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[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening, struggled to get to sleep last night and woke up again about 5ish, so tired and headachy today. Was quite windy first thing, that died down and it did look nice, but wind has started up again. Decided as I get paid more for taking leave that I'd treat myself to Starbucks today and realised why I much prefer small coffee shops, it wasn't a pleasant experience, though I do get a discount there. Nipped into M and S to see if they had something A wanted, got some physalis, had only been thinking the other day I hadn't seen any for a while, will look forward to those. Then went to Aldi for one thing that it appears they have stopped selling, though didn't stop me buying other stuff!

[Alicia]

Neighbors waking you up is always irritating! Nothing much you can do. Hope it didn't cost you too much sleep, and you can catch up on the weekend.

I've been spending a lot of time every night texting with daughter in California - the first antibiotic for her pneumonia didn't work, and the second resulted almost immediately in an explosion of hives (this happened to her with Ceftin, a different AB, ten years ago, too), so dealing with that, her continued coughing, inability to sleep, and now both hives and the transition to a THIRD antibiotic, has needed some handholding.

I've been happy to be able to do anything - and her doctors seem to be managing the process - but she's been in a lot of pain and much discomfort, and it has strained anything I knew of the medical part from rearing children long ago.

She's still hoping the hives are from the previous AB, and the third won't do the same thing, and might actually work against the pneumonia, but it has been an odyssey now lasting over a week, and I'm not really able to do this, so am crashing in the intermediate times.

We'll know more in a few more hours - hoping for the best. Thought this would have been completely over by now, and it's barely beginning. Hospital IV drip is the next stage, so it's going to be a tense weekend.

I have been so proud of her functioning in spite of almost no sleep and itching and coughing - with few breaks. But almost hoping she'd be in hospital and being taken care of by others. Almost, because there is so little control once you end up there. And, in my experience, VERY limited comfort measures. Plus her relatively newly adopted cat, Peach, is obviously stressed.

I'm going to do the best I can until she's better, but it is so hard doing it long-distance. Seems better than nothing - barely.

[Jim]

once you know small coffee shops, they can be a lot better than the chains.

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Oh no Alicia, I thought daughter was on the mend. Fingers crossed these antibiotics work and she doesn't need to go in hospital, especially with her newly adopted cat.
They certainly are Jim, especially the two I go to where they remember you and what you like/dislike and seem to genuinely enjoy seeing you, not just another face to them.

[Alicia]

Thanks for the good thoughts, Desley. This one appears to be working. She's getting what seems to be her first full night of sleep in a week.

Doctors may deal with this all the time, but it's hard on the moms.

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening all, got woken up at 4.20 by Lucy bringing up a hairball - and of course I had an early start for a craft fair today, was being picked up at 8.20. We were in a church where again the tables had been put across the end of pews, but unlike the last one, the pews were split in two, so the only way to get to the back of the table was to crawl under it, A did that, I sat on the spare one next to us! They were very uncomfortable to sit on for 5 hours though. It was a really lovely building, dating back to the 1820's (got a nice history lesson from one of the volunteers, including a gruesome story about the graveyard) and we did well, we were packing up at the end as someone came up smelling what we hadn't packed, so I stopped, and he bought all the lemon lavender melts we had, then his friend came and they mentioned about a burner, so we ended up selling them one of those, so worthwhile last minute sale. Came home to find one of the girls had been sick too, not sure if it's the change in weather. Now sitting down with a cup of tea and the cake I bought yesterday, think tomorrow's plans will change.

Glad things seem to be improving Alicia.

