UK Amazon Kindle Forum discussion

note: This topic has been closed to new comments.
664 views
General Chat - anything Goes > Pop in for a chat!

Comments Showing 17,201-17,250 of 18,142 (18142 new)    post a comment »

Desley (Cat fosterer) (booktigger) | 12593 comments Evening, I suppose I should say I'm glad it's Friday except for a week of WFH has left me clueless to what day it is, my boss kindly reminded me when it was hometime! Vision seems much better this evening, so should be in the office on Mon. It has felt a long week with doing extra hours to make up my time. Boss is on holiday next week and I appear to have 6 meetings, so that'll be a fun week! The doctor I saw on Mon clearly did what I asked, I have an app to see rheumatology next month - no follow up for my eye yet though!! I was supposed to ring the docs to arrange bloods, but good job I didn't, the hospital might want to do that instead while I'm there.

Thanks Pam, I'm doing a first aid course near a Sainsbury's in a couple of weeks, so might call in, I just want thickish cotton that have long sleeves and long arms - warm, but not fleecy so I don't overheat in bed. Did laugh at fluffy shorts (short enough they'd only just cover your bum) and fluffy crop tops in Primark the other week!


message 17202: by Alicia (new)

Alicia Ehrhardt (aliciabutcherehrhardt) | 4834 comments Glad your vision is better.


message 17203: by Jim (new)

Jim | 21809 comments Desley (Cat fosterer) wrote: "Did laugh at fluffy shorts (short enough they'd only just cover your bum) and fluffy crop tops in Primark the other week! ..."

I confess I've never heard of them before, but yes, they are worth a giggle :-)


Desley (Cat fosterer) (booktigger) | 12593 comments Evening, that wasn't the day I had planned, but a very nice day. Work friend was supposed to be coming over, and we were going to a Christmas Fair then have lunch, but she had to cancel, I went to the fair anyway to see my surrogate aunty (friends' aunty really, but she let's me call her aunty too), then friend turned up with her daughters and mum, so we all had a chat and then me and friend left them to it, had a little chat, then I treated myself to a bonfire brownie (rarely go for brownies, but this one was tempting) and a white mocha with choc orange syrup, was yummy, came home to drink it cos of eye drops, and was then going to go for a walk when other friend rang asking if I'd eaten, which I hadn't, so went to a cafe I've never been too (looked at the menu once when it first opened, but was very boring, but has recently had a makeover and plenty of options), had salt and pepper halloumi wrap, but was pleased to know they do breakfast till 2pm, as they had a couple of nice options, so will definitely go there again. Then we went for a walk, and just as we were about to turn back, friend realised she didn't have her keys, they were at the cafe and we had 20 mins to get back for them - it's normally a 30 min walk!! We made it in 22 mins, luckily her eldest can walk quicker, so he'd got there just before they closed. Then as I was near the top of my street I heard the neighbour who share's my birthday door open, so went to smile at her and realised it was neighbour I no longer speak to, so power walked down the street, luckily she didn't say anything! Got a letter from rheumatology today explaining the appointment, they are going to do some tests to see if I do meet the criteria for changing meds, as there is one that would hopefully stop me getting iritis - sounds lovely, except it's a stronger immune suppressant than I currently take, so would require regular monitoring, and unless it's changed in the last few years, I'd have to be off the current meds for a period of time before being able to take the new ones, which would mean all my symptoms return and that isn't pleasant. Suppose no point worrying till my app next month and see what they say on the day.


Desley (Cat fosterer) (booktigger) | 12593 comments Evening, another sunny day, so met friend and even more family members for Remembrance parade, thought I was going to get through it OK, until we had to sing the National Anthem, for some reason having to sing King and him makes me cry! Then came home, had some food and went for a quick canal walk as it was so nice - shame I wasn't organised enough to get some washing done.


message 17206: by Alicia (new)

Alicia Ehrhardt (aliciabutcherehrhardt) | 4834 comments It SHOULD make you cry - for so many reasons having to do with everything.

May Charles be as good a king as he wants to be - he has a tough act to follow.


