Began to sketch the outline for my first pet portrait. I am feeling quite confident about this. Hopefully if I get time I will lay on the first coat tomorrow. It's really cold up here in the Northwest. I think the temperature has risen slightly but there is a biting cold wind that has you scampering for shelter as quick as you can. My washing machine out pipe is still blocked with ice. As a result I thought I was going to externally combust this morning. Whilst trying to get myself ready for work and the kids ready for school the washing machine flooded the kitchen. I couldn't for the life of me get my younger two out of bed, it was like trying to raise the Titanic. I started calling them at 7.00 o'clock but they didn't shift until I really blasted at 7.30. My daughter claimed that was the first time she heard me calling her! So whilst trying to mop the kitchen, wake them 2 up, listen to my elder son moaning because his walk to school mate had suddenly decided to drop him and not bother calling for him anymore, so was he trying to get me to give him a lift, then the cat brought in a bird nice and alive that he deposited in the boys room. The bird and cat stood staring at each other. I managed to get the cat out of the bedroom then went for my gardening gloves to catch the bird. With one dry glove and one very wet and cold glove on I tried to catch the bird. It fluttered out of my grasp and went behind the radiator, which was on full blast. I then had to turn the radiator off so it didn't burn to death. Later I did manage to get it out and let it go outside in the garden. The dumb bird thought that it would hop around the garden for a while so it was no surprise at all to find it back in the house when I came back at lunchtime. This time it was hopping around the kitchen windowsill. Teddy, the cat (who doesn't like to climb) looked fed up sitting on a chair. I then had to open the window and let the bird out once more.............(deep sigh). Luckily for the bird my other cat, a true born serial killer, slept all day otherwise the bird would have certainly been in the dustbin by now. Wishing for a calmer day tomorrow.