November and December 2003

It seems to me that November has mostly been about moving tractors about (!) I am sure it has been more complicated than that, but it is how it seems to me(!)  The wheat is now all drilled, and the land ploughed - they have had to get Gordon (retired farmer from Deeping) to help because Dad's dad Alan has got some serious eye problems - he has got a detached retina (whatever that is) and needs an operation.  It has been a struggle, but "with some help from friends and family - it is important to help where you can" the farm is just about where it "should be" at this time of the year.  I have done my bit to help too - I go and sit on peoples knees and purr, letting them stroke my fur makes them happier and calmer - this is a proven fact with animals, honestly!  Some animals are "employed" to go into hospitals and nursing homes to help the patients 

In other news, finally after a few months of negotiations, Mum and Dad are buying the house off their landlords, and I know they have a lot of plans for extending it which sounds exciting.  Dad has also been to Wales for the day to sort out becoming a trainer for some computer based farm training programme thingy he uses.  Potato grading has started but this year, it is all at the other farm so I am not required for assistance or for training anyone else, which is nice as it has been very wet and cold.  I have been in the spray and chemical shed when that was cleared out, but it is nowhere near as interesting as the big shed.  

Anyway, we all had a lovely Christmas and best wishes to all for 2004 x

 not the most flattering of photos but I was just waking up and getting up!

September and October 2003

Lots to report, firstly, we have a new niece - Dad's brother (Mick) and his wife (Rachel) have had a little girl called Abigail.  Abby was not very well at first, and had to stay in hospital, she may need an operation when she is bigger, but she is now at home....I've not seen her yet (I might hide anyway!)   

In other news, we have combining peas, George (our nephew) has been over to look at the combine harvester (he loves all the big machinery and has toy versions of them all!).  If you can make someone's day with something the love or would enjoy, why not?  It has also been very noisy here as they have been levelling the concrete outside the big shed...I went to investigate, but it was cold and loud, so I left them to it!  Mum's car broke down and she had to drive it carefully to Cranfields (where the buildings and land are between the two farms) and it had to be taken on a lorry to the garage.  She is not best pleased because this car has been "unlucky" and had a lot of expensive issues with it.  In other bad happenings, Dad trapped his finger in a trailer door and had to go to a hospital (like a vets, but for humans!) and the combining continued in a stop/start manner as predicted.  Once it finished the combine was washed down and put away for the Winter (I don't like that, too much water - especially as the potato boxes were then pressure washed too - I left Will to observe that) and also the linseed straw was burned - I quite liked the smell.  There seems to have been a bit of a "last minute rush" with all the farmers around here to try and get the harvest in his year, it has no been very straightforward.

I had a day "home alone" when Mum and Dad went over to Grindleford (wherever that is!) for a long hike, and Will was at the other farm.  I love being here.....there is so much to do, and Pam came in to feed me anyway. Speaking of Pam, I have made use of her shed roof - "it is important to make the best of everything" after all - because in August we had the hottest day in Lincolnshire since records began - 37 degrees - I do wonder, and really hope, that all my brothers and sisters, and my parents are happy and healthy wherever they are....I was musing on this (and hoping) from Pam's shed roof. It is nice there with the heat, and also the breeze from the trees and the birdsong, you get to hear and observe so much!

this is me on the bonnet of the car which costs a lot of money, a lot of the time!

July and August 2003

It is back to normal on the farm front, no more shed sorting, although it looks a massive space now the corn bins are down and the shed has been "rearranged" ....still it won't take long for them to fill it.  I have been away on my holidays again to see Barbara at the cattery (I love her!) "it is important to take everything in your stride and make it a home from home wherever you are"  Mum and Dad have been away again, but are back in time for the harvest to start (earlier than normal)  

Unfortunately, it is not going well, it is going to be a bit of a stop-start harvest, and things keep going wrong, breakdowns, tractor tyre punctures, rain etc - it is as well to keep out of the way!  I have been entertaining myself down at the Crew Yard (where the cows used to live) as there are lots to things to do, and places to sleep -old trailers, a feeding trough for the cows (I asked what this was called, and Dad said, "Arthur" ....he thinks he is so funny, it is actually a manger, but not one as you would see on Christmas cards.  There are also a few hessian sacks (yay!), rodents and gateposts to make it easy to get up onto the roof (if you are a cat!)  is is an excellent stamping ground to have.

There has been a lot of thunder and lightening, and poor Will is terrified - I find them fascinating myself, but I have helped him out by going to lie under the bed with him, with my head on his, so he can get some comfort.  Poor old Will, he physically shakes with fear.....it is important to help a fellow being out whenever you can. 

not the right time of year, but this is taken about one metre away from "my" Crew Yard (well, it is mine now, I have claimed it for myself!)

