On Monday, we picked up the latest edition to our household, Pippa! Pippa is twelve months old and was being fostered by a lovely lady in Butler, about forty-five minutes away from where we are living in Midland. Darrell and I have always had cats, ever since we got together nearly twenty-eight years ago, so it was only fitting that we should include another one in our life together, here in Western Australia. Ideally, we would have brought our Spanish cats with us in 2018, but at a cost of $10,000 each, to transport them to the other side of the World, it would have been far too expensive for us at the time. After moving into Mathoura Street, it is time to once again have a cat we can spoil and look after; Neither Darrell nor I have children and Pippa will be our baby, as all our other cats were before her.

As I mentioned in my previous blog, Pippa has Hyperreflexia, a congenital birth defect. She was found dumped shortly after giving birth to a litter of kittens; from what I am told, it seems her condition may have been the reason for her abandonment. To be honest, most of the time you don't even notice she has a disability, and she has no problems coping with it herself. The only noticeable trait, is the significant dip between her shoulder blades and back, which make her look unique and slightly different from the norm. The reason we adopted Pippa, was because of her birth defect; it doesn't matter to us at all, what she looks like!

We arrived in Butler, to be greeted by Kerrie, foster Mother to many cats; she was a delight, spending time with us, talking about Pippa and introducing us to her other brood. Pippa was rather nervous and scared, and although she spent most of the time hiding, there were a brief few minutes, when she came and sat next to us on the sofa, as we continued to chat with Kerrie. She told us how affectionate Miss Pippi was, and the story of her rescue, several days after her newly born kittens were saved. It seems Pippa suffered trauma early on in her life, and it will be a challenge helping her adjust to a more normal existence. Having had rescue cats before, we are well aware of the difficulties ahead, but the rewards at the end are worth it. We hope to give Pippa the life she deserves.

Kerrie assumed Pippa would be living with her indefinitely, due to the nature of her disability; it seems people only want the perfect pet, but for us, it was about giving a good and loving home to a cat who needs it more than most. We are able to devote the time and effort to helping Pippa adapt to her new life, hopefully reducing the stress she obviously feels around other people. To see an animal so traumatised is heartbreaking, and we can only imagine the difficulties she went through before Kerrie took her in.

It seems the hyperreflexia Pippa suffers with causes no immediate pain, in fact she manages perfectly well with it, but in the future that may change. She may well suffer with arthritis as she gets older, like all of us, and may require extra care at that point. For now, she is able to enjoy a happy and healthy life, and we intend to spoil her rotten.

Currently, she still spends most of her time under the bed in the spare room. It is taking a while for her to get used to her surroundings. She is however getting far more daring and venturing out when she sees fit, just to let us know she is still there. In fact, she is probably the most affectionate cat I have ever known, and she loves being around me and Darrell. The empty villa we are living in, is a bit of a problem; the echo throughout can be rather disconcerting for Miss Pippi and once the house is suitably furnished and lived in, I am sure that will change.

Darrell and I have had a busy week and just haven't stopped working, so finding time to do anything else has been a bit difficult. We are progressing slowly at Mathoura Street nevertheless, and we now have most of the basics in place. Personally I am looking for retro, antique, bespoke pieces of furniture and art. I am not a 'live, love, laugh' kind of guy, and do not want to furnish my house with the usual Ikea cheap furniture - to Darrell's consternation.

With the front lounge more or less complete, we are turning our attention to other parts of the house. Today Darrell picked up a retro 1960s sideboard, which goes wonderfully in the family room, and tomorrow I am going to Guildford to buy a dressing table for the bedroom. Like the lounge, I want traditional furniture in the bedroom, not cheap flat pack alternatives. I suppose that's the British in me; I love homes with character and despite living in a 1990's build, I am determined to furnish it in individual style. The sideboard is certainly a statement piece and highly fashionable at the moment. Finding suitable 1960s accessories will be a bit of a challenge, but I have a good idea where to start.

Our new house is certainly starting to feel like a home now, especially with Pippa firmly in our life. It will be a slow process getting everything just as we would like it, but Rome wasn't built in a day and I don't have an endless supply of money. This has been an extremely expensive time for us and our anxiety levels are riding high. One has to remember we were travelling across the World just a few short months ago, and now we are back on the property ladder, working every hour that God sends and settling down in a way we haven't since we lived in Spain seven years ago.

