Well, that's an afternoon of my life I won't get back.
I came into Edinburgh shortly before 2 o'clock, tramped the length of North Bridge and got the right bus. Then spent a silly amount of time tramping about to find the police station, to be told that (a) they wanted £84 (EIGHTY-FOUR QUID! IN CASH!!); and (b) I must come back in an hour as there wouldn't be anyone available to take my trotter-prints before that.
That's fine, I said - is there a Cashline machine anywhere close? Just along a street across the road, apparently ... just right at the other end of it.
Back I trotted, thinking I'd get myself a cup of coffee somewhere and settle down with the Grauniad crossword, but I've never seen such a complete desert for coffee shops - I tramped around for I don't know how long, and there was literally nothing except a rather nice looking restaurant, which had just closed.
There wasn't even a bench anywhere to have a seat, and I ended up sort of perched on someone's garden wall, up against some railings.
Finally got it all sorted by a lovely copper, and then - of course - just missed a bus so had to wait another 15 minutes.
To say I'm disgruntled would be putting it mildly; I'm now off home to have an obscenely large glass of WINE. 🍷
Thanks, Bro J, for giving me a much-needed chuckle!
Supper was the mysterious contents of a box I took out of the freezer this morning; in their frozen state, I wasn't sure whether they were paella or curry. They turned out to be the latter - specifically potato curry, and went down a treat with a packet of garlic and coriander poppadums.
I spoke to the neurosurgeon’s secretary today. She said his list is still overloaded and it will be into the New Year before I get my op.
I had a little weep while I processed that. I absolutely hate not being able to hold a dog lead - just about everything else is bearable.
I’m over the weep now and ticking off the days, working on staying positive. I’ve no grip whatever in my hands.
Ho hum, pig’s bum. (Ooops, sorry @Piglet - it’s a saying of mine when I’m fed up - only just noticed the porcine connection! )
Rain, rain, rain for us. Wellies and cagoules for the shopping this morning. Captain Pyjamas has the right idea - he is currently having one of his mega-naps. I think school tires him out massively so he's now doing a major recharge. He doesn't go on Wednesdays, as is the case for the smallest children in most Catholic schools.
It’s raining in Heidelberg too so our Enkelin was getting ready in her wellies and raincoat when we were face timing them. She said ‘Maddy Paddles, Maddy Paddles’ Peppa Pig style - very ‘southern’ vowels. When we said ‘enjoy the muddy muddles she said ‘Muddy Puddles, Muddy puddles’ with VERY round northern vowels - so cute.
She repeats every sentence she says, also cute!
My son had his pre-kindergarten visit to her teacher yesterday. She starts next month. He’s back to work after Christmas.
He came home with a pack full of instructions and schedules - very German! He asked about the language as she hears German at home but doesn’t speak it - and the teacher said ‘no problem at all, she’ll soon pick it up’.
He said the teachers are all called ‘Miss so-and-so, no first names. I asked how old she is and he said ‘mid twenties’. A child, then!
As is sometimes the case when I get a cold, it gives the appearance of having Gone Away, and then comes back with a vengeance, and this one has done just that. I'm back to several paper hankies an hour, coughing and spluttering and feeling like I'm swallowing razor blades. If I'm still like this tomorrow, I'd probably better not go back to work, although I'd feel guilty for not going in, knowing how busy they are.
Piglet, my youngest has had light summer colds repeatedly over the summer, sneezing and watery eyes like hay fever, and I think in his case his mucous membranes are getting used to life without a mask again. The poor love is back at college now and is getting really tired too.
Day started out sunny here with a nice long walk. I've managed to get various bits of work done and am now having a rest and a browse.
We've just been for a very nice walk to the only hill in the area. Annoyingly half-way there the garden company I've asked to come round and discuss our garden plans phoned and wanted to visit this afternoon. We decided to re-arrange the visit rather than aborting the walk.
In even more annoying news the short weekend break we'd booked for next month has been cancelled. The company doesn't have enough staff to keep the place open seven days a week. Grrr.
