The Corner House

"What is my Mum up to?" asked Ian, "She hasn't got time to look after a cat. She shouldn't have the dog, by rights."
Rethinking the Bonnie keeping cat scenario. It won't work. Her life's a bit unstable too, she could go and join hubby any minute. Plus how fair is it, lugging a cat up and down the country? No, J's, I decided is the better option. Ella will adapt plus she'll have a big garden; she's been a house cat so far which I never thought was that fair. J will be off work till Xmas at least, on her own, kids away so Ella will be well loved. Plus I know Bonnie. Two months time and it'll be -
"The cat's keeping me awake, you'll have to take her."
Even Bonnie herself agreed that she would steam into that student house, give it to them straight, "See you Jimmy, I've keepin' ma fuckin' cat and there's nae a thing you can dae aboot it."
Which is so not my style. I'm a Mavis-in-Corrie type, a mild little woman who would just cringe and apologize and say, of course, I can't keep a cat here, I'll just have to go and drown the both of us."
Bonnie thought it was much better to be like me because I don't have heart trouble from being a battler; then, she decided, I was prone to smiling sweetly and agreeing with everybody but going my own way regardless.
Which could be case re Hackney House. I'm thinking it might be best to keep it until mortgage paid off in eleven years time. This could be Ian's influence -
"My Mum's mad thinking of selling this house now. This is no time to sell. She should just rent it out - and you should keep yours rented out too."

Really upset all day. Don't like arguing with Bonnie.
She came home and said much the same thing.
"Honestly", she said, "I was really upset all day, it was like a relationship was over."
So we're friends again. I told her about new arrangements for cat. She seemed ok with it.
Then later, "How can you bear to give up the cat?"
Well, not best pleased but under the circumstances....
"She's your cat; she's bonded with you. It seems cruel somehow to just give her away."
Does this make me feel any better? I love my cat.
"I don't know what was wrong with my idea. I keep her for most of the time but when I'm with Durham, you come and fetch her and sneak her into that student place."
At least she didn't say she was being magnanimous; plus she's very fond of Ella too. I can't stay here when she's away because "Ian will be with friends and I don't want to come home to a mess."
Huh! Ian won't be with friends and she'll come home to his mess but I said nothing.
And I don't want to give up Ella. So, think I will phone J and say I've changed my mind. J may be put out but I think she really wants a kitten.
Burning boats?
I'm not sure about sneaking cat into student house either. It's alright for Miss Fierce-from-the-Gorbals Bonnie but I'm a quiet, unassertive person. Even the dog thinks I'm a wimp who needs protecting. I might just take cat to Lemonie's for those times. It's only for nine months and then I get my house back to sell or not sell, who knows.
Re dog. So far, no phone call, police visit or legal summons.
But it's only been three days!

Woke up miserable. Start packing, I thought, as everything has to go. Did ring that other landlord but no, they don't allow pets.
Jeanette said we would not discuss cat situation as she doesn't want to fall out with me. Next thing, she calls me down to discuss the exact cat situation! Does not think cat can go next door, she is a nervous thing and the other cats will bully her, like they did in the cats home. She will, she sighed, keep the cat for me but on weekends away I will have to come over and fetch the cat and manage somehow. Everyone thinks she's mad for making such a magnanimous offer....
Thanks a lot, thinks me.
Still, all's well that ends well. Rang up old friend J, the one who's off sick with a broken collar bone since she got mugged. She's a great cat lover and I knew she was thinking off a kitten to replace her old cat. However, she agreed to take Ella. I said I'd pay her £20 a week as long as cat was there. J quite happy to have Ella for the duration, thinks they might bond but we can review that later.

As for what else I've done that's stupid.....
Or not done, more like.
Only just filled my student loan form in yesterday and still have to post it.
I know, I've just always been like this. Never get round to doing what I should.
Going to look at two shared houses today. Which is fine but haven't exactly got wherewithal to pay for either of them.
Oh, well, maybe something can be worked out.
I am so miserable not to mention poor. Only earned £30 yesterday, still at least it's something. I so cannot give up this job.

