Cats and Books

Do you remember that book from childhood, My Cat Likes to Hide in Boxes? Yes, mine does too, and I think of it every time I see her climbing into the cardboard shelters.

And so to the books, starting with my current bookside bed pile, and moving on to the breakfast meeting with one of my bookclubs at Muse, which, sadly, was in its closing weekend. 

Select members of the Paige Turners Book Club

Out of Place

Out walking, I became fascinated by the patterns on the trunk of this tree. I feel they should form the basis of some artistic endeavour.

I admit, I did find these images amusing, but in my defence, it was my brother who sent them to me, and he lives in Scotland - so please direct all your complaints thataway.

Sometimes, when you've not planned a meal in advance, you just have to take a chance on what you find in the pantry. 

They may not be the most helpful when it comes to culinary activities, but when I'm curled up with a winter beverage and trying to finish the book club book for the end of the month, the cats are great company.

And they are firm believers in the idiom, 'Neither use nor ornament'. I'm guessing the latter...

Hot Cats

Well, hello there! Good Morning all - especially America. And that's all I'm saying on the subject.

Good Morning USA

Although as I have mentioned before I am mainly working from home, I do pop into the office occasionally to catch up with people and conduct meetings - especially such as when a colleague departs on maternity leave and we all go out to lunch on her last day at The Turkish Pide House.

Sultan's Choice at the Turkish Pide House

At the weekend I'm happy to have a bacon butty for breakfast and catch up with my Family Zoom Book Club book, while watching the cats watch the parrots in the garden.

When the Lovely Bonkers came to visit, General Philosopher took this adorable montage of photos of the kittens playing tag.

When it is so hot, I sometimes leave my walk until the evening when it begins to (fractionally) cool down as dusk falls. 

Another walk around the lake with the Walking Crew; another picture of us all having coffee afterwards. 

Sometimes when it gets so very hot, one needs to stretch right out to cool down.

Whoops, where's her head gone?

Found it!

And this one

Week Forty-Eight: The First of the Dos

Getting in early, we had our Book Club Christmas Do (with partners) at the end of the month. The weather has been gorgeous - perfect for pre-dinner drinks outdoors followed by ridiculous but fun party games.
 

It was a pot-luck and the Green Goddess (at whose house it was) was very impressed that everyone managed to bring interesting and tasty food (rather than 25 packets of crisps). Cous-cous salad; prawn kebabs; baked fish in banana leaves (that was my offering); roast potatoes with rosemary, asparagus and cherry tomatoes; barbecued chops; fresh fruit platter, and Saxby mush (a sort of trifle with excess alcohol all mixed up rather than layered). We generally do eat and drink well at book club...