**THE BBHQ MIDWEEK NEWS ROUND-UP** Smooch Says It's Warmer Outside, Activities to Keep Warm, Parsley's Brief Sunspot, and Melvyn's Modelling This Weeks Top Pick Bandana

Pawesome Greetings Furbulous Furiends

Welcome to the BBHQ midweek news round-up!

Well, what a week! We'll just give mew the weather update, as we missed that last week; it has been so still for the last three weeks, like no wind at all, not even a whisper of a breeze and very overcast, although we did get a brief sunspot on Sunday (See Parsley further down the post), which was marvellous. We can't ever remember a time, at this time of year when it has been this still for this long at BBHQ; very strange indeed.

Then on Caturday night around 10PM, a radiator burst upstairs and leaked through the kitchen ceiling - great fun, NOT! So we've had no heating since then as the system had to be drained as there was no way to stop the water. Cat Dad has replaced the failed radiator, and he's just replaced the adjacent one, as it was the same age, to mitigate another disaster from that one in the future.

Plus, there are two more that need changing, which is happening as we type this, so hopefully, by tonight - Chewsday evening - the system can be refilled, and with a bit of luck, we'll be all warm and toasty again, as Smooch said, and I quote, "Dude, it's fluffing warmer outside!" See our first news story! 

So the paint will have to come out and the ceiling redone in the kitchen; seriously, it never rains. It BURSTS!!! MOL

Anyhoo, let's look at this week's top headlines.

First up in the news

Smooch Says It's Warmer Outside

As I just said, Smooch said, "Dude, it's fluffing warmer outside!" 

So our little tripawed dude, has been in his favourite basket under the gazebo feeling rather hissed off!

Even though there is a fire in the woodburner - and we burn approved smokeless coal before anypawdy wants to mention climate change - he's adamant that he's better off outside!

Next up in the news

Activities to Keep Warm

Meanwhile, Melvyn, Fudge and Pandora were seeking indoor activities to keep warm, and this is what they came up with! MOL

In Other News

Parsley's Brief Sunspot

On Remembrance Sunday, Parlsey was lucky enough to enjoy this sunspot under the gazebo for a while until it clouded over again.

Finally this week

Melvyn's Modelling The Top Bandana Pick

Last week, mew voted for the Woodland Furiends bandana and suggested that Melvyn could model it in memory of Peanut and Fred, which he is honoured to do.

Melvyn did a really great job, and if mew want to see the P.A. making this special bandana, we posted a video on TikTok - it's only five minutes long. And don't worry if mew don't have TikTok; mew can always watch as a guest with no sign-in. As we haven't had time to post to Instagram or YouTube yet, but if mew want to see it on those channels, let us know, and we'll try to make that happen for next week.

Check out Melvyn's catwalk videos on your preferred social media channel:

TikTok

Instagram

YouTube

Which one is your favourite this week?

Which one should he model next?

Here's the brand new bandana fabric collection for November.

 There are four Wednesdays this month, but there were five fabric quarters, and they are all too cute not to share, and they are lovely brushed cotton, so Melvyn is loving that cozy vibe! MOL  

The P.A. has decided to leave the choices like this, so just pick your favourite fabric and watch it appear like magic on Melvyn next week! MOL

This month's epic options are:

1. Supurr Cute Foxes

2.  Bears and Bunnies

3. Woodland Furiends

4. Autumn Butterflies

5. Butterflies and Shrooms

Tell us your top pick for next week in the comments!

That's us done for today, Amber will be back on Friday with a brand new book review and if mew missed any other posts, here are the links:

 The B Team's Remembrance Sunday Selfie

**ReRun** The Smooch Report

Amber's Latest Book Review

Check out the latest episodes of The Purrminator, as tomorrow we'll be back with Chapter Three in Melvyn's epically epic origin story:

Chapter One

Chapter Two

We do hope mew have a totally terrific day, and remember to always...

Wing Commander Basil & The B Team 

Don't furget to subscribe and never miss another post! 

