It has certainly been a sad end to the week, seven days that have not been the greatest of my life, but an ending that unfortunately had to happen. When we adopted Picante and Marigold, there were no guarantees that their new life with us would work; I think both Darrell and I were fully aware, that this may not end well, and yes, we were proved right. Today, hope turned to a realisation, that both of these beautiful oriental cats would have a better life elsewhere.

From day one, Picante and Marigold never got on with Pippa; it was more than just a few snarls and growls - there was a distinct dislike between all of them and even though we did our best to make their coexistence work, it just didn't. Oriental cats are notoriously difficult and feisty, where Pippa was far quieter, nervous and submissive. If I look at it now, it was clear she was being bullied by the new additions, and she spent most of the time hiding under the bed.

This week we had to take Pippa to the vets, after we discovered a swelling on her tail; after an examination it appeared that the lump was the beginning of an abscess, and she was prescribed a course of antibiotics and painkillers at a cost of $200.00. Initially the medication was given in pill form, but these were just two large for her to swallow, even when broken in half, after all, Pippa is only a small cat and the vets should have seen this. Mid-week, we returned the pills and were given liquid antibiotics instead, at a further cost of $70.00, for what 'Vet West' called a dispensing fee. Darrell was particularly angry about this extra charge and told them, in no uncertain terms, he would not be returning. The lack of care at the vets, and their dismissive attitude, was palpable, and we won't be returning there in future.

It appears Pippa was being attacked while using the litter tray and was left in a bit of a state. The consultant told us, Marigold just had to go, since she was the culprit; after liaising with the breeder Sue, we returned her on Saturday evening, believing Picante would remain with us, and we would try and socialise her and Pippa over the next few weeks. However, nothing ever turns out the way you plan. That same evening, Sue called and asked if we would consider returning Picante, since Marigold was extremely distressed and anxious. Darrell duly agreed, and we said farewell to Picante this morning.

I am in two minds about letting Picante go, especially with her disability. She had the chance of a good life with us, and I'm not sure any other potential adopter will take these two together, as a bonded pair, in the same way we did. There aren't many people who will take on a disabled cat. The hope is, they will find a forever home as a bonded pair, but I'm not sure if that will happen anytime soon; I feel deep down, Picante should have remained with us, in a homely, warm environment, and cared for lovingly. However, it just wasn't to be and Darrell and I are devastated.

We have both decided not to get another cat and just concentrate all our efforts on Pippa, who needs a lot of care. In time that may change, and we may introduce a kitten, rather than a cat, but certainly not two cats at once. This has been a sharp learning curve for us, and we just hope we can get a semblance of normality back once again!

Picante and Marigold are the newest additions to our family, after we collected them both from Chicas Cattery at Southern River, here in Western Australia. Darrell and I drove the short distance to adopt this bonded pair, after I came across an appeal on social media to find them a forever home together. Since we had been looking for an oriental cat, we thought Picante and Marigold would be the perfect companions for Pippa. I had never intended to get two cats, but sometimes fate takes control.

These two are not without their baggage, after being unceremoniously dumped at the cattery, when the previous owners had enough of them, purchasing a rather large dog and Bengal cat instead. Some people really shouldn't have animals; you don't just offload them, when they don't fit into your lifestyle.

Apart from the emotional distress, Picante and Marigold have been through. Picante, like Pippa has a disability, having suffered from 'Transient Hyperlipidemia' when she was young. This was an acute imbalance of fat v red blood cells, which resulted in anaemia and lipidemia. This blood disorder caused Picante to lose the use of her hind quarters, and she was unable to walk for a period of time, due to a lack of oxygen to the nerves. The treatment involved a blood transfusion and an immediate change of diet to high protein food. This was maintained for four weeks, including six hourly feeds with added water, and she gradually regained the use of her legs over time. Today she can walk, although with a limp, with her back legs seemingly never developing, remaining small, almost withered looking. This doesn't stop her doing everything other cats do, however. We have bought them a rather large cat tree, and she can jump up on it perfectly well, if a little unsteady.

It is going to take a few weeks to get all three cats settled, but I am hopeful they will all become best of friends. At the moment there is the usual hissing and growling, but judging on previous experience it won't last long. Pippa has had her nose put out of joint temporarily, but she is holding her own, that's for sure.

Darrell and I are cat people first and foremost and would have hundreds of felines if we could. It felt lovely visiting Chicas Cattery, and the orientals Sue has there. It was one of the most beautiful, idyllic places we had ever seen, perfect surroundings for cats to thrive and grow. Everywhere I looked, I was reminded of our old cat Lily, and it really felt good to be around her breed once again. Picante is a Siam Oriental and Marigold a Siamese. Both of them have very similar traits and, like Lily, are very vocal. Equally, both of them are extremely affectionate and adorable to be around.

The next few weeks will be spent integrating our two new additions, and I look forward to blogging about their progress. Our new house in Western Australia is finally beginning to feel like home!

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!