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[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Well, doc app went well, even though she was running an hour late! At least I read a lot of my book. She has asked for bloods to see if they show a reason, am back next month. Unfortunately the chemist was closed by the time I got out. Am off today to take neighbour for her injection, obviously didnt get a lie in but means I have time to go to the chemist. Am now going to go to the Lowry outlet after dropping her off. Blue skies again.

Sorry everyone is fed up Patti, think you not booking return flights says a lot!

[G J (Gaff to my friends)]

Morning all. Another bright, sunny day, and I might even be able to get on with some marking today!!

[Jud]

Morning.

Lovely sunny day today, I left my tights at home!

[Jim]

Yes it's very pleasant, but the way things are going we're going to be dry this summer
(Having just guaranteed a deluge where July should be I'll retire quietly :-) )

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Urgh, got dressed at 9 to get to the chemist, only to find they are out of the steroid cream and emollient I was prescibed, they won't have any till tomorrow afternoon. At least I managed to ring talktalk to save money on a new broadband deal.

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Urgh, got dressed at 9 to get to the chemist, only to find they are out of the steroid cream and emollient I was prescibed, they won't have any till tomorrow afternoon. And to make it worse, I had to hobble round, my good foot is really sore, I can barely walk on it. At least I managed to ring talktalk to save money on a new broadband deal.

[Kath]

Morning. Got more overnight pics of the hedgehog. We're putting a shallow tray of water out for him tonight. It's the drip tray from a big plant pot and we'll put pebbles in so the hog can drink but it won't be too deep.
Strimming in the garden. The path around the fruit beds has disappeared!

[Will]

It's lovely here. Strimming for me again too later on Kath, as the belt drive on the lawn mower snapped last night.

This morning I've been shifting stone to start repairing the crumbling edge of one of the ponds.

[Alicia]

Kath wrote: "Morning. Got more overnight pics of the hedgehog. We're putting a shallow tray of water out for him tonight. It's the drip tray from a big plant pot and we'll put pebbles in so the hog can drink bu..."

A real, wild hedgehog - what a treat!

[Alicia]

Desley (Cat fosterer) wrote: "Urgh, got dressed at 9 to get to the chemist, only to find they are out of the steroid cream and emollient I was prescibed, they won't have any till tomorrow afternoon. And to make it worse, I had ..."

So irritating that you can't get what you need, Desley. Isn't that always the case? Everything seems to take more trips than it should.

[Kelly]

Alicia wrote: "Kelly wrote: "So got to bed at 2am. ..."

I got to bed at 1, and had to get up at 2 because it wasn't working, and eat something, and change into something different, and do my stretches - some nig..."

That was a night and a half for you, Alicia. Our kitchen isn't that big so you can't really get two people in there tidying up - I like to be left alone to just get on with it!

[Alicia]

Kelly wrote: "I like to be left alone to just get on with it!..."

I am sort of the same: I like to leave the person who created most of the need for tidying up to do it when he gets around to it.

It's not laziness - standing is painful. Plus the bit about people cleaning up their own if both people are retired.

[G J (Gaff to my friends)]

Morning all.

[Kath]

Morning, Gaff. And everyone else.
Hedgehog out early last night, just after nine, so the infra-red didn't kick in. We watched him through binoculars for ten minutes or so while, from the other side, the camera was tracking him too.
Going to use some of our compost to make a deep bed for a couple of courgette plants a friend gave us yesterday.

[Jud]

Morning.

Got a meeting today so that's 2 hours less reading time, how inconvenient.

Managed to get a colleague on to kindle cloud during work, she's leaving in a couple of weeks so she has very little to do these days! I'm such an enabler/bad influence.

[Jim]

Jud wrote: "Morning.

Got a meeting today so that's 2 hours less reading time, how inconvenient.

Managed to get a colleague on to kindle cloud during work, she's leaving in a couple of weeks so she has very ..."

