Have a waffle with Carol

[Carol Townsend]

Greetings my loyal subjects!
I've had intermittent internet problems for 2 weeks, so have to snatch a few minutes when I can, sometimes on other peoples machines.
Bill, so the credit crunch(HATE that expression; invented by journalists no doubt) is all your fault huh? What are you going to do about it huh?
Will waffle more when my connection is better! hope I can post this before I black out again.
See ya
The Queen
xxx

[Carol Townsend]

Have just heard from the 'Net people that British Telecom may need to send a Man round to fiddle with our wires, which will take another 2 weeks no doubt.

[SandraK]

Carol
Are you back ? Even with sub. standard equipment good to hear from you. Once you have been twiddled will expect vast amounts of waffle. So much has happened here would not bore you with it - it bores me to death to be honest - and I'm living it !

Bill
So good to know I can blame someone for lack of pension and portfolio at rock bottom. Needless to say my agents are on your case. While I was swanning around the globe it turned upside down, am still reeling . Went out to the garden this morning - fed birds as usual, then just looked around and smiled. Picked a bunch of grapes, drank my tea on the deck and smiled some more. As Satchmo said "it's a wonderful world " .

[Carol Townsend]

Sandra,
My equipment has always been sub standard!
Still waiting for the Man from BT to appear. Meanwhile, have just had to fork out some £800 for a damp proof course in our dining room
Bill,
Decided who to vote for yet, or are you sick of the whole circus? Whoops! Politics!
Back soon I hope.
Noe
xxx

[Carol Townsend]

Morning All!
We've blacked out again so here I am in the library on the Peoples Network. Who said communism was dead? Looking into changing our internet and phone service provider.
Just thought I'd say a quick hello while I'm thinking of an answer to Paul's riddle on Corny Jokes Corner. Not sure that I like waffling in public though, but maybe I'll make some new friends...
Forgot to bring my reading glasses...
See ya citizens....sometime...

[Bill B]

Good afternoon all,

Yes, I have decided on on which candidates I'll vote for. And yes, I am getting tired of the whole mess


Bill

[SandraK]

Carol
What is a library ? Please enlighten. Of course Communism is not dead, works a treat here, everyone voices their opinion, we debate, then I decide and tell them what happens next. No problem.
Sorry, but have to ask, why would you need a damp course in your dining room ? Been bothering me as either one has a damp course or not, not normally a piecemeal affair unless ...... Well, unless what ? Am totally intrigued.

Bill
As far as I'm concerned watch where you place your vote, after the last debacle I really have done with all the vagaries of your voting system. What is so wrong wuth a cross or a tick - yes, we are still stuck in the 19th. century but at keast it was pretty clear cut !

[Carol Townsend]

Here I am again on a borrowed computer. Can't do much about changing providers yet as Himself is up in the Borders (doesn't that sound exotic?) at the moment and all our contracts are in his name. Looks like I've got to start nagging the company as nothing seems to be happening. Apparently it's a problem with "intermittent connectivity" as opposed to "synchronised" something.
Sandra,
A "library" was invented thousands of years ago before the discovery of this new-fangled thing called "'lectric" and is a building housing things known as "books", which are made of strange stuff called "paper" which is quite durable if kept dry, not set alight and handled gently. Books come in various sizes, and contain paper sheets called "pages". On these are black lines called "writing", much as we're looking at now.
This "writing" either tells a story, or provides information, just like the Internet, but easier to use, and books are not dependent on telephone lines, computers that work properly or 'lectric.
Libraries are pillars of civilisation; quiet, peaceful, full of wondrous books, posters, leaflets and "what's on in your area" information boards. There are tables and comfy chairs, a toilet, friendly staff, and, in a concession to the modern age, a photocopier and a neat row of desks housing computers; where, if you are computer or 'net-less you may use the "Peoples Network" for free, on production of a little plastic card and PIN.
In fact, all the services are "free" in that they are paid for by our Council Tax.
There is even talk of providing coffee machines, which may prove somewhat hazardous for the books and equipment, but never mind, they'll probably not be allowed because of 'elf n safety regulations.
Power to the People.

