These beeps were also the result of dying batteries - in the smoke alarms.
Happily not a problem in our current home, where the smoke and heat alarms are wired in.
Hard wired alarms should also have backup batteries which will beep when they run down. I know from experience!
Dragonlet 3 is getting used to being shown off on various video calls. Tonight we briefly made an appearance at the start of Guides.
We had hard wired smoke detectors in our previous house, as it was rented. The ceilings were also quite high. Fortunately the upstairs landing one decided that it would start beeping not long before Dragonlet 2 was born, so when my family visited to meet her, I presented my very tall brother with the new battery and the stepladder to change it whilst he was around! He only just reached it though, so I wouldn't have done so if I tried.
When we moved into a house with high ceilings one of the first things we did was buy a bigger stepladder.
The rain here has been torrential, water flowing across roads and basically going everywhere. I got soaked coming home, and submerged my boots several times peddling through 6"+ deep water.
I have a hard-wired smoke detector in my flat. I never switch it on. Yes, it will ring if there is smoke but that is because when on it rings continuously. I have a battery one as well.
I assume there'll be some sort of smoke alarm in the new château; I understand they're becoming compulsory in Scotland soon. TBH I hate them: if they go off they scare the living daylights out of me, and I'm too short to be much use at turning them off. Yet another thing I'm going to have to get used to about being on my own.
I made a really nice risotto for supper: pancetta, peas and some chanterelles that S. wanted using up. I hadn't planned on putting them in, but I'm glad I did - they really gave it a lift.
I find waving tea towels usually works at shutting smoke detectors up when cooking but I’d need a stepladder to remove the battery. (My general Kitchen reaching ability is much aided by an old fashioned kick stool, a great investment).
Tea was some cheesy lentil filo parcels with buttered kale, followed by some nice gin.
@Boogie Another mouse story... The flat to which I referred above was in rather an old building with poor insulation. I had hurt my back, and found the lying on my back, on the floor, put less strain on it. I had moved the TV so it could be viewed from the floor or from my chair. One evening after a hard day at the office, I was lying on the floor watching television, and drifted off to sleep. I awoke, thinking, What is that? Something was beneath my shoulder. I got up, waking and scaring the hell out of the mouse that had tucked himself into my shoulder (for warmth, presumably). Startled the human, too.
We have historically referred to our smoke alarms as "bacon detectors", though our present house with its high ceilings is actually less susceptible to the phenomenon.
I wake early and am always out of bed by 7.30, before browsing the ship with a latte, despite working flexibly from home. When the boys were at high school they left at 7.30 so I was always up before 7am. Admittedly I was a nurse for 20 years so don’t necessarily consider 7am an early wake up - that’s when I used to arrive at work.
I actually have a study day today, my first in about 3 weeks. My study days are in my own time not paid time from work; I work part time and last year set myself a goal of doing my research study 2 days a week. Today I have to write this year’s professional development plan and start planning the next assignment.
We have historically referred to our smoke alarms as "bacon detectors", though our present house with its high ceilings is actually less susceptible to the phenomenon.
Mine is a cooking detector. My neighbours all know about my late night toast habit.
If your TOAST sets off the smoke-detector, you're Not Doing It Right. It should never be darker than beige.
Amblage has happened; I went down to the supermarket in the village, bought some potatoes, broccoli, grapes and WINE, and totally forgot that I'd eaten the last of the bread for breakfast. I am a piglet of very little brain.
I seem to be on course for getting the keys to the new château on Friday: my solicitor just needs to check a couple of things and I need to go to the bank tomorrow to sort out transferring the money. I'm definitely beginning to get nervous: it may not seem like such a big deal, but to someone who's reached my age without ever living alone, it's really quite scary!
I had my hair cut! My hairdresser lives just up the street and has a small salon in her house. Unfortunately, there is a high step into her house, so she usually comes to me to cut my hair.
However, because of covid, she’s not allowed in, so she cut my hair outside. It must have looked very odd, me in a wheelchair with Sarah cutting my hair!
