Cat Fight!

 Alfie decided he wanted to go out in the night, so obligingly I let him out.  A couple of hours later (5 a.m. ish) I thought I could hear him meowing to come in.  Anyway, I went down to check and he was in the hall and came in happily.  I went back to bed.  He jumped up and settled on the edge, away from me. Ten minutes later and Lulu jumped on the bed and then all hell let loose.  There was a sudden brawl which rolled out through the door and both the girls were fighting with Alfie.  My goodness, they were going hammer and tongs.  Lulu scarpered, but Pippi was determined to get the upper hand (though she is half Alfie's size) and I had to shout at them until they separated.  That was it for me for the night, sleepwise.

Of course, now the order is all upset.  Lulu has been hiding in the Library most of the day, though she did come out for her meal, but then headed back and is now in her safe place, inside the sofa.  Pippi has calmed down, and Alfie seems to have too, but L. Whale also upset and he ran away when I came into the room earlier on.  Think I will have the boys downstairs tonight, and girls upstairs, just until it all calms down again.  Perhaps Alfie met the stray (farm tom probably) tom cat whilst he was out and so his nerves were a bit on edge and he mistook Lulu for the tom cat when she woke him suddenly.  

I have done a bit more clearing out in the garden - another two wheelbarrows full of branches from that shrub, plus ivy and grass from around that area.  Having uncovered the first compost container, I decided I would take up the wet Beech leaves from the lawn and steps to the pond, and put them in the container to rot down.  So I have made a start on that.  I also cleared another stretch at the side of the "path" and put one of the Glen Doll raspberries in, and covered the area with cardboard, more muck heap and the whole length so far with compost.  I'm making sure I don't overdo things and just work half an hour or so each time, and rest inbetween or I will be aching all over.  In my 60s I would work 8 hours a day in the garden at Ynyswen.  Those days are past!

My neighbours invited me to come down for a cup of tea (I took my own Earl Grey) and sit out in the garden with them. It was pleasant to be able to sit outside again and the river runs past the end of the garden (but 30 feet lower, down a very steep slope).  It was very peaceful listening to it. They have been taking out the wall over the porch to put a window in.  It will give lots of light now to the staircase and first floor hallway.  Then they asked if I'd like some lunch - I just had a few of their home made chips, and we had a natter and then Ed came and knocked in the two 6 ft stakes for the tallest apple tree (the Howgate Wonder) and the pear tree, which has shot up this year and is covered in leafbuds now.  It's nice to have company.  I saw how hard they were all working (3 of them) so made a batch of Apple & Banana Chocolate Muffins (which are vegan, just in case B was vegan).  I imagine those went down well.  I had one mid afternoon and it was so light and fluffy :)  It's a variation on my Chocolate Apple Cake.  I have discovered you can turn many cake recipes into muffins, and they are easier to pack if travelling.  All you do is make the cake mix, then divide into muffin cases.  Simples.

I saw this online this week.  Isn't it gorgeous?  I'd love to do that with a plain pine chest of drawers.

Oh, and I nearly forgot.  Another unusual name in the family tree, this time the Birds, from Kent.  Pleasant Bird.  I've never come across that used before.