They’ve arrived.
Reader, trouble has entered the chat here at Twisted Towers.
Meet Jack and Hunter, named by the twinnage and estimated by their foster carer to be 14 weeks old on adoption day. (They were abandoned in a cardboard box in a lay-by, so nobody knows their exact age.) There’s a big shortage of cats to adopt around here, so we’re very lucky to have met these chaps.
I have to say, it’s exactly the same as when we brought the human twinnage home from hospital, in that we have no idea which baby is which, everything is chaos, there are lots of naps, and I’m preoccupied with who has or hasn’t done a poo.
But so far, so good. The tiny terrorists are taking ownership of their new territory (good), sniffing the Stoic Spouse’s feet (brave), and manipulating us into indulging their every whim (predictable). Boys and cats adore each other already, and it’s heartwarming to watch the love and loyalty evolving on both sides.
Whenever possible, the cats snooze with a paw on some part of a twin’s anatomy, just to reassure themselves that their favourite humans aren’t far away.
On the minus side, the please-don’t-eat-my-knitting issue remains a work in progress. And as a perimenopausal insomniac, I’ve had several nocturnal conversations with what I thought in the 3am near-dark was a cat but which turned out to be an abandoned bag or toy. (The cats were parked in a different corner of the room, laughing their little whiskers off at my stupidity.)
But something else occurred shortly before Christmas. It happened high up in an ancient oak tree, as all the best shenanigans tend to do.
As a gift for my recent 50th birthday (50TH?!!!! I DEMAND A RECOUNT – IT CANNOT POSSIBLY BE MORE THAN 36) the Stoic Spouse booked two nights in what might just be the world’s most luxurious treehouse. I found this place online years ago and have been blithering on about it ever since to anyone foolish enough to stand still in my presence.
So on a Saturday morning, we loaded the car up with twinnage, luggage, and snackage, before setting out on the long (for UK/European readers) aka short (for North American/Australian readers) journey down to Devon.
There was snow on the rolling hills as we approached our destination – it was beautifully crisp in the setting sun, if a little slippy-slidey under-tyre. We haven’t had any snow at home in Oxfordshire for a couple of years, so I’m desperately craving the white stuff. Then suddenly there was hardly any snow, but we had reached our magnificent destination.
The treehouse was even better than its publicity had promised. The twinnage’s excitement as they discovered each new room and shouted a running commentary down the stairs made me grin. They’d been wary of this trip, presumably anticipating a flimsy, freezing, plywood, box with no wifi. (Actually there wasn’t any wifi, which was fair enough given that we were staying in an actual tree.)
But this treehouse had a log-burner for warmth, under-floor heating, a splendid copper bath with up-in-the-branches views, a vast balcony, large beds, and a kitchen which even boasted a dishwasher.
Looking out of almost every window yielded views of ancient branches laden with ferns.
Plants-growing-on-other-plants is close to the definition of a rainforest. (I’m reading a book about British rainforests right now, having visited one such forest a few years ago.)
I sat up in this tree with my family, reading a fascinating book about the secret life of fungi whilst a log fire roared. It’s the sort of book where you pause to say GUYS, LISTEN TO THIS! on a regular basis.
It was honestly heaven.
But (my life is full of ‘buts’) there was a problem. The preceding week had been exceptionally cold, and the water pipes in the treehouse froze.
We couldn’t run a tap or flush the loo or do anything watery. The treehouse was located in the (large) grounds of a hotel, and so we awkwardly tiptoed up to management and explained our predicament. Hotel staff/management couldn’t have been kinder or more solicitous. They offered us a room in the main hotel to which we could retreat for use of the loo/kettle/shower/etc. They fed us delicious food. They knocked on the door to check on us. Seriously, they were kindness personified. We didn’t deserve such generosity.
The Stoic Spouse and Twin One slept in the treehouse. Twin Two and perimenopausally-needing-the-midnight-loo I overwintered in the hotel. All was – against the odds – well. I can’t complain.
What a wonderful story. Do not worry the 50 thing it is just a number 75 here. Love the crochet cover on the chair.
Thank you for all of this, especially the encouraging words about age.
OMG the kittens are just so very, very ADORABLE!
congratulations and
purrrrrrr
They really really are adorable, and very affectionate. We’re feeling fortunate.
