Voids are Exiting

This week I have been working on a void (vacant flat) that requires absolutely everything. That is really fun, because I could do a complete clearout, clean up and whilst it’s being decorated I can go shopping.

I need to buy all furniture, carpets, curtains, cushions, bedding, kitchen appliances, kitchen utensils, crockery, glasses, lamps and rugs. I love this part of the job and when I can get everything new it’s more fun than having to decide what to keep and what to replace.

When the decorators have finished, I will have the new carpets fitted and the furniture delivered. I can then start putting up curtain poles with curtains & nets, pictures, mirror, bathroom fittings and open all the boxes with bits and pieces.

I always iron the bedding and make everywhere look homely, then I take photos and after that I do a formal handover with the project whose flat it is. They can then show new tenants around whilst I move on to the next property. Fabulous!


Here is some piccies from a previous void.

Ear Infection

I have been home from work today. Have had some trouble with my ears for a while now, but last night it got a lot worse. I couldn't sleep much at all for the excruciating pain. Went to the doctors this morning and was told that it was indeed a bad bout of ear infection. She gave me a prescription for anti-biotics as well as a spray to use directly in the ear. I have had two of the capsules and one lot of spray and already they seem slightly better. I shall go back to work tomorrow.

Chris is getting his bike (Iconoclast) on the road this week-end ready for his camping weekend, first week in February. Apparently, he is going with Danny, Amo and some other lads. Camping in February is the last thing on my mind, so I am not going. Might go out for a drink with the girls or something, we’ll see.

I finally managed to put the Craftmatic bed on eBay and there is already one bid, five watches and 53 visits on it. Looks promising that it might actually go. It will be nice to sort out the conservatory for summer. We are thinking of getting a sofa bed instead, which would be far more useful. The piccie shows a style that we both like.

Progress or not???

Poor Mungo Jerrie, he has been quite traumatised in the past. He is like a nervous wreck. if someone touches him; he jumps a mile and sometimes when one walks in the room he runs away.

I think progress is going to be slow with him, and I do believe he is slightly calmer than he used to be a couple of weeks ago.

He is not yet going out, however, we are training him in anticipacion, by pushing him through the cat flap. It surprised me how easily he goes through and I wonder if he perhaps has used one in the past.

We have also introduced the cat box in to the room. At first we kept it open in two halves, so that he wouldn't recognise what it is and, yesterday, I put it together without the door. Mungo has walked right past it and doesn't appear to mind. Sadly, some time soon he will need to be put in it so that we can get him to the vets for his flea & worm treatments, but for the time being we are leaving him alone.

Mungo Jerrie

We have had a new addition to the family. Meet Mungo Jerrie (from Cats the Musical), a 3-6 year old, neutered male. His background is not known as he came to the rescue centre 3 months ago, very frightened and not liking people or other cats very much.

He was named Spit by his foster mum as he was always spitting and hissing and everyone. She gradually tamed him into the mellow softie as he is now. Unfortunately, about a month ago, he almost died. He somehow managed to contract cat flu and had to be drip fed every couple of hours. He now appears to be fully recovered.

His ordeal has not suppressed his appetite, though as he his a very big boy and does like his food a lot. He loves salmon in jelly but likes most foods almost as much.

He can be quite mardy at times and wanting to be fussed, yet suddenly become very grumpy and aggressive. I don’t know if that is something to do with his past, but I suppose we have to learn to live with it.

He is not particularly playful, however, he is immensely sweet & friendly and could quite happily sit on your lap all day long, as long as you don’t tickle his feet.

So far he has not been in the slightest bit interested in sleeping in Macavity’s cot but just wants to sleep with us in our bed. He is the smallest out of us but he takes up most of the room, by lying sideways or diagonally across the bed.

We are training him to use a harness so that we can take him camping in summer, just like we used to do with Macavity. However, this is going to be a slow task as at the moment he is terrified of the cat box and we will need him to go in and stay there happily for this to work. I shall keep you updated on this progress.