I'm definitely beginning to get nervous: it may not seem like such a big deal, but to someone who's reached my age without ever living alone, it's really quite scary!
It definitely is a big deal. {{{Piglet}}}
I'm out of sorts today and a bit all over the place about everything. One of those days when it's probably best to have an early night and start afresh tomorrow.
I'm definitely beginning to get nervous: it may not seem like such a big deal, but to someone who's reached my age without ever living alone, it's really quite scary!
Courage, my Piglet! It will entail a bit of gear-shifting, but that come with practice (and some grinding). Besides, support and coaching are part of the ships's raisons d'être.
I've had the opposite problem in past. I've lived a good chunk of my life alone, and find living with other humans a bit of an effort, but it has been forced on me in past, and does have its advantages, just as does solitary life. I liken it to shifting one's weight. Think about something, however trivial, that will cease to be an irritant, e.g., menu preferences. Have a craving for grilled llama napped in marmite sauce? Who's to object? You'll come to enjoy your own company, as well as that of others.
I'm definitely beginning to get nervous: it may not seem like such a big deal, but to someone who's reached my age without ever living alone, it's really quite scary!
We bought our first house when I was 63 - and yes, we were nervous too! You are doing a Very Grand (and even Courageous) Thing.
It's quite normal to be apprehensive, Piglet; it is a very big deal! I hope it goes well.
I've managed a full day of study and it was rather refreshing not to check my work email. Didn't manage to fit in a second walk though.
Slow cooked pig cheeks with dumplings for tea.
She came late Friday night. Ended up with a water birth in hospital as there weren't enough spare midwives for a home birth, and they had put me in a room with a pool. Weighed in at 8lb 11oz, and definitely my shortest labour. Things are mostly going ok. First weight check tomorrow though.
Dragonlet 1 was apparently initially rather grumpy when he was told he had a sister, as he wanted a brother, even though he will have the spare room to himself soon. No. 2 has been trying to play Mummy a lot.
Our smoke alarm gets triggered by sausages when I open the grill door to check them.
It was the turn of my parents on Skype tonight (weekly call), and apparently as well as Dragonlet 3 having a middle name that crops up on both sides of the family (planned), she shares a birthday with my paternal grandfather, who I never met, as he died suddenly shortly after my parents got married. The coincidence is further stretched by the fact that I was born on my paternal grandmother's birthday!
We did, to general amazement, make it to church on Sunday, as the midwife checks were done in time. So we also met Fr Duckling's new baby, who arrived at the start of the week. (It was rather random that the two people in the congregation who could plausibly have another baby did so within days of each other!)
I seem to be on course for getting the keys to the new château on Friday: my solicitor just needs to check a couple of things and I need to go to the bank tomorrow to sort out transferring the money. I'm definitely beginning to get nervous: it may not seem like such a big deal, but to someone who's reached my age without ever living alone, it's really quite scary!
It is a big deal, and you are a very courageous Piglet. What an exciting time though.
@Piglet One of the great things about living alone is that no-one else knows if you burn the toast, or whether - if burnt - you scrape the burnt bits off or simply bin it.
I had my hair cut! My hairdresser lives just up the street and has a small salon in her house. Unfortunately, there is a high step into her house, so she usually comes to me to cut my hair.
However, because of covid, she’s not allowed in, so she cut my hair outside. It must have looked very odd, me in a wheelchair with Sarah cutting my hair!
As long as you put on the brakes, you should all right I think. Clearly not as odd as someone in a wheelchair racing the street downhill, pursued by someone else frantically waving scissors!
Congratulations @Pendragon and welcome to Dragonlet 3.
The maternity leave job vacancies list appeared yesterday - we normally have at least 2 or 3 members of staff on maternity/paternity leave at any one time. 8 are just about to vanish off (Ist went unexpectedly last week, due to an unforeseen complication which needs careful monitoring) and I am pretty certain there are more to go in the next few months. Not that I can currently see all members of staff as we are strictly zoned so my information gathering is somewhat restricted at the moment.
