Checklist for building a kitchen cupboard

Go to work. Check.
Go to meeting. Check.
Leave work at 12.30pm. Check.
Visit Veterinary Surgery before 1.00pm. Check.
Wait for bus. Check.
Listen to Thump! as arse hits ground having actually frozen off. Check.
Get home late because of bloody buses. Check.
Visit blogs on PC. Check.
Make tea. Check.
Drink tea and eat slice rhubarb pie. Check.
Chase ginger cat out of garden with broom. Check.
Spend 15 minutes in bathroom. Check.
Say Hello to cat in bedroom. Check.
Change out of work clothes. Check.
Bang head on staircase looking for boots. Check.
Open flatpack and follow instructions. Check.

Easy.

Remember me on this computer

Our black cat has come on wonderfully this Christmas. Instead of running in blind panic to the absolute limit of his territory (three back gardens away on the edge of a shed roof), he now slink runs as far as the bottom of our own back garden only.

The cause of the panic is Christmas. Or, in particular, Christmas visitors.

Black Cat doesn't like visitors. It goes against Routine.

I'm green and purple

"Use less energy" the radio expert is saying on RTE this morning. There's a programme on about overhauling old houses and making them more energy efficient.

I'm doing my best to comply with the advice. It has taken me three hours to get socks on my feet and a pair of boots laced on from all the energy saving.

I was awoken rather rudely at 8.30am by the cat attacking my foot. This is at least the third time she's done this. From her point of view, she is minding her own business when a bare interloper about the size of herself starts impinging on her space. So out come the teeth and claws. The day started in our house by a loud "Jesus Christ!", the thumping of a cat onto the bedroom floor in flight, and the throwing of a pillow in her general direction.

It's raining this morning. Earlier it was damp, but not workmanlike. Now there is real workmanlike rain. It's falling completely vertically and is making little rustling noises on the black bags of empty beer cans we plan some day to recycle.

I took down the last of the gazebo yesterday. I had stripped off the cover some weeks ago with the vague notion of putting it back up whenever the weather improved enough to warrant it. Naturally when there was no wind, there was little sun. And when there was sun, there was no heat. So the skeleton of hollow metal poles was left there, generally in the way and looking like the remains of some skinny but rangey beast. Now the unbroken view of three thousand leaves of dandelions sucking up rainwater is a distinct improvement.

A phone call last night asked if I could help with a computer problem, so I shook off the energy saving and got enough clothing and footwear on so I can go to the guy's house later and look wise. At least it will get me out. As I've not met the man before, I have naturally put on my most purple of teeshirts and a matching purple tartan shirt. I may not be able to fix his computer, but I will at least put the sight out of his eye.

Mouse-Eye View...

Send for the mower..

... and afterwards maybe we should also tend to the grass.

Caring for the coat of long haired cats turns out to be troublesome. This one gets brushed as often as we can, but still manages to entangle her fur into tightly-wrapped knots close to the skin.

The local vet looked blankly at us when we asked about grooming. As it wasn't a medical matter, she had no clue.

Patient combing and brushing, I think, are the only way to go. Ideas, anyone?

I don't do sharing