Pop in for a chat! Showing 16,451-16,500 of 18,142

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening, that was a nice day - started off raining, but dried up about 9.30. Ex colleague friend picked me up at 1, we went to local market town, the Saturday market is much better than the Wednesday ones, I forgot it was a food orientated market, so didn't come home with any wax melts, but did come home with a local savoury delicacy, some homemade blueberry and liquorice jam and a cake. Less shops than there used to be, even one of the charity shops appears to have closed down so we were only out an hour and half, so then I rang my other friend to see what she was doing, she was just taking the kids to the candle shop for ice cream, so walked round to join them and tried the new caramelised biscuit ice cream, not like me to have ice cream in March! Then I came home, did one last chore, put my PJ's on and started chilling out.

[Alicia]

Desley (Cat fosterer) wrote: "Definitely Jim! I was aware of it last year (I think you were one of the people who pointed things out to me), but I just didn't know how to deal with it. I think it ended up working out the best w..."

You definitely need to remain - they might have a question, and have to leave your problem unfinished. I wouldn't count that as breaking your streak - it was an unavoidable interruption, not one you could have scheduled. Not your fault.

[Jim]

Paula wrote: "Hi there! I'm a new group member and thought I'd say hello. Although I've been a member of Goodreads for a few years, I've only just found the groups, if you can believe it. I'm looking forward to ..."

Welcome aboard Paula. We're not a bad bunch, all in all :-)

[Jim]

Kath wrote: "Eh up! She's back. Nice to catch up with you all.
I've found the pandemic very distracting and haven't written much until recently. And now the tragedy in Ukraine has taken over. However, I've knuc..."

Good to see you back, glad you're back writing again. Also good to see you properly busy and doing. I think it's what keeps us all going :-)

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening, another nice day, overcast and windy, but dry. Went to make sausage, egg and beans for lunch, realised I had no eggs left, so went to Lidl to get some, then after lunch went for a walk with vegan friend and her foster dog, who took us down an interesting trail, need to investigate that more when we have more time. Not sure what I'm more proud of, hitting my step count (well, nearly doubled it today!), or the fact I'm now enjoying getting out on a Sun, I always hated getting dressed on a Sun (even have Sunday pj's). Just made a bolognaise to take to work for lunches, and now getting ready to have a soak in the bath, ready to get in my freshly made bed.

[Alicia]

Desley (Cat fosterer) wrote: "Evening, another nice day, overcast and windy, but dry. Went to make sausage, egg and beans for lunch, realised I had no eggs left, so went to Lidl to get some, then after lunch went for a walk wit..."

There is absolutely nothing like clean sheets. Enjoy!

[Kath]

HI Paula, and everyone else.
Sunny again here today so another garden session beckons. I think tomorrow will be wet but seems like the rest of the week is going to be warmer and drier again so my spring clearing and digging will get done.

Still putting off pruning the buddleia. It's massive and more than fills the bin. The nettle will have to be grasped soon!

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening, bit of a mixed day. Morning was a bit boring, but a nice day, so I went for a walk at lunch, I've decided that I like doing 4-5k of my steps at lunch, then getting out again after work to do the other 1-2k, especially today when I've had a frustrating afternoon, it's nice to get fresh air and stretch your legs. Was in the park when friend asked if I wanted to go to co-op, so I came home to feed the cats, then a colleague rang, thought it was strange as it was after 5pm, but he wondered why I had rang him, I told him I thought he rang me! He said I must have pocket dialled him, so I pointed out the phone was on the sofa, I was in the kitchen, he wondered if Lucy might have done it, but I pointed out she was in the kitchen with me!

[Alicia]

Only conclusion possible: you have a ghost. I hope it's a nice one.

[Alicia]

Speaking of ghosts, I had several posts/comments to a thread to read from a new person (according to my Notifications) this morning, but when I tried to read them, all were gone.

Someone who wrote, decided against leaving the comments, and deleted them all? Odd.

Or commented and is in moderation because they're new? But GR didn't say that.

Curious.

