Little Cat, Big Jungle!

Today is Leo's first day out.  He looks so small and lost out there but he is into everything.  Because he was so little when we got him and there are no other cats in the house for him to copy,  I am certain he thinks he is a dog. We always had more than one cat and they taught each other. Anyway, he follows Mike and myself around the garden, he follows the dogs, he shares their dinners out of their bowls and they do not so much as growl at him!  He only ventures about halfway down the garden at the moment.  How amazing it must be to him, what a big world it is out there, so much to learn, so much to play with.  He has been coming in and out by himself all morning and what a relief it is to us to be able to have the back doors open now.  We have had some very warm days when we longed to open them but did not dare do so in case he got out before his injections "took".

I followed the Old Wives' tale of buttering his paws about an hour before he went out.  My Grandmother always did it, my mother did it and I have carried on with all our cats.  It is supposed to ensure that they always come home.  We gave him about half an hour to lick it all off and then outside he went.

As you can see, he is fascinated by the pond and the fish but has made no attempt to try the water or catch anything.  He saw the dogs being bathed a while ago, heard the taps (faucets) running and when they shook themselves he got wet as well so maybe he already knows that water is not for him.

I am glad he was able to go out this morning because theyhave forecast heavy rain and possible thunder later on.  Our barometer has fallen back to storm.  However, it has done that in the past and we have still escaped it.

Him indoors started painting the outside of our sunlounge yesterday. It is in dire need, in some places it is down to the bare wood because it has not been done for a few years.  He is continuing in a minute after he has finished his lunch and had a cup of tea.  I took the opportunity to sit outside with him, topless again of course and nicely pointed out where he had "missed" bits  of paintwork.  However, I can assure you that this is not me!

Topless I may have been, but discreetly so and can you imagine me twined around with flowers like one of the main characters in "Lady Chatterly's Lover"?  Would not do me any good anyway - Mike is no "Mellors" lol.

Becky phoned.  They are having a good holiday in Somerset and they return on Friday night.  It will be so nice being able to see the boys over the weekend.  It has been such a long time since they have been able to spend time here because of my treatment.  I could not risk picking up a bug from either of them.

They have been swimming a good deal in the pool, been on the beach, had fun on lots of the rides and have seen a couple of shows especially for children.

Well, I suppose I had better stop writing now and go and tackle some housework, not that I am doing a great deal yet, just general tidying.  Have already started on my third book, yes I am a quick reader.  Just finished a biography on Stewart Granger and I am now reading the autobiography of Rolf Harris.  I might sit in the garden again later reading and, as someone commented on my previous entry, let "the girls" out again, providing the rain keeps off but that would mean watering all the plants. You can't win can you? 

Hope you are all having a good week.

Love,