It does feel good to be focused again and working towards goals. Yes, we are spending money, but we are also making a home in Australia. I have lost count of the number of restarts we have had, and this is the final one on that list. Only time will tell whether we made the right move down under, or another blunder on a long list of failures. Until then, we will continue rebuilding our life in Darrell's native home, surrounded by family, navigating new unchartered waters, in a country as far removed from the UK as you could get; whatever happens, at least we have tried to live the dream!

It has been a long time since we last had our own home, so long, in fact, that I can't remember what it's like to live as a couple. Darrell and I are now settled in a new house, another country and a World away from our life in Portsmouth. Sitting here now, writing this blog, I am annoyed with myself for not doing this sooner. In reality, we could have both emigrated here years ago, but the time never felt right. Today, our current circumstances feel normal, natural and if I am honest, what we have both wanted to do for a long time. Until today, we never really had the courage to take that final leap, today we are glad we did.

Official settlement occurred on Friday, when the house officially became ours. The last eye watering sum of money left my account and both of us became homeowners once again. Despite spending thousands of pounds over the last few months, there was no regret or bitterness from me, just a desire to rebuild our life and work hard to pay the bills. This is 'normality,' what most people do, but it isn't something we have done before, certainly not in recent times, and it really does feel like my life has gone full circle. At 51 years old I may well be getting older, but this new adventure into suburban living in Australia, has given me a new sense of direction and the will power to succeed, where similar endeavours have failed in the past.

The villa, as they call it here, is big, bigger than anything I have lived in before. There are three double bedrooms, one with walk in wardrobe, a lounge, family room, kitchen, laundry room and small garden - just what we wanted. This house is my dream home, something I never believed I would live in, let alone own, and it finally gives Darrell and I the space we have craved, for so long. Unlike most people, we have not begged, borrowed and stole, we have both worked hard to get good, well paid jobs, and a beautiful house, unlike anything we could afford in the UK.

So far, Australia has opened doors and given both of us opportunities we wouldn't have otherwise had. Both of us are just waiting for the first thing to go wrong, yet everything seems to be going our way. I hate feeling positive, but I actually have nothing to feel negative about and that has to be the first time I have felt this way in many, many years, if at all. I like to think I am in the right place at the right time, but only time will tell if that is correct or not. Traditionally I have never got on in Australia, so this is a new experience for me; like Darrell, I am getting used to the success we are now both enjoying. As the saying goes, nothing lasts forever, so we will ride this wave of satisfaction for now.

Last Sunday we began the process of moving into our new house, by once again going for Sunday lunch at the Stirling Arms. This would be our last meal there for a while; now we have a roof over our head, it isn't so important to get out. Nevertheless, we had a lot to discuss; although settlement occurred on Friday, we were actually given the keys on Monday, after the previous owner agreed we could move in early. This was a blessing is disguise - we both had the day off and literally threw everything into moving our belongings in. With both of us at work the next day, it was important to make the most of the time we had.

In the morning all the lounge furniture and new bed was delivered, later that morning, the white goods arrived and in the afternoon, the antique furniture I ordered from Guildford's Antiques were delivered. After all the cleaning, arranging of furniture, and shopping, we were both shattered by the end. In fact, I am still tired now, and we have a long way to go yet.

Like most moves, there are a few niggling issues that need to be sorted and on Wednesday we had the taps replaced in the laundry, and arranged for an electrician to come out this Monday and put in some extra sockets in the lounge. This is a house that was built in 1995, at a time when there was less technology in all our lives; consequently the electrics are not up to present day standards and will have to eventually be replaced completely. For now, installing extra plug points will suffice until we have the money to do everything we want.

Once the electrics are sorted we want to buy furniture for the family room, finish the bedrooms and finally get to grips with the garden, which needs a complete overhaul. All this will take time and a lot of money; with this in mind, we will have to take things slowly. As we are beginning to discover, it isn't cheap being a homeowner in 2023 and with all the utilities in place, we are looking at a substantial outlay each month. Like everything, it is all doable though, leaving us with plenty of money to spare for increasing the mortgage payments and saving money each month.

With settlement now complete, we are both officially homeowners again, able to live our life as we would wish. Living in a detached villa, we can make as much noise as we like; not that we are rowdy party goes any more, but it's just nice to be able to drill a hole in the wall, without repercussions from irate neighbours. This is what freedom is all about.

