A new life for my cat cages

As Geoff and Jen will be moving in later this year it was time to consider how their cat will take the move. We decided to move one of my existing cat cages to outside the room they will be sleeping in and allow it to go in and out through the window directly into the cage. This will avoid a cat roaming at will so close to the highway and killing all the birds in the area.

So many thousands of steps and much weight lifting afterwards the task is now complete.

In 2012 Kim and I completed the paving and moved the old recycling box to the southern side of the cat cages.

Bananas were planted on the northern side near the gate to the chook yard.

The cat cages loomed large and were quite useful for container storage and the occasional visit by cat or chooks.

Early September 2016 work started on the removal.

Once Geoff and I figured out how to move one of the cages that was bigger than both of us (we used two trolleys and took it very slowly) it is now in place under the window and Geoff's task is to make the escape route for the cat.

My next job was to dismantle the remaining second cage.

I used the far wall of the second cat cage to make a new fence level with the chook yard gate. I needed help to move this which was gratefully received from Elaine. Again the piece of fencing was too large for one person to move even though it was only light.

This left the recycling box to move. I was able to get it this far but then it got stuck on something so I had to wait for Geoff to come with Ivy one morning so we could move it just that tiny bit further.

 Once all the major parts were in place it then took me about 18000 steps to clear the rubbish (waiting for our next council cleanup or a trip to Underhill) and smooth out the area. I am using neighbours green bins to deal with all the garden waste the project is generating. I still have to empty and move the double laundry tubs. I have the space but again I need to be patient and wait for a few people with more muscle than I have to move them into place. Soon I will plant some grass and then only time is needed for it to become a pleasant part of the garden.

Bubbles, dirt and music

September has been a very busy month with grandchildren. Ivy continues to come to Ma's at least two days a week and we have such fun together. She is a treehugger and just loves dirt.

Smooth, cold, heavy

She loves to help Ma collect the eggs from the real chooks but we thought this place was good for a photo.

She helps collect the mail

One rainy day we make a 'tent'

She is learning how to brush Ponyo

and loves to draw and play with playdoh

Bubbles are her favourite

But dirt and being outside are just heaven.

 

Alex and Luke came to play one day and the three got on famously.

But the boys loved helping Ma sort some of the boxes upstairs - lego and marbles were fun.

Luke said the marbles looked "glorious" in the sunshine.

The boys each made their own creations.

I took Ivy to the boys school on Grandfriends Day where Alex was involved in Sport Dance, Band and Choir and Luke in Hip Hop Dancing and Choir. They are both very good with their musical talents. Ivy just loved the morning and both boys were great with her.

NW WA Tour - Perth to Sydney

Wednesday 10 August

Up late today and out to  Kings Park and Botanic Gardens. This is a magnificent green space and very large. We were greeted by masses of Australian wildflowers, the colours and displays were stunning. Unfortunately we had been given a very minimal map at the shop so it was difficult to understand where we were heading. We found lots of plants we wanted to identify but very few of them had labels.

In all I wass very disappointed with the excursion as we only had an hour and our map gave no indication of where to find the things we wanted to see.

Getting back to the bus on time was a rush and by the time I got to the Maritime Museum at Fremantle I was tired, hungry and shaking from low blood sugar. The first thing I did was share an early lunch with Lesley. This gave me enough energy to wander around the area (not the museum itself) while I waited to meet Jeanette as arranged.

There was such a lot outside the museum including a working steam museum with a huge lathe and other smaller model sized machines and a tall ship (the Leewin 2) was berthed.

When Jeanette arrived we visited the Sewing Shop in Fremantle which had a very poor selection of fabrics but we did enjoy our coffee and cake next door.

We then went for a drive through Fremantle and up to the lookout. Back down to the museum where we met the others and soon boarded our boat for a cruise (our 7^th) back up the Swan River to Perth, waving goodbye to Jeanette as we left.

On the cruise we had a great view of some dolphins as they passed and lots of yachts racing in the evening light.

Back to the motel for our last dinner together and to organise our bags for flights tomorrow.

Thursday 11 August

An early rise and out on the bus by 8am for our drive to the airport. The signage at the airport for bus drop off was lacking and Allan ended up in the wrong drop off lane. The tyrant in charge made him drive all the way around the airport to come into the next lane even though there were no cars dropping off in the lane we had been in. This made our unloading rushed to the point where we were denied the opportunity to say farewell to some of our fellow travellers including Allan, our driver.

Our flight back to Sydney was as good as any flight can be. I was sitting with Ralph with is broken and was able to help with opening drinks etc. We arrived early in Sydney and once we sorted bags and said goodbye to the Sydney people I was in a taxi and home to meet Arianne, Geoff, Jen, Ivy and Ponyo.

On reflection it was a great holiday with only a few things to list on my feedback form. I look forward to travelling with ChristianFellowship Tours again.