May and June 2003

Yay! Excellent news - it's time for my favourite farm job .........shed clearing out.  Okay, that does not sound too exciting I know, but "it's important to find enjoyment in the little things in life"   Although, this is actually a major, major clear out and there is so much for me to see, do, chase, inspect, investigate, supervise, approve that it is almost a full time job (and being a cat, I don't have one of those, other than being gorgeous obviously - just joking!)

Some of the big corn bins are coming down, the entire shed is being swept and then new corn bins and a new layout and shelving are going in.  It is sooooo exciting, I love it.  There are so many different smells, tastes and things that I almost do not know what to concentrate on first.  Will just goes rampaging in to whatever takes his fancy, but I like to be a bit more discerning.  There are rodent smells, bits of straw, hay, machinery, oil, tools, seeds, corn, and so much more - even old chairs and overalls, signs and old tins or jars full of bits like screws or nails.  My absolutely favourite things are the old hessian type potato sacks - I just love the texture and the smell! However, they are none too keen when I go in the house because they say I smell "medieaval" whatever that means!  There are loads of these sacks lying about, and I have made clear that they are to be retained because I love them - "surround yourself with sights, smells, textures, colours, tastes and you will never experience a dull moment!"

It is a good job there is all this shed work to do, as it has been quite rainy - heavy showers and then bright sunshine - the birds have not been out and about as much either - although Will is enjoying a big puddle that seems to appear quickly by the shed door.  He has also been round to the old crew yard to supervise what is being moved there, but that is my sunbathing place, and I can't miss out on the shed opportunity!

In other news, the stock feed potatoes (this is where potatoes go to feed animals on other farms like cows) have left the other farm, and the selling in the layby has finished.  Ideally I would like the shed clearance to go on and on, but I guess it has got to be done and dusted soon...............

I know this is an old photo, but it best demonstrates the perfection that is a) me (!) but the detail of these old and delightful hessian sacks - they are multi purpose, but I like them best for sleeping on!

March and April 2003

Well, it has got a bit warmer and Will seems to be intent on spending as much time outdoors as possible.  He is often in a tractor though, so this gives me plenty of scope to inspect "my" premises - I love this time of year, you can really notice how everything is suddenly growing and all the changes that you see in nature. "You should take time to smell the flowers and appreciate the world around you".  I am pleased that I live in the countryside, I don't think I would enjoy being a town cat again - but who knows?  

In addition to helping plant potatoes (ie inspect them after they have been planted, and play about in the soil which has been ridged up over them) I have been spending a lot of time in the crew yard (this is where the cows used to live and there is still the barn with the wooden feeding troughs. There are also a lot of old hessian sacks about (the brown woven type ones) I love their different smells and they're quite comfortable to have a snooze on. Because I blend in well with the colours of the sacks, wood and straw - and all the grasses that were mowed or have died off from last year, I am quite hidden and camouflaged in here .........truly I am "stealth cat" - I use it to notice all the different species of animals and birds that live down here - it really is diverse!  

Speaking of diversity, the farm is taking part in a new environmental scheme called "The Entry Level Scheme" which aims to encourage wildlife, birds, rodents, insects etc (no mention of cats though, strangely!) at the moment, only the other farm is officially involved, but this type of green activity has always been carried out here - and now, a new massive bird box (for owls) is going up near the crew yard - I like owls, they are a joy to watch with their hovering and graceful flight.  I think some live in the farm buildings of Dave's across the road.  I think that we should all help each other as species -I am a well read cat, and as the Dalai Lama says, "Our prime purpose in life is to help others, and if you can't help them, then at least don't hurt them"   
- it is a shame that not everyone uses this as a mantra to live by, as the tv is full of news of the war in the Gulf.

I've also had a day and a bit "home alone" in April as Mum and Dad went to London for the night with Clare and Ian to watch a show, and Will was at the other farm.  I enjoyed it and entertained Grandma and Pam - and I got all the beds to myself!

this is the view at night when I was owl spotting!

January & February 2003

Happy New Year All!

Well, seeing as it is Winter, I have been staying in near the radiators and catching up on my reading, "The Green Book" and "Farmers Guide" (other farming publications are available!) are very helpful to improve my agricultural knowledge, withour having to venture too far outdoors.  Fortunately, when I do go out, it has only been cold and frosty (there were 4 days of snow) and not really too wet.... initially anyway, later in the month, they were digging "trenches" to let the water off the land.   I have been in the shed with Dad when he has been doing repairs to the plough - Will and I shared the armchair - well I had the top of the seat back, and he had the seat - it really was not very exciting to watch!    Dad's parents have been away so we have had Jake the Labrador to stay...I did not like him initially, he is too big and there is just "too much of him" - but it is said that, "you should never judge a book by its cover" and Jake is actually quite a nice dog - he is only a bit younger than Will, but he has more stories from the other farm as he is mostly over there, "Everyone has an interesting story to tell, if only we take time to listen" Jake is used to cats as there are 3 living with him....the only problem with him is that he snores worse that Will (and I would not have believed that was even possible!)

