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It was so hot here today I was nearly transformed into a wee greasy spot sitting down at the harbour this afternoon. Have just ordered a parasol and base (as there is no shade down there at all) which almost certainly guarantees that there will no other hot days this summer.I agree with what Alicia says Desley, your neighbour needs to remember that you are a friend (and an exceedingly caring and helpful one!) first, and not to take any frustrations out on you
Evening, been taking advantage of the nice weather, although had a bit of a frustrating afternoon, as nothing has been said at work about what is happening after next Mon and I had to book meetings for Aug and had no idea if I was expected to do teams or online - got hold of a manager who went 'oh, that's a good point'!! So we've done a hybrid so people can pick, but the not knowing is unsettling for me, I haven't had my application approved yet, so don't even know if I'm expected to go in full time till it is, or if I'm allowed to do 3 days in the office. I assume we are just carrying on as we have (although suspect if I carried on with my half day a week in the office I'd get questioned) so will still take my mask to work with me, might actually see more than half a dozen people.
It's going to be a complicated time for everybody DesleyTrying to balance social acceptability and the ability to breath and see
Evening, sunny but breezy, so read in indoor reading spot rather than go for a walk. Spoke to my boss today, to find out what the plan is for next week and am quite happy - we are maintaining the status quo for a bit, rather than pushing people back in the office, so I can carry on with my half day in the office, and then they will implement the blended working. Downside is we are keeping mask wearing.
Disabled people worldwide are hoping the ability to work remotely will be preserved when most people are back at work.Many find it's not the work that challenges them most, but the logistics of getting there and home, and what a huge proportion of their energy and resources is spent on what is NOT the work.
Tricky times ahead, I fear. Hopefully common sense and compassion will prevail - although I may be being characteristically optimistic there.Got a busy weekend ahead with cricket on Saturday and the Folk at the Oak Festival on Sunday, then a week later off wild camping on gorgeous Scotland for a fortnight. Loads of writing to get done before then. Ever the procrastinator, moi...
Hi Gang, can a GR librarian please advise how a cover gets uploaded for my new novel which is listed, ISBN'd etc but no cover?Thanks
Marc x
Evening, been enjoying the nice weather again today. Went to one of the charity shops and the candle shop at lunch, sadly came home empty handed, as I went to the charity shop as I broke one of the cat saucers, can't have 3 for 2 cats, I like to have 2 sets.
Having to look after my mother-in-law's chickens whilst she's away. Bringing back so many wonderful memories of my time in Bolivia! Chickens aren't jaguars but they are fascinating and more than a little bonkers!
Great to have time off from trying to get the brain to work at top level and top speed.
Marc wrote: "Hi Gang, can a GR librarian please advise how a cover gets uploaded for my new novel which is listed, ISBN'd etc but no cover?Thanks
Marc x"
Have we got a librarian?
We used to have a couple I'm sure - I think Jud was one? Not sure any regulars now though.Boiling hot here today again and the beaches looked like the Costa del Sol.
Chickens are indeed bonkers Stu and they also make a wide and interesting variety of noises!
Evening, been a busy day - two hours worth of meetings, had to pop to the chemist at lunch and treated myself to a milkshake from the coffee shop. After work I had to take cat food to neighbours friend, pick up Lucy's medication from the vet, then take some stuff to my sisters. We had a letter at lunch confirming what my boss told me on Wed, except he said it would prob be for a month, the date on the letter says we are keeping things the same till 30th August and then reassessing, so all the applications for blended working are being held till then. So that works out at 6 weeks according to my calendar. Enjoy looking after the chickens Stuart, and hope you enjoy your time off Anna
Morning, was wide awake just before 6am, but don't mind as it is a lovely day. We are going out for afternoon tea at at 1940's tea room in Haworth, setting off at 12 so we can go to the shops, so didn't think I'd have time for a walk, but can now I'm up so early.
Marc wrote: "Hi Gang, can a GR librarian please advise how a cover gets uploaded for my new novel which is listed, ISBN'd etc but no cover?Thanks
Marc x"
Not a librarian but have managed to get cover images loaded by making a request in the book covers thread on the librarian group.