[Jim]

Good to see one of the sales going well. I do worry if there are too many and people haven't the money?
Hopefully Daughter is on the mend Alicia

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Funnily enough, one of the crafters we know were next to us yesterday, I asked them if they had got on the monthly one we do, and they were asking how popular they are with how frequent they are, and I said we do see some people every single month, and there are some people that turn up at the same time every month. I do wonder if that's because it's in a venue with nice food and a licensed bar, so people do come through the fair to get to the bar, but there are a few food stalls like jam, cakes and chocolate. One we went to last week was a one off, but the venue are considering making them monthly, we have put our name down, but I'm not as convinced by that, the town already has a monthly artisan market that's outside, so not sure it could sustain that and a monthly craft fair. I also think if we do too many monthly ones, there aren't enough weekends left to do one off ones that might make more, I don't really want to do every weekend until Nov time, when I don't mind.

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening, woke up about 6.30, felt drained, so went to the loo, ignored Lucy and went back to bed and dozed for a bit, did feel better for it. Weather wasn't as bad as forecast, so did get out while it was dry, as forgot I'd had to buy a small bottle of milk the other day, bumped into someone I haven't seen for a few years on the way there, so stopped and had a chat, then got a fuss of the dog a couple of streets away who was having a grooming session. Forgot to say, the people next to us at the craft fair yesterday both do Lucky dips and suggested it to A, yesterday was the last of the summer scents and we had 65 left, so she was going to do some clearance boxes, so I said why not use this to try lucky dip, if it doesn't work, we can just make up boxes. She wasn't sure, so I've offered to put them together (not quite as simple as 3 in a bag, need labels so they know what they've bought, and a list making so she knows what has sold), she's looked today and there are some spring ones too, so she's going to drop the stuff off hopefully tomorrow for me to make up 27 lucky dip bags, quite looking forward to it (and there is a chance that I might decide I want some of the spring ones and bag them up so I buy some!). Just alternated between housework and watching TV today, Lucy didn't get up till nearly 7pm, so was late making the bed! The job I'm hoping for has finally gone live, only 5 questions I haven't answered on previous applications, so not too much work to do.

[Alicia]

I hope you have a solid chance at that job - looking forward to hearing how it goes.

You should write nice cozy mysteries set around your craft fairs and bazaars - there is a whole culture there!

Daughter seems better - but apparently it can take longer than 6 weeks to stop coughing - and she's exhausted. She had a vacation rental for this week - we're hoping she's well enough to go, for a break, which she could really use.

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening, quite a miserable start to the day, so wore my new 'winter' boots, the new insoles are quite springy, which is odd to walk on. Only 2 of us today, but luckily not much urgent came in, so we got to do a bit of housekeeping. One of the managers who has been off sick for a while came in today, she's been told she will have to retire early on medical grounds, which is sad, glad she came in on a day I was in, I really like her and will miss her I have been messaging her while she has been off, so hopefully she won't mind me continuing. Got told 5 mins before hometime that there had been an accident in my village - a HGV couldn't read the signs on the railway bridge and got stuck under it, so was expecting an issue coming home, but sailed through and got home in 17 mins, think it took me longer than that to get there this morning (was 5 mins late actually).

If I was any good at writing, I might Alicia! It's a nice little community though. Glad daughter seems better, hopefully she can get some rest. Has she gone back to work yet?

[Jay-me (Janet)]

Good Morning

I’ve been busy decluttering both at home and for my old boss. Our old office is being emptied ready to be sold. My old work colleague and I were there a few days last week. I have asked for one of the metal cabinets which I will put in the garage. We also have some paper and pens that I will share with my sister in law.

At home I have one room partly emptied, the next job will be sorting the furniture that I want to bring down to mum’s house (soon to be my new home)
There was someone taking all the office furniture whilst I was there last week so I have asked if they want the wall units and dining table and chairs from mum’s. Then there is room to start bringing my furniture down.

Tomorrow morning we are putting mum’s ashes with dad’s under his tree in the cemetery. I collected the memorial stone from the masons last week.

The cats have claimed the little bedroom now the bunk beds have gone- the intention is that I will use it as a craft room/office. Barney is spending a lot of time on the windowsill in that room now.