On Monday, we will pick up a new addition to our household, a rescue cat called Pippa. Pippa is one year old and will finally make our lives complete. She is also different from the other cats we have had in the past; she has a congenital birth defect called hyperreflexia, which causes problems with her back. In essence, her shoulder blades sit higher than her spinal cord. This makes it impossible for her to jump like other felines, but to us, it makes her even more special.

Darrell and I have always had cats in our life and when I saw this beautiful girl, I just knew I had to have her as part of my family. She needed a home, and we could give her one. It was unlikely anyone else would give her the opportunity we have, but after losing both Lily and Precious in Spain, we decided we would like to adopt a cat with special needs.

Despite the difficulties she faces, it is clear from her foster carer, that she is perfect in every way - loving, affectionate and well-adjusted. Now we have Pippa, it looks like we have everything we have ever wanted and couldn't ask for more.

Australia is the final stop for us, on a life journey that has taken us to nearly every corner of the World. It is important for us to keep travelling, but now we will have a base to call home. Pippa will likely keep us grounded for the most part and with both our careers now taking off, it is time to do the right thing and settle in a place we have both grown to love, and a country that has always featured prominently wherever we are. This is home, this is the future, this is where our journey stops for now!

Being preoccupied with work recently, has been an absolute God send. At times, I moan about all the extra shifts I've taken on, complaining about how tired I am and how I should relax a bit more. However, it is my choice to take on any extra hours and if I am honest, I not only enjoy it, but it also helps me deal with the pressures I am under at the moment. I am fortunate to be doing jobs  I love, working with people who I adore and always have time for. My colleagues listen to my tales of woe and also lift me up when I am feeling down; God knows there have been a lot of days like that over the last month or so.

Whether I am working in the Newcome Arms, or in the local supermarket, I am just thankful to be employed, especially during this enduring pandemic. There has been moments of fun and laughter also, even while working in busy and challenging environments. Halloween has been a fantastic opportunity to let my hair down, despite working in my various roles. Dressing up and getting involved has been a real stress reliever. For a brief period of time, I have been able to forget about my own issues and concentrate on living in the moment. I am comfortable being in other people's company, chatting and soaking up the atmosphere at such a magical time of year.

It has been difficult stepping back from Zerina and the rest of the volunteers, even for a short while. This was my time, a day for me to enjoy the company of like-minded individuals and be who I want to be.  Darrell, however, has started to work there himself, while I am unable to, and that makes me happy, keeping that link alive while I do what I have to do.

As I begin a well-earned break and a short period of annual leave, I was able to pop into the shop in Commercial Road to say hi to everyone, and it felt like coming home. You have to remember this was the first place I started to work at, back in 2018. These were the first people I interacted with, after returning from Gran Alacant and the job that helped me restart my life in the UK. Naturally I have a strong affection for Cancer Research and everyone who works there and will most certainly be back in the future.

Despite my work commitments, I have managed to spend some valuable time with family, even if it was brief. My Aunt threw a Halloween party for the grandchildren and friends, and it was a great afternoon. It is events like this that make for noteworthy memories; without the kids, cousins and friends, my life would be all the poorer. At fifty years old, I have realised the significance of my kin folk and having them around. It is true, I have never been a big family man; there are periods I just want my space and time for Darrell and me, but I am well aware of how richer my life is with them in it.

It is important to note my continued battle with weight loss at this point. I am well aware I haven't been easy to live with since the beginning of October. When I began my quest to lose a few kilograms, I was well aware of the multiple times I have tried to diet in the past, all without success. On the 4th October I weighed nearly a hundred kilograms, today I weigh 89 kg, which is nearly a loss of two stone. It has been hard sticking to a strict calorie controlled diet, especially with all the stress I have, but surprisingly I have continued to follow my programme. This certainly isn't something I could maintain indefinitely, especially with all the work I have to do, but it is an encouragement to reach my goal of a 15 kg weight loss by the end of this month.

On top of this, I have had to endure the spectre of a reoccurring health issue, that has resurfaced after a long break. I am currently taking antibiotics for Diverticulitis, and they have rather knocked me for six. After seeing three Doctors in just two days and undergoing test after test, the results of which I am still waiting for, I have been given a course of two strong antibiotics, which have turned my stomach inside out; not great when you have IBS. Today I am having a semi fasting day and trying to manage my symptoms as best I can. My stomach is a lot calmer than it was, but still doesn't feel right.

