Friday 27th February 2026

And so the day of much activity arrived.

It is Friday, so Jools was up and about, feeding the cats and getting ready for yoga, while I slept.

Until Mulder and Poppy were fighting under and on the bed, thus waking me up.

So, may as well get up.

The Springlike weather is gone, though still mild, but drizzle was already falling, and would get steadier through the morning.

Bins were put out, feeders topped up. And Jools was gone to do some downard facing cats. Or something.

The cats had no idea what was to come, so went to sleep in their various favourite places. I had a tea and breakfast, while sunrise happened outside, though the red sun was soon lost in thick clouds. Behind thick clouds.

Jools came home at twenty past eight, at the same time as Craig, Jon and the plumber.

They laid dust sheets, looked at what was to be done, and started ripping stuff out.

Banging, drilling, sanding continued. The cats, alarmed, ran outside, where the dreich greeted them. Came back in, went out, back in.

After a couple of hours, they got used to it, and so the youngest sheltered under the bed, Scully slept on the sofa, and Mulder wandered around demanding attention.

The flooring was glued down, and took some removing, but soon after lunchtime, the shower, sink, toilet, radiator, and all the tiles were out and in the back of the van, and then came the job of trying to make sense of the pipework.

That took a couple of hours, but by three all the prep work was done, and so with kids to collect from school, they left and silence returned to the house.

But for the cats, the worse was yet to come, as at half four the round up would begin, as they were going to the cattery. If we could catch all four of them, and put them in their boxes.

We had 90 calm minutes, and then the round up began.

Block off the cat flat. Close the doors to the kitchen, office, small bedroom. And at least with the bathroom now a bare room, there was no hiding place for Cleo and Poppy. Mulder and Scully were fed, then caged and the cages put in the car.

Cleo first, cornered in the bathroom, she was grabbed and caged. And finally, the same for Poppy. All in ten minutes.

We load the car, so Jools could take them to Whitfield, and I stay home to cook dinner of steak pie, steamed veggies, roast potatoes and gravy.

All done after I had crashed and burned out of the quiz, so we could sit down and eat, drink and be merry. As we are on holiday.