That's a bummer about your weekend break, Sarasa - I bet you could really have done with it too.
I've been a total couch potato today - I didn't have the energy for anything. I'm cross with myself - it wasn't a bad day, and I should really have gone for an amble - but I just didn't feel like it.
@Boogie - so sorry about the delay to your operation - not being able to walk the dogs must be heartbreaking for you.
I was fed up with being in the house so we are out in the new posh Asian fusion place in the village; we had bought take out meals there during lock down so wanted to return.
I had confit duck with carrot and anise purée with pak choi followed by chocolate tiffin with salted caramel ice cream and rum soaked raisins, Mr Heavenly had harissa lamb with cauliflower tagine and ginger rice, followed by lemon tart and raspberry sorbet, and Master Heavenly the younger had duck burger and skin on chips followed by sticky toffee pudding. Delicious food and lovely staff, and good beer - we’ll definitely be going back.
That sounds like a very heavenly dinner, HA!
ION, I'm not going in to work today - I'm coughing like an engine and it wouldn't be wise when my colleagues are frontline health workers.
I think the last time I took a day off work through illness was when I had shingles in 2011.
I've had consistently negative LFTs, and when I get colds they often follow the same pattern. I've had no fever, or loss of taste or smell, and the cough and runny nose are exactly what I'd expect from a cold.
TBH, I'm not even sure where to go to get a PCR test. I'll have a look on the web though - if I've still got symptoms tomorrow I'll see about getting a test.
I'm really sorry to hear that news from the neurosurgeon , @Boogie .
Sounds like a lovely evening out, @Heavenlyannie . We saw some friends last weekend and they cooked sticky toffee pudding for dessert, it was amazing (though not, I fear, very Slimming World friendly ).
Sorry to hear you are poorly, @Piglet . I hope you feel much better very soon.
I am off for a walk and coffee with a friend this morning, it's shaping up to be a sunny day here.
A solid day of writing today for my thesis, today’s work is to finish the discussion on research interviews and to write a section is about providing proactive motivational support for students with mental health challenges.
I've had consistently negative LFTs, and when I get colds they often follow the same pattern. I've had no fever, or loss of taste or smell, and the cough and runny nose are exactly what I'd expect from a cold.
TBH, I'm not even sure where to go to get a PCR test. I'll have a look on the web though - if I've still got symptoms tomorrow I'll see about getting a test.
Don't know if this one is still open.... Guess that might be the most local. Failing that there are testing centres in Livingstone & Edinburgh, but I'm not sure if you have to book for those. Don't know if you can get a test by post anymore - I've never quite worked out how it's all supposed to fit together if you don't drive but need a test, and therefore aren't supposed to use public transport...
I've had consistently negative LFTs, and when I get colds they often follow the same pattern. I've had no fever, or loss of taste or smell, and the cough and runny nose are exactly what I'd expect from a cold.
TBH, I'm not even sure where to go to get a PCR test. I'll have a look on the web though - if I've still got symptoms tomorrow I'll see about getting a test.
Don't know if this one is still open.... Guess that might be the most local. Failing that there are testing centres in Livingstone & Edinburgh, but I'm not sure if you have to book for those. Don't know if you can get a test by post anymore - I've never quite worked out how it's all supposed to fit together if you don't drive but need a test, and therefore aren't supposed to use public transport...
You can get them by post, do them at home and post them back. Private firms use couriers, Im not sure what the NHS do but they must have a way.
I've had consistently negative LFTs, and when I get colds they often follow the same pattern. I've had no fever, or loss of taste or smell, and the cough and runny nose are exactly what I'd expect from a cold.
TBH, I'm not even sure where to go to get a PCR test. I'll have a look on the web though - if I've still got symptoms tomorrow I'll see about getting a test.
PCR tests
You must take a PCR test if you have any one of the three symptoms of coronavirus. These are:
a high temperature or fever
a new continuous cough
a loss of, or change in sense of smell or taste
A new, continuous cough means coughing for longer than an hour, or three or more coughing episodes in 24 hours. If you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual.
