THURSDAY THOUGHTS

Firstly, Phil has asked me to say thank you to those of you who wished him a happy birthday.  I think he is still amazed that he has made it this far and says the important thing about his age is that he can still enjoy life and that he is actually here.  I am hoping he will make it to 90 but perhaps one shouldn't look too far ahead.  They do say to be careful of what you wish for.

 CANDY CAT:  Candy has now been with us for over 3 years and she has taken charge and rules the roost.

I will never understand the vagaries of cats and their habits.  For the first year she slept in different places and then took over Phil's bed, sleeping high up the bed in cold weather and at the foot of the bed in summer.   Suddenly, early November this year, she jumped up and went to sleep on my bed and has done so ever since.  Some nights she will wander up to where Phil's head is, look him in the eye as though to say "goodnight" and she is back on my bed.   We are now wondering how long she will keep that up.

She is a cat that always wants to be where we are and in that way seems more like a dog.  I'd always wanted a cat that would jump up and lay on my lap for a while.  I got more than I'd bargained for with Candy.  She will jump on my lap when I sit in my armchair in the lounge but it's not just for a short time; if she had the chance she would stay there for hours.  I don't mind if I'm watching TV but even then one does have to move occasionally and it's playing havoc with my crocheting as she likes to play with the yarn, given half a chance.

Out here in my workroom there is a comfy chair with a cushion on it where Phil while we have a chat about what we have to do, what we'll eat etc.  Some time ago Candy would steal that chair so I decided on another chair and so now Candy has one of her own, complete with cushion.  Not to be satisfied with that I've found her a couple of times recently sleeping in my office chairs which also has a cushion.  I can assure she is told what's what in no uncertain manner.  After all there have to be limited to her power!!!

This is madam on her own chair earlier this week:

Again about my frangipani.   Karen gave me a small one for Mother's Day called Heidi.  It was  single stem about 25cms/9ins high but after I'd had it for some weeks the top began to look not quite right.  Eventually it did rot and I spoke to our gardening chap about it and said it needed to be cut off until it began to 'bleed'.  Out came his secateurs and off came the top in a very clean cut.  On 7th December I took this photo of 3 shoots than had begun to form:

Today when inspecting the plants I found those shoots had grown so much longer and this was the pic I took of them today:

This is I think why so many of us are frangpani fans as you can never be sure just what they will do and I was really astonished at the size of these vey new leaves.  Of course I don't expect it to flower this year but just to have had it survive is what amazes me.

Karen also gave me a Madison White (probably for my birthday).  It was only a small plant but this year has decided to flower.  I have a traditional white but this Madison White has a much smaller, more delicate flower with a really delightful light perfume.  I have lots of other frangipani with flower buds and you can be sure I will show them to you as they flower....so you have been warned.

It would seem the most important things in my life (apart from my children and grandies) are Phil, Candy and my frangipani and definitely in that order.