Clearly, my immediate managers were bored without their troops to organise as 2 of the 4 are part of the 8. (Due to the nature of my workplace, we have a very high number of learning support assistants and we have a team of 4 direct managers, who are in turn managed by someone else.) and most of the rest are part of the support team who were not in the workplace for six months.
Back to work today but it shouldn’t be busy so I might get some reading done this afternoon. This week is the lull before the storm, as my first lot of marking arrives on Friday.
Good to hear all about dragonlet3, @pendragon. I was decidedly grumpy when my brother arrived as he'd been sold as a new and interesting playmate. All he did was lie there while all the adults fussed over him and ignored me. @piglet, it will be strange living on your own, specially in these even stranger times, but what an adventure. You'll have lots of excuses for ambling to find out about your new environs too.
...support and coaching are part of the ships's raisons d'être...
I liken it to shifting one's weight. Think about something, however trivial, that will cease to be an irritant, e.g., menu preferences. Have a craving for grilled llama napped in marmite sauce? Who's to object?
I'm loving both these thoughts!
We're all looking forward to reading the chapter In Which Piglet Takes Up Residence.
In the middle of her account of Dragonlet3's arrival, @Pendragon said:
Our smoke alarm gets triggered by sausages when I open the grill door to check them.
This is obviously a subliminal message, inserted by our Evil Alien Overlords, who, for reasons best known to themselves, do not wish us to eat Sausages.
Busy morning. Out into the big scary world to collect my drugs (and emollient goop). Then, it being a rare dry day, edge past a Pole who is, as usual, painting some part of Villa Firenze and into the garden. Spend a couple of hours bulb planting and find I still have tulips left over. The place will look like a second Holland come Spring at this rate.
Congratulations, Piglet.
Just a thought, maybe you have enough on your plate with moving and settling in, without a new job too, just now. Not for ever, of course, but I am sure the timing will work out.
Best wishes for the move.
You've got a point there, Puzzler - maybe the practicalities will be easier when I've got my own address.
I agree. I bought my first flat (for all of 10k!) on the back of getting a job that could support a mortgage. I came out in several varieties of nervous rash.
There could be local opportunities in Linlithgow that don't make it into the wider world.
Comments
We had hard wired smoke detectors in our previous house, as it was rented. The ceilings were also quite high. Fortunately the upstairs landing one decided that it would start beeping not long before Dragonlet 2 was born, so when my family visited to meet her, I presented my very tall brother with the new battery and the stepladder to change it whilst he was around! He only just reached it though, so I wouldn't have done so if I tried.
The rain here has been torrential, water flowing across roads and basically going everywhere. I got soaked coming home, and submerged my boots several times peddling through 6"+ deep water.
I made a really nice risotto for supper: pancetta, peas and some chanterelles that S. wanted using up. I hadn't planned on putting them in, but I'm glad I did - they really gave it a lift.
Tea was some cheesy lentil filo parcels with buttered kale, followed by some nice gin.
<ducks, and ronnies off>
Now that I’m retired I refuse to get up before it’s light. So I pop on to the Ship to wait for dawn!
I actually have a study day today, my first in about 3 weeks. My study days are in my own time not paid time from work; I work part time and last year set myself a goal of doing my research study 2 days a week. Today I have to write this year’s professional development plan and start planning the next assignment.
Not a bad idea for early-bird-ness, but my dogs would object!
Amblage has happened; I went down to the supermarket in the village, bought some potatoes, broccoli, grapes and WINE, and totally forgot that I'd eaten the last of the bread for breakfast. I am a piglet of very little brain.
I seem to be on course for getting the keys to the new château on Friday: my solicitor just needs to check a couple of things and I need to go to the bank tomorrow to sort out transferring the money. I'm definitely beginning to get nervous: it may not seem like such a big deal, but to someone who's reached my age without ever living alone, it's really quite scary!
However, because of covid, she’s not allowed in, so she cut my hair outside. It must have looked very odd, me in a wheelchair with Sarah cutting my hair!
