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[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening, started snowing as I went to bed last night, still a few bits lingering on cars that haven't moved today and bits of grass/roofs. Supposed to get more. Lucy wasn't impressed this morning though, I opened the door for her, she huffed and then walked away, she's been a nightmare today, think she's getting cabin fever. Crazy busy day at work again, and another frustrating meeting, but on the plus side, my meeting tomorrow has been cancelled, so I get a day this week with no meetings! Saw a video of a new bookshop/cafe that's opened in Manchester, it looks like a stunning old building, so sent it to a few friends who might want to go with me, the caption was it was to help with loneliness, so one of my friends said she was concerned I might be lonely, my response was 'I'm never lonely, I've got Lucy' :) Irony was, I sent it before prepping my veg for tea and feeling pleased with myself for getting the last bit of my life sorted!

[M.T.]

Thanks about the blog everyone, and apologies for my absence, 2023 isn't shaping up to be much better! So someone backed into me in the service station the other night. I have a witness name and address and the chap was happy to give his name and address but unwilling to give his insurance details. Turns out he was driving a friends car, is on holiday here from Romania and doesn't want the friend to know he had an accident.

Meanwhile my car has two tiny cracks ... but there's no such thing as tiny where fibreglass is concerned. It's going to cost about £700 once they've factored in VAT. So now I have to decide if I take a punt on having it fixed and get the guy to pay me £700 up front and hope that when they take it to bits nothing dire is wrong, or if I go via my insurance company at which point, he gets flagged for driving uninsured or if he is insured has to fess up to his mate that while borrowing his car, he spoinked someone else's.

Ho hum ...

[Alicia]

Do you really think he's going to give you that much money? He's on vacation, from Romania, where you can't follow to get payment.

Report it correctly - see if you can actually get this person to give you the cash for your DEDUCTIBLE - and cover yourself in the event that he disappears. Most insurance companies will try everything to get out of paying their share, and one of the things they can use to do that is that YOU didn't report the accident within their timeframe. If it turns out to be much more expensive than estimated, you're properly covered. And you yourself said, "there's no such thing as tiny where fibreglass is concerned."

Be nice when possible, but not so nice that you end up paying for something that was absolutely not your fault.

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening, woke up at 6.30 to nothing, then when I glanced out at 7.20, wondered why the top of the bin was white, closer inspection showed it was snowing! Luckily didn't amount to much, as I had to drive to food club at lunch as friend couldn't make it, was glad I went, amongst other things, I got dried spaghetti and mince! I nearly went and bought the rest of the ingredients for lasagne, before realising I didn't have enough tupperware containers, then realised I had half a bag of meatballs in the freezer, so used those to make spaghetti and meatballs (with 6 kinds of veg) for 3 lunches, admittedly while putting something from the freezer in the air fryer for tea, not got much of an appetite today. And still got enough veg to make the lasagne on Sun. Hectic day at work though.

How annoying MT! Good luck getting it sorted, insurance companies seem slower than pre Covid, still waiting to get my excess back, must e-mail the solicitors and find out what is happening actually.

[M.T.]

Thanks folks. Yeh, I got a quote, he wanted to see it so I sent it through and he clearly thought I am taking the mick. He started on the but you said ... etc and I just said, I'm done with this, I'm calling my insurance company, which I have done. I just hope there are no reprisals because the owner of the car hadn't insured it and the chap who hit me ... oh dear my author's brain has goine into overdrive and I'm worrying that there could be so much more going on here than just, an uninsured car and a holiday. It's ... a bit of a worry.

[Alicia]

M.T. wrote: "Thanks folks. Yeh, I got a quote, he wanted to see it so I sent it through and he clearly thought I am taking the mick. He started on the but you said ... etc and I just said, I'm done with this, I..."

Dear Ms. McGuire: You need to pick the people who run into you more carefully.
Yours truly,
Fate.

Don't forget to see the storytelling possibilities in this irritating experience - there have to be SOME.

