Jack The Rat

This morning at Hula, I was greeted by a new face in the Small Animal House... Jack the rat!

Jack seemed a rather inquisitive sort of rat as he watch me clean and feed the hamsters and waited patiently for his breakfast, which was a rather odd mix of mini shredded wheat, rice cakes, monkey nuts and some fresh carrot and apple, he seemed to like it though.

However I didn't manage to find the courage to pick him up for a cuddle, so I opted for just a stroke, that will do for now!

Hula Tuesday

I had a quick morning cleaning out and feeding the small animals, as the numbers are still very low; one duck, four hamsters, three rabbits and the tortoise. So I'd finished my morning by 10.30. But I was back there for 1.30 for a little bit of cat time.

My main task for the day was socialisation of the four new kitten, as they are so tiny and nervous it is so important to get them use to people. It was a lovely task! And I'm sure they've grow since last week!!

We also have a new addition, a little tortoiseshell called Honey, who I totally fell in love with, as tortoiseshell cats are my favourite as they are so friendly and affectionate! All honey wanted to do was sit on my lap and cuddle, unfortunately though she was a little camera shy, so I didn't get too many pics of her, but I did get some lovely ones of the kittens.

I had a huge break through with Boris, he stayed out of his pen for about 30 mins and only went back in when I left, but more importantly, with a ton of patience I gradually got him to venture into the outside pen and once he was there, bless him, it was like he discovered a whole new world he never knew was there. I'm so proud of him and myself for investing so much time with him. He will definitely make the right person a wonderful companion.

Monday Night Soup Run...

This week I met two new faces in the group, two guys who do the run once a month, which made us a group of five this week. The whole evening seem a little somber, not sure why, think it may have been the drizzle.

I met some interesting people on the street this week, some sad stories but as always a very grateful bunch. Wolfman was out selling the Big Issue outside Waitrose, so he popped over for a soup and a chat. I've since found out he is suffering with cancer but the hospital wont treat him unless he stops drinking, it's a very sad situation. He asked if next week we could bring him an extra blanket, I couldn't wait that long as I was cold myself that night, so after the run on my way home I stopped off at his den to drop off the spare blanket I had in my car, he was grateful and I felt happy knowing I had helped.

Monday so far...

Hula asked if I could help out this morning with the full clean out of the small animal house. The number of animals have really dropped since the weekend, we now only have three rabbits, the tortoise and four hamsters.

I was dreading cleaning out the hamsters, because usually I only do a tidy up clean, which doesn't involve picking them up! I've never held a hamster before and when I usually stroke them they sometimes look like they're going to bite me!! However, I managed to pick Hammy the friendly looking one and all went well, the next one Clare, a large rusty coloured girl, I manage to scoop out with her hamster wheel and the other two I picked up with a handful of their bedding so that I didn't disturb them too much... I survived!!

After Hula, it was off to the doctors for my final jabs, Hep B booster and Typhoid, the nurse who gave me my jabs was really interested in what I'm up to and wanted to come and help out with the soup run and Alzheimer's clubs, which is really amazing!

Then I went off to Stony Stratford for the Alzheimer's Memory Storybooks session, but sadly due to bad weather there was a no show, so I sat with Shabs, one of the full time staff member and talked to her about how long she has worked for the Society and how she deals with the emotional side of the job, over a coffee.

Then, as I had a little time on my hands, I decided to have a look round Oxfam in the high street and picked up a lovely cardigan and shirt for when I go to the orphanage, for the bargain price of £7.

And in half an hour I'll be heading off to the soup run, busy, busy Monday!! Roll on 9.30!

Friday Morning...

Arts and Crafts with the Alzheimer's Society. Continued with my Knitting while Jean told me all about her childhood in Israel and growing up in London.

Not too sure how my knitting is coming along or whether the scarf I am making is going to be ready in time for the Christmas market, so I think I'm going to try my hand a cross-stitch instead and see if I have any skill in that area!!

Wednesday

I did the clean and feed in the Small Animal House at Hula this morning, all was good there, they have asked if I can also help out on Monday mornings too, which is great. I'm also thinking of going there tomorrow for the afternoon dog walking session.

Then I dropped off a disc of photos I'd taken of the Memory Walk on Sunday to the Alzheimer's Group, they absolutely loved them and were so happy that I'd taken them, so much so, they are sending them onto the Head Office to request they go on the main website and are also printing them out to make a collage to go on the wall at the Stony Stratford centre, can't wait to see that!

Hula Tuesday...

At 8.30am I set off to clean out the rabbits and small animals at Hula. Two rabbits have been re homed since last week, Marmite and Rusty and a new addition to the small animal house was a little Hamster called Hammy (of course). Being two bunnies down meant I managed to clean up a little faster than usual which left me extra time for cuddles!

I spent the afternoon in with the cats, letting each one out in turn to have a stretch, groom and fuss. I have made real progress with Boris, he now climbs out of his cat bed when I call his name and today we got are far as the entrance to the cattery, which is so amazing as he is now no longer the cat that wont get out of his cat bed, I am so proud of his progress.

The exciting new at Hula today was the addition of four 5 week old kittens, who were so very tiny and a little bit scared, but I'm sure that after a few days they will settle in. They were so cute I couldn't resist taking a couple of pics! It wont be long until they get a new home, of that I'm sure. Diane has been re home after only one week at Hula, she is so irresistible, good job she's been re homed as I had my eye on her!! (only joking Mum...I know the two I have are enough).