One year, my mum

Well, what can I say.....mum was 5ft nothing and lovely. She could do everything and made us try. I was never allowed to be girly....  or maybe that was having two older brothers. No excuses just get on with everything.... I remember mum around 80 years old on the top of the shed hammering down the felt, making sure she kept her promise to dad not to let him go to hospital in his last days even though she could hardly manage to move him, get up in the loft and wrestling all the stuff down when she should have been watching tv. I remember around 5yrs ago she was living 50 minutes away, I would ring regularly, I couldn't get through on the main phone nor mobile, I tried in the morning, afternoon and evening. At this point I was worrying a lot but also if I got it wrong I know I would get the wrath of mum!!! Next morning still nothing so off I go to find her tootling around the garden and me all a flummox. She hadn't put the main phone back properly and her mobile was out of charge. A short tirade from me about MY worry and thereafter she wore her mobile in a little red bag all the time.

These are memories of my mum......how she would swim with the kids on holiday when they were younger, near her end we would go to every garden centre and buy more and more plants for my poor brother to plant, hehehe just because parking, wheelchair access was easy and it was a quiet morning out.

I miss her.

We didn't do a whole lot of personal chats just everyday stuff but I knew she was there and that is what I miss. My luckiest photo is one taken a couple of weeks before she went when I insisted she went out and came and saw our new kitten, it's not the best in quality nor shows my mum at her best but I'm glad I have it.

Now is the time for happy memories.

Every now and again though I get thrown  back to that last year, very regular visits to the cancer department, almost weekly visits to the transfusion unit, arranging phone calls, information, nurses and visits. I went with my son recently to the same hospital and although I am a tough thing suddenly as I walked past the pharmacy area, bloods area, cancer department etc my throat tightened, and heart rate rushed and my head swimmed. My body I suppose reacting instinctivly to the memories even though I tried to over ride it. I told myself not to be stupid but there it is........

So now I am looking at photos which make me smile, look at  a ring which she would wear and remember.........

Luna, our new beautiful little girly kitten

Well I've been back a few days from my break in America and it feels like our new addition to the family, Luna has been with us forever.

Luna waiting for the boys!

Luna is a Longhaired Silver tipped Selkirk Rex Variant, which means that although she has the endearing nature of the Selkirk she actually has a straight coat and not the curly one for which a Selkirk is noted. On picking up our curly coated longhaired boy 7 weeks ago we had seen lovely Luna and she had melted our hearts. As the days went by nobody had booked her!! It then came to the day when she could leave and still nobody had wanted her : (( The next day I did note that she was booked for someone called -------.

Now call me thick but at no point did I think it was my eldest son who had reserved her.

Would you fight with her!!

I then went on my trip to the USA. Half way through the break I received a text with photos, a stream of gorgeous photos from my house and on them was lovely Luna and my son and daughter saying "Happy Birthday", by the way my 50th birthday is not until October!! After coming down from the ceiling and hysterical laughter, wonderful phone calls etc I then had to break it to my OH that yes we did now have a fifth cat.

Talk about worry!!!!

Well I needn't have worried, he took it really well especially when he knew his parents had been in on the secret and were happy about it. In fact he is so keen I have to give daily updates on any events!!

Luna looking ready for anything

Luna and Bertie

Yesterday she went for her chip and a fine bill of health to the vet, she already weighs 1.5kg but until she reaches 2kg they would not want to midline spay her. A procedure I requested and not the flank spay that is more normal here. Looking at her feet, which are huge, I think she has quite a bit of weight to put on!!! So we are probably looking at another month or two.

Luna and Monty

Surprise!! Surprise !!

Well here I am posting in the US of A!! Having come over to celebrate the 50 th birthday of my nearest and dearest.

Indianapolis is lovely and so are the people, lots of deco buildings, steaming manhole covers and a busy centre. The people are extraordinarily kind and polite. We've celebrated his birthday a lot this week! As there are so many lovely and odd eating places. Unfortunately I could only bring myself and not his present from the kids!! A lovely single malt.

However the SURPRISE was for me.

Yesterday I received an email with lovely photos of a kitten at home!!! My children had given me an early birthday present.

