Just back from a wonderful week in Devon (with my sister, brother-in-law, nieces and their dog). Looking forward eagerly to my birthday (tomorrow: I'm an All Souls Day girl, unlike my late grandmother, who was born on All Saints day) and to starting my new job (temporary,very few hours, low pay but it is in a bookshop: yay!)on Tuesday.
But, as another year turns, I came home to a rather forlorn household: Graham and Laura (his daughter) had to take our beloved Jiminey Cricket to the vet's this morning, and her spirit left this life at about 9.40am... She was 17.5 years old, quite an age for a cat, and will be sorely missed. She was a shy cat and the most gentle creature I've ever encountered (though Graham, too, is a very gentle soul). I'll never forget the first day I let her out of the house here in Girton, about 8 days after we moved here. She vanished for almost 12 hours and I got the nasty feeling that she wouldn't be coming back, that I'd have to 'phone Graham (in South Africa) and Laura (in Luton) to tell them that I'd lost their cat... then I heard the most extraordinary keening sound and little miss puus was there on the lawn, busily torturing a mouse. I knew then that she'd be happy in this new home, with her newly enlarged family which suddenly contained me, as well as those she knew and loved. Darling Jimbles (Minx, Little Miss, Snoof Cat, Squeaklepuss, Prooples, Jimbulatories, Squeaky Girl, Pumpkin): you'll be sorely missed.
With the reality slowly sinking in, I've just been to unpack my bags and, as I went to place my laundry in the washing machine I've discovered, to my horror, that the garage is underwater again! This time we know its not the washing machine. It might be that water has seeped in under the garage door as the rain has been lashing in that direction, rather than flooding the back garden, as it usually does (but flooding the garage to a depth of a quarter to half an inch, though? Hmm, am not convinced.) Poor Graham thought I was joking when I called out to him. Most of the things we store in there are up on raised platforms after the last flood. We're going to sleep on the problem. Now I must wash my hair, slathering on tons of conditioner: my poor sister has just 'phoned to say that she has just discovered that she has nits and I'm taking no chances.
Life, eh?
13 comments:
sorry to hear about cat :( We have 2 poorly hamsters here, one of which is very much having palliative care, and the other looks like he might have to have his leg amputated.
On a lighter note Happy Birthday!!!
Very sorry to hear about your cat and the flood. I hope you will enjoy your Birthday and that you haven't "caught" anything!
Very best wishes Zoe.
So sorry to hear about cat. Our oldest cat-lady is 16,5 year old. She is still a boss here.
Have a wonderful Birthday!! I hope that Jiminey Cricket will enjoy it also from the cat-heaven
Sorry to hear about your cat. Good luck with the new job and very happy birthday wishes!
So sorry to hear about your poor puss cat - you must all be feeling dreadful.
But happy birthday, nonetheless, and what good news about your job!
Sorry to hear about Jiminey :-( I hope that today will be a better day and that the water-in-garage will turn out to be not as bad as first feared.
Good luck with the new job!
Sorry about your old puss. 17.5 is a good age though.
And Happy Birthday. Hope you had a nice one.
Aw, poor Jiminey. Not easy to lose a cat. :(
Hope your birthday was wonderful! Xx
Hope your birthday was enjoyable Rosie although with the sad news I fear it may have been subdued. So sorry to hear about your cat:(
Oh dear, sorry to hear about your cat and the situation with your soggy garage .... I hope you were able to have a happy, nit-free birthday though!
:)
Happy belated birthday. I'm really sorry about the cat, I remember when we had to take Sooty to the vet. I still think I hear him sometimes.
So sad to hear about Jiminy Cricket. We lost our elderly cat last week, must be the month for it. You will miss him though, I bet. Hope you had a lovely birthday, and that your week got better. x
oh dear...sorry about Jiminy. And that water, what a frustrating problem. We came back from Barry's daughter's last weekend to be told that they all had nits, we have been itching since but not found anything to report! Another new job...where are you now?
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