Bestest

Mum says this has been  the bestest  I have ever been when she is on night shift.  I have just gone  to sleep when she has and not disturbed  her.  Of course  this was the day the landlord  decided  to clean up the garden with no warning.

Night Shifting

Mum is on the night  shifts this weekend.   She got to bed at 8am, and only woke up 5 times before finally getting  out of bed st 2pm.  The pain in her shoulder  wakes her up, so tomorrow  she might try a bit more pain relief.  I was so good and didn't  wake her up at all .  It helps that it was s cold winters day and I just snuggled up in my heated bed.  I'll  be here all winter.

Surprise

Surprise this morning, mum thought it was a courier dropping off a parcel, but it was the lawn mower man who caught mum sitting on the couch in her dressing gown, before her shower.  She went out and paid him anyway.  At least she was partially dressed and did not give him a huge fright.

Raining

It's been pouring  with rain outside and I'm waiting  for mum to finish her shift.  I've slept a while and am ready  for dinner.

She like to come home , she feeds me first then has a few wee snacks  on the couch while she watches the news.  She then needs to read her book to calm her mind.  Then sleep and snuggles and sweet dreams.

Wordless Wednesday

Supervising

Mum has had a long day.  The alarm went off at 4.44am.  Too early, even for me.  We didn't  stay  up too late on the computer,  although  that happens  some nights.  Another early start tomorrow  then we can sleep in for a week.  Mum and I are looking  forward  to that.

Talking

Today  I talked to my mum.  I told her it was 5am, it was 8am and time for her to get up, it was time to open the curtains, to turn the heater was on, to give me a brush, go give me a pat, to stop talking on the phone, that I was tired, ready  for dinner, dinner, DINNER, now, raining  outside,  dark outside, pull the curtains, pat time, snack time, bed time, pull up the covers, cover me up and let me out.  You can tell I've  been busy.

Disturbed

We haven't  liked watching the news this weekend.  Too many crazy things happening  for  our liking. 

Our Caturday  night rest was disturbed  by fireworks being let off in the carpark  next to our house at 2am and then 5.30 am.  Either party  goers, randoms or the next door neighbor  who is upset by the builders noises (the landlord says he had been leaving  threatening  notes on the builders van). 

Compared to other places in the world  we have little to complain  about.  Mum got washing  out to dry a little bit  in the last day of autumn  sun.  There was  soup and garlic bread for her dinner, and leftovers  for her lunch.  I have a full tummy  with a nice feast , biscuits  and treats.  Lucky us.

Caturday Night At The Movies - Making A Cat House

Its Caturday here, and we have had a quiet old day.  What was meant to be relaxing turned mum a bit annoyed as the team turned up to take the scaffolding down from around the house, with hours worth of hammering and banging, but at least it is mainly over now.  So mum stuck her headphones on and watched some videos and read her book, and I snoozed on the pillow beside her. 

She thought if you were bored at home during lockdown you might want to consider a new hobby of house building?  A good way to use up some of those boxes before they can be picked up for recycling.  Our rubbish team haven't picked up recycling for a couple of weeks, but it is slowly returning to normal now.

Enjoy your Caturday.

Sleepy Cat

Mum found this cool picture on ETSY called Sleepy Cat.   It perfectly shows our plans for the weekend.  There is lots of rain due, so mum is going to take it easy and rest her sore shoulder.  How about you - big plans?

Sore

Mum took a day off today.  Weeks ago mum injured her shoulder, she thinks it was when got bumped  on the bus.  At the time she just got s couple  of  sharp twinges .  The past few weeks though it has been more painful  and mum can't  move it very well.  Last week she went to the physiotherapist to get some exercises  to help. 

It was sore at the weekend  so she took a days leave to rest it today.  So only a few chores were done and mum just rested with me.  She has one more days work and then a 3 day weekend  to take it easy.  The forecast is for  a rainy few days, so mum will be happy to stick close to home and keep me company .

Wordless Wednesday - An Oldie but a Goodie

Shakes

Another earthquake  today around lunchtime  - just quick and a bit  of  a wobble like yesterday.   There have been at least  20 aftershocks  in the past 24 hours, most so small we can't even notice them.  Today's just felt like someone  was out on the scaffolding.