On Friday when the weather was good I was office clearing and then a gym class. It’s been dull and wet since then.
It’s quite windy just now and next door’s tree is waving quite close to my window.

I have been doing a bit of walking- hopefully I will be able to do more. There is a walking event starting next week- Beat the Streets. I might have a try at that. I’ve also been using my bus pass.

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening all, wet start to the day, it did improve but was windy. There was a fundraising event at work today, some people cycling 169 miles to raise money for Springhill Hospice, they managed it and seemed to have raised quite a bit. Was a bit of a funny day at work, we were all a bit distracted and some urgent stuff came in, so what I had planned to do didn't get done. Had an update meeting this afternoon, appears I have a job for a bit longer, but unsure how long, part of it depends on if I get a permanent job. Decided to nip into Dunelm on the way home (despite parking next to it, I rarely go in) to look for a mirror, but didn't see anything I liked, though was impressed with their cleaning products and they had an nice travel mug, but I only just bought one. Got petrol on the way home and a few bits as the shop there is really good. A dropped off the lucky dip stuff on her way home, there are some spring ones I didn't think we had any of, so will be getting a lucky dip bag for me and one as part of manager's leaving present. She did say she wouldn't be surprised if there weren't 27 made up!

[Jim]

Yesterday was a strange day, started off wet and miserable but got out quite nice and sunny. Bit windy but didn't really need a jacket

Got some heifers moved onto fields where we'd made silage so they were happy eating the fresh regrowth

[Rosemary (grooving with the Picts)]

Horrendously windy here yesterday, hard to stand upright down at the seafront. I was hit on the head by a flying stick which was surprisingly painful! Still quite breezy today but nice and bright, cold though. Snow on the Cairngorms already...
I hope your daughter is mending nicely Alicia. You never stop worrying about your children, even when they are possibly more capable than yourself!

[Alicia]

Thanks, Rosemary - she is much better, but is a the New Jersey shore for a vacation she missed the first day of, and is being very cautious (abetted by me) about sun exposure, because of the antibiotics she needs to finish - when on a vacation at the BEACH.

The house has a pool - which is not heated - or she would just stay in that all evening.

I hate to have to keep nagging, and she's taking it well, but she got a skin-reddening reaction when, WITH sunscreen, she spent an hour in the pool AFTER 4pm yesterday. She's normally sun-sensitive, and now doubly, triply so, and a burn would absolutely RUIN the rest of her trip, so I nag.

Being mother of a capable adult is the dichotomy between meddling - and not saying something you should have because for whatever reason, you're thinking a bit more clearly right now than they are.

I officially released my three children from parental supervision and nagging when they each reached 25, so this is a big deal for us.

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening, had a rubbish night sleep. Been a mix of blue skies and heavy rain most of the day. Had physio this morning, there was someone putting scaffolding up outside a neighbours, so had to ask them to move, then other deliveries meant they couldn't, so it took me 8 mins to leave my street, good job I give myself plenty of time to get there, got there with 2 mins to spare and physio was on time! Told her my foot wasn't hurting anymore, but lower back is grumbling again, so she didn't look at my foot, just did some manoeuvring to see range of motion and then gave me a leaflet with some exercises and she wants to see me again in a fortnight, and will do some assessment/questionnaire. Bit of an odd day at work, I couldn't get into much before my appointment then just not really been able to knuckle down and do as much as I wanted, so things are building up and now we don't have part time colleague, plus other colleague is having a couple of hours out in the morning and I'm having a longer lunch on Fri. Started putting the pick and mix bags together, have done two, plus done the numbering for them, but just feel behind with everything, hopefully I'll sleep OK and things won't look quite as daunting tomorrow.

Nice to see you R, being hit by a flying stick does sound painful! Can't believe there is snow on the mountains already! Glad daughter is feeling much better and hope she can enjoy her holiday and doesn't get too affected by the sun.

