A very windy day here, with the vent d'autan which comes up from Provence, and could, as the French say, take the horns off a buffalo. That was fine by me because it meant my laundry was dry in record time.
This afternoon we went for tea and cakes in a very nice tea room with a terrace overlooking the Tarn river. Apparently it's been open for five years, and we can't quite work out how we've never noticed its existence until now.
I got new glasses this afternoon and for the first time have a different prescription in each pair - a set of varifocals for general use and an "occupational pair" for the computer and reading. I've never worn glasses all the time because I can't get used to the feeling of them on me. It's not a vanity thing - I'm a fairly colourless person and actually think I look better with them on as they give some definition to my face. So I'm making a determined effort with these and particularly hope the pinchy feeling above my right ear goes away soon.
In other news Mr Nen and I have an evening of Zoom meetings (at different times) which necessitated eating our main meal at lunch time and means I can shortly consume beans on toast - one of my very favourite things to cook and eat.
Busy day after all, as I forgot that I had a training session this afternoon and then a student requesting a telephone call.
For tea we are having Thai red curry made with chicken breasts, courgette, red pepper and lentil stock (leftover from Monday’s lentil parcels), served with rice and yoghurt. I use a commercial red curry paste we keep a tub of in the fridge and it is rather hot.
... I can shortly consume beans on toast - one of my very favourite things to cook and eat.
Beans on toast is a dish fit for a king - and as it apparently combines all the amino acids necessary for nutrition, is also very good for you.
I hope you get used to your new specs - if you still feel them pinching, go back to your optician - you don't want sore ears.
Because I'd had "lunch" (the bacon sarnies) very late, I had a snacky sort of supper - breadsticks dipped in hummus, prawns with seafood sauce and some cherry tomatoes. I agree with Cathscats - Heavenlyannie's cooking (and Mr. Heavenly's) always sounds amazing.
When I cleared away the supper dishes this evening, S. said she wondered what she'll do about clearing up when I move out (I've been doing it because I feel it's the least I can do as she's been putting me up for the last 8 months). Maybe she'll need to advertise for a serf ...
Tomorrow really must be occupied in packing things and trying to arrange things like house insurance, wi-fi, council tax and so on.
... I bought my first flat (for all of 10k!) on the back of getting a job that could support a mortgage ...
Fortunately I'm buying outright - even if I had a job I doubt someone my age would be considered for a mortgage. I took the advice of my older (and wiser) brother to buy before prices might go up again: once my savings dip below a certain level I can apply for benefits if I still haven't a job.
There could be local opportunities in Linlithgow that don't make it into the wider world.
That's a possibility - and my lawyer's an acquaintance, and might hear about potential local jobs.
I have a meeting with my Supervisors this afternoon, the first with my second supervisor who has just been assigned to me. This morning I’m writing up some planning for the next few months so that I sound like I know what I am doing.
In theory I have reading time today but in practice I will need to do some uni work as my foundation students have an assignment due in today and I expect some panicking.
I had a day of housework yesterday. I’m not sure what happened there but I’ve got over it now!
Mr Boogs has made me a standing desk as so much activity is on my iPad these days. I will gradually stand for more of my online time each day. This should help back, hip and shoulders.
I should get the keys tomorrow, and the movers are coming to my brother's lock-up, and thence to my sister's house, on Saturday.
The purchase price has gone through OK, and the issue with the scaffolding is fine - it was some repairs to a different flat (carried out by the council, who own some of the flats in the building) and I won't be liable for any cost of it.
I've had estimates for insurance and electricity, both of which are comfortingly low*, but I'll still have to contact BT about taking over the broadband/Wifi - I think I have to start again from scratch.
* the electricity one actually seems ridiculously low - I wonder if it was based on a time when the flat wasn't occupied.
I've also discovered that a couple of other Shippies live in Linlithgow, so Once All This Madness Is Over, a shipmeet will definitely be in order!
@piglet, do you have to go with BT? They are about the most expensive way of having phone or internet these days and getting in touch with them is a real nightmare. I recently managed to get out of their clutches and would never go back..... YMMV of course, but there are many options out there which didn’t exist when last you were setting things up in this country.
I'm with BT (landline and broadband), but when broadband failed completely a while back, I invested in a Vod*fone dongle (V*dafone was the best network for my area).