My LTFs didn't start showing positive until a day after a positive PCR. They do produce a fair number of false negatives. A public health friend told me that we know a positive LTF means you almost certainly have Covid. We don't really know what a negative one means.
Sorry you are under the weather @piglet. I hope you are on the mend soon. Yes it was a pain our weekend was cancelled, but we've decided to do a city break instead, so we may be heading in your direction in a month or two.
Annoying about the op @boogie. I'd keep on badgering them in case a cancellation comes up. @Heavenlyannie, that meal sounds lovely.
My husband has gone off on a long distance cycle ride so I'm at home doing bits and pieces including trying to sort out two annoying bits of mail I received this morning. The previous owner's energy company keep on billing us, though our energy is with another company, and NS&I want sight of the Power of Attorney document I hold for my mother, even though I sent them a link to view it on-line. Admin eeugh!
Today is a great and momentous day on which I have fulfilled a dearly cherished and long held ambition. One that I didn't seriously believe I could ever achieve.
ALL THE LAUNDRY BASKETS IN MY HOUSE ARE EMPTY.
I have also made tonight's dinner ahead of times (red lentil dahl) and changed the oil in the deep fat fryer ahead of making pakoras (aubergine, because that's what we have in the house).
Today is a great and momentous day on which I have fulfilled a dearly cherished and long held ambition. One that I didn't seriously believe I could ever achieve.
ALL THE LAUNDRY BASKETS IN MY HOUSE ARE EMPTY.
I have also made tonight's dinner ahead of times (red lentil dahl) and changed the oil in the deep fat fryer ahead of making pakoras (aubergine, because that's what we have in the house).
I feel I must qualify for some kind of award.
You certainly qualify for a large glass of WINE or several...
🙇♂️
Talking of large glasses of wine, MrD is on an overnight work team event, so I am taking the opportunity to treat myself. I'm having a no work day, with blogging, reading and painting; I'm cooking half a magret de canard for my tea, planning on a gin and tonic, followed by wine and a rom com on the TV. Like Piglet, I considered going for a walk but couldn't be arsed.
Talking of large glasses of wine, MrD is on an overnight work team event, so I am taking the opportunity to treat myself. I'm having a no work day, with blogging, reading and painting; I'm cooking half a magret de canard for my tea, planning on a gin and tonic, followed by wine and a rom com on the TV. Like Piglet, I considered going for a walk but couldn't be arsed.
O come now - you may need to walk off all that WINE/GIN etc. etc., or (OTOH) it may well be best to Stay Put...
My laundry baskets are definitely not empty and I will now nag my son to do his washing as the basket must be spreading all over the floor by now. I refuse to do it for him.
I have finished the draft methodology chapter of my thesis. That's 2 full draft chapters written (almost 20 000 words including references) and I haven't done my actual research yet. Alas, that starts, rather scarily, in a couple of weeks ...
Well done @la vie en rouge. I had lentil dahl for supper last night, but with green bean thoran, spinach bhaji and naan, and have left overs for tonight, maybe. And we watched The Ballad of Johnny Longstaff online as I can't see us getting to see it. I have already seen an earlier touring version and loved it, so was pleased to see the stage show.
Today we decided that it was a nice day so the opportunity for a long walk, but on better surfaces as there's been so much rain, so we have walked on the forest tracks, 12.5 miles. We went looking for a geocache we've been meaning to look at and are not entirely sorry we didn't solve the second stage as the activity log shows that everyone has had to take it away to solve the next stages and the request is that it is not removed over weekends, so we'd have another 12.5 miles to return it tomorrow. And we were doing this with my having to be home by 4pm to take all my ID for another DBS check.
We ate our picnic lunch surrounded by what I suspect are masonry bees, paying us no mind, instead focussed on the sandy banks around us.
We had* some at Our Place, living in the sandy grassy area on the south side of the church, and feeding on the flowering ivy in the vicarage garden next door. Spectacular, inasmuch as there were literally thousands of them, and they are both harmless and fascinating to watch.
