#winter and diabetes management

[diabetes-health-corner]

Winter Diet Tips For Diabetics

Extremes of both cold and hot weather can have an impact on your body’s ability to produce and use insulin in a negative way. But our aim should be to not allow the environment to have the upper hand. Following a few steps, you can definitely control the situation.

Read our blog to know more: https://www.freedomfromdiabetes.org/blog/post/winter-diet-tips-for-diabetics%20/346

[global-newz]

World Diabetes Day 2024: Theme, History, Significance & Top Winter Foods for Diabetics

World Diabetes Day (WDD), observed every year on November 14, is a global event aimed at raising awareness about diabetes—a chronic condition affecting millions of people worldwide. This day, organized by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the World Health Organization (WHO), is a reminder of the importance of early diagnosis, prevention, and management of diabetes. In 2024, the theme of World Diabetes Day, “Breaking Barriers, Bridging Gaps,” highlights the need to reduce diabetes risks and ensure equitable access to quality care for all individuals living with diabetes.

Theme for World Diabetes Day 2024

The theme "Breaking Barriers, Bridging Gaps" focuses on breaking down the obstacles that prevent individuals from receiving adequate healthcare for diabetes. It calls for a global effort to improve access to affordable, high-quality treatment and care, especially for underserved populations. This year’s theme underscores the importance of addressing gaps in healthcare systems and ensuring that every person diagnosed with diabetes can live a healthy, fulfilling life through proper care, education, and support.

The History of World Diabetes Day

World Diabetes Day was established in 1991 by the IDF and WHO in response to the growing concerns over diabetes as a global health issue. In 2006, the United Nations recognized the day through the adoption of Resolution 61/225, officially acknowledging diabetes as a serious global health threat. November 14 was chosen as the date to celebrate WDD in honor of Sir Frederick Banting’s birthday, the scientist who, along with Charles Best, discovered insulin in 1921. This discovery revolutionized the treatment of diabetes, transforming it from a potentially fatal disease into a manageable condition.

Significance of World Diabetes Day

World Diabetes Day plays an essential role in educating people about the far-reaching impact of diabetes on individuals, families, and healthcare systems worldwide. The day raises awareness about the importance of early diagnosis, the role of lifestyle changes in managing the disease, and the necessity of improving access to diabetes care. It also encourages policymakers to make positive changes that support affordable, accessible healthcare services for individuals with diabetes, especially in low-income or underserved communities. As diabetes continues to rise globally, WDD’s significance grows, highlighting the need for a more proactive approach to combat the disease.

8 Best Winter Foods for Diabetics

Winter offers a bounty of nutritious foods that can help regulate blood sugar levels and improve overall health, especially for diabetics. Here are eight winter foods that are both diabetes-friendly and delicious:

Sweet Potatoes A winter favorite, sweet potatoes are rich in complex carbohydrates that are digested slowly, helping prevent sudden spikes in blood sugar. They are also packed with fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

Spinach This leafy green vegetable is loaded with magnesium, iron, and fiber, which are essential for regulating blood sugar and improving metabolic health. Spinach can be easily added to soups, salads, and stews.

Cinnamon A powerful spice that can help manage blood sugar levels, cinnamon is an excellent addition to warm drinks or oatmeal. It adds natural sweetness to dishes without causing a spike in blood glucose.

Walnuts Rich in healthy fats, protein, and fiber, walnuts make an excellent snack for diabetics. They help regulate blood sugar by slowing digestion and promoting satiety, reducing the likelihood of overeating.

Pumpkin A winter staple, pumpkin has a low glycemic load, meaning it doesn’t cause a rapid increase in blood sugar. It’s also rich in antioxidants and essential vitamins that promote heart health and boost the immune system.

Oats Oats are a great breakfast option for diabetics. High in fiber, particularly beta-glucan, oats slow the absorption of glucose, helping to maintain stable blood sugar levels throughout the day.

Beetroot Packed with fiber and antioxidants, beetroot helps reduce insulin resistance and promotes cardiovascular health. It’s a great addition to salads, soups, and juices.

Carrots Low in carbohydrates and high in fiber, carrots are an excellent vegetable for diabetics. They are also a rich source of beta-carotene, which promotes eye health and supports immune function.

Conclusion

World Diabetes Day 2024 is an opportunity for everyone to reflect on the growing diabetes epidemic and the steps we can take to combat it. From raising awareness about the condition to advocating for better healthcare policies, WDD calls for collective action to ensure that people with diabetes receive the care they deserve. Adding diabetes-friendly foods like sweet potatoes, spinach, and walnuts to your winter diet can help maintain stable blood sugar levels and improve overall health. Remember, a balanced diet, regular exercise, and timely medical checkups are key to managing diabetes effectively.

[roytecharena]

Managing Diabetes in Winter

The routines of wintertime may be difficult for a diabetic. It might force someone to stay inside. However, it is wise to be aware of the issues and take safety measures. One can overcome the difficulties of the winter by doing this. If you want to learn more about it, read this article on "Managing Diabetes in the Winter Season". A diabetic. .. . To read more

[sayruq]

Hi world, it’s Eman Please read this as if I’m a member of your family, may be your sister , daughter or a friend and as if my family who’s under death now is yours.Today, I reach out with a heavy heart and a place for your kindness and support . I am not just seeking to fundraise. I am seeking to save the lives of my beloved family members who are currently trapped in a nightmare. All of whom depend on your generosity to escape Gaza Strip to Egypt , get the medical help needed and begin a new life where we are seeking safety. This is me Eman

My name is Eman , a girl in her thirties (39- years old) and a computer science graduate .Iam speaking from the heart of Gaza, a place that was once vibrant with life and has now become painfully marked by the effects of wars that spared no war. I live with my mother, Etemad (60 years old ) and my father, Saed (70 years old . My mother and my father

My sister Khaleda is ( 41 years old ) She has four children. Three sons .Saed ,3 years old. Abdul Rahman, 5 years old ,and Adam, 9 years old .Her daughter, Lyan, is (4 years old) .

Khaleda's Children

Iam suffering of one of the most common generic disorders which is thalassaemia. It’s so tiring and difficult disease. And due to the war, I lack medical care and treatments. My health is getting worse and deteriorating as treatment became insufficient. Iam in need to plasma exchange regularly ,the thing that my family find so difficult because of blockage and destruction of hospitals , in addition to the risks of going out our shelters every day as the bombs everywhere . My family deserve the opportunity to live a full life. I can’t bear the thought of losing any member of them.

My father, Saed, is suffering from heart disease .He has blockage of the heart arteries . Doctors advised him not to expose himself to the news and events that affect his mental and physical health. He urgently needs to undergo the necessary tests and surgery.

My mother, Etemad, has chronic diseases (blood pressure and diabetes ) . She needs regular follow up and medical treatment .She is struggling to obtain the necessary medications , waiting too long in clinics for subpar alternatives if found.