[Alicia]

Hope the workmen are gone - you'd think they'd let neighbors know there's going to be a disruption.

I don't envy contractors their parking problems BUT they shouldn't be inconveniencing a whole lot of people near their work sites. Doesn't make for good community relationships.

Thanks - she IS enjoying the beach. We never managed to do it as a family, but I always wanted to try a vacation there AFTER the labor Day weekend (sort of like a bank holiday that marks the end of summer and the beginning of school many places) - because the kids are often gone because school starts, but the water is as warm as it's going to be for the year, and the days are almost as long as summer ones.

She's having a nice time - finally!

[Jim]

Jay-me (Janet) wrote: "Good Morning

I have asked for one of the metal cabinets which I will put in the garage. ..."

Second hand metal filing cabinets are remarkably useful, it's amazing how they can hold their value when you see offices being cleared :-)

[Jim]

Rosemary (grooving with the Picts) wrote: "Horrendously windy here yesterday, hard to stand upright down at the seafront. I was hit on the head by a flying stick which was surprisingly painful! Still quite breezy today but nice and bright, ..."

It's been strange here, last two mornings have been rotten wet, Tuesday got out fine, but yesterday we kept getting very heavy showers running through. But it was always windy. I've shifted two tree branches off our lanes that have been torn off trees. When I describe them as branches, they were so big I dragged them behind a quad bike rather than just pull them by hand.

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening, thought I slept OK, but skipped breakfast, then was distracted at teatime, so have ended up headachy and feeling sick. Had my last one to one with manager today, ended up quite long (hence no breakfast) and colleague was having a couple of hours off to do something, so was manning the fort. Finally got something finished I've been working on since Mon (maybe Fri thinking about it), but numbers are creeping up again. Nice enough day to get washing dried on the line though, and just did walk to shops after work, spent lunch making up some of the lucky dip bags, has taken longer than I thought as I've put a bit of thought into colours/scents/shapes rather than just putting 3 in a bag!

[Jim]

Desley (Cat fosterer) wrote: "taken longer than I thought as I've put a bit of thought into colours/scents/shapes rather than just putting 3 in a bag!..."

Now that's a nice thought

[Jay-me (Janet)]

Good evening

It has been a mixed week weatherwise.
Quite a bit of rain, on Wednesday morning the rain was very heavy, but at 11 when we were at the cemetery with mum's ashes there was blue sky, sunshine and a bit of a breeze. Then when I was back home the heavy rain returned. Today I was sat in the sun because I arrived too early for my gym class. Last week the traffic was so bad that I was almost dashing in at the last minute.
My gym membership allows me to use three gyms - I just go to two as the third is further away. The yoga class is in the town I live in and the Zumba class in the next town where I used to work. This week the Zumba was moved into the newly refurbished Muni because the sports hall roof is leaking. Next week the class is to be in the Town Hall, because the Yoga is moved to the Muni whilst the gym is being updated.

Your craft fairs sound fun Desley, if one was near to me I would go.

I know what you mean about the branches Jim - I met my old work colleagues for coffee and cakes at the park cafe and had to detour because the path was blocked with a fallen tree and there were lots of very large branches down all through the park.

Hope everyone is well - I'm keeping myself busy still sorting at home. I need to get a new fire for the dining room - I had them serviced this week. The living room fire has been checked regularly but the one in the dining room hasn't. I thought that we had been told years ago not to use it but when it was checked this week the fire was ok but the chimney isn't. So I have decided to get an electric fire for there instead.

One of the cats is cuddled next to me, she has been sitting on my knee a lot. The other is sat in the doorway yowling at me. There is either not enough biscuits in his dish or he wants milk. I will have to obey his summons.

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening, very frustrating day at work, got loads of annoying things that took time so didn't get through that much work. I did have a long lunch planned with C though, food was nice and we walked there and back, though I did my usual trick of walking round the park rather than through it, not sure she's been through our park, should have taken her really. Sunny, but quite chilly, have had the fire on. Ingrowing toenail is really bothering me today though.

