Watcha' Doing - 2021 Showing 1,401-1,450 of 1,871

[Sandra, Moderator]

I'm glad you are fully vaccinated, Rus. It is a relief, I agree.

[Peggy]

We just booked our first trip abroad in 2 years. To Luxembourg, lol! Last week of October. Rob wants to fly and go further away, but I don't have the energy and time to plan such a trip, and also don't feel very comfortable going far away. Luxembourg we can do by car (2.5 hours) and it looks very pretty. Hills and waterfalls, so very different from home. I'm looking forward to it!

[Kristie, Moderator]

That sounds so nice, Peggy. Anywhere away from home seems like a luxury right now and the waterfalls will be wonderful to see.

Craig and I are discussing taking a road trip this fall as well. We haven't made any decision yet, but likely we will head to the coast and travel south, then come back up through the mountains. So, an ocean and mountain trip.

[Peggy]

That sounds lovely too Kristie!

[Janice, Moderator]

Your trips sound lovely. I was planning on going to Hawaii in March, but I think it's best to delay it for now until I can put my health issues aside.

[Sandra, Moderator]

Sounds fantastic Peggy and Kristie! I'm not going anywhere yet, but my father is coming next month to visit. Is the first family member I'm going to hug after 20 months! I was very worried for him, but he won't take a no as an answer anymore, so we better (be careful and) enjoy it.

[Kristie, Moderator]

Understandable, Janice. That will be a nice trip to take when you don't have those concerns weighing on you. It'll be something to look forward to once that is finally taken care of.

I've never been to Hawaii, but would definitely like to go sometime.

[Sandra, Moderator]

Janice, I hope that happens earlier than you expect!

[Peggy]

Sandra, enjoy the time with your father!

Janice, I hope you'll be able to go there soon :)

[Saar The Book owl]

@Peggy and Kristie: that sounds fantastic! Enjoy your trips. You don't have to go far to have a good time. It's the time that you are away you need to enjoy the most.

@Janice: that's understandable, but it will come for you too, to go away ;)

@Sandra: enjoy the time with your father. It really has been a while.

[Peggy]

We just got tickets for Tool. We saw them 3 years ago (honestly, feels like last year..) and Rob really wants to go again. Stupid thing is that prices have doubled, making it ridicilously expensive! But, they're also playing in Belgium and there prices are about the same as they were 3 years ago. Antwerp is even closer than Amsterdam, so we're going there and make a nice weekend of it :)

[Margo]

Enjoy Peggy!

The big news over here is that we could be facing black outs this winter, best case seems to be brown outs. We cannot produce fuel to keep us going. Our government, to comply with EU law, closed 2 powerplants because they were fuelled by peat. They didn't consider how we would make up the shortfall.

I listened to an interesting parliamentary exchange last night; apparantly we have an unusually number of date centers in ireland. These use large fans to keep the servers cool. this is where a huge chunk of our power goes. Interesting! Why was this not noted when planning permision was granted? What are our planners getting paid to do? It's a mess!

I'm concerned about some of my Mums mobility equipment which is powered by electricity. They're essential to her welfare. Maybe they can be powered by battery packs, I will have to check that out.

[Jayme, Moderator]

We just got back from our two week trip hiking the national parks in Utah, Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons. It was a mini reunion with my two brothers, our spouses, and my mom. It was so good to see everyone. It was a struggle sometimes due to COVID, but we were all vaccinated, masked up, and socially distanced. Being in the parks made it easier, but we still were very vigilant.

I was constantly awe-struck with the beauty and majesty of the U.S. national parks. We are now planning another national parks trip for 2023.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Peggy wrote: "We just got tickets for Tool. We saw them 3 years ago (honestly, feels like last year..) and Rob really wants to go again. Stupid thing is that prices have doubled, making it ridicilously expensive..."

Nice! Sounds like a great trip away. I read your comment, and Sober came on the radio. The universe agrees!!

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Is a generator an option, Margo? Or solar of some sort, even just for a battery/piece of equip recharge?

While I am very much on the band wagon of getting rid of burning things power plants, you do need to forward plan. I mean, wind would be perfect and easy in Ireland, as would wave generation. And not to mention create more jobs than the plants they are shutting down. But you do that quickly with incentives, and get stuff functioning, and THEN shutdown.

But what would I know? My government are dinosaurs who think that pumping greenhouse gases into the air will solve everything as renewable are stupid. I mean, who would want infinite, clean energy? I'll tell you who, communists*.