Do you really want to know about my damp? Let's just say for now that a damp proof course was put in the house 23 years ago and now the one at the back is past its sell-by date so we have a mouldy built -in cupboard. I may tell you in more detail later when I have more time and this household is back to "normal".
I need a coffee. Where's the Klix machine?
See ya
Noe

[Gisela Grell]

Dear Carol, Sandra, Bill and all the others,

sounds like you have a lot of work to do, things to organize or even are not in the mood. So no waffeling at the moment. I feel a bit like waffeling so I will tell you a little story.
My cat died. I wrote abaout that already and decided to go along without cat for a while. No cat litter all around the house, no pet food to buy. No rushing home after work because the cat is close to die of hunger if I come home late....
Until a friend called me. She saw a notice in the newspaper: 'cute little cat looking for a new home. This cat has a desease that makes her stumble an fall once in a while'. Well, my friend said, when I read that I directly thought of you... aehm, are you angry?
No, I'm not, because I have a little disease that makes me stumble an sometimes fall down. So it would fit. Unfortunately the lady who cares for this little cat wanted someone who is at home the whole day. Now come on, a cat is sleeping almost the whole day, normaly up to twenty hours. But no chance.
Now I was sitting home and desperately longing for a cat to throw around some litter and pet food. I checked the internet (sometimes it is really helpful although I love books) for another little cat with a disease. And then I found Samia. A cat with an autoimmun disease like me. YES! thats it. I called, I drove along and immediately took it home. She is so sweet but the name Samia does not really fit. Well, if she doesn't listen to Samia it doesn't matter if she doesn't listen to any other name. Now I call her Lizzi. She is black with white feet and a little white blaze and brest. And she is very friendly.

Last weekend there was a formula 1 race I wanted to watch. Unfortunately very early on Sunday morning. I told Lizzi to wake me up around nine and went to bed (at the moment she prefers the living room for the night). Sunday morning 8.45 am Lizzi jumped on my bed and nudged my nose. I was soooo tired and didn't remember what I told her. 'Lizzi, let me sleep! Go somewhere else an come back later...' I only feed her and went straight back to bed. Around 10.15 am I woke up and remembered the race what was almost finished then. To my luck there was a iteration (I hope this is the right word?) at 12.00 am. Next time I will try to remember if I tell my cat to wake my up.

Hope you enjoyed my little story.
Cheers
Gisela

PS: Will try to put on a photo later

[Carol Townsend]

Hey our connection is back! But for how long?

Once upon a time there was a very kind lady called Gisela, who lived in a country called Germany.
She owned a cat who was a very dear companion, and lived to the grand old age of 15. When the cat passed away Gisela was very sad and felt that her life was incomplete without a feline in her life, so she searched around for a cat that needed a home.
She found one called Samia that had health problems, and being a kind lady Gisela knew this would be just the cat for her. She did not like the name Samia so changed the name to Lizzi.
On Saturday evening Gisela planned to wake early the next morning so she could watch motor racing on the television, but she was very tired. She told lizzi to wake her up at 9am on Sunday morning, and, as she was told, Lizzi woke Gisela up at 8.45am; a little earlier than she was told but she was, after all, only a cat.
Gisela had completely forgotten that she had told Lizzi to wake her, and went back to sleep until 10.15am, but fortunately the motor racing was repeated, so Gisela was a very happy lady.
What would have made her even happier, and maybe richer, was the realisation that a cat that could tell the time accurately to within 15 minutes is quite extraordinary, and needs scientific investigation.
And they both lived happily ever after.


The End

[Tony G]

Lovely story Gisela.
Like hot soup on a cold day.
Hope that you and Lizzi will be very happy together for many years.
We don't have a cat that lives with us but there is a large tom who believes that he owns our garden. We call him Mr Stripey. He sunbathes, drinks from the pond and looks at us in a very aloof manner as if to say "What do you think you are you doing in my garden". He won't let us get near him and leaves sulkily if we try. Janette thinks that in the past I must have offended him in some way, but I don't think I have.

Tony

xxx

[Carol Townsend]

Hello Bruv,
Perhaps you offended him in one of his previous nine lives .....