Thanks Jim, it's been quite fun really. I can't remember fully where you live Janet, but not sure we go that far. Glad the weather held up for scattering your mum's ashes. Good luck getting the house sorted.

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening, nice sunny day, but quite chilly. Had hairdresser at 9.30, always enjoy going there. Then decided to nip to Lidl for a couple of bits as they are part way between my house and Lidl. Got back and vegan friend asked if she could come and get her delivery that has been here about 2 months, as she had some vegan sausage rolls for me, said yes, and ended up standing in the sun chatting for a while. Then had to do some work on my job application, only one question I struggled with. And finished the lucky dip bags ready for tomorrow. Didn't quite do as much housework as I wanted, but did finish my book. Ingrowing toenail was more painful, realised after tea that I'd only been looking at the left side of it, maybe I should look at the right side, that was where the problem was, but after cutting the nail back, some white pus came out. Have cleaned it with a wipe, put some germaline on it and a plaster, will keep an eye on that.

[Alicia]

Good luck with the job application!

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening, miserable day today, and at a craft fair walking distance from my house. Very few people, part way through we realised there was something on in the house in the park, as well as something next village over, but late afternoon some people came in who had been to the one in the park and that was also quiet, so suspect it was the weather. We did well enough to pay for the table and some profit though, so not all bad, and I love the new autumn scents, need way too many of them. Not got another fair till next month, but was good and just bought 2 blackcurrant and liquorice, put one of those on as soon as I got home, it's lovely, will be buying more of those! Glad I got cake on Fri, as there wasn't any today

Thanks Alicia

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening, odd day weather wise, we had a fog warning and I couldn't work out looking out of the window if it was foggy or raining! Turned out to be fog that disappeared early morning and then was sunny and 19 when I left the office! Got our official confirmation of the move today, we are going on 7th October, however I'm on leave that day, and the manager of the new team is off that week! Thought I'd have felt better once it was in writing, but still feel a bit unsettled. Another frustrating day at work and none of us felt like we got through enough work. Had to go to retail park for cat litter on the way home, obviously couldn't just walk in a shop for the one thing I needed (though do normally at Pets at Home, yet today that was the most expensive shop!), litter is still in the car though, run out of energy by the time I got home.

[Jim]

Yes our day was foggy to early afternoon. The problem is that at this time of year the sun doesn't have the strength to burn it off.

It can be unsettling when work shifts about like that

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening, a nice sunny day, in contrast to yesterday, though house felt chilly first thing. When I got in the car to come home, it was 20, which is ridiculous! Not a bad day at work, not much urgent stuff in, so managed to clear some stuff. though still so much to still put in place and not a lot of time. Had our last meeting with the current team, it was a very bizarre meeting (and most of it didn't relate to us), big manager was late and none of us could start without her as she chairs it, then we had to leave the space earlier than we thought, so didn't get through everything.

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening, another nice day, don't think it was as warm and was windy at times. Work was complete opposite to yesterday, started off with 5 things on a to do list, ended the day with 10! And that was just things I wanted to clear today to start a task that should have been started on Mon! Number of other things going up as full time colleague had things on in the morning and a meeting in the afternoon, which is showing how hard it is already to get through the work and we've had part time colleague in so far, just me and other colleague rest of the week. Back has been really stiff today, have just remembered I took my magnet off at the weekend, will go and put another on and hope that helps, have been doing some of my exercises though. Went to the canal bench after work and read a chapter, did see tortoise Geoff's owner and bumped into a colleague when nipped in Sainsbury's.

[Alicia]

Youngest daughter having new and interesting reactions to the series of meds required to get control of her pneumonia - muscle twitches.

Pneumonia - the gift that keeps on giving.