*spoiler: not communists.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Jayme wrote: "We just got back from our two week trip hiking the national parks in Utah, Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons. It was a mini reunion with my two brothers, our spouses, and my mom. It was so good to s..."

Oh wow. That is a beautiful part of the world! Glad you got to see your family, Jayme.

[Peggy]

@Margo: Yikes, that would concern me too. I can't believe it has come this far, surely not what you expect in a modern Western country.

@Jayme: that sounds fantastic! I would love to visit that area.

[Margo]

@Jayme, sounds like a wonderful trip!

@Rus, Pete was talking about a generator. I'd love to get Solar panels but they're quite costly. There is a small government grant available so that's another possibility.

There're lots of gov projects in the pipline in but they won't start to come onstream for at least to years and like all public sectors they will over budget and past deadline.

Pete has been saying for years that we should use tidal energy but the gov was not willing to make the investment. Windmills are cheaper but less effective.

The latest damning report on climate has them running scared - it seems that they now believe it's a real thing! Oh, and the Green party is a big part of our coalition gov which has made many things happen - mostly good but is too little too late and, as you say, requires proper planning and a longer term view than the next election :-(

[Margo]

Oh, and we're getting an extra bank holiday as a covit reward - I kid you not! It's being proposed for the 29th November so basically a xmas shopping day to boost retail. Or to increase the gov popularity which is very, very low!

[Rusalka, Moderator]

My work just gave us a day off last week coz of covid. It was the best thing ever. So, I am jealous ;) Even if it seems like a cynical move by the gov.

I thought panels would be a big investment, which is why I was thinking maybe a smaller system/generator/battery thing might work.

... my text box just weirded out there. Sorry.

Well at least they have gotten there to work out that we need to change behaviour to fix the climate. I'm sorry they seem to be a bit backwards though. Sounds like reacting, but no plans. Which again, the cynic in me thinks they'll blame on the Greens for pushing them and "look what happened!!" ignoring that they had the power to plan for years.

[Margo]

Rusalka wrote: "
the cynic in me thinks they'll blame on the Greens for pushing them and "look what happened!
.."

You're so right!

[Kristie, Moderator]

I know it feels early, but (it IS October!) I've just decided to get all of my Christmas shopping done early this year so we can have a no stress holiday. I'm planning to enjoy the holiday season more this year and I'm trying to do little things to make it enjoyable.

So, for October, I just went to this really interesting pumpkin display and I'm reading a Halloween mystery, Candy Coated Murder. I'm even planning to go see the new Halloween movie, which is not my thing, but my friend loves scary movies. lol I think I'm going to add apple picking and a corn maze to my plans. I don't want to do too much, because then it feels overwhelming, just a few fun festive type things.

Anyone else doing anything to celebrate the season?

[Margo]

I'm doing lots of cursing! Modem, landline and mobile calling are still down since the big breakdown yesterday. I have them all from the same provider, Vodafone, who're having massive problems here.
I felt very isolated yesterday, I mean in the old days there was a phone box on every corner - not anymore! There have definitely been some malicious spirits at work. My yoga teacher blames it all on Mars being in retrograde which leads to poor communication and technical problems. It's more of an explanation thany carrier can provide LOL

my only GR access is through the app which is a pain in the arse.

[Margo]

@kristie - I thought a corn maze was some kind of decoration so I goggled it. No, it's a giant puzzle! That sounds like fun, I love mazes :-)

[Kristie, Moderator]

Margo wrote: "@kristie - I thought a corn maze was some kind of decoration so I goggled it. No, it's a giant puzzle! That sounds like fun, I love mazes :-)"

Too funny, Margo!

Hope your services come back soon. That's so frustrating.

[Saar The Book owl]

@Peggy: oh, enjoy! Tool is great :)
@Margo: there's a lot to do about energy the last weeks. Here, there are talks every year about a possible black out, but it's to keep the people on their toes as nothing is happening.
@Jayme: sounds like you've got a great trip!
@Rusalka: indeed, you need to have a plan. Right now, there's a rush to be as CO2 - neutral as possible, but everyone is running around like chickens with no plan at all.

As for Halloween last year, my son and I made Halloween cupcakes and cupcakes to celibrate Spike's 17th birthday. We decorated it for his birthday and then ate them. Spike had cat - friendly treats. I'm glad we took pictures of it. Spike would be 18 on Halloween.