[Rosemary (grooving with the Picts)]

There were a lot of spam comments on various threads from the same person today Alicia, so I deleted them all. Not sure if they were the notifications you were getting? I'm usually lurking around checking for misdemeanours even if I'm not posting!

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening, that was a long day. Last day off, I was taken to IKEA, I've never been to one before. I only came home with 3 candles, but am now tempted to rearrange the cat room, and got some ideas for the bathroom. The cafe was rammed (in fact there were loads of people to say it's Wed, can't imagine how bad that place gets on a weekend, so we went to the M & S on the same retail park for a drink, ended up coming home with a lovely scarf (think I said I'd got rid of a couple so might get one I actually like!), but nothing in the cafe I fancied to eat, although I did try a hot cross bun latte, so went in the food hall after, came home with hot cross buns (had to eat one for lunch!). Ironically the most steps were walking round both car parks, as we lost the car in both of them! M & S wasn't our fault, it has 3 entrances, two look very similar. Then went to friends house to help set up her new smart bulbs, I automatically went to help take her stuff out of the boot and got told off!

[Alicia]

Rosemary (grooving with the Picts) wrote: "There were a lot of spam comments on various threads from the same person today Alicia, so I deleted them all. Not sure if they were the notifications you were getting? I'm usually lurking around c..."

Thanks for doing the tough job, Rosemary. That was probably what happened - I checked their profile, and it was almost blank.

[Kath]

How do?
Fine again today so another garden session beckons. I need to get all the vegetable areas cleared and dug before too long so all these fine days are a real bonus.
Yesterday we booked a Monday to Friday break in Whitby in May. Our geology graduation group had planned a 50 year reunion there in 2020 but we've been frustrated for the last two years. This time it's happening. Our 52nd anniversary of graduation!

[M.T.]

Hello everyone! Having looked up the instructions on how to prune plums and peaches, I have just done ours. It’s probably not what the RHS calls ‘early spring’ to be honest but it’s the best that I can do. I am now covered in shield bugs.

Just going to do an hour’s writing now and then pop up the town to get some cat litter for McCat. McOther is away over night so I will be collecting McMini and hopefully getting him to his school formal dinner tonight … and home again. The hardest bit will be getting him into school tomorrow morning though! He has a battle of the bands at the weekend. Sound check at 11.00 on Sunday AM but he’s not playing until 3 o’clock in the afternoon. Hopefully it’ll be a nice day and we can wander round Cambridge in the interim.

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening, what a day. Had a bad night sleep, not sure if it was yesterday or the fact I accidentally made normal coffee at bed time rather than decaf. Had a couple of frustrating things at work this morning, went to treat myself to a drink and blondie from coffee shop before my litter delivery came at 1, of course he was early! I got back just as he was knocking on ratty neighbours door. Unfortunately, 2 of the bags of litter had come open at the seams, so I had to hoover after work, which certainly wasn't on my to do list! I did a live chat with PAH, got offered a refund or replacement, so went for refund, 8 bags of litter is my limit storage wise, and I managed to save some of the litter. At least the afternoon was less frustrating, and it was a nice day, so I went for a walk after work.

Well, officially spring starts on Sun MT, so it's still technically winter.

[M.T.]

Desley (Cat fosterer) wrote: "Evening, what a day. Had a bad night sleep, not sure if it was yesterday or the fact I accidentally made normal coffee at bed time rather than decaf. Had a couple of frustrating things at work this..."

I tend to regard it as winter until the end of May! Mwahahahrgh. Glad you managed to rescue some of the cat litter, it's so annoying when stuff like that happens.

There are two conventions coming up that I'm hoping to go to to flog books one in July and one in September. I'm sharing a table and we discussed doing cosplay as people in our books. One of them thought I should go full Lord Vernon (bad guy) because he's pretty gothic but it would involve green face paint. So the cheapest alternative is to buy a hat like the male MC wears. It came on Wednesday while I was at Mum's. Now I just need a cloak - I have one dammit, but it doesn't fit anymore - and then I am set. :-)

[Kath]

Morning, each. Been out this morning and have a meeting about the village lunch this afternoon. So not a writing day!
Still digging. The soil is pretty heavy but it's doable. As the year progresses it goes from sticky to concrete in that area! Fortunately the whole garden isn't like that.

