John gets Stressy...

Retirement is supposed to be about chilling and calm isn't it?  In the main that is what we achieve but where the cats are concerned they are constantly causing us angst.  Thank God we didn't have children - that's what I say! Today Minnie Mou decided to follow John into the shed and get under his feet when he was carrying a load of tools.  As a result a pot containing white spirit got knocked over covering MM.  She managed to evade me as I tried to shut the kitchen door to trap her in the house and so John shouted at me, I shouted at him, we both shouted at each other.  I had consulted the internet and as you know a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing as the posts ranged from don't worry to this could be lethal.  As you can imagine panic set in as we tried to corner her and wash her off and encourage her to drink some milk.   She shot off and John managed to corner her in the garden next door and drench her with water from the swimming pool - we then had to try and towel her off but she can be like a greased pig when she wants to be.  She acted quite strangely for a while and we were very concerned - we had hoped she would settle down on our bed like she usually does then we could keep an eye on her but she wouldn't - she disappeared over the fence and didn't come back for hours.

She has been home now for a while, and is probably none the worse for her experience, Chivers is busy cleaning her as her fur is looking a little clumpy and he will probably be ill now as he is a martyr to his bowels!

We keep sniffing Minnie Mou to see whether or not the smell of white spirit has gone and we think so - we will be keeping an eye on them both for mouth ulcers or any other signs of anything untoward.

This is all very unfortunate as MM had started to become much more of a lap cat since her operation - just take a look at her relaxing on John last night! and now she is being wary with us again.  Not helped by the fact that we also had to squirt her ears with the gloopy stuff again today - poor little bugger she has really gone through the mill today.  Good job they have short memories cats and their hearts are ruled by their stomachs.  We have no more wet food left after today as they have both been treated to the max - let's hope tomorrow is uneventful for them at least until I have time to top up the wet food store!

Anyway in amongst all the trauma of this morning I was getting ready to go to Sheila's for my art lesson and lunch (courtesy of husband Klaus).  Sheila is a brilliant artist who uses the medium of pastel pencils and had asked me if I would like to have a go.  In fact she kindly invited Vicki as well but as you know Vix has now returned to Odcombe.  John was staying at home dismantling the temporary conservatory in readiness for the permanent one which is being constructed next week.  By the time I was due to leave we were fairly sure that MM was ok-ish or at least well enough not to have to be rushed to the vets.

It was warm but overcast today (and remained that way all day) so I decided to walk to Sheila's - although she lives fairly close by there is no direct route so it means I get to walk through the village and can call into the post on my way.

I came under scrutiny as I walked past Marion and Chris's house as one of their cats was playing in the long grass which is everywhere at the moment and makes the countryside look so green and lush except for the trees of course and they are taking their time to spring into life.

It is hard to believe that these skeletons will be full to burst with figs in the late summer.  There is a little blossom about which I think is on the Almond trees although I don't actually remember seeing any almond nuts on them when we walked passed last year.

Downtown Droushia during the day is a hive of activity - not - I am guessing that most of the working men are out in the fields somewhere particularly as now they are busy cutting back the vines in readiness for the new season - that is if the rain water has subsided sufficiently.  I saw the guy that cleans our streets and the lady who we irreverently refer to as Dick Emery - ooh you are awful but I like you! and the lady in front of me heading for the post office cum WI cum local creche but that was it today!

No post for us today - it looks like Kaye's Christmas parcel is destined never to arrive now and is probably lost somewhere in Athens - as it contained name tags for the cats and as they continuously lose their collars then it will be no great loss to them!

The venue for my art class was Klaus and Sheila's lovely home - lovely warm home - they have central heating!!!  Their beautiful bungalow is situated across the road from the cemetery so their neighbours are very quiet and I like to think they are watched over by a host of Angels!

It is hard to imagine their home as the wreck they found it because now it is a light, airy and comfortable home filled with all sorts of interesting art and ornaments many of which evoke memories of their lives in Africa.  They are a fascinating couple and Klaus is a wonderful cook!

So here is a picture of my lovely teacher Sheila who has the patience of a saint and was most encouraging in my endeavours to create a picture of an apple in pastels.  After three hours this is what I had accomplished and I have to say I a pretty chuffed with how is looks so far and I cant wait to return next week to complete it.  Sheila has suggested that in due course I tackle something in sepia which I am quite keen to do and wonder if the photograph I took of Minnie-Mou might be a reasonable subject - I shall have to ask her - it would be nice to do one of each of the moggies to replace the pictures of the Charles Bridge that we brought back from Prague and which have begun to fade in the sunshine.

I had a wonderful lunch of prawn pasta with a fragrant salad which was wonderful and gave me an idea for a meal for when Laura is over as I know she loves prawns.  I may have to ask Klaus for the recipe!  Sheila very kindly gave me a lift home and came to see what we were doing with the villa - hopefully if the conservatory goes to plan we can craft together in the warm and light it will provide.

I had put the money that Vix had given us towards her stay to one side to pay for a load of logs as we are running short.  They were supposed to be delivered today but unfortunately the guy didn't turn up so we will have to get them from somewhere else.

Dad is coming tomorrow to help John with getting ready for the conservatory - I am pickleballing, John is not.  Our friends from up the road, Sharon and Sean, have arrived this evening - thank God John managed to get their dodgy door lock sorted or else it would be a nightmare for them trying to get to bed!  I expect we shall see them tomorrow.