Going out last night, with my old college friend Ramona, probably didn't help my IBS, but it's been five months since we saw each other and a long-overdue visit was in order. Darrell, Ramona and I popped down to Gunwharf Quays for a meal at Bella Italia, not part of my weight loss regime, but necessary nonetheless.

Neither of us have seen many friends, over the last few years, especially with the pandemic; it was important for us to start making time for those we regard as close and begin spending quality time with each other again. Like us, Ramona has had her fair share of ups and downs, so sharing our experiences helps, when we are going through hard times. It's always great to see Ramona, someone I have known for thirty years, she understands me more than anyone I know apart from Darrell and has always been an integral part of my life. She is the one person I can count on, while the rest of the 'hangers on' disappeared, usually up their own ar*es, and I thank God she remains firmly in my life.

....And finally...

There's a new cat in the house, Ragner the Ragdoll… He is absolutely adorable and the perfect addition to my Aunts household. If I had my way, I'd have hundreds of cats, so this twelve-week-old boy is just the icing on the cake, especially for my Aunt, who he absolutely loves. As a pedigree, he has a character and personality like no other, and I know he will give all of us joy at the end of a hard day's work. Cats are the biggest destresser I know, and he is already helping with the anxiety I feel on a daily basis!

... Things can only get better!

Over the last few days, I have been concentrating on my new blog category 'Photographs of Hope.' I was contacted by a reader and asked if I could write something about the positive side of life, offering hope at a time of crisis. I thought it would be better to let the readers of 'Roaming Brit' express in words and pictures, how they are getting through these dark days and inspiring others around them. A few words and a photograph or two can tell a story of survival in an otherwise hostile World.

I have been inundated with messages and photographs and am gradually working my way through emails and including your thoughts into my blog. Your words have been an indication of your steadfast resolve and is a reminder that we are all in this together; I am delighted to read your powerful words of wisdom. I would like to encourage you all to keep on sending in your writing and will continue to publish each of your contributions over the next few weeks.

I am back at work and have completely recovered from my bout of illness. Without a test, I still don't know if I have had COVID-19 for sure, but have been told repeatedly I have. Back outside I have to act as though I haven't had it (strange I know) and continue to practice social distancing and washing my hands, protecting friends, family and colleagues and anyone I may come into contact with on a daily basis. I want to say as a matter of urgency, that people in my position should be tested, so we are aware of our status and can act accordingly. Without suitable testing available it is unlikely the Government will get on top of the virus anytime soon and in order to get individuals and their families back to work, they need to up their game.

My Aunt will be out of quarantine tomorrow and will be able to go back to work in the NHS finally. This has been a difficult journey for her, since she isn't someone who enjoys sitting around, doing nothing for any length of time.

She has cleaned, sorted out, moved around and caught up on some much-needed sleep, but this hasn't been a particularly enjoyable time for her and I feel her pain. When I have a day off, like today, I also remain at home and do not leave the house, which can be frustrating, although I am fully aware of how important it is. How my Aunt has managed two weeks is beyond me, but thank God she is fit and well!

Despite being locked in a house on my days off, I am still active most of the time, walking to and from work and on my feet most of the day. I was watching television this morning whilst ironing my shirts for work and was interested in a discussion about staying healthy during this Coronavirus outbreak.

Apparently the immune system is key here and the Doctor on TV encouraged all of us to take a vitamin D supplement, especially vitamin D3. Vitamin D comes from the sun, so it is especially important that we take a supplement at this time of year. Luckily I have been taking such a pill over the last six months. I also take vitamin B complex and a large amount of vitamin C. Of course no one can say you won't get COVID-19 if you take these vitamins, but they will help to build up your immunity. Interestingly the Doctor also encouraged us all to take a probiotic, since the bodies immune response is mainly concentrated in the abdomen and stomach. I was unaware of this fact myself, but have been taking a high dose probiotic pill, since being diagnosed with IBS. I will of course continue to take these extra additions to my diet and hope I remain well as a result.

Certainly I seem to be eating far better now as well, eating three balanced meals a day. I suppose I have had more time to cook and prepare food and am able to sit down at a table with my Aunt and enjoy a proper lunch and supper. My problem has always been eating too much, and I am carrying extra weight around with me, but that has always been the case. I closely monitor my weight and blood pressure every day and so far it is more than good, I just hope it stays that way!

