We're Back From Cancer Treatment and We Have Kittens Too!

Well, it's been a long time since my last post- not much of a blog really is it? Last summer was a hard one because I was having chemotherapy again and I felt pretty awful.

Now, I still have cancer because the chemo didn't work as well as we'd hoped, but because I tested positive for the BRCA-1 gene mutation, new treatment options have become available. My Oncologist was able to request a new drug called a PARP Inhibitor from the drug manufacturer in America (Clovis). This particular drug isn't available in the UK yet, a similar one is, but the NHS won't allow me to have it because I didn't have 3 rounds of chemo. I've been taking this drug that has been provided to me free of charge by Clovis since November. And it's keeping the cancer at bay so far.

On an even happier note, I've been feeling a bit better (although I still spend days in bed feeling totally wiped out), and I'm delighted to announce that we have kittens currently. These are little darlings who have helped me when I've felt down and who are just gorgeous- yes, I know I'm biased. please contact Ali on 0208 529 8114 for more information. The website is in the process of being updated with more photos of Blackberry's kittens who are almost 5 weeks old, below is a photo of Mini Chilli and Marshall's girl Emily, who is 9 weeks old and has become available.

GB*Norskwood Emily- AVAILABLE

Gorgeous Norwegian Forest Kittens Available

 

GB*Norskwood Kitty Kinky Boots- Available

Black Silver Blotched Tabby & White Female

 

GB*Norskwood Kitty Boo Boo- Available

Red Spotted Tabby & White Boy

 



Amazingly, we have 2 wonderful kittens available to loving, permanent homes after being messed about. Kitty Kinky Boots is a very lively, playful girl and her brother Kitty Boo Boo is a very loving boy addicted to feather sticks!

 

They are looking for a very special home preferably with a cat proofed garden or cat run where they will be spoiled rotten and they'd just love to go to live together. They were born on 8th March 2016 and have both sets of vaccinations. Before they go to their new home they will also be neutered, micro chipped, registered with Felis Britannica/FIFe and insured for 4 weeks. They have been treated for worms and will be flea treated also.

 

Please either call Ali on 0208 529 8114 or email Norskwood@ntlworld.com for more information. Unfortunately, our website is down currently but we're hoping to get it back up and running in the very near future.                                  

Website isTemporarily Down!

I'm sorry to have to report that our website www.norskwood.co.uk is not available currently. I discovered that it had "disappeared" yesterday.

While I look into what's happening and try to get it back up and running again I'll use the Blog to keep everyone informed and up to date with what's going on- well hopefully! If for some reason we can't get the old Domain Name back then we are planning on setting up a new one and at the same time revamping the site a bit to get it up to speed with all the new stuff that I can't begin to understand.

In the meantime our email is fine and if anyone wishes to email to enquire about cats or kittens, then please don't hesitate to norskwood@ntworld.com or you can phone Ali for a cat chat on 0208 529 8114.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

SC & GIP GB*Norskwood Anya wishes everyone the compliments of the season

Cat House refurbishment...

What is it about people today? The cat houses were supposed to be finished in October, yet here we are 2 days before Christmas Day and the first two are still exactly the same as they were when I last posted about them and the other two haven't been touched apart from the roofs.

I've been told that the weather was to blame one day (it snowed for 10 minutes first thing). One weekend there was an emergency. Another weekend there was another emergency. Most weekends they simply didn't show up. The rubbish is still waiting to be removed, the new fittings are in my garage awaiting fitting.

The poor cats are doubled up whilst this is going on.

The chap who organised all this has now told me that he gave me the wrong price, and that it should have been several hundred pounds more. When someone has let you down repeatedly and left the work without anything being done for several weeks it doesn't endear them to you, and to be asked for more money adds insult to injury. When I used to give someone a price for looking after their cats I held to it- if I under estimated then I sucked it up as a mistake that I'd made. I didn't then ask for more money.

So, if there are any genuine people out there who would like some work insulating, lining and making good my cat houses, please contact me on 0208 529 8114 or email norskwood@ntlworld.com

Thank you and Merry Christmas! Vent over...

Refurbishment of the Cat Houses Stage Two

Ok, I've jumped Stage One- my apologies! I didn't get chance to take photos, but it entailed the replacement of all the roofs of all 4 cat houses with some super-douper heavy duty felt that will hopefully withstand the extra long claws that NFOs have!