What a super gift for your 50th, Phil !! – the Stoic Spouse must’ve finally picked up on your endless and unsubtle hinting, eh ? Well done you. [grin]
The kitties are awfully beautiful: to get a pair of all-over black is pretty amazing ! That two-shot of them in the top of the climbing thingy is priceless; but will lead inexorably to huge regret when they’re too big to do that any more..
I’m sorry to see that you personally have no affection for them; but hey, they’ll make do with the Twinnage. Just don’t kick ’em too hard, OK ?
Do you shorten your working hours over the silly season ? – I do hope so: you have a VERY FULL life. But a very rewarding one, right ? 😀
Love from Downunder, where it’s bloody steamy in Melbourne ..
Aww, thank you. And wishing you the happiest of new years over there in tomorrow-land.
Also yes, I’ve taken a couple of weeks off work, but this is solely to help the kittens settle in, rather than for any consideration of Christmas.
And yes, it was an awesome gift. Feeling privileged.
Amazing! What a treat and a “wait til I tell my friends” event. A real treehouse! The Twinage will have an adventure to share. The pictures are beautiful and memory-keeping. The kittens will grow up and outgrow their annoying habits of climbing curtains and wearing yarn after a few years. You will eventually accept the new decade and fill your memories of being in your 50s. Your posts are always a welcome event in my email. Happy New Year and please keep sharing slices of your life with us. I truly hope you use these posts to write a book about a life well lived in your old age.
Thank you for every kind word of your post. The twinnage loved the treehouse, and their joy felt like a birthday gift in itself. I’m not complaining.
When our kitties were young I had to cover my knitting with a blanket whenever I left the room. One of them bit the knobs off all my Tams. Fortunately they were felted (the tams) so not too much damage was done. Enjoy them, like kiddies they grow up fast.
Yup, kittens are trouble, I hear you. They’re worth it though, aren’t they?
Wow! The kittens look gorgeous and I definitely have to look up that treehouse and put it on my wishlist of places to visit.
So good to hear you had such a wonderful time.
The kittens are both beyond gorgeous and we’re all feeling very fortunate… but not getting anything done because stroking kittens is clearly the most important use of our time.
The treehouse is amazing. Stupidly expensive, but if you’re looking for a treat, I can only recommend it.
The kittens are here!! Love them!! Now they will proceed to break/chew/pee on many things. Lock up your breakable, sentimental items. But when they are older and have calmed down a little, they will fill your life with twice the love.
They’re filling our lives with love already. I love them with all my heart and I love even more watching the depth of love/loyalty/affection evolving between my sons and their kittens.
What a great gift for your 50th birthday. So much inspiration, who cares if the pipes were frozen but the main hotel should have known. Their solution was glorious. Your baby kitties are so cute how lucky you are to have them & they are to have you. I hope your holidays were great & your new year when better m.
And I hope your holidays + new year has been good, too. Yes I’m feeling grateful. The treehouse was amazing and the kittens are sharing love with our whole family. Things could definitely be worse.
Oh-my-goodness! Well, I know my granddaughter will be SO pleased with your awesome entry regarding the status of the kitties, as she queries me regularly about them. And, after reading and viewing the gorgeous tree house, I just know that my daughter, son-in-law and their daughter will, indeed, make this a destination, on their first trip to the U.K. Thank you so much for including your adventure to this “memorable” tree habitat. Happy New Year from Oregon, U.S.
Oh PLEASE encourage them to visit this treehouse, if it’s not too expensive. (It IS pricey, which is why two nights for a 50th bday was all we could afford.) I hope they have a blissful time there.
I LOVE your granddaughter’s kitty-interest! Both cats are happy and mischievous. Most importantly, they’ve decided my super-shy sons are the best human beings ever.
Such a wonderful adventure! I loved reading this, thank you!
Happy New Year to you and your loved ones.
Thank you so much. And may 2023 bring you nothing but health, joy, adventure, and contentment.
All was sounding wonderful and tickety-boo til you got to the frozen pipes! Oh well, it still looked like a lot of fun.
Oh it was fun. I’m really not complaining.
What a wonderful story! I loved the look of the tree house! Happy Belated Birthday!
Thank you SO much. And the tree house was even better than the pictures suggest.
Ohhh that Treehouse sounds delicious. We are doing some walks in that area(if the airlines get their act together) so will have to watch for that.
At some time in the future I am hoping that the husband of the house 🏠 and I will enjoy a stay in a glass igloo watching the Northern Lights.
