Monday 8 February 2010

Small crisis.

No blog on yesterday as we were out to lunch fortuitously as it happened because the small crisis is that our Aga has gone off. It suddenly switched itself off and so the kitchen is heated just by the central heating - I have no method of cooking other than a microwave - and we suddenly realise just how warm the aga keeps the whole house. Added to that our aga engineer, who services it twice yearly, seems to have gone to Australia to visit his daughter. I was given another engineer's phone number but he is on holiday for the whole of February and all I can get is an answerphone to another engineer, who is not calling me back. The farmer is dismantling its innards and it is looking as though water may have got into the oil. However, in the giant scheme of things we are not starving, or suffering from an earthquake or any other catastrophe - and at least we had roast beef and Yorkshire pudding for lunch yesterday, so we are definitely on the up (says she optimistically).
So - let me ask - on an entirely different subject (the less said about the Aga the better) - are you a cat owner or a dog owner - or do you not have pets? Bristol University has done some research which they say suggests that cat owners may be more intelligent than dog owners. There has been some hilarious correspondence over the issue in The Times.
We have Tess and Tip, Border Terrier and Border Collie respectively and we also have Blackie and Creamy the farm cats. So I am not sure where that leaves us.
Today there are two lovely letters. The first is to remind us all that cats do not have owners - the writer suggests that all they do is lease their services in return to food. He also suggests that cat owners are gullible and therefore (like most academics he says) lacking in common sense. The other letter says the writer knows for certain that she is regarded as staff by her "small furry family members."
So let's have a count so that I can make a list and see how it all works out in blogland. Are you a) a cat's servant. b) a dog owner. or c) can't stand either of them.
In the meantime - it is snowing again and more is forecast and it is cold too. But spare a thought for our friends on the Eastern side of US (Kate of Country Girl for one) where there is a huge amount of snow. Our measly little covering is nothing by comparison.
Keep warm folks!

##RIP Johnnie Dankworth, who died on Saturday. I saw him at The Drill Hall in Lincoln in about 1950 - magic.

30 comments:

Sal said...

A similar thing has happened here. Although I don't have an Aga,I do have a fairly new Worcester Bosch boiler and the engineer is here right now, investigating a leak.
It's such a pain when these things happen,isn't it?
I'm boiling up pans of water at the mo!
Hope you get your problem sorted out soon!!

;-)

Anonymous said...

We are warm here in Melbourne Weaver. Yesterday was in the 30s C, today 35C and tomorrow a forecast of 31C and Wed 30C.
Sorry that things aren't all rosy for you regarding the Aga.
We have Zulu and Mango the cat. I am partial to dogs and hubby to cats. Be we love them both. Mango is aloof and can be quite the arrogant member, when she struts her stuff with her tail held high, with only the tip at a right angle, that passes under Zulu's nose, as she walks in front of him. Zulu is a people dog and loves company. I am not going to discuss the owners' qualities, that could go on forever.

Rachel Fox said...

Dogs all the way. And it sounds like that research was done by cat-fanciers (and ones with nothing better to do than pointless surveys at that)! Plus how the hell do you measure intelligence anyway? There are lots of different types of intelligence.

Another reason why I don't read the Times, I'm afraid.
x

Penny said...

37 degrees C here today, worse tomorrow and humid with it, dont mind it if its dry heat. I have always had both dogs and cats, Oscar, the cat is Johns and regards us as part of the pride, gets pretty cross if at dinner time some one else is sitting in his chair.
I have had inside dogs (pugs) and outside dogs (various working and greyhound stag hound crosses called here in the old days kangaroo dogs) and like them all. There were times when we had about 6 cats and 6 dogs but then we are a farm and we need cats to keep down the rats and mice, of which I am having a mini plague at the moment as Oscar is an inside cat, he does do away with any mice inside, and the stable cat has been far too busy in the stables and dairy to come up here.
Not all dogs were working dogs.
Hope your aga is fixed soon!

Robin Mac said...

Oh dear, I hope your aga is fixed soon, they give such wonderful warmth to the house. I grew up with both dogs and cats, but since my marriage we have only had dogs as unfortunately Bill is very allergic to cats (and horses). I agree with Rachel, how on earth do you measure real intelligence anyway! The letters to the Times should prove interesting for the next few days though. Cheers, Robin in hot and humid Mackay (31 degrees celsius and about 76% humidity)

Helsie said...

Pretty hot here in Brisbane too.
This is a dogs only house and at the moment there are two - a Border Collie and a Blue Heeler ( Australian Cattle Dog ) cross. We love them both and their personalities are very different. I love dogs because they are great companions but cats make me sneeze!
Hope the Aga is fixed soon
Helen

Heather said...

Years ago one of our kittens climbed over the trip-switch at the side of the Aga and turned it off. I didn't realise what had happened and called out the engineer to 'mend' it! We had dogs and cats for years but are down to one old cat now, who is not well at present. Having always been very independent and mean with his affections, he positively demands attention and fuss which is very unusual. The dogs have always been more affectionate. Looking forward to finding out whether I am more intelligent than a dog owner!! Hope you get your Aga repaired as soon as possible - fancy going on holiday in February when you're a heating engineer. This winter is certainly having a good run for it's money.

Tess Kincaid said...

When our children were growing up we had both cats and dogs, a housefull of kids and animals. The nest is now empty, of both.

Hope the Aga's up and running soon!

Reader Wil said...