Over the years, the cat houses have done sterling duty and have kept the cats warm and dry against the yucky London weather. The first two houses that were built by Steve have lasted very well, but had begun to leak a bit. I'd considered replacing them completely, but I'm not in a  position physically to take them down and get rid of them, and they looked to be in ok condition externally, so I decided to get them and the other two, newer ones redone.

I don't think many lay people think about all this when they enquire about pedigree cats- it's a big job making sure everything is well kept. And not exactly cheap either!

The Spare Cat House- before renovation.The boys are in here temporarily.

The Girl's Cat House- before renovation

 The above photos were taken this morning and give an idea of how they look currently. You can see where some leakage has been.

New PVC Flooring has been put in here, awaiting new insulation and lining.

Greebo's old house- totally stripped and floor part done- Mini Chilli inspects the work!

The above photos show where we are with the first two houses that are being done. we're getting a PVC flooring that will hopefully withstand any cat wee, and new insulation and plastic lining on the walls to ensure the houses are toasty warm and easy to clean. I'll try to post photos when that's done. I'm currently waiting for the chaps who're doing it- yesterday bad weather prevented any work, today and emergency has cropped up again. With luck they'll be here this afternoon.

Loving Forever Homes Wanted Please

Betty

 

Chilli

Betty and Chilli are both searching for their forever homes. Both born in July 2009, they are 6 years old and have always been in great health. They have both been spayed and are microchipped and up to date with vaccinations, plus they are of course registered with FIFe and GCCF.They have always been beloved pampered girls and retired from our breeding programme in 2013. Ideally, I'd love to keep them both but my diagnosis of cancer is forcing my hand- I have to be sensible and find homes for some of my cat family sadly.

Champion Snowrock Bestlia aka Betty is a gentle girl who loves to play and cuddle. She gets on well with our other cats (she's been with us since she was 13 weeks old) and she gets on very well with Chilli. She loves to eat and is always first to the kitchen when it's meal time- her favourite is raw rabbit.

International Champion Norskwood Sweet Chilli aka Chilli is a typical "Naughty Tortie" and was born here to Mum Sparky and Dad Greebo! She runs round the cat garden at top speeed and loves to play. She adores raw food and will chew into a packet if it's left out to defrost treating it as an ice lolly! She is an affectionate cat with a strong personality.

Both girls are very beautiful and deserve loving homes. They require homes where they will be able to access a cat proofed garden or cat run. If you haven't had experience of this it is very easy to do and will ensure that the cats are kept safe and sound yet still be able to get exercise and fresh air. I hve a list of companies who can do this for you, provide kits or you can do it yourself.

Please call me on 0208 529 8114 or email norskwood@ntlworld.com for more information. There are more photos of the girls on my website www.norskwood.co.uk

We Have Kittens

We're proud to announce that we have 5 gorgeous new babies from Conchita and Cracker born 30th April 2015.

There is one Black Tortie Blotched Tabby and White girl, two Black Silver Tabby and White Boys, one Black Mackerel Tabby boy and one Black Smoke and White boy.

Please contact Ali for more information on 0208 529 8114.

Long Time, No Blogging!

It has been nearly a year since I last posted on my blog. In that year I've had 3 cycles of Chemo followed by an enormous operation that removed 95% of my cancer, then another 3 cycles of chemo to try and zap the remaining cancer.

Three weeks ago I had another huge operation to repair a massive incisional hernia that appeared after the operation last year, and I'm currently recovering slowly and trying hard to be a good girl and not lift or do very much!

The good news is that the surgeons have told me that they've managed to get shot of the Peritoneal cancer, but during my op 3 weeks ago they took a biopsy of a nodular area and it turns out I now have cancer cells in the mesentery, so goodness knows what will happen now. I see my Oncologist next week.

I have been reluctantly trying to down size my cat family to make it easier to care for everyone- if you can offer a permanent, loving home with a cat proofed garden or cat run then please call me for a chat- 0208 529 8114. Betty and Chilli are wonderful girls with loving, confident personalities.

Presenting Angel and Betty's New Babies!