At least she's back at work, and her doctors are learning what takes care of what and what she's allergic to. On my part, still being supportive in the middle of the night (there's a 3 hour time zone difference between California and New York).

It's been... interesting. Still better than it was.

Not doing much writing yet - can't do much with these things hanging over me. Don't dwell on them, but they affect my already erratic sleep.

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening, not quite as warm and sunny today. Morning started well, got my to do list reduced drastically, afternoon didn't go quite as smoothly though. I did do a little bit of housework at lunch, not as much as yesterday, but a couple of bits look much better. Forgot to take my book after lunch, so walked a longer way round to the bench so it was a circuit, and glad I did, there were 3 deer in the field, but they were quite camouflaged, not sure I'd have seen them from the other direction. Stood and watched them for a bit, looked like the same one as the other week with 2 smaller/lighter ones. A couple walked past with their dog and thought I'd stepped back for them, so pointed out the deer, fussed the dog while we were talking about how nice it is to see them. When I went to co-op, the bloke was stood outside with the dog, got an incredibly friendly greeting from the dog, so had to fuss him.
Jim, Alexa gave me a notification this morning that an author I follow called 'Jim Webster' has released a new book, told her to put it on my wish list, will have a look at it, the title sounded interesting though.
Alicia, sorry that daughter is still suffering from pneumonia and now has another side effect to the meds, at least she is well enough to be able to work and hasn't had to be hospitalised.

[Alicia]

Thanks, Desley - I think the pneumonia is gone, and it's just side effects and allergic reactions left to the meds. She hasn't texted today - which probably means they're no worse, or under control.

So glad you get to see so much wildlife - it sounds quite lovely. You have a lot of dog friends happy to see you. Must make the walk even better.

[Jim]

Went up to Edinburgh. no where near as pleasant as the weather here, sea fret today, and a chill start to Thursday until the sun finally burned it off, about 3pm

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening, interesting day. Woke up early to find my fitness tracker had broke (ironically, I'd only thought the other day when it needed charging so soon that I should probably look at updating it, then yesterday it was quite loose), have ordered a new one to come tomorrow, but has been odd not wearing it and not being able to see messages on it. Didn't quite get through as much as I wanted this morning, then we went over to a different part of the borough for a team building exercise with the team we are moving into, they ordered pizza and snacks, then we did a horrible ice breaker (you had to stand in order of how long you have worked there, but not allowed to talk to anyone, or do any hand gestures), then we were put in teams for a quiz, we came joint 4th (5 teams), but had good fun. It was also nice to meet the people we will be working with before we go and sit with them, I did recognise a lot of names, and some of them I recognised by their voices. Everyone was very welcoming, which was nice, hopefully we'll be fine there, apart from the expectation we'll be moving and doing what we currently do, just in a different team, when they've halved the number pf staff and my colleague has a promotion so needs to do other things. We finished early, but traffic was horrendous, went to Aldi on the way back, was torn between 'it's September, party food etc is out too early' and 'yay, things I only get at certain times of the year'! I then went to Sainsbury's to check for reductions. About 6.30, was messaging C when I realised I was supposed to have bought milk today, so had to get dressed again and go back to Sainsbury's, got served by the same person!

Glad that daughter hasn't messaged today Alicia. Yes, I was hoping to get a fuss off a dog yesterday, always cheers me up, wasn't expecting such enthusiasm for one that has only met me once though!

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening, didn't have a good night sleep and not felt great all day, bit achy and coughing, not sure how much is lack of sleep though. So the plan to do housework didn't quite work! Done some essential stuff but also rested. Went for a little walk, got to fuss a couple of dogs (though one decided to growl and bark after asking for a second fuss!), bumped into someone I normally see walking their dogs, so had a nice chat with her. Had been back about 5 mins when my Amazon delivery came, they gave me two packages, as I'd ordered a strap to go with my new fitness tracker, just took them both assuming Amazon had put them in separate boxes, luckily I glanced at them both first, as one was for a neighbour, so messaged her, she came straight down, turned out Amazon man had given her one of her two parcels and me the second! At least we both got all our deliveries. Had a nightmare setting my tracker up though, as the app for the old one didn't support the new one, but eventually managed it, and one of the backgrounds was a cat with a pawprint under my step count and some nice colours, so quite happy with that.