My family and I were very close knit enjoying simple pleasure and cherishing moment together. Now all that remains are memories scattered among the rubble of our destroyed home in Gaza. We witnessed death with our own eyes and were forced to flee our home in fear of our lives .During this time , we also received the news of the deaths of several relatives and friends due to indiscriminate bombardments. Now, I find Myself with my family displaced in a plastic tent in Al-Zawaydah , our last refuge, living inhuman conditions and enduring unimaginable hardships along the way.

We’re currently sleeping on the ground in a tent that does not protect us from the heat of summer or the cold of winter . We are located there ,with no access to essential items like clean drinking water , electricity , healthy food and cooking gas .Death and destruction followed us everywhere , Our home was bombed and bulldozed and our hopes and dreams were shattered along with it .We are enduring a suffering that is beyond anything you can imagine. Me with my family are in a very critical situation in tents .Tasks are divided among us to sustain ourselves. My father fetches water if ever found from a distant area early every morning. My mother cooks and washes our clothes using traditional methods .This is why we are asking for your help, as we are still in danger in South Gaza and can’t receive the medical care needed. Our new life in tents

Since the beginning of Israel’s assault on Gaza, we were forced to evacuate several times leaving behind our home and the future we had been working towards. Walking without carrying our personal belongings, our clothes or even money in search of a safe place until we managed to escape to the south of Gaza Strip .

Gaza, a place that I call home has been transformed into a landscape of destructions and despair . The reality we live in is one of the constant fear, where the sounds of explosions drown out the dreams and aspirations of its people .In what seems like an instant , everything my family and I held there had been ripped away by the chaos of war . A side of our suffering in tents

This campaign is not just about escaping Gaza. It’s about reclaiming a future where my family can live without the shadow of fear , where we can get the medical care and treatment needed and where we can once again embrace the joys of life without grief . The price of leaving Gaza is high and far beyond my family means. so I have initiated this fundraising campaign to urgently gather funds to help my family leave Gaza as soon as possible. The funds collected will be carefully allocated for the following purposes: Firstly , it will contribute to providing a safe passage to Egypt , which is a vital step for the family’s safety. Secondly: covering the medical treatment. Costs and medications for me , my father and my mother . In addition to the need for comprehensive examinations in Egypt to ensure our safety after the war. Thirdly : the funds will be allocated to provide temporary accommodation for the family in Egypt, giving them stability and the opportunity to explore the best path for their future . Finally , it will cover initial living expenses in Egypt granting the family the time and space needed to relax and rebuild their lives after the ordeal of the genocide in Gaza .

Eman's family has only raised $610 USD out of $50,000 goal. Please support the family by sharing. Donate if you can

[mansbutchery]

PALESTINIAN FAMILY HAVING TO START OVER.

@ahedalshaer is a 22-year-old dentistry student who was in her fourth year studying at Al-Azhar University in Ghazza, she was working hard to achieve her goal to become a dentist before the occupation came and halted her from furthering her education in peace.

This campaign is supporting seven people, Ahed, her parents and her siblings. Ahed’s campaign was at 9% of their goal but she unfortunately had to close down her previous campaign due to the person managing it scamming her and her family and running off with the money. They’re back at square one and they are EXTREMELY low on donations right now, the most recent donation was just a day ago, this family desperately needs you to help them survive.

Ahed’s parents are both ill. Her father is diabetic, and her mother is suffering from chest infections and due to the targeted bombing on hospitals they literally cannot get access to the healthcare they need right now. With how expensive everything is in Ghazza we have no idea how long they can go on for. They have to live in a tent with disease ridden insects and the tent barely protects them from the scorching heat that makes them feel like they’re being cooked alive and the approaching winter.

All this family wants is to return to a peaceful life and evacuate to a safer place, please do anything you can to support them whether that be by donating, reblogging or making a post of your own, it could help a ton!! It doesn’t matter how little your donation is because it WILL have an impact, it could help them buy food for the day or help them purchase heavier clothing and blankets for the winter, it could help them evacuate.

she's been verified,

here , number 407 in this spreadsheet here , this post was made when Ahed still had her previous campaign but she was verified by them.

tagging for reach since i dont have a large platform.

@momxijinping @slitherbop @beebfreeb @starrysharks @stuckinapril

@a-shade-of-blue @khanger @skipppppy @rottin6 @esroniets

@omegaversereloaded @prisonhannibal @littlegermanboy @schoolhater @heritageposts

@killy @they-bite @magnus-rhymes-with-swagness @determinate-negation @wizardarchetypes

@pikslasrce @stil-lindigo @fairuzfan @thedigitalbard @vilecrocodile

@paper-mario-wiki @rethrone @ibtisams @tliersgender @furiousfinnstan

@mobiused @buttercuparry @paparoach @maoistyuri @mazzikah

@fly-sky-high-09 @lesbianmaxevans @turian @deepspaceboytoy @flouryhedgehog

[blissfullyecho]

My Skinny Tips for the Holidays

If you’re in the US, Thanksgiving is this week and next month begins all the holiday parties and events for Christmas, Hanakkuh, Kawanzaa, and all other winter holidays that will include a ton of processed and sugary foods, seasonal coffee’s and fun drinks, and alcohol.

A note for the dieting police out there: Don’t even try it with me.

How I Manage the Holidays + My Body

So generally during November and December, I eat very clean (except for the holidays). I allow myself a Thanksgiving plate with everything (literally everything), dessert, sugary fun drinks/alcohol, and leftovers. This is the same thing I do with Christmas dinner as well. I don’t limit what I eat on the actual holidays, but the other days I do.

How I Eat on Non-Holiday Days

So like I said, I eat very clean in Nov and Dec because I know it’s going to get crazy on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. So I stick to eating mostly vegetables, soup, and lean protein. I actually stop drinking smoothies this time because I’d rather eat my protein than drink it so I’m not feeling hungry so soon. I get hungry faster when I drink a smoothie than I do with actually eating, so I eat more (just sticking with veggies, soup, and lots of lean protein). I do cut back heavily on bread, rice, and pasta; but my main source of carbs comes from fruit, sweet potatoes, and corn (corn is carb-heavy). I also cut OUT added sugars. I read the label on everything. 0g of added sugar is what I get. Like I said, I still indulge on whatever I want during the actual holiday meal which are things loaded in sugar, so I cut back for the month. And for everyone saying “it’s restricting” … babe, respectfully, shut up. Cutting out added sugar that does nothing for you except make you crash, bloated, ruin your gut lining, decrease collagen production, can increase your A1C (diabetes risk), and turns straight to fat is not restricting. You’re gonna have that stuff on the holidays— you can cut it out for 3 weeks, I promise.