 

 

 

"Solitaire"- Solid Blue Girl (Betty's Baby)- Available

 

It's all very exciting- we have some gorgeous Dilute kittens from Betty and Blue Boo (Solitaire-above- born on 25th April 2014), and Angel and Hullabaloo (6 of them, born 29th April 2014). Please scroll down for photos of them all plus more info, and availability.

 

Betty just has the one beautiful, chunky Solid Blue girl we've called Solitaire (above). She was looking a little lonely until Angel had her litter of 6 kittens just 4 days later, and now 7 kittens are being looked after jointly by Angel and Betty and they're all very happy.

 

 

Angel's Blue Smoke Girl- Under Assessment

 

Angel has 6 wonderful kittens- 3 girls: 1 Solid Blue, 1 Blue Smoke and a Blue and White who may be a Tortie, and 3 boys: 1 Cream Smoke and 2 Solid Blues.

 

 

"Goldfinger" Angel's Cream Some Boy- Available

 

 

We have our eye on Angel's girls for Gary who bred both Blue Boo and Hullabaloo, but once we've chosen one, then the other two will become available. Don't hesitate to ask if you're interested in one of Angel's girls, we'll be more than happy to let you know what's happening.

 

 

Angel's Blue & White Girl- Under Assessment

 

 

We've named Betty's kitten already, and we've chosen names for Angels' too, and we're in the process of allocating names to each kitten. We've been re-reading all the Ian Fleming James Bond books recently, so they'll all have names from them! I think that these kittens have great potential, and some may be good enough to show.

 

 

Angel's Solid Blue Boy (Number 1)- Available

 

 

All our kittens are fully vaccinated, neutered, micro chipped, registered with Felis Britannica/FIFe and are insured for 4 weeks before leaving us at 14 weeks.

 

Angel's Solid Blue Girl- Under Assessment

 

We ensure that they're all very well socialised (we have a 3 year old son who loves to play with them all!), and they grow up underfoot in our home and are used to meeting new people and all the usual household noises like the vacuum cleaner, hairdryers, washing machine etc, and of course noisy little boys.

 

 

Angel's Solid Blue Boy (Number 2 )- Available

 

If you'd like to be considered for these babies, please read all our Kitten Information on our website and then phone Ali for a chat on 0208 529 8114, or email Norskwood@ntlworld.com 

 

 

 

Home Again

I've now been home for almost 2 weeks and it's very nice to back in the bosom of my family both human and feline.

This week I have to see a Specialist at Bart's who will hopefully shed some light on what is wrong with me and if they can treat me.

So, once more, I will beg forgiveness if we don't answer emails terribly quickly as I maybe either in hospital or feeling poorly. We will try and get emails and phone calls/messages responded to ASAP.

On the happier side, we have kittens due Easter weekend from Betty and Wolfie, and kittens are also expected from Angel the week after.

Poorly Ali...

Sorry I haven't posted on the blog for so long. Life gets very busy at times and something has to give.

Anyway here I am in an unusual situation sitting in a hospital bed at Whipps Cross undergoing tests for a very swollen tummy and feeling very unwell. As an ex Nurse it's not natural for me to be on this side and I  not a very patient patient, nor a good one!

I miss Gethin and Steve and all the cats and kittens terribly. Poor Steve is on baby sitting (I'm not a baby, I am a big boy says Gethin! ) and cat sitting duties and it must be hard work for him.

So, while I'm in hospital our phone might not get answered and emails replied to as often as normal, and we ask for your patience in this.

Cat Garden Fence Upgrade- Day Two

Another glorious hot day and today was the second day of the Great Fence Rebuild Challenge! Yesterday Steve and Neil replaced several old and very fragile panels with purpose built ones.

Today they had to replace the part of the fence that is by the back door of our kitchen- it doesn't have the concrete posts that we have for the rest of the fence that go all the way down the 100 foot garden to the garage, so they had to devise a way of building a sturdy and stable fence.

Firstly, the old panels come down revealing our next door neighbour Melanie and her old shed, which we discovered had rotted at the bottom! So, this was where Melanie's 7 month old kittens had been getting into her shed...a mystery solved.

 

Steve, Neil and Gethin discuss how to best replace the fence and make it secure.

 

Gethin is all excited- Daddy has come up with a solution to the problem. They're building a frame, and bracing it to the existing fence and the kitchen wall.

