Wednesday 18th November, 2015                        0100

After the speaking contest on Sunday  Dumpling and I went to town to collect Bristle, first though we had to have dinner. I chose something that from the picture appeared to be spaghetti Bolognese but which via Dumpling I was advised was very spicy. Maybe I would prefer the one next to it? That also looked like Bolognese so I agreed. What I got was noodles and tomatoes - I knew I should have gone for steak!

Dumpling went to get Bristle and when we met up at the bus stop, my baby cat looked very different indeed. She sported a body stocking to keep the wound dressing in place as well as a lampshade around her neck to stop her worrying the stitches. She has to return next weekend to have the sutures removed. All in all, that exercise took up four hours.

It did cross my mind as to precisely how long the stocking and dressing would remain in situ and what happened was that I wasn’t far out in my mental predictions. By Monday morning the stocking was off and by the time I returned after my classes and usual sojourn in the business street so was the dressing. I inspected the wound and my judgement is that it will heal nicely, it is well closed and will probably be better for the circulation of fresh air so there is no need for a premature return to the hospital. As long, of course, as she doesn’t lick it or chew the stitches - which of course is impossible with the lampshade stopping her - isn’t it?

Monday evening I made a chicken stew for Joan. Quite why I have no idea but by the time it was ready I had no appetite whatsoever for what would have been my only meal of the day. Joan ate well though although she wasn’t up to the task of eating a whole breast. The cats got that afterwards but boy did she shovel down the vegetables. She is on a carrot kick at the moment in order to improve her eyesight. This has always been something I have dismissed as an old wives tale but which recently has been “proved” to be correct. Naturally I believe all these scientific studies, after all a couple of months ago processed meats were declared to cause cancer and more recently crispy toast and roast potatoes have been deemed carcinogenic as well. Why don’t the food police just put a sock in it and stop trying to spoil one of life’s great pleasures, eating?

Anyway, before she left after the meal I asked her if she was coming for dinner on Tuesday. No. That’s a shame, I am making spaghetti Bolognese. Ohhhhhhhhh…….you know I really like Italy noodles! Ok I will come!

I had bought all the ingredients at the weekend but on Monday night when I checked, I discovered that whilst I had put the chicken in the freezer I had neglected to do the same with the mince. It stank. As a result of my senior moment (basic stupidity) I had to go to town after my morning class, after all I had made a promise.

The problem was, it was pouring with rain.

Having given all my umbrellas away to students (I rarely use one because I have the cape to use on the bike) I wasn’t relishing the trip. Of course in such inclement weather the students would be deterred from making the same trip so at least I could take the bus from the south gate, right? Oh no. Bloody loads of them so I still had to ride 2km through what was stinging rain to ensure a seat. And then in RT Mart I could find no evidence of any brollies for sale! I am sure they sell them but I couldn’t find them and never asked as I was in a hurry. I was tired and wanted a nap, plus my co-teacher wanted a word with me. He says it’s not bad (with Tina and Cinny if they wanted to see me it usually forbade something nasty) and it never happened so maybe later today I will find out.

Anyway, if I say so myself, the “Italy noodles” turned out extremely well, with Joan having seconds and I never had to use Bisto to make the pork taste beefier. Anna came for a shower and wanted some but I had to refuse as it wasn’t going to be ready for ages, plus you can’t really keep spaghetti for an hour after cooking. I gave her the last of my bread pudding plus what would have been my dessert - a cream-filled croissant. I may send her a text in the morning if she wants to come for a chicken stew, there’s plenty in the freezer.

As Joan was about to leave she came in and told me Bristle had divested herself of the lampshade. Impossible! But she had. Little minx. Obviously I want to be careful when handling her - I don’t want to rupture her opening - and I asked Joan to replace it over her neck whilst I held her. She was too frightened! Good job I’m not. She won’t get it off now.

What I have noticed about Bristle is that she has emulated exactly what my two cats in England did when they were spayed - she has become instantly more affectionate. Of the four females I have had done, only Lotte has become hostile, and that procedure was carried out by the bodger that never even knew my dog was pregnant with eight pups when she opened her up and stated she was too young (rudimentary she said) to have the operation. Anyway the little girl seems to be quite happy apart from the collar so all is well. And she has been wormed to boot.

And that’s it for now from a very damp China, where 25 people were killed in a landslide and it got pushed out of the news by the events in Paris.