Summer's End...

...And what a summer it has been. It feels like a heartbeat away that we were toasting the end of the summer term with fizz and fun at school, and now September is knocking on the door and beckoning in my favourite months of the year. I'm ready for back to school, for cooler temperatures, for the cosiness of autumn, and the pre-Christmas rush, but am so grateful for our busy, fun summer.

It feels like my summer has had two distinct themes - travel, and home improvements.

Travel has been amazing, whether it's been exploring the fjords and mountains of Norway, getting to know new cities like Copenhagen and Stockholm, revisiting Germany, a country I'll always have a soft spot for, or spending time with friends and family in my homeland, Scotland.

Home has been busy - we have cleared out room after room after room (and the clearout goes on). We've switched several rooms around too (cue much moving of furniture and yelling 'Pivot! Pivot!' at one another). Our team of stoneworkers and brickies and render-destroyers have chipped away at the cracked off-white facade of our house to reveal the loveliest sandy bricks below - one more week of scaffolding and dust and noise and that will be completed. Shona has completed on her new home and started moving her stuff across town. And Smudge cat is all settled in and very much part of the family.

It's been a productive, busy, challenging and fun summer, and I cannot wait to see what fun autumn may hold.  There are many projects afoot, lots to plan, and some potential changes ahead - but hey, life is never dull, right?

I'm off to enjoy the Bank Holiday Monday with brunch, sunshine, cocktails and cats; I hope you have a similarly lovely day planned. I'll leave you with a few of my favourite shots from summer break.

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#MoreThanCat

So, it's #internationalcatday, and I'm delighted to be joining in with the RSPCA's campaign to salute those felines who are #morethancat. Part of the challenge was to construct a dating profile of sorts for our pets, so you know I did so for our quartet, right. First up, Smudge! Name: Smudge (a.k.a. Lord Smudgington, Smoooodge). Age: 5/6 months. Favourite toy: So many. Pencils, trousers, feet, balls, paper... Likes: sitting atop a human, watching Lizzie fish in her tank, chasing the other cats in the household. Dislikes: being told off for chasing the other cats in the household.

A post shared by Claire Roper (@cmclaire) on Aug 8, 2017 at 8:16am PDT

I am a fully paid up crazy cat lady. With four felines in our household, we are outnumbered 2:1, cats:humans (well, the odds are a little better while Shona is staying with us, but after that we'll be into a full on two-against-one scenario). Luckily our fur-bubs are kind and loving masters / bosses, and Matthew and I are treated very well by our feline overlords.

Name: Fry (a.k.a. Pookela, Pooks, Bunny) Age: 5 years Favourite toy: fishing rod toys, jingly balls. Also partial to a post-it! Likes: time with his hoomans, kitty yoghurts, naps under his bush. Dislikes: the noisy machine (hoover), unknown hoomans, fly screens, many things. #morethancat #internationalcatday

A post shared by Claire Roper (@cmclaire) on Aug 8, 2017 at 10:46am PDT

Earlier this month I was invited by the RSPCA to take part in their #MoreThanCat campaign, a fun little drive around International Cat Day to talk about our cat-friends and to open the conversation about these quirky animals! It was also a lovely opportunity (or should that read op-purr-tunity?) to shine a light on the great work the RSPCA and other charities do in finding homes for cats without a family of their own. As our quartet are all adoptees (three from a shelter, one because he found us - I'll tell that story another day!) I'm always up for applauding the charities who help unite animals with loving homes.

Name: Poppet (a.k.a. Popps, Poppsicle, The Boss, Queen Poppet) Age: 6 years Favourite toy: Matthew. Likes: a good grooming session with the furminator, keeping the house in order, roast chicken, leftover steak, stealing freshly poured water from people's glasses. Dislikes: when I cannot go somewhere, and going to the vets. #morethancat #internationalcatday

A post shared by Claire Roper (@cmclaire) on Aug 8, 2017 at 9:42am PDT

I shared the images in this post on social earlier this month, along with dating profile/factfile style write ups for each cat. I'm quietly proud of them, they really do give you a good view of each cat and the unique and lovely characters they bring to our home. I cannot imagine life without our four little troublemakers and feel so lucky to get spoiled with purrs, kisses, chats and snuggles every day.

