Tosca's Blog

Stadshaven 5 (photo by Christophe Bollard)

I am a 15 (133 in human's years) old cat and I am here to say I have had enough! First it was, "Come on Tosca, let's have an adventure in the USA." No-one ever said it would involve going in a box, inside a much larger metal box that flies. Then it was, "No! Don't eat the cute little chipmunks!" But life settled down and I was happy there, until that little usurper came along...Squishy! Pah! A silly name for a silly little cat. We found a rhythm, me intimidating her and her running crying to the people, "Boo hoo, Tosca was mean to me." Such fun! Then before we knew it, it was the cat box going into the metal box that flies again and then we were in a country called the Netherlands where they speak really weirdly! No chipmunks sadly but I'm afraid I don't have the energy to chase anything these days anyway. Life settled down for awhile, which is good as I am old and just want a quiet life...a little/long nap on the people's bed, food in my bowl and a bit of a cuddle occasionally. Yes, the silly little cat is still here and occasionally I remind her who is boss but life was good. Until... those damn cardboard boxes appeared in the house and the peoples stuff started to disappear in mounds of paper.

Yes, you guessed it...we have moved to another house! This time it was just a short trip in the metal box that goes on the road but I have to say I am less than impressed by yet another change. Although it was pretty easy for us cats, and not so easy for the lady feeder. Her mate disappeared for a week, another poor schmuck who was put in that metal box that flies, and she had to put all the people belongings into the boxes by herself. She worked really hard and barely had time to give us any attention. Then, the day the mate was due home the house went crazy! First, the Dutch guy and one of his young ones who fed us sometimes,  and our lady feeder carried all the boxes and furniture out of the house and the house was empty by the time the mate got back from the USA. Luckily I still had the bed to nap on! It was very, very windy which affected his travel and also delayed the people's female kitten, Bex's arrival. So the poor lady feeder emptied the house with the help of the people that live next-door.

These will never fit!

We are now in the new house, which seems very nice but is still full of boxes and muddle, added to which is this nasty smelling wet stuff on the windows and doors...if we go near anything with "paint" on we get yelled at! The Annoying One did walk on the windowsill and then across the wooden floor, which did not please the people at all! The new home is very agreeable but some fool added an extra set of stairs for me to climb to get to the bed, very unkind at my age when even a couple of stairs is a challenge! The view out of the window looks nice, it has a couple of those windmill things that everyone gets excited about (I know, weird right?) and some of that horrid water, which occasionally has boats on. The Annoying One can't wait to sit and look at the view but me, I'd rather have a soft bed.

Since starting this blog the unpacking has moved on a pace and most of the boxes have gone and pictures have been hung. Bex stayed and helped the people a lot. There is still work to do but personally I don't care! The people have to finish an en-suite (human litter box) and will replace the kitchen, which the feeder Jackie complains about all the time! Especially as she has no oven so every thing must be cooked on the stove top. One of the bedrooms is still a work room but there is another guest room so don't be afraid to visit. I am loving the new place as I no longer get shut in the utility room downstairs at night, the people however are not loving it so much as I like a bit of attention around 5am & let them know!

Jackie is very pleased with her bathroom!

Wrought iron handrail handmade for us by a friend's dad.

We have been allowed out in the new garden which, as far as The Annoying One is concerned, is a bit small and boring. She misses the open grass land to hunt in and did get stuck in the next-door yard as the walls are 6 feet high! I heard there is open grass behind the gate but she's yet to figure that out and I'm not telling! Ha! I guess she'll find it eventually.

According to the people it's a nice place to live. It's a small town with a bakers, cheese shop, a deli and a few interesting shops, restaurants and galleries. One of the neighbors is a bit supercilious but the other locals seem friendly. So, if you fancy a visit swing by....you'll find me upstairs on the bed!

51°44'07.3"N 5°08'13.1"E (Google maps)

Heusden

Stadshaven 5 (to the R of the larger house)

View from the bathroom!