[Alicia]

M.T. wrote: "Desley (Cat fosterer) wrote: "Evening, what a day. Had a bad night sleep, not sure if it was yesterday or the fact I accidentally made normal coffee at bed time rather than decaf. Had a couple of f..."

I made the kids cloaks when they were little. Heavy, lined, with an easy velcro closing at the neck. From circles cut out of the cloth.

They used those for SO many parts of SO many costumes and dressup occasions for years. One of my finer efforts, and really not that hard to make, considering the years of use (they went from full length for a small child to relatively shorter for the big kids - just by the kids growing).

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening, much better day today - must have slept without moving much, was a bit stiff when I got up. Lovely day, I was supposed to go to the tip and get some food on the way home, but decided to use my work safety boots and go for a walk - unfortunately safety boots and tights are not a good combination, I have a bit less skin than I did! So came home and walked round the park to get my step count. Got a text off the doctor offering me a spring covid booster next week, I can't do that, but honestly, not sure I want a 4th jab, so have said I'll ring them back next week. I realised when I went to make a drink at 6.45 that not going for food meant I didn't get any milk, so nipped to co-op and got something reduced for my lunch as well, so that was a bonus.

[Jason]

Desley (Cat fosterer) wrote: "Evening, much better day today - must have slept without moving much, was a bit stiff when I got up. Lovely day, I was supposed to go to the tip and get some food on the way home, but decided to us..."

there's a 4th jab? 🤨

[Alicia]

I've had my fourth shot - I have ME/CFS and my immune system doesn't need any more challenges. I had a day or so of flu-like symptoms (not major) after the shot, and haven't fully come back to normal after a week, but the peace of mind is amazing: I've had the best the medical profession can offer, wear a mask, socially distance, and am as protected as I can be right now.

[Kath]

Morning! My new book out today in kindle form (already out in paperback) so I went to the post with a PB copy. Passed the village church on the way, which now flies the Union flag and the Ukraine flag directly under it. Wanted to take a picture but the sun was in my eyes so I'll pop out later this afternoon to take that, with all the daffodils bobbing below.

[M.T.]

Alicia wrote: "M.T. wrote: "Desley (Cat fosterer) wrote: "Evening, what a day. Had a bad night sleep, not sure if it was yesterday or the fact I accidentally made normal coffee at bed time rather than decaf. Had ..."

Yeh, I'm thinking I might go the home made route. Then I can make one that fits and line it with the right colour blue.

[M.T.]

Glad you are all out and about enjoying the fine weather. A few moments after popping in yesterday I managed to poison myself slightly. That was an adventure. Am about to pop out now though. Desley, I know what you mean, I'm guessing I'll be offered a fourth shot at some point. I was sick as a dog after the first one but the other two I've been fine.

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Read your blog post earlier MT, glad to hear you are still alive :-)

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Jason wrote: "Desley (Cat fosterer) wrote: "Evening, much better day today - must have slept without moving much, was a bit stiff when I got up. Lovely day, I was supposed to go to the tip and get some food on t..."

Guessing I've been offered it due to my auto immune condition.

[M.T.]

Desley (Cat fosterer) wrote: "Read your blog post earlier MT, glad to hear you are still alive :-)"

Yep. Still around. 🤣🤣

[Alicia]

M.T. wrote: "Then I can make one that fits and line it with the right colour blue..."

And since you're not getting much taller, you'll be able to use it for years.

Small piece of advice: the neck hole - cut out of the circle - needs to be neither so large that you have to work to close the cape, nor so small that it strangles you. Really hard to patch if you cut too much out.

[Rosemary (grooving with the Picts)]

I made cloaks for the three kings when Elder Daughter was at nursery, from gold brocade fabric with velvet linings. Very sumptuous! And still being used twenty years later.
It's been a cracking couple of days here, just like spring. There were foggy bummers the size of dinosaurs buzzing round the garden.

[Rosemary (grooving with the Picts)]

Sorry - foggy bummer is Doric for bumblebee. Forget who I'm talking to sometimes!