Managing Holiday Office Parties & Community Events

I still enjoy the office potlucks and other mini events because I usually reach for the protein options instead or the veggie options. I’ll have the turkey, the ham, the deviled eggs (deviled eggs hate to see me coming), the cranberry chicken salad, etc. I still enjoy myself, I’ll just not have the pumpkin pie, the Mac and cheese, the stuffing, etc. because I’m saving that for my actual Thanksgiving/Christmas meal. Also… I do not trust other people cooking for me unless I’m there watching things happen. I don’t know what goes on at your house lol.

… But what if Paula from HR brought in her world famous (insert sugary, fatty, super processed, but super yummy food here)?

I’m most definitely going to have something if it’s something I can’t get anywhere else. If there is something that I know looks good (or is actually good) and I’m not gonna have it at my Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner, then I’ll have some. I don’t say no because it’s not part of my “diet”. There’s this girl I used to work with and she would bring in these cheesy, turkey, apple, and cranberry sliders. They were SO GOOD. I would have 1 slider and then load up on the celery and other veggies or fruit.

Alcohol

I’m not drinking alcohol unless it’s Thanksgiving, Christmas, or NYE. That’s just a no go for me. When I drink, I like to drink socially. But there’s 3 days for the rest of the year where I’m going to be drinking all night, so I don’t have any alcohol unless it’s the day of the holiday.

Bring in a healthy side option

For my office potluck, I’m making a fruit bowl, a veggie plate, and a large charcuterie board. My work bestie and I will prob be the only ones picking off of the veggie plate, but at least we do have options to load up on in case Paula from HR brings in that delicious yummy option and we want a full plate of food like everyone else.

If I’m going to have it on Thanksgiving or Christmas, I’m not going to have it anywhere else (unless it’s protein)

I will skip the sweet potato casserole and the macaroni and cheese because I’m going to have it on my Thanksgiving and Christmas. Again, I don’t care for home cooking unless I was there watching you cook for me (or if you’re a cute old lady or a grandma, I trust them so much). But the point is, I’m not going to have 8 Thanksgiving dinners this month. I’ll have one with my family and that’s it. I’m not even doing a Friendsgiving this year (but that’s only because we’re all traveling or working). But the main reason we gain weight during the holidays isn’t because we have a treat or two, it’s because we are having a Thanksgiving or Christmas meal every 2 seconds.

What’s on my Thanksgiving/Christmas plate?

I eat whatever I want, but I’ll only have a plate and a slice of dessert. I don’t get seconds or thirds. I’m a one plate girly and that’s it but I load my plate with everything and I give myself solid amounts. I don’t put tiny scoops of anything on my plate. I’d rather have food on my plate that I can’t finish rather than me cleaning my plate because I didn’t put enough of anything on there and still feeling hungry and restricted. I want to enjoy myself with my family. Thanksgiving and Christmas isn’t the time to feel restricted. For dessert, I’ll have a slice of a dessert. This year I’m being told we’re having pumpkin pie and Dutch apple pie, which are both my favorites. So I’m going to have HALF a slice of pumpkin pie and HALF a slice of the apple pie and it’ll equal to one full slice. With alcohol, I’m always drinking water. I actually drink water with my meal and drink alcohol around the meal. I personally like to stick to red wine.

How do I handle leftovers?

My family likes to give the kids (which would be me, my sibling, and our cousins) the leftovers so we can take it home. I try to take most of the protein, green bean casserole (my all-time fav omg), and deviled eggs (my grandmother makes the best, it’s impossible to beat her tbh) whereas my sibling and our cousins like to take the macaroni, garlic mash, stuffing, sweet potato casserole, and the other foods.

Exercise

I’m exercising everyday. Even on Thanksgiving and Christmas I’m exercising. I have my own routine but on Thanksgiving and Christmas, I’ll also be doing a hot (plump) girl walk after my meals to help my food digest. But even on my rest days, I’m doing active recovery.

The whole month isn’t a holiday.

I think you just have to manage the holidays by reminding yourself that’s it’s not Christmas or Thanksgiving everyday. You don’t need a full Christmas or Thanksgiving plate each day. Still enjoy the fun Starbucks drinks or Kelly from the marketing department’s apple pie, but order the tall Starbucks and not the grande or venti. Have a slice of the pie and not 1/3 of the pie. Don’t eat the candy on the table that you don’t really care for but it’s within reach so you eat it anyway. Save that for something you actually do like.

…And for anyone who is going to rage type a weird message saying I’m promoting anything unhealthy, please save yourself the time.

Happy Holidays! 🤍

✨ My new book “The Luxe Girl’s Playbook” is available now (this is the link). It’s about going into 2025 a brand new, leveled up version of yourself mentally and how you can make everyone that doubted you absolutely sickkkkk. It’s the mental diet we all need. It’ll be unavailable mid-December 2024 🫶🏼

[deathmetalunicorn1]

The Gods and Humans as i baby is just so AHIDKDNDKDJDBZHAJZHD 💓💓💓💓💓💓 i need to see Hades as a baby 💜💜 to imagine him as a little baby? 💜 the idea is BAKDJBEEKS 💖💖💗💞💞💘💕💘💖 AAAA SO CUTE ❣️❣️❣️

Im so sorry for my explode, they are just sooo cute i think i have diabetes 💗💗💗

I wonder if I should be warnings up for fluff this sweet. I don’t wanna get sued ;P

-You woke up, expecting to hear your husband snoring softly, but you startled away, hearing the crying of a baby.

-You sat up and saw a toddler that looked exactly like your husband, your eyes wide as you gawked before you picked him up, holding him to your chest, “Now-now (God), it’s okay, no more tears.”

-Almost instantly he calmed down, sniffling softly as he looked up at you while you were internally panicking, questioning how did this happen?!

-You found some clothes to dress your toddler husband, as it was the middle of winter, it was chilly, and you didn’t want him to get sick before you made a few calls about what to do.

Hades- He was mostly stoned faced when you picked him up, holding him to your chest. He looked up at you, blinking as if he didn’t recognize you before he instantly smiled, cooing up at you. Your heart nearly shot out of your chest as you cooed, rubbing your cheek against his, “You’re so cute!!” he giggled sweetly before you took him to the kitchen, to get something to eat for the two of you. He ate the sliced apples you gave to him before he called out to you, glaring as you turned around, smacking his hands on the table, looking upset. You picked him up, a smile on your lips, “What’s wrong love?” his hand reached up, hitting lightly against your lips, pouting. You instantly smiled at him, “Aww~ you want your kisses?” his glare increased, as did his pout which made you nearly squeal before you walked to the living room so you could sit down. Your lips met his pudgy little cheek and POOF, you had a naked, normal Hades on your lap, staring down at you in confusion. You almost immediately pouted, as you wanted to kiss his cute little baby cheeks a bit more, but your hands slid up to his cheeks, making him smile at your affection as you told him what had happened while he sat while you wrapped a blanket around him, making a Hades burrito.

