Latest news? pretty much more of the same, although Beloved Daughter and boyfriend suffered very stressful time being chivvied out of rented accommodation while awaiting exchange of contracts and moving into new home - some time around third week in September if all goes well. Their belongings are scattered all over the place and their cats are boarding in Wales - they may never want to return as their current abode has a river nearby and lots of jungle greenery.
Luckily BD is able to satisfy her catness by coming here and petting all the animals. Nelson and Stevie are now of an age to have first jabs; neutering unfortunately unable to be carried out for another 3 months. Nelson is your typical baby tomcat, wanting to pee all over the place to let us know he's boss, and growling at anyone or anything venturing near his food. In all other respects, he is a big Mr Softee. Stevie is just a cuddlesome little thing, capable of bashing up Big Bro if he gets out of hand. Ming and Flash are still distasteful of the kittens while Hattie will tolerate them as long as they don't touch her food or try to inspect her bum. She is very unhappy if any other critter, dog or cat, tries to sniff her bum. Must have had a bad experience at some point.
What else? Beloved Husband spent some time in hospital with 'an intestinal blockage' which roughly translated means compacted poo. Resulting from less exercise and food, I guess. BD's boyfriend says he acts like anorexic teenager and tis true. Bit of a conversion in hospital, though, and since then he has been more circumspect about taking in liquids and fruit. Unfortunately it does mean the conversation pretty much revolves around his success, or lack of it, in the bathroom. Mmmmm, not something one really wants to share.
The exhibition? very successful so far with many paintings sold. Have tentatively booked for next October for a three week run. Looking forward to starting new independent art classes next month - just awaiting confirmation of prices, etc.
Tomorrow at Respiratory Clinic. have felt a bit under the weather again this week and live in fear of a recurrence of the chest infections/antibiotics of earlier in the year. Application of much alcohol may prevent. Fingers crossed.
Well, what has been happening during the long hiatus since the last posting?
The kittens are growing up, two of them have left the nest - Daphne and Captain - now renamed Winston following a gender reassignment by the vet - and have gone to a lovely home in leafy Macclesfield with Horace who, on the last report, was hiding away in his bedroom away from the rough and tumble of kittenish antics. Sad to say, my vet decided that the locum vet's diagnosis of respiratory infection was all wrong and that they were suffering from chlamydia! Another feral infection; my God, what goes on in these feral colonies?? So the morning task now is to force small pills down unwilling feline throats in between fending off my existing two adult cats and feeding the feral Mum, Beryl, who has recovered well from her hysterectomy and ear clipping (they do that to indicate she has been neutered if anyone tries to trap her). Poor Hattie is way down the queue for attention, poor little critter.
The lovely lady who took Daphne and Winston also bought one of my paintings at our recent exhibition and I am very very very pleased about that. It's been a fraught few weeks leading up to the exhibition, getting the catalogue organised, distributing posters, sending out invites for the preview, catering for same, handing in the paintings, hanging the paintings. That last the most difficult part of all because we had to use fishing line, the only thing strong enough to hold the paintings particularly in the Hall where the ceiling is very very high indeed. Difficulties arose trying to assemble everyone to do the job at a time when the rooms weren't occupied with classes, etc. Still have some to do but the preview was most successful, selling four paintings immediately, and lots of flattering comments in the visitors' book. Exhibition on till end of August so lots of visits planned with and without friends.
Daughter ready to move house but those at the top of the chain poncing about 'away on holiday and uncontactable'. Yes, that's just the sort of thing you should do when you are selling your house and people are backing up the chain. Arrogant, selfish sods. So belongings being deposited all over the place and her two cats go to Wales for an extended holiday until everything begins to move again. Felt guilty but couldn't manage 7 cats and have nowhere to put them anyway at the moment.
Beloved Husband in hospital once again due to intestinal blockage. many days of stress and pain involved.
Organising EGM for our art group and helping to organise start of new class to replace the ones abandoned by MAES.
Quite busy over past few weeks and hope to be again. Certainly takes one's mind off one's worries.
mad Best Friend has finished her chemo which has been very trying for her but she is a brave little soldier and is still waiting for her hair to fall out - she got the free wig some weeks ago but the great balding has not yet occurred. She has been an absolute star helping to organise exhibition. She is waiting anxiously for her daughter in Slovenia to give birth to her first child.
Beloved Sister in good health and has just landed a new job which doesn't involve working appalling shift rotas and no heaving heavy equipment and stores about. A regular five day week too which means that although she has to work some Saturdays, she will be able to have some time off without a major hooha.
And that's all for now, folks, except to say that have had lovely meals and meetings with my reading group gals, and with with my mad former work colleagues. Scrumptious, all of them.
