This week was exhausting as Norm was away on a business trip to Kenya and I was in charge of the house, the 5 animals as well as still working. I negotiated with work to only do half days so that helped. I also hired my friend Michelle to come sleep over and assist me. I could not have coped without her as she stayed with Panda as he still cannot be left on his own.

We soon got into a routine, we both got up at 7 and while I was getting ready for work Michelle fed the dogs and sorted out Panda. While I was working she did Physio with him, practiced standing and took him out for a bit of sun.

The earth has healing energy so it was good for him to connect to that. He is now able to sit for quite a long time, lie down and roll over.

On Tuesday we took him for Physio at the Animal Fitness Centre in Plumstead. While I was sitting in the waiting room with Panda in my lap, he suddenly extended his front legs and sat up! Michelle said he had also done it earlier that morning. Once he realized he could do so he started to do it constantly and he has built up a lot of strength in his front legs.

Then with the Physio’s assistance he walked a few steps. She used this strap under his hips.

I cried with happiness to see him walk. He was smiling from ear to ear with pride.

They did a lot of strengthening and stretching exercises with him and he was so sore for several days as his muscles have all atrophied completely.

Every day Michelle walked Pixie and Navajo then came home to collect Panda and walk him around the neighborhood for a bit. It was so exciting for him.

All of the animals loved Michelle and she was so helpful to me around the house. She vacuumed up the endless dog hair, tidied the house, did laundry and the dishes. She was such a blessing. She even did a bit of reiki on all of the dogs.

Panda is still very restless at night. The first night he woke me every hour. The next night it was every two hours. The 3rd night Michelle tried to get him to sleep with her so I could get a decent nights sleep but he complained and thrashed about looking for his mommy. At 2am I woke to his howling, went and got him and brought him into my bed, he drank some water and then slept til morning.

I cooked for us each night. On Sunday Norm did a shop for me and I cooked a big pot of bolognese sauce. On Monday when I got home I made some toasted ciabatta and cooked the spaghetti and we had a quick and tasty dinner. I grated some fresh Parmesan on top and voila.

The following night we got home quite late due to Panda’s Physio and I cooked lasagne noodles, layered them with the remaining bolognese sauce, some ricotta cheese and mozzarella. I toasted the remaining ciabatta. It made another delicious dinner from the one packet of mince.

The following night I just cooked some frozen tempura hake fillets and chips and served it with baked beans and coleslaw. On Thursday I stopped at Oakhurst Farmstall Kwikspar and bought one of their delicious chicken and mushroom pies, some of their potato salad, and I made more coleslaw and we had another easy meal.

Norm had a good trip once he finally got to Kenya. He was due to fly on Sunday night but the flight was cancelled. Then the second flight was also cancelled. The third flight was delayed four hours so it was 2am when he got to his hotel and he had another flight at 5am so he got very little sleep and had to start work as soon as he landed. When he got home on Friday night he woke in the middle of the night ill with food poisoning and spent most of Saturday in bed.

I had an appointment to get my hair done at Pause in Cape Town CBD so he had to cope for a bit on his own. As the grey around my face is getting quite prevalent Leandra has decided to lighten the colour around my face to make the contrast with my natural black hair colour less severe and noticeable.

What do you think? Leandra gave me some lovely curls even though I wasn’t going anywhere special.

After my hair appointment I went into Hout Bay and got some electrolytes and Imodium for Norm, got petrol, went to the bank and did a bit of a shop.

When I got home I made Norm a pot of vegetable soup.

Lily and Josh were planning on coming down for the weekend but they both have flu so they stayed home. Caitlin came for dinner on Saturday night and it was lovely to see her. We made various salads and did tapas of chicken samosas, chicken strips and arancini balls. Norm got out of bed and managed a bowl of soup and some toast.

We started watching Series 2 of Mindhunter on Netflix.

This is such a riveting series, I am loving it so far, but then I have an obsession with serial killers.

It has been absolutely stunning weather the last few days.

Today Norm is feeling a bit better and Panda is stuck to him like glue. He so loves his Daddy. I was supposed to go to drumming but I am exhausted and need a day of rest.

I have started on the full strength anxiety / depression meds and I have not had any anxiety reactions this week. No vertigo or palpitations or any other symptoms. It is such a relief.

I hope you have all had a lovely weekend and that you have a great week.

Until then, Kisses from the Kitten xoxoxo