It's proved a wise move. BT is unreliable on virtually every day of the week now, but Vodaf*ne seems to be a lot less subject to downtime etc. I am, in fact, using it at this very moment as ever is...
Exciting times @piglet. A friend has been having a tough time with BT Business, but found the Residential side OK as I did when I complained about their lack of awareness of dealing with deaf people (me) when sorting out my mum's account. Of course it would have been nice not to have to complain in the first place. We have Virgin, and they aren't the most reliable either.
When we move, we'll be an hour near you and on the East Coast Mainline, so a quick trip to Scotland for a ship meet would be lovely (flipping virus allowing).
Of course, following the Welsh announcement, passengers will have to change trains in the middle of the Severn Tunnel. Anyway, the restrictions which come into force tomorrow state: "No person living outside Wales may, without a reasonable excuse, enter or remain in Wales". I presume the reverse is also true, though I've not checked.
Good heavens! I hope they've renewed the whitewash and the lighting in the Tunnel!
Why, people could get hurt...all that stumbling about on the ballast...climbing up and down stepladders...
Interesting point re movements across the border, though. How on earth is the border to be policed? Mind you, I can't imagine any Welsh person in his or her right mind actually wanting to cross into *England*, except in the direst emergency...
I do sympathise with a couple at Our Place. They have family including grandchildren in Pembrokeshire, and usually visit during the autumn half-term...
Dinner tonight was a simple dish of baked potatoes with tuna mayonnaise and cheese, courtesy of Mr Heavenly. They were very tasty spuds too, freshly out of the ground of a friend's farm.
I'm tired having spent the day at meetings and studying.
I do sympathise with a couple at Our Place. They have family including grandchildren in Pembrokeshire, and usually visit during the autumn half-term...
Good heavens! I hope they've renewed the whitewash and the lighting in the Tunnel!
Why, people could get hurt...all that stumbling about on the ballast...climbing up and down stepladders...
No, no, if they stop the trains in exactly the right place, they can align the doors and use gangplanks ... What's that? TfW and GW use different types of train?
Interesting point re movements across the border, though. How on earth is the border to be policed? Mind you, I can't imagine any Welsh person in his or her right mind actually wanting to cross into *England*, except in the direst emergency...
Straight from the nerve centre of the Welsh Government, I can tell you that road blocks are being set up on the Severn Bridges, the A55, and the A5 where it crosses the border (which is about every hundred metres between Shrewsbury and Wrexham). There are rumours of machine gun nests in strategic locations but I cannot confirm or deny them. Welsh passports have been printed and stored in the former Torchwood headquarters whilst our fishery protection vessels, the Rhodri Morgan and the Lady Siwan, have had a total refit and have been relaunched as the first Welsh aircraft carriers.
Don't tell anyone, but there's still that lovely tiny road from Hay-on-Wye, up over the Gospel Pass and down past Llanthony Priory to Abergavenny ... or the Tanat Valley ...
There's always a traffic jam by Tesco's in Chepstow, so that will take care of itself.
Some years ago we had a lovely, but naive, lay worker from Peru attached to our parish. We took Sandra on a day trip to Hereford, and managed to persuade her that she would need her passport as there was a border check at Pontrilas, on the Abergavenny/Hereford road. There’s a very convenient set of traffic lights there, ideal for border control.
Thanks for all the good wishes, everyone - I'm just waiting now for my brother to pick me up to collect the keys. I'm not actually moving in until tomorrow, when a Removal Bloke is picking up my Stuff.
Today will be for buying household essentials, and giving the place a bit of a clean. As you know, I'm no clean freak, but I suppose there may have been any number of people in and out over the last while, and with the Plague, you can't be too careful.
@Sarasa - absolutely we'll have to have a shipmeet once it's feasible!
@Cathscats - you're right that I don't have to stick with BT - my only logic for that was that the previous owner was with them (and I thought it might make the transition easier, but I'm not so sure about that now) . I'll be happy to take advice though - as you say, things have changed hugely since I last lived here.
I have Pilates Zoom first thing so Mr Boogs takes the puppy. I then take Tatze and try to choose a different walk each time.
This Dell is five minutes from our house and beautiful even in the pouring rain. I have waterproof everything (even socks!) so the rain isn’t a problem - just lots of drippy clothes drying when I get home!
