Friday, 24 June 2016

How To Tackle Cat Smells

A cat communicates in various ways from the cute meowing to the adorable head nestling and head butting but then there is the scent marking . The scent marking which for the cat is communication  but for us owners it is a rather smelly issue and unwelcome habit, especially when it is rather to close for home for example on our front doors.


I'll have to deal with those smelly trainers as well !


These pet smells are really one we can live without , however a stiff talking to your cat will not warrant the result you might one and everyone knows that cats are aloof and will ignore your every word anyway.


My cats Jack and Rollie have a habit of going of the front door and then coming in through their cat flap , it's a habit they have tricked us into as why waste time going through the cat flip when your human being will open the door for you.

Dealing With Cat Urine Smells


1. Water down the area where the cat urine/waste is , keep rinsing till the smell goes , the more porous the surface is the longer the rinsing will take.

2. Put on some disposable gloves and get a scrubbing brush along with some soap and water ( i.e. washing up liquid and water ) If male cats can still smell the area they will return and the misery will start all over again.



3. Use an enzyme based cleaner ( from your local pet shop ) to breakdown and completely remove the odour that is associated with cat urine. Or you could make up your own solution that will pretty much work in the same way do this by mixing 1 part white vinegar with 2 parts water to remove all traces of the cat urine.


We have other problems having cats and that is they can't be rather smelly when they are damp and if they get caught in the rain we make sure we pat them dry with kitchen towel especially those cuddly little paws. We also have a long door mat near the cat flap that can trap most of the dirt when they come in , despite my efforts they are not ones for wiping their paws.






Of course you might initially left with the smell clinging on inside the house as I know we did , we used such products as Febreze to tackle the smells around the door area as quite understandably this is a high traffic area. We also make sure we now have an air freshener such as Ambi Pur in the hallway on the telephone table which is quite near to the door , this always helps when it is rugby season and we have damp clothes and rugby boots all over the place.



Vacuum Vacuum and Vacuum !

Regular vacuuming rally does make a huge difference in the smell of your house , make sure your vacuum those carpets,sofas , rugs chairs and even the curtain to get of the cat hair. And bicarbonate of soda sprinkled onto your carpets will freshen them up ( leave the bicarbonate of soda on the carpet for an hour the vacuum up , make sure the cat is out the way.)








Keep your cat groomed

As Rollie is a particularly fluffy cat we keep him groomed by brushing him regularly I am amazed how much fluff can come off him , it is almost like we have a another cat after a grooming season.


Wash your cats bedding

Make sure washing your cats bedding becomes a regular habit . You might not think can it smell but combine that with cat hair, int and damp paws that have been who knows where will start to contribute to smelly bedding. I do suggest you buy a laundry bag to put your cat bedding is as just throwing in your washing machine will leave some cat hair behind and apparently this isn't a trendy look for the office so my husband says.


Clean those food Bowls

I don't leave the cats food out for too long a time and I keep their food area clean , annoyingly my cats are messy eaters . I keep my cats water fountain clean and regular change the filter in it,  as it gets clogged up with hair and dirt ( one of my cats likes to paw at the water )

I know I have cats but I do have friends with dogs and they find it useful to look on line with how to cope with those dog smells.




'This post is brought to you by me and my cats




Tuesday, 21 June 2016

Traveller Dreams

Traveller Dreams


I'm quite enthralled by Nordic dramas at the moment and it's really making me want to go to somewhere in Scandinavia, It's a longing I've always been a traveller well I do have a nomadic soul .And everyone except me has actually been to Iceland the country and not the frozen food store , prices seemed to have dropped to go there however I'm told that it is quite an expensive country when you get there .


Also I'd love to go to Rome as well as it seems obviously chockablock full of history , I'd just love to meander down and around the streets soaking up the history.

Hopefully soon I'll be off to Amsterdam for the weekend as last time we went it was just a flying visit on one of those overnight ferries from Newcastle. Update I have just had my flights confirmed with Easy Jet I'll be flying from Manchester and then stopping 2 nights in Amsterdam , luckily I had won 2 flights to Amsterdam so I've had had to pay for one flight . I've booked 2 nights hotel in a very nice Mecure hotel in Amsterdam with good transport links ( though Mr T does like to walk everywhere )

I have tried to book for Anne Frank house but it silly super busy and booked up for 2 months solid so we have a choice to make to go and queue from 2.30 onwards or to go and queue after 6pm . Of course there is lots more to see than Anne Franks house but I feel it is essential to see it especially with my son studying A level history . I just don't remember it being so complicated to try and visit the place when I went 25 years ago but perhaps I am retro blurry eyed about my youth.

Sunday, 19 June 2016

A Sunday Amble

This is Elvaston Castle and its gardens , the castle itself is Gothic revival and is a fabulous backdrop to a relaxed afternoon . Yet this magnificent building is on the buildings at risk register , it would be a fabulous wedding venue , there's a cafe there and a gift shop here . There's so much that needs doing it is in the hands of the local authority who don't really have the money for its up keep , the car park is pay and display and you can't go round the house . But oh the solid state beauty of the place that is crying out to be saved ...








