bits'n'bobs

 

As the title implies, there isn't much of a theme to this post...

On Monday I took the train to Edinburgh to meet up with Eleanor, a friend from my nursing days - you know the type of friendship, where you might not see each other for months, years sometimes yet it is as if you last met up the other week. We treated ourselves to lunch at Harvey Nics, and a very fine lunch it was too. By way of a gift before I depart these shores, Eleanor presented me with a beautiful Oxenburg Scarf. EDIT: There should be a picture of the scarf here, but my camera is playing up again...Grrr!

When I haven't been gadding about I finally got started on the clearing out that must be finished before the movers come - honestly, it is quite scary just how much rubbish there really is.

Inbetween times, there has been a fair amount of both knitting and spinning. I decide that I did not like the singles that I had spun for Icarus and sunsequently plied it with a Tencel singles. I now have the beginnings of a shawl which is a bit of a contradiction - the summers are definitely summery, but the weight is inherently that of a winter shawl... The Hourglass Sweater is coming along. I have had to frog it back to the joining round, since it was too short along the raglan. And of course, having increased the depth from armhole to neck means that I neede more yarn. Let me tell you, having practised spinning more consistenly of late it was rather hard getting the slightly 'slubby' effect of the original batch - another reason to make sure that enough yarn is spun before the knitting begins.

The cats are settling well into their new homes, I have been too busy today to dwell. Mind you, it has been a bit emotional transferring the last picture that I took of them.

Failing to keep it all in perspective

 

...the cats, what else????? It's ridiculous, I know it, I tell myself this at least 10 times a day. No one has died. The cats are having a ball. I've come to the conclusion that this is just like the break up of a relationship - wait a minute, it IS the break up of a relationship...

It's true that my 'relationship' with my cats is all in my head - after all, as long as they are warm, dry, fed and treated kindly it matters not to them who is providing the creature comforts. I, meanwhile, have even found myself dreaming of them - you know the kind of dream where they are lost, I find them but then am not allowed to take them home....

So, no matter how much I berate myself, the fact remains - there are 3 cat-shaped holes in my heart which just refuse to close.

Diagnosis delight

 

First up - thanks for all the support re the cats. In some ways I almost feel that I have no right to be upset since Number Guy and I made a decision to go to Switzerland which ultimately, despite our plans to the contrary, meant that they couldn't go. Still, they do have great homes and that is the best thing (well, best after being with us, of course....).

I saw the GI consultant today. He really is a lovely man and the fact that he gave up some of his time to see me before his over-full clinic began makes me like him even more. And even better - I now have a firm diagnosis. Put simply, the pressure in my oesophagus is too high. When this happens further down the the GI tract, one has Irritable Bowel Syndrome, which I also have symptoms of, as it happens. This was all shown by the manometry tests that I had 2 weeks ago. I also had a pH test done at the same time and this was also worth the trauma and having it in situ for 24 hours since this has shown that I also have acid reluxing into my oesophagus where it just shouldn't be.

So, treatment options. First is lifestyle - I have to contimue avoiding the things that make it worse. Mr X said that chocolate and cheese before bed really is a bad idea since they containe tyramine which has adverse effects. The good news is that he has said that I don't have to avoid tyramine-containing food completely, just be sensible about what I eat and when. I also need to continue with the positive changes inr espect of stress reduction. He feel that in cases such as this complementary treatments are potentially of benefit.

But he said something else which made me like him even more - just in case I was worrying that he thought all in my head he said emphatically that this is a very real problem and is not 'all in my mind'. Now I also want to point out that I am not denigrating psychological/psychiatric problems, which are also real in every true meaning of the word. It is simply that that since others health professionals could not come up with a diagnosis I had to suffer their condescension as a result - there was no acceptance of the fact that my problems were real and that they simply couldn't find out the cause - so I just feel better being able to wave this in their face. It would be great if others' prejudices/assumptions about different types of illness didn't exist, but they do.

As well as the lifestyle I will continue to be treated with what is actually an anti-depressant. Again, Mr X pointed out that this is not due to the psychiatric properties (I am 'scunnered' but definitely not depressed) but for the side-effects which act on the autonomic nervous system, affecting the muscles of the GI tract. It can take several months for the full effect to bcome apparent so this is a bit of a long haul. I will also need to take a Proton Pump Inhibitor such as Nexium to deal with the ongoing acid reflux.

And....on the cardiac front, the medic that I saw on Friday is fairly sure that the SVT is caused by the meds I take for the migraines.....so, bit of a viscious circle going on with this.

Isis and Athyr

 

They left tonight for their new home - they're going to be thoroughly spoiled by their new owners - lovely couple with an adorable daughter (anyone who knows me knows I don't say this about many children, so that will give you an idea of just how lovely she is!). Many tears shed....

...and just to take my mind off it, I have to have an x-ray tomorrow to see if I have a kidney stone. Tell ya, I'm sure getting my money's worth out of the NHS before I leave these shores.