I've seen them in sandy banks in the south of France, too.
(*I use the past tense, as the grassy area has been tarmacked over as a safe play area for the nursery which uses our hall. I haven't checked, but I guess the bees are no longer present - or have moved into the vicarage lawn instead!)
Well done, La Vie! Being just me, I have but one laundry basket, and it's usually empty for a couple of hours a week, but I can appreciate the achievement when you've got M. en rouge and Captain Pyjamas to take into the equation!
@Sarasa - if Embra is the city in which you're going to take a break, it would be lovely to see you; it won't be quite so far for you to travel as it was!
Having slept for a good chunk of the morning, then had brunch, read a bit and then dozed off again, I'm feeling a good bit better, and assuming it doesn't repeat the "going away and coming back" gambit, I'll go in to work tomorrow. I have things I'd like to get done before the weekend (it's a 3-day weekend, as Monday's a public holiday), and I'd feel better knowing I'm coming back to them being done.
I have The Tablecloth of Doom in my laundry basket - it's been there for a few weeks now.
The North East Man brought it back from China several years ago. It's pure silk, bright red and gold, not colourfast, handwash only, and it's padded. I hate it. The North East Man, who has never washed it, loves it.
It's size and weight makes it unwieldy to wash, it can only go on the line when there is nothing else on the line, because it flaps about and adds red patches to anything else on the line and because it's padded it takes forever to dry.
I know that as soon as I wash it and put it back in the cupboard, my husband will spot it and put it back on the table. From whence it will be back in the laundry basket within a couple of days.
Seriously, who thought a padded tablecloth was a good idea?
I betcha when used in its country of origin it is deployed with a clear plastic cover over it. (The classier version of which, if you want to sell the idea to NEMan, is a slab of glass.)
Not as bad as @North East Quine 's Tablecloth of Doom but a number of years ago Mr Nen brought an embroidered Table Embellishment back from his travels, with very bright colours. It always required hand washing and always shed its colours. I speak of it in the past tense as I seem to have mislaid it somewhere, having kept it in a prominent place for a number of years and then tucked it quietly away out of sight. I can't remember where it is now, or even whether it's still within the walls of Casa Nen.
I had a lovely long morning with my friend, walking and then chatting over coffee. This afternoon I sat in the sunshine on our patio and took notes on a book. It's one of three I've borrowed from a friend and I feel quite honoured by his trust as he, like me, rarely lends books and regards the non-returning or losing thereof as The Unforgivable Sin.
I betcha when used in its country of origin it is deployed with a clear plastic cover over it. (The classier version of which, if you want to sell the idea to NEMan, is a slab of glass.)
Our dining table has two extra bits which enable it to extend from seating 6 to 8 to 10. A slab of glass on top wouldn't work.
It's a thing of wonder - it has been washed many times, and has bled colour copiously each time, but the colour hasn't faded. It's still a vivid scarlet. It has lost some of its tassels (did I mention the tassels?) which are in my sewing box waiting to be sewn back on (they will be waiting a loooooong time).
I achieved the Empty Laundry Bags by deciding I don't really like my red knickers as I have few items of a similar colour for that wash, and that I had worn them out sufficiently to warrant throwing them away. They were consistently being the items hanging around preventing the achieving of the Empty Laundry Bags.
I have been to my first live concert for 3 years. Orchestral, choral pieces, and very loud organ. I was, I confess, somewhat disappointed I was in the minority of mask wearers, but was able to move at the interval to an empty row. Being out late on a school night in the first week of what is going to be a very full-on term may have been short-term foolish, but the benefit to my health and sanity is immeasurable.
My ironing is dealt with by a lovely lady called Lisa, who collects it all once a fortnight and returns it, usually on the same day, nicely, neatly ironed.
Were i to be able to find a place to Easily store the ironing board, I might turn into @Priscilla ’s Lisa.
As it is , we have been over two years in this home and apart from the above I am yet to find any room with space to iron and an ability to plug the wretched thing in.