Last but never least, it's our Leela. #sorrynotsorry for the #internationalcatday bombardment...with four you've got to make sure all of the quartet get a mention! Name: Leela (a.k.a. Paws, Scraggle, Squiggle, Leela-Bear) Age: 5 years Favourite toy: no toys, but I love getting up high on shelves or cupboards, and running fast. Likes: running, jumping, good cheddar, solo time with my hoomans. Dislikes: that new cat, fireworks. #morethancat

A post shared by Claire Roper (@cmclaire) on Aug 8, 2017 at 11:08am PDT

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A Poppet Post

Oh helloes hoomans!

I were finking the other days, between grooming my booful fur and having a sits, that is has bin a whiles since I did write a letters on this ere blog and share some picatures of me and them itzens.

Clur did tell me was a new year. I did tell her that was a silly, because every year after all is THE YEAR OF THE POPPET CAT, but you know how hoomans is. I decided to hoomer her rather than arguing as argumenties can bump into my naps schedule and I are nots a fan of that! In ovver Clur noos, she has gone back to works a bit. I was a bits cross about that but I knew she did miss the childrens. So i said was okay.

I are genrous kitten

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Home etc: Sitting Room Plans

It's been a while since I've linked up with Home Etc, which is a shame because I always enjoy writing about our home. Right now it's a swirl of chaos as we get ready for Christmas visits, are putting up trees and wrapping dozens of gifts for friends and family, as well as trying to get everything spick and span and organised before I return to full-time work in the New Year! In between packing and sorting and wrapping, however, I'm having a very jolly time planning for how we are going to rearrange our sitting room in the early part of next year.

Our sitting room is currently made up of two parts - a front section with sofas, shelves, TV and a back section with a 'home gym' we rather optimistically installed when we first moved in. Four years on and the use it gets is so minimal we've decided to donate or sell the equipment in order to make one big sitting room with space for TV watching, book reading, and light work.

Matthew and I both have our own offices/studies too (both our careers require a healthy amount of take-home work, and it's lovely to have space to do this without impacting the others space) but I'm looking forward to having a little space in the sitting room where we can work alongside each other too. When I first moved down to London we both shared the cutest little study (it was less than 6 foot by 7 foot), and while we had to take turns moving our chairs out (we sat back to back, meaning negotiations if you wanted to stand up and get to the door), I loved have a little hub together. Having workspace downstairs also means that if we decide we'd like to repurpose a study at any point as a spare room / nursery / extra bathroom, we'd have that option. I'm also super excited to have more space for books!

We'll be planning in depth over the Christmas break (yep, this is our idea of fun - a notebook and a tape measure!), then saving up towards the project in the first few months of 2017, but in the meantime I'm enjoying browsing online and thinking up ideas. Now we've lived here four and a half years we know the house, we know what gets cluttered (him: shoes left in the middle of floors. Me: magazines and catalogues) and I'm having great fun thinking up methods for storing things and making it a space we can enjoy!

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Home Etc: Our New Cleaning Rota

For the last little while I've been trying to get a handle on how I approach keeping our house neat and tidy. We are very lucky to have the space we do, but recently I've been a bit worried and stressed by the clutter, and wanted to put a new rota in place so I could keep up with everything. I also wanted to create a system that meant we had less to do on weekends so we could relax, or work on any bigger house projects then.

I should probably add that Matthew is an absolute housework marvel - he's such a great gardener, sorts laundry like a boss, washes dishes every day and is better than I am when it comes to hoovering! In this season, however, when he's out at work for so much of the day during the week while I work from home I wanted to create a rota where I could clear most of the stuff during the weekdays. With no commuting and fewer pulls on my time of the same urgency, I wanted to take up more of the work so that when we do get time together we can have more fun, with fewer chores to do!

