Nigella …

I’m not sure where they’ve been but I was pretty happy to see M Kaz when she turned up at Aunty Michelle’s yesterday afternoon. I told her all about my holiday and asked about what they’d been up to as we drove. Not that that helped much – M Kaz just kept blathering on about how we’d be home soon. Hmmm. I know M Kaz, I know. Still it was nice to be home after two whole weeks away and I think M Kaz and M Sooz were a bit surprised when I stuck to them like glue – actually like super glue!

I think they missed me too because wherever I turned (and it wasn’t that far as I said), there was M Kaz with the phone taking photos of me. I try not to pose these days because that just encourages her!

The big question is how long it will take them to unpack this time. I didn’t actually count last time but it seemed like ages before they put everything away. I do know that their laundry (how many dirty clothes did they bring home with them!!!) is being done as I write this and they’re talking about going out to get some milk and other things to put in the refrigerator. I’m just glad they didn’t run out of my teeth cookies while I was away. Who would have thought they would be my cookie of choice?

I have missed being Outback while I was away – yes, I do get to see the sun while I’m staying with Aunty Michelle but it’s just not the same as having my own large area to run around in.

Open the drawer, M Kaz. Don’t pretend you can’t see me here. And don’t make me bite you again. We’ve already done that (at least) once today. There may have been a leg scratch as well. There has also been some tenderness – well, that’s what I’m calling it when I jumped up on the desk to cuddle you (really) while you were sorting through those (hundreds!! of) cables. I thought it was kind of funny when you pulled the plastic box off the top of the bookshelf and it and all the stuff in it went flying. I was there – you didn’t have to yell ‘I’m okay’ for my benefit. I’m sure M Sooz appreciated the heads-up though because it was pretty loud. Not as loud as your language, M Kaz. And where did you learn those words? Not from me, surely.

It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas. The Christmas trees have made it inside (finally) and I notice that the singing reindeer has also made an appearance. But I know for a fact that there’s still a heap of Chtistmas stuff out in the garage – the ‘real’ Christmas trees, the snowman, the tinsel – and M Sooz’s nativity scene. Then it really will be Christmas. And since you’re going out that way, M Kaz, why don’t you take my c-a-g-e with you. We certainly aren’t going to need that for a while. (Why are you sniggering, M Kaz?)

I keep watching outside just in case any of my friends are around. It’s a while since I saw any of the Cecil family and I know they have to be around because the neighbours saw one of them a week or so ago and I think the Cecils have to go through our yard to get to theirs. It’s best if they don’t go anywhere near the neighbours to the left because they are pretty frightened by the Cecils and sometimes aren’t as kind as they might be – they’re not mean really, they just can’t seem to think straight while they’re stifling screams.

The Kallax shelves that are destined for M Sooz’s wardrobe are still in the living area but M Ka, is hopeful that won’t stay the case. I love them – they are just the right height and distance away for when I’m jumping from the table to the bench. I hope they never move them!

It was Sunday, M Kaz. Sunday! You’re not supposed to lock yourself in your office on a Sunday. It’s the weekend when you devote yourself entirely to me and not to yucky work – especially not the kind where you think you have to lock me out of the office so I don’t take up residence on your foot and the typing pedal. Yes, I know you offer me the drawer for while I’m in there with you, but that doesn’t always suit me. So what was so important that you had to do it on the weekend? Some court case transcription that you’d promised them back for Monday morning? And you couldn’t have done it at any time on Thursday and Friday when it was first assigned to you? Hmmm. Not happy M Kaz.

And if that wasn’t enough, what was this you and M Sooz taking yourself off to bed even before the ABC News finished? I really do wonder about you two sometimes? Why do you even have me if you’re not going to spend time with me? (Miffed? Me? You betcha!)

It rained again last night – but I’m fairly sure those Mothers slept through it. I would have woken them if there had been thunder and lightning but it was just some rain – and not the heavy rain that we have been having that comes through into the Outback and wets my table. Is it any wonder that I sometimes sleep on the chair under the table.

OMG! OMG! I almost forgot the most important thing. The Kallax shelves are finally assembled and some have even made it into M Kaz’s wardrobe. I’d love to say that M Kaz finally got her act together and assembled them – but she did get her act together enough to organise Uncle Dave to do it for them. I helped, of course. And since then I have been doing QA to make sure they are perfect. And they are!

Rude. Rude. Rude That’s what it was. I was minding my own business having a nap on the chair under the table Outback yesterday morning when the Mummies swooped in out of nowhere and forced me into the cat cage and before I knew it I was in the car and M Kaz and I were on the way to the … nail salon (read: vet). It didn’t take long there – Dr Donna was very good – and then we were on the way to the petrol station. Petrol station? Couldn’t that wait until I wasn’t in the car M Kaz? Apparently not. I don’t think I’ve ever been to a petrol station before – and thank goodness M Kaz had the forethought to leave the windows a little open so I didn’t suffocate while she out ‘pumping the gas’.

Well, it may not come as any surprise but the Kallax shelves (the first one) are still sitting across the two chairs in the living room and at this rate I don’t think she’s ever going to start putting them together.  I did hear on the phone though talking with someone about ‘assembling the flatpack’ so it looks as though she might be hiring someone to do it for her.  M Kaz would ask Aunty Syl to help her but it seems as though they have enough to do – carpeting the upstairs area and epoxying the garage floor at their house has been mentioned.  I have no doubt M Kaz can make this happen – I just wonder if it will be this year!

And speaking of year – it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas around Jannie.  M Kaz went shopping today and came back with more Christmas shirts – I say ‘more’ because they already have a few of them between them.  To be fair though, they didn’t have one that was from the movie ‘Die Hard’ (a Christmas movie, really ?) – Yippee Ki-Yay.  I wonder if there was supposed to be anything after that?  I had to try on a couple of the shirts, of course, and M Kaz was kind enough to take some photos of me so I could show off how festive I look in them.

My nails look good too but you’d hardly notice with me in my AI-added outfit.