I am also lucky to have Duchess around, keeping me sane. I have always had cats in my life, they are a great heeler in every respect, but in times of crisis, they really do have the knack of helping to get us through. Apart from anything else they do help to focus our minds elsewhere, offering comfort at stressful times.

Whatever you do to help deal with lockdown, stay safe and look after yourselves and your families. In time this wretched virus will die a death, but until then, we just have to do what we can to help one another get over the bad times and finally come out the other side!

This morning I had to take Duchess back to the vets in Portsmouth, they wanted to give her another checkup and see if there had been an improvement in her health over the weekend. To be honest, Duchess is still fine in herself anyway, she isn't ill apart from the loss of sight.

The vet took her temperature and looked into her eyes to see if there was any tail tail signs of damage or trauma that may have been caused, but she saw nothing. Talking to her, she suggested we carry on treating her for a virus and there was really very little else they can do. She has prescribed some antibiotic eye drops on top of the other medication she is also taking, in the hope she has a viral infection, rather than something more serious.

We have been told Duchess can see an eye specialist but the costs involved are huge, with a consultation starting at a thousand pounds. So we have to decide what to do next, which isn't going to be easy. All the time she is eating and drinking, there isn't really a problem, so fingers crossed she doesn't deteriorate and continues to make positive progress!

Yesterday, I woke up at 6 am as usual to go to work; whilst heading towards the bathroom, bleary eyed, I noticed our cat Duchess, acting strangely. She was bumping into things and seemed to have a complete lack of co-ordination. Concerned, I picked her up to take a closer look and to my horror, I noticed both her eyes had a cloud like film across their surface, obscuring her vision. She looked rather dazed and confused and was extremely anxious, naturally I was shocked. The day before, she was fine and her usual feisty self, Saturday she was a completely different cat!

I immediately woke up my Aunt and explained the situation; she like me was rather bemused by the whole thing and didn't understand what had happened during the night to cause such a terrible change in Duchess, including what seems to be a complete loss of sight.

While I was at work, Duchess was taken to the vets. After googling her symptoms on the internet, it was clear we had to get her assessed as soon as possible, time was important.

From what I can gather, the vet was as perplexed as we were, not knowing what had happened, but began by carrying out a series of tests to try and establish the cause.

All we know for certain, is she doesn't have Cat AIDS or Felv, that was ruled out within ten minutes of her arriving. In the interim she is being treated for an infection, which is all they can do over the weekend. She has been given a cause of antibiotics and we have to monitor her carefully, in case she becomes even more unwell than she is already. So far, she seems in relatively good spirits and is still eating and drinking as normal, although her eyes are getting more and more cloudy by the hour; all of us are at a loss as to what is really going on!

This morning I have been speaking to specialists on line, chatting in forums and searching the symptoms that Duchess is currently suffering from. I always do this, though it really does no good and just causes more anxiety. I have become aware that white cats are more susceptible to sight and hearing problems, reading about similar cases where cats have gone blind over night. I also understand cats can live long healthy lives without sight but am mindful of any worst case scenario, including a tumour and other forms of cancer. For now we have to wait and keep our fingers crossed. She is a fighter and will do her best to get through this situation, whatever the eventual outcome I'm sure!

I recently saw this heartwarming video online, it really did bring tears to my eyes. A beautiful dog rescued from almost certain death. The love shown in this beautiful animals eyes was testament to its owners dedication, throwing a lifeline to ensure this little dog had a second chance at life. Named Freddie, the hope is she will now have all the devotion and love she needs to try and live a full life. Rescuing an animal is a truly amazing thing to do and something my partner Darrell and I have done many times ourselves!

Our first rescue cat was Lily, an oriental foreign white. She was a breeding cat, kept in a cage for most of her life and badly in need of a forever home. I saw her story in a local newspaper in 2007 and immediately fell in love with her. I had seen no photographs, just a write up about her situation. After giving birth to her last litter of kittens, she suffered complications from a botched cesarean, leaving her badly scarred; as a result she acquired a hernia, which required a further operation. Her life as a breeding cat had come to an abrupt end and she was about to be euthanised when she was rescued by a local charity.

Lily was a fantastic cat, who Darrell and I loved with all our hearts. We were lucky enough to have her in our life until her death in 2017. She was extremely needy, but wonderfully loving, always close to both of us wherever we went, even travelling with us across Europe to our new home in Alicante. Her final few weeks were terribly upsetting; the bond we had with this amazing intelligent cat was so close and unforgettable, that we found it very difficult to let go. Knowing when the time is right to say goodbye is important. When I rescued her from an uncertain fate in 2007, I knew instantly it was the right thing to do, just as I knew it was time to put her down in 2018.