I've experimented with rotas for keeping the house tidy, both monthly ones and weekly ones, but I've never quite hit a rhythm. So this time I thought I'd pitch myself something between the two, with a fortnightly rota. With all the shopping, cleaning and little tasks like popping to pick up parcels or get the dry cleaning, this works out at a very sensible five tasks a day, plus one each on weekend. With a few 'daily dos' as well, this should cover everything, with more time available on weekends when bigger jobs or tasks like spring cleaning, charity shop runs, or getting the Christmas decorations up emerge. I'll keep you posted!

How do you organise your cleaning and tidying?

Linking up as ever with the Home Etc lovelies.

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Seven Tips for Happy, Healthy Cats

Deer Hoomans,

The other day, Clur said she had been asked by the RSPCA (a hooman organisation which looks after the aminals) to write a blog post on how to look after your pets. As I am akshully the family expert on kitty happehs, I said I would write it for her. You are welcome.

Here are my top seven tips for happy, healthy cats.

1. While cats are very happeh to play wiv their hooman pets, sometimes they do need space of their own. Clur and Maffoo make sure that as well as having lots of comfeh beds they also have a katzen haus in the garden, and plenty of boxes and igloos available for when we needs some space of our own. Having hoomans can be tiring - cats sleep for 12 to 18 hours a day.

2. Cats can be happeh as indoors only or having the freedom to range.

If your cat is indoors only you'll need to make sure that they has plenty of toys to occupy and amuse them. You may also want to invest in window or door screens so in the summer oo can opens the windows and doors for fresh air without having an escapee katzen!

Outdoor cats need to be given safe spaces, and a collar with your details on is a gud idea too, in case they go a-wandering. There are many excellent collurs available - Leela and Fry both have ones which are easy-release, so if the collar gets stuck when the cat is climbing it springs open saflee. I am meant to have one of them too but I am an expurt at undoing them. We are all microchipped too, which is very impawtent.

3. Cats need meat in their diet, but they also need a variety of foods in their diet. We have wet food everyday, split into several small meals, and a dry food bowl which is always stocked with kibble. The hoomans add to this with occasional treats of cooked chickun, beefs or grilled salmun (heheh, we are spoiled kittens!), and a tuna smoothie or two in the very warm days.

We also like to have drinks of water, but take care to give us a few options - we have three different bowls in different spots (kitchen, katzenraum, garden). Water should always be away from our foods - water near foods seems dirty to katzen! I love epic fresh water and love when Clur fills a little dish straight from the taps just for Poppet.

4. Cats are vereh good at groomin and staying booful. Did you know that our tongues are covered in little bristles so we can 'brush' our furs?  Sometimes we do needs a hand, though. When this happuns, Clur and Maffoo use a dooberry called the Furminator which gets rid of lots of old fur like magics! 

Some kitties like to be groomed (me!), some do not (Leela), but especially in the summer it can leave one staying cool. 

We all keep our claws tidy by clawing our scratching posts, and the fences in the garden. Sometimes cats will needs a little help though and you can give their claws a little clip (or have a groomer or vet tech do it if you prefer now to be yowled at!) like snipping your hooman nails. I have heard that some hoomans declaw their cats, but that makes me feel pretty cross - we use our claws for climbing and catching, I would be epic sads without them!  

5. Cats are an interesting mixture of social and independents. We are (if I do say so myselfs) very friendly and social and like to sits with our hoomans and give them purrs, but we also like to spend time on our own. Space and respect are important to kitties - if you get it rights oo will be rewarded with an awful lot of loves. And fur. You are welcomes.