[Jim]

Given the fact that you use your tracker so much it's good you've got one again. It seems to act as a useful reminder to you to keep moving etc

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening all, a miserable day, so apart from putting the rubbish out, I haven't left the house. Not felt much better, so not done all that much housework, just a bit in every room, so it feels a bit better. Had a bit of a play with my fitness tracker, I like the timer on it, and will be better than using Alexa as I can be anywhere in the house when it goes off. Also handy for changing music when not near the phone too and can be used as a flashlight, plus other stuff, not bad for £32. Must see if this one will remind me to move every hour like the last one did. Think next I might look to buy a new phone and put my SIM card in as Vodafone seem unable to fix my account, just a shame my SIM only has such little data, but might see if they could upgrade that.

Ironically the thing I missed most Jim was hearing my phone and actually having to look at it, rather than just glance at my tracker and see if it was of interest or not!

[Jim]

I have nothing linked to anything else :-)
Not even to me :-)

[Jay-me (Janet)]

Good morning

The Leisure Services in the area have organised an activity called Beat the Street. Lots of schools are taking part. The idea is to get more people active by walking or cycling collecting points.
It started last Wednesday and runs to the end of October.
I have been doing this and have walked every day so far. I have a Fitbit which I hadn’t used for a while so charged it and have been using it. But for some reason it has stopped working a couple of times- not when the battery is low so I am wondering whether it is worth keep trying or whether to chuck it out and get a new tracker.

I’m still slowly sorting and decluttering at home.
My old workplace is now empty- it was strange seeing it like that, and even more when walking around after Zumba class (to collect points!) I passed the auction rooms and saw my old desk on display.

Today I have yoga - the second week in a temporary place because of the gym being updated. Last week was a bit of a shambles because the space wasn’t really suitable. We will see how today’s class goes.

[M.T.]

Just popping in to say hello … I’ve just taken delivery of a pair of vari-vocals. Jeez but they are weird. Although they are taking less getting used to than I expected. I walked home in them anyway, which is a start.

Alicia, glad your daughter is on the mend, hope the noisy workmen have gone Desley and helloo there Jim. Janet, you are clearly doing the sorting the way I wanted to but didn’t. I actually forgot to look in one trunk of stuff and left a whole load of stuff of my great grandfather’s in a strong box. And I thought I’d brought back some of my Mum’s paintings but I left the entire bloody lot.

On the upside, the house is sold and I do, kind of, have my life back.

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening, started off wet, seemed to dry up, but been quite cloudy, couldn't see the hills from the office. Throat has felt yucky again today and I did lose my voice a couple of times while on the phone, it isn't sore though. Bit of a funny day, I know I worked hard, but don't seem to have made much of a dent in stuff, though other colleague did (we are really going to miss her, as she does most of the 'easy' stuff and starts 30 mins earlier than me, she gets through quite a bit), though she is going to their property in Spain for all of October, so we wouldn't have her anyway. Had to go to Lidl after work for the monthly supply of cat treats.

Good luck with the walking challenge Janet, maybe get a new fitness tracker. So glad to see you back MT, enjoyed the blog post. Hope things do get easier for you now.

[M.T.]

Desley (Cat fosterer) wrote: "Evening, started off wet, seemed to dry up, but been quite cloudy, couldn't see the hills from the office. Throat has felt yucky again today and I did lose my voice a couple of times while on the p..."

I'm sure you did more than you think. :-) look after the voice, although glad to hear your throat wasn't sore with it.

[Alicia]

M.T. wrote: "...the house is sold..."