Graphics created with paid licence www.canva.com 

**RERUN** **A FLASHBACK TO 2014 WITH WING COMMANDER BASIL** The Smooch Report - Can I Taste Purrlease?

Welcome to

Monday greetings my epic furriends

This post originally aired way, way, way back on March the 3rd 2014. 

Like wow, that is so incredibly old! MOL 

Anyhoo, we were looking for another post the other day and stumbled across this one, which tells the story of Smooch and his sibling's arrival at the P.A.'s work and thought it might be nice to share again with readers who might not have seen it the first time around.

For all our new readers this is just for context; when the blog first started twelve years ago, I Basil, was the only kitty who really used to be here. My fur-sibs popped along every now and again, but mainly it was just me, myself and I. Not that I was being selfish or anything, it was just the way it was! MOL

So when reading today's flashback, mew will gather that we were in the throes of beginning to expand everyone's airtime, so it wasn't just Basil Time all the time.

Smooch's Origins

As mew will remember from last Friday's post, it was agreed that my fur-siblings get a little more blog time and Smooch in purrticualr was furry adamant that another Smooch Report was needed asap. So to appease my baby brofur before he goes all mental on me and licks me into oblivion, here is another installment of:

The Smooch Report

Many of mew already know Smooch, but fur those that don't here's a little re-cap.

Smoochie was part of a feral furrmily living at my P.A.'s workplace. There was a mummy cat and her 6 kittens. They just appeared one day in May 2011, and the P.A. started to feed them all.  

When they were all old enough, each one in turn, was caught and taken to the vet to be neutered and the mummy cat too, (the P.A. believes in being responsible). Anyway, I digress, so the 6 kittens were called: Tiger Lily, Midnight, Ringo, Baby, Starlight and Smoochie. Mummy cat was called Pixie.

1. Starlight  2. Baby  3. Tiger Lily  4. Pixie  5. Ringo  6. Midnight  7. Smooch

The P.A. spent many hours while she was at work taming this furry horde with the help of bucketloads of Dreamies and long feather wands. She managed to hand-feed all of them, and they liked her so much that they even ate the wormer pills straight from her fingers like they were treats!  (This does not happen at our house, effur!! We get stuff squirted on our necks because we won't eat the pills no matter how they are disguised!!)

Poppy is another feral who's been on site for 15 years

Sadly,  Starlight and Ringo went wandering across the busy main road, and I hate to say this, but they went to the Rainbow Realm - both in less than 2 weeks of each other. The P.A. was so furry furry upset. Then Smooch also tried to cross this road; he made it back, but he'd been hit by a vehicle, and his back right leg was badly broken. Anyhoo, the P.A. and Cat Dad managed to catch him, get a pet carrier and rush him to the vet. His leg was broken so badly that it had to be removed.  

After the operation, he was taken back to the workplace as there was an empty dog run/kennel, and he needed to be kept contained while he healed. Smooch was kept in the run for a few weeks, and the P.A. and Dad socialized him further; he wasn't alone as his other siblings were there all the time, only on the other side of the wire.   

After his leg was healed, the P.A. and Dad brought him home and integrated him into The B Team as they knew if he stayed at their workplace, he'd probably try and cross the road again, and next time, he wouldn't be so lucky.

So that's how Smooch came to live at BBHQ. The other furbabies are still at work and seem happy enough to roam around the gardens and the fields away from the road - thank goodness. The P.A. tells them all the time to: 'Stay off the road'

Anyways, Smooch is the most loving, furriendly, kind and sweet kitty mew could effur meet. He is also furry, furry affectionate, and this is where this week's title comes from because every time I come inside after being out to play, he has to taste me!

Can I Taste Purrlease? 

The other evening, I had just come in from another field excursion and flopped on the kitchen table. Smooch, who only goes out under strict supervision, virtually pounces on me the moment I get in the door, so I thought being on the table would give me a bit of a reprieve. How wrong I was!

The tasting assault began with my back foot

Then it moved up to my neck

On to my head

At this point, I got up - I think my face says it all!

I moved along the table, but Smooch is relentless in his quest for outdoor flavours

I think this expression speaks volumes

Help!