Wishing you and your family a wonderful 2023
Oh goodness, glass igloo sounds like heaven. Enjoy! And although it’s rather spendy, I HIGHLY recommend this treehouse. May your trip be blissful and may your 2023 be fun.
Fascinating to learn that the author of “The Lost Rainforests of Britain” is named Guy Shrubsole. What an apt name for such a book!
Completely agree!
Wow, what a spectacular place! Even without water it’s so cool. And congrats on the new furry additions your family, I’m sure they will keep you all very entertained and properly loved. What a great way to start a New Year!
Oh it was very cool. I am suitably grateful, despite the lack of water.
Thank you for your congrats! The kittens are bringing love and smiles and giggles to our lives. They’re just perfect.
Love the kittens…so happy you found them. So nice that there are 2 one for each twin! Lots of interesting reading re Rainforests in Britain, also the one about fungi…I now live in the Wet Columbia Vegetation Zone of BC, Canada. It’s slowly getting dryer with climate change but is on the wet side of the Columbia range of mountains…the other side is the arid Okanagan Valley which has always been dry but climate change is making it even more desert like. Another interesting book about trees/plants is “Finding the Mother Tree” by Suzanne Simard.
Ooh, it sounds as though you live in an ecologically fascinating place, though I wish it wasn’t being hammered by climate change. THANK YOU for the book recommendation: am off to look.
Oh my goodness, so much to comment on. The kittens are adorable, the tree house looks idyllic (although being 50 and perimenopausal myself I did panic thinking you stayed the night with no loo, phew for the other room), that chair covering is sooo cool (I’ll need to trawl your blog to see when you posted about that as it must have been pre me following you.). I thought it very funny you said long/short drive based on nationality reading. I live in the Scottish Highlands and many of our roads are like Dorset, Devon or Cornwall…not fast, windy and narrow so places do feel like a long drive away.
Oh, you live in the Scottish Highlands? You live in HEAVEN, do you not?
And yeah, at 50 and peri with a penchant for wine, a night without access to decent sanitation wasn’t an option.
I do love it here.
Love reading your exceptionally written stories of your life. Have a wonderfully happy New Year!
You’re far too kind but thank you anyway. May your 2023 be filled with laughter, love, and joy.
The tree house sounds delightful, you’ll have to visit again in a warmer season. Happy 50th! At 70+, I know what you mean about the shock of accepting you’re no longer 36, it’s always a shock to see myself in a mirror since my mental self image is of a much younger self 😉. I hope the boys are good at caring for their new kittens, they are beautiful. Best wishes to you & your family for a happy and healthy 2024.
Thank you for such a warm-hearted comment. May your new year be full of good health and love and joy.
And yes, no longer being 36 is a bit rubbish.
The boys have limitless love for the kittens, and my heart melts as I watch their relationships evolving.
Sounds like a great birthday, life is about memories.
Completely agree. And yes, it was good.
“As a gift for my recent 50th birthday (50TH?!!!! I DEMAND A RECOUNT – IT CANNOT POSSIBLY BE MORE THAN 36)” Tell me about it! I lost count on the way. I had my first child at 32 and somehow I stayed that age in my head. My look in the mirror tells me otherwise though.And the leap over the gate in the woods, I break my neck if I want to jump over it. That didn’t happen at 32. I am so happy for the boys and the cats, there’s so much love <3 Belated happy birthday, dear, big hug and on to the next ten years, promise? That hotel should have booked the money back, this was an absolute miss. But I am a demanding customer I guess.
Thank you so much. And yes yes to forgetting you’re no longer a lithe and youthful 32-year-old!
The treehouse people were very kind, and said we could pay whatever we wanted, even zero! We paid nearly half. It was a good weekend.
Treehouse sounds wonderful Maybe go back in the summer! Your story of the cats reminds we of when we had kittens. They would love to sit on the children’s laps (I have three – children that is) and when the person acting as kitten chair got up they would say “Does anyone want a cat?” and pass kitten on to someone else.
Oh that’s adorable! (Your story about kittens and children.) I just mostly sit here under a (small) pile of kittens, failing to get anything done.
The last times I have happily devoured your blog and photos, I have thought ” this would be a great book.” Not only for stitchers, of course. The photos included. I enjoy is SO much, because of the very Philish way you tell it.
By the way, I adore you and all that you do – and am curious about how the kitties behave with your gardenchair -?
