The DeClutter Project Report - Week 13

I had about 30 hours notice before the new kittens arrived and I spent a solid five of those decluttering in my office/guest bedroom.  Clearing off the bed (again), desk (again) and dresser in case kittens were to jump or climb up there eventually.  Mostly shredding and filing papers.  So while I accomplished a lot in the scheme of things, it doesn't make for much of a blog post, except to say that I definitely felt better when it was all done, knowing I had dealt with that much paper.  It astounds me how it all piles up and accumulates.  Some of it is easily thrown out and much of it gets put where it belongs but there are always some pieces that I just don't know what to do with.  If there is no file for it and no action to be taken, perhaps I should just chuck it out?

Since it was just paper processing, I don't have any before and after photos to share this week.  I hope you will forgive me for posting kitten photos instead. :)

They now have names.  The head honcho at Abbey Cats has deemed they should be named after courtesans, namely two of King Edward VII's mistresses and one of Charles II, except for the male, who shall be known as Buckingham, a favoured duke of the King Charles II.  They've had so many litters of kittens go through their system that coming up with distinctive names that they can remember gets harder and harder.  As far as I am concerned, it doesn't really matter because when they go to live in their forever homes, I'm guessing their names will be changed in most cases anyway (although the couple who adopted Storm and Tempest told me they kept the names!)

According to his Wikipedia entry, Buckingham died from a chill after digging for a fox on a hunt and when he died, the title became extinct.  I don't expect that will happen to this kitten, he has a very noticeable fur muff around his face in a smoky mink colour that is quite distinctive against his black fur, it ought to keep him warm.

Lillie Langtry was an actress, known as the "Jersey Lily."  This little kitten wearing the tuxedo is, so far, the most timid of the bunch, the last one to come out to say hello to me this morning when I coaxed them out with food and the first one to run back under the bed if I make a sudden move.

Alice Keppel was a British socialite and "the most famous of Edward VII's mistresses."  Here's a fun fact - she was also the great-grandmother of the Duchess of Cornwall, a.k.a. Camilla Parker-Bowles.  In our case, she is a little black kitten who is very playful, she was the first to come out and play with the string handle on this flashlight (which I use to find the kittens under the bed!)

And last but not least, we have Nell Gwyn (or Gwynne), a long time mistress of King Charles II, also an actress.  This little dear is the smallest of the four but the most adventurous.  She was the first one to let me pet her and the first one to come right up to me and check me out.