The memories I have with Lily will be with me always, she was a big part of my life, as any pet is. Her plight pulled at my heart strings and I was so content watching her grow after such a traumatic ordeal. Because of her past, she did have many heath problems, surviving cat flu on several occasions, when she should have died, but she was such a special girl everyone who met her, just couldn't help falling in love. When she died, we had her ashes scattered in an animal sanctuary near our villa in Spain. A part of her will always remain there and it will always be an excuse to return to our old home from time to time. I am glad she was a part of my life, I will always have her close inside, often looking at photographs and remembering the times we all spent together as a family!

A few months before Lily died we rescued two tiny kittens, while living in Spain, they were no more than five or six weeks old and it was touch and go whether or not they would live. Thankfully they survived and we were lucky enough to have Mollie and Wildling for nearly a year. Of course we would have loved to have spent more time with this wonderful brother and sister duo, full of adventure and character, even after being dumped in a garden, trying to survive in the hot Spanish sun.

When I left for Spain in May last year we reluctantly decided to have Mollie and Wildling re-homed. Our destiny was moving firmly away from Gran Alacant and it seemed unfair to uproot these two young cats and take them to a new home in the UK. The last thing we wanted to do was give up the new additions to our family, but we found them both a home together with two of our friends living an hour and a half drive away in the southern Spanish province of Murcia.

We were happy to take on Lily, Mollie and Wildling, they were all very special pets. Every rescue animal has a story to tell and suffers from the memories of a past they would rather forget. They did have their own set of problems and we did have to dedicate more time to their rehabilitation, but the love they gave in return was so precious, it was worth all the pain and heartache.

If you are thinking about re-homing a rescue cat or dog, don't think twice, you will not regret it. The time we had with all our pets was rewarding and special, there was never a dull moment. When Darrell returns from Australia we hope to once again settle down and welcome some new rescue cats into our life, until then, it is great to continue reading stories of others, doing what they can to help animals in need, just like those in the video above. Animals do indeed make a home; my life certainly wouldn't have been the same without them!

Thomas continues to grow and is looking fit, strong and healthy, as is Emmy of course; you wouldn't even know she was pregnant a few weeks ago. Cradling Thomas is becoming a little easier each time, although I am still a uncomfortable holding such a young child; my experiences of 'baby holding' is not a vocation that will win me any prizes anytime soon. Still he was rather relaxed in my arms and actually didn't cry, so I must have done something right!

In the evening I had to work a shift at the pub; Wednesday is truly a busy day for me. After spending a few hours with family, it wasn't something I was looking forward to. Already tired from my morning job, I really could have done with a few hours sleep before serving behind the bar, but needs must and no one else was going to do it for me.  It's amazing how quickly the human body can adjust itself into a alien routine if it has to. No sooner had I left the house, I was psyched up and raring to go again. I have been called a workaholic in recent times, a title I am happy to accept; nothing is for free in this World and I have spent far too long sat on my laurels!

Darrell came into the bar at 9pm to meet Garry, who I had arranged a catch up with before Darrell leaves for Australia; I left them to chat and reminisce about times gone by, while I served customers. I am not sure if Darrell will get the chance to see anyone again once he leaves, so I am doing my best to organise a few get togethers before the 3 October. By all accounts they both enjoyed the encounter, after having not seen each other for so long; at least I can cross this audience off my bucket list!

Even though QA is closer for family to navigate, it seems she has been moved to a unit that caters for mainly dementia patients, something Mum doesn't have and visiting hours are restricted for security reasons. As a rule I am only able to visit Mum in the mornings and not from 2pm as they demand on this ward. Dad is incensed that Mother has been put in such an area, believing she should be in a more appropriate department for someone in her condition; I can't help agreeing with him. The only reason she has been put here is because there were no beds available anywhere else in the complex, a terrible indictment on today's National Health Service! I have now delayed visiting Mum until I can make arrangements to do so. My work load should be a bit lighter next week, hopefully allowing me to rearrange a few appointments; fingers crossed anyway!

