Ginger

I don’t know why, but I woke up late again this morning. I wasn’t in the mood to rush out to shop, so I let eh Mips out. They went out for a stroll, and then Ziva and Lady Jane came for a lie down upstairs. I was hoping Mewthos would come up as well, so I could sneak out to shop.

Suddenly there’s a loud caterwauling coming from downstairs – same as last night! So I unlock the gate and go down to look – turns out, my family is making a new friend! Those noises are coming from the ginger cat, which has been popping around lately. He looks young, a bit older than the Mips. Beautiful ginger striped fur with shining green eyes! Rose came out to check on the noise as well, and we stood watching the lot of them making advances.

Ginger stayed behind the gate, The Terror was under the spekboom watching the whole scene develop, Mewthos, Lady Jane and Ziva were eagerly looking at Ginger. Lady Jane is the first to make advances, but Ziva bats her out of the way and goes forward. Mewthos is keeping an eye from my side of the garden. Ziva advances cautiously and there’s a spat or two when ginger declares ‘too much, too soon’. Eventually Ziva sits on the wall with ginger in the garden beneath the wall – and I carry both Mips upstairs, shut them in and go off shopping.

I come back to find Ziva at the garage as usual – with her new friend! They both follow me along the path, up the stairs …and that’s where things have stood since then. Ginger sitting outside on the steps, Mips just outside the door, Ziva just inside. There’s some talk, no fighting, though – but also, no further advances made by anyone. Well, ginger is creeping bit by bit closer to the door. And every now and then he makes those noises, like a loud murmur: Mrrr, Murrarr, Mrrr. Almost as if he’s asking permission to enter.

 

Ginger outside

  

My family sitting inside watching Ginger

He looks fine, well looked after, so I have no idea why he’s hanging around my place looking for … what? Friendship with my family? He’s definitely not scared of humans.

Two hours later and Ginger has moved inside. He’s had a spat with Mewthos, another with Ziva. I’ve had breakfast, a chat with a friend … and now I’m trying to decide what I’d like to do. Oh, and on closer inspection, it turns out that Ginger’s eyes are blue, not green!

Isn't he a gorgeous cat? Amazing blue eyes!

I went out into the garden – managed to get past ginger without scaring him off. He keeps my felines indoors, so I took advantage and started working on a patch of grass near the gate. But it’s so overgrown, and so quickly – I came back upstairs and googled a pet friendly weed killer. Strangely enough, salt and vinegar was suggested – kind of funny, like I’m making fish and chips. Well, I covered the patches with both and hope that it’ll work. Oh, I could pour boiling water – that should kill them instantly. And the salt and vinegar will keep more weeds from coming up.

By that time, the Mips and Ginger come downstairs. There’s a lot of noise, occasional spats … and I’m just walking away. Right now I’ve got Lady Jane on the chair next to me, Mewthos by the door, Ginger halfway down stairs meowing at Ziva who’s sitting on the wall.

 

Romeo and Juliet, eh?

Well, I’ve tried the garden – it’s too hot in the sun and too cold in the shade. One of those days.

Well, after a good long chinwag with Rose and her daughter – watching the romance develop between Ginger and Ziva in between – the weather changed. It was overcast, and cool enough even in the sun, so I went into the garden. It’s amazing just how much of that Kikuyu has invaded my beds already, again! The Mips came down – and Ginger attacked Mewthos! So I chased him and made it very clear that attacking any of my family will not be tolerated!

 

Rose's tom is keeping Ginger in his place

Mewthos napping in the shade

Ginger around the corner lookup up at Lady Jane

Lady Jane keeping a distant eye on Ginger

The first Nasturtium is getting ready to bloom!

Ginger getting more adventurous, coming inside ... Mewthos is not happy

While I gardened, the Mips played – with the occasional check-in “What mommy doing?” At one point I worked at the bed where the cornflowers had been – and Lady Jane dug a hole, turned her back on me, and did her business. Right there, in my bed, right in front of me! Cheeky minx! But it does explain why the Cosmos our gardener transplanted there aren’t doing too well.

It was good to see Mewthos follow Lady Jane up the tree! First time I’ve seen him that high up since his accident. Well, okay, so he turned around at the first fork and went back down – but he did run up!

When I left, Ziva and her Romeo where nowhere to be seen. The Mips followed me – one after the other – and I’ve shut the door. Not making the same mistake I did last nigh, again! Oh, and when they went into play-mode, I lifted Lady Jane into the toy drawer (she’s been dying to get in there for ages!) and she promptly selected a toy and ran off with it. When they’d got bored with it, I repeated the procedure and Lady Jane selected a different toy.

Eventually Ziva came home – with her Romeo in tow! He started caterwauling outside again, so I opened the door again. He’ll keep the Mips inside and I can get some more fresh air. I decided to do the dishes, halfway through Ziva leads her armour outside – funnily enough, she settles on the wall of Rose’s courtyard, which is right outside the kitchen window! Just to be safe, I close the door, before the Mips decide to go wandering as well!

After the dishes, I fried myself dinner – rump steak. Halfway through that, Ziva comes strolling in! Her boyfriend seems to have gone home now, I don’t hear him outside. I’ve packed all toys away and the Mips have settled down … somewhere. Lady Jane is in the chair next to me – I better go look for Mewthos. Found him – taking a leaf out of his mommy’s book, curled up on the bed!

Getting time for me to curl up on the bed as well!