Keeping fit

In theory, I go to the swimming and leisure centre three times a week, but in the middle of winter it is very hard to motivate myself to go in the outside pool for the aquarobics class and I sometimes give it a miss.

This morning, however, after dropping Hugo and Emma at school, I bravely went. The outside temperature was about 9 degrees and the water 26. We were 13 courageous souls, + the marvellous instructor. It poured rain a few times, and the drops were icy. It's always worth the effort, even though getting out of a wet swimming costume, into a track suit, then driving home to a hot shower, getting dressed again, and drying hair is a lot of bother!!!!! First world problem, I know...

For some months now, I've been watching Dr Phil at midday, while I have lunch and a glass of wine. You may well ask why. Even Dr Phil himself sometimes shakes his head in disbelief at the antics of the performers and says, 'You can't make it up!'  But he then laughs all the way to the bank. Can't say I blame him. If people are happy to make fools of themselves - and they are - somebody might as well profit from it.

Talk about from the sublime to the ridiculous - reading Steven Pinker, then watching Dr Phil. I've always wanted an opportunity to use the word 'bathos'  and this is it!

Mrs Polly-Wolly-Doodle (aka Jewel) and Mr Naughty (aka Storm)

Sorry for the quality of the photo, but it's very hard getting these two together, especially at dinner time. Having lived with them for several weeks now, I've got to know their personalities and have renamed them. 

Darling Mrs Polly-Wolly-Doodle (Polly for short) must have been absolutely traumatised in her former life and still cowers under the bed almost all day and night. I first thought of calling her Pudding, but that might have hurt her feelings a bit, so settled on Mrs Polly-Wolly-Doodle.

Mr Naughty needs no explanation at all.

When I came home from the shops just now, he was all curled up on my red coat, after having pulled it down from the hat stand. She was, as usual, under the bed.

Good luck with Steve Pinker's book, Sandra. I hope you enjoy it as much as I am. Haven't finished yet. It's not the sort of book you can get through quickly or easily. You need to think about it a lot.

Since the news is so depressing, read this:

For those of you who don't know, Steve Pinker is my hero! I first contacted him in 2000, after reading 'The Language Instinct', and we corresponded by email for years after that. He encouraged me while I developed my reading scheme, 'Sounds of Reading'.

Speaking of which, proud Philip came downstairs earlier this morning with a video of Hugo reading a Dr Seuss book. Fluent, expressive reading! Diagnosed with autism three years ago, Hugo has been two years behind academically, but is catching up fast! Both Philip and I have been taking him through my reading scheme and he is now on the final book. Wonderful!

Steve is the best writer I know. I love reading whatever he writes, even though it can be a challenge. I need to ask Google Home what almost every second word means. (That's a lot quicker than typing words into Google.) What an intellect this man has.

Double trouble under the bed

It's hard to tell where each cat begins and ends...That's Jewel's brown body on the left and her head at the back, and Storm's body on the right, with his head in the front, He's grey and white.

They've been here for 12 twelve days now and still neither will come near me, though Storm has started sleeping on the bed and has twice allowed me to stroke him. Jewel comes out from under the bed twice a day to eat in the bathroom and use the litter tray. From 7 to 9pm is playtime for Storm - he tears round the place causing havoc.

Yes, Sandra, I have thought of getting a covered litter tray. They have one upstairs for Poppy. But I'll persevere a bit longer with the pink high-side one.

Storm by name, storm by nature

The morning after...I heard Storm the other night having fun and games in his litter tray. This was the result in the morning!

Here he is that day - you'd think butter wouldn't melt in his mouth:

Jewel is still very nervous and stays under my bed all the time. I assume she comes out when I'm not looking, to eat and drink and use the litter tray, but I don't know for sure.

I think I've beaten Storm - I've put a high-side litter tray in the bathroom and not a crumb was tossed over this morning!

Late last night,when I was in bed watching TV on the iPad, Storm played happily near me for more than an hour. Then he hopped underneath and snuggled up to Jewel. He ate an enormous breakfast. I'm not sure which of the two ate the second helping I offered. I hope it was Jewel. 

Storm and Mama Jewel have arrived!

Here they are in the corner of my walk-in wardrobe, getting the feel of their new home.

Claire, their foster mum, delivered them an hour or so ago, armed with their own special blanket and pink cushion, toys, litter and - wait for it - special calming spray and an app with purring!!!!! I never had any of these fancy things for Muffy.

Must say Jewel looks a lot like Muffy.

I think they'll stay curled up together for quite a while before they venture into the bedroom, then the rest of the house. They've lived in bright lights for 24/7 while being filmed on the live stream, so I'm sure they'll love the restful atmosphere here, with lights out at night.