With time on my hands I popped into Portsmouth City with Darrell to carry out a few errands I had been putting off. We both managed some quality time together at least, a rare thing these days. After buying my Aunts Birthday present for Sunday, we grabbed a spot of light lunch at Jenny's Cafe in Charlotte Street; the first time I have been there and it wont be the last; the food was delicious!

....and finally! Duchess is growing at a rate of knots at the moment, eating everything she can get her paws on. She has a fantastic personality and is the life and soul of the household. I have never had a cat quite like her and it is wonderful to see her flourish, leaving her mark on everyone. Duchess has become an integral part of the family; without her all our lives would be that much poorer!

I have a busy weekend ahead, what with work and my Aunts 59th Birthday. My life in the UK has suddenly become extremely busy and I am relishing the new opportunities ahead. As Darrell makes his final plans to leave the United Kingdom, probably for the last time, we are both happy that my time here is secure in the short term. Whether or not he returns is a matter for both of us, but until then I will just keep working hard and striving for a better future, as all of us need to do!

Duchess seems to be settling into her new home well, she has been here for a month now and has already made herself at home. Today I took her to the vets for her last set of injections, something she didn't enjoy!

I am content to have another cat in my life, although I was rather reluctant to bond with her at the beginning; a natural reaction after losing our two long term companions a year ago and the two new kittens we rescued in Spain, in February of this year.

Our Spanish kitties, Mollie and Wildling, seen in the header above, really became an integral part of mine and Darrell's life and like him, I was devastated to let them go to their new home, even though I understood it was for their own benefit. With our life being up in the air it would have been foolish to try and keep hold of them; we understood that all too well!

Precious and Lily, our first cats were with us for many years; as much as I loved them, they were a lot of hard work. Our days did become very 'catcentric' and as a result I led a rather restricted lifestyle. Please don't get me wrong, I wouldn't change the years I spent with them for anything, but animals do take up a lot of time, time I no longer have. Moving back to the UK was only possible because I no longer had pets to care for; I have been able to do far more things as a result.

Duchess has changed my outlook again and I am becoming more grounded once more. Of course I do need to start putting down roots but am mindful of my current position. I have no real idea where I will be living in the future, this decision has not yet been made and in the short term both mine and Darrell's life will remain very much in limbo. Having a cat around is fantastic for my sense of well-being, and has reduced my anxiety dramatically since she has been here, but I have to realise my limitations. I could have to leave at the drop of a hat and may well have to cope with losing another animal at a difficult juncture.

Duchess is a character and she grows on you fast; very affectionate and loving, she invades your personal space on a daily basis, somethings cats do. She is very needy and always demands attention, so I really do not have the opportunity to distance myself from her, even if I wanted too. I have decided to embrace this new chapter in my life wholeheartedly, connecting with family, seeing friends and accepting whatever comes my way; people, places and pets. There is no point running away from life, because I may or may not decide to leave the UK; for that reason I am rebuilding in every aspect. Duchess is just another part of my new life in the UK and I am happy she is here with me on this journey, long or short!

Trisha knows just how much I love cats and decided to get a new addition to the family. She already has a cat called Bobby, who is about fifteen years old and is a bit of a grump. Like most old ladies she likes things done her way and for the most part stays rather aloof from everyone; Bobby is a real matriarch but has grown used to me being around over the last few months, even choosing to lay on the bed with me on occasion, when she wants of course. However I still miss all our cats, Precious, Lily, Mollie and Wildling; my life hasn't felt complete without them. A home is really not a home without a pet.

On Thursday Aunty Sue drove us the short distance to pick up a new kitten, a pure white cross breed, who we have named Duchess. We went to the breeders house in North End, Portsmouth, where she had two cats who had just given birth; the mother of Duchess was adorable. She was a white long haired moggy, very placid with perfect temperament and sporting two different coloured eyes. Like Aunty Trish, I fell in love with her and Duchess straight away, so she came home with us there and then.

My Aunt has bought a playpen for Duchess, while Bobby gets used to having her around; currently she is sleeping after her exhausting day. I always wonder what it is like for a kitten being taken away from its Mother. Understandably she wasn't happy being brought home in Aunty Sue's van and cried most of the way. Like all cats she will get used to her new surroundings soon enough; cats easily adapt to their new lives; as for Bobby, well, she will just have to get used to the new situation.

It feels good to have another feline in my life. I have lived around cats for many years. My last few weeks living in Spain were made all the poorer because our kittens were not there, At least they have a new home now, with people who love them, just like Duchess, who will also have the love she needs!