I never iron. If it needs ironing it doesn’t get bought. 😜
I put the washer on every day - OH is a gym bunny so I never let it fester.
I have a routine for drying. It goes on the rack in the utility room until dry, then a rack in the hall to air, then a heated rack on the landing to air ‘properly’ for half an hour.
Edited to add - I thought I’d better Google ‘gym bunny’. It doesn’t quite describe Mr Boogs! He goes to train for long cycle rides, not to get ‘ripped’!
I only iron for sewing purposes, Mr Heavenly irons his own shirts and will iron a dress for me if we are going somewhere special.
Drying was always an issue here as we live in a small ex-council terraced house which we have outgrown and we no longer have space for a clothes horse (we wouldn't have a tumbler even if we had space for one for eco reasons). A few years ago Mr Heavenly fitted an old fashioned pulley maid on the landing over the stairs and that works a dream.
Iron Ing is the annoying after-effect of having emptied all one's laundry baskets. I only iron clothes, though. The really grim things like bedding are left for the cleaning lady.
Quetsches are in season (a sort of plum mostly grown in Alsace). TART with crumble topping has been made for tonight's dinner.
I have a room which had room for an ironing board, but has other stuff in it which makes it tricky. If I have something that really needs it, like sticking trouser hems, I have a small steamer which can be used as an iron, and use a folded blanket on my bed.
Anything bigger goes un-ironed.
I very occasionally iron things when I need them to not look rumpled. I have achieved the bottom of the 2 offspring washing baskets recently, but alas not ours.
This morning Dragonlet 3 had her 1 year review with the Health Visitor at 11 months. She is progressing as expected (neither of the other two being quick to develop gross motor skills.) I took the day off as Flexi leave as a result, and spent a few hours in town engaging in retail therapy before school pickup. I now have a belt to stop my jeans slipping down, and treated myself to some beauty products. Mr Dragon has also had his Pontefract cake stock replenished.
My Iron Ing Board lives, folded up, in the laundry cupboard beside the washing machine until it's needed (about once a fortnight). When we lived in Fredericton, it fitted perfectly, unfolded, in the walk-in wardrobe, and I just had to pull it into the bedroom, but I haven't anywhere here where it could be left assembled.
My sister, who hates Iron Ing with a passion, has an Iron Ing Lady like Priscilla's Lisa, who Takes It Away and then Brings It Back (including bedlinen).
Thanks for the good wishes; I'm down to maybe three paper hankies an hour rather than 10, and feeling more like myself. The NHS got its money's worth out of me today though: in addition to (most of) the things I wanted to get done, I had to make about 300 copies of a new page to go into all the patients' files - not exactly an onerous task, but a time-consuming one, when you're trying to do other things at the same time. I ended up staying about half an hour late and being rather knackered by the time I got home.
Never mind - long weekend here, and I feel I've almost earned it.
Linking this series on YouTube because I think @Piglet might like it. It's called Fara's Folky Folk for the Orkney Festival: a couple of girls from Fara producing online content for the cancelled festival, going round the islands interviewing different people. They've just put up Bruce Mainland on Instagram, which was hilarious, but I couldn't find it on YouTube. These are from a few weeks ago.
Comments
I thought slaters were Silverfish
Slaters are woodlice here. All other creepy crawlies are gollachs, unless they are earwigs, in which case they are horny gollachs.
I came into Edinburgh shortly before 2 o'clock, tramped the length of North Bridge and got the right bus. Then spent a silly amount of time tramping about to find the police station, to be told that (a) they wanted £84 (EIGHTY-FOUR QUID! IN CASH!!); and (b) I must come back in an hour as there wouldn't be anyone available to take my trotter-prints before that.
That's fine, I said - is there a Cashline machine anywhere close? Just along a street across the road, apparently ... just right at the other end of it.
Back I trotted, thinking I'd get myself a cup of coffee somewhere and settle down with the Grauniad crossword, but I've never seen such a complete desert for coffee shops - I tramped around for I don't know how long, and there was literally nothing except a rather nice looking restaurant, which had just closed.