It's not that I mind so much, but it's ALL THE TIME, and I am a ManCat, don't get me wrong, having someone to clean the parts your own tongue can't reach is a huge bonus, but being randomly taste tested after every outdoor excursion is something else. 

I love my baby brofur, but sometimes I wish he'd taste test one of the others instead, howeffur, as I'm the only one who likes to venture out every day, I don't think that's going to happen anytime soon!!! MOL

**2024 Update** 

Pixie, Smooch's mum is still there, she moved in the house with Nanny and Grampaw. 

And there's also Twinkle, and Rupert. Sadly Squeaky, a lovely panfur went to the Rainbow Realm late last month, which we are all really, really sad about, as he would follow the P.A. into the showroom. Poppy, also has gone to Rainbow Ream... 

Anyhoo, we'll be back on Wednesday with more Midweek News, and if mew missed any other posts, here are the links:

The Purrminator ~ Chapter One

The Purrminator ~ Chapter Two

Amber's Latest Book Review

Sunday Selfies with Me, Basil

In the meantime...

Wing Commander Basil

Don't furget to subscribe and never miss another post! 

Graphics created with paid licence www.canva.com  

Remembrance Sunday **PLUS** Wing Commander Basil's Selfie on The Sunday Selfies & Caturday Art Blog Hops

Happy Sunday supurr furiends

Welcome to another BBHQ selfie selection, and today I am here sharing an epic selfie from 2009 when I was in my mega chonk'a'licious phase:

 Wing Commander Basil

Ah, the good old days when I was in my prime, or as I like to call it, my epically epic era! MOL

We're also joining in Athena's Fabulous Art Hop so do stop by and show off your pawesome arty-farty skills.

BeFunky has a new filter, comics ai. There are only two to try, so we tried this one, and it's pawesome!

The effect was created with Befunky - AI Enhancer + Comic Book GFX. We think it turned out really cute.

 

We also turned this fab arty-farty picture into a puzzle, so do stop by the puzzle page and take the Puzzle Challenge, see if mew can beat our time of 8 mins 47 secs. 

Remembrance Sunday

[Wing Commander Basil and his 1943 Ford Jeep]

Today we give thanks to all the brave soldiers and anipals who lost their lives. 

If it wasn't for them, our future today would be furry different. 

We salute mew all

Battle of Passchendaele: 31 July - 6 November 1917

The P.A.'s Grandfather fought in the Battle of Passchendaele; he was shot by German soldiers who thought he was dead and he was put in a mass grave. Luckily, another German soldier saw him move and pulled him free. He was then taken to a German POW camp where his leg was amputated below the knee. He got gangrene, and a second amputation was carried out; he was finally released after many months as part of a prisoner exchange.   

Upon finally returning home, the remainder of his leg was removed almost to the hip, and he used a wooden leg enabling him to walk, but he did more than walk; he literally built a business from nothing, had a family and left a legacy which now the P.A. runs with her mum.

Though he never spoke of his ordeal much, the P.A.'s Great Aunty got to learn of the horrors he suffered, hence the reason we know his history today. 

Grandpa Fred & Nana

Grandpa Fred died in 1946 when the P.A.'s mum was only 3, and the P.A.'s Grandmother was left with 5 children under the age of 10 and a business to run. The P.A. gives thanks daily for her Grandpa's grit, courage and determination.

In honour of Grandpa Fred 1886 - 1946

On that note, we'll wish mew a blessed day, and we'll be back on the morrow, so do join us then as mew know how much we love your company.

Sunday Purrs, and don't forget to...

Wing Commander Basil & The B Team

We are also joining in the pawesome Sunday Selfies Blog Hop with

 Angel Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Angel Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth, Calista Jo, Cooper Murphy and Sawyer ~ visit them at their pawesome blog:

www.thecatonmyhead.com

Don't furget to subscribe to our blog and never miss another post. 

Graphics created with paid licence @www.canva.com & www.befunky.com

Lest We Forget from glitter-graphics.com & Poppy Graphic