Monday 23 February 2015

Bits and pieces



I’m Stuck
The Internet is so sloooow today.  I had forgotten what it was like to have to wait for sites to open and it is most frustrating.  I wonder why it's happening.  Perhaps it is responding to my body and brain in some way.  They too are on a 'go slow' at the moment.
Also on a go slow is the increase in the number of followers on my blog.  In fact, I think it may be stuck for ever.  It has been on 196 for some time and I have been waiting for it to reach the 200 but I think Google have changed the system so people who decide to follow now are referred to Google + instead.  196 is such a frustrating number to be stuck on!

GB
In January GB passed through Heswall on his way from Shrewsbury to Glasgow (intentionally – not through some misinterpretation of his satnav!).   


We had lunch in Avanti and caught up on each other’s news.  It’s a while since we saw each other and there was so much news we didn’t even have time to do a crossword!

Walking
I am trying to ensure I do at least two reasonable walks each week, whatever the weather.  Sometimes it’s poor



Sometimes it’s pleasant.



On a more local walk – just to the post office – I found these Deer Mushrooms (Pluteus cervinus) outside the Pensby Nursing Home.


As I walk I have been making up Haikus.  It’s great fun.   The essence of haiku is "cutting" (kiru). This is often represented by the juxtaposition of two images or ideas and a kireji ("cutting word") between them, a kind of verbal punctuation mark which signals the moment of separation and colours the manner in which the juxtaposed elements are related.  Traditional haiku consist of 17 syllables, in three phrases of 5, 7 and 5 respectively.    Modern Japanese haiku (現代俳句 gendai-haiku?) are increasingly unlikely to follow the tradition of 17 syllables or to take nature as their subject, but the use of juxtaposition continues to be honoured in both traditional and modern haiku. There is a common, although relatively recent, perception that the images juxtaposed must be directly observed everyday objects or occurrences.

Calves ache, knee twinges,
Thighs burn, toe throbs, and hip pains.
All in a day’s walk.

Rattle of long-dead beech
Cars whoosh, crows caw and siren blares;
Pensby, ten a.m.

It’s time for chocolate
According to LoveLoveHealth chocolate reduces anxiety and decreases depression.
http://www.lovelivehealth.com/ten-foods-decrease-anxiety-depression/2/
“Yes, that’s correct, chocolate. However, I’m not talking about your average gas station chocolate bar. Dark chocolate is highly beneficial for your brain health. The darker and purer the chocolate, the better. Dark chocolate contains tyrosine, which is linked to an increase of dopamine. Dopamine has a direct effect on our emotional well-being, and stimulates the pleasure centres in our brain. Dark chocolate also releases endorphins, allowing you to feel a sense of happiness. In terms of anxiety, dark chocolate reduces cortisol levels. This is the hormone that makes us feel stressed. Time to get your chocolate fix!”  It’s just a shame I don’t really like strong chocolate.

The Kittipusses
Annabel and Mac have now been given the Freedom of the House (excluding kitchen and main bedroom) and are enjoying roaming.  But at the end of the day Annabel would rather find a lap and Mac is happy just cleaning himself as he lies on the floor. 


Saturday 21 February 2015

The Kitties Arrive

On Wednesday Partner and I went to The North Clwyd Animal Rescue Centre to pick up our cats.



Or was it a case of 'On Wednesday Annabel and Mac collected their new human trainees'?  Either way, the two kitties were brought to The Willows.


They settled in in no time.


Mac decided to investigate the cat toys in their bin.



Annabel, like me, has proved to be a  fan of quiz shows.



It helped their settling in that they had received their very own card -


First Annabel had a look at it.


Then Mac.


After an hour of exploring the lounge Annabel decided to demonstrate she was a lap cat. 


She also showed she needed her claws clipping.  Having played with her paws a bit I think she may let me do them in a day or two.


Mac is a bit more remote.  He is more than happy to have a stroke and be played with.  But he doesn't stay on one's lap for more than a moment or two.



You will no doubt be seeing plenty more of our cats in the not too distant future but don't worry, I shall try to make my next post a bit more of a ramble.




Saturday 14 February 2015

Cats

This must be the longest non-blogging period I've ever had apart from hospital times.  I have various things to tell you but they pale into insignificance in the light of what happened yesterday.

We went here...


We went to the Centre for two related outdoor kittens, or at least cats under four years old, and no ginger,  marmalade or all black ones.   I decided we needed to move house so we could accomodate a few dozen cats from Moggy mansion and the separate isolation units.. 


There were so many to fall for and want to take home. 


But the first one we both fell for was Pippa - no photo sorry - who would have had to be an outdoor cat and the proximity of a main road to our house meant the Centre would not let us have outdoor cats.  Pippa would also have had to be on her own and we really wanted more than one.  She also was not suited to being with a dog and Jo would like to get a dog at some stage.


So, we went to the Centre for two related outdoor kittens, or at least cats under four years old, and no ginger or marmalade ones. 

But the next ones I fell in love with were Annabel and Mac.


And we have ended up reserving two older indoor cats (Miss Annabel is six and Mr Mac is ten) who are not related, though they have lived together (indoors), all their lives and of which one is marmalade.  That's life!  We have reserved them and subject to us receiving a satisfactory home check they will be with us at the end of next week.   So here, at last, we are able to introduce the two folk who will hopefully grace our home for some years to come.  Fingers crossed it all goes well please.

Annabel and Mac


Annabel

Mac

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