Mum has had some bad news - she has been working in a role which means she can be in any one of three offices, but the nearest is only 6 miles away, and she alternates them, covering in each one as and when required. Unfortunately, that job has finished now and she was a bit unsure what was happening, as the finish date kept being put back.  However, she is now in Peterborough for three months to help set up a new portfolio team....she is not keen on the travelling though - it is only about 24 miles - but takes well over an hour, and then there is a 10 minute walk in from the car park.  It is a longer journey (but quicker) on the back roads, but these are really dangerous in bad weather, and in Winter - and I want her to be safe!  The first week she was there it snowed (the snow was gone in 2 and a half days) but it took her an hour to travel three quarters of a mile.....looking at the news - I don't know why humans don't stay home when it is weather like this, and I do worry for the homeless and hungry cats out there - I do what I can to leave access to some of the sheds and old sacking around for bedding

However, the weather improved a bit and strangely enough, I have noticed a number of different birds on the farm - I am not very good at recognising species and names (just tastes!) but I have been researching in a "countryside and farm bird book" to see if I can improve my knowlege.  And obviously, I have been continuing my cuddling up with Mum in an evening - all this renewed wandering about and research quite tires me out!  

At the end of February, it was Mum's birthday, and Dad bought her a really unusual present - a friend of his, "Viv" is a French teacher (for adults, not children) French is another language that they speak in a country called Franch just over the English Channel - I had to explain this to Will!!  And Viv (or rather a series of lessons with her, is the present!)  Apparently, Mum wants to improve her French as she spoke it wellpreviously and wants to get fluent in it.....I would have liked her to learn Cat but to be honest, I do think this is beyond all humans - all the nuances and tones are too advanced I think!  But they do try, which is sweet!  Their friends, Ian, Clare and Stuart were here around her birthday, so I did my "head of the house / host" thing...I think it went well!

Anyway, the weather forecast is for warmer weather - and sooner rather than later - so lets hope so!

not a great shot, nor the most flattering of angles, but this is me on a comfy knee!

November and December 2002

Ooh, you'll never guess what ....yes, potatoes are the thing again (!) Yes, they are (potentially, and this is by no means certain) the crop which earns the most, but they are by far and away the most problematic and stress inducing of all crops too

So on the farm it is ploughing (I don't go out in the tractor, but if I am about, I have a good old sniff and inspection once they're parked back in the shed) and also grading potatoes - to be honest, I find this very boring, but I am entranced by the birds following the plough and the artistic way that the soil is turned into darker lines of equal distance.  The soil here is quite dark - not quite as dark as at the other farm, Will says - and Mum says that if she was painting the scene, she would use purple and lilac tones in with the brown for the soil.  

So, back to the potatoes - we have a new strategy for selling them, and Dad and his Dad are going to take over a sales pitch in a layby off the main road in Crowland (the town between the two farms) to see how that goes. They ar also going to try in another layby in Tallington, but this has not been tried before.  There has been a pitch in Crowland for some years but the person there is retiring..... I know they're looking forward to chatting to the customers - I hope it goes okay.  We have been busy printing up leaflets for them to distribute.  Will and I are not very good at this, I love to lie on paper and if there are a few piles on the floor, then I just can't help myself!

As it is Winter, I have been spending a lot more time in the house - well obviously it is all my house - but I've been checking out the farm records too.  I don't really like it when it is sugar beet tine, or even wet (as it is now) - Dad has been out sweeping the road with a huge brush on the tractor as this makes it safer for other drivers.  It has been so wet that the tractors have been struggling...... definitely time for some indoor work I think!  I am surprised that the humans do not appear to have worked this out yet!

For Christmas, Mum and Dad went to Rachel and Andrew's, and then saw their friends Ian and Clare (who love opposite Rachel) in the evening.  Boxing Day was spent at Stowgate but I got the morning and evening with them, I have taken to sleeping on the bed with them - which I enjoy....they say I take up too much space on the bed, but in reality, it is them that do that!  I got some good presents too, edible and non edible.  Will got some edible presents and a blanket too

Happy Christmas and all the best for the New Year everyone.  And here's my quotes: "Be generous with your love, and you will feel it returned one hundred fold" and also, "The greatest wealth is contentment with a little".  As it is the year end, here is a bonus one, "All men* who have achieved great things have been dreamers" (*I think cats is a good word here too!)

September & October 2002

"When I find myself fading, I close my eyes and realize that friends are my energy"  I love this quote, and I try to find energy from my humans, Will and my other friends ..... and of course, in return, I try to give energy and support to others

That is quite a profound opener for a cat, I know ...but it is true.  So there are a load of bricks at ours that have been bought for a project - of course, this may never actually get started, but in the meantime, they are an excellent climbing frame for me !!   It has been quite busy here, Janet (Dad's Mum) has been backwards and forwards to Grantham as a relative of hers is in hospital, and so John is helping out again - he always has a word or two for Will and myself.