Marc wrote: "Hi Gang, can a GR librarian please advise how a cover gets uploaded for my new novel which is listed, ISBN'd etc but no cover?Thanks
Marc x"
Is it Stories We Tell Our Children?
I can see that there's two editions, one with a cover and one that doesn't.
Lendal Press has a cover
Valley Press does not
Do they both need the same cover?
Morning, didn't have quite as long a walk as I wanted, as it was 24 when I set off. Afternoon tea was lovely, very generous portions (we had to bring food home!) and the staff were lovely - and the 1940's theme was very well done. Had a nice wander round the shops first. Was thinking of a walk first this morning, but it is already 20 and I have some Sunday chores to do, so think it might be too much. Will enjoy sitting out reading, although it isn't supposed to be as warm today.
It's true, it's hot. Two hobbits were climbing up the side of our silage clamp muttering something about disposing of a ring
I.t's hawt. Suddenly. We have a candle in a bottle in our conservatory. It's melted.
Yeah it was up to 25 degrees here yesterday which is unusual for us being right by the sea. Fortunately it was also blowing a Force 6 so that kept it feeling cooler!
Evening, been enjoying the sun again, although I discovered the downside of my indoor reading spot yesterday - the sun blazing through the glass made the thermometer on the alarm clock say it was 42, it had gone down to 27 by bedtime, but I could only sleep by getting under the duvet! The office was similar to normal, very empty, although some of that will be holidays. Popped to Lidl on the way home, and that was also similar to last week - some of us wearing masks, some half wearing masks, and some not bothering.
We close curtains during the day so the sun doesn't cook the room inside as it passes
I picked a north-facing apartment because I sit at the computer next to the window all day - and still use venetian blinds plus blackout (supposedly) blinds when I need to take my 3-5 daily naps.
I do in the cat room, and the front room only has one curtain open, so Lucy can have the option of shade or sun, but I don't want to keep my curtain shut and then use lights to work or read - I'd only opened my bedroom curtain when I went up at 5 to read, that temp was at 6.30!
Evening, another day enjoying the weather, although I have to say, either I'm getting older, or 27 is too hot!! As I've found the only way I can sleep is under the quilt despite the heat, I've ordered a weighted blanket, got a branded one on offer off Amazon, so will see what that is like - I sleep with a 13.5tog quilt and blanket most of the year round.
Hi! I'm the opposite! Window wide open in all weathers, on top of the quilt and a rubbish little pillow!Off to do the North 500 (I think that's what its called!) on Saturday. Was wondering if anyone has any suggestions of places to visit that are of literary interest?
We'd be open window types more if we weren't so sensitive to lack of humidity. California is pretty dry, and we have humidifiers or our throats and eyes have problems if we don't supplement it in our apartment.If you open the window, you lose a lot of that - and hubby is the one going to the Reverse Osmosis machine in the basement to haul water, so I don't want to increase his workload.
Stuart wrote: "Hi! I'm the opposite! Window wide open in all weathers, on top of the quilt and a rubbish little pillow!Off to do the North 500 (I think that's what its called!) on Saturday. Was wondering if any..."
The railway from Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh is remarkably scenic :-)
It 's the North Coast 500 Stuart :)Applecross is the setting for Graeme Macrae Burnet’s His Bloody Project.
Dunbeath features in Neil M. Gunn's Highland River
(Gunn isn't much read now, but you've probably heard of 'The Silver Darlings' about the herring.)A novella set in Thurso - 'Returning : The Journey of Alexander Sinclair'
. Only 100 pages but captures the sense of place and small town life expertly.And I know it's too far south, being set in the fictional Argyll town of Gallanach, (the real village of Lochgair) but if you've not read the Crow Road by Iain Banks then you really need to!!
