Backwards In High Heels

Tired. So Very, Very Tired...

I know what you want to hear about first. All three kittens made it through the night and are still guzzling for England. Our household got very little sleep last night as one of the kittens decided to talk all through the night.

Today they had their first trip to the beauty salon, so to speak. We stimulate them to wee but as they nuzzle each other when asleep that's enough to get the bladder to let go. The result is they can very quickly get urine soaked. A bit like students.

So today they had a little sponge bath and a gentle hairdryer session. What a pleasant aroma that gives off! As I write they are currently tucked up asleep with full tummies, I wish I was.

And to Admiral Pooper  (a blog I strongly recommend you visit) who kindly takes time to comment on my posts, I have a tenuous link with Herriott. I was born and brought up in 'Herriott Country' and indeed one of the episodes of the popular TV Series was filmed on my Grandparent's farm. I remember it vividly.

One of the older actors had recently had a heart scare and my Grandmother invited him to sit with the family in the warm, inner sanctum of 'the little sitting room'. (We had very inventive names for places. Behind the house was a field called 'Back Field', guess how the 'Big Field' got its name, or which direction you had to walk to get to 'East Pasture').

He sat me on his knee and read me stories. He was a marvellous story teller, though I think the producer was getting peeved at having to ask him three or four times to get on set. "We'll just finish this story" he'd say, in no hurry.

Kitten Alert: shortly after posting this for the first time I got a call from the next door room...one of the kittens has had its first poo. Well...it beats whats on TV tonight.

The Cat's Whiskers

Today I got back into the gym after a week of stomach pains, thinking I was feeling better. Who said exercise was good for you? I took it gentle but bam! Thankfully you will be spared in depth descriptions of the civil war between my lower and upper intestines because something else has come into my life...

This morning we took an emergency call regarding a  pregnant feral cat that had been taken into the vets suffering from a difficult birth. The first kitten was breech and stuck in the birth canal. Sadly this kitten did not make it. However, the vet was able to deliver the remaining three. The next problem presented itself when the new mother rejected the kittens and it was discovered she had inverted nipples and no milk. We have fostered and hand reared very young kittens before and we were asked if we would be willing to try with this trio. The answer was, of course, yes.

They arrived this afternoon and I was pleasantly surprised. Two were a particularly good size considering they had just popped into the world, the third was a little small and the vet sent word he had problem getting this one to breath at the start.

They are now cosy on a 'fake mummy's tummy' - a none to ingenious invention of a tepid hot water bottle and fleece, it keeps them warm and they love the motion of the water base. They have all taken to the bottle....there is the distinct possibility I may join them. We have a few weeks of regular feeds and sleepless nights ahead!

There is also the matter of weeing (the kittens not me). Normally their mother would lick their bottoms after feeding to stimulate bladder and bowel movements. I am dedicated, not sick, so find some soft tissue or a cotton pad with a little warm water rubbed on their bits does the trick. They bring such joy when hand rearing; it is hard to feel pissed off when you are being pissed on by a kitten.  I can happily report they have all had wees tonight.

There is a degree of uncertainty when hand rearing newborns and the next few days will be crucial but I can guarantee they will get the best chance possible here.

I will of course be keeping their progress updated on here. My thoughts and news cannot compete with kittens!

Monday, Monday

I didn't post yesterday, no I am not suffering from a God Complex and thought I deserved a day of rest, quite the opposite - I was being kept busy by a couple of the young racing drivers I work with. They were both racing this weekend at Brands Hatch so Sunday evening was a time of catching up and writing newsletters and press releases.

I have found that since I have started the blog and admitted, to myself more than anything else, that there are some aspects of writing I want to explore that my 'everyday' work is flowing much easier. I feel more organised and inspired in all aspects, and I can't complain at that.

Spending the evening listening to: Radio 4 Comedies Nebulous, John Shuttleworth's Open Mind, High Table, Lower Orders and a touch of nostalgia from BBC7 courtesy of Doctor In The House