This post is a little off centre, but, it does cover the subject: “Food”. Albeit for our furry friends, the friends that we have shared our life with for over 40 years. It also fills the brief “Monkvalley memories”.
You know us, where furry is concerned we always rule with “a rod of iron”. We decide what they eat! and when! Right??
The first friend to arrive was Busby the cat. He was named of course after the famous Sir Matt, and, you will detect a naming strategy running through this dialogue-
He was a huge character – thinking himself more of canine persuasion rather than feline!
From day one, dried food was looked at with disdain. We decided to try Whiskas canned food …….. the first “flavour” was rabbit.
From that moment on Whiskas rabbit was the only canned food he would entertain!
Supplemented with the odd trout, red mullet or koi carp. The carp courtesy of our neighbour’s pond. We found it on the front door step at 7 o’clock, in the morning, just as we were about to leave for work.
Sheila did not appreciate the clean up operation to destroy the evidence. We did manage to convince the neighbour that a passing heron was the culprit. Not Busby
Snoopy then arrived, a very clever cocker spaniel and we were pleased to see that he and busby became friends.
Food wise he changed his food of choice regularly, so of course we stuck to our guns………. tempting him with tasty morsels!
Lucy, a rescued old English sheep dog, joined the team. 
She was just happy to be with us, and did not have a problem with food. Always went for bulk and so long as it was edible she was happy. It was at this time that Busby decided the kitchen work surface was a safer option. Lucy had read all the books, seen all the pictures. Dog chasers cat.
When Snoopy left us. Lucy was joined by Henry. He was another cocker spaniel, another waif and stray of sorts. Advert in the Derbyshire Times: “Henry is Lonely”
Lucy decided from day one that Henry was her “charge” and that her role in life was to protect him, play with him, to do what ever HE wanted. To the end of the world and back, well not quite, but she did throw herself into a lake. Henry who loved water got tangled up in the weeds and was crying out. Without hesitation she jumped in – she absolutely hated water- with the end result: we had to drag them both out!!
Henry ate virtually anything. Often entering the greenhouse and helping himself to a few cherry tomatoes or walking along the row of haricot vert munching on a few. All vegetables were appreciated, fruit, including citrus were seen as a treat!
It was after Busby left us that we decided to move to France, (although this was not the primary reason!) and so it was in 2001 we travelled across the channel with Lucy and Henry crammed on the back seat of the car. Cramped, but pleased to be with us. We spent 3 years happy with them here.
Ash came along in 2004. Now; compared to what has gone before Ash is a different kettle of fish (he actually does like fish) because food has never been a priority for him. Many morsels of temptation over the years were tried, until we decided “If he is hungry, he will eat”
For those of you who do not know Ash was born in the year that England won the Ashes. 2005 the first time apparently since 1989.
Skye and Wiggins were born in the year that Bradley Wiggins won the Tour de France, riding for team Sky(e). Abandoned at birth, they were left alone for hours. Skye was even left a further 24 hours, before being found. It does our hearts good, to see them now. Two very happy pussy’s
Food wise Skye and Wiggins are pretty easy – however food must be available 24 hours a day!! If bowls are empty a chorus of loud miaowing ensues.
Ash will eat when he his hungry that was fine, until he was diagnosed with diabetes ………….. and thus it became important that food is eaten, and consumed as close to each injection of insulin as possible. This is given twice a day 06:30 and 18:30. This is where Sheila shouts: “John only knows one 6:30 and that is in the evening”!!
The evening feed is simple, devoured in an instant …………… the morning feed is proving more of a challenge! Adding a little chicken, fish or even butter to the prescribed dried food. Of course like most animals he now realises that if he stands back refusing to eat then more tasty morsel will be proffered. As I said at the beginning, you can feel a “rod of iron” running all through this post!!!
Our next challenge is to prepare home made high protein food for Ash. Recipe to follow!
I remember all these little darlings well and they all have one thing in common a very happy home 🐶🐱
You might want to try the raw food diet for Ash we’ve recently introduced this to Lola and whereas she would leave dry food for hours it’s gone in seconds. Also add a bit of chopped veg. We buy Natural Instinct but many others on the market x