There wasn't even a bench anywhere to have a seat, and I ended up sort of perched on someone's garden wall, up against some railings.
Finally got it all sorted by a lovely copper, and then - of course - just missed a bus so had to wait another 15 minutes.
To say I'm disgruntled would be putting it mildly; I'm now off home to have an obscenely large glass of WINE. 🍷
Thanks, Bro J, for giving me a much-needed chuckle!
Supper was the mysterious contents of a box I took out of the freezer this morning; in their frozen state, I wasn't sure whether they were paella or curry. They turned out to be the latter - specifically potato curry, and went down a treat with a packet of garlic and coriander poppadums.
I spoke to the neurosurgeon’s secretary today. She said his list is still overloaded and it will be into the New Year before I get my op.
I had a little weep while I processed that. I absolutely hate not being able to hold a dog lead - just about everything else is bearable.
I’m over the weep now and ticking off the days, working on staying positive. I’ve no grip whatever in my hands.
Ho hum, pig’s bum. (Ooops, sorry @Piglet - it’s a saying of mine when I’m fed up - only just noticed the porcine connection!
Gentle hugs to all those in pain today. ❤️🩹
Rain, rain, rain for us. Wellies and cagoules for the shopping this morning. Captain Pyjamas has the right idea - he is currently having one of his mega-naps. I think school tires him out massively so he's now doing a major recharge. He doesn't go on Wednesdays, as is the case for the smallest children in most Catholic schools.
She repeats every sentence she says, also cute!
My son had his pre-kindergarten visit to her teacher yesterday. She starts next month. He’s back to work after Christmas.
He came home with a pack full of instructions and schedules - very German! He asked about the language as she hears German at home but doesn’t speak it - and the teacher said ‘no problem at all, she’ll soon pick it up’.
He said the teachers are all called ‘Miss so-and-so, no first names. I asked how old she is and he said ‘mid twenties’. A child, then!
Ho hum ...
Piglet, my youngest has had light summer colds repeatedly over the summer, sneezing and watery eyes like hay fever, and I think in his case his mucous membranes are getting used to life without a mask again. The poor love is back at college now and is getting really tired too.
Day started out sunny here with a nice long walk. I've managed to get various bits of work done and am now having a rest and a browse.
In even more annoying news the short weekend break we'd booked for next month has been cancelled. The company doesn't have enough staff to keep the place open seven days a week. Grrr.
I've been a total couch potato today - I didn't have the energy for anything. I'm cross with myself - it wasn't a bad day, and I should really have gone for an amble - but I just didn't feel like it.
@Boogie - so sorry about the delay to your operation - not being able to walk the dogs must be heartbreaking for you.
I had confit duck with carrot and anise purée with pak choi followed by chocolate tiffin with salted caramel ice cream and rum soaked raisins, Mr Heavenly had harissa lamb with cauliflower tagine and ginger rice, followed by lemon tart and raspberry sorbet, and Master Heavenly the younger had duck burger and skin on chips followed by sticky toffee pudding. Delicious food and lovely staff, and good beer - we’ll definitely be going back.
ION, I'm not going in to work today - I'm coughing like an engine and it wouldn't be wise when my colleagues are frontline health workers.
I think the last time I took a day off work through illness was when I had shingles in 2011.
TBH, I'm not even sure where to go to get a PCR test. I'll have a look on the web though - if I've still got symptoms tomorrow I'll see about getting a test.
Sounds like a lovely evening out, @Heavenlyannie . We saw some friends last weekend and they cooked sticky toffee pudding for dessert, it was amazing (though not, I fear, very Slimming World friendly
Sorry to hear you are poorly, @Piglet . I hope you feel much better very soon.
I am off for a walk and coffee with a friend this morning, it's shaping up to be a sunny day here.
A solid day of writing today for my thesis, today’s work is to finish the discussion on research interviews and to write a section is about providing proactive motivational support for students with mental health challenges.
Off for a walk shortly.