Thursday, 16 June 2016

Ever Feel As If You're In An Ealing Comedy

It started when I was at sainburys in the cafe just getting something simple to eat , I mean life can't be complicated with 2 soups and 1 jacket potato can it now ? it's less confusing say than the E U referendum . Well obviously the answer is yes a simple visit to a supermarket cafe that saw us ordering 

2 soups
1 jacket potato with Tuna Mayonaise 
3 chocolate orange iced frappes.

Now I don't have that much fish as I have an intolerance to the stuff > sobs quietly in a corner but I manage it with antihistamines.


Any how when the order arrived there were 2 soups but no jacket they'd forgotten it and to be fair we hadn't noticed when we were paying .

" it's the universes way of telling you it knows you're on a diet "

Then my son found a piece of cardboard in his soup do that had to be changed and we were refunded no quibbles .

Oh how we laughed as I shuffled off to get a meal deal to eat at home.

I thought the day couldn't get any worse (you cling onto that small morsel of hope that whispers in the wind past your ear or in my case a slightly hysterical laugh.) My husband certainly received an email he'd received a parking ticket whilst picking our son up ( he'd pulled into the Carpark and waited longer than he thought ( it used to be one of those car parks without cameras and you could drop people or pick them up. So rightly so as they'd installed cameras he was fined £60 for this oversight on his part ... my only error that day was to leave the lid off the tea canister .

Then I thought tea solves everything then crash bang wallooooop

And the very same mistake moment the cat brought a dead mouse in arrrghhhhhhh.

No it wasn't a Dick Van Dyke interlude my old kettle decided to blow up on me ( it was only  2 months old ) so straight to Currys to swap it for another one and Currys were fabulous they even priced matched it as we found the kettle pictured below £10 cheaper at Argos.



So new kettle In hand I was ready to take on the world > then I got a virus which I have just about got over .....


Ever feel as if you're in an Ealing comedy ?



Wednesday, 15 June 2016

Win Tickets To Barton Under Needwood Steam Rally And Festival

The committee of the Barton Under Needwood Steam Rally and Family Festival were proud to present The Midlands Air Ambulance with a cheque for £5,000, the proceeds of the 2015 event held at Needwood Rise Farm near Barton Under Needwood. We'd like to thank everyone who attended last year's event for their support and hope they will join us in 2016 when we will, once again, be raising money for The Midlands Air Ambulance.
This year's event will take place on 16th and 17th July at Needwood Rise Farm DE13 8AP, near Barton Under Needwood just a few minutes off the A38. All profits will, again, be donated to The Midlands Air Ambulance. All the organisers are volunteers who spend their valuable time putting the event on. Please see our website for details.
http://www.bartonsteam.co.uk/
Two years ago, to help families, we decided to introduce free tickets to the event for accompanied children. This has proved such an overwhelming success we are very happy to announce that children will, again, be able to come along with adults and be admitted completely free of charge. In line with this we have increased the number of attractions for families as well as retaining all the aspects of our steam and transport heritage which the enthusiasts love. More good news is that we have managed to hold last year's adult admission price to a very reasonable £6 with free parking. Fees are payable for certain other attractions. Those who enjoy camping or caravanning can stay with us the whole weekend at a cost of £25 for up to two adults and their children under 16. Should you wish to camp for just one night the fee is £15. Camping charges include pitch fees and admission to the rally and can be booked online.

This year we have some brand new attractions and some of your favourites from past events. The Air Ambulance will be bringing its "pod" on both days so that you can view it and hear about their vital fundraising. On Saturday only you can meet a meerkat , Oreo, and his friends. Due to their popularity the fabulous live falconry display will take place in the main arena on both days. The rope agility course, suitable for all, will be attending for the third year. For the children we have the ever popular miniature steam engine rides and model railway rides. We are pleased to welcome back the Nuneaton Dog Training Club with their displays of dog agility over a specially designed course, bring your dog along for them to have a go. Also returning is the amazing demonstration of chain-saw sculpture. Marvel at our magician, watch the brilliant balloon modelling and laugh at the clown. New this year is a gun dog display which will be taking place in the arena on both days. You can relax with a drink in our fully licensed marquee while enjoying our live bands. Pop into the craft marquee where you will find stalls, exhibitions and working craftspeople. Visit the trade stands for an opportunity to seek out some bargains, collectables and antique tools. Children will love the kiddies fairground area with rides and the opportunity to visit the ice cream van or old fashioned sweet stall. Hot and cold foods are available all day with extra catering stands attending this year.

Once again we welcome a variety of large steam engines and miniature steam, some old favourites and some of which will be visiting the rally for the first time. You may even have the opportunity to try your hand at steering one of these magnificent machines. We have an excellent variety of vintage tractors, classic cars, motorcycles and bicycles of yesteryear. You will also be able to see a fine collection of historic commercial vehicles and stationary engines many of which well be working to illustrate how they were used in days gone by.

A full programme of arena events will take place both days including parades of all of the classes of vintage vehicles mentioned with tractor balancing and adult steering. Gates open at 10 am each day. The event finishes at  5pm. Our arena events start at 11am each day. Programme of arena events will be weather dependant. Exhibits in attendance are correct at time of printing.

There is the opportunity to win of of two pairs of tickets for the steam rally which I will send out when the 2 winners are picked.



Barton Under Need Wood Steam Rally Competition