I'm out of sorts today and a bit all over the place about everything. One of those days when it's probably best to have an early night and start afresh tomorrow.
Courage, my Piglet! It will entail a bit of gear-shifting, but that come with practice (and some grinding). Besides, support and coaching are part of the ships's raisons d'être.
I've had the opposite problem in past. I've lived a good chunk of my life alone, and find living with other humans a bit of an effort, but it has been forced on me in past, and does have its advantages, just as does solitary life. I liken it to shifting one's weight. Think about something, however trivial, that will cease to be an irritant, e.g., menu preferences. Have a craving for grilled llama napped in marmite sauce? Who's to object? You'll come to enjoy your own company, as well as that of others.
I've managed a full day of study and it was rather refreshing not to check my work email. Didn't manage to fit in a second walk though.
Slow cooked pig cheeks with dumplings for tea.
Is Outrage!
Dragonlet 1 was apparently initially rather grumpy when he was told he had a sister, as he wanted a brother, even though he will have the spare room to himself soon. No. 2 has been trying to play Mummy a lot.
Our smoke alarm gets triggered by sausages when I open the grill door to check them.
It was the turn of my parents on Skype tonight (weekly call), and apparently as well as Dragonlet 3 having a middle name that crops up on both sides of the family (planned), she shares a birthday with my paternal grandfather, who I never met, as he died suddenly shortly after my parents got married. The coincidence is further stretched by the fact that I was born on my paternal grandmother's birthday!
We did, to general amazement, make it to church on Sunday, as the midwife checks were done in time. So we also met Fr Duckling's new baby, who arrived at the start of the week. (It was rather random that the two people in the congregation who could plausibly have another baby did so within days of each other!)
It is a big deal, and you are a very courageous Piglet. What an exciting time though.
Welcome Dragonlet 3 !
Myself, I rather tend to use a computer for this. But then, each to their own! - Is it like reading tea leaves?
As long as you put on the brakes, you should all right I think. Clearly not as odd as someone in a wheelchair racing the street downhill, pursued by someone else frantically waving scissors!
The maternity leave job vacancies list appeared yesterday - we normally have at least 2 or 3 members of staff on maternity/paternity leave at any one time. 8 are just about to vanish off (Ist went unexpectedly last week, due to an unforeseen complication which needs careful monitoring) and I am pretty certain there are more to go in the next few months. Not that I can currently see all members of staff as we are strictly zoned so my information gathering is somewhat restricted at the moment.
Clearly, my immediate managers were bored without their troops to organise as 2 of the 4 are part of the 8. (Due to the nature of my workplace, we have a very high number of learning support assistants and we have a team of 4 direct managers, who are in turn managed by someone else.) and most of the rest are part of the support team who were not in the workplace for six months.
Back to work today but it shouldn’t be busy so I might get some reading done this afternoon. This week is the lull before the storm, as my first lot of marking arrives on Friday.
@piglet, it will be strange living on your own, specially in these even stranger times, but what an adventure. You'll have lots of excuses for ambling to find out about your new environs too.
I'm loving both these thoughts!
We're all looking forward to reading the chapter In Which Piglet Takes Up Residence.
And yes, belated congratulations @Pendragon .
Our smoke alarm gets triggered by sausages when I open the grill door to check them.
This is obviously a subliminal message, inserted by our Evil Alien Overlords, who, for reasons best known to themselves, do not wish us to eat Sausages.
In other news, I didn't get the job - runner-up again. Abject poverty, here I come ...
Am now consoling myself with coffee and a BACON sandwich.
Just a thought, maybe you have enough on your plate with moving and settling in, without a new job too, just now. Not for ever, of course, but I am sure the timing will work out.
Best wishes for the move.
But then I was watching Kate Humble's farming programme last night: she has a pig called SAUSAGE.
I agree. I bought my first flat (for all of 10k!) on the back of getting a job that could support a mortgage. I came out in several varieties of nervous rash.
There could be local opportunities in Linlithgow that don't make it into the wider world.