and two large carrots. Add 500g stewing steak in pieces and a packet of high quality sausages cut in half. Take some potatoes and par cook them in the microwave (I use my microwave steamer). Put all the […]