I suspect she regards you as an angel in disguise :-)

[Jud]

She was very grateful after a couple of hours yesterday :o)

I'm just pleased I got someone else reading.

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Well, ended up having a mainly productive, if painful day yesterday. Got a few bargains from the Outlet Mall, was 900 yards away from the hospital when we got a text saying my neighbour was out of theatre. Slight downside was she was then bored so wanted us to go on the ward to wait with her, despite knowing how painful my foot was. Then had a slight diversion on the way home, but got home early enough to get a few other bits done. Woke up early again today, going to the chemist after work, will hopefully have all my prescriptions today. It’s years since I last had an issue getting a prescription, but got a new person who wasn’t as helpful as the old ones. Got in today to a couple of urgent jobs, one should have been straight forward, printing off copies of things, but unfortunately our printers are quite old, have had to alternate between two to get what I needed, not impressed as heel is still sore today, although slightly better than yesterday.

Lynne, I was reading an article about grandparents being able to claim tax credits for looking after grandchildren, don’t know if it is of interest to you? Aww, we haven’t had hedgehogs for years. Glad you have got your colleague reading Jud, shame you have to do some work though!

[Jud]

has anyone ever heard of www.bookcrossing.com? how have I not discovered this before, I love this idea! I'm determined to find a book someday

[Jim]

looks intriguing!
I'd never come across it either

[Alicia]

Jud wrote: "has anyone ever heard of www.bookcrossing.com? how have I not discovered this before, I love this idea! I'm determined to find a book someday"

I put a few paperback copies into it, and have never had someone respond. It gets expensive, since you pay for the copies.

There are SO many places where you can pick up a free or low-cost book, even in paper, that I'm sure the market is saturated, and if only one person doesn't pass the book on, that copy dies.

Maybe hardcovers do better - but they also cost the author more.

[Rosemary (grooving with the Picts)]

My daughter used to do book crossing, back when she had her book review site.

Morning all. Another bright and sunny one, although it's meant to get very windy again later. I am recovering from working with the P4s on their pallet garden design for Gardening Scotland show next week. We were planting up musical instruments and of course they had to try them all out first...

[G J (Gaff to my friends)]

Morning. Another bright, sunny day in the valley, and my last before half-term. It's our year 11 leaving ceremony this afternoon, so it's all hands on deck for most of the day, meaning a mixed bag of weirdness from Art with year 7 to GCSE Physics with year 10.

[Kath]

Morning. Off for a day out, after voting in the strange elections first, of course.

[Jud]

Morning. I forgot to register in time so I'm not voting today but I did register anyway so I'll get caught next time.

[Jay-me (Janet)]

Kath wrote: "Morning. Off for a day out, after voting in the strange elections first, of course."

Mum's daycare centre has been half taken over as a polling station again. I noticed that there was a sign saying that the people stood outside could ask for your voter number but nothing else. Has this changed recently because I got a nasty comment from one when I refused to say who I was voting for in the last General Election - and I know that I have been asked on more than one occasion.

We have had a traumatic start to the day - Mum was upset about the new neighbours - so I had to tell her that the house next door has only just gone up for sale and the old neighbours are still there. Then we couldn't find where she had left her teeth.

The In Bloom people have been out this week and the baskets, tubs and gardens along the main road are starting to look colourful.

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Yesterday afternoon ended up worse, people expecting things in an unreasonable timescale! Then had a bit of a go at the chemist again, because my prescriptions had been done in two batches, they had been filed separately, she tried to just give me the initial batch without the cream, so I made her go and check again for the rest of it! Still sore and itchy today, woke up at 5 thinking about what I needed to do at work. At least I got yesterdays tasks finished quickly, and the 100ish e-mails weren’t as bad as they looked, so now catching up on what I should have done yesterday. Need to go and post my friends amazon orders through after work, and go to the co-op, was going to last night, but was too fed up and sore.

I heard of Bookcrossing shortly after joining here, but not looked into it that much. Sorry you had a traumatic start to the day Janet.