Mum is enjoying her work and seems to be okay with the travelling - I knew she'd be good though (!) - and also, they seem to be having a lot of training on a new (and completely different) computer system - whatever that is - which is coming in shortly.  On the farm, we have a Tata Truck on loan to see if it is suitable, the old one - which is actually very old in age - no longer goes.  I am liking this new truck, and I hope they buy it - it has massive wheel arches which I think, would be great for sunbathing on in Summer!  It is also quite distinctive in tone, so I will be able to ensure I know which vehicle is pulling into the driveway.  Alan (Dad's Dad) has been for an x-ray, Micky (Andy's brother) is doing exams to become a driving instructor, and we are doing potatoes AGAIN !!  It is about time the farm started growing something a bit more suitable for cats - I think - cat treats (or cat nip!) would be lovely!

It is very windy again - gale force winds in fact - and I have had two nights at Barbara's again because Mum and Dad were in Folkestone (that is properly down South) for a wedding....Murphy (Mum's Mum's cat) was in the next pen too and we a lovely chat and catch up - he is a gentle soul - he used to be a scared, hungry, feral cat but by building up his trust, he is a much loved and relaxed house cat now.  Unfortunately, the two cars (Mum and Dad in one, Grandma, Rachel, Andrew and George in another) were delayed coming back from the wedding so we had to borrow a cat carrier from John & Carole (they live near Barbara) and use them for their cats Spit and Spot to ensure that Murphy could be home from the cattery - as the next day, the cattery was full!
It all ended okay though!  Mum and Dad also had a night in Coventry with Mum's best friend Dinah - Pam came round to feed me in the morning, and Grandma came round in the evening - so I had people to entertain...and to entertain me!!!

So here is my latest thought, "How you view the world will determine what you find, therefore, if you look for things that are positive, and also display positivity yours will not be disappointed"

I love this photo of the sky taken from the front room just after I woke up!

July & August 2002

Will is getting back to full health, and the farm is mysteriously "up straight" in relation to the jobs anyway ...well, at least it was at the start of the month

There has been a lot of mending in sheds going on, Mum is busy at work, Dad's Mum has started working at Tescos ( I would not normally be interested, but you can buy cat stuff from there apparently!) Other supermarkets are available though!

I forgot to mention there was a street party at Dad's parents (where the other farm is) last month, Will went but did not have a lot to report, other than there were a lot of other dogs there, and the other farm cats "Ginger, Spice and Moby" were all there too.  However, there has been much crop walking here so I have been out and about checking what is happening - it's really good weather and things appear to going well, weather - wise!

I've also been helping to mend a trailer - it is a wooden potato trailer and it took ages - I suspect this is because everyone else were amateurs - unklike me!  I've been to the cattery again as Mum and Dad had a very late booking to Madeira where they got a "sweet" apparently it is spelt "Suite" - very unexpected......of course, if this was me, or if I was travelling with them - they would be assured of suites and preferential treatments.  Will stayed at the other farm whereas I went to see the lovely Barbara again and then Dad's parents had a week away in the Isle of Wight............

.............and so to harvest time......The Barley combining went well (that is the crop that looks furry in a field) and then it rained, and rained, and rained some more....I do not think that the sheds or the corn stores have ever been more cleaned out and ready!!  And, when it is not raining, then the moisture levels in the crop are just too high - combining only started properly on the 28th August - a bit late I think!

"Better late than never" and "Lie gently in the dark and listen to the rain"  of course, for poor homeless animals and people it is hard and a bad thing, for me, I am okay if I am inside ....I don't think I would have shared this thought with the farmers though

But we're really all celebrating that Will is back to his normal self - yay!

A rare photo of a combine in action this month!

May and June 2002

Wow - so much to report, some good, some very, very, very bad.............

I got home from the cattery and Will seemed to be a bit under the weather, saying he was tired and achey - and even though we were working in the big shed, he seemed to be wanting to sleep in the armchair.  I just thought (as we all did) that it was just a passing thing...Dad said to Will that he would have to take him to the vet if he did not feel better in a few days....and then something really terrible happened

On a Sunday, Will was so ill that we phoned our vet - they were not open, but they share an emergency weekend cover with a vets in the next town - so it was the other vet's turn to cover.  Mum & Dad took Will into the vets and the vet said, "He really is a poorly dog, we could put him to sleep now?" but it was decided to leave Will at the vets, and the nice vet would try to do all he could, starting the drugs immediately to try and help Will.  Mum and Dad were understandably upset, I did my best to try and help them, but we were all so worried about Will.

The next day, the vet called and said they had operated on Will and he had a tumour the size of a grapefruit on his spleen (whatever that is!) and it was odd that it could not be felt or seen from the outside.  Anyway, they removed it, Will stayed at the vets to recover and have more drugs, and I did my best to look after Mum - I am normally in the house on my own if Will is at the other farm, and everyone else is at work, but I felt really, truly alone that day and Will was in my thoughts and cat - prayers.