What next?
Combined Fizz's walk with trip to the supermarket. Nothing new there, a routine occurrence.
Oh, bloody hell!
I know she barks - quite ferociously, in fact. Normally, I tie her to the back bike post and hope she'll quieten down and, usually, she does.
Today?
Thought, oh, I'm only nipping in for a minute to get bin bags, I'll leave her here - front bike post, near path.
Oh, shit.
Was half way home when Morrison's manager came running after me.
Turned out Fizz had bit a woman's leg. Woman in supermarket office and not best pleased.
I hung around until she came out. All wits gone, of course.
"Why didn't you give her a false address?" asked Bonnie later.
Maybe I should have got the woman's address and sent her flowers or something. She was going to casualty, she said. The dog had just leapt out and bit her. Could have bit a child, she said.
Oh shit!
Bonnie couldn't believe Fizz bit anyone.
Truth is, I could. She does sound cross when I tie her outside supermarket, that's why I normally keep her a bit out of the way.
My first thought was, oh, no, they'll put the dog down, then I thought - litigation!
Which was Bonnie's first reaction.
"That's it, then, the house gone, everything."
She was well miserable. Only Ian could cheer her up.
"They'll put her down."
"Put who down?" asked Ian, "Maureen?"
I was feeling so upset being put down seemed a good option. I've been waiting for a phone call from the police or a solicitor all day. Didn't come but it could tomorrow.
Said 5 decades of the Rosary that the woman will just think I'm a half wit and decide not to sue. Which is very selfish of me, I should have prayed that her leg recovers.
I don't suppose a bit of spiritual healing would have been appreciated.
Bugger! What a thing. Bonnie's decided to send Fizz to hubby's and claim that I was her lodger who has since run off, with dog, to an unknown destination.
Plenty of jokes about fugitives, and dogs on the run, and South America and safe houses etc but who's laughing.

What's been happening?
Going to look at a rented, shared house on Tuesday. Bonnie seems to think I can sneak the cat in when/if I move there.
Was at a party last night. Someone from my drama class. Not too thrilling to be honest, well, didn't really know anyone.
Bonnie, it seems had a more exciting evening. A friend of hers, fellow teacher, has a son who's musical. So by way of encouragement she took him off to the folk club we used to go to.
Naturally, I did enquire, casually-like, about the heartthrob folk singer. And yes, he was there, very polite to her and encouraging to her young protegee. He mentioned he had a few videos on You Tube.
A few? Millions more like. And the biggest fan club of adoring women sending him endless messages.
Bonnie tried to be nice.
"I know he's very Lord Byron and romantic. But he's a pessimistic old git and probably horrendous to live with. You and all those other women would soon get fed-up with him."
Yeah? She thinks I can put in an appearance again at the folk club but I am less sure.
Still, the You Tube videos are entertaining. Bonnie making a few comments about my new new 'virtual' man.
Talk about smug married.

Well, dunno, haven't been posting.
Going 2 look at a house on Tuesday, sharing with some students. Bonnie seems to think I can sneak the cat in. God knows.
Now, interesting development. Or is it?

.... not that you should ever underestimate the Erris people. They can fight when they have do as below video shows.