Gak! As if you didn't have enough things on your plate!

[M.T.]

Alicia wrote: "M.T. wrote: "Thanks folks. Yeh, I got a quote, he wanted to see it so I sent it through and he clearly thought I am taking the mick. He started on the but you said ... etc and I just said, I'm done..."

Yes, as you said, there's definitely a thriller in there but yeh, I'm pissed off I didn't back up but I never do that if I'm not absolutely certain there's nothing behind me and I wasn't.

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening, very glad it's Friday, been a very frustrating and hectic week at work, and then last night I started feeling really achy and struggled to get to sleep. Typically, I felt fine this morning, so went to work, only to start feeling worse throughout the day. Still went to the retail park after work and was very wellbehaved, only came home with 3 things that weren't on my list, and 2 were for the cats! I did resist the temptation to come home with a lovely kettle, though I may change my mind next month! Called in to get Lucy's prescription too, they were supposed to ring me, but didn't, although they are much friendlier than my chemist, he commented that they don't often dispense that med for cats, and I said that they are the only chemist who can get hold of it for me, he said that as they can, others should be able to but probably don't want the hassle, whereas he is an independent chemist, so welcomes the business. I said I'd use them more if they weren't that far away and he said they'd deliver my meds for free, so rather tempted to do it actually.

Good luck with the insurance claim MT, it's scary how much it can cost to sort out such minor repairs.

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening all, went out for bottomless brunch today, which was really good fun, only had 4 drinks, but did work my way through the cocktail menu! Food wasn't bad either, would go back, although not sure the place would want us back, we were quite clumsy (although I think part of that was the size table they made us squeeze around!)I did have to go with my work boots on rather than the purple ones I wanted to wear, even though we've had sun the last two days, it hasn't got warmer than 2, so there is still a lot of snow and ice around (the train goes past the canal and that was still partly frozen), and coming home was worse, it hadn't got warm enough to fully melt things, so bits that had started to melt when I left the house at 12.15 were freezing over again when I got home at 5 - looked really pretty though, all sparkly in the dark. I'd seen that there were some new vegi sweets in co-op so thought I'd call in as I was walking past, also came home with 3 books from the book swap too! Think maybe next year I'll try and find some self control!

[Alicia]

Desley (Cat fosterer) wrote: " Think maybe next year I'll try and find some self control!..."

Why? Enjoy yourself!

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening, bit of a quiet day after yesterday, didn't even have the inclination to do all the housework! I did go out to the candle shop as they have a sale on and my sis wanted something, I may have come back with some tealights and body scrub though, and ordered wax melts today - plus a new burner to try and use them all! Made a lasagna for the first time in years, and first time I've ever used white sauce out of a jar (will buy it again actually, cheaper and less washing up!!), was happy with myself for having 3 weeks worth of lunches, then an hour later realised I'm using hols up in Feb, so I've got a month's worth of lunches!! Don't want it to stop me making more food though, still want to do a cottage pie and mac and cheese, and at least then I have some variety.

Well, Alicia, it's more because I keep picking up paperbacks and mainly read on my kindle, so I keep having to create new stacks, although Feb is only read paperbacks month, so should get some down.

[Alicia]

That's a lovely problem to have, Desley. The world needs more readers like you.

[Jim]

Desley (Cat fosterer) wrote: "I got dried spaghetti and mince! I nearly went and bought the rest of the ingredients for lasagne, before realising I didn't have enough tupperware containers, then realised I had half a bag of meatballs in the freezer, so used those to make spaghetti and meatballs (with 6 kinds of veg) for 3 lunches, admittedly while putting something from the freezer in the air fryer for tea, not got much of an appetite today. And still got enough veg to make the lasagne on Sun. Hectic day at work though. ..."

You're taking 'freezer rubble cookery' to a whole new level :-)

[Jim]

M.T. wrote: "Thanks folks. Yeh, I got a quote, he wanted to see it so I sent it through and he clearly thought I am taking the mick. He started on the but you said ... etc and I just said, I'm done with this, I..."