Don't know if this one is still open.... Guess that might be the most local. Failing that there are testing centres in Livingstone & Edinburgh, but I'm not sure if you have to book for those. Don't know if you can get a test by post anymore - I've never quite worked out how it's all supposed to fit together if you don't drive but need a test, and therefore aren't supposed to use public transport...
You can get them by post, do them at home and post them back. Private firms use couriers, Im not sure what the NHS do but they must have a way.
You're in Scotland aren't you?
https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/infections-and-poisoning/coronavirus-covid-19/test-and-protect/coronavirus-covid-19-get-a-test-if-you-have-symptoms
https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/infections-and-poisoning/coronavirus-covid-19/test-and-protect/coronavirus-covid-19-testing
My LTFs didn't start showing positive until a day after a positive PCR. They do produce a fair number of false negatives. A public health friend told me that we know a positive LTF means you almost certainly have Covid. We don't really know what a negative one means.
Annoying about the op @boogie. I'd keep on badgering them in case a cancellation comes up.
@Heavenlyannie, that meal sounds lovely.
My husband has gone off on a long distance cycle ride so I'm at home doing bits and pieces including trying to sort out two annoying bits of mail I received this morning. The previous owner's energy company keep on billing us, though our energy is with another company, and NS&I want sight of the Power of Attorney document I hold for my mother, even though I sent them a link to view it on-line. Admin eeugh!
ALL THE LAUNDRY BASKETS IN MY HOUSE ARE EMPTY.
I have also made tonight's dinner ahead of times (red lentil dahl) and changed the oil in the deep fat fryer ahead of making pakoras (aubergine, because that's what we have in the house).
I feel I must qualify for some kind of award.
You certainly qualify for a large glass of WINE or several...
🙇♂️
O come now - you may need to walk off all that WINE/GIN etc. etc., or (OTOH) it may well be best to Stay Put...
My laundry baskets are definitely not empty and I will now nag my son to do his washing as the basket must be spreading all over the floor by now. I refuse to do it for him.
I have finished the draft methodology chapter of my thesis. That's 2 full draft chapters written (almost 20 000 words including references) and I haven't done my actual research yet. Alas, that starts, rather scarily, in a couple of weeks ...
Today we decided that it was a nice day so the opportunity for a long walk, but on better surfaces as there's been so much rain, so we have walked on the forest tracks, 12.5 miles. We went looking for a geocache we've been meaning to look at and are not entirely sorry we didn't solve the second stage as the activity log shows that everyone has had to take it away to solve the next stages and the request is that it is not removed over weekends, so we'd have another 12.5 miles to return it tomorrow. And we were doing this with my having to be home by 4pm to take all my ID for another DBS check.
We ate our picnic lunch surrounded by what I suspect are masonry bees, paying us no mind, instead focussed on the sandy banks around us.
Was there any flowering ivy nearby? If so, they may have been Ivy Mining Bees:
https://bumblebeeconservation.org/ivyminingbee/
We had* some at Our Place, living in the sandy grassy area on the south side of the church, and feeding on the flowering ivy in the vicarage garden next door. Spectacular, inasmuch as there were literally thousands of them, and they are both harmless and fascinating to watch.
I've seen them in sandy banks in the south of France, too.
(*I use the past tense, as the grassy area has been tarmacked over as a safe play area for the nursery which uses our hall. I haven't checked, but I guess the bees are no longer present - or have moved into the vicarage lawn instead!)
@Sarasa - if Embra is the city in which you're going to take a break, it would be lovely to see you; it won't be quite so far for you to travel as it was!
Having slept for a good chunk of the morning, then had brunch, read a bit and then dozed off again, I'm feeling a good bit better, and assuming it doesn't repeat the "going away and coming back" gambit, I'll go in to work tomorrow. I have things I'd like to get done before the weekend (it's a 3-day weekend, as Monday's a public holiday), and I'd feel better knowing I'm coming back to them being done.
The North East Man brought it back from China several years ago. It's pure silk, bright red and gold, not colourfast, handwash only, and it's padded. I hate it. The North East Man, who has never washed it, loves it.