[Alicia]

Desley (Cat fosterer) wrote: "...Then had a bit of a go at the chemist again, because my prescriptions had been done in two batches, they ha..."

Good for you for insisting they look again.

Sometimes I think customer service consists more in the appearance than in the fulfillment. As long as they get you out of there, it counts as 'service.' Whether you got what you wanted is not relevant.

Hope the stuff helps.

[Kelly]

Desley (Cat fosterer) wrote: "Yesterday afternoon ended up worse, people expecting things in an unreasonable timescale! Then had a bit of a go at the chemist again, because my prescriptions had been done in two batches, they ha..."

Ahh that's all a bit rubbish Desley. Hope you can rest over he long week-end.

You are so right Alicia, customer service can become a "process" to be followed, so a "tick box", rather than actually making sure the customer is happy and gets what they want.

[Patti (baconater)]

Happy Friday all!

We've decided we'll probably do a month in Croatia over the summer.

If anyone has any reccies about what to do/see, I'd be grateful for the info.

[M.T.]

The diet, and everything, went to pot this week. Sorry I haven’t dropped in everyone and sorry for not replying to various questions about said eating regimen, because it’s more about what you eat than how much.

It’s been a very surreal week.

[Jud]

Morning.

I actually had a full night's sleep last night, I was out for the count by 10:30 and neither kids woke during the night. The change in sleeping pattern has completely thrown me this morning.

[Lynne (Tigger's Mum)]

Hi all, I’ve been a bit quiet lately but slowly coming back to normal whatever that is.
Desley you mentioned tax credits for grandparents. I’m redundant, daughter has been able to change her hours so she now takes Harry to breakfast club and his daddy picks him up as usual after school as he works 6till 2. Apart from emergencies then I don’t go up there first thing any more. It’s a big change and i think it’s taking some getting used to for me. Having just said that I’ve just had a phone call to say I may have to collect him this afternoon as his dad has had a breakdown - Vehicular not nervous 😁

[Jud]

Do we have a thread where we can dump book recommendations rather than having to create a new thread for each book?

I'm reading Summer Shorts at the minute and I've just had to stop because I nearly lost control with laughter. It's a brilliant collection of short stories.

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Well, ended up in bed rather early after waking up so early, but feel so much better today, psoriasis is so much better after just two doses of cream, downside is I’ll likely stop it too early! Foot was fine until I had to put shoes on to come to work. I normally make all the drinks for my little team, but one offered today and I actually said yes, really nice to have a drink made for me. Sun is shining and it’s a long weekend. Doing food shopping after work and think I better put the towels in the washing machine so I can peg them out first thing, looks like tomorrow will be the only nice day.

Sorry you haven’t had a good week MT. Glad you slept well Jud, odd how getting the right amount makes you feel strange! Hope you enjoy Croatia Patti. Ah, didn't realise you had been made redundant Lynne, hope you can figure out something to do with the extra time. There did used to be one for freebies Jud, not sure I've seen one for paid books.

[Alicia]

Lynne (Tigger's Mum) wrote: "Hi all, I’ve been a bit quiet lately but slowly coming back to normal whatever that is.
Desley you mentioned tax credits for grandparents. I’m redundant, daughter has been able to change her hours..."

If you've ever wanted to do more photography, learn Swahili, or write a book - now you have the time.

Have fun.

[Lynne (Tigger's Mum)]

I have the Swahili book Alicia, but doubt I’ll ever go to Africa again.
Photography sounds good. Writing a book I’ll leave to you authors. I wouldn’t mind trying to make my dog up to a show champion or obedience qualification. I’ll have to liven my ideas up a bit though. I don’t want to just sit in God’s waiting room. 😀

[Gingerlily - The Full Wild]

Or write a photographic book in Swahili!

[Jim]

Gingerlily - Deleter of Worlds wrote: "Or write a photographic book in Swahili!"

