Watty's Awakening

Watty1

Whilst popping dinner in the slow cooker (beef in a black bean sauce) I was thinking over the fact that the cupboards and freezer are full of "money spent" so that needs using up and my plan for the next few weeks is only buy fresh veggies (I know lots of people on here do this regularly).  That should save money which is good as the horsebox insurance is due.  The Charming Cob also threw a complete tantrum yesterday morning and went for me whilst I tacked him up.  Full on teeth bared snapping and biting.   This is so out of character for him that I suspect his saddle does not fit so I am going to put his fitness plan on hold and take him to the saddler to have saddle checked.   Appointment made for 23rd.    So (1) lorry insurance and (2) saddle fitting means money needs to be trimmed from elsewhere.

I'm also aware that I have only achieved so much this year in terms of house renovation because I am mortgage free and as money comes in I have been spending it on the house.  I'm going to carry on with that so I can get the house 'done' and then I will start to save the equivalent amount of a mortgage each month by transferring that to the bills savings account.  

Cherryfudge

I'm thinking 'that's not like him', and realising I don't know CC in real life. It doesn't sound like him though, he's definitely telling you something. Hopefully the saddler will make him happy again. I hope you didn't get hurt?

I'm back to working through cupboards of 'money spent' today. Dinner is lentil and chorizo soup so the freezer will be no emptier but we will be full.

~FlowerPot~

watty msg sent to you

flowers x

daisy_1571

hope you were ok after cc tantrum, as you say there's something not right, people and animals generally have a good reason (in their head and from their pov) to do what they do, fingers xd its the saddle and it gets sorted xx

greenbee

Chestnut torte recipe https://bakinghermann.com/castagnaccio-tuscan-chestnut-cake/? Clearly you'll need to slice and hide in it in the freezer! It's also working having a look at the Zoe website and instagram for recipes. One easy cookie is 130g peanut butter mixed with 4 tbsp maple syrup, then stir in 150g ground almonds (I grind my own in the food processor as it's cheaper and they also have their skins on). Bake cookies at 180C for about 15 mins. 

PennysIntoPounds

How's the situation with VNM's mum and the cat?

Watty1

That cake looks delicious @greenbee and I have all the bits to make that in the house so that is a absolutely going to be baked, maybe over the weekend.  Using up things is going to be wonderful it that is an example of what can be done
Flowerpot, I have replied
@PennysIntoPounds turns out the VNM mother had not had a stroke at all but hit her head in a fall hence the confusion and so has been moved to a general ward.  They are getting her up and walking again and treating her with IV antibiotics for her leg infection and have, after a few tests and scans confirmed she has dementia.  That part was a relief because it means she was perhaps not being so difficult over the last few months but was genuinely struggling.
The cat is more of a problem I think but one I am going to have to let go.  The neighbour is feeding the cat, but, as the weather turns I don't think the cat can continue to live outside.  Another neighbour has asked if she can take the cat and been told yes, but, I subsequently found out she was trying to sell it.  I'm not happy about this but I'm not sure if I can do much about that one as the homes I found did not come off and I think we would have to trap it anyway now. I'm not sure how the neighbour is really going to sell her (she is a Bengal, the cat not the neighbour ) because the cat isn't that keen on being picked up or people really.  I'm trying to let it go as I have enough to worry about with my own animals.

Thanks to everyone that asked if I was OK after Charming Cob violent protest. It really is unlike him, he is so nice and gentle and even whilst swinging round to bite me he was not actually trying to make contact just to get his point across. I've asked FellPony person to look at him as she is an equine physio and see if she thinks there is a "problem" and she will look before 23rd when we go and get saddle checked. Until then he is off ridden work as he could not have made things any clearer and I do not want him to actually take to biting to get his point across.   

WattyDog has been "upset" and barking all day because the window cleaner came this morning and that distresses him.    Feral kitten loves watching him work and runs for window sill to window sill so one of them was happy!

Fell Pony is looking gorgeous as his person grooms him beautifully and his education is coming along really nicely so all good there and Most Handsome is just himself and making me laugh with his antics.

So that is a round up of life in the Watty household. My mood has improved a lot. I've been concentrating on sleep, taking my vitamins, eating as well as I can, and following a suggestion on here most days I write a list of things I have achieved.  Some days the list might simply say answered all emails and checked the bank account but a huge thank you to whoever suggested this because I think that doing that has been one of the things that has really helped me move from tearful every day to feeling I can cope.  I cannot recall who it was, but I'm grateful, thank you.

PennysIntoPounds

I'm so glad you're feeling better in yourself.
Got a big smile reading about feral cat moving around entranced by the window washing 😊
Poor old VMNs mum's cat, is there a way to put a catflap in and get a spare key to have the non-trying-to-sell-cats neighbour come round to continue to do food? But you're right, there are other people to worry about this and you have quite enough to be managing!
Great that MH and FP are enjoying life and that things are in progress to get CC back there too.
A sad diagnosis for VNMs mum but as you say, a relief- she can get more of the support she needs, and you know there wasn't 'an issue with you' when she was being so crotchety. And always good not to have had a stroke! My hugs and sympathies to VNM though, it's very harsh and upsetting when our parents switch to officially being the ones needing taking care of x

greenbee

It's not often I get to share chestnut flour recipes Watty! Enjoy. My cats like to supervise the window cleaner too - I think they like the fact that he's quiet, and the slow, rhythmic movements (they're big fans of the plasterer as well, and - unfortunately - as I have just discovered, scything). 

teapot2

My cat's reaction to the window cleaners coming round is the opposite to feral kitten's.  He can hear their ladders from quite a distance while they are at houses round the crescent and immediately hides behind the sofa until they have gone 😻🐱😿