 

So, Geth gets the measuring tape out to assist his Daddy. Steve is stapling the wooden slats to the frame.

 



 

Steve reattaching the mesh to the frame before starting the last panel.

 

Nearly there, then we can go to the pub for lunch and a pint!

 

Job done- I painted the slats that didn't have any wood treatment on and put the BBQ etc. back where they live, and it looks so much tidier.  For those of you who are eagle-eyed, yes, you're quite right, the cat in the photo isn't a Norwegian Forest Cat! This is Ruby our first pedigree cat- she's a British Shorthair. She just about tolerates the NFO's!

 

Lovely... next to be done is the lawn and the border next week. New turf for the old pitted and frankly tired old lawn, and railway sleepers to retain the border down the bottom of the garden.

The refurbishment of our Cat Garden begins at last

Stage one- Gethin helping from next door

 

Today we began to renew many of our fence panels in our cat garden- this has needed to be done for a while now but this summer has been incredibly busy. I've had Carpal Tunnel surgery, my Uncle sadly died unexpectedly and my Step Mum hasn't been well.

 

So, I am very excited to say that Steve and his friend Neil have been hard at work building and fitting the new panels after Steve treated the wood yesterday. The weather couldn't be better for this kind of project. Gethin likes to help of course.

 



Neil measuring up

 

This is the first part to our refurbishment- and the boys did well to get several panels done.

 

Gethin giving Steve a hand in our neighbour's garden

 

The cats have all been interested and only one made a bid for freedom- Sookie ventured next door very briefly until Steve grabbed her! They were very well behaved on the whole though.

 

 

"I think this panel is nearly done Neil"!

 

At the end of the day, Gethin was pleased with the job done when he inspected the new fencing from the comfort of his police car!

 

 

Gethin gives his seal of approval!

 

More panels to do tomorrow, then we'll get the lawn re-turfed, the border edging replaced and then start down the boys' runs with some new decking and the wood treated- will it never end???! Answers on a postcard...







Long Time, No Post!

So, it's been 6 months since my last post of here- scandalous I know. Where does the time go to?

Anyway, yesterday was the first birthday of our Red Devils "Ooops" litter from Sparky and Cracker. It's hard to believe that those little kittens- all Red Tabby or Red Tabby and White are now a year old. I remember them being born so clearly.

One of them, Toksvig is on holiday with us along with her "brother" Mags, photo below.

I emailed all the litter to wish them a Happy Birthday and received this photo of Sol aka Pippin back. he's a lovely big lad and very well loved.

We sometimes see his sister Lola who also comes to stay with us and she's a darling- and very confident. I'm now hoping that we'll get some more photos of the litter so that we can see how they've grown and developed.

Yay, I've had these lovely photos from Seth and Solaris- they're looking great. now all we need is some from Custard.

 

Hullaballoo at Beaune, France: Day 2

So, my little lad Hullabaloo once again won his 6-10 month class which was judged very early on in the day, but  we thought that he'd sadly lost out on the BIV to the 3-6 month Kitten.

However, having gone out to the park with Steve and Gethin for half an hour, I was met my loads of missed calls on both my mobile (which I'd forgotten to take with me), and our landline. Phoned Gary back immediately and was told the good news that Hullabaloo had beaten the other NFO and a Sacred Birman to win the Nomination for Best in Show.

After many phone calls over the course of the day it transpired that Hullabaloo DID win the BIV as well as the Nom and when Gary went to collect his reports and certificates he was given several lovely rosettes.

I think Hullabaloo is a very special little cat to go overseas with Gary and behave like a star- he and Gary's White boy Peter Parker have got along famously even to the point of cuddling each other and washing each other- they haven't met before Thursday!

Hullabaloo's Adventures in France

Hullabaloo and I drove to meet his breeder and co-owner Gary on a very windy evening on Thursday prior to their long drive to Beaune in France for the FIFe show with a Norwegian Forest Cat Special   there this weekend.

He had his bags packed and passport in paw, and set off in the dark on another European adventure, this time without me with him as sadly I just couldn't afford it.

He's a kitten who loves to travel and he enjoyed the journey and the hotels en route apparently. Nothing much fazes Hullabaloo- he's very like his Great Uncle Blue Boo in that respect.

