Category Archives: change

bedroom tv!

07 Monday Nov 2011

Posted by in change, films, gadgets, home, television

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Now that it’s officially autumn – and I’ve even had to get out the duvet! – thoughts of cosying up in bed this winter with a book (or my iPhone) suddenly extended to… watching films in bed! Why had I never thought of  this before? I mean, I already had this smaller flatscreen tv and dvd player inherited from Susan when she moved back to the US.  In the old place they were set up in Nog’s “office” and occasionally got used, but since moving here they’ve been upstairs and weren’t even properly set up. The idea was that someone might want to watch a film upstairs sometime, which has never happened.

And so last night I moved it all downstairs and set it up on my somewhat rickety old bookcase next to my bed, removed one of the shelves to make room, and I love it! This is the first time in my life I’ve had a television in my bedroom – feels rather decadent. And okay, it’s not set up to the satellite service so I will only be able to watch DVDs on it, but it still seems a bit like Christmas.

Do you have a tv in your bedroom?

it’s official!

03 Thursday Nov 2011

Posted by in cancer, change, chemo, hospitals, sevilla, silly, weather

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Forget equinoxes and time changes, for me autumn doesn’t officially arrive until the first day I have to put on shoes. Which was today. Had to go out to the hospital this morning for the monthly chemo port cleaning and, while the heavy overnight rain had stopped, it was still a bit blustery and coolish. Dammit. I didn’t need to wear a jacket, but bare legs and mostly bare feet seemed like pushing it, so out came the dreaded tights and the (very dusty) purple shoes.

Not bad, I guess, but some years I’ve managed to keep wearing sandals until the last week of November. Basically it depends on if it rains.

Anyhow, I got a taxi over to the hospital. It’s different since they changed the port cleaning location – I used to go to the chemo infusion room in the evenings when they weren’t so busy and now I go to the blood lab building between 12-1pm. It’s actually a bit better not having to go to the chemo room, but it’s still a monthly reminder of THE CANCER and that the reason I have to keep this port in for five years is that they expect that I’m going to need it again…

But not today. There were two nurses on duty when I walked in and they immediately asked why I was dressed totally in black. I said I wasn’t, that I was wearing purple shoes and red earrings, but that didn’t satisfy them. Then I realised they must have thought I was in mourning, so I told them I was mourning the sun. Cracked them up. And they also relaxed, no longer worried I was a recent widow on top of having a chemo port in my chest.

So now that it’s autumn (it’s not officially winter until the Christmas lights are turned on) I need to go through my pathetic array of “warm clothing” and see what I can pull together. Even though it actually got up to 20º this afternoon. But I don’t want to buy anything new until I lose another ten kilos…

How’s the weather where you are?

family portrait

30 Friday Sep 2011

Posted by in animals & pets, cats, change, home

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It’s now been a week since I first let Luna “roam free” with the boys and, health worries aside, it’s been a seamless transition. None of the hissy-spitty stuff on Azar’s part like when I first introduced him to Loki. And of course it was love at first sight for Loki.

Here’s a pic of them hanging out on the stairs last night … the first family portrait! Though I couldn’t get them to look at the camera.

Luna is so confident that it’s totally endearing to watch her. She’s even making some headway with charming Azar by coming to play on my bed in the morning, which of course is Azar’s Territory, but he doesn’t mind. And instead of just playing the String Game with Loki (which I still do) I get to watch the Chase Kitten Up & Down The Stairs game, which is pretty hilarious.

My happy family. Warms my heart.

protected

26 Monday Sep 2011

Posted by in animals & pets, cats, change, home

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On Saturday morning, after having decided the previous evening that it was time to let Luna roam free, I realised it was also clearly time to put up some kitteh protection.

When I first moved here in February I decided that minimal protection was fine for the boys as the railings have a curly metal design along the bottom that would prevent any accidental slipping off the balconies, even if either of them could squeeze through the bars, which seemed doubtful. This was a far cry from the massive protection that I put up at the old casa az when I first got Loki, who was a crazy climber back then, and I had constant visions of him going “over the top” in a split second. Luna is a much calmer kitten but she is so eensy that, as you can see in the photo, could easily tumble through the railing if she leaned over too far. So it was off to the hardware store for some mesh.

This time I’ve only put it up half-way because I don’t think Luna would actually try to jump through – this is just to protect accidental falling and also put my mind at ease. And so now all the kittehs can enjoy fresh air out on the balconies and I don’t have to keep the doors closed in this lovely autumnal weather.

Haven’t let Luna out on the terraza yet – one step at a time…

testing testing…

23 Friday Sep 2011

Posted by in animals & pets, cats, change, home

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I really hope I don’t end up regretting this but this afternoon I decided to take Luna out of quarantine. I’ve had a couple more chats with vet Yolanda and she says this kind of situation is always fraught with “what ifs”. The only totally secure thing I could do is wait awhile and get a specialised blood test done that is only for feline leukimia, but then what would I do if Luna tested positive? When I told Yolanda I really couldn’t see myself giving her up at this point she said that Loki’s vaccination should keep him fairly well protected and that – frankly – even if Azar did contract the leukemia now he would probably end up dying of something else before it developed into anything life-threatening. And so about an hour ago I brought Luna out and let her wander around with the boys…

I’ve actually been bringing her out all week and having her sit on my lap while watching tv or working at my desk. She is very content in my lap and will happily stay there for ages, purring way. So Azar and Loki have got used to the idea that there is a gatita around. Azar is only mildly interested but Loki is completely smitten. At first Luna would do the cutest hissy-spitty-growly thing – hilariously “ferocious” in one so tiny – but she soon got used to the guys and no longer feels threatened by them. So when I brought her out this afternoon and plopped her on the chair next to Loki … nothing happened! There was a bit of sniffing and chirruping but no weirdness and nobody seemed put out. Azar even played with her a little, but mostly it’s been The Luna & Loki Show since then. Luna is clearly in charge and Loki is following her around like lovesick schoolboy. Adorable.

Anyhow, this is all a bit of a test. There seems to be no risk of scratching or biting, so even if Luna is positive there is little likelihood of her passing anything on immediately. I think for now I’ll just let her out under supervision and put her back in the “air lock” to sleep with Nog at night. Still not sure if I’m doing the right thing…