Cats, kitchens and computers...

[Alice Abbott]

Our next door neighbours, who allow us to use their wifi internet connection in their barn, an electrical socket in the barn for charging our laptop and also an old chest freezer in the same barn all in exchange for me mowing their lawn with their own sit-upon mower arrived unexpectedly yesterday evening, he pulling onto our drive in their car and she arrived via the gap in the hedge. I thought this was odd, if they both nip through the hedge it's no more than 30 yards from their property to our kitchen door, why the car too?

It turns out they had had news that they have damaged pipes in their UK home and water has been leaking from their loft into the various rooms for nearly a week, causing huge damage. They are dashing back this morning (they have in fact already left) to try to sort it out - but in the meantime they have -

Brought us (the reason for the car, it all becomes clear...)

Their cat in a cat carrier (it's some type of exotic cat but amiable enough). Apparently getting it all organised to take back would have involved them waiting until Tuesday for various paperwork.

A mountain of cat food and money for any extras (they are only planning on being away for two weeks max so what on earth they think these extras might be is worrisome...

The spare keys to their house and the strict instructions that we "deal with" the contents of their refrigerator (always welcome!)

A long cable winder roll, attached at the other end to the power socket in their barn. I have now have real electricity in our kitchen at last! It's only one socket and a double adaptor but it's like heaven! No need to go over to recharge batteries, we can plug in the CD player.... I'm just SO excited about it!

Another cable roll but this time with ADSL cable. My laptop is now online in our own kitchen!

With those luxuries I could hardly refuse to look after the cat for a couple of weeks, could I? He hates Morris (lurcher) and the feeling is mutual but he knows his way around so he'll be content.

[Milims]

You lucky lady! Aren't good neighbours great!

[Millymollymandy]

That sounds like a pretty good deal to me!

[Thomzo]

Gosh what lovely people to think about your needs while they are rushing off to sort out such a disaster of their own. And nice to know that they trust you enough to turn to you for help in an emergency.

Good neighbours are worth their weight in gold.

Zoe

[red]

sounds like a happy arrangement

[Alice Abbott]

So I'm sitting at the kitchen table using my computer at 9pm. Totally unheard of! It's such a pleasure for us and I'm really grateful to them.

Apparently they had arranged the cables last week with the intention of surprising us as the winter arrived so it was just a matter of bringing things forward. And, as they said, now I have the laptop permanantly online and charging they can use Skype to stay in touch to make sure things are OK with their house here.

But this is sheer luxury for us. Even Magda the cat seems happy enough, she actually came in of her own accord at 6pm for her food and is now asleep in front of the fire. Morris is still keeping his eye on her from under one of the kid's camp beds but he'll come round eventually I hope.

And their fridge was crammed with food. I think they had just gone shopping for the week coming when they got the news of their flood. So we are, at the moment, one very happy little bunch.

[boboff]

Wow, that is excellent.

Best that the mayor doesn't get any more nasty surprises!