Hi Dita and all

[vannin]

Hi, everyone. I'm back - completely exhausted, as predicted. I'm not cut out to be part of the jet-set, I think. Berlin was ... well, interesting, anyway. Much of it still looks like the eastern bloc, even though they've tried hard to pretty up all the concrete apartments with colour-washed exteriors and lots of window boxes. I love the way so many of the roads have trees growing along the side-walks and down the centre reservations; it makes a very green and pleasant city. The main visual ugliness comes from the graffiti everywhere - on buildings, trains, bridges, buses, etc etc. If you thought it was a problem in England, think again. British graffiti-vandals are rank amateurs in comparison.

The weather over there was quite warm and muggy so I couldn't believe how cold it is here. The lekky-blanket got switched on when I got home last night. Lucy's content to stay curled up in a warm corner now she's home from the cat-hotel. Does the cold kill off the mites, Vannin? If so, Trixie should feel much better soon. Fingers x-ed.

I've just made a vat of spinach & potato soup that'll do for lunches the rest of the week. Yum!

Glad you enjoyed the break, Andere and hope you feel warmer now than when you landed.
The cold and rain certainly help Trixie by keeping her in from the Land of Mite for more of the time, and the irritation is eased, but I think it will be another fortnight before the mite season finishes. I dreaded it this year like every year, and don't remember any of our previous cats having much bother at all.
One more vet visit tomorrow, this time for the nurse to treat the affected patches with Frontline from a bottle. Last year, it was hit or miss when I tried it myself.

The savings took a big dent this month, first from having the decorating (£1,160) with additionally the cleaning of curtains and carpets, but it all looks very good, crisp and clean. Then the unexpected expense, like Pest Control man to the wasp nest (£46) plus the - expected - vet bills and essential taxi. Never mind, you can't take it with you.

Viv

[Penny]

Morning Dita, and all. So pleased all are well and pussies on the mend. Sounds as tho' you are back to normal after your visit Andere ,good one. Hope doggie enjoys her walk today, lovely and sunny here. In a nervous mood today, on the way to see the doc re blood pressure. Never sleep the night before a visit She says I have White Coat syndrome. Drives me crackers. Have a good day all, take care. cheers Penny. Nearly forgot kisses for pusssies and big hugs for doggie.

[dita]

Good afternoon Penny and all. I have that White Coat cyndrome too, it causes havoc with my BP when I go for a checkup. Waiting to be called for usual bloods and BP at the moment. Hopefully you have got it over by now. Germany seems different now-a-days, Andere, I used to go when my son was stationed there. Quite an expensive time for you Vannin, pleased to hear pussy is improving. Just been for a bit of a shop so less money in my purse, went a bit mad as usual, even though I never intend to. Gonna take doggie out for walkies now, she wishes you could join us and sends big big hugs to you, Keep your chin up Penny and all

[Andere Richtingen]

... Then the unexpected expense, like Pest Control man to the wasp nest (£46) ...
Viv

But not quite as expensive as the woman I heard about earlier today, who came home from holiday to find her house was no more - burned to the ground by her neighbours who were trying to smoke out a wasp nest. Sheesh! Makes you think twice about going away, doesn't it?

....on the way to see the doc re blood pressure. Never sleep the night before a visit She says I have White Coat syndrome. Drives me crackers. .

Me,too! My recently retired GP said it's really common and, for some people, the answer is to have a nurse or healthcare assistant do the check but that's never worked for me and the poor chap has just had to sit about making jolly conversation with me until I relax enough
to get a sensible reading. Hope your result is OK, Penny. The problem with worrying about your BP is that it puts up your BP..

It's a wee bit warmer today and Lucy Katt has actually ventured outside a couple of times. She sends best wishes to Trixie and a cautious greeting to Dita's doggie friend. Best wishes to all from me, too.