Desley (Cat fosterer) (booktigger) | 12593 comments Thanks Alicia


Desley (Cat fosterer) (booktigger) | 12593 comments Evening, ended up with 3 meetings today after all, kind of gatecrashed the second, but glad I did, at least I managed to contribute. Ironically I went to Lidl on the way home, then at 7 friend rang and asked if I wanted to go to co-op, so half dressed (luckily this weeks pajama top is plain enough to pass as a top) and went with her, got some bargains and a nice chat. Poor Lucy has just come racing in, before I had chance to get off the sofa I heard someone screaming at their dog, I've just gone up and she seems unharmed, just spooked, there is a bloke with a staffy type female dog and I've seen him walk her without being on a lead.


Desley (Cat fosterer) (booktigger) | 12593 comments Evening all, been a very miserable day, not had daylight, and I've been quite stiff today actually. At least I only had one meeting today, that only lasted 30 mins.


message 17210: by Alicia (new)

Alicia Ehrhardt (aliciabutcherehrhardt) | 4834 comments Doesn't sound much fun.

Do something caring for yourself - favorite book, blanket to wrap in, a treat you've been storing.

Come to think of it, I need to do the same!

And I need to get out my 'Daylight' - it's a light therapy box I use when the days get shorter; makes a difference to me - I have Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Half an hour in front of the light in the mornings whenever I get up, and things brighten up considerably.


message 17211: by Jim (new)

Jim | 21809 comments Desley (Cat fosterer) wrote: "Evening all, been a very miserable day, not had daylight, and I've been quite stiff today actually. At least I only had one meeting today, that only lasted 30 mins."

yes it's been a classic November day where it's never really got light


message 17212: by Pam (new)

Pam Baddeley | 3334 comments Almost constant torrential rain for days here too... road and pavement are awash (sidewalk for you Alicia).


Desley (Cat fosterer) (booktigger) | 12593 comments Evening, dry day, which is good as there is a weather warning for rain all day tomorrow! Also felt like I'd managed to catch up a bit at work, although then did agree to do a task for tomorrow for someone! Still stiff, wondering if it's a combination of standing for the rememberance service and then spending most of Mon on our meeting chairs, which aren't the comfiest. Got my eye check up through for next Fri, annoyingly it's at 8.30, I'm sure that clinic doesn't start till 9 - I know in the afternoon they book appointments for 1.30 even though it doesn't start till 2, so they have people lined up ready - it's no wonder they are always running late when they have people lined up waiting as soon as they start. Also remembered to re-book my asthma review, I was supposed to be having bloods done at the doc, but said now I'm seeing rheumatology, they will likely take them, so going to see what happens when I see them next month. Also forgot to say yesterday, my electricity provider is one of the ones doing the energy saving sessions, I signed up even though I'm not sure I can save much, and the first one was yesterday - didn't save as much as I could, as I only got home 2 mins before the time started, so didn't unplug as much as I could have, so will do another one before deciding if it's worth it - although I might do them all, as I'm going to get them to put any savings in the charity pot.

Thanks Alicia, I'm getting better, I looked at the front room before and thought it looked a mess, so I put my PJ's on, and sat on the sofa and read instead of dealing with it!


Desley (Cat fosterer) (booktigger) | 12593 comments Evening, wet and miserable, but we still went for a walk at lunch! Was so wet when I got home that I had to get changed! Then got some good news, the task I've been working on since August has passed, feel so relieved all that work has been worth it. Bit of bad news after work though, the insurance company haven't been able to get the money back for my car, so they are starting court proceedings - hopefully they'll settle out of court when they realise that hitting a stationary car is a no fault claim.


message 17215: by Alicia (new)

Alicia Ehrhardt (aliciabutcherehrhardt) | 4834 comments Hope the car thing is settled quickly.


message 17216: by Jim (new)

Jim | 21809 comments Desley (Cat fosterer) wrote: " the insurance company haven't been able to get the money back for my car, so they are starting court proceedings - hopefully they'll settle out of court when they realise that hitting a stationary car is a no fault claim...."

