Don’t listen to Babs!
Our cat door/flap has been looking a bit fragile lately, and today it finally broke.
Replacing a cat door is a simple enough thing, you would think. You’d be wrong to think that when it’s our cat flap! It went like this.
2pm.
Mo: “Babs, help me mark where the screws go for this new cat flap.”
Babs: (going out to see what was what) “That’s no good, it’s far too small. Mitzi will never fit through that!”
Mo: “Are you sure?”
Babs: “I’m sure, we’ll have to get a bigger one”
Mo: “That means I have to go all the way to Barnsley” (30minutes each way)
Babs: “Well you’ll have to, that’s far too small”
Mo: (retrieving the broken door from the waste bin) “I’ll take the old door for size, see you later”
3:15pm.
Mo: “They were all too small. I eventually got this one. It’ll have to do”
Babs: (Looking at it disdainfully) “Oh OK, I suppose it’ll do. It’s very flimsy”
Mo: “It was only £5. All the more expensive ones were too small”
We set about making a wooden frame and fixed it to the door. Looking good! Mo went outside to test the screw holes etc. Door gets jammed! We discover that the hole is too narrow so we chisel away all the extra wood at the side and test again. Door gets jammed! We discover that the hole is too shallow so we chisel all the extra wood away at the top and test again. Door gets jammed.
We chisel away the wood at the bottom. A whole chunk of the door falls out! We get some ‘Hard as nails’ and glue it back quickly, test the door again and finally it seems to be working. Mo screws it on and…… the door gets jammed!
This went on until we finally got the door swinging OK but the outside part wouldn’t shut properly.
Babs: “This is so cheap and flimsy, it’s never going to work right”
Mo: “Are you sure the other one was too small?”
Babs: “Lets compare it with this one….. oh….er…. it’s bigger, and much more sturdy. I think we should change it over”
Mo: (Not once moaning at me for what was obviously all my fault) “OK then. Are you sure it will fit now?”
Babs: “Yes, it’ll fit. I’ll make a new frame.”
By this time it was getting dark and we were hungry.
Mo: “I’m going to get some take-away while you make the frame.”
Babs: “OK” Sets too, marking out the sizes on the wood for the frame.
9:45pm!!
New frame made, ready to start again tomorrow. Big sheet of wood covering a hole in the back door.
The message here is ‘Don’t listen to Babs regarding the size of cat flaps!’
Stumble it!
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Jaffer
| 26 September 2008 at 17:00
My first job after graduation was working at an assembly line for image-servers – and I was responsible for filling bins with all sorts of computer parts according to part numbers which were 9 digits long !
One night, I misread a part number and asked the warehouse for more. They told me that bin was already stocked. And a little argument ensued and I held up production for a whole hour ! Until I discovered my mistake and sheepishly asked again with the right part-number.
Don’t make Jaffer read numbers with more than 5 digits.
Jaffer´s last blog post..The last ten nights of Ramadan
Sandie
| 26 September 2008 at 18:01
Well you saved a tidy sum Babs. I believe our dog flap was between £30 and £40!! Mind you, it is sturdy, and larger than yours.
JD at I Do Things
| 26 September 2008 at 18:15
I don’t think I would be any good at that sort of thing, either. Mo was a good sport not to say “I told you so!” (and to go out for takeout!)
JD at I Do Things´s last blog post..I Get Free Stuff so you don’t have to
beetle
| 26 September 2008 at 18:21
Jaffer: Poor you. Somehow, when you are younger these things are more embarrassing. You can laugh them off when you are a bit older.
Sandy: Well the £5 was wasted, as we didn’t use it in the end
Decent cat flaps are about £35 too.
JD: Nothing worse than cat flaps. They are so low down to work on. We can’t breath when we bend that low :O)
Jay
| 26 September 2008 at 20:00
Oh gosh … what a palaver!! Perhaps putting Mitzi on a diet would work better? LOL!
Just kidding.
Looks like you’re doing a great job though. Even if you won’t be able to straighten up for a week.
Lee
| 26 September 2008 at 20:05
very funny!
Lee´s last blog post..FYI
beetle
| 26 September 2008 at 20:21
Jay: Oh it was a palaver Jay! Two days it took us! All done now and works like a dream. Mind you a diet for Mitzi wouldn’t be a bad idea
Lee: It wasn’t at the time!
Maureen
| 26 September 2008 at 22:17
Wow… well, at least you tried. I have never installed a cat or dog flap. And now that I’ve read this, I don’t believe I shall tackle that job… ever.
