Day 20. Danced the whole day away. Tidying a house with the music turned UP is just the best. It’s been an amazing house-sit. I’ve learnt some lessons here. Communicate truthfully with people. Don’t repress emotions. Make friends. Don’t let boy cats near my stuff (spray time!).

Last photos of the gorgeous Tunbridge Wells kitty cat clan. Tomorrow a new adventure will be upon us. So long Cookie, Leo and Buzz. You really are the cutest.

Something wonderful happened yesterday. There was a knock at the door, I was down the other end of the house, a long way away. So I ran. I ran through the house like Tinkerbell. Weaving, dodging, climbing, gliding, leaping. With smiles. Without pain. All the way to the door🧚‍♀️

Shoes are important to me. They are a lifeline. They help me be vertical and comfortable. I’m not so confident or pain free when I’m barefoot. My legs have, in a nutshell, mechanical challenges. I’m grateful I can dance. I’m grateful I have comfy shoes, I’m grateful I have legs.

Following on from yesterday’s ponderings about space, I’m feeling super serene today as we move out of the house we’ve lived in for three weeks. When we first started this house-sitting adventure last year, our car was brimming. We’d sold everything in our house but still had a car and roof box full of stuff including a two harps and a computer. Then we downsized again and felt even lighter. We sold loads more stuff including the computer and a harp and gave other bits to charity. We’ve continued to shed. My suitcase closes without having to sit on it now 😄. It used to be full to bursting. The space in the car is abundant. The space in my heart is abundant too meaning living simply keeps my mind clear and let’s me focus on creating beauty. Being a producer rather than a consumer. It’s addictive to give things away now but also reminds me to think hard before buying things in the first place and think, is it useful? Do I really want to bring this into my life? Then I have time to feel free and happy rather than heavy and burdened by stuff.

Oh Cookie. What a sweet little Tinkerbell you are. Light and dainty, chatty and kind. If I had a cat I would wish her to be like you ❤️

Day 19. Tonight in my dance I got to thinking about simplicity and space. I love space. I move through space and feel free and empowered in my body, not worried about banging into anything. I feel a sense of relief in the simplicity of a space. In the homes I house-sit, I see rooms full of objects. Often there is no room to move and stretch out fully. There are big sofas, tables with trinkets on, tables in front of windows making them unopenable, side tables full to bursting with ornaments, coffee tables, stools with papers on, cluttered desks with no space, so many chairs…. Each day, I spend more time inside than out, so it’s important to have the right balance between practicality, aesthetics and expanse. Too many things feels constricting. I know people who can’t stop buying things. It’s suffocating them, making them ill. They’re being swallowed up by their own stuff. Scary! The more they have, the less they appreciate each object because it gets lost in a sea of other objects. I want to breathe into my space. Breathe in its purity. I want to honour it. Steve Jobs’ perfect room set up was a record player and a light. And lots of…Space. Amazing. I want to take this lesson forward for when I finally settle down. Less is more.

Yes Leo. You are definitely King of the Castle 🥳 Eeeek.

We put the pens up here to get them out the way of Leo who loves to nibble the ends. But alas, there is no mountain that cannot be climbed, no dresser that shall not be mounted to reach the sacred pens of loveliness. 😄

Oh Buzz. You really are the best snuggler. Anytime, any place, anywhere.

The Cat Whisperer

I want to tell you about something sweet and beautiful that Simon did yesterday. Little Cookie cat had been in the hot conservatory for a long time snoozling. Then she was outside by the hot tub steps and he just knew she was looking for a puddle of water to drink from. So he brought water to her. A big bowl of fresh spring water and she lapped it up for ages. This level of observation, thought, kindness and care is just so beautiful. You are wonderful Simon 😄 I love you ❤️ Thank you for being you 🌟

One wiggly ribbon, three cats in position ready to pounce. Quite like breakdancers who give one another room to show off their skills, each kitty has their moment against the ribbon of desire. Buzz jumps high. So high that I shriek with delight and fall into giggles as he surprises himself on landing. Leo pounces with paws open wide, so fast and low he’s always too quick for me. He flies through the air like something possessed striking again and again at supersonic speed. And Cookie, well she takes it easy. The ribbon of desire may or may not get swatted as it passes slowly in front of her. She’ll get back to you on that one after she’s taken an eight hour nap. They all have their free styles and it’s fun to watch. I love them dearly and will miss them very much (except for the rabbit episode - I won’t miss that one little bit 😬).

One wiggly ribbon, three cats in position ready to pounce. Quite like breakdancers who give one another room to show off their skills, each kitty has their moment against the ribbon of desire. Buzz can jump high, so high that I shriek with delight and giggles at his moves. Leo pounces with claws open, so fast and low he’s almost always too quick for me.

Day 18. Found some amazing, chilled out intricate trance tonight. Full of subtle twists and turns and cuteness. Most powerful track was A Deeper a Truth by Sygma and Myon featuring Anne Hathaway talking about beautifully empowering topics. So special. Thank you. Check out Tales From Another World on Spotify. Yum. So I had a fab dance along with smooth moves according to Simon 😄 Life feels peaceful. On the move this week up to the North Lands. Packing begins tomorrow! All of a sudden I’m moving my whole life to t’other end of the country for a week with no cats!! Just think, no boy cats spraying on our belongings. Amazing.

Here’s some afternoon birdsong and a cat on a fence and some clouds 😄

Cookie looking Badass. Though in reality she’s the sweetest ball of fur you ever could meet.

Day 17. Some tunes make me wanna dance and shake it out so bad 😊 I found myself ploughing through the dance despite some pain. Giuseppe Ottaviani ASOT900 absolutely rules. Soundbar, Colours and Follow the White Rabbit were the tunes. So grateful for all this creative work 🌺🙏🌺

I love this little pot. It has kept a few secrets for me over the years and is probably my oldest possession in my downsized life, at around ten years old. I bought it on my birthday in Mornington Crescent. It was the best thing that happened on that day 😊

Happy families. I love it when they all get on 😄

Growing up I didn’t have any siblings at home with me. My cats were my friends and family. I spent a lot of time with them. After a long break in my twenties and thirties, I feel amazing to have reconnected with furry feline energy. Their eyes make me want to dive into them.

Day 16. Early morning dance mixed with stretches and rest. Tears fell, fears got quelled, hugs and smiles arose. When you hold something in, there’s such a relief that comes in saying it. And love is still there. What Lies Between The Stars - Astrosphere was the song 🌟

An object of intrigue for the cats as it hangs on the wall. They’ve all had a moment with this snowflake. Transfixed by its shimmer perhaps.

Day 15. Smooth ride. Cookie cat was obsessed with my arm movements as I imaginary glowsticked around 😄 Best tracks were Light Rider - Thomas Datt and Estiva - Raket. Both are deeply awesome songs. Songs to journey into and get lost in. Songs to make you get up and move your ass.

Spring has sprung on my blog thanks to Simon’s adventures into an early spring wood.