This is getting more common, apparently a lot of the really cheap companies keep their prices down by not paying out on claims made against them by the victims of the person they insured. We had this, and our insurance company NFUMutual has got sick of it and now automatically goes down the court route. They asked me if I would help so I went to the scene of the bump in the lanes, took copious photos and told our insurance company I was happy to turn up as a witness in court. Armed with this, they fixed a court date and presented their evidence and list of witnesses and at that point the other company paid up. (with extra for legal time)

My neighbour who was the one who ran into us was told the company would collect the car and take it to be fixed. Nothing happened so his wife phoned the company, to be told that the garage was having problems getting parts but hoped to have them soon.
At this point she pointed out she could see the car, it was loaded onto a car trailer ready for them to collect and when were they going to do this

A lot of these companies who are the ones you find who have a really low premium are rubbish
Mind you, I got a nice email from NFUMutual thanking me for helping them :-)


message 17217: by Alicia (new)

Alicia Ehrhardt (aliciabutcherehrhardt) | 4834 comments Not a great business model - lure customers in with low rates sustainable only by NOT paying when they have a problem.

But a lot of companies do it, figuring the reputation will lag, and more suckers will like the low rates.


Desley (Cat fosterer) (booktigger) | 12593 comments Evening, that was a busy day, ended up having 3 meetings, and didn't get through nearly as much as I wanted to (despite the fact I'd gone in early for the first meeting). Weather was a bit mixed, but we had a rainbow. Had to take cardboard to the tip, which meant going past Home Bargains, I didn't take a bag as I only planned on getting a few boxes of cat treats, fatal mistake, finally got a support cushion I've been eyeing up, it was such a bargain. And some wax melts fell in too! then some candles fell in the basket in Aldi, must have been cos of a stressful week!

I'm not surprised Jim, especially with cost cutting - I needed to ring a company the other week, no phone number on their website, just a contact form, so I asked them to ring me as it wasn't an easy one to explain, first I got dismissed, so tried again, when they did eventually ring me, the response was 'like most companies, we don't like ringing people'! It took longer trying to convince them to ring me than it did to fix the problem...


message 17219: by Alicia (new)

Alicia Ehrhardt (aliciabutcherehrhardt) | 4834 comments My main problem: I have no way of de-stressing that doesn't cause more stress because it wants me to take time away from a problem I need to handle - without contributing to the solution of that problem.

I can't seem to get my brain back after the surgery and the mess with the pain medication changes and other other medication trials.

Just a couple days with a brain would allow me to catch up!

My last two attempts to get help have just fizzled - no help, and it wasted a lot of time ASKING for help.


message 17220: by Lindsay (new)

Lindsay (kiwi365) | 3672 comments Evening all, hope you are all managing to stay dry.


Desley (Cat fosterer) (booktigger) | 12593 comments I'm sorry to hear that Alicia, I hope you can find an answer soon.


message 17222: by Alicia (new)

Alicia Ehrhardt (aliciabutcherehrhardt) | 4834 comments Desley (Cat fosterer) wrote: "I'm sorry to hear that Alicia, I hope you can find an answer soon."

Thanks. I'm still hoping it's a matter of time - as long as that time isn't spent trying some new med. I respond badly to most of them.

I did write a blog post today - sometimes doing that is proof that the brain is coming back. Fiction is harder to write, so that comes last.

Here's hoping!


message 17223: by Jim (new)

Jim | 21809 comments Lindsay wrote: "Evening all, hope you are all managing to stay dry."

At times, just at times :-)


Desley (Cat fosterer) (booktigger) | 12593 comments Evening, weather was better than forecast, so I went for a walk, decided that as the canal was so high, I'd go through the nature reserve to look at the lake, it was a really good walk actually, there were a couple of places where you could hear the river roaring as it was so full, which was such a lovely sound - lake is still low, but not as bad as it has been. We did have a brief rain shower on my way home, it was odd as I could see raindrops in puddles, but couldn't feel it, didn't last for long, and got to see another rainbow on the way home. Lucy tried making me be lazy after I got back!

