Well, Sunday today, and gardening duties call. The sanctuary has a small garden once you come down the steps from the street, in the form of planters and tubs going down either side of the wall. The boss said "... you do garden today, ci?" Hey, I do as I'm told. With us just coming through spring the plants are just coming back to life, but there was still some bugs and stuff to spray, not to mention dead plants to remove and some new ones needed bedding out. I have it on good authority that the garden looks lovely when in full bloom and I can beleive it. The cats love to wrap themselves around the planter tubs and just laze in the sun. It's a cool thing to see a big old cat squeezed into a tub 2 sizes too small for him to fit.
I also had an audience whilst working as the cats lovely come and see what you're up to. They getting used to me being around now each day so don't seem to skitish. They also know I'm a good source of stroking and occasionally food.
I've learnt today it is an honour for volunteers to go into the archelogical area. Apparently if tourist wish to come into the area it has to be arranged through the goverment they charge people around a THOUSAND EUROS a time. And I get to wander round and pick up the litter and crap for nothing! You wouldn't believe the stuff people throw over from the street into the area. I've been told they've come across furniture, whole sets of clothes (often new), and more. Today I found a boot (just one) a freshly discarded nappy (yes, it was full... nice!) and a half-a-rubbish-sack of free newspapers which had blown down from the street. The biggest hazard for the cats we need to be on the look-out for are broken bottles and plastic bags.
Didn't get to spend any time with the cats today until 5pm, due to doing the plants and filling the feeding stations. There's a funny tail (yes, I know!) there. To get to one of the underground feeding areas you have to go through the food storage area and I was told not to let any of the cats into the storage room ("..they pee" I was told). So what happens? Yes, one of the cats sneaks through my legs into the storage area. With both doors shut, the cat can't get out on his own, so I need to get him out. I debated asking another volunteer for help (it can't have been the first it had happened?) but figured, how hard could it be to scoot a cat from a small storage room maybe 20 feet square? Well, the bugger was crafty and if I wanted him to go left, he went right, and as I chased him down one aisle he went up the other. I got close, he ran. 30 minutes later I was on the verge of giving up and all the cooing and sweet nothings in the world hadn't got him to come to me. Then just as I am about to give up, he sits down, licks a paw and lets me pick him up! Turns out he one of the regular guys from indoors. He'd been playing me all along.
Didn't see Tomistocle today, think he was hiding. I got a great reaction out of Baloo who has only been in the sanctuary less than a week and had an operation , not sure for what. Anyway he is in one of the cages and has hardly moved all week out of his box. I was told it helps to get him to eat if you stroke him. Well, he's a scraggy looking small ginger fellow and not one of the most popular cats when it comes to visitors... they usually go for the cute and/or amputees. But today, after several minutes stroke and coaxing he purred and started to show me his stomach and pawed at me for more. Ten more minutes of petting and guys gets up and eats nearly a half a bowl of grub! The most I've seen him do all week. I also made a point of stopping my a little black-and-white guy who has had one of his ears removed as it has cancer. Again, not a big hit with the tourists so I make a special effort with him... it's okay until he keeps rubbing his stumpy ear on you hand... oooooooh!
Anway, I've got a ton of photo's to post of the blog but they will have to wait until I get home, so do drop back, even after I'm home, as I'll post them up over the course of a week and try and put some commentary with them.
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