It's size and weight makes it unwieldy to wash, it can only go on the line when there is nothing else on the line, because it flaps about and adds red patches to anything else on the line and because it's padded it takes forever to dry.
I know that as soon as I wash it and put it back in the cupboard, my husband will spot it and put it back on the table. From whence it will be back in the laundry basket within a couple of days.
Seriously, who thought a padded tablecloth was a good idea?
I'm impressed by the industriousness of @la vie en rouge and @Heavenlyannie , and am glad @Piglet is feeling better.
I had a lovely long morning with my friend, walking and then chatting over coffee. This afternoon I sat in the sunshine on our patio and took notes on a book. It's one of three I've borrowed from a friend and I feel quite honoured by his trust as he, like me, rarely lends books and regards the non-returning or losing thereof as The Unforgivable Sin.
Our dining table has two extra bits which enable it to extend from seating 6 to 8 to 10. A slab of glass on top wouldn't work.
It's a thing of wonder - it has been washed many times, and has bled colour copiously each time, but the colour hasn't faded. It's still a vivid scarlet. It has lost some of its tassels (did I mention the tassels?) which are in my sewing box waiting to be sewn back on (they will be waiting a loooooong time).
I have been to my first live concert for 3 years. Orchestral, choral pieces, and very loud organ. I was, I confess, somewhat disappointed I was in the minority of mask wearers, but was able to move at the interval to an empty row. Being out late on a school night in the first week of what is going to be a very full-on term may have been short-term foolish, but the benefit to my health and sanity is immeasurable.
Glad you enjoyed the concert, Japes.
Today's project is to write a proposal for a workshop on student mental health. Shouldn't take me long so I will spend the afternoon with a book.
As it is , we have been over two years in this home and apart from the above I am yet to find any room with space to iron and an ability to plug the wretched thing in.
I put the washer on every day - OH is a gym bunny so I never let it fester.
I have a routine for drying. It goes on the rack in the utility room until dry, then a rack in the hall to air, then a heated rack on the landing to air ‘properly’ for half an hour.
Edited to add - I thought I’d better Google ‘gym bunny’. It doesn’t quite describe Mr Boogs! He goes to train for long cycle rides, not to get ‘ripped’!
Drying was always an issue here as we live in a small ex-council terraced house which we have outgrown and we no longer have space for a clothes horse (we wouldn't have a tumbler even if we had space for one for eco reasons). A few years ago Mr Heavenly fitted an old fashioned pulley maid on the landing over the stairs and that works a dream.
Quetsches are in season (a sort of plum mostly grown in Alsace). TART with crumble topping has been made for tonight's dinner.
Pillowcases & tea towels ( they fold more easily) I can tolerate; very best tablecloth is a couple of times a year, but sheets??!!!
Anything bigger goes un-ironed.
Yes. She is paid good money so to do, which can incite people to do all sorts of unpleasant things.
This morning Dragonlet 3 had her 1 year review with the Health Visitor at 11 months. She is progressing as expected (neither of the other two being quick to develop gross motor skills.) I took the day off as Flexi leave as a result, and spent a few hours in town engaging in retail therapy before school pickup. I now have a belt to stop my jeans slipping down, and treated myself to some beauty products. Mr Dragon has also had his Pontefract cake stock replenished.
My sister, who hates Iron Ing with a passion, has an Iron Ing Lady like Priscilla's Lisa, who Takes It Away and then Brings It Back (including bedlinen).
Thanks for the good wishes; I'm down to maybe three paper hankies an hour rather than 10, and feeling more like myself. The NHS got its money's worth out of me today though: in addition to (most of) the things I wanted to get done, I had to make about 300 copies of a new page to go into all the patients' files - not exactly an onerous task, but a time-consuming one, when you're trying to do other things at the same time. I ended up staying about half an hour late and being rather knackered by the time I got home.
Never mind - long weekend here, and I feel I've almost earned it.
You'll not believe this, but I actually bowled someone out in the nets yesterday.