Hope it gets sorted out

[M.T.]

Jim wrote: "M.T. wrote: "Thanks folks. Yeh, I got a quote, he wanted to see it so I sent it through and he clearly thought I am taking the mick. He started on the but you said ... etc and I just said, I'm done..."
Thanks Jim. So do I.

[M.T.]

Desley (Cat fosterer) wrote: "Evening, bit of a quiet day after yesterday, didn't even have the inclination to do all the housework! I did go out to the candle shop as they have a sale on and my sis wanted something, I may have..."

Aaah, enjoy and I like Jim’s name for the cookery technique! Freezer rubble! :-)

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening, was still quite a bit of snow and ice about going to work today (and coming home from work), even though coming home it was a balmy 5! Fortunately the lasagne I made yesterday was nice despite never having used that mince or the pre made white sauce, good job as I have another 5 portions! Apart from the washing up, I did enjoy cooking again, and hoping it will continue - sure if I tell myself that cooking on a Sun gives me more reading time Mon, Tue and Wed it will!

[M.T.]

Desley (Cat fosterer) wrote: "Evening, was still quite a bit of snow and ice about going to work today (and coming home from work), even though coming home it was a balmy 5! Fortunately the lasagne I made yesterday was nice des..."

Sounds like the right kind of psychology! :-)

Went to the gym this morning, decided to go in the car because it's so cold and I had to turn round, come home and get on the bike because there was an accident. It was about three minutes before I could take my cycle helmet off because I was so cold I couldn't undo the stupid catch!

Never mind, I got there in time so all was well.

I also finished my tax return so I will chalk that up as a win. On the downside, had half an hour to tweak some of my paperbacks on a new distributor I'm trying and their wretched site is down so I won't be able to get back to it until Thursday. Grr. Technology is a pain in the arse.

[Alicia]

Congratulations on the tax return win!

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening, despite getting up to 5 again today, we've had fog and drizzle, so it has felt cold, me and colleague went for a walk to the lodge behind the building and still saw a bit of ice. Now a bit stiff from standing in the cold talking! Done 2 more energy saving sessions this week, apparently these were more important, shame that I had to put the washing machine on as soon as it finished though - I'm up to the grand total of £7.10 in rewards, not including this weeks!

2 out of 3 ain't bad MT!

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening, finally mild enough to get rid of the snow and ice, although was really foggy most of the day. Too rubbish to go for a walk, work friend had to pick up some parcels from Next, so I went and we had to walk through M & S to get to and from the car, I bought some hot cross buns, don't think I've ever bought any so early in the year!

[Alicia]

Can smell the warm bread. Hope it was warm.

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Alicia wrote: "Can smell the warm bread. Hope it was warm."

No, not warm (although they had been baking something there, that smelt amazing), I've just had one cold, but still yummy

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Morning, bright day, but was very cold when I went to the docs. Asthma review was pointless face to face, they don't do the peak flow, and just ask you questions, so I might as well have done it over the phone! Apparently they wanted more 'rheumatology' bloods, really not sure what they need that the rheumatologist didn't! I agreed, and got to have a follow up for the results, but when they offered that over the phone, I said yes, and booked it for one of my days off. Went to food club, it's getting very handy, my work friend was talking about making fajitas the other day, which made me think I could make enchiladas and freeze them, today I got vegan chicken strips and a fajita kit! So on Mon I'm going to make up the fajita mix and then just put them in fresh wraps every day. After work I needed cash for my cleaner tomorrow, and needed to break into a note, nipped in Sainsbury's and bumped into ratty neighbour, ended up having a random conversation with her and whoever she'd struck up a conversation with! She was glad I did, as I noticed that our Sainsbury's is selling vegan tomato soup and she hadn't noticed, so she asked me to put it through with my shopping and gave me the money. Then friends' cousin dropped off my wax melts, she uses a paw print mould specially for mine, which is so sweet of her.

