Grandchildren

Grandchildren are such a blessing. I have 3 beautiful grand-daughters and I love them to bits.
Last weekend I was asked to look after the girls while my son and daughter-in-law went out for the evening. I could have gone to their house and looked after them there but I knew they would have more fun if they had a sleepover at my house. And I was right.
They played with the Barbies, they drew pictures and painted magnificent landscapes. We had art works drying everywhere. Molly didn't have her afternoon nap, insisting that she wasn't tired. Then they played outside for a while, collecting gum nuts that had fallen from the trees and picking flowers.
Manfred & I took the girls to Hillarys Marina for fish and chips and then they played in the playground at the family beach until it started to get dark. When we got home there was much discussion about who was sleeping where and also whose turn it was to sleep with Grandma. It was decided that it was Ella's turn to sleep in my bed (phew!) and eventually after bathing, dressing in pj's, teeth brushing, hair brushing etc they all went to bed and went straight to sleep. There was not another sound until 6am on Sunday morning.
What a lovely time we had. They wanted pancakes for breakfast and, of course, Grandma obliged. Topping choices were maple syrup, golden syrup and honey and drink selections were banana or chocolate flavoured milk.
After all of us dressing and gathering up the paintings we went to Church.
We also had all our shoeboxes to deliver(21) to Church for Operation Christmas Child (a Samaritan's Purse initiative to give gifts to children in third world countries).
After Church Manfred picked up Ella, Violet & myself and we went to the Cancer Rally for Life that had been going for almost 24 hours at the Arena Joondalup.(No Molly because she really needed an afternoon nap!) It was such a warm, sticky, humid day so the girls had slushies to drink. Later we went to Hungry Jacks for burgers and chips before I took the girls back to their Mum and Dad.
When I went home it was about 3pm and I was absolutely shattered. I made myself a coffee, lay on the bed and promptly fell asleep, with Spiffy cuddled up beside me, purring contentedly. The phone woke me at 6.15pm and even though I had slept for 3 hours I still had a good night's sleep on Sunday night. I was so exhausted.
But I would not have missed a moment of those 24 hours with my adorable grand-daughters. We talked about all sorts of things, we laughed, we watched movies, listened to music, played with the Barbie dolls, painted pictures and although the girls made an effort to put all the toys away, there was still quite a lot of tidying to do afterwards. What fun we had. I love those little girls and it made me realise how fortunate I am that I get to see so much of my Grandchildren. So many Grandparents don't always have such a good relationship with their children or with their daughters-in-law or sons-in-law, and so they don't always get to spend so much time with their grandchildren. I am Blessed.

Adventures of Spiffy Part 4

Well I am really feeling a lot better now and apparently so is Hobbesy. When they took Hobbes to the vet, the vet was very pleased with him and he is now starting to get better. It just took him a bit longer than me, I guess because he is so much older. So isn’t that great, he gets to keep all 4 legs! He has even had a couple of walks over to my house and it was so nice to see him. Hobbes, Albert and me, we all stay inside at night now. We like to be able to go outside when we want to, but it really is much safer for us if we stay inside after dark. All the doors get closed including the pet flaps. I never liked using that pet flap anyway, its too big for me. It was really for Kathryn’s dogs that she used to have years ago and I have never liked using it so now I just insist on someone opening a proper door for me or I use that yellow litter tray. I’ve got used to it now, and its not so bad if there is no-one around.
The funny thing was, Kathryn was trying to get me to use the pet flap again so she propped it up onto a stool so I didn’t have to push it with my head. I didn’t use it anyway even though it was propped open. And then, one day, Kathryn walked through to the kitchen and there was old Albert in the kitchen eating the rest of my breakfast that I had left for later!!! He must have thought an open pet flap was an invitation for him to come in. It seems Albert & Hobbes were very welcome guests at my house before I lived here. It gave Kathryn a bit of a fright when she was expecting to see me in the kitchen and there was Albert! And Albert certainly got a fright! He took off the wrong way towards the family room and Kathryn was calling to him, “Albert you have to go out the way you came in!” I think she was a bit worried that if I saw him there might be another cat fight! But I was pretty relaxed, lying in a lovely warm sunny patch on the pool table. Kathryn’s put a towel there to stop the pool table from getting my cat hair all over it, so she must know I sleep there sometimes. She’s got towels all over the house now but she can’t keep up with all the nice new spots I keep finding. Well, I’m spending so much more time inside now, and I need a change of scene every few hours.
Anyway, when I went back to the vet, Kathryn put me in a normal storage box without a lid, to travel in the car. She knows I can behave very well in the car now. The only thing was, she put the lid on to take me into the vet’s waiting room, for my own safety, she tried to tell me! How embarrassing. And the vet thought it was very funny because it said “Baking things” on the lid. Kathryn had previously used the box when she was moving house. I didn’t think that was funny.
When we went into the surgery, it was a man who took out those stringy things they call ‘stitches’. He was very nice too. Kathryn said she’d never seen a man there before, they were usually all women at this vet practice. He agreed that male vets were a dying breed, the profession was being taken over by women.
He checked me over, no temperature this time – phew!!
There was no money to pay this time either. Post-operative care is apparently free. So we very happily went home again.
We’d just like to really thank the Duncraig Veterinary Hospital for taking such good care of Hobbesy and me. All the people who work at Duncraig Vet are really nice, friendly, caring and professional people and we really appreciate the very good treatment that we got there. Dr Sally looked after both Hobbesy and me and she was lovely to us both. Unfortunately, we didn’t get the man’s name that took out my stitches, but he was nice too, (and he knows who he is :)). Even Ollie, the ginger cat that welcomes everyone to the Duncraig Vet was nice to me, and I appreciate that.

