Raeven

Aww bless 'em! I admire anyone who fosters so much - it takes a special person to devote love and attention to an animal and get it ready to go to its forever home. I know I couldn't do it - I'd just end up keeping them all!

I haven't cried as much over 'Enders since Ethel died . . .

Have recently discovered Lordi - too late too see 'em playing here live sadly. I've had to have all their back catalogue - love 'em. They may not be the most original band, and some of the lyrics may be a bit dodgy, but what do you expect from someone when English is their second langauge! They produce the sort of pantomime rock that Kiss used to do, great fun. Hope they play UK again soon . . .

It doesn't seem like you had backup from management at any time during this altercation. Where was your manager? Let management deal with stuff like this - that's why they are paid more than you! The majority of responsible managers will back up staff, and should not expect them to take abuse from customers who are clearly in the wrong. If you don't get this at your workplace, then i'd seriously consider looking for work elsewhere.

I have no problem whatever with kids on museums etc as long as they behave themselves - kids can enjoy museums without running round and screaming. If they want to run around and scream, then take 'em to the park. On an 'aside' point about places that were considered a haven of peace and quiet, like museums, I recently went to the library to do some studying. When I was a full-time student, you only spoke on pain of death, and then only in a whisper. Now it seems that you can have a good old chat at the top of your voice - and that was the librarians! Hearing about the librarian's caravan at the coast wasn't exactly condusive to study!

The trouble with putting anything in the cat-repellent line is that it also deters Bella, which defeats the object! If you have any kind of wall/fence around your garden, you might consider adding some wire fencing to the top of it, which is angled at the top towards your own property. You may feel that restricting her to your garden is cruel, but if she isn't much of a roamer, she will be perfectly happy, espeically if you put out some items for her to play with - tree branches for climbing and scratching etc, a sheltering box to retreat in (this would allow her to sit out and be concealed from the dog/other cats), some cat grass or catnip for her to eat, and so on. We cat-proofed our garden at our old house, and although the fencing was the biggest expense, the cats loved it and spent more time out than in!

We read this in our book group, and it was one people either loved or hated. I loved it! Am currently reading the 'Flashman' series - racist, sexist and hilarious. I know these are tongue firmly in cheek novels, but how come the PC brigade havn't kicked up about this? Ooops, maybe I shouldn't have mentioned it . . . !

Hi! Bella sounds like a sweetie, bless her, and she is lucky to have an owner concerned for her wellbeing. It may be that your garden is already the territory of some neighbourhood cat/s, and is most likely scentmarked and defended by this other cat. Understandably then, Bella may feel intimidated/threatened. Would you consider cat-proofing your garden, so that Bella could go out unmolested and neighbourhood cats could be kept out? As Bella is weeing on the doormat, it seems like she may also be marking her territory - which for her at the moment is the house at the boundary of the cat flap. In the meantime, get a litter tray for the house. Bella would prefer to go in that than on your mat if she has to. If she has any accidents in the house, don't clean the area with bleach, clean with a solution of biological washing powder, and replace the mat! Good luck!

I am really sorry for your loss. I am sending a big hug. Rae xx

One of my fave band names - 'splodgenessabounds'

Noooooooo!!!!!!!!

I think actually really wanting to do a thing is the key - or it has been for me anyway. A couple of years ago I started running every day because I thought I should, because it's supposed to be good for you. I didn't really want to and I never actually enjoyed it. I managed to keep it up every day for 6 months, but just quit and have never done it again since. However, I really wanted to stop smoking - not because everyone tells you that you should, or because you know it's the healthy thing to do - I really wanted to give up - and I did. No patches, gum, hypnosis; nothing. I've been off the cigs for 4 years now and am never tempted. Good luck with your plans to make good choices Circa - if you really want to accomplish this, then you will!

Thanks so much Peaches and Moonbird! I have two other cats besides Rocky, but this lad has been through so much that (don't let the other cats hear!) he's my special boy. When I found him his ears were so bad with an ear mite infestation that they were swollen with blood and pus, and are consequently 'broken' - they look like crumpled-up tissue paper now. Gives him a unique appearance though - he looks kind of like a teddy!

Would agree that he has made some great films and some cringe-worthy bad 'uns. I do love 'The Longest Yard' - but then this one isn't as focused on Sandler as some of his others - Chris Rock & Burt Reynolds are also in it, as well as some really funny cameo characters.

I am so relieved, I have to tell someone! My lovely black tom, Rocky, has just been diagnosed with hyperthyroid - this is such as relief to me, as weight dropped off him, and I assumed the worst. I have only had Rocky for 4 years (he came to me as a stray badly in need of vet treatment), and guessed his age at about 7 or 8. I love him so much and was gutted to think I might lose him after such a short time. I am over the moon that I can give him a tablet every day for his hyperthyroidism, and he will put some weight back on - and most important of all he will be around for some time yet.