Bathroom grass

I’m still taking it easy, after all I’ve earned a vacation! I must, however, get the application for my German Passport started – it’s due to expire in three months. Leaving it a bit late, I’m afraid. Those applications are simply unpleasant – collecting a hoard of paperwork which makes no real sense. For example: why do I have to provide a birth certificate – again? Is having a valid passport not proof that they already have a valid copy of my birth certificate? Did that expire somehow? So, not today. I’ll start tomorrow.

Today I prepared my time sheet for May. When I phoned for a signature, I learned that the Pretoria project is also in the final stages and all but two of our staff have left. The last one leaving for Germany tomorrow. He’s in PE, but in the middle of packing, so I e-mailed him the time sheet, he can sign it when he’s at the office in Germany. Packing is stressful enough – no need to take up his time now. With regards to the PE project, no decision has yet been made. Our containers are still standing on site, just as I left them. No surprise, there. Only: Now there is nobody in the country, who could take care of their removal. Well, the two nincompoops’ currently playing boss in Pretoria – but either way: not my circus, not my monkeys!

At home, I thoroughly cleaned the bathroom floor – under close observation by Lady Jane! She finds anything to do with the litter box or its surroundings absolutely fascinating! In the meantime, I unrolled the 2m artificial grass in the bedroom – and found out, to my dismay, the the Mips are wary of touching it! So, I took out the wand and played with them – forcing them to get on the grass to get to the prize! They continued to avoid it, but did get on it quite a lot! So, no fears.

When the bathroom floor had dried after the third wash, I put down the grass – and learned that my bathroom is exactly 2m from door to wall. I just had to make one cut for the mat to fit. I used my craft cutter – at first the blade snapped off. I felt it, and looked for the piece, but couldn’t find it, so I carried on cutting. And then I saw Lady Jane had found the snapped off razor blade! And was trying to pick it up with her mouth! Fortunately I got it away from her before she succeeded!

Why artificial grass in the bathroom? Well, the idea is that the cats walk from the litter box to the door on that grass, which cleans their paws of all sand. So that, by the time they reach the door, they’re not carrying any more sand into the rest of the flat. Let’s see how that works out. It looks kind of funny, though!

I shut the door just before five, and at half past opened it to call Ziva … and found Snowball patiently sitting on the mat, hoping he’d be let in! He didn’t jump up the instant the door opened, but waited for verbal reassurance that he’s allowed in. He went straight to the leftover Whiskas – I’m looking forward to seeing how Snowball and Romeo will react to the new food! Both dispensers are now filled with Royal Canin – one Kitten one FIT 32. The 4kg Whiskas lasted all of two weeks! That’s between 3 adults and 2 kittens – all preferring the Whiskas to the Purina One kitten food, which 1.59kg lasted the usual three weeks. And Ziva also likes the kitten food – though I’m not sure about Snowball and Romeo. Like I said, I’m looking forward to seeing how they all react to the Royal Canin.

I gave Snowball a brush – the look of pure ecstasy on his face is just irresistible! He purrs away, but is hesitant to climb onto my lap. Rose and I suspect his sight may be impaired; blue eyes tend to be weak in humans, it may be the same with cats? He does jump at noises more than any of ours, almost as if he doesn’t see what’s causing them. His tail also seems either broken or somehow … limp. I can’t feel anything abnormal, though, so I guess he was born with less movement ability.

I’ve opened the door for Snowball several times, as he seemed to be indicating an interest in going out. The first time, Ziva came in. They sniffed noses – and Ziva rushed past him. A bit later, he tried to join Ziva on the chair next to me, but she swatted him away. I’ve taken the thick blanket I had bought for the nest, which none of my cats ever took to, and put it down for Snowball to sleep on – I can’t have him in the bedroom, it just makes mine too uncomfortable. I lifted him into the ‘blanket bed’, but he kept walking around as if looking for something. Now he’s settled on the Scratcher, and Mewthos has curled up in the blanket bed. Go figure!

When Snowball seemed to be looking for something, I went to see, curious what he might be looking for. As soon as he saw my shoes, he started following them. So I took a clean blankie, put it down on the Scratcher for him and placed him on it. He’s now settled down on it.

Oh, and that artificial grass in the bathroom? Also nicely insulates against the cold tiles in winter! I notice the difference between walking in the kitchen and in the bathroom. Cold tiles are unpleasant even through socks plus shoes in winter, wood or carpet are much more pleasant. Though tiles are much easier to clean. I think, the next time I rent a tiled place, I should invest in some carpets; or at least several thick mats or runners so I can avoid tiles in the evenings.