If oo are going to be out a lot, you may wish to consider havin more than one cat, so they haves a buddy. When Clur and Maffoo did adopt us from the Celia Hammond, they were both working full time, so they knew they wanted a duo or a trio...and they founded us, lucky hoomans! When they are buseh with works we kits all like to spend times togethers, playing, chatting, and occasionally snuggling up together.

6. When cats are scared they need space to retreat to. If there's something stressful occurrin (fireworks are Leela's least favrit, and Fry-cat hates the hoover. I are bravest kittun, of course), make sure your kittuns have places they can feel safe and get away to. When there are fireworks at Bonfire Night or Diwali or New Year's, Clur and Maffoo keep us all inside and lock the catflap, and hide boxes and blankets throughout the house so we have lots of retreats. Sometimes we just want to sit with them, but at other times our hidin instinct is strong.

7. Always, always remember that cats are the boss.

 I hopes you have enjoyed my seven tips for happy, healthy cats. I are exhausted now!

Purrs and chirrups,

Poppet-Cat







Disclaimer from Claire: Poppet and I were asked to write this by the lovely folk at the RSPCA. As passionate animal lovers we were more than happy to contribute our voices/miaows to proceedings!

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Happy Monday/Ten Happy Things #6

Joining up as ever with Katy and Jasmin for a lovely, positive start to the week! Here are my ten happy things from the last week and the present time :)

1. Planning ahead.

When you're a planner fiend like me (am loving the combo of my Erin Condren* as a control station on my desk plus a chic Moleskine for in my handbag!), the chance to get organised and sorted for the time ahead is a true pleasure! With lots of travel ahead (Newcastle, New York, Boston, Toronto, Las Vegas, Amsterdam, Inverness...) plus writing work, catch up with friends and loads of plans for the blog and other online adventures, I'm loving getting organised for a busy season! 

2. Cooking.

Now the temperature has dropped a little I'm loving being able to use the kitchen a little more - when the temperature is over thirty degrees we don't turn our oven on!

3. Writing.

By posting here a little less often (3-5 times a week), I'm carving out more and more time for other writing. This makes me really happy! It's so great to have time for both blogging and other writing in this season.

4. Fun co-working dates and lovely lunch dates.

Whether it's a lovely lunch with Charlie at The Life Goddess, or co-working with Jaye and Ghenet at Heal's and Dillons (pints of tea you guys. Oh my gosh), I love the mix of days when I'm all work all the time at home, and when I manage to get out and about a little.

Seriously. How delicious does this look?

Such fun to work in such a bright, light space at Heal's.

5. Exploring new parts of London.

The back roads around UCL. Wandering aroung Spitalfields on my way back from the farm. Researching routes for an upcoming day out with Hannah (we are going on a mission - stay tuned!). The city never fails to surprise with its many new places and things to enjoy.

6. Wedding invitations and anniversary plans.

In every year we've been together, Matthew and I have attended at least one wedding, often several. This year, however, we've had none. On the one hand this has been fabulous, with a little more money and time for other projects and travels, but on the other hand I've missed the wedding circuit - love the whole thing, me, from the dresses to the confetti to the music! So it was lovely to get not one but two save the dates for weddings next year in the mail this week. Bring on 2017!

Speaking of all things nuptial, next week will be out 2nd wedding anniversary (and the eighth anniversary of us meeting, too!), so it's been great fun to plan for some Manchester based adventures, whether it's a stay in a lovely hotel, a great meal on the day itself, or catching up with some dear friends while we're up north.

7. Happy mail and fun gifts.

I've been very lucky on the blogger gift front this week. From proofs from Penguin and Little Brown and clothes from George, the postman has been my bestie this week. I also picked up my goody bag from the Thirty-Plus Awards from Erica (I'd been silly and left it behind in the restaurant after the shindig - thank you for scooping it up for me, Erica!) and was delighted to find it full to the brim with The Body Shop goodies - I'm having a whale of a time trying them all out. Love good beauty products.

