May 2000

Wahey!  It is just about stopped raining, but it will take some time for the land to dry out, and also the back garden lawn that forms a good bit of my immediate "stamping ground" (I have to say, I have always found this expression a bit nonsensical - I am a cat (and if I say so myself, a perfectly svelte and toned example of the feline species) so I don't stamp or stomp!

That aside, I have discovered something totally brilliant - I can't believe that I did not spot this last year.  As you know, between my house and the neighbours (Pam and Gordon) there is a large wall which is about 10 feet tall (whatever that might be, I don't claim to understand human's ways of measuring things!) and it from when there was old farm house where my front garden is.  This old house was taken down years ago, so that's why we live in a bungalow now - this is before Mum & Dad lived here, but it appears that there were major issues with the old building so it had to come down as it was not safe.  However, all the outbuildings are all still standing and they are on our side of the wall.  Pam's garden is all enclosed by this wall and a fence, and in the corner nearest us is a shed with a flat roof - and this is perfect for sunbathing - oh yes!  There are a few massive poplars by the side of Dave's field, and one of these provides the perfect climbing post (well it is so easy for me to scale it vertically) to arrive on the shed roof.  I am hidden from Meg the dog, I can listen to the birds singing and going about their business (I am not that into catching birds, not really in to the taste) and so I can have a good, hidden spot - fantastic!  As I have been taught, "Keep you face to the sunshine and you will not see the shadows" - I love it here it is fab!  

I've been in and out of the new shed, and the outbuildings - there are a lot of nooks and crannies and old farm stuff stored in them, and there is also the chitting shed - this is a big black tin shed with a lot of perspex windows and panels in, so it is always light in there - this is mainly used for storage now and there are a lot of different smells which interest me greatly.......

Out on the farm, they are still planting potatoes (this is late due to the weather) and rolling the fields with a contraption pulled behind the tractor - this is wheat which was planted in October, and the purpose of this is to compact the land after the frost has lifted it (when it thaws) and encourages "tillering" of the plant which it where it puts out more stems.

In other news, I have invented a fantastic new game called "feet".  This is where I jump on the bed with Mum and Dad and chase their feet which are moving under the duvet.  I consider I am quite good at this, but apparently, if the duvet is not entirely covering the feet then there is a problem with contact with my claws................!!  Still, it is honing my speed and skills at chasing things................! And I will share this thought with you, "Live each day with love and not fear"

And finally, on 31st May, I became a "feline cousin" as Mum's sister Rachel and her husband Andrew have had a little boy called George William.  I will be quite wary of him until he is older as I understand that there will be a lot of noise! But huge congratulations to them, and a welcome to little George

these are "my" outbuildings, and just out of shot is my new sunbathing spot on Pam's shed roof - I am expanding "my" territory all the time (although, obviously it is essential all mine already!)

April 2000

So, apparently there is a "thing" called April showers...........I've not noticed this before, but blimey, it is certainly true this year........I am getting a bit fed up with getting wet when it rains, or having wet and muddy feet from being outside even when it is not raining.

Because of this, I've not been out and about as much, but I can report that the new sheds are in course of being completed - one of them has a massive door (so the huge big machinery can fit in) and this door is operated by a chain device and a human (or two!) pulling on it.  I have to say, I am none too keen on the noise it makes, and it seemingly takes ages to open or close.  The space seems huge inside though, although some of the work has been held up by the weather.

Out on the farm they are still planting potatoes, these go in as seed potatoes (small potatoes with small "chits" on them - this means they have started to grow) then once planted, they grow and then are harvested around October and November.  There are lots and lots of different types or varieties of potatoes but Dad grows some called Maris Piper and Cara over here.  In other news the linseed has all been drilled (ie planted in the ground) when this flowers, it will have lovely blue flowers, and will be harvested in September.  I was going to walk the land, but to be honest, I did not fancy getting mud up to my "armpits" so I have learned some of this from books indoors!  One of the cows at the other farm has had twin calves, but this month is when they all go back home from their "Winter holiday"

I have been catching up on my sleep in the daytime too - as I always say, "It is important to ensure you get enough rest!" and I have been pondering on how far I have come in less than a year too, "Focus on the good things in life, no matter if they are small or large, and then they will multiply" (this can also be summed up as "count your blessings" and in between reading, I have been talking to Will - he is also fed up with the weather.  Will did not tell me this, but he is scared of thunder and lightning - I discovered this during a storm - he was literally trembling and shaking with fear.  My first instinct was to think he was joking, but he wasn't - so I persuaded him to come and lie under the bed in the spare room, and I stayed with him to be sure he was okay.  Poor old dog, he was terrified.  Fortunately, the storm passed quite quickly and eventually, I convinced him to come back out from hiding.

I am hoping for better weather soon................

okay, so this may not be the most flattering of poses, but I am having a stretch after reading up on farming...........and lots of other subjects too.........there is always such a lot to learn!

March 2000

...........Meanwhile, back at the ranch (or whatever it is they say) Whilst I have been away on my holidays, work has continued apace in dismantling the final bits of the shed and putting the finishing touches on the new one.

It has taken me ages to re-familiarise myself with all my "estate" - well actually, that is not true, I am a cat so I own all of it ...everything! ....but I have been all about the farm, the house, the fields and the garden - it is still really cold though, I may have to look into ordering myself one of those heated pods like at the cattery.  "Investigate everything thoroughly" this is very useful advice and something my furry mum taught me.  I've been talking to the rodents - yes I know, I should hate them, but we're all just trying to live (I also believe in "live and let live" but I don't tell too many people that!) and they have had a hard winter - they were concerned about their habitat coming down (the old shed) but they've found a new abode in a farm shed belonging to another farmer.  I've also tried to talk to the pheasants, but to be honest I don't seem to be making much headway with them (they appear a bit dim?!) Dad has been drilling a new crop which will be used for "wild bird cover" - this is a nice idea I think, and I have tried to tell the birds this, but I think they are scared of me.  Will is back too (there is no link there with "dim" honestly!) he quite enjoyed his stay on the other farm but is pleased to be back home.  He does not feel the need to patrol his territory in the same way as me - perhaps he just is not that bothered?  

In other news, Dad applied to take on some extra land, but did not get it and then much worse - he got his finger caught in a trailer and had to go to hospital (this is like a vets but for humans) and it is now bandaged up.  One of Dad's friends has also pulled out of farming (it is, i am coming to understand, a difficult business to make a living in) but it is very sad as they have been farming for years.  

I wandered into the main bedroom when Mum and Dad were making their bed up and Dad put on a fake voice for me and said, "Making up my bed? make sure it is not too hard and it's suitable for a cat of my standing (!)" which is what I would have said out loud if only they could hear/understand me.....They went to an 80's themed fancy dress party later that night - wearing some pretty bizzarre clothing, and Mum had her hair all crunchy with this mousse (not to be confused with moose!) stuff - however, they have forbidden me from adding any photos of them. So in the meantime, my picture this month is ............

this is me inspecting one of the fields...............I sometimes think that I need a pay rise for being the farm manager ............