[Kristie, Moderator]

I'm going to a glass blowing class today. I'm really looking forward to it. This will be my third class. For my first class we made Christmas ornaments. My second was a stemless wine glass. Today is a Pumpkin. :)

[Roz]

Wow, glass blowing! I've seen people doing that and it looks so cool. I'd love to try that one day. Can we see pictures of what you've made, Kristie?

[Janice, Moderator]

That is so awesome Kristie! I'm fascinated by glass blowing. There have been a couple of reality shows on glass blowing contests on NetFlix. It's so amazing what these artists can do.

[Kristie, Moderator]

When I'm done they need to keep it in an oven so it cools slowly then I go back to pick it up another day. I'll post it in the thread for things we've made when I get it back.

It's really fun, but I'm not an artist. lol I just do what I'm told and get something decent in the end. :)

[Janice, Moderator]

Have fun, Kristie! I'm looking forward to seeing a picture of the finished project.

[Sandra, Moderator]

That is cool, Kristie. We visited Conning museum of glass and loved. We couldn't do glass blowing because there weren't available slots, but we plan to come back for it. We are about 3 hours away.

[Kristie, Moderator]

Thanks! It was a lot of fun. I can't pick up my finished piece until Monday because it needs to cool down slowly over 12 hours so that it doesn't break. I can't wait to see what the finished piece looks like.

[Esther]

Kristie wrote: "Thanks! It was a lot of fun. I can't pick up my finished piece until Monday because it needs to cool down slowly over 12 hours so that it doesn't break. I can't wait to see what the finished piece ..."
I said it before and I repeat myself. I am a bit jealous. I really have to look if there are classes around here. I know there is a shop/studio, so it is a possibility.

[Margo]

I just had to call paramedics to pick me up up off the floor -so embarrassing! I was in my mums pulling down the blind and I tripped over her the leg of leg of a chair. I fell on my anckle in strange possible and I think I've sprained it. There was now one else in house, except my mum, so I had to get her to call for ambulance.

They wanted to to bring me to hospital to get it xrayed but I have heard so many horror stories about A&E on a Saturday night that I refused. Pete will bring me over tomorrow tomorrow if I need to go but oh boy is it sore!

[Sandra, Moderator]

Oh no! I'm sorry to hear that! I hope it ends not being as bad as it sounds. Take care.

[Janice, Moderator]

Ouch! That does sound painful. Are you icing it? Do get it checked out when you can.

[Esther]

Margo wrote: "I just had to call paramedics to pick me up up off the floor -so embarrassing! I was in my mums pulling down the blind and I tripped over her the leg of leg of a chair. I fell on my anckle in stran..."

ouch. I hope it will not be too bad. But do have it check as soon as possible..

[Kristie, Moderator]

Ouch, Margo! Get it up and put some ice on it. I hope it heals quickly!

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Oh Margo! Hope it feels better tomorrow after you've rested and iced it all evening.

[Peggy]

Yikes Margo! I hope it's not too bad!

[Saar The Book owl]

I hope it's not as bad as it looks. How are you now, Margo?

[Jenn]

Ouch, take care of yourself Margo ❤️ And, I’m sure you didn’t really need to go to that extreme for some dedicated reading time 😉

[Margo]

Janice wrote: "Ouch! That does sound painful. Are you icing it? Do get it checked out when you can."

Thanks guys. It was such a stupid accident!

Yes Janice, luckily enough Lidl were doing cold packs last week so I stocked up. The ambulance guys told me to do the RICE protocol:

R = rest
I = ice
C = compression
E = elevation

It's already less painful to hobble to the loo. Luck I own a wheelchair as it was my good ankle that went.

[Margo]

Jenn wrote: "Ouch, take care of yourself Margo ❤️ And, I’m sure you didn’t really need to go to that extreme for some dedicated reading time 😉"

Haha Jenn, you've seen through my cunning plan 🤣

[Grainne]

@Margo feel better soon. I hope it heals quickly.

[Sandra, Moderator]

Jenn, you have a point there. It is toppler week after all. :)

[Margo]

Thanks Grainne.

Sandra, that had nothinh to with it, honestly 🤞🤥🤭

[Sandra, Moderator]

Lol. I'm glad to hear is less painful already.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

LOL I mean... you wouldn't be the first, Margo. I feel like if you correlated my sickies against week long topplers there may be a trend. But ACTUAL injuries for a toppler is beyond the call of duty!!