Gisela,
I meant to thank you for that lovely story too; most remiss of me.
Do tell us some more about your life together!
Noe

[Gisela Grell]

Hi,

Tony, as far as I know the cat is choosing his "owner". And you normally never own a cat. The cat allowes you to feed her and give her a nice warm and dry place to sleep. Thats all! And it is funny how cats can look at you. Sometimes you feel just guilty without knowing why

Well Noe, Lizzi likes to go on my balcony. Because she is very new in my flat I don't want to let her out alone. I'm afraid she would jump and its the 2nd floor. Unfortunately she really loves the balcony, especially early in the morning (8°C) just to see if everything is the same like the night before and this five times in three minutes. And she is sharpening her nails (?) on my furniture. I bought a little tree (scratching post? )on the internet hoping it will be delivered bevore all my furniture is gone

All the best to you also from Lizzi

Cheers
Gisela

[SandraK]

Gisela
So pleased Lizzi found you, she must be a very discerning cat. Hope the scratching post works but, hate to say, don't count on it ! Once she has settled in and feels secure it should stop Do keep us informed on progress or lack of !
At last we are home long enough to decorate the kitchen, our cat, Fred ,now 15, has decided it's just too much hassle so has moved next door. Comes home when all sign of work is over at the end of the day. We both feel so guilty he is no longer moved from the middle of the large sofa and dumped on the other one in the evening. In other words he's in total control and loving it !

[Gisela Grell]

Sandra,

lucky Fred and if he is healthy he can live on for a couple of years with you and the new kitchen.

Well, Lizzi ... We went to the vet for vaccination and a little check up. I showed the contract I made with the lady I got her from and the vet examined carefully. Then he start smiling. How do you call her? Her name was Samia but I didn't liked it so I call her Lizzi. He smiled more and said: Well, really nice but ... she's a boy

It took me almost a week to find a new name and now I have to find another... The first name that came to me was 'Jackson'. No, but maybe something with a J. Joey? J.J.? Jamie? Joshua?
Saturday morning my doorbell rang just when I was taking a shower. On no! I jumped out of the water, wrapped a towel around me and shout to the staircase: are you from DHL? >Yes< Where are yo? <2nd foor< On to high.The postman was really sweet. He carried the heavy scrarching post down to my flat and was ashamed to see me in a mess with wet hair and my towel...
But fortunately Lizzi, aehm, I mean Joshua, Jimmy, or Jack or whatever likes his little scrathing tree.
I leave a photo for you.
http://www.gisela-grell.de/Holidays/?op ... current=33

Cheers
Gisela

[Carol Townsend]

Aaaah!
Do hurry up and decide on a name for your poor confused cat!
Love the photos; especially of Lizzi/ Jackson/Jimmy/John/Jeremiah/ Jiminy Cricket/Joab/Jacob.... in the bath. A cat that likes water?
Being a nosey sort, I couldn't resist looking at the photos of your home. Did I see exercise equipment? I'm impressed!
Nosey Noe

[SandraK]

Gisela
So....... come on, cat has been christened .......? We need to know. Fred has now moved back having decided the odd old sheet on the floor is just about acceptable. I assume copious amounts of chicken and haddock played no part in his decision - and yes, we are still on the small sofa !

Carol
Loved your pics. of tropical Surrey . Suddenly our garden is a mass of birds, assume berries etc. are now falling. Am doling out food at an alarming rate, haven't they heard the phrase "credit crunch " ? B freezing today so made fat balls in the hope I can plump 'em up without recourse to taking out a mortgage.

[Gisela Grell]

Hi Ladys,

Sorry Sandra, I have to tell you that I still don't know how I will call him... Joshua? Bailey? At the moment I really like Bailey but still not sure if it really fits...
Yes Noe, I do have a so called walking trainer and use it once or twice a week for about 30 min. if I'm fit enough I hope you like my flat.

In Germany it is also f*** cold! Wish I was in Tobago!

Cheers
Gisela

[Julia C.]

Hello Gisela

What a lovely looking cat. We lost our 19 year old cat in the summer - she was a black and white cat too.
The marking on his face looks like a medieval knight's nose guard, if he were an English cat I might call him Arthur. The best I (with the help of my partner, Simon) can come up with for a German knight would be Wolfram, or Wolfy for short.
Whatever you name him he is a beautiful cat.

Julia

[Lisa Keith]

Hi Gisela,

How about Toby (short for Toby-gonian?!) or Stara, (short for Cat-stara)!

I love cats, and I must say, one of mine looks a LOT like your cat! Are you sure he's not from around here?!! Perhaps he got lost or smuggled himself out in a suitcase bound for Germany?!

I'm sure you'll both be happy though!
Lisa.