Evening all, another day taking advantage of the weather, but it is getting too much for me - I've managed to half open the bedroom curtain so the room is only 28, but I don't need the light on to work. Rang podiatry at lunch, they have stopped the drop in clinics and only run on appointments, which is probably better for me, but as I haven't been since Dec 19, I have to fill in a self referral and ring in 3 days - did feel like pointing out there is a reason I haven't been since Dec 19 and it wasn't my fault, but figured it wouldn't get me anywhere. Tried twice to ring the hairdresser, but couldn't get through, just rang until it cut me off both times. Sent my cleaner a message, she replied saying she has Covid, she's really poorly with it, she's on day 10 and still in bed most of the time. My brother has just done something called the NC500 Stuart, don't know if its the same thing.
Desley (Cat fosterer) wrote: "Evening all, another day taking advantage of the weather, but it is getting too much for me - I've managed to half open the bedroom curtain so the room is only 28, but I don't need the light on to ..."Don't you hate days when you do a bunch of things - and none of them get permanently resolved?
Yep - just grateful for working from home, I wasn't just restricted to my lunch break
Alicia wrote: "Don't you hate days when you do a bunch of things - and none of them get permanently resolved? ..."Totally, I had just waded through my emails and done all my catch up in the forums etc (have been busy for four days) only to discover that now I have to find a passport sized photo of my lad. Ugh we haven't one so I have to scan it and then resize it to the size required, print it, stick it on the bloody document, scan it again and ... urgh. That's three hours tomorrow morning then.
Once again, I have failed in anything over and above a social life and admin shite this week. Ugh.
Phew, got up to 30 today, way too warm to be working!! I have discovered a downside of working from home in the heat - as I don't have to walk as far to get a drink or the toilet, my feet have swollen! Walked to the candle shop at lunch for ice cream, was sat outside when an old man walked past me telling me I'd get sunburn, I responded telling him that I'd put sun cream on before leaving the house (even though I wasn't out for long, thought it would be a wise idea). Turns out my hairdressers are shut till next Tue, which is why I can't get through to them. Weighted blanket arrived today, can't decide if today is the best day to test it out - might try it while watching TV in bed and decide from there. Sorry you've also had a frustrating week MT
The haar hasn't lifted today at all so we have been stuck in a comfortable (but rather damp) 18 degrees all day. Downstairs still seem to have their heating on though? Fortunately as we are at the top of this old house we have windows facing all four winds so there is nearly always a cooling breeze to be found, although the thought of a weighted blanket makes me slightly panicky!
M.T. wrote: "Alicia wrote: "Don't you hate days when you do a bunch of things - and none of them get permanently resolved? ..."Totally, I had just waded through my emails and done all my catch up in the forum..."
Failed? Where a lesser mortal would have thrown up her hands in despair, you figured out a way to do the job and DID IT.
No failure there, but a success in trying circumstances. The task is done, however much additional time it needed.
Evening, a lot cooler today, although high humidity! Had a webinar today, I really enjoy them, I can spend the time sitting with the girls, and you don't have camera or microphones on, so if it's boring, I can do other things, rather than drive somewhere and sit in a room praying it isn't boring. Went to the co-op after work, about half of the customers were wearing masks, but none of the staff.
Alicia wrote: "M.T. wrote: "Alicia wrote: "Don't you hate days when you do a bunch of things - and none of them get permanently resolved? ..."Totally, I had just waded through my emails and done all my catch up..."
Bless you Alicia, thanks. :-)
Interesting week this week, on the way to Mum’s saw a pair of absolute cleggnuts driving like total morons. The key offender was a young bloke in a hot hatch, quel surprise. I was just about to suggest to McMini that they were going to cause an accident when everything stopped and, quel surprise (again) some poor woman had spun her car. No sign of the idiots but I’d lay bets their actions caused it somehow. I dialled 999 to report the accident and while I was about it I reported them. If they did cause it, the whole stretch of road is on CCTV and it was just past the numberplate recognition cameras for the toll so they will be caught.
Took McMini and a friend paint balling and had a very amusing morning chatting to the friend’s Mum. Then yesterday I managed to finally fix my bike, which wasn’t broken per se, just refusing to function until it received some TLC and, more importantly, rust removal. I am a bad bike mother. Mwahaharhgh but the bike is now working as it should so I shall chalk that up as a win. It was cloudy but a few hours sitting outside cleaning, oiling and generally fiddling about have given me a tan … which is nice! :-)
Desley, glad things were cooler and generally more relaxed yesterday.