Two days later, the vets called and said, "Can you come and pick Will up please? He is trying to bite the veterinary nurses"  Obviously, this is not good news, and certainly not good behaviour, but we a sign that he was feeling better!  "He is certainly a feistly old dog", said the vets when Dad went to collect him.  Will has spent the rest of the month recovering - he won't be told though, he still tries to jump up at tractor steps, and down them - even though everyone is lifting him in and out - he is not supposed to be on the farm, but howled and howled to be out and about.  He says it makes him feel better and he knows how his body is doing.  I am so very relieved to have him back and getting fully recovered, "One true friendship is worth a richness beyond words, and impossible to overstate"  

I think I may have taken Will for granted, but I won't in future, and am just so grateful he is okay"  I've read a quote which says, "There is a quietness, a contentment at the heart of all that is - beneath the noise and bustle, the excitements and the terrors" and it is so true.

In other news - the cattle at the other farm have gone home, we've been grading potatoes (again!)  Mum and Dad have had some friends over to a meal at the Jolly Farmer (pub down the road) and taken one of their friends to see his first ever football game at Lincoln City (Mum's dad supports them!)  When they were all back for coffee here, I made a point of being a good host!!  Well - naturally!!!

William Woof Dog - to give him his full title (that I made up for him!).....he doesn't mind really, he said!

March and April 2002

It started off less cold, but windy ....and as we all know, wind can send a cat mad .......In fact, I think that I live in the windiest place on Earth (well at least in this village) so I am surprised that the humans are not mad too!  I have been doing the traditional mad-cat-wind thing of chasing about - leaping on random people and things in the house and garden (in fact, I had a "coming together" with an ornament, but the least said about that the better - as there were witnesses, I could not even act innocent and blame Will) and also, I have been "disconcerting the humans" by randomly and intently staring at doorways or our of windows with my ears down - it never fails!  Most amusing!  "Don't count the days, make the days count" - well it keeps my days entertaining!

Later in the month, we had snow, so I reverted to only going out to use the toilet and check on the farm - there is a real beauty in the way everything is so white and peaceful, but it is better viewed from inside.  Out on the farm, they have been repairing discs (noisy, cold, and boring to watch - so I didn't for very long!) and grading potatoes - an old armchair has made it into the shed so there is something for me to perch on (or sleep) whilst I am watching - although, to be fair, I think I am well versed in this task already, there does not seem to be too much to it!)  

I have had a chat to some rodents, and tried to talk to an owl - but he declined to talk to me ...how very rude!  I've also seen a grey cat around a bit, it was too cold to exchange more than a few words (and experimental hisses!) but he lives a few doors away - and is none too fond of Winter either!  Mum and Dad have been on a last minute break for a week so I have had another trip to Barbara at the Cattery - I love it there - it is a home from home for us discerning cats, and I get a) some catnip spray b) chats to other cats c) listen to the radio to hone my knowledge...I can't work out how to turn the one on at home when no one else is there!) and d) cuddles with Barbara - what's not to love!

However, roll on Spring I say! "The grand essentials of happiness are, something to do, something to love and something to hope for"

I know it is sideways, but it is still true in this house!!!

January & February 2002

Apparently, some animals hibernate during the Winter months, which means the go to sleep from say, November to February - I think there is something to be said for this as an idea -  I would very much like it, but I am not sure I would like to miss out on catching up with everything!

Being inquisitive by nature, some may say "nosy", but that would be unkind - I have taken to exploring next door's garden.  They have a lovely garden, and this time of year, their dog - Meg - is not about there so much.  The other day I was looking behind the shed/summerhouse in their garden, but then when I wandered round to the front, I saw the door was open - I've never been in there before (and since all property is technically feline owned anyway) I went in.....shed are so fascinating, all that stuff, and all those smells - the wood from the building etc - not to mention the spiders!  They're so interesting to watch - also to chase - but the way they make their webs and the speed they move at in relation to their size, "Find beauty and interest every where you look in life"   But disaster struck, and the door blew shut in the wind leaving me trapped in there......I didn't panic (if I was a human, I would have made a nice cup of tea and sat down to think about it!)  As there was no-one else in the garden, there would have been little point in wowling and meowing at the window, so I just curled up and went to sleep.  But, because I was sleeping in the window I was spotted by Gordon and he let me out - I did "tell" him that I hadn't messed anything up in the shed, and he said, "Aslan, what are you doing in here, cat?"  Of course, I was lucky - I could have been in there for days or weeks .....IT IS ALWAYS IMPORTANT TO CHECK NO ANIMAL IS IN A SHED OR GARAGE BEFORE YOU LOCK UP ....ALSO, IF YOU CAN PROVIDE A BIT OF SHELTER TO A POOR/NEEDY.HOMELESS ANIMAL THEN THAT IS A GOOD THING, AND VERY GOOD KARMA! 