Adventures of Spiffy Part 3

I have washed and washed but this bandage is there to stay. It has come away from my leg a little bit at the top and I can see that my leg is bare of hair, Also, I can see that there are little bits of stringy stuff holding those little injuries together. I can’t get to the worst ones. They are still covered up. I’m so glad they didn’t put one of those big plastic collars around my neck to stop me from investigating my injuries. I heard them talking about it, but they must have decided I could be trusted to leave the bandage alone.
I’m getting lots of attention. Everyone is sympathising and telling me how brave I am and what a good boy I am. Being injured certainly has its positive side. Meals have been good and on time too, which is great. There have even been some lovely ‘treats’ but I’m still not allowed to get on the table especially when people are eating.
Since the weather has been improving, Kathryn makes sure all the blinds are tilted just right before she goes out, so that I can change my room and my position according to where the sun is coming into the house. Its not the same as being outside but its not too bad.
I’m even getting used to that yellow litter tray. Kathryn is very discrete about it and cleans up after me all the time and makes sure the tray is always nice and clean. You know, cats are very clean animals and we like our privacy too, and I appreciate that Kathryn seems to be aware of it. Mind you, her job is made easier by the fact that I always leave the tray as clean as I can and everything is nicely covered over. I have accidentally swept some of the grey gritty stuff onto the floor but it couldn’t be helped. When you are as thorough as I am about toilet habits – well, that tray is not very big. I don’t know how Hobbes is getting on next door. He’s such a big boy too, and he loves to be outside.
Well after a day or two, we made that car trip to see those nice ladies again. This time I had to travel in the cat carrier cage that we borrowed from the nice ladies. I was examined and poked and prodded again. Apparently that indecent act is called taking the temperature and they did it to me AGAIN!
Anyway, the bandage was taken off, which is good, and now I can wash my leg properly. It is so bare and I have all these little places where that stringy stuff goes through my skin. I’ve tried to bite it and pull it but I can’t get it out. Kathryn keeps having a look at them and telling me to leave them alone but what does she know. I know the more I wash those wounds the better they will be. That’s what cats do.
I heard Kathryn talking about poor old Hobbes next door. He must be in a worse state than I am but then he is so much older. Poor Ruth must be worried sick about him. Apparently she’s been taking him back up to the vet nearly every day and they are doing all kinds of tests on him. They think he might have feline AIDs!! Doesn’t that sound dreadful. I hope I haven’t got it. His wounds aren’t healing like they should and they’re even using the word sshhhh, I’ll say it quietly ‘amputation…..’. ‘nuff said about that.
Albert is a bit lost. I guess with both me and Hobbes locked inside he’s got no-one to pass the time of day with. He comes over every day and checks on me through the bedroom window. In the mornings, on good days, it’s a lovely sunny spot just there in that front window. Albert lies outside the window and I lie inside and it feels like we’re together.
Later on, I made such a fuss at the door that Kathryn decided to let me out for awhile and guess what? Hobbesy was outside too! It was so good to see the old guy. He looks a bit thin and worried but he told me he can still purr when he’s smooching with Ruth.
Kathryn was supposed to take me back to the vet but she’s been so busy with going to work and looking after all these trainee demi au pairs coming and going from the house that she hasn’t had time. She seems to think I’m doing pretty well. I’ve forgiven her for putting me in that cat carrier box so I’m sleeping on her bed at night again. It’s the best place anyway, warm and cosy. And even though Kathryn complains about all my hair everywhere on her bed, I know she likes me to be there.
Ah, its not a bad life and my leg is starting to feel a bit better.