Loki- If you thought your husband as an adult was a gremlin, you had to wonder how in the hell did Odin survive raising him with his sanity intact. First you had to chase the butt naked toddler around the house as he laughed, thinking it was a game, until he ran into the patio door, feeling the icy cold from the snow outside and he immediately ran into your arms, giving you big puppy dog eyes, cooing so cutely up at you. You bit your lip, unable to stay mad at him, getting him dressed before wrapping him in a blanket, pulling him into your arms. He cooed so sweetly up at you, hugging you, batting his eyes and you couldn’t help but giggle, dancing with him, which made him giggle. After getting him to eat something he threatened to run again, but you caught him easily, making him laugh as you fell back into the couch, “You’re so cute~~!!” he pouted at you, knowing that he wasn’t cute, he was cool, pushing himself up, his hands on your boobs. He looked down and instantly smiled brightly, smacking your boobs lightly, not hurting you, giggling brightly while you rolled your eyes. After wearing himself out, he was quickly knocked out, his head on your boobs, sleeping soundly. You took a few pictures before you managed to lean down a bit, pecking his forehead before you fell asleep. When you woke up, Loki was still out, his arms wrapped around your torso, now back to normal, although naked. You pulled a blanket over him, and he nuzzled down into your chest a bit more, remaining asleep as he squeezed you, mumbling out your name quietly.

[bordysbae]

i am obsessed with the ethan x diabetes reader it’s so good! could you please write another?

“you aren’t alone”

ethan edwards x f!reader

omfg i’m so sorry this has taken me so long to write my inbox is so full rn!!

you and ethan are currently visiting his family for part of winter break. his grandparents are going to be staying at his parents house, and so are the both of you. this is your first time meeting his grandparents and you know how close he is with his grandfather, so you’re quite nervous. you guys arrived in canada last night, and his grandparents are coming in less than an hour.

“babe i promise if my parents like you, they’ll like you too. you don’t need to impress anyone,” ethan reassures you as he comes up behind you in the mirror. you readjust your shirt for the fifth time now, sighing at how you can’t manage to get it to look good. “babe stop, we’re going to pick them up from the airport anyways so your shirt doesn’t matter. cmon let’s go downstairs,” he says as he intertwines his fingers with yours.

you and ethan are sat in the back of the car, with ethan’s dad driving. the airport is full of people rushing to find their rides, and people entering the airport as well. you guys see his grandparents standing with their suitcases and ethan’s dad pulls the car over in front of them. ethan gets out to help his grandpa, while his grandma slides in the backseat. “hi darling! you must be y/n! i’ve heard so much about you, you’re so gorgeous!” she smiles at you sweetly. your heart begins to race, and you put your largest and sweetest smile on your face.

“oh thank you mrs. edwards! it’s wonderful to meet you as well!” you beam. ethan then gets back in the car, and you all head back to the edwards household.

when you arrive at the house, ethan, his father, and his grandfather immediately go to watch the hockey game that’s on the tv while you go into the kitchen to catch up with the other women. eventually the boys all come into the kitchen and sit at the table with you guys, immediately causing a ruckus. when the boys join in on the conversation, it switches to laughter and loudness.

suddenly you start to feel dizzy and lightheaded, and ethan immediately notices.“babe, are you alright?” he asks in your ear. you lousily nod, not trying to draw the attention on you. you don’t want to seem like you’re begging for attention, especially in front of his parents and grandparents. you try your best to ignore the dizziness and the empty feeling in your head, but it eventually becomes to much and you grab ethan’s attention by tapping his shoulder.

“im going low e,” you whisper. he quickly gets up to grab you some juice and a snack, grabbing the attention of everyone at the table.

“honey are you alright? you basically jumped up from the table!” his mom chuckles, turning around in her seat to face her son.

“y/n is going low, do we have any juice?” he asks frantically. his mom immediately helps him navigate through the kitchen and a few moments later he returns with juice and candy for you. you awkwardly eat and drink, trying to ignore the lingering attention that’s on you.

“im sorry, i didn’t mean to cause a scene,” you speak up, very clearly embarrassed.

“oh darling, don’t apologize! ethan’s grandfather is actually a diabetic as well,” ethan’s grandma smiles, gesturing to her husband who’s sat across the table from her. you immediately look at him and he rolls up his sleeve to show you the glucose monitor on his arm, making you smile.

“oh wow, i had no idea!” you exclaim, instantly feeling a sense of relief. you turn to look at ethan who has an even bigger smile on his face, glad you’re feeling more comfortable around his family. “see babe, you aren’t alone!” ethan whisper-yells to you, before placing a soft kiss in your hair.

[just2bubbly]

Pls thodi aur Kaider fluff likhdo

For the person who send this ask, thank you! Fluff likhne mei bohot time laga, hope it's fine! Abhi you can enjoy the fluff :)

Masterlist

Love Me Like a Dog

Cinder's perspective-

"Do you think adding some pepper would balance the sour taste?" Kai asked, licking the stew from the spoon.

"I don't think it works like that. Also please don't lick the spoon like that," she said, trying to not show her disgust. For someone who had grown up with an array of instructors, Kai tended to act barbaric more often than not. However, it always happened in the confinement of their small kitchen, he never seemed to forget any dining etiquettes or indulge in his more human side with anyone else.

"Sorry," he said, wincing a little, his face didn't show much remorse though.

"I think we could add a little sugar to put out the sour taste." She suggested, grabbing the jar of sugar off the counter.

Kai nodded in agreement as he took the jar from her, "-this time don't dump the entire jar!"

"Cinder-" he groaned, "-that was one time."

"And I could have got diabetes because of it. It was 1/2 kg of sugar, I cannot fathom how you managed to mix all the contents together."

Kai ignored her remark, showing a tongue to her.

"Such a baby," she said, flicking some flour in his direction, which he carefully avoided.

"Let's not be violent, Cindy," he commented. He tasted the stew he was working on, and having been satisfied with its taste, cheered on self-win.

She smiled at the sight, Kai looked adorable in his denim shorts and lime green shirt, and the apron reading 'in an argument kiss the chef' did add its charm- Cinder clicked a picture of him to share on the group chat.

Cinder: attachment, "The Emperor says butter is too expensive, these days."

She keeps her port aside and drains the water from cooked noodles. Switches on the gas and adds shallots and garlic to saute, while grating ginger simultaneously. Noting how the ingredients aren't brown enough, she pulls up the message bar in her internal media screen and notes the various replies to her text.

Thorne: tell the Emperor, YOU ARE RICH

Thorne: and how do you think it's expensive when you decide the prices of commodities?!

Cress: I don't think Kai decides the cost of grocery products

Iko: CINDER CINDER CINDER

Iko: TELL ME YOU KISSED HIM TOO MANY TIMES IN THAT

Thorne: @Cinder please don't answer that

Cinder: I did, he is loml <3

Winter: Cousin, what does loml mean?

"Cinder, that's burning."