That will take a major stressor off your list - just try not to waste any of your energy second-guessing the sale. It's over! Good job!

I've sort of been MIA - not getting enough sleep to function does that - it comes and goes erratically.

Desley, sorry your throat is acting up!

Good to hear from you, Jay-me.

Our daughter hasn't texted in a day or so - after sending a picture with new hives. Hope she's okay. At least they held off until after one of her best friend's wedding! Hope her doctors learn to guide her through these.

Hope you get some of the paintings back, MT.

[Jim]

Always good to get your life back MT, perhaps you ought to be more careful lending it out, it's not a library book :-)

[M.T.]

Jim wrote: "Always good to get your life back MT, perhaps you ought to be more careful lending it out, it's not a library book :-)"

🤣🤣 very true. I will try and hang onto it for a while.

Alicia wrote: "M.T. wrote: "...the house is sold..."

That will take a major stressor off your list - just try not to waste any of your energy second-guessing the sale. It's over! Good job!

I've sort of been MIA..."

I suspect they went to the tip. I have a card we made of a lovely one she did and a book of sketches which aren't her best. I just ran out of spoons to keep going to Sussex really. And yes I'll manage to chill eventually. I kept lots of photos. And I kept most of the stuff I wanted time to sort or cared about. Sorry you've been struggling to sleep. I've been doing that and it's unhelpful in the extreme.

[Jay-me (Janet)]

Hi MT - your blogs helped me through the last couple of years. I am fortunate that I am moving into mum’s house so have time to sort through all the stuff. I do have a lot of mum’s watercolour paintings, my cousin from Australia was visiting a few weeks ago and took some of them, I have some already on display - she painted some poppies especially for me. I have a few bags of her art supplies- frames and mounts - which I am hoping to donate to the art group that mum used to go to.

Re new tracker Desley - I am struggling to find one that doesn’t have a silicone strap so for the moment will use the Fitbit. The walking challenge uses either a card or phone app so the tracker isn’t essential.

Hope the news from your daughter continues to improve Alicia.

My cats are keeping me company- in their own way. Looking back Barney was the cuddly one and Bradley more shy and nervous. Now Barney ignores me unless he wants food or milk (and lets me know very loudly) where Bradley is the one who sits on my lap nearly every time I sit down. I once gave them likelix at bedtime and now they sit waiting for it. Bradley scratches the scratching post as a message that treats are wanted.

[M.T.]

Jay-me (Janet) wrote: "Hi MT - your blogs helped me through the last couple of years. I am fortunate that I am moving into mum’s house so have time to sort through all the stuff. I do have a lot of mum’s watercolour pain..."

I'm really glad the blogs helped. They were cathartic to write,although I didn't write as much about Mum as Dad because I'd said it all before.

I might ask them if they still have any of the art. We'll done on keeping your Mum's. At least I do have a couple of things. I have some really lovely little cartoon figures she did as a kid so there is something...

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening, much better weather today. I had great expectations to get through loads, but was still very distracted, we had a meeting at 1 that was rather odd, it included two people that aren't staying when we move and none of the people who will be involved when we move. It was also my manager's last office day, so we did a presentation (I'd bought her something separate to the group present), so as I was leaving, I did wonder if part of my distraction was it being her last office day, I'll speak to her again this week, and will speak to her in her new role, but she won't be in the same building anymore. Plus the fact we haven't had any meetings about important stuff we need to get in place when we move and it's less than 2 weeks. Can't get the heated blanket on the sofa to work tonight, have unplugged everything and hope that helps before I have to buy a new one. Throat wasn't too bad during the day, but hasn't been great since leaving the office, at least I got some sore throat sweets last night.

Alicia, hope no news is good news regarding daughter and hope that she gets over this latest side effect.
Janet, hoping I read your post write, my new tracker came with a plastic type strap, I bought this as I prefer this style, does come in other colours https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CHMRFKP...