Blue

 

Gone to new home today :0(

Mixed emotions

 

It is a huge relief to have found all of the cats a good home. I obviously do not wish to give out someone else's private details - suffice to say that a youngish couple with a lovely daughter are going to spoil our girls rotten.

One of the couple grew up with Siamese (her mum was a breeder) so they know what makes them special. They came to our house to meet the girls first and then we visited them at their place today. We are both devastated to have to do this but are delighted that they will be much-loved where they are going.

I have only one concern (which we have discussed) - the lovely leather sofas. Our cats are not destructive, but I am sure that most cat folk would agree that there is something irresistable 'moreish' about the scratchabiity of animal hide.....

One down.......

 

So, this morning I made the final arrangements to rehome Blue - ulp. She is going to a very good home. She will be with one of her litter sisters, Alice, and an older full-brother. We have not taken any money for her, but as she is on the active register she can have some kittens (there will be no more than 3 litters, spaced well apart). So for every kitten which is sold her new owner will make a donation to the Scottish Rex club. That seems fair all round.

Still feel like Judas, Mind.

Blue about Blue

 

Well, we sure are feeling a little down here...we have come to the conclusion that we may have to rehome our kitten :0( :0( :0(

The other cats still seem to be feeling more than a bit frazzled and let's just say that they have been staging a 'dirty protest'.....

If we were staying here, it wouldn't be such an issue as we would be able to ride it out for the long haul. But given that we are taking the ladies on a plane. to a smaller place, we have very real concerns about what it would be like for all concerned.

Everytime Blue looks at me just now I feel so bad....

Not quite Carmen

 

We exposed ourselves to The Car Man yesterday, or rather some of the cast exposed themselves to us. I am quite sure it was necessary. No, vital to the success of the production. Mind you, I'd be surer if I had personally seen it happen. As it was, Number Guy got the the full frontal of two handsome and exceedingly muscular guys whipping their towels off ;0)

If you get a chance, go see this - if you take your 12+ child with you, you might want to be prepared to explain some girl/guy, guy/guy 'action' - but remember it'll be dark in the audience ,so no one will see you blush...

When we aren't off to the theatre we are busy, busy, busy - making lists of lists of things to do, cats to vaccinate, visits to make, friends to see. But it's good to know that we are unaided in this venture - as you can see, whenever dealing with a creepy crawly is added to the list, the cats are happy to put aside the death threats, unite and join in the fray.

Whaddaya mean, get off the laundry?

 

As you can see, our Blue likes her creature comforts.
And I can kind of see her point. There is a perfectly good cat hammock purposefully placed to dream the days away in, next to a warm radiator - but it is usually occupied by Isis.
And Blue aint nobody's fool - a row from me v head bitten off by cat.
Which would you choose ?

Edit: Number Guy says he'd take his chances with the cat. Bloomin' cheek.

Chicken in a basket

 

Cat on a lead.

There rests a very uneasy peace chez Twelfthknit en ce moment.....One of the problems is that if the other cats aren't threatening to tear her to shreds, Blue thinks she can just leap at them unannounced. Now, the logical part of my brain thinks 'Let then get on with it. One major hissy fit and the groundrules will be sorted out.' Unfortunately, the rest of me is too wimpy for that. So I reckon this may be a bit of a compromise (for me, I realise that!) Blue can have some periods of time near the older cats, but it won't be a free for all. AND it has another distinct advantage - I don't need to worry about her getting into somewhere troublesome if there's no-one to help get her out.

PS - can you see what she's reading? A bit advanced, our Blue...

May I present....

 

.....Tamorie WildBlueYonder.

Whadaya mean, you can't see her? She was there a second ago. I had the perfect shot lined up.I paused for a nanosecond before pressing the shutter.....and she was off ....into the wild blue y..... Now you know why we chose her name. We had a bit of prescience. We were I was right.

Blue, as she is to be known, is just a tad tricky to take a picture of. I've been trying to catch her 'Rexness'. This gives just a hint of their silhouette from behind Those ears.....

The Scottish Rex Cat Club has a great logo which just sums the shape up perfectly, IMHO

Some people have likened her to ET....but we won't go there.

Coming to a blog near you.....

 

And they said it couldn't be done.....Number Guy has agreed to this:

Or maybe this:

Or maybe even one of these:

Yep, Number Guy has agreed to a Devon Rex. And one of these little ladies will be coming to us at the beginning of August. number Guy says I have chosen the one with the scrunched up prettiest face. And I agree with him. Trouble is, from the pictures, I can't remember which one it is.....

Now we just have one more problem -what shall we call her?????

The crime scene

 

Absolute carnage, I'm sure you'll all agree.

The suspects: As if you didn't guess....

RIP.......STR

 

Give 'em an inch, and they'll take a mile. This sorry sight is the result of trusting these two miscreants

Butter wouldn't melt, huh?