March 2014 March Mischief

March has been an interesting month. The weather was generally mild with some lovely sunshine, a few torrential downpours and some chilly frosts.

It hasn't really been outside weather and Bubbles has been busy making friends with a spider in the skirting board of the lounge.

The spider revealed itself one evening when I was standing in the middle of the room, talking to Bubbles, who was drinking from her water bowl. She suddenly stopped and sat very still; with just the tip of her tail twitching in repressed excitement. I stupidly said "What? Is it a spider?" As she often becomes statuesque when arachnid spotting.

Bubbles ignored me but the tail twitching became more frantic and suddenly.... two spindly legs poked out from a hole in the skirting board. I, of course, shrieked and leapt backwards several feet! Bubbles "miaow"ed very loudly and the spider yanked its legs back in and disappeared into the wall.

Exactly one week later, on another Tuesday evening, Bubbles and I were both in the lounge having a conversation by the water bowl, when I noticed a flickering movement from the skirting board and two skinny, tentative legs poked out. I think the spider just wanted to come out to be sociable and join in with our conversation! I, however, jumped backwards again and frightened the spider away.

February 2014 Holiday Havoc!

We decided to brave the decidedly dodgy weather and ventured forth on our intrepid adventure to North Wales. We had found, on the internet, an old stone cottage at a very reasonable price (most probably due to us being the only people crazy enough to brave the weather.)

The week leading up to our trip was horrendous; weather wise. However, the day we were due to travel dawned bright, sunny and calm. We packed (i.e. I shoved TONS of clothes into the suitcase, then sat on it), bundled Bubbles into the car, made sure the sandwiches were easily retrievable (ok, well maybe I just needed to see them to make sure we had remembered to pack them.... ok, well, REALLY, maybe I just wanted to have them to hand so we could start them straight away) then we set off!

The journey was pleasant and the moment, when you first glimpse the sea was just as exciting as ever. I will never tire of that feeling and it always brings a big smile to my face.

We arrived and the cottage was. just. STUNNING! It was an upside down layout with a gorgeous, modern, open plan living area above and amazing views of the Menai Straits; not to mention the two enormous skylights that enabled views of the mountain hillside directly behind, piercing blue sky and fluffy white clouds scudding past above. The downstairs contained a large stone floor foyer with a modern shower room to the front and a beautiful bedroom either side (both, I hasten to add, with stunning views of the estuary.) Now please excuse me if I sound a bit like an estate agent here, I just really want to describe in detail how beautiful the house was. The bedrooms, with antique beds, mirrors and desks were like something out of a Jane Austen novel. I had taken my writing with me and sitting both at the kitchen table above, with views out onto the Menai Straits from one window and a mountain hillside from the other; or sitting below in the bedroom watching a robin sitting on the old stone wall in the lane, with the setting sun glinting on the sea beyond the fields in front of the cottage, inspired me so much. We could have stayed forever!

Llanfairfechan with snow on the mountains beyond

View of the Menai Straits:

Views of the sea:

Views from the lane:

Bubbles had a great time too. She befriended some large wooden giraffes sitting on the shelf of the stairs and we often came up the stairs and caught her sitting smartly beside them. There were three in a row: big, medium and small, then there was a big, furry black cat!

Bubbles also liked the furniture at the cottage. They had a lovely old Chesterfield suite. The sort with wide, rounded arms; perfect for a pussy cat to perch on. Bubbles made herself comfy straight away in her "flying position" astride the arm of the big settee, ready to settle in for a film!

Bubbles in prime viewing position:

Sleepy cat:

We made the most of the idyllic, calm weather and walked the 3/4 mile or so down to the beach the following day. The little village of Llanfairfechan was pretty and charming but a steep climb on the way back up from the beach! I think we took the short route there and the long way back, or, it might just have been harder uphill!

The cottage at night:

23/2/14 January Floods

We have been very lucky in our area, not to have been affected by the floods which have caused devastation and despair in so many areas of the UK this January and February. I cannot begin to imagine the chaos and terror caused by rising flood waters and knowing evacuation is inevitable.

Praise goes out to the many rescue workers involved; who not only help humans but help keep their pet animals safe also. It is thought so far:

"the RSPCA have received over 1000 calls from people worried about their pets or reporting animals in trouble.

Among the pets rescued was a hibernating tortoise, a rabbit in its hutch whose owners were away and two adult sheepdog and their six puppies.

Officers have also moved horses and 30 chickens from a flooded pen and transported 40 koi carp."

(http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/26154502) (14/2/14).

Bubbles has been able to watch the violent weather from the safety of the windowsill and has been unaffected by it, other than by the wind which always makes her wild and skittish!

She has been avoiding the garden, as she HATES the wind blowing at her and does not like to set foot outside in the wind or rain!

31/12/13 A Very Merry Christmas To You!

Well here's to a very Merry Christmas to you all! The Christmas season has been and gone in a flash. We have had a quiet but lovely, relaxing Christmas with my Mum; mainly involving copious amounts of eating! Bubbles has had a really fun festive season and has received some very exciting presents from us and her animal friends. Her absolute FAVOURITE is her new crinkle pad, which she loves to roll on the floor with, kicking and cuddling with a very daft look about her.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

She has enjoyed lightly patting the baubles on the Christmas tree and one evening, had a most excellent game of football with an escapee bauble!

My friend Helen made a very interesting discovery in her Christmas tree.... her young kitten Echo had decided the mountainous tree needed much further investigation and was caught posing in the branches, as a new and very cute, furry decoration!