Back in my house, I spoke to Will - he has been at the other farm mostly as that is where the work is being done - but I have "assisted" Dad when he has been working on the computer (he does not seem to like my paws on the keyboard though, for some reason) He has cunningly managed to coincide the coldest time of year with doing some costing for bidding for more land, and also updating the farm and spray records - can't blame him though - and it does mean that I often get a spot of tuna for lunch - genius!  I've been out occasionally though, no snow (yay!) but some frost, but this makes it easier for me to check over the fields, I don't like it when it is wet and muddy....but frost is just cold, so I come in and jump on someone's knee to warm my paws up, or else go to my boilerside bed.....or someone elses's bed.......I have it sussed I think!!!  As the saying goes - "one could view a grapefruit as a lemon that saw a chance and took advantage of it"

Happy Valentine's Day - 14 February

November & December 2001

Unsurprisingly, the news is still full of the terrorist attacks, and I am trying t keep up to date with what is being said.  Will and I watch the news most evenings but I think he sleeps through much of it.

On the farm, the Winter Wheat has been drilled, and they have had the Grain Assurance Inspection which means that they are harvesting and storing correctly.  The good news for me is that one of my favourite farming activities is taking place - ploughing.  I am still fascinated by how the silver plough fins turn the soil over, and that a load of birds turn up from no-where.  They are often seaguls with their distinctive cries - this amazes me as we are nowhere near the sea!  But I love watching all birds (I know I could catch one if I wanted to but I would rather watch the way the swoop in and out, and down to the soil)  It is colder here and a bit frosty so I have started to keep an eye out for other places to go to on the farm if I get caught out and am unable to get back to the house in time (if it is showery or too windy) - the cold weather means I am seeing less of my cat friends and aquaintances - but I am happy with my own company (and Will's, and the humans!) "Peace is the rarest form of happiness", as they say 

Mum has had a few days off work again, but has been in and out doing different things - but she still had time for me - of course!  The floor in the kitchen is still wet, so that means that the flooring cannot be relaid, so it is not ideal - however, it does mean that I get to keep my bed in the back porch near the boiler!  I am also an expert in finding the hot pipes under the carpet elsewhere in the house and laying on them fully stretched out - well, when there is not the sun, you have got to do something haven't you?!    Mum has also helped for a bit with the bagging of potatoes here on this farm - I was there for a but, but it gets a bit boring to be honest, so I made my excuses and left (!) Dad's Mum has been made redundant (this means that her job has finished) from her other job at Freemans - this is a catalogue place (apparently, catalogue has nothing to do with cats!)  and Mum's Mum phoned up one evening in a panic because the roof of her shed was being blown off (it has been very windy) so Mum and Dad had to go over and sort it out.

At Christmas, Mum and Dad's friends Ian, Clare and Stuart came over, then there have been other friends in and out over the break - and also Christmas day lunch was here - Dad cooked it - he did really well and Will and I got some too.  Mum's Mum, and Dad's parents and Aunt were here - and so was George - sadly Rachel and Andrew (George's parents) could not be here as they were in hospital with their niece - this is away from home and they wanted George to have a "normal day" but they came over later.  I've sent (as we all have) my best wishes, hopes and prayers to their niece - and I would like to wish everyone "Peace on Earth" - I have read a famous piece which says, "May Peace, and Peace, and Peace be everywhere"  Happy New Year everyone xx

okay, so it is not a Christmas picture, but this is a Sunrise on a Winter morning on the farm (I am just out of shot on the fence on the right)

September and October 2001

The harvest is finished - yay!  And, it all went well with minimal amounts of breakdowns which is good - this means that the focus is now on potatoes, and the "grading line" is now set up in the shed over here.  It is very, very noisy when it is running, but when it is quiet (stopped for the day, and I am on my own) it gives me the chance to get a different perspective on the inside of the shed and from a different angle.  I am fearless when it comes to heights and being a detective

Something really terrible has happened in the "human world".  Being a cat, I won't really pass comment but this is just too momentous to let it pass without mentioning.  There has been a terrorist attack on America and 4 planes have been hijacked, 2 of which crashed into the World Trades Centre buildings.  Mum was working in Kings Lynn today, and (they do not have the tv or radio on) she found out as one of her colleagues, Jo, was phoned by her Mum.  Back home, Mum and Dad have been watching the news and reading the papers - I am shocked and horrified, and my thoughts are with all those who have lost someone.

Back in the farm life - things are continuing as normal, and I have to say, "sometimes it takes a major event to make you evaluate your life and appreciate just how lucky you are"  It has started to be quite showery here - this normally happens when I am on one of my tours of the farm, often at the furthest away point from the cat flap, so I have to be quite creative in finding somewhere warm and dry (I like the forklift truck's seat and the old armchair cushions that live in the shed best - in fact, I am doing my best to make the as furry and as comfy as possible for me!)  