I also received a fab carafe from Brita this week. As chlorine is (one of) my asthmatic triggers, we've had to filter our water forever. We have the jug filter and it's a godsend - so lovely to be able to hydrate and not get wheezy. This week Brita very kindly sent me one of their 'fill and serve' carafes, which is super pretty, and smart enough to have on the dinner table or a desk. We are so enjoying using it at mealtimes.

A carafe so chic, even Fry wants to crash the picture!

8. Healthy, noisy cats.

On Saturday we had to take the gang for their boosters at the vets and their annual check ups. They do not like going to the vets, but it's so important to make sure they are healthy and covered for any nasties. Our vets are super (shout out to Midland Veterinary Surgery - if you need a great vet in East London we'd highly recommend) and the appointment was mercifully swift, but it was great to hear they are all healthy and thriving. In between all the miaows and yowls of disapproval from the trio!

Fry was soon back on chilled and happy form at home. 

Leela spent the afternoon sleeping off the exertion, 

And Poppet definitely had her eye on me for the rest of the day! 

9. Lazy Saturdays with Matthew.

After the drama that is getting three cats to and from the vets, Matthew and I decided to have a lazy afternoon together. We wandered over to Leyton Food Market, had a drink in the Leyton Technical, and pootled along to visit the new pub on the block, The Leyton Star.It was such a nice way to while away an afternoon together.

Such a pretty fountain in Coronation Gardens - lovely for the local pigeons and sparrows to have a little wash in from time to time! 

Blue skies and cool beers? Yes please! 

10. New books.

My Sister's Bones. Hygge. The House In Quill Court. Swing Time.

Very, very excited to dive in, and loving the hot off the press tote bag too! 

I will never tire of new additions to the TBR pile!

I hope you all have a wonderful Monday and a cracking week ahead!

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10 Great Organisation Blogs

I wrote this post last January, when I was having a good old clearout. Now, as the study project hits the home straight, I'm finding it both useful and pertinent, so I thought I'd re-share it, in case anyone else is seeking out some organisation inspiration right now!

Linking up with the Home Etc lovelies, too. Such a great link-up for home inspiration and ideas!

As I've mentioned earlier this month, one of my big focuses this month is getting more organised.  I am filing and shredding and decluttering like never before.  My todo list is beautiful.  My classroom is looking more shipshape by the day.

There are so many great blogs and websites with excellnet tips and tricks to help with organisation, so today I thought I'd share a few that I'm really enjoying!

All Things Simple.  I love this fresh, clean blog!  Her party planning posts are so sweet (that's how I found her blog in the first place, but in this season of tidiness I'm finding a lot of great homemaking tips too.

Clean Mama.  A blog full of great ideas and lots of printables to enjoy and deploy.

Fly Lady.  While I don't think I'm quite ready to go full Fly Lady, I am using some of the habits - I love going to bed with a neat and ordered kitchen.  Some of the cleaning tips are superb as well.  I love how realistic this site is - some organisation and cleaning sites seem to think everyone has five hours a day for home maintenance.

Just A Girl And Her Blog.  I love Abby's writing voice and her beautiful photos anyway, but her organisation and DIY tips are super.

Life In Yellow.  Great tips and beautiful printables.  Such a fun blog!

Money Saving Mom.  While this blog focuses primarily on finance and money, there are a lot of posts on organisation and home care too.

Sarah Titus.  I could spend hours on Sarah's beautiful blog - it's a feast of tips for organisation, home maintenance, money saving.  I always pick up something new when I pay her site a visit.

Simply Fabulous Living.  Leah is so organised.  I'll never reach her level, but there are always ideas to be gleaned on her beautiful blog.

This Old House.  I seem to be forever pinning things from the This Old House magazine's page!

Tico and Tina.  These guys are awesome.  They are much more pared-down and minimalist than I'm ever going to be, but some of their tips have really helped me to streamline things in our home and work out what we need and what is just 'stuff'.

I hope this post is helpful - where do you go online for organising tips?

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