She blinks her messenger away, the smell of burning shallots causes her to cough and notes the sorry state of her finely chopped shallots and garlic.

"Don't tell me you got distracted again," he sighs, throwing away the burnt veggies, "-I just told them you are the loml."

"- Is that a reason or an excuse?" He asks, eyebrows rising towards his hairline.

"The truth, Kai." She huffs, chopping the shallots again.

"Well, if it helps, you are the love of my life too," he whispers, kissing her hairline, as he hugs her from behind, chin resting in the crook of her neck, "- don't read messages or you might chop off your fingers," he suggests.

"A good husband would offer to help."

"A better husband believes in sharing the workload."

"Way to go, Emperor!"

"I'll set the table, don't burn the kitchen down," he says, kissing her cheek before he rummages through the cupboards for cutlery.

She doesn't scroll through her inner port screen this time and adds the noodles to cook. The spice causes a burning sensation behind her eyes and she wonders if they have the tolerance for it- deciding to check the taste for herself, she coughs, her throat and tongue are on fire and gurgles a glass of water.

"Fuck," she mutters under her breath, adding a spoonful of sugar in the pan, she mixes the content one last time before turning off the gas. Cinder sets the container in the small dining space, sitting across from Kai as he asks, "White Wine?"

"What's the occasion?"

"I feel like it and it was just sitting there in the cupboard." He states, pulling out two glasses for her lack of disagreement. He serves the stew with smoky mashed potatoes, while she pours wine into their respective glasses, and this time Kai clicks a picture of their appetizer to send on their group chat.

She eyes him, "-what?! I need them to know your kissing didn't stop me from making good food."

Chuckling at that, she dives into the food, and like Kai mentioned her kissing wasn't enough distraction.

"It's good," they murmur together and later chuckle at themselves.

"I didn't ever think potatoes could taste so good," she remarks, getting another spoonful of stew.

"I told you to trust me."

"Henceforth, I will. You should cook often."

"I know, I used to. I was too self-conscious to eat with the staff present and to eat alone meant asking the staff to work extra, so I preferred cooking alone. This kitchen was Dad's gift when he found out about it. Somedays we used to cook together, he wasn't very good at it so he mostly used to stick to the chopping part." He explained, fondly sharing the memory.

"I despised cooking. Iko used to take care of most of it while we lived at Adri's which was a blessing. But on some occasions, Pearl would want something more interesting and I was supposed to cook on those days- Peony used to cook then and I did the dishes later."

Talking about Peony and her life before she met him no longer brought any grief. Cinder wondered what Peony might have thought seeing that Emperor Kaito cooked for her regularly, she would probably faint this one out thinking it was a dream, the thought made her smile.

"You know," Kai said, twisting his fork around,"-we could get a pet."

"A pet?"

"If that's not much trouble, or if you aren't a pet person."

"Nah, I didn't mean it like that, just surprised. What pet are we talking about?" She asked, puzzled at his out-of-the-blue remark.

"A dog- are you a cat person?"

"I don't think I have a preference."

Truth be told, Cinder remembered an old black mutt, lying outside her shop, a shabby animal, its hair colour faded, its body weak as it struggled to move. The boy in the next shop used to call it Sadie. On rainy days, it used to hide between buildings and stall corners, the sight always did things to her fabricated heart, but there was not much she could do to help it.

"Well, I have an inkling about a dog," Kai says, taking her thoughts off the rain-drenched mutt.

"Anything that made you think about it all of a sudden?"

"Cinder," he sighs, hands moving through his hair," I saw a dog. Poor thing was still a child, very bony. I might have brought it to the Palace."

"You mean you did."

"Yes, I did. She would mostly stay with the Palace dogs, but I wondered if you would like if she grew up with us." He admitted, showing his remarkable baby face, something she couldn't say no to.

"I'd like that. We could go see it after dinner." She exclaims, smiling as Kai grins in victory.

"You would love her. She looked abandoned when I saw it during my meetup. I couldn't just leave it there," Kai explained.

-

"Why keep her in the Palace Kitchen?" She asked, moving through the long files of kitchen countertops.

"It needed a warm place and Mary agreed to look after her, till the vet gave a green signal to introduce her to the others."  

"That's quite thoughtful," she murmurs, eyes falling to the corner that contained a large box.

Kai signalled her to come closer, and she saw a child, her retina scanner showing its breed and some related information. She blinks them away, focusing on the sleeping form of the dog, the rugged brown fur begging for a wash.

Cinder stumbles on her step as she lowers herself down, the noise enough to wake the dog up. It leaps towards Kai, who is already smitten as he picks it up.

"You remember me!!" Kai shouts, kissing her head, as it wiggles around in his arms, tail wagging in excitement.

"Do you have a name, baby?"

Her big brown eyes stared at her, "I don't know, maybe Mary has kept something."

"We can try saying names, maybe she could like something?" She suggests, lowering herself to the knees.

"Works for me," Kai says, from next to her, the dog licking at its face as she sat in his lap. The scene makes Cinder warm to her toes.

"How about Ollie? Do you like Ollie?" She asks, the dog doesn't give much of a reaction.

"Lila?" Kai offers, and like the prior name, there isn't any show of enthusiasm.

Without much thought, Cinder says, "Sadie? Like Sadie Maddie?"

And the dog leaps to that, moving around in circles as it barks loudly in excitement.

"I think she likes that, right Sadie?" Kai asks, Sadie nudges her nose against Kai's and licks up his face, some way to show her approval.

Kai grimaces, saliva covering his face as Cinder giggles, which causes the dog to turn and now she is licking Cinder's face.

"Karma coming back at you, Cindy," Kai jokes, picking up the dog.

She sits there, mildly disgusted with saliva sticking to her face, however, she could foresee many such face licks if Sadie stays up with them.

"Oii, c'mon, I don't know about you but I would appreciate a wash. So would Sadie," Kai calls from the doorway and Cinder is up on her feet, walking behind them.

"Let's stop by the dog troop for some essentials," She remarks, once they enter the lift.

Kai grins at her, Sadie still in his arms as he closes the distance, capturing her lips with his. The dogs squeezed between the two, yelps, making the two break apart, chuckling.

"Looks like we have got supervision."

"Rather sweet," she says, leaving a quick kiss on his lips, as she ruffled the fur of her new baby.   

-

A/N: My cousin recently adopted a dog and I have been begging my mum for one, unfortunate that she despies all form of pets! :/

taglist: @gingerale2017 @impalasquiptyseven @impossiblesuitcase @cinderswrench @slmkaider @fangirlforever0704 and anyone who wants to be tagged.