We were cat owners and we knew that we were regarded as staff by them. Dogs however have masters. There is a lovely little boocalled "The Mousehole Cat" written by Antonia Barber and illustrated by Nicola Bayley. It's a Cornish tale of Mowzer, the cat and her pet Tom, an old fisherman, who braved the fury of the Storm Cat and thus saved the village for starvation.

Maggi said...

Sorry to hear about your Aga - can't understand why the engineers would choose to go on holiday at a time of year when they are likely to be most in need.

I am definitely a cat servant at the moment. I grew up with dogs but unfortunately my late husband was allergic to them so cats it became. He always used to say "Never trust a man who does not like cats" and strangely enough I have often found this to be the case since. He never mentioned anything about women and cats!

Having said that, when I stop work I am going to get another dog.

Ammara said...

my dad hates cats nd my mom hates dogs... so i cnt hav either... bt i had an aunt who had both and goats, parrots, sparrows, alot of stuff..
nd i think i have a special affiliation with dogs...they kinda love me...nd vice versa... i even had a dog... he ws kidnapped...another pup i brought ws killed due to a cold cuz my mom wudnt allow hm in the house...
i cnt understand wat aga is
nd also wt the crisis ws...
smthing related to heating....i gues...

Golden West said...

We have a neighborhood cat who visits when he is so inclined and had dogs and cats both through childhood. My childhood dog was half St. Bernard and half basset hound, named Friend. He wasn't terribly bright but a loyal and loving companion who sort of lumbered along.

aromatic said...

Hope you get your Aga sorted out very soon! We are having a sprinkling of snow here in Warwickshire. We have two cats both elderly now and very loving. We also have a lively border collie who gets on very well with the cats and they suffer his over eagerness!
Jane xxx

Pamela Terry and Edward said...

Let's see if I can get through this comment without forgetting how to spell. For yes, I am a dog owner! And if it terns out that I have sackreefised mie intellygunce to bee one, so bee et.

thousandflower said...

My husband and I are staff to 3 house cats and 9 barn cats. The latter keep the barn free of rats and the garden mostly free of rabbits. They are working cats who earn every kibble they eat. Now as for the house cats, well...

sanjeet said...

I'm boiling up pans of water at the mo!
Hope you get your problem sorted out soon!!


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Hildred said...

Oh Weaver, sorry about your Aga but admire the way you are coping with the crisis.

We are affectionate slaves to the bladder of our dear little shitzu who has been such a merry companion over the last fifteen years.

Charles has a relationship with Callie the cat, - she talks back to him and has him under her thumb.

Farm days saw us with working dogs and a dozen barn cats, and we have fond memories of them too.

I am not sure where this leaves us intellectually.

Leilani Schuck Weatherington said...

We are a cat's servant, only because our dog died and we have not gotten another one. We tend to call her the "idiot kitty" but I am wondering if we are not the idiots given how well she has trained us.

Totalfeckineejit said...

DOGS DOGS DOGS DOGS WE'VE ALL GONE TO THE DOGS!

Ps if your Aga was working and now isn't does that mean it's gone from being the Aga Khan to the Aga Can't?

Heather said...

Well done for making your first book cover Pat. (I can't go on calling you Weaver!) It's a shame you aren't pleased with it - you'll like the next one better!

Teresa said...

Former dog person turned cat person (though I still like dogs). We refer to my cat, Bailey, as a stomach on four legs. Pretty much sums up the state of affairs around here! Though I will say... he is awfully sweet... when he wants to be.

Dinesh chandra said...

Hi sorry, your aga is not working.

Good post to experience .


Regards

Dinesh Chandra

Crafty Green Poet said...

em, let me think cats or dogs? Why are bunnies never mentioned in these newspaper discussions? Bunnies are the third most popular pet in the UK and US and have as much personality as dogs or cats. So although I don't have a pet at the moment, I would be a bunny slave. However given the choice cat vs dog I'd have a cat though I do like Westies....

Rachel Phillips said...

Well at least you've got the woodburner and the central heating. No chance of ice on the insides of the windows. You can cook on the top of the woodburner. We have barn cats and two other cats that come indoors. It certainly is a strange time of the year for heating engineers to take their holidays.

Lisa at Greenbow said...

It cracks me up how people can get so worked up over the cat vs dog issue. I have a dog right now. I have had cats in the past.

I hope your Aga has recovered, your tummy is full and your home is warmer.

Unknown said...

Hello Weaver,

Well, I'm in the neither camp. Not that I would use the word hate! All my family have had both pet varieties but as I have travelled a lot it didn't seem sensible and then one becomes very selfish!

I'm about to go off again now, so I'll see you around! Hope the aga saga is resolved soon.

Jinksy said...

As far as your moggy/doggy survey goes, I treat both with the distain they deserve. Walking flea factories with a stomach are not my idea of fun.
As for moles, an ancient Auntie of mine possessed a moleskin coat; now, why not have moggy/doggy coats and reduce the world's flea population at the same time?

The Weaver of Grass said...

Aga repaired and going strong - can't tell you all how warm it is after several chilly days.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Weaver's Mini-survey

6 dog lovers
4 cat lovers
10 dog and cat lovers
1 all for bunnies.

Judging by your answers I think we can safely say that the University study is daft - can't they find anything better to spend their money on, I ask. They will be doing a study on why you get wet when it rains next.

Thanks for your comments.

Anonymous said...

Good to hear your Aga is working again.
Here we have neither cats nor dogs, but there are some mice in our attic, - not that I love them or hate cats or dogs. It is just the way it is :-)