Rest

Check out this tshirt from ETSY that mum found here.   She's going to remember that line when people ask her if she has kids.

Mums sleep in was disturbed this morning by a solid earthquake just before 8am. It was a quick one, with nothing falling down or disturbed here, just a rumble and shake.    So she got up and went to the bathroom and went back to bed to read her book.  It rained all day, and the painters did stay away so she was able to stay in her sweats all day and just read and relax. She cooked some dumplings for her lunch and some pumpkin soup for her dinner.   I mooched about and slept when she slept and slept when she was awake.  It is a good life being a cat.

Almost

The painting  is almost done now.  The scaffolding  might be down  this week.   The painters were here today as well , mum and I are over them being here every day.  The noise and mess and mum has to keep the bedroom  curtains closed so I don't  get scared.

But time to get our relax on - mum has the next two days off.

Caturday

Hey friends.  Mum was at work late again tonight.  She has come home and already eaten a half a packet of salami bites and a caramel biscuit.  A full tummy will help her sleep.  I have a tummy full of feast , so I'll  sleep well too.

Shifty

Mum is back on the afternoon  shifts this weekend.   One down and two  more to go.  At least we get sleep  ins for the next couple  of days which I love.

Warm and Cozy

I kept coming  into the living  room and complaining  to mum tonight.  It took her ages  to figure out what I needed.  I kept sitting  by the heater where her feet are, but had to move everytime  she sat down. 

So she went  and got a blanket with a towel on top and put  it on the other side if the heater.  Problem  solved.  Straight to sleep and lots of snoring.

And don't worry our heater is a safe one.  Mum likes these micrathermic heaters   they heat a small space quickly,  and you can be close to them without  burning,  it has a thermostat and is light to move around and the best thing is it is silent  which is good in the living  room.

Wordless Wednesday

Bag

You were right my clever friends.  After a summer absence  my shopping  bag has been restored  to its rightful  place back on the bed.

Mum might like you to think it is a diversion  tactic  to keep  me off her heated electric blanket.   I like to think that it us because  she loves me.

Guess What?

Guess  what mum allowed back  on the bed?

Sundaying

We are almost finishing our Sundaying  while many if you are waiting  for it to begin.  Washing  was put outside, but it is hard to get it dry now and we are almost st the dry inside stage.  Mum hoovered- it has become a 3 time a week job with dust from the builders and painters  sneaking in through the doors and winters.  Has mum and I told you we will be pleased when they are finished?

Mum did an easy exercise program  today - she needs to get stretching and moving more and so is starting  gentle.  She is not as flexible  as she should be and needs to reduce the covid kilos.

 I begged for my dinner at 2.45pm, and mum is just giving  in now.  She figures that if I want it I can have it.  She's  only starting  hers at 6.30pm.  Lamb chops with baked sweet potatoes  and carrots  and broccoli.   Lots of veg for her.

Dark autumn  nights mean earlier  nights for me and mum.  I tucked  myself up onto my  quilt at 3pm.  Night night.

Tears

 Mum was just about to leave home to go out for the first post lockdown lunch out, when she checked out her website to see that John from I Have Three Cats had done a post.  She only got a chance to have a quick glance, she could not bear to read more as she knew she may not be able to hold back the tears during lunch.  John wrote about his lovely cats who both took their journey to the bridge on Friday.

His sweet princess - Miss Cammie who although had struggled with tummy troubles for a long time and had  had a stroke a year ago, outlived the predictions mad for her.  What a sweet girl - we will miss her.

And Mr Raleigh, who John rescued from his work place after he was found living rough.  His place as a foster at the cosy apartment was soon cemented as a family regular and even though his time in his new home was short, we can tell from many of the photos posted that the boy was happy to be warm with a full tummy and well loved.

So sweet friends, we will miss you but know that you will be greeted at the bridge by your friends who have gone before you.   Rest in Peace Princess and Peachy.

Takeout

After 7 weeks mum supported a local business, by buying  a burger, fries and strawberry  milkshake  on the way home from work.  After cooking every other meal for herself it felt so decadent  to be buying  food someone else made and mum dud enjoy it.  It was a  kiwi beef burger with bacon, egg, salad and beetroot  relish.