Youngest got in.....to his Uni choice

Ok, today was that dreaded day that no one has talked about for months, A level results day. I was trying to play it cool and was my youngest, however being up at 7.30 did indicate it was a different day.

It didn't start well when he couldn't find his login details for UCAS, but then it was time, 8.00am.

Thank goodness they have changed it so if you have a place it says, CONGRATULATIONS. With my other son we had to wade through tables to work it out. This is plain and obvious. So we at least knew he'd got a place at his first choice.

Then we had to head down to School for 9.00am to find the actual results. Typical with all results, the subject or exam you thought you were pants in you find you got your highest grade and visa versa!!! However needless to say he was very happy.

Well done, thank goodness all that worry was for nothing, what worry!!!!!!!!!

Now we have to set up for his Uni.......... god help them.........

Recipes past and present: Cheesecake

Yesterday my youngest had a go at making a cheese cake, it is a family favourite which he believed his Granny had always had the recipe to, however it came as a shock to him that it had been such a success at a meal many years ago that Grandma had organised that it had been passed along between the inlaws.

I then began to think of all the meals that we would have when I was a youngster  that I loved, Coq au vin, Apricot daquoise, and even the regular evening meal/snack of tomatoes and bacon on toast.

Those were some she made, we have of course have our new favourites that we make, again mine would be Venison Wellington, Croissant Bread and Butter pudding and a herby bread that is always a winner.

So I thought I would put some of those recipes up here:

Today - Cheese cake

This Cheese cake has the advantage that it is dead easy and can be frozen, hence its use at so many parties. You can make it in advance and keep it in the freezer until needed.

Ingredients
Metric/Imperial
1 Packet of Lemon flavoured packet jelly ( Hartleys)
150g/6oz Digestive Biscuits/ Hobnobs crushed (ummmmm)
25g/1oz Demerara sugar
75g/3oz Butter , melted
125ml/ 1/4 pint Double cream
300g/12oz Rich cream Cheese
Juice of two lemons
100g/4oz Caster Sugar

This is the high calorie version!!!! to reduce the calories a bit we always used EXTRA light cream cheese and it seemed to work. We also used to hit it with the lemon juice a bit more as we liked the cheese cake to have a zing.

Now yesterday when my youngest made the cheesecake I tried something new - Dissolve the broken up pieces of the concentrated jelly into 125ml of boiling water, sometimes they are stubborn just keep going, don't add extra boiling water.Then make this up to 1/2 pint with cold water and place it in the fridge until it BEGINS to set- this time however I added ice cubes to speed up the process. Yes it works but you do have to make sure everything else has been done already so it doesn't set and you have a lumpy cheese cake.

Your base now needs to be made, grease proof paper the bottom of a spring sided cake tin as it means you won't spoil the cheesecake when done. Mix together the biscuits ( place all the biscuits in a plastic sealed bag then use a rolling pin to bash all the biscuits until crumb like), the Demerara sugar and the melted butter and cover the base of the cake tin. Level it but do not push down too heavily as depending on the sugar it can set too firmly!!!

Whisk the cream until thick. Mash the cream cheese with a fork until softer and then add the thickened cooled jelly, lemon juice, cream and caster sugar. I always whisk together at this point and pour into the cake tin.

Tada - it is done. Leave it in the fridge to be eaten or freeze it when it is set.

However I usually sneak it into the freezer straight away, where I have cleared a level drawer and place it careful inside until firmly set but not frozen.  I then remove the cake tin and if for every day eating slice into wedges and bag it up. Otherwise freeze entire and then when needed let it thaw overnight in the fridge. I would pipe around the edge of the cheesecake with some whipped double cream and then use some fruit coulis to flood the top.

Cat Equipment - Cat Trees, inside and out

If you came into our house you would not see lots of paraphernalia based around cats, in that you would not see ornaments, calendars, statues, or photos with any cats on. However you would come across all the stuff related to keeping the wee beasties content and happy or so we think!!!.......