[mx-piggy]

Another list of Palestinian users who have reached out to me via ask about their fundraisers. Will include some basic details. Campaigns that are drastically low on funds (i.e. below £1,000 or the equivalent) or have not received a donation in the past 24 hours have been highlighted in pink, but it is important to donate to continue to donate to campaigns when they still haven't met their goal. If you would like me to dedicate a post to just your campaign, let me know via direct message. Let me know of any mistakes in this post and I will be sure to correct them, or if any campaigns get vetted in the meantime, I will be sure to edit as needed. Please share this post and these users' campaigns. I have tagged them so that you can go to their accounts and reblog their posts. I still have many asks to get through, so I will be making more posts like this. please check out my previous post for other fundraisers in need of support.

@wejdan-32 | Wijdan and her three children, Hamza, Zakaria and Israa - unvetted

Wijdan is 43, Hamza is 16, Zakaria is 18 and Israa is 24. Wijdan's husband passed away eight years ago. The family has been displaced at least 12 times now. There have been no donations in four days!! €2,423/€20,000

[username unknown (account that sent the ask has since been deleted); let me know if you have it and I'll add it!] | The Abujarad Family - presumably vetted (again please confirm if you know)

The family consists of five people, including two children. Baligh, the father, who lost his life's work when our home was destroyed. He courageously ventures out daily to gather what little food and water he can find. Miral, the mother, who suffers from a debilitating sinus disease but still manages to care for her family. Malak and Mohammed, the family's children, who dream of becoming a nurse and a doctor. Their studies have been disrupted because of the war. Sanad and Haya, the other children in the family, also dream of becoming doctors. Dalal, the grandmother, who is beloved by her family. This fundraiser hasn't received any donations in a day!! kr367,312 SEK/kr600,000

@maherdahalan | Maher Dahalan, his wife Rawida Sawali, their infant son Mahmoud and Maher's elderly parents - vetted

Maher is 40 (forty). Rawida is recovering from a difficult caesarean section. This will be Mahmoud's first winter, and he has no winter clothes. The prices for baby products have gone up astronomically, which is a challenge for the family because the war has destroyed their source of income. €2,291/€30,000

@princessworlds-posts | Amira and her family - vetted

Amira is 23. Before the war robbed her of everything she worked so hard for, Amira was a university teaching assistant, pursuing a Masters degree and working as a programmer for a company. Her father died from Covid four years ago, which made Amira responsible for her family. Her mother suffers from high blood pressure and diabetes. €31,315/€39,000

@amirashawikh | Khaled Smeer and his family - vetted

Khaled managed a large mall in Gaza before the war and is an English translator. The family needs funds for evacuation, clothes and food. $1,668 AUD/$60,000

@nouraissue4 | Noura Ayman and her family - vetted

Noura is a medical lab specialist, and her husband Ibrahim shares her profession and studies. Noura underwent four heartbreaking attempts at IVF before being blessed with her beloved daughter Hanan. Ibrahim's father has kidney cancer and has thankfully escaped Gaza to be with Noura, Ibrahim and Hanan, who are stranded in Egypt with no source of income. Donations will help Noura to establish her own medical analysis laboratory so that she can complete her masters degree, cover her and her family's basic living expenses, and evacuate the members of her family still trapped in Gaza (I will list them below). Noura's father (85), who suffers from asthma. Noura's sister Doaa (18). Noura's brother Samed (15). Noura's mother is with Noura in Egypt (as they went to Egypt for urgent medical treatment for Noura's mother). The kids miss their mother. €2,034/€50,000

@aiamaher |  Aya Almajdoub and her family - unsure if vetted (finding mixed claims, but nothing that calls into question the fundraiser's legitimacy. Let me know where it is vetted and I will edit!)

This is a family of eight: Aya (27), her father Maher (60), her mother Maha (50), her husband (32), her son Bassam (3), her brother Mohammed (28), her sisters Amna (29) and Enas (22). Aya lost her home and her business as a result of the war. Without any income, the family is struggling to support itself. €3,667/€55,000

@hane12345 | Hani Hamid and his family - vetted

Hani has three children: Abdulla (12), Salm (10), and Saleh (7). His wife Nour is 33. Hani was shot in the knee, which has left him unable to walk and in desperate need of medical treatment. €1,228/€70,000

@hillesmahmoud | Mahmoud Helles and his family - vetted

Mahmoud has lived in Belgium for 7 years and hasn't seen his four children since 2015. The children aren't any older than 12. Mahmoud's wife has medical problems with regards to her kidneys, so her condition is deteriorating without access to the necessary treatment. The family has been displaced in the Gaza strip for more than five years. €25,738/€37,000

@asmaa-needs | The Awad family - vetted

The Awad family is as follows: Asmaa (37), her husband Majdi (37), Majdi's father Maher (62), Majdi's mother Honar (55), Menna (9), Malak (6), Mariam (2), Fayza (1). Asmaa suffers from various diseases, including diabetes, and high blood pressure. Her daughter Malak suffers from Epidemic hepatitis. Asmaa is in desperate need of insulin and heparin. Maher suffers from chronic hypertension and diabetes. He has previously undergone heart surgery and has had a foot problem since childhood. In his current condition, he cannot walk. €6,559/€20,000

@mohameddsaker | Mohammed Saqr Ayyad's family of 12 - vetted

The family of 12 was displaced from their home in North Gaza. Mohammed was enrolled Al-Quds Open University before the war but his laptop, library and university books were destroyed. They have lost family and friends as a result of the war. There have been no donations in three days, and the campaign is very low on funds!! €537/€30,000

@hadeelchilds | Hadeel Mikki and her family - vetted

Hadeel's family is as follows: her husband Waseem, her daughters Mira and Nadia, her mother Tahani and her two brothers. Hadeel, her mother and her two brothers are the only survivor of their side of the family. Hadeel's father-in-law tragically passed away because of the scarcity of medicine, much to the sadness of Waseem and the kids. Hadeel is an engineer. €17,895/€35,000

@collageadjacent (they're not the one benefitting from the funds but someone helping to spread the campaign) | Sama Hassouneh, her son Arkan and her daughter Noor - vetted

The children's father died as a result of the genocide. Israel's siege means that Sama can no longer support herself because she no longer has an income. $12,294 USD/$50,000

@osama-family | Osama Al-Anqar, his wife Rana Raed Al-Anqar and their little girl - vetted

Osama's brother Mahmoud, leaving behind his wife and children, was martyred in the bombing of the Baptist Hospital. Osama's brother Ahmed lost one of his legs in the same bombing. Osama's daughter suffers from extreme fear and panic and skin diseases due to the lack of water and cleanliness. £5,288/£50,000

@m-albalawi | Mahmoud AlBalawi and his family - vetted

Mahmoud has five siblings and five nieces and nephews. Mahmoud used to work as a graphic designer. Both Mahmoud's father and mother are suffering from chronic diseases (cartilage in the vertebrae, high blood pressure, diabetes, and his father has heart stents). €44,068/€85,000

@ibrahem-4 | Ibrahim and his family - vetted

Ibrahim's family is as follows: a mother (66), a father (66), two brothers (36 and 22), a sister, his sister's children (7 and 8). Ibrahim's oldest brother is a doctor, and Ibrahim was studying nursing before the war. €614/€30,000

@somaiahassansworld | Hassan and his family - vetted

Hassan's wife lost their child that she was carrying due to stress and malnutrition. Hassan and his wife got married four days before the war. This fundraiser hasn't received donations in 2 days!! €2,035/€50,000

@hosamhammad | Ibrahim and his family - unvetted as far as I can tell but seems legit (let me know if it has been vetted and I'll correct this!)