 In order to go into the shop to pick up food  or any other items you have to leave your contact  details.  Why the burger shop needed to know mums age is a mystery.  Surely  name, phone  number and email is enough? 

It did feel weird for mum to be in a shop too, as the only place she has been in 7 weeks is the supermarket.  The library opened  yesterday but mum only popped in quickly  to drop off her read books, she still has a big pile to read.

Feet Up

Mum is on the couch with her feet  up and eating a thai chicken  curry  and watching  these guys.

Wordless Wednesday - NOT ME - But Found On the Internet

Goodness

We are lucky.  No covid cases in our country again today.   So from Thursday  there is more freedom  and fun.  Cafes and shops, hairdressers, cinemas,  libraries  and restaurants  can open up and on Mondays kids can go back to school.  Fingers crossed  this will last and things will feel more normal as each week goes by.

We hope too that the builders and painters can bring all of  their pals and get this job done.

Mover

I'm a quick  mover when I want to be.  Too many painters  and builders at home today ruined my good times and sleeps, and mums sleep in.  Let's hope they are done in a week or two.  Us girls need sleeps.

Watching

I was nice to my mum for Mothers Day and let her sleep in.  It was another  mild autumnal  day but just enough  warmth  to dry the towels.  We are over the scaffolding  dominating  the view of the back yard but lately mum has used some of it to hang  the washing  off, as the sun has moved away from our garden and is blocked by the flats next door.

Naughty  neighbor  cat tried to  sneak in the house, but I chased him  off.  Mum was impressed  with my hissing skills.  This old girl still has some talents.

Quiet Caturday

On another Isolation  Caturday,  the first mum hasn't  worked in weeks.  Mum stayed in sweats all day, watched 7 episodes  of New Amsterdam,  ate two oranges, drank  3 glasses apple juice and cooked corn beef, mashed potatoes  and carrots for her dinner.  I slept 23 hours, had 5 lots of biscuits, 1/2 can of feast and then snuggles.

Ray

Look a ray of sunshine!! Actually  it was s nice mild day.  Mum slept in, and then got herself up to get the chores underway.  Uniforms and undergarments  were washed and put on the line.  A bit of stripping  was done  - the bed that is, and sheets washed.  Dishes done  and carpets cleaned.  The mower  man came and cut down 8 weeks worth  of grass and the builder came and tidied up some wood - maybe a sign he may be done and the painters can come?

Mum really wanted  a nap but today she resisted, so fingers crossed  she will sleep better tonight.   There was leftover chicken and salad for her supper and time for a movie Ad Astra - boring, but Brad Pitt (2/5), and a BBC Crime show McDonald & Dodd - set in Bath, wonderful.

So now it is almost midnight  and I need to help mum make the bed and give her a little  snuggle.

Waving

Mum laughed  when this photo  came out.  Look at me waving  at all my friends.   I hope you are all having a good day.  Mum is she has 3 days off  now to chill out with us.

Also more good news.  Our low covid rates mean restrictions  will be lifted soon so she  can meet up with friends and go out for foods.  Yippee!!!

Wordless Wednesday

Hail

All hail the hail!  Its s bit cold and raining outside with a lovely smattering  of hail .  Mum even treated herself to a taxi ride to and from work in this stormy weather.  She will leave supermarket  shopping  until tomorrow  when the weather is meant to be sunny.  A taste of winter for us.

Another day with no covid 19 cases in the country.  It was interesting  to read that in France  they have gone back and retested pneumonia cases from last year and found a case from December, indicating that the disease has been round for weeks earlier  than first thought.

Also mum recommends reading this article from the UK about what Health Care workers need by Dr Rachel Clarke.  Clapping is fine, but not flypasts or medals.  Staff there need PPE and pay rises. 

Zero

Today was the first day that there were zero reported  Covid 19 cases here in New Zealand.   A good sign that our measures are working and that things may return  to usual  soon here .  We know that we will be dealing  with this for some time yet, but we are pleased that our numbers  are falling. 

