Blog for Sunday 15th February 2026

My alarm went off at four and I quickly slapped it into silence as I did not want to wake Dee, my sister who was sleeping just down the passage from me.

She did not move a muscle, so all was well.

Instead of getting up straight away I lay in bed cuddling Savvy for a bit and then I got up and had my Quiet Time – but just a short one this morning as I would continue having that when my sister left a little later. She was off to have breakfast – by kind invitation from her daughter and son-in-law. She had to leave me by eight o’clock to be able to get back home and shower and change first.

Dee woke up at half past six as Savvy barked at some stray dog walking past the front gate, which woke her up. She came and joined me for a mug of steaming hot coffee. Just what we needed to start the new day properly.

It was lovely being able to have some more time just to chat and laugh together, and then it was time to say our farewells as she drove off back home.

Oh no! Horror of horrors! I discovered, just before my sister left to go home, where Grace, the cat, had been relieving herself. Lots and lots of very runny “relief” was left on the floor of the bathroom being renovated! G-r-e-a-t! (Not.)

I was not sure if the floor in there was strong enough – as it has been stripped right back – no tiles et cetera are on it – to bear my weight. I had this image of my dangling off the rafters below the bathroom for hours and hours until Mich’ and Robert got home late this afternoon! It was not a pretty thought! Looking like a orangutang is not on my bucket list!

So, I sent Mich’ a text to check if I could walk out on the bathroom floor, but she was not sure., so that hampered the clean-up.

Poor Grace is not well and is very, very old so is not in full control of her tired and elderly body so I could not blame her.

Then there was a knock-knock at the front door and when I answered it there stood Simon, the plumber! I told him my sad and long story of woe about the cat and the bathroom that he was busy renovating with Mich’ and Robert. He informed me that it was quite okay for me to walk on the floor. And so, the big clean up began!

It was not fun but is now done!

Paddy sent me some beautiful videos of little Zara, as he is down in Melbourne with his family - visiting Tayla, (their eldest daughter) Malcolm and baby Zara, (their first grandchild). Zara is so active and is desperately trying to talk. She just smiles, coos and gahs. Very cute.

Josh’, Paulina and Ethan arrived back here at just before three o’clock and then Mich’ and Robert arrived after four, as they had had to drop off Robert’s cousins at New Castle airport, because they flew back to Queensland after their time at Seal Rocks.

Once everyone had unpacked and put things away, Josh and Paulina went to the shops and Ethan went for a serious run. He is training for a marathon he will be taking part in shortly.

Paulina offered to make supper for us all. She made a delicious seafood pasta with a side salad, and sambals of chopped parsley, chilli seeds and slices of lemon. It was really lovely and we all sat around eating and watching some TV together.

Just before we ate, Robert and Josh’ built the foundation for the walls et cetera in the bathrooms – one bathroom being for the two bedrooms and the other is the ensuite to Mich’ and Robert’s bedroom. There was much banging and hammering happening and I was super impressed how well and fast these two guys worked, and the result looked most professional!

After supper we all slowly peeled off to go to our respective beds, and I crawled into bed and was asleep by half past nine tonight!

What lesson did I learn today? I can clean up cat mess – and a LOT of it without throwing up!

What am I grateful for today? That everyone got back home safely from Seal Rocks.

My saying for today is …