I don't have to stick with BT - my only logic for that was that the previous owner was with them (and I thought it might make the transition easier, but I'm not so sure about that now)
Working out that there is now another different person at the same address may otoh blow their little circuits. We have had a good experience with a Virgin: they have always been prompt at fixing problems.
It may be worth trying to find out if there have been any recent upgrades to the physical system: we use BT but I know that Virgin Media have recently been busy installing new infrastructure around our locality.
Hope the cleaning wasn't too arduous @piglet. Our estate agent phoned at 11 to ask if he could come round at one and do a walk through video for a couple in Hong Kong looking to buy in our area. I was in a middle of my Friday writing class (via zoom) but as soon as it finished I dashed round with the duster etc etc. It was good to see the agent face to face and get a bit of a catch up as to where we are. He's a bit puzzled too as to why no offers, but was being hopeful we'll get a buyer soon, as I guess estate agents always would say that.
If you're getting ADSL then it will matter little who you deal with as it's always Openreach actually doing the work. Fibre it's a bit more complicated but generally if it's not Virgin then it will still come down to Openreach again. I've generally found Plusnet (either in vanilla or John Lewis branded form) to have pretty decent customer service and competitive prices.
I use Plusnet (I presume in vanilla, as not through John Lewis) - they do have good customer service and good prices. And they use the BT wiring, rather than having to put a new wiring in, like Virgin Media do.
Over here, in Continental WesShire, I've got two different internet providers, one via the cable TV guys, and one via the traditional landline provider guys. As I need reliable internet, this was a slightly costly, but reasonable solution which has proved its worth repeatedly already, when one or the other the providers had a problem.
In further, and again foody news, I've found in a big local supermarket this rather nice set of Cathedral City cheeses, containing Double Gloucester, Mature Cheddar and Red Leicester. I like it!
FWIW, I ve moved quite a few times and the idea that I might just choose my favourite landline and internet supplier was well nigh impossible.
Coverage is Not all that it could be across our (hopefully) United Kingdom.
Although if you are in an urban area matters might be slightly better.......
Comments
When we "adopted" a pig which was destined for our freezer we named it "Lippy".
A very windy day here, with the vent d'autan which comes up from Provence, and could, as the French say, take the horns off a buffalo. That was fine by me because it meant my laundry was dry in record time.
This afternoon we went for tea and cakes in a very nice tea room with a terrace overlooking the Tarn river. Apparently it's been open for five years, and we can't quite work out how we've never noticed its existence until now.
Back to Paris and curfew tomorrow.
In other news Mr Nen and I have an evening of Zoom meetings (at different times) which necessitated eating our main meal at lunch time and means I can shortly consume beans on toast - one of my very favourite things to cook and eat.
For tea we are having Thai red curry made with chicken breasts, courgette, red pepper and lentil stock (leftover from Monday’s lentil parcels), served with rice and yoghurt. I use a commercial red curry paste we keep a tub of in the fridge and it is rather hot.
It's a complete coincidence, but I'm having sausages for tea. Does this count as peer pressure?
Beans on toast is a dish fit for a king - and as it apparently combines all the amino acids necessary for nutrition, is also very good for you.
I hope you get used to your new specs - if you still feel them pinching, go back to your optician - you don't want sore ears.
Because I'd had "lunch" (the bacon sarnies) very late, I had a snacky sort of supper - breadsticks dipped in hummus, prawns with seafood sauce and some cherry tomatoes. I agree with Cathscats - Heavenlyannie's cooking (and Mr. Heavenly's) always sounds amazing.
When I cleared away the supper dishes this evening, S. said she wondered what she'll do about clearing up when I move out (I've been doing it because I feel it's the least I can do as she's been putting me up for the last 8 months). Maybe she'll need to advertise for a serf ...
Tomorrow really must be occupied in packing things and trying to arrange things like house insurance, wi-fi, council tax and so on.
HELP!!!
Fortunately I'm buying outright - even if I had a job I doubt someone my age would be considered for a mortgage. I took the advice of my older (and wiser) brother to buy before prices might go up again: once my savings dip below a certain level I can apply for benefits if I still haven't a job.
That's a possibility - and my lawyer's an acquaintance, and might hear about potential local jobs.
I have a meeting with my Supervisors this afternoon, the first with my second supervisor who has just been assigned to me. This morning I’m writing up some planning for the next few months so that I sound like I know what I am doing.