Mum got to have the day off with me.  It started out with the builders bashing round with hammers and saws for 2 hours   mum got  some washing  done and tidied up the kitchen, just the usual  boring jobs.  The good thing is that mum is getting  her sleeping  patterns  back to normal.  Meanwhile it has rained off and on - a good day for  staying  home as instructed. 

Resting

Today was a great day for resting  as the wind was whipping  the rain around outside and mum had to go off to work.  It was  dark when she left and dark on the way home.  Mum poured herself a large vodka and lemonade  and watched the news, happy knowing that she has a day off tomorrow.

She had been wanting  to try a new recipe and tonight  was the night.  She made a lime and coriander rice and a chicken saagwala  curry.  It is not too spicy and has onions, tomatoes and spinich made up into a tasty sauce.  Mum liked it a lot and finds it a good  way to get all of her veg in one serving.  She did not take a photo as the curry although delicious resembles baby pooh.

Mum has used almost managed  to use up almost every dish and utensil  in the kitchen.  She also broke a blue mixing bowl that she likes to use, and is unable  to replace as they were made over 30 years ago.  It is amazing how glass shatters after falling onto kitchen tiles.  So she spent the remaining  part of the evening  hoovering  the kitchen .  Lucky  mum.

Caturday Night at the Movies - Cats and Domino

Mum says this is possibly the best thing she has watched on lockdown.  And she has watched at lot.  Please enjoy!!

Friday

Mum was up early to head to work this morning.   The walk to work is not very scenic with lots of boring office  buildings.   She takes a bus home, and comes a different  way past a few old houses with some flowers still blooming.  She wishes  she had a green thumb, but alas she has no gardening  skills.  She gets to admire other people flowers though which makes the end of her day much better.

Turning

The weather  is turning a bit.  We have had sunshine  and mild sunny days of 15 degC.  But, when  the sun goes down the temperature  drops by half, and mum is turning  the heaters on and she is glad to get into a warm bed at night with a chubby cat who needs a night time cuddle.

She made it to the supermarket  today. 5/5 of no waiting in the 5 times she has been.  She got lots if vege today as she is feeling  that she has eaten too many carbs in the past 5 weeks.  Time to ease back before she can't  squeeze  her pants on.  She figures she has had 7 servings of fruit  and vegetables  today  - a good start.

Wordless Wednesday

Sunshine

Today was lovely with lots of sunshine  - I even went and had a nap on the painters sheet  that they left outside.  The builders did come round this morning,  but only for an hour, so mum  still got a sleep in. She was glad that their visit was short as she didn't  get up until after 10am.

Today  our lockdown  was relaxed a bit .  Ours has been set at 4 levels.  We had 5 weeks at level 4 - staying home.  The supermarkets and pharmacies  were open for essential visits, nothing else.  No restaurants,  takeaways, post offices or shops.  No travel allowed.

Today is our first at level 3 - now we can do online shopping  and get home delivered  or take away  food.  We are not allowed into shops yet, but can click and collect items.  Businesses can open if they can work without face to face customers.  Our airports are shut and we still can't travel between cities.

Mum is going to go get some groceries  tomorrow and have a look around.  It will be strange  to see more people  out and about.

She heard on the news that our restrictions  were almost the tightest  in the world, that Italy had the most.  I guess only time will tell and the world leaders and scientists will learn lessons from this crisis.

Mum is looking forward  to seeing her friends  again and sharing a meal out with them.

Lockdown Down

Our lockdown  is easing up as if 11.59pm tonight.   As if midnight more businesses  can open, and we can order food to be delivered.  It has only  been essential  workers like mum who can go to work for the past month.  We still have to stay close to home and no social life yet.  We have 2 weeks like that and then the government  will reassess more returns  to normal if our virus numbers stay low.

Best of all - mum has a day off tomorrow.   She is going to sleep in and put her feet up.  She is wondering  if the builders and painters will be back.  She might have to put her headphones  in if they are. 

Sunday

Doesn't  every day feel like Sunday  at the moment?   Mum was taking  photos  of some of the plants  on her way home and took this one.  Somehow  she changed the background  to black  and white with a filter - and doesn't  know how she did it.  Some technology  is tricky  for her now and it makes her feel old.