This means so much, especially as you’ve been visiting this blog for so long. Thank you.
The kitties are MOSTLY OK with the chair, but they do regularly try to kill the seagull that perches on the roof. I tell them that seagulls are scary, but they don’t listen…
Tip for kitties and to save your furniture clip their nails (use a small clipper like for your own nails) just pop the tips off. It is the reason cats claw things, to break off the ends. My cat will jump on my chair and dig her claws into the armrest to request a clipping…. no shredded knitting either. The tree house looks amazing… what fun to stay in such a magical place.
Forgot to wish you and yours a Happy New year.
Thank you for all of this, and the happiest of new years to you, too.
Thank you also for the claw-clipping advice. I deliberately handle the kittens’ paws a lot, and the foster carer showed me how to gently press the paws to extend the claws. Now I need to start clipping because these weapons are SHARP.
From the US – got to go to a webinar by Merlin Sheldrake, author of Tangled Life, in November. If you ever have the chance to hear him, grab it. It was fabulous. Now I have to find that book about British rain-forests. Have seen the ones in the Pacific Northwest; they were amazing.
Having owned as many as 4 cats at a time, best way to keep them out of your knitting is good storage and never leaving it unguarded for a moment. Turn your back for 5 seconds and they will find it.
Oh wow! I bet Sheldrake was fascinating. Have you read the book?
I’m not far in to the rainforest book yet, but so far so good. It was honestly a revelation to learn that there were British rainforests (when we visited one a few years ago). I’d assumed they were just a tropical thing. But hey, we’ve certainly got the rain. The Pacific Northwest ones presumably exist in a similar maritime climate?
Thank you for the cat-knitting advice. I need all the help I can get!
Happy belated birthday! I loved this post: cats, twins, a gorgeous treehouse and your amazing story-telling. I’m sorry about the water situation. It makes one realize how lucky we are to have indoor plumbing. All in all, though, life looks joyous and fun. Happy New Year.
Thank you so much. And YAY for functional indoor plumbing! The place was magical anyway, so I’m honestly not properly complaining.
Omg those kittens are beautiful and the tree house trip looks perfect. Alas no stoic spouse here to organise a trip like that but I live in hope of the 16 and 18 year booking me something for my 50th later this year. (Optimism gone wild).
May both teens surpass your expectations and book something magical for your birthday. Happy 50th when the big day comes.
Jack and Hunter look like small panthers (with big ears). I especially like the photo with one of them on the drapery rod!
I turned 60 this year. It is miraculous to be alive for another day (and rather astonishing that there have been so very many days)! The treehouse looked amazing, and I wish you another trip there soon, when there can be both splendid coziness and running water.
Oh! And I am endlessly fascinated by the world of fungi, and end up quoting entire passages in texts in order to share my amazement with them!
Wishing you all a wonderful new year!
Fungi are indeed inscrutable and fascinating. I suspect we’ve got a LOT to learn about them in the coming decades.
Congratulations on your 60th. May the coming decade be filled with adventure and fun.
And yes, Jack and Hunter are indeed tiny little house-panthers. They’re adorable.
Phil, you write so beautifully, down to earth, and ‘normal’ if you know what I mean. Your stories are so interesting, and I love reading them . From one knitter to another, I wish you and all your wonderfull family a very happy New Year, with big hugs to the gorgeous kittens x
And the happiest of new years to you and yours, too. Thank you for such kind words.
We recently endured our third (in four years) pipes burst from freezing. The first two were in a house that we sold last September, the latest was where we live now. I don’t know if you follow US weather at all, but Christmas weekend the temp reached -20˚ F (-38˚ C) here in northern Wisconsin, and we were out of town for a week. We are wondering if our insurance company may raise an eyebrow at our third such claim in four years.
I envy your treehouse vacation (and the young knees and legs that allow you to enjoy it)!
Oh yikes! May the frozen pipes situation be resolved fast. Yes, I’ve been reading about the extreme snowstorms you’ve endured in the US lately. I just hope that you can stay safe and warm.
Oh my goodness that tree house looks divine…shame about the water.
Oh it REALLY was.
Phil, I love your tale of the kittens, also the tree house. Shame the pipes froze. Also I really like the top/tunic you had on when playing with said kittens, from what I could see the pattern was really good for a manufactured item. Keep up the good work with this column, keeps me in touch with the outside world, thank you.