At least you admitted when you were mistaken. I only get miffed when someone insists they are right; even after proven wrong!!
Maureen´s last blog post..Birdie, Birdie In The Sky…
Lady Banana
| 27 September 2008 at 8:31
Ohh cat flaps! I’m hoping we wont need one as we have a little ventilation hatch which our neighbours cat has always found to be very useful, so I hope Mabel will use it as well when the time comes..
Lady Banana´s last blog post..Autumn And Back To Uni
Ana
| 27 September 2008 at 13:50
Hahaha, how happy I am we don’t need a cat flap!
I guess I would make up the same story! 
Ana´s last blog post..Photo Hunt – View
granny grimble
| 27 September 2008 at 14:04
It strange how sometimes what seems to be a simple task, can end up being such a mammoth one! If you were going to paint the lounge you’d probably do it while Mo was making a cuppa! Still you’ve got three happy cats I’ll bet!
granny grimble´s last blog post..ON GETTING ENGAGED
beetle
| 27 September 2008 at 14:29
Maureen: It would be a good idea to get an agile man to do it. Sadly they are thin on the ground here
Lady Banana: Oh you lucky girl! A ready mad cat door!
Ana: You are fortunate. It’s a horrid job!
Granny Grimble: It seems to go that way when it relies on precision. Made worse by it being almost on the floor!
DrowseyMonkey
| 27 September 2008 at 22:39
I’m impressed you have nails. I’d never attempt such a thing.
And sadly, cat’s aren’t allowed outside around here…don’t get me started on that one.
DrowseyMonkey´s last blog post..The Canadianization of Olga
chat blanc
| 27 September 2008 at 22:50
sorry to laugh at your expense but that certainly was a comedy of errors! so glad tempers didn’t fly!
chat blanc´s last blog post..The death of chocolate!
beetle
| 27 September 2008 at 23:02
Drowsey: We have always been DIY girls, but cat flaps are difficult because they are so low down!
Chat Blanc: I don’t mind you laughing. We did the next day! Who said tempers didn’t fly? You obviously don’t know Mo
Samantha & Mr. Tigger
| 28 September 2008 at 1:53
Been there! Done that! Mom says she can never guess the right size! (hehehehehehe)
Your FL furiends,
and Chandra
Samantha & Mr. Tigger´s last blog post..Photo Hunt #129-VIEW
beetle
| 28 September 2008 at 12:00
Samantha & Tigger: It’s not an easy job to do. Thankfully we don’t have to do it too often!
Janice
| 28 September 2008 at 20:05
As soon as my husband utters the immortal words “This should only take about an hour” I know we’re in for a big job and multiply by a factor of 3.
Janice´s last blog post..BUNNY BOILER?
beetle
| 28 September 2008 at 20:46
Janice: That’s the trouble with DIY. It always takes longer than it’s supposed to! We always allow a few hours – then it takes more
Swubird
| 29 September 2008 at 0:10
Babs:
Great story. I couldn’t even begin to recall the number of times I have screwed up a project – including those that should have been simple to do. It happens to all of us.
Have you ever built one of those Do-It-Yourself pieces of Ikea furniture? I took great care in building a little cabinet for my daughter when she was in graduate school. We were three thousand miles from home, and we had to return the next day, so time was of the essence. I studied the drawing, read the instructions, and carefully did exactly what they told me to do. I thought. But I managed to put one piece in backwards, and I didn’t find out about it until the whole thing was finished. My daughter was also very nice and understanding, but I flet her pain.
Happy trails.
Swubird´s last blog post..SECRET MEMORY
Karen, author of "My Funny Dad, Harry"
| 29 September 2008 at 0:41
I know how what seems to be “easy” projects turn into quite a production. My challenge was hanging pictures in our basement this weekend. It took way longer than you’d think! Always wondered about those dog and cat flaps–don’t other unwanted critters come in through them such as squirrels or rabbits or mice or raccoons, etc.?
Karen, author of “My Funny Dad, Harry”´s last blog post..Atheists Amaze Me That They Can Actually Deny the Existence of God!
beetle
| 29 September 2008 at 0:55
Swubird: Most of those flat pack things have badly drawn pictures and instructions. How are we supposed to get it right first time? Glad your daughter was understanding ;O)
Karen: I imagine you may have those problems, but our only possible threat is another cat, which did happen once. We generally don’t get the wildlife in the UK that you seem to get.
Liudmila
| 2 October 2008 at 9:30
I’ve never seen a cat’s door in my life and can not understand how it is possible leave a great hole in the door always open. Don’t you feel cold and wind in the house with these additional hole?