Katzengluck cat tree, just put together

Initially our cats were house cats which meant all their stimulation had to come from enhancing the house environment... that is we had to think cat. Ornaments came down to the bare minimum just like having a baby really and an understanding that the cats will find a way to look and lie in front of the window. All our cats love height and secret places. The back of sofas, window sills and room furniture of any height became plinths where they could rest. Leaving a coating of moulting fur wherever they rested!!! Even the kitchen is not a free zone as the work surfaces are a prime target, the only thing I can say we did try and keep them off and to date we really only have one cat that takes advantage. He is agile and demands food from the food cupboard, all I can say is we wipe down constantly and especially when we cook.

The old cat tree now a cat bush after it broke twice

To support their need for height we bought a cat tree, but I can honestly say almost all that you can by in the shops in the UK are appalling. They are light weight and fragile, one thing British Shorthairs aren't is fragile and they are hefty. Our first broke as it constantly toppled over. Our next came supposedly strong and good looking and again first the top broke, it got a lean, then as my husband said it became a cat bush being only around two foot high, hardly a tree. At this point I did my research and good old Germany does it again, best quality cat food and now best quality trees at a good price.

Too tired, now resting

Cats having a mad five minutes

We do have a fantastic make in the UK, which I received a quote from, it is made from a solid wood base, large solid poles and lovely wicker baskets however a quote around £700 for a cat tree would make anyone think you were a 'Mad Cat Woman' and could not even be considered. 'Tigga Towers' is a fantastic make and amazing quality but too steep for my pocket. Hence looking at the German websites. I found three that did good quality width poles, excellent sisal, good fabric and heavy duty bases.

Showing the quality of the sisal and the thickness of the leg posts and the thick plywood base.

These hammocks are just great

The one I went width was the cheapest, however the very big problem with this company is that they are very very poor at answering emails. I used Google translate and never knew whether my questions were misunderstood or not comprehensible. Eventually I sent a plan of a tree I would like which they priced up and we agreed to and I paid for. Then suddenly after some time, 6 weeks!!, it appeared!!!!!! and was perfect with hand drawn instructions! I knew they used plywood to cut the price down but it looks good, the poles are thick and it looks as good now as it did when it came. It doesn't move and inch even when all FOUR  cats are on it (3x5Kg).

 Katzengluck was the website

http://katzenglueck.de/xtm/index.php?XTCsid=olodkd7qcgo8v3p3dii0uqt5g3

Amber and Bernd the people to chat with.

There were three other sites I found one is Pet Fun

http://shop.petfun.de/en/kratzbaeume

 or Kirstins Heimtier Shop

http://www.kratzbaeume.de/index.php

 or Profeline Katzenshop

http://www.profeline-katzenshop.de/baukasten/abschlussteile

The outside cat trees being test driven

Playtime

 During the process of putting all the cat proofing up outside we did have to cut down a lot on the height of plants etc in the garden. Just to ensure it would go safely in and there would be no leapable areas. We cut down all the plants which went up the outer legs of the Pergola and then it became obvious as they were so bare that they could be used as a main post for a cat tree. Decking tiles, 60x60, were purchased and a middle section cut out to slide around the post. The underneath was then reinforced around the cut in all areas and then when it was fixed up a triangulation piece of wood placed in to support the weight of the hefty cats. The result was a three level cat tree outside x 2. These have become prime perches and adored for watching the world go by.

Watching the world together

Sunbathing

Monty is poorly

Sneezing.... again and again and again.

Lazing around on a summer evening

Playing in the flower pots

Poor Monty, our Shorthaired Curly Selkirk Rex, is definitely under the weather. Head down looking sorry for himself, not eating much and when he does it sets off a fit of sneezing!! I think as his nasal passage is blocked to try and eat and swallow and breathe is causing him problems. With the nasal situation it seems it has also blocked his tear ducts therefore causing one eye to weep incessantly.

Poor boy, it doesn't help himself though as I have had to bring him inside from the wet rainy outdoors... again and again and again.

Therefore on the way back from taking my daughter to work I dropped in at the vets and we will kill two birds with one stone by getting Monty sorted and taking Bertie for his microchip later today.

My poor boy.......