Anyway, I was very happy to recieve a phone call from Clara de Dios who is over there with them to let me know that he beat another Junior to Ex1 and then went on to win BIV- yay! Now, who says that the British cats can't compete with their Euopean counterparts? There were about 350 NFO's entered at the show I believe.

If we're lucky we may get photos sent to us.

Greebo's Photo Shoot

Yesterday, Greebo and I took a drive into Shoreditch where he was to be photographed for a Petplan Insurance advert.

He enjoys a good day out and settled down in the car for the short drive into Town. It was a bit of a walk from the car to the studio, and Greebo was VERY heavy- he's certainly become a lot more muscular since being neutered! It was also very busy for traffic which he wasn't keen on, but once we arrived he relaxed in his pen until he was called.

Everyone made a big fuss of Greebo and he made a lot of friends and admirers- he was making puddings all through the session and made himself very much at home and tried his best to be accomodating and do as he was asked.

Of course, he's not silly and he made the most of the bits of ham he was offered!

 

Please excuse the photos- I didn't want to use a flash and disturb His Highness in action.

Bourne- a good weekend!

So, it started off with a loooong drive to Lincolnshire on Friday evening. We arrived later than planned, helped set up the show hall then went for dinner with John and Caroline.

Saturday was ok- friends who have one of Anya's babies (Peppa) and one of Chilli's babies (The Hamster) came and they both did well with Peppa getting a "Virtual Nomination" from Stephe Bruin because she was the better girl but grumpy. The Hamster was actually Nominated but lost out sadly. Both cats looked great and it was lovely to see Mark and Rhonda.

My Lot did ok- Anya was beaten by her old nemesis Five, who then went Best in Show Neuter Female, but Brea became a Supreme Champion, Ari was in a foul mood and wouldn't behave for the BIV, but got her point, Chilli won her point and Hullabaloo was Ex 1.

Sunday arrived after a great evening out in the pub with much wine taken! To be honest I felt a little jaded on Sunday.... still onwards and upwards. Anya won her point and became International Premier. To my amazement she then went on to be Nominated and was Best in Show Neuter Female- at the ripe old age of 6!

 

Supreme Champion & International Premier Norskwood Anya BIS Neuter Female

Ari was in a MUCH better mood and won her point and the BIV too. She then went on to be Nominated and is now Grand International Champion. Our Bronwen (a Betty and Cracker baby just 11 months old) was BIV both days and Nominated along with Ari on Sunday- she's owned by Cecilia MacLeod. Chilli won her point, Brea won another CACS just in case, and Hullabaloo was Ex 1 again.

I then won 2nd prize in the Best Decorated Pen competition!

Belgium was a success!

The Felis Britannica Pens

So, we had a good time in Belgium (Zedelgem) and Felis Belgica made us feel very welcome.We always have a good time on a road trip though. I took my camera then couldn't be bothered to walk around with it so didn't take any photos! All photos on here are from my friends- thank you! I might have some on the mobile- will check and add them if I do.

Above is our row of pens- I think we made quite a splash. We also did quite well as The British Contingent aka Felis Britannica with several BIV's, (I think) 5 Nominations and in the end 3 Best in Show wins, which kind of goes to show that British cats can't be all that bad after all and are able to compete against their European counterparts.

Sookie and Hullabaloo's pen

 

Hullabaloo

 

From the Norskwood point of view Hullabaloo was Ex 1, and then Sookie won her class against another cat to become International Champion, so I was very happy. Sookie is in a growth spurt at the mo- she's big but her head has yet to catch up, so she can rest a while before continuing on her quest for show glory. I was amazed that she won her last certificate. One of Blue Boo's sons  Swayze was Nominated too, which was nice. In all, there were 4 of his offspring there.

Sookie- looking just like her Mum Anya in this photo

 

The hotel left a bit to be desired, with the chef throwing a dicky fit when we arrived for dinner on Saturday- despite us being booked in. We were only permitted to choose from 3 things on the menu!  It would have been better had we been able to choose which dish we wanted.

It's very easy to drive to Bruges- it took us only about 4 hours in total door to door. So, I might do more shows in the Low Countries cash permitting- that is always the problem isn't it?

Mr John Tipper showing our darling "Fatty", who in the end was Ex2