I hope it's just a time thing for you Alicia, but at least you have achieved something.


message 17225: by Alicia (new)

Alicia Ehrhardt (aliciabutcherehrhardt) | 4834 comments I'm sitting here, waiting for my brain, like a cat at a hole that has often produced mice in the past.


Desley (Cat fosterer) (booktigger) | 12593 comments Evening all, the rescue Lucy is from had their Christmas fair today, and the weather forecast was mixed, so I prayed it was wrong, and it kind of held for them, it was 12-3, I left about 2.50 and it had just started spitting, by the time I got to Sainsburys 5 mins away, it was bouncing down (thought there might have been some hail in it too) and only stopped about an hour ago, so hopefully they didn't get too wet putting all the gazebos down. Seems like they did well though. Didn't get any pj's from Sainsbury's though, the only ones I liked were either too fleecy or short sleeves. Got an e-mail from the energy company when I got back, apparently I reduced my usage by 75%, although it only gained me 67p (will be interesting to see what it is next time, as there were more things I could have unplugged, but a couple of things I haven't plugged back in) - across everyone who took part, it says there was enough saved to effectively shut down an entire power station for that hour!


message 17227: by Rosemary (grooving with the Picts) (last edited Nov 21, 2022 03:47AM) (new)

Rosemary (grooving with the Picts) (nosemanny) | 8590 comments Hi all, we had a storm for two days at the end of last week with huge surf that has removed half the beach, and so much rain that my garden bucket was nearly filled. Not as much as further up the coast though! And this morning a touch of frost. Finally cracked and put on the heating, turns out 11 degrees isn't very comfortable to sit and work in (even with a furry blanket and two pairs of socks!) Idiot downstairs neighbours are back from Spain next week though, so they'll put their heating on and we'll benefit from that :)


message 17228: by Jim (new)

Jim | 21809 comments My daughter lives in the middle house in a short terrace and has commented that her heating bills are a lot lower than she expected


Desley (Cat fosterer) (booktigger) | 12593 comments Evening, been cold today, was only 3 when I left the house. Quite a bit of rain too. Heard that the rescue made £3.8k, I was hoping they'd do £3.5k, so that's fantastic. Also got an offer to do another energy saving session tomorrow, also in my reading time, so will be interesting to compare.

Wow R, that's brave, although I did read an article the other day about the impacts of living in temperatures of less than 15 - glad you'll have an extra heat source next week.


message 17230: by Alicia (new)

Alicia Ehrhardt (aliciabutcherehrhardt) | 4834 comments Got an unexpected boost or two: brain worked for a couple of hours yesterday, and this morning there was a helpful email from the firm that is going to finish solving our tax problem requesting only a few more pieces of information, and stating they are close to the end!

I thought they wouldn't even start working until they had everything. I will now attempt to produce the remaining bits asap. It would be a huge load off my mind to have dumped everything on THEM.


Desley (Cat fosterer) (booktigger) | 12593 comments Fingers crossed you can get the remaining info Alicia, then that's one major thing less for you to worry about.


message 17232: by Alicia (new)

Alicia Ehrhardt (aliciabutcherehrhardt) | 4834 comments Thanks, Desley - it is THE major thing right now, because accountants are busy at the end of the year, and we are new clients - I don't even need them to be finished, just to have the load off MY shoulders.

Then, I promise, they will have EVERYTHING they need from us by mid-February (allowing time for everything to come in the mail), and from then on, it's their problem every year. Husband and I are too slow with this stuff any more.

And I have LIMBO to write, which, even if not a big seller, is a better - and happier - use of my time.


Desley (Cat fosterer) (booktigger) | 12593 comments Evening, that was a long day, ended up doing an extra hour waiting for a document to be ready so I wasn't putting something on my boss on her first day back after a week and a half holiday - at least I won't have to worry about being late on Fri cos of my hospital app! Dry today, so went and did a short canal walk at lunch, saw a young deer on it's own on the canal bank, was only saying yesterday that I haven't seen one for a while! Then was a bit short of my step count so me and friend went to Lidl after work - advantage of working late is that I was only in the house for about 25 mins of my energy saving hour, so should do well this week - got chance to unplug a few more things too, including two that won't be plugged back in, don't use them anymore, and just never got round to figuring out the tangle of wires to unplug them.

