Nigella …

I was there first regardless of what story M Kaz tries to spin. She moved her feet in the bed and I had no choice but to defend my territory and if that required some gentle nail action so be it. This isn’t the story M Kaz told the other Mummy this morning. She suggested she was minding her own business – fully aware that I was on the end of the bed – and she did nothing to provocate me before I launched on her with nails and fangs! What a load of rubbish as M Sooz realised: did she draw blood? No. (I was very careful not to.) So it wasn’t that bad said M Sooz. I will have to be careful not to get her tonight or my cover will be blown. And speaking of covers, it is a bit unsporting for M Kaz to put a quilt on the bed so she can hide her legs under there. Clever girl! (although not quite as clever as the velociraptors in the Jurassic Park movies)

Thank goodness the tennis is finally over and we have gone back to watching regular programming including ‘Hard Quiz’ and home renovation shows. I am waiting for them to find a series they blth like yes, yes, I know they like Madame Blanc but they don’t always watch it here last week they went down to Aunty M’s to watch it so I’ll never know what happened. I don’t think they’ll ever watch the whole series again like they did with ‘Midsomer Murders’.

It looked like it might rain here today but no such luck so it remains hot and humid. I have been sleeping in on the irobing board because it is quite cool in there and when I’m not there, I’m usually hanging around the office with M Kaz.

I’ve started putting myself in the basket under the typewriter shelf and that is cosy enough although sometimes I just like to be where I can have my leg or legs hanging out to cool down, because you know they don’t leave the fan or the AC on for me.

I’m thinking of going on a hunger strike if M Kaz doesn’t start serving up some of the food I like. I like my dental cookies well enough but sometimes I like something I don’t have to crunch my way through. No, no, I don’t like Dine in the jelly varieties regardless of whether it is fishy-flavoured and the Whiskas isn’t a big hit either. And no, I don’t much care if the Applaws has gone up in price, Mummies, I like it probably best of all. And there’s no point trying to tempt me with those little tubes of ‘treats’… unless they’re good and then we can see.

There was a bit of excitement here yesterday (Wednesday) morning when Aunty M and Aunty Roz  both arrived at Jannie and then the Mummies and they went off to Costco.  The Mummies came back with a heap of stuff – I didn’t see what the others came back with because they didn’t bring it inside.  But Aunty M did come back in so M Kaz could give her some of my teeth cookies for Mimi.  I’m happy to share them – that could sound like I don’t like them – but I do.  A lot.  

It is still warm at Jannie – there’s been a heat wave – and the Mummies have been opening the big door in the living room to let the breeze in when it blows.   And when that isn’t open, they have the air conditioning on – not that I’m complaining.  I get quite hot sometimes. 

Well, that was a few days ago now.  I had been urging M Kaz to finish this blog for me but she has been a bit off-colour and it’s only today that she’s felt like helping me again.  Yes, yes, she’s still been looking after me while she’s been not well but that’s not the same as doing my bidding generally.  Still, I haven’t noticed that she’s been taking any fewer photos over the last few days – but whatever makes her happy I guess.

M Sooz has been a bit unwell the last few days as well but they have both been sitting up to watch the finals of the Australian Open tennis.  I haven’t seen them this excited about sports for a while.  They’re watching the Men’s final at the moment … they’re cheering Alvarez on.  

Of course I knew the box that arrived from Temu was for me, M Kaz. That’s why I jumped on it as soon as it came inside – and why I wanted to help you put it together for me.  You really are a bit slow with putting things together, M Kaz, but at least you did a better job on this one than you did on the gingerbread house that Aunty M got for me a couple of years ago.  I’m not saying that your construction methods have anything to do with it (heh heh) but it is looking a bit the worse for wear these days and we know (because of the pitched roof) that I didn’t sit on it!  Yes, yes, we all know that I was responsible for crashing the Christmas caravan but that was a couple of years ago now M Kaz so it’s time you let that go. 

It was wonderful that Aunty M came to visit yesterday – even if the Mummies did take her off almost as soon as she got here – and yes, I did hear them saying that she was here but I didn’t come out straight away and then they were gone.  They did come back though – carrying a few things because they had been to Costco – a magical place where they buy things in bulk.  I’m not saying I doubt the Mummies’ capacity to get through that 1.5 kg of trifle but there is a soupcon of uncertainty about it – even with them. And there is absolute disbelief (for both M Kaz and I) that M Sooz has labelled the trifle (Trifle!?!  With custard!) as ‘orgasmatron’.  I have to admit I was a bit surprised when M Sooz was in the fridge at 1.30 this morning having a snack (not the snack part) – that it was trifle.  I don’t think she worried that there wouldn’t be any left … did I mention that it’s a 1.5 kg container?  I’m waiting to see whether either of them likes the pickle chips.  The packet says they are ‘dill-icious’ but we will see.  M Kaz says they will go nicely with some pepperoni or other deli meat. I’ve said it before and I’ll no doubt say it again … the Mummies are odd!

I’m still looking outside hopeful that I will see one of my Cecil friends – and M Kaz obviously thinks they are around as well because she cut back the frangipani yesterday because anyone walking on the path had to almost walk through the branches.  M Kaz said the Cecils can have the branches away from the path – and we know they have been in there before – one of them left its shed skin (aka ‘a slough’ – and who knew the process of shedding the old, outer layer of skin is known as ecydsis?) there.

Well, I am not sure how or why she did it, but M Kaz has removed my friend the dinosaur from the premises! It happened this morning while I was Outback. I heard M Kaz say “Get in the box” and I thought M Kaz was talking to M Sooz – but no, when I went back in, I couldn’t find my dinosaur at all. I looked under the drawers in the Mummies’ bedroom and in the bathroom which is where I’d seen them last – but with no luck. M Sooz thanked M Kaz for taking the lizard (read: dinosaur friend) outside – she had been worried about it not being able to find its way home. I’m not sure what I’m going to do about a friend now. Thanks so much M Kaz. (I don’t really mean that.)

My new “penthouse” has not yet arrived but M Kaz keeps getting updates from Temu saying it is on it’s way – as is the Small Cordless Electric Engraving Pen. Wonder what M Kaz is planning to do with that. Just as long as she doesn’t think she’s going anywhere near my red rubber band with it. She’d just move it somewhere where I’d have trouble locating it. I only have the one big one these days and that’s okay because I know where I put it. I had it in the bedroom last night and I’ve just carried it through to my dining area. I wonder if the Mummies are wondering why I did it – and why I do it. I’m going to keep them guessing.

No, M Kaz, I don’t know where your stapler is. I hope it isn’t a casualty of your decluttering efforts. I bet it is though. I think you’ve probably put it “somewhere safe” which means it will never be seen again – probably a good idea now she’s realised the staples she does have are for the stapler she did throw out a couple of years ago. And that is exactly why I don’t want M Kaz touching any of my stuff.

It is not getting any cooler here at Jannie – which is to be expected now that we are just in the middle of Summer. I keep searching for cool places around the house and have managed to get M Kaz to clear out one of the cubby holes in her wardrobe, and I’ve also been sighted in the linen cupboard and in the cupboard under the sink (which is much cooler when the dishwasher isn’t running).

I helped the Mummies change the sheets on their beds today. I’m not sure they were totally appreciative of my efforts – and certainly they didn’t like it when I was using my claws to anchor down the sheets when they were trying to extricate me from under the fitted sheet. They’re no fun sometimes. The new sheets are lovely though, and M Sooz was very complimentary about them after she’d had a nap on them this afternoon. I can’t wait to try them out!