Ibrahim is 16 and has Down Syndrome. Here's an article written about him. Ibrahim's brother Amjad lives in Belgium and is organising the fundraiser on the behalf of his family to help them evacuate and cover any other necessary living costs. €141,997/€150,000

[idontknowreallywhy]

Random personal nonsense, venting in a safe place where nobody I know in real life will see.

It’s been 3 years pretty much to the day since I last did this but have finally had to admit I’m not managing The Dark Months without chemical assistance this time around. So have sent an E-consult to the GP and hopefully they will take my word for it and re-prescribe the ADs as before rather than have to have a phonecall to trawl through symptoms. The side effects suck for me but they do work and the balance has shifted such that it is better to deal with those than keep going feeling like I do.

This is a good thing. It is.

It’s unacceptable to spend 50% of my energy each day focussing on *not* crying and *not* overreacting to every perceived slight or non-positive comment or event and reminding myself why I deserve to exist. I’m missing out on enjoying my life which is actually objectively great right now and I am dragging my family down unnecessarily with being… meh all the time. And with everything going on in the world and all the people who have genuine reasons to feel depressed, it’s really daft to do so if I don’t have to.

And yet… it feels like a failure - I didn’t work hard enough on making sure I was getting outside, I missed the high dose Vit D a few days, I haven’t been disciplined enough with sitting in front of the lamp etc etc. If I’d got that right maybe…? The downside of making managing the last couple of winters in my own strength a success to celebrate, is that this time I haven’t so it’s… something else isn’t it?

But there is no shame in it, as I will tell other people over and over they wouldn’t not take their insulin if they were diabetic.

And yet… pfffffft.

[theloneliestaquarian]

https://gofund.me/06631676

Hi folks, my name is Kenny and I have a beautiful Yorkie named TinyToo (he had an older brother named TinyTim, but he passed from leptospirosis). TinyToo is turning six in January. I've had him since he was weaned; he was a gift for my Ma after TinyTim passed. We've had a turbulent time these past years. In 2020, my Daddy passed away unexpectedly, which devastated us. He struggled for years but always persevered, with diabetes, sickle cell disease, and lupus, taking care of our family. Unfortunately, COVID came and finally pushed him past the limit; he had no chance. He was the breadwinner of the house, and we could no longer afford the mortgage or taxes for our home of 20 years, and thus, we became homeless. It was just me, Ma, and TinyToo. We struggled for four years, trying to navigate life while homeless and disabled, both me and my mother. My Daddy always apologized to me for passing on his "messed up genes," but I never blamed him, so I too am sick. I worked for as long as I could, a laborious full-time job, until my body could no longer manage it. After 30 years of working for the city, my mom retired because she got ill. She is the youngest of 10 siblings, 5 boys and 5 girls. She lost and buried both her parents and 7 siblings, all while working full-time and never even took time off to grieve. By the time she retired, she had accumulated 3 months of vacation she never used; she just kept going and working for her family. But then losing her soulmate of 26 years, that finally did it. It destroyed her to the point where she could barely function. It got to the point where I had to force-feed her, taking care of her basic functions, her mental and physical health as deteriorated as I had ever seen her. It was beyond hard, but we managed, always making sure TinyToo was fed and safe. After years of couch-hopping, winters in cars, and finally a tent, we were able to get an apartment at the beginning of this year. We are readjusting to normal life again; it's difficult, but we're persevering. Because of our situation, while we kept TinyToo alive and fed, we couldn't attend to all his needs. For the past 2 years, his teeth have started to fall out and rot. The smell of necrosis is getting stronger, and I'm afraid the infection will get into his bloodstream. He can barely eat his food lately, and I'm heartbroken that it's gotten this way. We can finally focus on it, but I know the vet visit alone will be beyond what we can afford, let alone whatever extraction/surgery he may need. I don't want my baby to die. TinyToo is the last gift my Daddy left to us. He's full of personality; I swear he tries to talk sometimes. He has so much more life in him, and we'd appreciate any help you can give. I'm not sure of actual prices, so that's why I set it to that amount. Even if we don't hit that target, any donations will help to get him the treatment he needs. Bless you all, and know you have our deepest gratitude and love 🧡🧡🧡

I really hope we'll get the help he needs 🙏

[cittythekitten]

Name: Slayer Age: (Unknown) Height: Same as Abyss Likes: Animals, anything sweet, food, beverages, treats, fluffy things, killing, meats (including humans), bloodshed, sharp objects, hurt others, getting hurt, sleeping, hibernating, playing, making deadly contraptions, makes weapons, attention, laser pointer, catnip (so far, this is what I can reveal) Dislikes: Humans, monsters (except those with CELLs), bitter foods or beverages, betrayal, mockery, anyone who hurt his friends (except he doesn't have one), dishonest, getting trolled or pranked, (so far, this is what I can reveal) Facts about him: He is very cheerful and energetic. He is very polar from Abyss who is grumpy and sassy. He likes napping and sleeping. He will hibernate during winter season. He will try his best to stay optimistic. Despite his kind nature, Slayer can be very ruthless. He won't show any mercy to his preys. He likes torturing them until they die. He always makes weapons and contraptions to kill his prey (much like Jigsaw). Surprisingly, he won't attack those who has CELLs. It is still unknown why. He has a very keen sense of smell and hearing. He can smell a drop of blood from hundreds feels away but if there's factors like wind, he can smell them from miles away. He is extremely fast on air, trees and land. He prefers to ambush his preys. His preys includes humans, monsters and animals. Though, he doesn't torture animals. He will kills them immediately unlike to humans or monsters. He enjoys anything sweet (hopefully he doesn't get any diabetes). He can be very loyal and caring once you get his trust. He is isolated in a forest far away from civilization. He has a weird obsession with killing. Don't be fooled by his cuteness because he won't hesitate to torture you. He still have some abilities like Abyss and has CELL. How is he born? He doesn't know. How is he created? He doesn't have a clue. His first memory is waking up all alone in a dark forest. A human tried helping him thinking he's hurt but for some reason, his instincts tells him to kill the human and so he did. Sometimes, he would use his cuteness to lure people. He doesn't know what's good or bad. He cannot read or write. He can barely understand English. He doesn't know a lot of words. He wants to be good but he doesn't know how to be good. He used to live in a box beside a pedestrian near a forest. Slayer is very territorial. He will defend his forest and can be feisty protecting his land. People has called the forest he resides as the "Blood Tears Forest". He can also do creepy things like walking upside down and twist his head 360°. Personality:

Normal: Cheerful, optimistic, childish, crybaby, energetic, inquisitive, curious, he is like a cat, caring and loyal Murder Mode: Blood thirsty, ruthless, cruel, sadistic and masochistic (he likes hurting others and being hurt including getting his arm cut off) Basically the plot: After Abyss gave him some clothes and food, Slayer suddenly follows him thinking Abyss had adopted him (XD). He somehow managed to enter Abyss's room and scared him. Abyss kicked him out of his room but Slayer stays outside his window which is kind of creepy. One day, Abyss went out for a walk and Slayer follows him like a little duckling. To get Slayer stop following him, Abyss planted a few seeds that was boiled and told Slayer to guard it until it blooms a flower. Slayer did as he was told and guard the boiled seeds. Abyss did not expect him to be so dense and dumb so he left. The next day, Abyss had a bad feeling and went to see Slayer. To his surprise, Slayer is still guarding the seeds like an idiot. Slayer was starving but he still guard the seeds. Abyss scolded him for starving himself but Slayer doesn't understand why he was being scolded and cries. From that on, Abyss had to educate Slayer so he doesn't go off killing humans or monsters to extinction. He doesn't enjoy educating him because Slayer can get distracted easily. Plus, he needs to find medical supplies for his brother. Abyss forbid Slayer to kill or use his contraptions or else he won't give Slayer foods. Abyss had been supplying foods for Slayer such as muffins. From that on, Slayer stops eating raw meats and waits patiently for Abyss to bring him food. One day, Slayer wanted Abyss to pinky promise him that he will be his friend but Abyss refused. Abyss made a deal with Slayer that he will feed and educate Slayer until he is fully capable of taking care of himself. After that, they will part their ways. It is still unknown how he have CELL and Determination. Extra info: Slayer has evolved into something that is similar to an apex predator. He has an instincts to keep the food chain balance and sees humans and monsters (mostly humans) have caused destruction to the environment. He has a pair of wings that is a lot more robust and deadlier than Abyss's. He has a tail that only visible in his Savage Mode. He can change into his Savage Mode when needed. He has three modes: Normal mode, Bloodlust Mode and Savage Mode. Undertale by Toby Fox Original Killer!Abyss design by MetaKazkz Killer by Rahafwabas Reimagined Killer!Abyss / Slayer by me

[nancydrewwouldnever]

Nancy! Give us an update abt your Kitty and Mr frogg

Well, the frogs hibernate in the fall/winter months by digging themselves a burrow in the soil beds. We haven't seen or heard them for a time now. The cat is a cranky old man with diabetes and arthritis, so we're currently just trying to manage his health conditions and make his life as comfortable as possible for as long as he has left.

[mariacallous]

Gregory Winter, 54, was arrested in September 2022, after posting an outraged social-media comment about the Russian army’s atrocities in Bucha and Irpin. “Everything we already knew about from Afghanistan, Chechnya, and Syria has been repeated in Ukraine,” Winter wrote. “This is the end of ‘the Russian civilization.’ No one is ever going to fall for Tolstoy and Dostoyevsky. Everybody will know that this is just a cover for Aleppo, Grozny, and Bucha.” Winter is now on trial for spreading “fake news” about the Russian military. His lawyers think he has a high chance of being sent to a prison colony, but Winter, who is diabetic, doesn’t think he would survive in those conditions. To prepare for the worst, he is trying to find new homes for the nine cats he has rescued from the streets over the years. Here’s the story of Gregory Winter and his cats, as told by the independent Russian media The New Tab.

Gregory Winter is a human rights activist from Cherepovets, a city in the Vologda region of northern Russia. Formerly the head of a local branch of the NGO For Human Rights, Winter is known for his outspoken, sometimes provocative presence in the local media. He is used to the wrath of the Russian authorities, too, having been jailed in the past, and threatened with physical violence for campaigning to preserve his region’s forests from logging.

Gregory also has a passion for animal welfare. He grew up with parents who were constantly bringing home cats and dogs from the street, caring for sick animals, and trying to get them back on their feet. When he found himself living alone as an adult, Gregory started doing the same. About 20 years ago, he already had 12 cats living in his apartment. “You can’t just walk past a cat who’s been tormented by sadists and lies dying in the street,” he told The New Tab. “So the number of my animals rarely got smaller. It would only happen when a sick animal had to be euthanized.”

Winter only adopts new animals if he is sure that they won’t make it without human help. This is what happened with his cat Vasya, who had been dropped off at a dog shelter in a plastic bag. For six months, Gregory spoon-fed the emaciated cat. When Vasya got back on his feet, he unexpectedly turned into a fierce “godfather” to the rest of Winter’s gang of felines.

Another cat, named Susu, had her hind leg torn off by someone who then left her to die in the foyer of an apartment building. By some miracle, the vets managed to reattach her limb, but the traumatized cat spent three years hiding under Winter’s desk, without ever coming near him.

Susu might never have become attached to Winter if the Russian authorities didn’t arrest him and put him in jail. In 2020, he was charged with spreading misinformation about COVID-19. (The human rights organization Agora has pointed out that the new Russian law against COVID-related misinformation was frequently instrumentalized to persecute the government’s critics.) In jail, Winter was brutally beaten. Meanwhile, his friends were caring for his cats.

The cats proved to be so attached to Winter that two of them died: one before he was released, and the other not long afterwards.

In September 2022, Winter became a criminal suspect once again, this time for a social-media comment about the Russian army’s atrocities in Ukraine. After some time in custody, Winter was put under house arrest. He is certain, however, that this will only last for a couple of months — until the next court hearing, to be precise. His lawyers think his chance of getting a prison sentence very high.

Winter has no close family members in the area. His adult son lives abroad, and because he is subject to being drafted into the Russian army, Winter would never even think of asking him to come to Russia for his cats. He is also pessimistic about his own chances of surviving in prison: “I have a complicated form of diabetes,” Winter says, “and if they put me in prison, I’ll never get out. They don’t have any medications there. One way or another, I must figure out the fate of my cats.”

The cat named Susu has already been adopted by a family from Yaroslavl, but Gregory’s other cats don’t seem to interest anyone in Cherepovets. Their owner hopes that Russians from other regions might come forward to adopt them. “There are only nine cats at the moment,” he says,

and all of them are sweet, well-trained, and unfussy with food. I’m asking people who love animals to help me. My friends will bring the cats to Moscow, St. Petersburg, or to other cities in Central Russia. Some of the cats can do well in a suburban home. My cat Baldie is an excellent mouser. Vasya can be an excellent working cat, he has just the right temper for guarding a house.

If you can help with an adoption of one or more of Gregory Winter’s cats, please send a message to The New Tab on Telegram.