Glad that it's sorted, and you can focus a bit more on your writing.


message 17234: by Alicia (new)

Alicia Ehrhardt (aliciabutcherehrhardt) | 4834 comments I guess it would really help if a LOT of people installed on/off switches between power cords and outlets - and just left them off unless in use.

Sounds like a plan.


Desley (Cat fosterer) (booktigger) | 12593 comments Evening, a long and expensive day! Had day one of my first aid course, it's normally a 20 min journey, but I know traffic can be bad, so gave myself an hour and got there bang on time (Admittedly the traffic was that bad I had to stop for petrol). Got a nice bunch of people on the course, there is only one other woman who ironically lives in the same village as me, and has 2 cats! She does think I'm called Beverley though! Then took advantage of being in a different town and did B & M, Tesco and Asda Living on the way home (was going to do them over both days, but then changed my mind), managed to get quite a lot, including 2 pairs of PJ's, a couple of dresses, and a Christmas tree. I decided to put it up, rather than put it in the cupboard for a couple of weeks, but the rest won't come out till December - now to see how long it takes a cat to knock it over.

Most plugs are like that over here Alicia, just not in my house! I have sockets in both the kitchen and front room without switches so it's plugged in or unplugged, so much easier on the ones I can just flick a switch on.


message 17236: by Alicia (new)

Alicia Ehrhardt (aliciabutcherehrhardt) | 4834 comments Good energy conservation, Desley.

Now, about cats and Christmas trees...? Your house, your rules.


Desley (Cat fosterer) (booktigger) | 12593 comments I kind of wish I hadn't done everything in one day Alicia, I did get caught in traffic to the point it was getting painful! I've always blamed the cats for not having a proper Christmas tree, this is a bit of an alternative one, as you'll see when I post a pic of it! Will be interesting to see how long it takes a cat to knock it down.


message 17238: by Alicia (new)

Alicia Ehrhardt (aliciabutcherehrhardt) | 4834 comments Looking forward to it.


Desley (Cat fosterer) (booktigger) | 12593 comments Evening, weather was better today, so only took 40 mins to get to my first aid course, and 25 mins to get back! Still, between the extra driving yesterday and the positions to do the first aid, I'm a bit sore. At least it's over for another 3 years. Got home and did some tidying up ready for the cleaner coming in the morning. Feel quite drained this evening, there have been some changes to first aid, so that was quite hard to remember.

Happy thanksgiving Alicia


message 17240: by Jim (new)

Jim | 21809 comments Yes Happy Thanksgiving


message 17241: by Desley (Cat fosterer) (last edited Nov 25, 2022 11:53AM) (new)

Desley (Cat fosterer) (booktigger) | 12593 comments Evening, had a bit of an embarrassing start to the day - I had my eye check up at 8.30, but when they couldn't find me on the list, I checked my letter again to find out I'd been sent to a clinic I've never heard of, which was 20 mins away from where I was (and ironically 3/4 mile away from where my first aid course was!), so I hopped back in the car, luckily they were quiet today so were still able to see me, the nicest eye doctor I've ever seen, he said eye was looking fine, so good to carry on reducing drops and he'll put me in for a check up in 4 weeks, but might not be this year. It's quite a new clinic, and very nice - even free parking for patients. Very busy day at work, plus a meeting. Was dry though, so got out for a walk at lunch, saw a heron and an unusual brown headed duck (that was shy, it flew off when it realised I'd seen it), but forgot to do something, so went out again after work and had a chat with friend. Do feel very tired and got stuff on both Sat and Sun.


message 17242: by Alicia (new)

Alicia Ehrhardt (aliciabutcherehrhardt) | 4834 comments They can do that? Sending you to a different clinic for the same thing?

