Sun at last

Cactus - starting to flower

This morning we were able to take our walk all the way through the ravine. There has only been about three hours of light rain in the last twenty four. The water has stopped coursing through the ravine and although it is very wet underfoot the water is just lying in the deep ruts, if we don't get any more heavy rain it should dry up in a few days. To take our walk and know we are not going to be caught out in torrential rain is bliss. Trying to dry the dog and the wet towels over the past week has been a nightmare. Shula's best Christmas present was doggy deodorant which smells a bit like soap, but is infinitely preferable to damp dog. The cats managed to keep dry, preferring to stay in front of the fire, only going out when absolutely necessary, or when the rain stopped, unlike the dog who wants her walks whatever the weather.

This week I am looking after my friend Carmen's dogs and cats as she is visiting her sister in Belgium. Matty is as sweet as ever, and Chispa hasn't growled at me. The cats all seem fine so hopefully it will be a good week.

Weather

We have had a week of torrential rain, and according to our local ameteur weather station more than ½ our rain for this year fell during the past week.

Tich

Tich is the brother of Pippa and Chia. He is a beautiful cat, and although he will let you stroke him through the window he will not let anyone get near him outside.

Tich and his brother and two sisters were born under our hedge in the spring of 2000. When we discovered them they were a few weeks old. We rang one of the rescue agencies, they said if we fed mother and kittens until the kittens were around six weeks old they would help to trap them, spay the mother and re home the kittens. When the kittens were six weeks old we rang the agency and they sent someone to help trap the mother, but said if they took the kittens they would all have to be destroyed as there were too many kittens already to find homes for. We decided to keep them all. The girls who were quite tame were caught and taken into the house but the two male cats who were totally wild were left outside with their mother, who had been returned after having been spayed. Tich and his brother, who we called Charlie, seemed very happy living together with their mother and although we did try to tame them we couldn't really get near them. When all the kittens were six months old we decided to have them neutered so as not to add to the cat population. With great difficulty we managed to catch Charlie and he was taken to the vet. When he came back his mother wouldn't have anything to do with him and took Tich to another part of the garden and kept chasing poor Charlie away. Two days later we manage to catch Tich and when he came back the mother abandoned both cats and went to live down the road. Oliver our Spanish neighbours cat turned up around about this time and all three male cats got along together. When the cats were about 18 months old there was a storm one night and the next morning Charlie had disappeared. Where he went, or what happened, we don't know. We did try to encourage Tich in after this but have never succeeded, he does, however, seem happy with his life.

Tommy who is another cat we feed turned up about two years ago. He is a very nervous cat and another one you can't get near outside. We do, however, make it a rule that they are stroked before they are fed on the window ledge. No stroke, no food. This is so if we have to catch them for any reason we stand a chance of getting them when they come to eat.

Hello Pippa

Most evenings after Ken has gone to bed I move over to his sofa and Pippa and Shula take over mine. Chia always goes with Ken.

Layla

Layla is a big gentle dog when she is out walking with Marley. I would not, however, want to try to enter her house or garden uninvited as she is very protective.

Shula with Marley and Layla

Shula loves to walk with Marley and Layla.

Nearly Christmas

You can tell it is nearly Christmas by the Poisettias.This is what happens if you plant them out in your garden in this part of Spain.

Laying in the garden

Both Ken and I have colds and are not much fun. Shula went out for a long walk this morning but still has loads of energy so she is out in the garden, laying down at the moment, but not for long, I suspect.

Cactus

I am so lucky walking with the dog to see such exotic plants just growing in the wild.

Bobby

Bobby was a rescue dog. He is so well behaved and such a nice dog. I think that if you are thinking of a dog you should try first your local rescue centre. Not every dog is for you, but they have puppies, they have dogs that might well be the right one for you. Don't rush, take your time, they don't mind, they just want the right home for the dog. That could be you. Make sure the dog you choose is the right one for you, if it is, then you are the right owner for it..

Picking up rubish

I know that when she started out Shula had to fend for her self and whatever she found she ate. Now she has a loving home, is well fed, but still she forages and picks up rubbish. Lots of which upsets her stomach, and most worrying, people here are not above leaving poison down in places where people walk their dogs. I think I may have to resort to a muzzle which I don't want to do. I haven't found anyone who can tell me how I can overcome this, but would love to hear from anyone with a solution.

My Beautiful Dog

She looks like an angel, but she can be really naughty picking up all sorts of rubbish.