In the house, there has been a problem (small in the context of everything else) in that the washing machined has leaked - the day after new flooring was put down - the machine was disconnected and reconnected to allow the flooring to be done (I would imagine that this fact and the leak are connected!) Unfortunately, it was on a weekend, so the humans were having a lie in (!) thus by the time it was discovered - ie me jumping on the bed and woawing in their faces for some time - it was very wet.  The floor is now up, and the concrete underneath is wet through - there are driers and heaters in the kitchen but it is cold and wet under my paws and my food and bed have been moved to the worktop in the back porch (don't panic about hygiene though (!) no food is prepared here and I know that I am not allowed on the worktops in the kitchen or the utility)  The back porch worktop is best for me though as it has the best view from the window and the door - and if I can wangle staying here until winter, it is also under the boiler...."always make the best of any situation" that is one of my maxims.  

On the farm, the potato lifting continues and they've been lifting the neighbours' potatoes at the other farm.  I do appreciate the versatility of this vegetable, but I do wonder if they could grow something more "cat appropriate"!! .............a field of catnip would be great for starters!

this little figure lives in our kitchen - it is an important reminder to try and have a sunny, happy disposition (and it also looks like me!) 

July and August 2001

So, I have decided to do two or three months together in one post, or maybe as a "season" - there is much for me to wander about (aka supervise) as well as honing my knowledge....also, being a cat, it is important that I fit in as much sleeping as possible during the day - that's often when we cats have our greatest ideas!....I wonder if the same is true of humans?

Speaking of sleep, I again managed to make my Mum jump during the night - it has been so hot here, and with them living in a bungalow, and their bedroom only having windows where the two large side panes open (not smaller portions of windows at the top) they've been leaving the side windows open ...........sufficient for me to jump in and on to the bed!  Made them wake up though (an element of surprise is always good!) .....well, in my defence, how was I supposed to know that humans have a design fault with not being able to cat nap / sleep with one ear open like us superior beings?!

With it being so hot on the farm, they have been irrigating at the other farm.  Will tells me that this is where water is pumped out of dykes and on to the fields/crops (it is all legal!) They cannot do that on this farm as there are no water sources - and as a consequence, some of the crops are starting to look a bit thirsty and not as healthy as they could. 

 That aside, this is my favourite time of the year - I like to be up and about and on the go - I am out several times in the night (if the window to the bedroom is not open, then I come in and out of the cat flap) but I like to be out and about for dawn breaking......"Each Morning that you wake up is the first day of your new life" and "Every day is a fresh start and a new beginning, that is why it is important not to start the day with the broken pieces of yesterday"

I've also been busy inspecting (and digging!) the garden, and checking out the sleeping opportunities/locations next door.  Dad's folks have gone on holiday to Devon, and the work on the farm started off with cleaning out bins and sheds in preparation for the wheat - but there have been two sort of farm related disasters 1) when the combine harvester started, there was a problem and the auger broke (that is the long pipe thing that sticks out the side and transfers the combined crop to the tractors running alongside it) and 2) Dad has lost his mobile phone in a field and can't find it!   I don't really understand this obsession with humans and their phones - it is all very strange.

As for me, I have been "in charge of" making sure the farm here is under control, the rodent population is not too huge, and that there are no strange or new occurances - eg missing machinery or rust patches on the sheds.  A new cat has moved into a nearby estate and we have exchanged a few words - I think she is finding it a bit strange living in the country but I have assured her that she will soon get used to it, and won't be able to imagine living back somewhere where it is all built up. .....I know that I couldn't.  It is different here though, because it is so flat, and there are so many fields, it is like the sky goes on forever and you can see for miles in any direction - I quite like that though - it certainly helps me keep my tabs on my territory!

Me investigating - I can't always persuade Will to come with me, so just as well I am happy in my own company eh?!

June 2001

Okay, I am back from the cattery - and yes, I did ensure that Mum was told about the catnip spray, although she hasn't found any in the shops yet unfortunately.

At last it is hot and sunny, so I can enjoy sunbathing and bird watching from the farm and the back garden.  I know I should be catching birds (and indeed I do occasionally) but for some of the larger ones, there is just something quite "zen" about watching them....for some reason, some more unusual species have been in the garden and I have had to look up what they were (jays and a green woodpecker) 

Mum and Dad had a fab time in Canada, they stayed in different places every or every other night and so saw a lot of Ontario - Toronto (that is the capital) and lots of other places - they even stayed in a lakeside lodge which had squirrels come up to the decking for food.  I have never seen an actual squirrely - I wonder if we ever have or had any grey ones around the farm....I will have to investigate.  The day after they came back, Micky and Rachel moved house so everyone was helping them move - humans have such a lot of "stuff"!!  It is possible to "travel lightly through life" and "tread lightly as you go with minimal bad impact and maximum good" too.  Mick and Rach's new home is lovely and they are settling in well.