We come to the end of the year with some rather full tummies and lots of lovely memories to look back on and be thankful for,

As always, a great big thank you for taking the time to read my humble Blog! I hope you have all had a wonderful, happy Christmas. See you next year!

5/12/13 Wild & Windy Weather!

This morning dawned with a spectacularly glowing orange sunrise; stunning against the bluey tinge of the fading dark night sky. Apart from gazing in awe at the beautiful sunrise, I thought nothing of the weather, which seemed typically damp and cold. Bubbles, meanwhile had been sitting on the windowsill admiring the sunrise with me. Or so I like to think! More likely, she was scouring the fields behind for any sign of tasty rodents scampering in the grass!

As I breakfasted and got ready for the day, Bubbles could be heard thundering around the house. She was running up and down the stairs, through the lounge and, skidding in a big circle, I could see her revving herself up to charge off on another mad circuit again! Her ears were pinned back and her tail was held high; all puffed up like a fox's brush! I wondered what on earth had made her feel so excited! I decided she had probably been playing with one of her toys and got over excited while chasing it and batting it round the house!

I needed to pop out a little while later and having brushed and styled my hair, put my coat and boots on and grabbed my keys, I was ready to leave the house. What a struggle....

....opening the front door was like wrestling against a giant force of nature; pushing me back and not letting me out! When I did finally force the door open I stepped outside, turned to close it and had to lean back with all my might to slam the door shut, all the time battling against the aggressive, raging wind, which felt as though it had almost torn my hair right off my head! I could feel it standing straight up, vertically, on top of my head!

 

I jumped into the car and for the first time really noticed the chaos being created by the wind. Wheelie bins had left their sentry posts and were free wheeling on their sides down the road like ferocious plastic missiles. Piles of brown leaves were swirling in upward circular movements and I could feel the car being buffeted and lifted, almost as if a giant's hand was underneath, trying to clasp and lift it up into the air.

 

They do say children and animals react to windy weather and that it makes them wild and crazy! Bubbles has been proof of that today, with her wild circuits around the house!

Having later watched TV reports of areas around the UK, I feel we were lucky to receive just a battering of the wheelie bins and a few plants ripped out of their pots! Other areas have had severe flash flooding and high sea levels, which have cascaded over the sea defence walls in places such as Blackpool in the West.  Eastern seaside areas have also been badly affected.

Please watch this video clip to see just how scary the weather has been:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwYcUFj2uJs

November 2013 The Lake District

We decided to go for a few days Autumnal holiday in the Lake District, as the Lakes are so beautiful at this time of year, with stunning scenery and a sea of brown, red, orange and gold leaves on the trees. We had booked a cosy lodge on a tranquil park overlooking a mini lake, with graceful swans and tribes of quacking ducks marching past our window every morning. Bubbles accompanied us and travelled beautifully in the car, curling up on her cosy bed in her secure travelling cage.

On arrival, we "ooohed" and "aaahed" at the lodge's lovely location and nice furnishings. Bubbles felt quite at home, which she demonstrated by doing happy, chirrupy forward rolls on the carpet!

She got a bit confused about how long we would be staying for and decided to pack herself.... just incase we should somehow forget to pack her!

But soon she settled happily and was discovered sitting up on the large, comfy bed, where she could command an excellent view of the local wildlife (mainly tweety birds and marching ducks). An ideal view for a curious cat

The weather was pretty mixed, with some torrential downpours and high winds but we were able to enjoy a refreshing walk at Arnside, where the winds had kindly stilled for us and the sun shone brightly, before finally disappearing into the sea in a truly magical sunset

October 2013 Grandma's House

Having been ill for several weeks during September and the first part of October, I went to stay with my Mum for a few days; for a change of scenery whilst re-cooperating and a bit of Mum's TLC and wonderful home cooking. Bubbles, of course, came with me.

Well, from the moment we arrived, Bubbles regarded it as a BIG adventure. She emerged, blinking, from her travel cat carrier, looked around then realising where she was, happily trotted off to sniff around the lounge. For tea that night we had some delicious, tender gammon, with mashed potates and green beans. Bubbles, of course, received a portion of gammon for her tea.

Now my Mum is pretty accomodating but the one stipulation she made about our visit was that the cat was NOT to go in her bedroom. Fair enough, she did not want cat hair everywhere! So the bedroom door remained firmly shut. at. all. times. This became a bit of an obsession for Bubbles, who wanted to explore each and every room in Grandma's House. She made it her mission to somehow become an SAS super sleuth cat, who would use all her intelligence and feline wiles to gain entry to said out of bounds room. This started with some energetic forward rolls on the carpet outside, with the hope that bumping into the door each and every time would somehow force it to open. This did not work. Neither did miaowing loudly outside. The door did not understand Bubbles' needs. Nor did trying to dodge swiftly past my Mum whenever she tried to gain access to her own bedroom! My Mum is not daft. She has had dogs and children for a great many years and was not to be outwitted by a furry feline! Bubbles' big chance came when I inadvertently left the door ajar when I had gone in to borrow something from Mum's room. She seized her moment, darted in and hid.... In Mum's bed!

"Bubbles!" I screeched in horror as I saw the quilt writhing about like a live thing. I flung the covers back to reveal a very pleased with herself looking pussy cat! "Out!" I wafted the quilt and Bubbles leapt out, raced out of the room and sat in the hallway licking herself happily.