Morning, did try sleeping with quilt and weighted blanket last night, as the room felt much cooler at 25, but I woke up an hour later quite warm. Cloudy and cooler again today, doing a short walk with friend and then going to a vegan marketSounds like you had quite a good day yesterday MT
Desley (Cat fosterer) wrote: "Morning, did try sleeping with quilt and weighted blanket last night, as the room felt much cooler at 25, but I woke up an hour later quite warm. Cloudy and cooler again today, doing a short walk w..."I'm trying magnesium butter on my feet to see if that helps me sleep. It's supposed to help with joint and muscle pain too so I will have a go.
Yesterday was productive, today has been too, but I still haven't got to work on any books yet. I need to start getting my ten minutes in again rather than thinking I have a parcel of time, setting it aside and then having something else spring up!
M.T. wrote: "I'm trying magnesium butter on my feet to see if that helps me sleep. It's supposed to help with joint and muscle pain too so I will have a go. "You're going to laugh, and I don't know why it works (most likely guess: placebo effect) but putting a bar of Ivory soap at the end of my bed seems to be helping with the nighttime twitchies.
As I said, most likely placebo effect, but I'll take it. Someone theorized that there was magnesium in the soap fumes.
Desley (Cat fosterer) wrote: "Evening, a lot cooler today, although high humidity! Had a webinar today, I really enjoy them, I can spend the time sitting with the girls, and you don't have camera or microphones on, so if it's b..."yes I do zoom with no camera and in more than one meeting it's been so boring I've actually tidied up the room :-)
Morning, quite a good day yesterday, went for a walk, but my foot started cramping half way round, so I had to walk slower than friend liked. We went into town, I swapped footwear first, in case it was the compression of socks and walking boots, but it got worse with my sandals, and friend was in a rush, so I ended up staying behind, but worked in my favour, I needed some saucers for the girls, one of the charity shops had a £1 sale, so I got 4 for £1. Didn't get the treats I wanted, but fortunately when I got back, neighbour was going to get the car washed, which meant driving past a different B & M, so I went with her and managed to get some. Rested after I got back and finished my 900+ page book. Foot is slightly better today. Cooler today, which is good as house is a pigsty, so must do some housework. ETA - just checked my tracker app, my first full night with the weighted blanket and I had 40% deep sleep, yesterday was 21%. That's interesting MT, I tried magnesium supplements years ago, but that looks like it works transdermally, so might be worth a go - what brand have you gone for? That's interesting, Alicia, but as long as it works for you. Walking friend uses Skype, and goes for a walk during some of her meetings!
I looked it up on Wikipedia: magnesium sulfate is in the classic Ivory Soap bar. These that I have are from a package years ago (I use soap slowly), but I don't dare read the packaging to see if there is or is not any magnesium in it! Don't want to burst the placebo bubble if it doesn't, because I'm sleeping much better - and that is weird.Could also just be coincidence.
Glad your foot is better, Desley - don't irritate it doing too much housework.
Jim wrote: "It's true, it's hot. Two hobbits were climbing up the side of our silage clamp muttering something about disposing of a ring"LOL!
There's a real writer under all those farmer clothes.
Alicia wrote: "There's a real writer under all those farmer clothes."I read a lot of the good stuff :-)
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She's lucky to have you as a friend, but maybe some frank talk is in order.
As a disabled person who lives in pretty constant pain, I can tell you I get fretful when the writing isn't happening, too - or because of tending the the physical needs. But I don't want to dump that on my friends - I have a therapist for that. Since the start of the pandemic, I see her by video chat - easy for both of us. She says she doesn't mind when I whine, because it's not personal.
Maybe your neighbor needs to separate friend from therapist - and get some help with the latter.
I do hope they keep up the video visits - I don't even get out of my jammies some of those days.
Not fond of getting old except for the alternative!