[Alicia]

Sorry the docs wasted your time - getting there is always non-trivial - phone appointments are so convenient when you could have done one.

[Jim]

Doctors get awfully technical

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening Lucy woke me up at 3.17 sneezing, she has been sneezing more, but no discharge, so don't fancy dragging her to the vet, but keeping a close eye on her. Had my rheumatology consult, it was with a nurse, I hadn't realised when reading up about the new meds that it's a fortnightly self injection! It will be about 4 weeks till they know if the funding for it has been approved, but my toe nail surgery will affect it, so hoping I'll be able to start it after that. Also need a 4th Covid jab and maybe a pneumonia one, need to see when I had one, as I can't remember when it was, if too long, I'll need another one. The good thing is that last time they tried to change my meds, I had to be off the current ones for 3 months before starting the new ones, which I couldn't manage, the nurse today was horrified about that and said that isn't protocol (can only assume it was over 10 years ago), so I will stay on current ones and there will be a slight overlap, although obviously not too long or they won't know if it works! Went to co-op after work, and bumped into Malachi and his owner, yet again he was thrilled to see me, which is so sweet. We were chatting for a bit and got talking about holidays, I said that I was hoping to get away if I got a cat sitter, and she said she wouldn't mind popping in and putting food down which is so sweet of her.

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening, yesterday was a full on day, took my nephew out for his birthday, he was excited at going on the train, we got there early as there were roadworks, and there is a little museum at the train station that I've never seen open before, so we popped in, they have some really interesting stuff in there, so going back next week with my friend for a proper tour. Made the mistake of eating at the cafe in Eureka, queued for ages, lucky to get a table and really expensive! Will remember that if we go again. Was more enjoyable with just the two of us though, then we went to the shops as we had time to kill before the train home. Friend rang as I was leaving my sis's, and wondered if I wanted to go to hers for a takeaway, I don't normally eat out twice in one month, but got few plans this month so said yes, just had a small portion, as lunch was late. Called in Sainsbury's while the food was being made, and got some parsnips for 10p, just making them in the air fryer now, with broccoli, not done either before. Felt very drained today, so have had a chill day and feel much better for it, even refused to go to Lidl with friend even though I need to go.

[M.T.]

Glad you had a good day even if it was a bit full on Desley. I hope you spent the day relaxing and recovering and are feeling more perky now!

I broke my site. Well, it’s been broken some time but I really broke it. Although I’ve now managed to get it back to just a bit knackered rather than totally borked! I need more server space and then I can see if I can sort out a shop app and get it to work.

[Alicia]

Good luck on sorting your site - sounds terrifying. Maybe it's best to have a tiny pair of blogs like mine. I'd have NO idea what to do.

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Oh dear MT, glad you have fixed some of what you broke! Good luck fixing the rest.

[M.T.]

Thanks both, hoping it'll be OK. The chap I rent the server space from, who also designed the site hasn't come back to me yet. I contacted him on Friday but he's very laid back so it might be a week or two before he gets back to me. I should probably up sticks and move to someone different but he's extremely competitively priced and despite taking a while to do stuff, he is efficient.

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening, hectic day at work, should have had a meeting 12.30-1.30, it finished at 2.05! At least the 3.30-4.30 meeting only lasted 40 mins! Posted nephew's birthday card on the way home as I forgot to take it with me on Sat, and then went to Lidl too, made fajitas when I got home, only enough filling for 2 meals, but that's fine as I'm off on Wed, got very excited earlier at the thought of a day off with new book day, and new monthly challenges on both my games!

[M.T.]

Ooooo enjoy your day off Desley! I hope it's suitably relaxing. It was very cold here today but at the same time, gorgeously sunny so I went for a walk with a friend in the local park. Trod in dog poo but didn't realise until I got into the car. Managed to get rid of it by treading in fresh mole hills until I'd swapped all the shit for mud! Mwahahahrgh! and also phew.

