Not going to Plan - again.

I have just received my annual private pension statement and it does not make for joyful reading. Although I have had the pension for over 20 years, based on current figures, I may get a pension of £600 a year. Anyone get the feeling that I won't be retiring any time this side of the new millennium?

So, short of winning the lottery, what to do? I need to make my businesses start to work for me. Easier said than done in this economic climate, although oddly last year, in the middle of what we were told was a recession, the pet sitting business did well. This year, despite new clients, it is slow going. I wonder if people are not going away because of all the summer events in the UK in 2012. The Queen's Jubilee, The Olympics preceded by all the television adverts suggesting stay-cations (where on earth has that hideous word come from?) have perhaps persuaded people to stay at home. This may be fine for the overall British economy, but not for those of us with businesses which rely on people going away.

My other business needs a kick-start, and hopefully the event I am attending next weekend will be a good beginning to that. It promises to be busy, so I will have to see how it pans out.

Operation Repel Flea

Operation Repel Flea is currently underway in my house. I hate the little buggers, especially when they are chomping on my feet, and despite what it does to my karma I will get rid of them. I will.

I wondered how, for the first time in 14 years of having cats, we had suddenly got a house full of nasty biting insects. Then, last night, I went into the garden to wrangle the cats and came back in with four or five fleas on my feet. They would appear to have taken up residence in the garden.

Because this is a multi-cat household, traditional topical flea treatments are not an option so I opted for a spray which is suitable for cats and for soft furnishings.

Yesterday, was spent spraying and hoovering (the hoover has not seen this much action in a long time) changing bedding; washing bedding, cushion covers and throws; then spraying and hoovering again. Towels and bath mats have gone in this morning and the washing machine does not know what has hit it.

The trouble is that the fleas are in the garden and so are the cats, and as I said earlier when I go out, I bring then in with me. So a plan of action is required.

Step 1.
Research. I hit the internet to see what natural flea repellents are available and what plants might help. I went out and bought a couple of lavender plants to stand by the back door. I also could do with marigold and chrysanthemum plants as they are said to kill fleas.

Step 2.
Make a room spray. I have a house full of essential oils and cedar, lemongrass and lavender are natural flea repellents. I wanted to play with room sprays anyway, so this is a good excuse to do that.

Step 3.
See if any of the above works, and if not, have a rethink.

Step 4.
Once the house is flea free work out how to keep it like that.

It probably goes without saying that I could do without all this. I have better things to do with my time. Good job I like a challenge!

Finally......

I hope you are sitting down for this, but we have sunshine. Yes, real honest to goodness sunshine. The skies are blue, with fluffy white clouds being chased by a light breeze, a breeze which is also making the branches of the trees dance. The cats are outside asleep on various chairs, shelves (long story, don't ask) and in plant pots, Harry Belafonte is on the CD player, and I have a steaming mug of stong coffee beside me on the table. The day could not be more perfect. Unless I win the lottery of course.

I need to get some work done on the car, although an awfully nice man from the AA effected a temporary fix for me during the week. Then there is the work that needs doing on the house - I won't list it it would take too long. I have been in this house for about 16 years and I don't think that it has ever been finished. There has always been at least one room which has needed something doing to it, be it tiling in the bathroom or kitchen, bare plaster walls in the hall or something else which I either can't do or don't have the money for. Add to that that the fact that the whole of the outside needs to be re-rendered, the windows and doors painted and you get the picture. Not pretty is it?

So if the lottery gods are watching would you mind very much picking my numbers tonight?