Update - He came back having had a couple of injections. So this morning less sneezing, much happier within himself and ate a couple of bowls of food. Hopeful that he is better.

Playing with younger brother Bertie

Harvey, Reuben and Monty examing the snow

Hubby....where in the World is he today!!!

Family outside Harry Potter Warner Bros, Watford.

Reapplying Mosquito repellent and removing leeches again

Typical weekend!! Hubby, daughter and Monty, when he was little

When my husband first started in his line of work he stayed very much fixed on site for years. However as the years have gone by the necessity to be mobile has become even more important. This used to mean staying away within the country, down in London, up in Leeds, across in Derby. However this has now expanded to longer stays abroad. I know lots of people do it but we are still getting used to it. Initially it was staying in Germany all week then coming back at weekends however as time constraints pushed it meant we saw him once in 6 weeks and that was for a day, driving all the way to Gatwick on a Saturday to then take him back there on the Monday morning for 6.00 am. However now things have spiralled again and this time Indianapolis calls in the US. The next time we see him home is late September!!! I hope that I will push for a visit to him for his Birthday....let's see if we can pull it off.

Trying to keep the blog nice but aarrrgghhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!

Here is a bird watcher!

Morning stroll

I better get the camera out for lots of incidental family photos to keep him in the loop......

Eyes up!!!!

Photography - Love it.... love my Canon

Taken at a falconry display when visiting Cotsworld Wildlife Park

How to compete with a Bird watching addict!! Well if you can't beat them join them so to speak....not exactly but going on long walks looking for birds does have its compensations in beautiful scenery and wildlife photos.

I always did like taking photos in the days of film, so long ago!!!! when the kids came along they became my main focus in the photographs I took.

The only issue I have ever found with the SLR cameras is the weight of them, it does put you off taking  it around all the time. I do find I have to plan when I am going to use my SLR as it is not just the weight of the camera but the lenses you have to carry which is the pain, especiallly those for wildlife.

In Morocco, Oasis Flint.

At the moment I have had my canon 5D Mark 2 for around three years so it is getting a bit long in the tooth when compared to the all singing and dancing new designs out there, and it has been through the wars. On holiday in Turkey last year I fell with all my weight with the camera and luckily it hit the one safe metal area on the camera but denting it quite severely.



On setting out with my photography I used Sigma lenses as they were within our price range, my favourite was the old Bigma Sigma!! 50-500mm - you needed the muscles of a wrestler to use it handheld but I managed it!! my other favourite was my 15-30 mm fish eye type, this gave me great photos. However all these meant you had to compromise with the light as they all needed bright summer sun to work at their best. I then lead onto my 100-400 L Canon lens, brilliant for wildlife. My only qualm was when the lens was still under warranty we had used the lens in a very steamy wet forest and this got into the lens even though they said it was waterproof!!! I thought it would be mended under warranty however they stated that STEAM did not count as water and so we had to pay for the new optics!!!! Not pleased. After this my wide angle lens I chose was the 17-40 L, I had been wanting the 16-35mm as it had low light use but this has been a good staple lens. My very very very best fun lens is the 50 mm Canon 1.8 mm lens, at £90 it is a cheap piece of plastic but oh what fun you can have with the depth of field and working in the evening and morning light. This is my stay on lens and I love it.

At a falconry site in Suffolk

To capture the photo is the first task and then to play with it on the computer. Initially I used Capture One which I did love and gave great tones to faces etc, I really only tinkered with boosting colours, straightening and removing dust sensor marks. On getting the Mac I went onto Aperture and I HATE it, it is so slow, if I see that whirly gig timer again, ughhhh but I'm stuck with it as I am not going to pay hundreds for Photoshop. I also hate the way I have to do a work round just to avoid Apple from taking over my photos, I have to keep working with reference copies etc, ughhhh.

Some more of my photos can be seen on Flickr, as can be seen on the blog below.

Around 5.00am in the Cairngorms, Scotland

Around 5.00 am in the Cairngorms , Scotland

In a Masai village in Amboseli, Kenya

Explore

Explore , a set on Flickr.

This is a set of photos that have been on the Explore page on Flickr