We are all ltrying.....as we speak, the new cat is upstairs locked in a room howling with two of ours spitting at her through the door but I see from advice above that we are right on track for doing things correctly!!!

The rats are no more -- they were about 10 years ago......incredibly intelligent, bright creatures -- but RATS when all said and done.

Our rule is if you live at home and are not full time in school you pay rent.......my son, who has no further edcuation, pays $50 a week for rent (how COULD YOU mum???) and $50 towards his hideously inflated car insurance because of a lead foot and some things (not completely his fault) that happened.....he thinks he is being ripped off!!! Our daughter is paying $100 a week because she has a proper job that pays reasonably well -- after shouldering the expenses of her apartment, cable tv and electric entirely on her own (not to mention driving 20 miles each way to work....) she thinks she has died and gone to heaven....