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening, despite having clear blue skies, it has been really windy today, seems to be getting worse, keep hearing wheely bins blowing over! Had to do a couple of errands in the village, including buying a new washing line (annoyingly, when I bought one last year, I left the other half with neighbour!), I had asked a neighbour if he was about to help today, but he wasn't up, so I had a go myself - not high enough, but at least the knots are strong enough to hold washing, which I was impressed with (Even if the washing didn't all dry!), I'm sharing hook with ratty neighbour, so it's strange seeing my washing in a different place to normal. Went for a walk after that, but it was really hard walking against the wind, so I just had a little wander to find somewhere sheltered enough to read my book, then went to Lidl with friend.

I quite like that term for bumble bee R, I pretty much figured out what you meant.

[M.T.]

It was windy here too Desley and it was a cold wind.

Ro, Foggy Bummer is the best name I've ever heard fora bumble bee! I suspect I will be making my own cloak less sumptuous though.

Alicia, thanks I'll try that and see how it goes.

[Kath]

Morning!
Sunny again, though a tad nippy. I may well be out later for another digging session.
After Christmas I put some date stones in a gritty compost and eventually all but one of them sprouted a long, thick root. Potted them individually and now two have top growth too. I love growing from seed. Got some sea buckthorn seedlings in the greenhouse, the food plant of the brimstone butterfly. Excited about those.

[Paula]

It's warmer here today than it was yesterday, but still too cold to garden!

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Afternoon, cloudier and cooler than yesterday, but the wind wasn't as cold, so more pleasant to walk in. I was that focused on not going out till my parcel came, that I forgot about my eye drops, so ended up only partly walking to the nature reserve, but on the way back bumped into my colleague who's on maternity leave with the baby, so had a brief chat, came home, did my eye drops, then went to the park to finish my book. Then got the washing lines tightened, the neighbour who helped asked if he could use them, couldn't really say no as he'd fixed them for me (and a good way to test them), told him to use them whenever he likes. Supposed to be really nice this week (typical as I no days off!), so am hoping to set a new streak for hitting my steps, I'm not using painkillers as often, and finding it easier to get up off the sofa, so it's certainly beneficial.

Wow Kath, didn't realise you could grow dates from stones.

[Jim]

Friday and Saturday were pleasantly warm, today slightly chillier but still present

[M.T.]

Lovely here today, although there was a frost this morning and it's a little too hazy to sit outside at the moment. Also they are digging up the road again so it's not exactly peaceful.

Spent yesterday at a battle of the bands watching McMini perform. They did themselves proud. The winning band was from the same studio and will play at Strawberry Fair along with three runners up. The three runners up haven't been announced yet though. It's all very exciting. Should find out on local radio on Thursday this week.

[Kath]

How do?

Been for a walk this morning so may well spend the rest of the day recovering!

[Alicia]

Kath, You do know how big date palms get, right?

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening, that was a long and mainly frustrating day! Alarm went off, to find Lucy was lying on my chest refusing to move, then I had to scrape the car as it was 0. Boss is off this week, so I'm kind of in charge, I started doing some of the stuff she left me, then got given more work. Had a meeting this pm that ended up being 2.5 hours long, and I had to book a part 2 for Wed as we hadn't quite touched half of what we needed to. Most of us walked out with a headache. Then I dealt with the e-mails that had come through (I did work during the most boring parts of the meeting), only to discover at 4.45 (I'm supposed to finish at 4.30!) that they hadn't sent, IT fixed it, but it needed half an hour to reboot, so I drove home, switched the laptop back on, and went for a walk while it was booting, so I sent the e-mails at 6pm, so hopefully some colleagues will think I'm conscientious! Checked my app when I got back to see if I had beat my 7 day streak (on day 7, so if the weather stays nice all week, I will!) and realised that my step count average is up 1k since the beginning of the year. Can't wait for the weather to get better and have a new summer routine.

[Jim]

Alicia wrote: "Kath, You do know how big date palms get, right?"