Well, at least that kind of stuff makes you REALLY pay attention to any further communications, and check EVERYTHING next time. After the panic they caused.


message 17243: by Jim (new)

Jim | 21809 comments Desley (Cat fosterer) wrote: "Evening, had a bit of an embarrassing start to the day - I had my eye check up at 8.30, but when they couldn't find me on the list, I checked my letter again to find out I'd been sent to a clinic I..."

I'm glad I'm not the only person who does that :-)


Desley (Cat fosterer) (booktigger) | 12593 comments Evening, that was a fun day. Friend was coming over to watch the light up, she came earlier, we had a mooch round the shops as she's never been to my village before, and had some lunch at a place that's recently changed hands - food was nice and reasonably priced but wasn't keen on the atmosphere, might have to try it again though, as there was a baby shower, so not the best time to try it. Went to light up, first one since covid and scaled down, so we had a go at the tombola's, won on all 3, then friend seemed bored, so we left, I was going to go back to help my friends from the rescue, but then got a text from another friend saying they'd made it, if I wanted to join them, so fed the cats and went back, met up with them, but it started raining, so as soon as the lights were switched on at 5.30, they wanted to go, so I said I'd go back and say bye to the rescue people, got chatting with them and bumped into another friend, so had a little natter, then realised I needed some milk, went to the shop round the corner and bumped into yet another friend! Was an afternoon of 'how many friends can you see!'. I am feeling very stiff and achy now though.

Yes, my NHS Trust covers a number of hospitals, but this is one I didn't even know exists, although would happily go back. Needless to say I did double check my rheumatology app letter to make sure that was the normal hospital and will be reading them more closely in the future!


Desley (Cat fosterer) (booktigger) | 12593 comments Evening, felt very drained today after my busy week, but there was a craft thing going on in the house in the park, it's been closed for years while they raised money to renovate it, then Covid happened, so this year is the first year they've been able to open it for events, so thought I needed to go and show support, if people don't turn up to things, they won't keep doing them, had a chat with one of the volunteers, she was tracking numbers of people and was over 250 when I left at 1.45, they were open till 3. I came home with a jar of chuckleberry jam, which apparently looks like a large blackcurrant and tastes like a blackcurrant crossed with a redcurrant and gooseberry! Had a go on the raffle, even though I didn't want to win the prize, as the money goes towards doing other things with the house, figured it was worth having a go.


message 17246: by Jim (new)

Jim | 21809 comments I must confess I've never heard of the chuckleberry . You do indeed live in exotic parts :-)

Funnily enough I think I heard something about the house in the park in the last twelve months, but be blowed if I can think where


Desley (Cat fosterer) (booktigger) | 12593 comments Well, the irony there Jim is that the lady who made it lives in Ambleside! It's the third time this year I've been to something at the house in the park.


Desley (Cat fosterer) (booktigger) | 12593 comments Evening, that was a busy day, had a meeting 9.30-12.30, then a meeting 4-4.30, got another 4 meetings this week, so glad that colleague is back from maternity leave on Thu, so won't be going to as many meetings after that. Christmas tree is up in the office, so that will be me coughing more this month, it's one of my asthma triggers. Nipped to Tesco after work to take back something I got last week, got a £9 refund and spent £8!! Would have been more if I knew where my clubcard was, got the details to get a replacement card sorted.


message 17249: by Jim (new)

Jim | 21809 comments Desley (Cat fosterer) wrote: "Well, the irony there Jim is that the lady who made it lives in Ambleside! It's the third time this year I've been to something at the house in the park."

I wonder if it was you who mentioned it :-)


Desley (Cat fosterer) (booktigger) | 12593 comments Evening, feel like I'm starting with a cold today, so decided as it was cold and misty not to go for a walk. Did finish my book though, which was nice.

Maybe Jim! I'm pleased it is being used again, it's a lovely building but after the council stopped using it as offices, it's been boarded up and getting damp etc, so nice to see it being used for the community


back to top
This topic has been frozen by the moderator. No new comments can be posted.