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening, was a long day at work today, productive lunch break though, booked my fourth covid jab, and flights to Jersey in August, looking forward to that (and hope better weather than I usually get!). Forgot to say I did another energy saving session yesterday, it was a morning one, I started unplugging things the night before (and note to self, need to label my plugs, accidentally unplugged my internet!), and some didn't get plugged back in till I needed them today, so it has made me more aware of things that are just left all the time, just a shame in my house it's either plugged in or not plugged in, so not quite as easy to switch things off.

Only you MT!! Got every Wed in Feb off, and 3 in March, unless we find something different to do in March.

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening all, I know I normally have bad weather on my days off, but today was bad weather, train strikes and friends children were at home due to school strikes, bad even for me! So as I needed B & M and Pets at Home, we went and did that, just picked a retail park further from home, so we went in Asda Living too, I came home with a kettle (that I didn't need, but was similar to the one I eyed up in the Range, except that was £35, and I got one today for £19!) and finally a new dustpan and brush, so glad I went, even if it was a bit expensive! At least I ignored the candles/wax melts. We had a drink in the cafe there and a chat, which was nice. Home for 4, which meant PJ's on and extra reading time. I used to like getting chores done in the morning on my days off, but this year, I'm going to use my WFH time to do chores, so no chores will be done on my annual leave (well, for this holiday year, which is end March). Meant to say yesterday, my book target for the year equates to 1 book a month, I read 6 in January, so going well - and read nearly half a book today, so Feb might be just as good!

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening, busy day at work after a day off yesterday. Went to food club at lunch, glad friend didn't feel up to walking there and back, we were quite loaded up, loads of frozen veg today, which will be easy to use in cooking. Then had to go and get my parcel from yesterday, which meant I missed today's parcel, but Amazon said it was delivered to resident, checked all the bins, ratty neighbour brought it round when she got home, turns out they posted it through the wrong letterbox!! Can't wait to try out all my new nail varnishes, ironically the one that I thought was lost was the one I was least keen on, but looks a lot better in the bottle than on screen.

[M.T.]

You've been busy this week Desley glad you managed to catch up with all the parcels eventually. A friend and I had been trying to meet up for ages and I finally got to see her yesterday, which was grand. Also heard from the guy who built my website. He's not well but will be in touch as soon as he is better. So that's good. Mc(not so)Mini is off school today but otherwise all is well.

[Jim]

There are days when I feel that I am entitled to just plod quietly on because Desley is busy enough for both of us.

There is a certain irony about missing a parcel because you were out collecting a parcel :-)
But I'm with you on the frozen veg. Remarkably handy for cooking, or so my lady wife informs me as she doesn't trust me to cook :-)

[M.T.]

They are great but I don't cook much either, I have an unfortunate habit of forgetting that I've put things in the oven and now that McOther has mostly retired and is at home a lot more, this has been brought to his attention rather starkly a couple of times and I've been embargoed from using the oven to heat my lunch.

[Alicia]

Ah! I win here. I married me a powerfully fine cook (and PhD Chemist - the scientific kind, not the pharmacy kind).

The glitch (of course you knew there WAS one): I don't tolerate fancy cooking. Oh, well. At least he cooks for himself.

On our first date, he made Chicken Cordon Bleu by hand, starting with deboning the chicken breasts himself; unfortunately, and I still don't know how we survived that, he also made ratatouille - and eggplant and I give each other a lot of space. The six of his friends who were also invited said it was delicious.

To my credit, I didn't pretend to enjoy some. I said, "No, thank you," he didn't push, the friends looked at me oddly, and we're still together after 47 years and three children.

Of such are marriages made.

But he eats far better than I do, Mediterranean diet and all, and gets to keep all his cooking for himself, with my blessing, AND passed his habits on to our children quite nicely. I would hate them to be as picky as I am.