In theory I have reading time today but in practice I will need to do some uni work as my foundation students have an assignment due in today and I expect some panicking.
Mr Boogs has made me a standing desk as so much activity is on my iPad these days. I will gradually stand for more of my online time each day. This should help back, hip and shoulders.
The purchase price has gone through OK, and the issue with the scaffolding is fine - it was some repairs to a different flat (carried out by the council, who own some of the flats in the building) and I won't be liable for any cost of it.
I've had estimates for insurance and electricity, both of which are comfortingly low*, but I'll still have to contact BT about taking over the broadband/Wifi - I think I have to start again from scratch.
* the electricity one actually seems ridiculously low - I wonder if it was based on a time when the flat wasn't occupied.
I've also discovered that a couple of other Shippies live in Linlithgow, so Once All This Madness Is Over, a shipmeet will definitely be in order!
May the Sun shine on your move to the new Chateau...
Will you still be able to communicate on the Magic Electric Interweb?
EEK!!!
I'll get ma bonnet...
That was before Smokeless Fuel and Central Heating, of course.
It's proved a wise move. BT is unreliable on virtually every day of the week now, but Vodaf*ne seems to be a lot less subject to downtime etc. I am, in fact, using it at this very moment as ever is...
Might be worth enquiring, anyway.
When we move, we'll be an hour near you and on the East Coast Mainline, so a quick trip to Scotland for a ship meet would be lovely (flipping virus allowing).
I'm sure we all wish @Piglet the very best for this exciting weekend, as Linlithgow (O blessed burgh!) welcomes its illustrious new denizen!
Why, people could get hurt...all that stumbling about on the ballast...climbing up and down stepladders...
Interesting point re movements across the border, though. How on earth is the border to be policed? Mind you, I can't imagine any Welsh person in his or her right mind actually wanting to cross into *England*, except in the direst emergency...
I do sympathise with a couple at Our Place. They have family including grandchildren in Pembrokeshire, and usually visit during the autumn half-term...
I'm tired having spent the day at meetings and studying.
Straight from the nerve centre of the Welsh Government, I can tell you that road blocks are being set up on the Severn Bridges, the A55, and the A5 where it crosses the border (which is about every hundred metres between Shrewsbury and Wrexham). There are rumours of machine gun nests in strategic locations but I cannot confirm or deny them. Welsh passports have been printed and stored in the former Torchwood headquarters whilst our fishery protection vessels, the Rhodri Morgan and the Lady Siwan, have had a total refit and have been relaunched as the first Welsh aircraft carriers.
6pm Friday is when it all changes...
There's always a traffic jam by Tesco's in Chepstow, so that will take care of itself.
...but you risk running into American Werewolfs if you take that route!
Today will be for buying household essentials, and giving the place a bit of a clean. As you know, I'm no clean freak, but I suppose there may have been any number of people in and out over the last while, and with the Plague, you can't be too careful.
@Sarasa - absolutely we'll have to have a shipmeet once it's feasible!
@Cathscats - you're right that I don't have to stick with BT - my only logic for that was that the previous owner was with them (and I thought it might make the transition easier, but I'm not so sure about that now) . I'll be happy to take advice though - as you say, things have changed hugely since I last lived here.
I like Fridays.
I have Pilates Zoom first thing so Mr Boogs takes the puppy. I then take Tatze and try to choose a different walk each time.
This Dell is five minutes from our house and beautiful even in the pouring rain. I have waterproof everything (even socks!) so the rain isn’t a problem - just lots of drippy clothes drying when I get home!
Here’s a link to photos of this morning’s walk. 🍁
https://photos.app.goo.gl/88CkpR2QwWJACEfS9
Working out that there is now another different person at the same address may otoh blow their little circuits. We have had a good experience with a Virgin: they have always been prompt at fixing problems.
In further, and again foody news, I've found in a big local supermarket this rather nice set of Cathedral City cheeses, containing Double Gloucester, Mature Cheddar and Red Leicester. I like it!
FWIW, I ve moved quite a few times and the idea that I might just choose my favourite landline and internet supplier was well nigh impossible.
Coverage is Not all that it could be across our (hopefully) United Kingdom.
Although if you are in an urban area matters might be slightly better.......