They might get big in Cornwall or in some the the Inner Hebrides but in the UK they don't normally grow big enough to be a problem. In most parts of the UK you have to bring them inside for winter :-)

[Rosemary (grooving with the Picts)]

Also you need an oasis to do them properly ;)

Sea haar this morning. Hope it will burn off, can't see the other side of the street at the moment

[M.T.]

Lovely day today. All my socials are cancelled, which is quite good as I needed a bit of breathing space to be honest, so here I am tidying up a few things on the old compooter before I go sit in the sun. Mum stuff is horrific right now. Relatives, even lovely ones, and money are not a good mix. Now that we are looking down the well of mortgaging Mum's house to pay her care fees. I've kind of accepted that there will be nothing left to inherit. I made my peace with that years ago. It's not easy and not everyone else has managed it. The stressy bit is holding out to do what Mum wants rather than what is cheaper on the grounds that it's both her will and her money.

There was an outside chance that McOther and I were going to have a windfall and that we could provide the money with the house mortgaged to us for a fixed rate. Unfortunately, like most of McOther's potential windfalls, it's not happening after all.

I am now seriously wondering if it's worth gifting my half of my inheritance to my brother. It might be the difference between my outliving my mother or dying before she does. Mwahahahrgh. I dunno. It's a tough one and there is no-one to talk to. Not really. I just have to continue to dig my heels in and say no. And after seven fucking years I'm so exhausted now. I just want it all to end.

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening, that was a tiring day. Started off a bit frustrating and glad I could swear at my computer! Then I started doing some of the tasks I've been left, which was mainly doing things on the software I'm not really up to speed on, I got through it quicker than expected, but had to sit downstairs for 5 mins at 11.30 as my head was a bit frazzled! Found out our insurance broker is retiring, so I dropped him an e-mail, he said that he'll miss my infectious smile and warm welcome, strange as I normally get told I don't smile enough but I appreciated it. Then was e-mailing a colleague whose just back from hol, I was asking about places she likes to go to get some suggestions, she suggested we walked round one of the local nature reserves, so I said why not, then I remembered our covid cleaner hinted at going on a day trip to places with good charity shops, think I might give her my number when I'm in the office tomorrow, can't hurt! Clearly I'm friendlier/more approachable than I thought! I certainly appreciated my lunch and after work walks today! And now it's lighter and drier, the village doesn't seem as small, I actually did over 10k steps today, which is a rarity, but I feel like I could do it more often. Rewarded myself by reading a quarter of a book.

Sorry to hear that MT, I can't imagine how hard 7 years is, 3 years and then a year or so of dealing with estate with not so lovely relatives was hard enough.

[M.T.]

Desley (Cat fosterer) wrote: "Evening, that was a tiring day. Started off a bit frustrating and glad I could swear at my computer! Then I started doing some of the tasks I've been left, which was mainly doing things on the soft..."

Thanks me duck.

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening, that wasn't as bad a day as expected, meeting didn't quite last an hour, and I got permission to cancel the meeting on Fri - I was asked if there was anything to discuss, I said that by 1pm on Fri, we might be so frazzled we can't remember our own name! It was another nice day, I'd taken my walking boots, so went for a walk near work at lunch, forgot how steep the hill behind the building is though, but a colleague rang while I was out, and got little reception, so I went back to ring off the landline, to be fair 20 mins in 17 degree heat when you have to go back and sit on your desk is probably enough. Then went for a walk after work with friend, she has a pic on her wall that I must share, and use as my new mantra.

[Jim]

Sounds grim, Mary :-(

[Kath]

Alicia wrote: "Kath, You do know how big date palms get, right?"

75 feet, but in this climate they'll stay as pot plants. Root pruning usually sorts them out.

Been taking advantage of the good weather and doing lots of gardening. It'll make me fit or kill me!

I'm working on an Oasis, Rosemary, but I draw the line at camels!

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening, another long day and will have to have an early start in the morning, glad it's Friday tomorrow, although out with sis and the kids on Sat and lose an hour on Sun! Another lovely day, so went for a quick walk at lunch, then had to drop the key off for the cleaner after work, she lives near the park, so had a little walk round there, before coming back and tidying for her. Hopefully I've washed enough cat bowls that I don't need to worry about housework till Sun.