I'm already reaching for my wallet, take my money ;-)

[Alicia]

Lynne (Tigger's Mum) wrote: "I have the Swahili book Alicia, but doubt I’ll ever go to Africa again.
Photography sounds good. Writing a book I’ll leave to you authors. I wouldn’t mind trying to make my dog up to a show champi..."

It's a little daunting getting oneself organized after the demands of childrearing and work - it takes a while to get out of 'instant response' mode and relax.

I'm not there yet, but am starting to see my time gets easily wasted when I don't make plans. I want this book and the next one finished, but everything interrupts me. I still feel under stress.

They tell me it will get better with time. I hope so.

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Well, I have been up since 5, even contemplated pegging the washing out at 5.30, but had a cup of tea and went back to bed instead. Gave up at 7 and then pegged the washing out. Knee is really sore today, assume cos I've not only been limping for days, but doing double the walking I normally do. Going for litter today, and hopefully getting some nice food from M & S. Then really need to do some housework, house looks dreadful, but it's just me dumping stuff in places, so shouldn't take long to make it look better. Sun is shining.

Hope you find something to do with your time, I like the idea of working on the dog

[Kath]

Morning. Off to Scarborough. Back soon.

[Lynne (Tigger's Mum)]

Does curtain twitching count as a hobby? My daughter’s reply to a neighbour when asked if her Gran (my mother -in-law law ) had any hobbies sticks in my mind. “Well, she wees a lot”. She was about 8 when she said it but I wouldn’t like that to be my epitaph either 😁

[Kelly]

Ha ha Lynne, out of the mouths of babes indeed!

Desley, hope the pain eases a bit.

Sunny day in Jersey - long may it stay that way. Mind you, I'll be at the laptop most of the day. Out for a posh meal with in-laws tonight. Belated 81st birthday celebration for father-in-law.

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Well, what a day - sat nav gave us issues, so what should have been a 45 min journey took 1.5 hours! Was drained by that time, so got a hot choc from Costa, which helped for a bit, then we were told about a bigger M & S, which was nice, only got a few bits though. Was so tired on the way home I had to come home and go to bed for an hour (literally, if I have a nap, I wake up after an hour!), feel slightly better but not much inclination to do the housework. Knee still sore though.

Hope you enjoyed Scarborough Kath and hope you enjoy your meal Kelly.

[M.T.]

Bit of a tough week, Dad was very poorly and died this morning. It was peaceful, clearly his wish and he felt no pain. He had the last rites on Monday while Mum was there which meant a lot to both of them, he said, ‘Amen’. Today I was on the M25 but didn’t get stuck in traffic until after he’d gone. He died at about 11. I got the call while driving. I honestly didn’t expect it. Testament to how much Dad was loved that the two carers who were there at the beginning went over to the home last night at half past eleven and stayed until six am. One of them brought Mum back when I got the call at nine.

So ... yeh. Quite a tough day.

Night night all.

I blogged about the week leading up to this here: https://mtmcguire.co.uk/2019/05/25/th...

[Lynne (Tigger's Mum)]

So sorry to hear that Mary, he’s at peace now. God bless.

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

I'm so sorry to hear that MT, I glanced over the blog post yesterday, not one I'll be reading out loud. Sorry you weren't there, but glad you saw him this week. Take care of yourself, and hope your mum is OK xx

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Went to bed early last night, got woken up at 12 by one of the cats knocking a bottle of shampoo over. Then woke up at 6 by the sound of heavy rain. Don't think my plans of going to the local market town are going to happen unless this improves, but probably not a bad thing, my knee is still bad, and the house is a mess, so think I'll be alternating between housework and watching TV. At some point we have to empty my neighbours car of the 26 bags of cat litter we bought yesterday!

[Kelly]

M.T. wrote: "Bit of a tough week, Dad was very poorly and died this morning. It was peaceful, clearly his wish and he felt no pain. He had the last rites on Monday while Mum was there which meant a lot to both ..."

I am so very saddened to hear this MT. I just read your touching blog and had a bit of a cry. Take care. x