ANZAC Day

Today is ANZAC day here, a remberance day  for our kiwi soldiers and Australian  allies.  Normally  there is a dawn parade at 6am, but due  to still being locked down people were going to stand at their driveways with candles.  Mum would have liked to get up but her sleeping  has been terrible  and she  only fell asleep at 3am.

This was a little cottage  down the road from our place with their flag up and ready.  When mum grew up you seldom saw flags at people's  homes, but it has got more and more common as the years have gone by.

Thank you to the great uncles that fought for our freedoms and the great aunts  and grand parents who did their part in the communities at home.

And for something a bit cheery.  The New Zealand Army Band  - Signed, Sealed, Delivered.

You Nana

Mum had her dinner at 5pm of chicken  schnitzel  with coleslaw, watched half the news and then fell asleep  on the couch  like a real nana.

When she was a little  girl, she would sometimes  stay with her nana who lived round the corner from her house, to make sure she didn't nod off on a Saturday  night.  Her nana was sweet and would let her sleep  in in the morning  and let her have chocolate  cereal  in the morning.   Her nana would have only been in her fifties when this happened, not old at all. So mum doesn't  feel too bad at her own snooze behavior  as it runs in the family.   Also she did night  shifts this week and it takes  her body a lot longer to recover now.

Extra Quilt

When mum got her new duvet cover, she got the matching  quilt with it.  Because it was half price and looked good  in the photo.  It looked  a bit much on the bed, so mum folded it up and put it on my chair.  I loved it so much that I am going to cover it with my furs as quickly  as possible.   Then it will be mine - all mine.

Approval

Mum got this new duvet on special before  the lockdown  started.  She wasn't  sure if I would like it, but within  10 seconds  of it being on the bed I had jumped  on it and was nodding  off.   I then slept on it for 2 hours, even though  there was no comfy feather duvet inside.

We both slept well last night.

Waiting for Treats

This is the place I sit and wait at night to get treats.  It is usually  between  8-9.30pm.  I then come out to meow at mum telling her to come to bed.  Simple.

Yawn

Mum felt this way all day.  She could  not sleep last night after her weekend  night shifts, she  only nodded  off at 5am.  So today was a wipeout.   Hopefully  she will do better tonight  and get back into a normal  pattern.

Quiet

The streets  were quiet as mum left work this morning at 7am.  All good kiwis were staying  home doing what they are told.  Mum went to the supermarket  closer to the hospital  and got most  of  the things she needed.   There was flour  and yeast there - but only about 10 packets. Mum left it there though, ither peoples needs are greater than hers.   Lots of shelves were only half full, and looked different  to they usually  do. 

There were some nice big posters  up thanking the supermarket  workers for working  hard during lockdown .  We hope  people  are being  nice to them.  Mum is grateful  that she can get in and out quickly  with 95% of the  items she wanted.  If course she forgot to get some things  off her list , because  she forgot  her list.  Thank you night shift brain.

Caturday - Couch Choir - Heroes

Mum has been trying to watch some things to make her smile today like this video.  Last night was a night shift for her, and she found some Live at Apollo comedy skits that her two colleagues hadn't seen, so they all had a laugh together in the quiet moments.  They snacked on popcorn and biscuits and the time went fast.  When the shift finished mum headed home and I was happy to see her!!   Mum toasted some pre made waffles and had bacon for her breakfast today, and gave me some treats  and then  had a good sleep.  I only tried to wake her up once to tell her she was sleeping in my spot.

Tonight is her last night shift, so she has the same breakfast planned for tomorrow morning.  The supermarket has changed its hours to let essential workers like mum shop between 7-8am and mum is going to do that in the morning.  She hasn't used gone before at that time, and has gone after work when a lot of the supplies are gone, so hopefully she can get a couple more items that she has been missing.  Maybe there will be some flour?

She has put some fruit juice in the fridge and plans a big fruity cocktail tomorrow night with her dinner.  There are leftover thai chicken and rice all ready, so it will be a big Sunday night on the couch for her.  Chores can wait until the days off next week.

We hope that you have got some fun things planned for your weekend too.  Enjoy your Caturday!!