WIKANIKO

2 weeks ago I signed up as a distributor with Wikaniko (acronym for "we can eco"), a new UK company dedicated to providing eco friendly products and services. I came across the opportunity quite by chance, via HTMail (I usually delete everything I get from them as I only want the payment for reading their emails!)

Wikaniko started in September 2008 and is already growing rapidly - there are over 700 products available, many of them are things you'd buy regularly anyway, like cleaning products, bin bags, toiletries etc. All delivered to your door! There is also a range of organic makeup, lots of great Aloe Vera products and so much more besides. I can't see how anyone could fail to be impressed. The website also has an absolute plethora of useful information to help you "go green" and save money.

Visit www.greenandpleasant.biz

for further information and to buy products.

Kittens and Future Plans

Well, Molly has made a good recovery from her surgery - it's nice to see her looking a bit plumper, and running around again! 3 of her kittens are booked, but I have been let down by someone who was interested in the Bombay girl, persuaded me to send photos (by post!) and promised a deposit which has never arrived. I suspect it was a young girl who was somewhat optimistic that her parents would actually fork out for a pedigree kitten! So back to the drawing board on that one. Ticked Tabby boy is still available, too.

Nina's Burmese kittens are doing well and have been moved into the big pen in the kitchen today. They are looking very promising type-wise and I know I'll be tempted to keep one, probably a choc tortie, but the chocolate boy looks absolutely stunning!

My intention to import a Burmese boy next year is progressing well, and it's looking like he will also be chocolate, if all goes according to plan. I shall look forward to applying to register him with GCCF - can't wait to see what happens! As there are no US cats in his pedigree, other than the original UK imports, I can't see how any objections could be raised.

Will do another post abuot a very exciting business I have recently got involved with.

Depressing thoughts

Well, Nina had her kittens on Sept. 6th - 6 babies, nice mix of colours. 2 choc torties, a lilac tortie, lilac girl, red boy and choc boy. All seem to be doing well so far. Must take some pics soon. That's the good news.

I've had no luck at all in selling Molly's Asian kittens, they are now over 10 weeks old and I've had just one enquiry which came to nothing. I can't afford to get them vaccinated, registered or neutered, but will somehow have to manage to do all these things fairly soon........

On top of the expense I had with Rusty last month, I am now facing another huge vet bill for Molly, who has had an intussusception necessitating emergency surgery on Monday afternoon. I'm expecting to be able to bring her home later today, but the bill is likely to be almost £500........

I am currently trying to find a job for the first time since 1992, but there's not going to be much chance at my age :(( especially when I have no skills other than in laboratory work and those are so out of date as to be useless.

Just to make things even worse, Andy Murray lost in the 4th round of the US Open and is back down to no. 3 after only 5 weeks or so at no. 2!!

Douglas goes off to Uni on Sunday so it's going to be very strange with no-one around for 90% of the time.

I had to have Rusty put to sleep yesterday at 10.15am :(

He was 7 years, 1 week and 2 days old - I wanted him to live at least twice that long. He had been seen last Tuesday at the Queen's Veterinary Hospital (Cambridge University) where they diagnosed some sort of spinal tumour; we could not afford the MRI scan (approx. £1600) to determine the exact cause of him losing the use of his legs and in any case any surgery would have been extremely risky (not to mention expensive). Many thanks to Gordon my vet and Wendy the nurse for their kindness yesterday morning.

Rusty was my example to potential kitten owners of the joys of Burmese neuter boys. I have no reds or creams left, for the first time since 1988. Not a good situation.

In fact I now have "only" 13 cats (including Sophie the Asian kitten who I didn't really intend keeping) - I don't think I want to be left with that number for too long........

Teemu went to his new home last Friday, Theo went in May, Kimba earlier in July. Just one (Burmese) stud boy left now, for the moment (although Dexter is more than likely capable, but the only potential queen for him has never called - at the age of 14 months!)

HOT, HOT, HOT

It is HOT!!!

and we have a Wimbledon semi-finalist - c'mon Andy!! (he shares my birthday)


first time since Tim Henman in 2002. Can he reach the final??