I dropped in to the Sanctuary earlier to have a chat and see if there were any cats that might want a home with us. As usual, I didn't come away empty handed! Our new addition is a victim of the floods, a black and white male cat around 10 months old. He's settling in really well but still needs a new name. Spot just doesn't do it for us!

On returning home, I got a call from the Sanctuary. They had finally recieved the results of Chloe's tests. The good news is that the breast cancer was benign. The bad news is that whatever is in her mouth is extreemely nasty, and the vet asked permission to remove half of Chloe's nose. Permission denied! We are all in agreement that it would not be the right thing to do for her and would not improver her quality of life. So now all we can do is wait and see what becomes of it.

Now the cat is trying to catch flies, and Hannah is trying to think of names. Not easy for a 3 year old. She thinks he could be called Lisa...

I'm off to put the kids to bed, if anyone has good male cat names, let me know!

 

 

 

The kitten I was supposed to be getting, had named and was looking forward to has gone to someone else. Despite having said she would hang onto it for two weeks for me, her breeder  gave her away after just one week. Try explaining that to a 3 year old.

I feel like I have lost another pet. And as I am still waiting on Chloe's lab results, it seems like things aren't going well at the moment. We're back to the vet's tomorrow so I might be feeling better after that.

 

A BLACK MAN WALKS INTO A CAFE EARLY ONE MORNING AND NOTICES HE'S THE ONLY ONE THERE

 AS HE SAT DOWN HE NOTICED A WHITE MAN SAT BEHIND HIM, THE WHITE MAN SAID "COLOURED PEOPLE ARN'T ALLOWED IN HERE" .

 THE BLACK MAN REPLIED...

"WHEN I WAS BORN I WAS BLACK

 WHEN I GREW UP I WAS BLACK

 WHEN I'M SICK I'M BLACK

 WHEN I GO IN THE SUN I'M BLACK

 WHEN I'M COLD I'M BLACK

 WHEN I DIE I'M BLACK

 BUT YOU SIR...

WHEN YOU WERE BORN YOU WERE PINK

WHEN YOU'RE SICK YOU'RE GREEN

 WHEN YOU STAY IN THE SUN YOU'RE RED

 WHEN YOU'RE COLD YOU TURN BLUE

AND WHEN YOU DIE YOU TURN PURPLE."

"AND YET YOU HAVE THE NERVE TO CALL ME COLOURED!"

 THE BLACK MAN TURNED BACK AROUND AND THE WHITE MAN WALKED AWAY

 COPY THIS INTO YOUR SPACE AND HELP STOP RACISM!!

 

 

I promised an update on Chloe so here goes.

It always seems worse when a vet has actually said the words that you are expecting anyway. But let me start from the beginning.

I know that the trip to the sanctuary only takes about 15 minutes but I always give myself half an hour. So I set off in plenty of time and reached the road that the sanctuary is on in 15 minutes, only to be met with a diversion sign. Not too much of an issue until half way around I was confronted by a car accident and several police officers directing traffic. Panicking because I didn't recognise that part of the road, I turned right. And found myself back where I started. Following the diversion signs again I was convinced I must have missed a turn-off. And once again ended up where I started. The police must have started to wonder what I was up to so I figured they were my best bet. As a policewoman waved me through the junction, I wound down the window, explained I was lost and asked for the sanctuary. She shrugged and answered, "I don't know, I'm directing traffic. Ask someone else!". Helpful. But I did as she said and asked the next policewoman. She suggested I turn around and go back, and as I tried to explain that I was already going around in circles, she started to back away. I took this as the end of the conversation and continued down the road in the direction I was now pointing. And found the sanctuary. About 100 metres from where the police were. And they hadn't noticed.

Anyway, back to Chloe. She was very excited to see everyone, and they were all pleased to see her looking well and happy. I took her in to the vet and told her how Chloe has been, while she examined the dog. Lots of questions were asked and the vet eventally straigtened up, looked me in the eye and said just what I expected her to say.

Chloe has cancer.

She also has a lump in her mouth, that is something or nothing, but probably something, and a problem with her kidneys.

On the plus side, they want urine samples (fun), blood tests and x-rays so that they can do something about it. Everyone is very optimistic about her future but I will wait to see what happens tomorrow when she returns for her tests doing.

 

I've been a little concerned about my spare dog lately so I 'phoned the sanctuary and arranged for her to see the vet.

Chloe is drinking vast amounts of water, then peeing on my carpet, which isn't like her at all. When I got her she had a small lump in her mouth and I have noticed it growing in the last couple of days. Then, last night, I absently reached down to tickle her and to my horror found a large lump hidden in her flabby tummy.

So the trip to the vet has now become a little more urgent and neccessary. I keep hoping that it isn't anything too serious, but sense tells me that at 11 years old, this dog has had a good innings.

It was through no fault of her own, or her owners, that she came to me from the sanctuary and I know that she has had a very happy life. I will let you know what happens at the vets on Thursday.

 

It was a massive birthday party at Hihgfields Adventure Playground today, it has been on that site for 25 years. The hubs played there when he was a little boy, and yes, the photo's were there to prove it!

I can't believe the dedication and love that goes into it from the staff, all 3 of them! It is open all year round, term time and holidays, and the children generally just bring themselves along to play. It is entirely funded by the council, but they don't do much to help out.

Back in the day, the kids would go for days out, picnicing, horse riding or even camping. Now, just a walk around the park would first require a risk assessment being carried out, and a certain number of trained carers to each group of children. The paperwork is killing the place.

Anyway, back to the celebrations. It was a reunion for people that hadn't seen each other for years, making the ones that were missing all the more noticeable. The Lord and Lady Mayor turned up with a photographer, and Han managed to get right in the front of one of the photo's. They had a look around, shook hands with some people and cut the celebration cake. I don't think they'd even heard of the playground before. Watching the children throwing themselves around joyously on the bouncy castle the Lord Mayor asked the hubs, "Are they having fun?". Umm, I think so!

So congratulations to Gloria for sticking it out all these years, it's no wonder the children respect her so much, she has so much love and understanding to give to each and every one of them. And to the rest of the workers, we haven't forgotten you, keep up the good work, and here's to the next 25 years!

 

There's going to be a new addition to my family, a little kitty! She is just 4 weeks old at the moment, a flufft white ball with black patches. Her sisters are calico, and already had homes, but she needed a home and I wanted a cat. Tough decision...what to do...didn't really take much thinking about, especially after I had cuddled her.

Time to start stocking up on cat litter and food. And a new scratching post. Oh no, I'm starting a list! I really don't need that much, I have all the stuff left over from Lucy still.

So nowKitty needs a name, something original and individual. No Snowballs or Chalkies here please! My other pets have had 'unusual' names; Gwydion, Ozymandias andSibelius, along with Mouse and Fox, neither of which were a mouse or a fox!

Answers on a postcard please, or if it's any easier, just post them in the comments box. All suggestions will be carefully considered. Have fun!