[M.T.]

McOther is the picky one in our family, well McMini is also terrible but McOther is the one who says he 'eats anything' and then actually really doesn't. Luckily, however, he does the cooking! Mwahaharhgh! I just love food and he is a good cook so I enjoy pretty much anything that is put in front of me! And this, of course, is why I've had to spend the last 9 months on a diet, gestating a new slimmed down me ... Oh I can't wait to start eating again!

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

M.T. wrote: "They are great but I don't cook much either, I have an unfortunate habit of forgetting that I've put things in the oven and now that McOther has mostly retired and is at home a lot more, this has b..."

One of my favourite uses of Alexa is to remind me to check on my food!! And why I love my air fryer, while you can burn food if you put it on for too long, at least it will switch itself off after whatever time you set it for!

I can't believe I'm busier than you Jim, with all the farm work that you have to do! I actually do really appreciate mornings like today, where I just got out of bed long enough to feed the cats and make a cup of tea, then me and Lucy chilled out watching TV

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening, no battery last night to post, I rang podiatry when I finished work at 3.30 to be told the lady who did the booking had left early to go for an app so I have to ring back next week! Went to big Asda to take my dress back, was shocked at some of the price increases (mind you, I was in Pets at Home too, the cat litter I get has gone up £2 a bag, glad I forgot to cancel my last order so ended up with more than I needed!). Very lazy day today, me and friend were going to the train station museum and I knew it didn't open till 11, so I chilled and binge watched TV till we went at 1.30, it was so fascinating, seeing old pics of the area, think the earliest he showed was 1908! Then we went to Lidl, I came home, put my PJ's on and decided I was determined to finish my book, even though I probably should have done some housework, oh well, always tomorrow!

[Jim]

This begs a question, are air fryers any good?

[M.T.]

I like the sound of them Jim, one of the friends I go detecting with told me that he bought a large one so he could roast a chicken along with some veg and other trimmings. He discovered that it cost £1.30 an hour in the oven and 27p an hour in the air fryer. In addition the air frying thing uses way less fat so it's a lot healthier but you get the same delicious results.

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening, despite being a sunny, if cold, day, friend was too busy for a walk, so I took that as a sign I should probably stay in and do chores, got through things that weren't even on the list for today. Got asked if I fancied going to a soul night last night, can't say it's my kind of thing, but said I'd go anyway, I like the people going, and it's nice to try new things. I know I've said this before, but I do enjoy life so much more these days, even on days like today where I've only stepped out of the house to put the rubbish out and not had a verbal conversation with anyone, my friendships are much stronger these days, like friend's cousin getting a special paw print mould for my wax melts, makes me feel very special and loved. And binge watching TV now seems like a form of self care, rather than a negative thing.

I wouldn't be without mine Jim, it's healthier and things don't take as long to cook, both of which are a bonus. Plus, unless you've put them in for too long, you can't burn things by forgetting what time you are supposed to take them out of the oven! I've done quite a few vegetables in mine.

[Jim]

Thanks for that, something to ponder :-)

[M.T.]

McOther is always telling me not to put the oven on to cook just lunch for me and as a result I am sorely tempted so I can do baked spuds on cold days. I”m not sure he’d use it though and I haven’t quite worked out where we’d put it.

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening, -2 when I left this morning, so had to scrape the car, and traffic was bad again. Was impressed at getting in the car at 4.55 and it was still light, then seeing the sky go lovely shades of red and purple driving home. Booked a couple more days off today, doing more new things, the second I'm really looking forward to, there is a live showing of a Peter James book, me and a colleague have booked the day off to watch it, and going to have lunch first.

I haven't tried potatoes yet MT, but my colleagues bake like 6 or so in a go, and then freeze them, so if you have freezer space, that could be an option? My hairdresser has a posher one than me and did steak, chips and asparagus in hers, apparently she put them all in at the same time and it knew timings so they all cooked together.