[Penny]

Pleased someone else suffers same syndrome as me. Don't mean to sound selfish but it helps to know I am not abnormal. Dr.took it three times but I have to go back in a month again and take my own machine with me. If she agrees my machine is up to standard she will take my readings from home instead of me having to go to the surgery. One thing pleased me very much, all test I have had over the last month have proved negative. I was delighted and I said to the doc. I will tell hubby it is his fault he is driving me crackers, she said, that makes two of us. We both had a laugh. So, as they say, all's well that ends well. cheers Penny

[dita]

Good to hear tests came back negative Penny. I'm going to blame my hubby too when I go, never thought about that, thanks

[vannin]

Jolly good news Penny!

Viv

[Penny]

Morning Dita and all, just a quickie to start. Off for weekly shop and hopefully lunch with son. Big hugs for doggie, enjoy your walkies kisses for pussies, keep purring. Just a note Dita, if your interested, on Saturday with the mail there is a free booklet on Making Jam. Take care all, catch you later. cheers Penny

[dita]

Hi Penny and all.Its a horrible rainy cold day. Doggie needs hugs today and sure you may need them too Penny, too wet for walkies. Thanks for info on booklet for jam making, have already had one for quite a few years, may have a look at weekend for any new tips.. Am putting pic of my long gone Chinchilla pussy cats, do not want anyone to think I am against them cos I still miss Pru & Fred. Take care Penny and all.


Pic deleted

[vannin]

Beautiful!

Viv

[Penny]

What a beautiful cat. The only pedigree I ever had was a Burmese Blue which we bought from cats home. All others were strays or spares that no one wanted. I remember the last but one, a lovely old cat blind in one eye, very savage until we got him fixed at the vets. I have a lovely picture of him curled up in a flower pot. Wish I could put on here. All are wonderful of course, would fill my house if I could. Had a lovely lunch with son. He is off to Madrid next week for a three day conference. He thinks it a waste of time and money, I thought it sounded super. Hope everyone is keeping warm including doggie. Not a nice day at all. Take care. cheers Penny

[Andere Richtingen]

Oh, Dita - what gorgeous kitties; s-o-o-o-o-o beautiful! They look like they're posing for a chocolate box
Lucy Katt not keen on Out today, it's windy and damp so she's keeping a chair warm for us. Can't say I'm keen on Out, either; I went to have coffee with a friend this morning but came straight home afterwards, no fun in going shopping or anything.
Glad the BP's OK, Penny

[dita]

Thanks everyone, they were beautiful cats, Fred is on the left, he also had a damaged eye, he got scratched by one of his siblings, he lived 13yrs but Pru was 19yrs when she died.They had only two litters between them, Chinchilla's do not have large families 2 babys each litter usually. My husband handed me a zip bag on my birthday one year, guess what was inside

[dita]

Good morning Penny and everyone, fine dry day here, not bad for doggie walkies today, big hugs if you join us Penny bribery and corruption, she is very good at it. Pleased you enjoyed lunch with your son, we could all join him on his trip to Madrid, how about it. Burmese are lovely Penny, always fancied one, would love to see the pic, do you belong Photo Bucket? I do and if you wanted I could probably help if you would like. Anyway keep your chin up and take care, also everyone else popping in.

[Andere Richtingen]

Good afternoon all - It's fine and currently sunny but I shall be tied up doing indoor things for the rest of the day. Still, I can enjoy it through the windows.

The man from Parcelforce has just been with a lovely case of wine. I had a voucher for £40 off a case so I thought, why not? No commitment or requirement to place regular orders so, if it turns out to be awful stuff, I can make lots of Boeuf Bourguignon or, as OH suggested, give it away for CHr.. Oops, not that word, not yet ... year-end presents. And he wonders why he doesn't have many friends .

I spent ages on the phone this morning remonstrating with the credit card people for taking too much money out of my bank account. It all happened because I decided to pay off the balance in full before I went away last week. On Monday, they helped themselves to the regular Direct Debit payment when there was already a zero balance. Many apologies, they said, it was because it requires 3 full working days for payments to show up so we didn't know you'd paid it off. They agreed to refund the second payment - but it'll take 3 working days !!!! The mind boggles. Is it me turning into Grumpy Old Woman or have things really not got any better since they did it all with quill pens and ledgers? I thought when I signed up for internet banking that it was all supposed to make things faster and simpler.... Ho, hum.