Truth is I quite fancy the farmer in the cap.
Now I'm not a political animal. I don't what state of play is now. The Erris people are always and quite rightly protesting about things that threaten to ruin their beautiful countryside.
My cousin's wife went off to join in one day, last time I was there. I don't think she was that bothered, it was just a bit of a day out. She asked if I wanted to go with them but I was into signing-on for a council house back there at the time..... So, I got a lift to the nearest town, with her and another relation, a real campaigner from the village, I didn't go on to Rossport. I said, don't worry I'd find a way home. Collected all my forms from the council and decided to apply once I'd organised an Irish passport for myself. Yeah, well, I will. Later, walked along the road home. Lots of traffic, not like the old days, one car an hour. Anyway, a farmer from the village, my cousin's best friend saw me and stopped. Nice man, married alas. He dropped me off.
Cousin's wife was already back. She laughed her head off when she saw who had given me a lift.
"Ah, sure, we knew you'd get a ride...."
She said I should have gone to the Shell protest. It was a great 'craic', full of Eco-warriors and a bloke who looked like "Swampy". I'd have really enjoyed it, she reckoned.
I must find out what happened.

... or words to that effect.
Menhir's post on gardening suddenly reminded me of a talk show on Radio Mid-West. Or, at least, I think that's what its called. Anyway, I was on holiday in County Mayo listening to a Radio Phone-in thing.
I can't remember the name of the plant. Say 'thistle' for now although that wasn't it. Some very middle-class English woman, who had defected to the west of Ireland, was phoning in. Trying to round up all the West of Ireland farmers to attack this "thistle" menace. It was some plant that needed vigilant and constant uprooting or it just took over. The woman was very gung-ho, Dunkirk spirit, Mum's army, fight it on the beaches...
And I so know the Mayo farmers. They're more "manana - ah, sure, why wouldya be in that much of a hurry?"
My cousin agreed the plant was a nuisance as he sat down with another cup of tea.
Well, I know I'm being racist here but the English woman made me realise why her country once had an Empire.

In our forthcoming divorce, Bonnie gets custody of the cat.
Well, I can't keep a pet in halls.
Weird thing is, I think she knows. She's so loving lately, cuddling up to me this very minute as I type.
Else she's hungry. She's refusing to eat her worm-tablet laced dinner. This, in fact, is the second day of her hunger strike although she was trying to steal my breccy this morning.
A few comments from Bonnie about what a bad mother I am giving my baby up for fostering. It is fostering 'cos I can most likely have her back when I find a fixed abode.
Oh, dear, I do feel insecure at present. Wonderlust is ok but a bit of stability is also good. In some ways I am lucky because in theory I can afford to buy place in northern mill town of choice but to get from where I am now to there seems such a huge task. Plus I have such an feeling that it's not going to happen and my psychic powers aren't that rubbish. I mean, I always knew that Ern would leave me when he got his driving licence back (he was banned for 18 months for drink-driving). I just knew our relationship would be over once he could drive again although I kept telling myself I was being silly. I have the same feeling that I'm not going to get to live in G**.
My reading last night said not to worry, Cancerian man is solvent.

Went to my psychic circle last night which is very nice. Of course, it's another bloomin' thing that costs money.
I am going to have to give up my tarot line work, only temporarily, I hope. Being realistic, it dawned on me that I can't possibly afford to rent anywhere (pay a deposit etc.) Plus for ten months? So the only option is to go back in halls. Which is not so bad, just I can't work from their phone.
Oh, well. It means I'll more time for uni work which can't be bad.
I might try doing some 'live' readings. A pub near here wants me to go one night. I'm a bit nervous about it.
Anyway, back to psychic circle. Some very nice ladies. One rather comely woman - late thirties, I guess. Telling us about her 'connection' to a married man. As yet nothings happened but - 'it feels so right, I feel we're meant to be.....'
Where have I heard that before? Just about every night on the phone lines.
Still, I suppose you can't miss out on love however it comes in. I had all those feelings when I met Ern and, true, it's better to have loved and lost....
As for young women, in their twenties, who say "I'd never go out with a married man....."
Hmmm. Just wait, is all.
Mind you, not that me in my fifties would go out with another married man. Even now, when really what would I have to lose, it's not that I'd be deferring babies and I've got my own home (sorta). I just wouldn't, I know the pain involved.
This Cancerian fella is still showing up in the cards. I don't know. It seems unlikely now...