This is normally the "quiet before the storm" on the farm ie it's the slow bit (June and July) before it gets really busy and stressy for the harvest - this normally coincides with key bits of machinery breaking down, or developing previously unknown quirks and issues (honestly, some of them are as tempramental as humans!) To try and avoid this, the combine harvester has been serviced and a few other bits have been for a service or had some checks done.  The pototoes have been sprayed and everyone seems (for farmers) quite calm at the moment........Will is a bit bored when it is not busy but he has been content to lie in the garden with me as it has been so warm - he is not a very restful companion though, all that snuffling, grunting and wriggling about (not to mention the barking at thin air!) Whereas I am more, "learn to be silent, and let your mind listen and absorb" and there is a quote which says, "how is it possible for the world to know peace when we have lost the gift of stillness?"

Me - lying and sunbathing in the house - this is from May when it was their anniversary (hence the flowers!)

May 2001

Disaster!  Mum used to have a chenille-velvety jumper, (my favourite of al her clothes) it is almost the same colour as me, but it has got a hole in it (very noticable, and impossible to repair) so I don't get to cuddle up to her in it........but she has given it to me for my bed - obviously, not to dress up in, I am not that sort of cat (!) and anyway, you could not improve on the perfection that is my ginger fur!  So "every cloud has a silver lining" and / or "in the midst of difficulty, look for opportunity"

On the farm, there have been a few bits of machinery breaking down, including a clod separator which (funnily enough!) separates clods of earth by breaking them down this means that you can plant potatoes into a clod free seed-bed (See? I am Agri-cat with all my knowledge!)  So the repairs and new bits of kit (note un-technical term here!) have cost a bit of money, and a lot of time wasted in delays.  Mum is still enjoying her job - the training is finished, and she works out of a nearby branch mostly, and then covers at 3 other business centres which are 18, 24 and 27 miles away.  I know she misses me, and I miss her a bit, but to be honest, I am so busy "doing my own thing" that I have enough stuff to be getting on with!  

They have finally finished planting potatoes - which is quite late - but they are all in now, and they have checked on what has been planted so far.  I myself, like to inspect the wheat - this is my favourite of crops to watch ...it looks just like grass when it is is first grown, but then becomes taller and golden as the weeks and months pass - it does not look "furry" like barley does, but I enjoy checking it out!  At some points, it is nearly the same colour as me!  There are lots of fields of wheat around the farm this year - some ours, some not, so I don't have to explore too far to see what's what!

Mum's Mum has been over a few times, as has Rachel (Mum's sister) with George who will be one year old this month!  Later in the month, Mum and Dad went on their holiday to Canada and I went back to see Barbara at her cattery - it is a home from home there!  It is also, endlessly fascinating "cat watching" ....apparently there are some humans who enjoy watching other people eg in a shopping centre (whatever one of those is!) and I enjoy watching other cats and talking to them too....some of the cats in there had bad homes and were badly treated before finding forever homes with loving families, some of them are scared as they have not been away from home before and that is where we can all help each other out - a friendly meow or purr, and a bit of reassurance can go a long way (this is the same for cats and humans!) and we all enjoy watching the birds, plants and butterflies in the garden!  Barbara has got this brilliant spray called cat-nip spray....I love it, it makes me happy and lively (and she says it needs to be limited use for me unfortunately) I have wowl-ed and talked to Barbara to ask her to make sure that she tells Mum about it, so I can have my own stash at home..................watch this space!

Me outside the house at home.............pondering my next move............!!

April 2001

It has stopped raining at last! But there is so much water around that Will and I have joked that we need a canoe to get around in.  I am none too keen on having soaking wet, muddy fur so this is having a real impact on  my practical learnings on the farm - instead I have turned to books (also of course, listening in when there are farm discussions and coffee breaks at our farm - it turns out that farmers are none too keen on the rain either - lightweights - at least they can put on warmer and waterproof clothing!)

Anyway-up (to borrow a colloquial expression I have heard) in more good news, the vet has been to visit the cows at the other farm and given them the "okay" to go back to their own home farm.  None of these cows has had the dreadful foot and mouth illness but there are still a lot of cases in the UK and the news reports are terrible - I feel so sorry for the animals and farmers that it has affected. "We all need to appreciate how lucky we are sometimes", as the impact on those affected has been massive.

Speaking of lucky, you'll never guess what has happened!  Mum and dad have won a holiday to Canada! - this is because last year, they went on a once in a lifetime holiday to Kenya (they are normally more, late bookings in Europe or the UK kind of people!) and because of that, they were enrolled for a year in a holiday club where they get emails and magazines - and they entered a competition which they won!  Dad did not believe the lady that phoned him initially!  So it looks as if I will be going to visit my friend Barbara again which is lovely too...."A change is as good as a rest," as they say, after all

On the farm, they have been flat-lifting after the sugar beet has been harvested and also doing some cleaning up jobs - as best they can - as supervisor, I make sure they have started it and have a plan, then retreat to the house..............well, I have to supervise the general comfyness of the the beds and the chairs, cushions, settees etc!

not the greatest of photos, but this is me with "Inch the snake" and one of the balls that I like to chase around the house - you have to be sure to exercise, even when you can't get outside!