Category Archives: cats

summer job and moving forward

01 Friday Jul 2011

Posted by in animals & pets, cats, home

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

, , ,

These two handsome chaps may look like just cats, but they are also a summer job and a way of moving forward.

I’ve been thinking a lot about how to make the necessary changes around here, especially after I was moved to write this post in order to make things real for myself, so I wouldn’t backslide again.

And I think as a result, things have started falling into place. Especially after the fabulous news on Monday.

So this morning, after yet another job option had fallen through for Nog, I remembered that friends of mine were going to be away all of August and still didn’t know what they were going to do about the cats. The best option they’d come up with to date was that someone would come in every 3-4 days to make sure the cats had enough food and water, change the box, etc. NOT ideal. And it occurred to me that a very good win-win situation might be if Nog moved over there for August. He has no work lined up for that month, so he could live there rent-free in exchange for taking care of the cats and the apartment, and figure out what he really wants to do in September. I think that with his returning students, and anything he manages to organise between now and then, he would easily be able to afford a flat-share somewhere cheaper than here. And meanwhile I would look for a new flatmate for September.

What I like best about this plan is that it leaves so many positive options available. And I know those two guys up there are going to be delighted with their new flatmate in August.

ghost cat strikes again

20 Monday Jun 2011

Posted by in animals & pets, cats, home

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

, ,

Remember Ghost Cat?

It used to be one of Loki’s favourite games at the old casa az, and so he was pleased to discover that the proximity of the balcony window to the bed here allowed for a slightly different version. And yes, he has chewed huge holes in this new pair of curtains too…

Meanwhile, Azar prefers less destructive pastimes such as sitting on the corner of the bed in front of the balcony doors after breakfast and enjoying the morning air. But this morning Azar’s peaceful interlude was interrupted by Ghost Cat, who suddenly appeared out of nowhere. He lay still for several moments thinking he was Completely Invisible, but the contented flicking back and forth of Azar’s tail proved too much for Ghost Cat and he eventually gave himself away.

Azar was not amused.

my poor darling

17 Friday Jun 2011

Posted by in animals & pets, cats, health & happiness

≈ 16 Comments

Tags

, ,

Looks like I won’t be going away this weekend. Azar hasn’t had a bowel movement since Monday and today he is decidedly unwell. If things change for the better overnight (this has been happening for awhile now – days with nothing then boom!) then I may reconsider. A Spanish speaking friend had offered to stay “on call” and go with Nog to the vet if Azar took a turn for the worse, but this was a precaution before he got so floppy. I couldn’t leave him the way he is looking now. And if he hasn’t had a poo by tomorrow I’ll be taking him in to see the vet myself.

 The weird thing is that he’s still got a good appetite and is drinking lots of water. But even with daily servings of steamed asparagus and malt extract (and, since yesterday, two doses of paraffin) he still can’t go. As I say, for the last while he’s only been going every two or three days, but four days is new, and just way too long.

I have to go out on a tapas tour tonight, but I’ll just be a phone call and a few mintues away if anything happens. Will keep you posted.

it’s a conspiracy!

31 Tuesday May 2011

Posted by in cancer, cats, holidays, hospitals, Malaga, summer, travel, trips

≈ 10 Comments

Tags

, , , , ,

At first I thought it was a simple game of “where’s Loki?” that the two boys were enjoying when I took this photo. But recent events have led me to believe that the cats – who are gods, as we all know – are conspiring against me.

I’d thought that having Jessica here at the beginning of July to look after the boys – and especially Azar – was a sign that I should plan a few days away in Málaga before the next PET scan. And if Nog could get away for the weekend this would also provide Jessica & Thomas with a nice possibility for a romantic few days at casa az, enjoying the space and the terraza…

The first problemita occurred when Manolo said he wouldn’t know if his apartment would be available until about two weeks before that weekend. But I remained hopeful that it would work out. So I planned to leave just after my next oncology appointment, the day after Jessica got back (July 6th), which would have given me a few fab days in Málaga on my own before Nog came to join me. And all the while I would know that the cats were in very good hands.

Well THEN I got a booking request for a Sevilla Tapas Tour for July 7th – for five people! – and just couldn’t turn down that kind of money. But then I thought – hey – depending on Jessica’s schedule I could go for the weekend with Nog, then he could come back the following Monday (July 11th) to look after the cats, while I stayed on to enjoy my pre-scan holiday for a few more days.

Nope. Today I got a notice in the mail saying my appointment to go over all the heart tests that I had done after the scary four-hour tachycardia incident which ended up with me wearing a holter was booked for Monday, July 11th. Well Hell!

I just wonder how he does it. Is it the ears? In any case, it seems clear to me that Azar is moving heaven and earth to make sure I don’t go away this summer, and that Loki is in cahoots…