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[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening all, no work till next week, am ready for a break, was a struggle today. Downside is colleague is off tomorrow pm and next week. Someone from new team has been ahown one thing we do, but she hasn't got a couple of things, so she has to get us to do last bit, its great having less, but the interruptions are draining. Didn't do as many chores as planned today and went to the chippy after tea.

Common issue with office work Jim, at least they aren't as common here and can work through some

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening, woke up ridiculously early on my day off, but chilled in bed for a bit. Went to my old favourite retail park, to get pj's and maybe bedding from Asda Living, got some pj's but going to have to order bedding, one of the pjs doesn't got so will take them back when I pick up bedding. Went to Costa and had the Maple Hazel limited edition drink and sat inside reading, that was nice. Popped to Tesco on the way home to get some nice bits, including Bailey's squinty cream. Did a few chores when I got back (not enough), and then did a face and foot mask, just nails left now.

Alicia, isnt your husband's birthday 2nd November (tomorrow as I'm typing this)?

[Alicia]

How sweet of you to remember!

Yes. He'll be 77 Nov. 2. His mother always said the only time she didn't go vote (first Tuesday in Nov.) is the day she was having him. Coincidentally that year.

What was wrong with the pjs you're returning?

[Alicia]

Great idea, Jim.

Sometimes you just need those meetings, but other times, if people would just read the materials, the meetings themselves could be avoided.

Of course then the materials would get neglected for other 'more important' tasks, but we ARE stuck with humans, and this is the way we operate.

I was never more lost than at the Monday morning TFTR group meetings at Princeton - I was convinced I was the only one in the room who didn't know what everyone else was talking about. I think they (99% men) were just a lot better at posturing.

Or maybe it WAS me.

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening all, woke up even earlier today, but dozed for a bit. It's my birthday today, me and C went for afternoon tea, with a nice reservoir walk first. Afternoon tea was lovely, we got to pick a sandwich and it had a decent drink selection, we both had a hot choc with an additional cold drink as we were thirsty. They actually put the cream and jam on the scones, never had that before. I may have also come home with some 'Old Library' scented wax melts. Bit disappointed with lack of birthday wishes, took bro and sis till after lunch, G hasn't messaged,just posted card and present through letterbox around 6pm, with no call or message first. I'd come home and watched a film upstairs, so the house did look in darkness.

Hope he had a good day Alicia. Oops, auto correct, should have said don't fit!

[Rosemary (grooving with the Picts)]

Hope you had a lovely day Desley - happy birthday from me!

[Jim]

yes belated happy birthday from me as well

One thing I noticed with Covid, Alicia, was the sheer number of zoom meetings I was summoned to and I was left feeling that they were meetings held to prove to an uncaring world that the people organising them will still important and should keep their jobs

[Jay-me (Janet)]

Belated happy birthday Desley

The walking activity ended this week, and I managed to visit all the box locations, according to the app I have walked 132 miles.

I moved some of my furniture down here this week. One of the pieces is a set of oak drawers that belonged to my great grandparents. The drawer bases are made of separate pieces, the bottom drawer has one loose section which the cats discovered. I heard a noise and found them sitting inside the drawer.

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening, craft fair at our monthly favourite venue today, got lots of dog cuddles. Got more wax melts and A gave me a necklace for my birthday, but no cake. Did get them to go off menu and make me a white Bailey's hot choc, the woman got very excited at that! Won on the raffle too, picked a very nice White Company hand and nail set in a scent I like the sound of. Bed change day today, so had a bath when I got home.

Thanks guys. Oh yes, i had those kind of meetings daily for a while Jim! Well done on the walking activity Janet

[Alicia]

Jim wrote: "yes belated happy birthday from me as well

One thing I noticed with Covid, Alicia, was the sheer number of zoom meetings I was summoned to and I was left feeling that they were meetings held to pr..."

How could you get there? IIRC, your internet is slow, and you have a farm to manage.

[Jim]

It's surprising how slow your broadband can be and you can still use zoom, but then I use it with a desktop machine and no camera. So I see others but they don't see me :-)

Mind you I am familiar with the 'connection unstable' message :-)

During covid we had far less hassle from officialdom. I suspect they couldn't interact with the great unwashed but also zoom meetings with us didn't count as your managers didn't see them and realise how vital you were :-)

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening all, didn't have a great night sleep. Logged on to find a ridiculously high number of everything! Tried to do some kind of list of priorities, before I got too far more urgent stuff came in, so numbers ended higher than they started. Did swear at the computer a couple of times, and did want to cry at one point. Have done a couple of chores, but not left the house. Had some ridiculously loud fireworks earlier, even Lucy reacted and they don't normally bother her. Dreading tomorrow

Meetings with no cameras are good, and if i only have to part listen, can get some work done too!

[Jim]

I once tidied the office in a meeting with no camera. In another I fell asleep :-)

Hope work settles back to sensible

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening all, had a rubbish night sleep and a busy day, now so headachy I feel sick and can't eat much. New person started yesterday, met her today, feel like we will get on. Had a retirement do at lunch for a colleague in old team, that was nice. Forgot to say, the brand of nail varnish I use gave me a £5 voucher for my birthday, was contemplating a set, showed it C on Sat, but couldn't decide, then on Sun they had a Black Friday sale, so bought it plus other bits. There was an online exclusive colour I own that a colleague was admiring in the sale, so added it and let her know yesterday, she seemed touched I had thought of her.

I've never fallen asleep during a meeting!

[Jim]

Desley (Cat fosterer) wrote: "I've never fallen asleep during a meeting! ..."

It's an important part of my skill set :-)

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening all, slept through till 3.40, then not sure I got properly back to sleep. Bit headachy, but not feeling sick. Actually ended the day with less emails than I started with, even though we had a 1.5 hour team meeting. One of the new managers seems keen on changing things, in a way I'm fine with that, but in a way not. Bumped into G when I popped in m and s for bargains, had a little chat, then as I'd only got stuff for breakfast and lunch, popped to Sainsbury's and bumped into her again, that time she asked again if she'd done anything and that she felt she's been passed over for my high flying job! Felt like saying that kind of comment and neediness is what I can't deal with (and then after that asked when I'm starting my new job and said 'probably when Donald Trump starts his') really not into those kind of political comments.

[Jim]

You don't need that sort of stuff.

[Alicia]

None of us do.

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening all, another night when I slept through till 3.40 and just dozed after. Only a slight headache though. Forgot to say yesterday, new colleague got her iPad out at lunch yesterday, we do read some of the same authors. I'd also made a suggestion to coffee shop to get peanut butter syrup for hot choc, they liked the idea. Not that bad a day at work, ended up getting the emails to less than they were on Tue, though other system is higher. The main task sorting out the problem I found has light at the end of the tunnel, so that has taken a weight off. Went to shops, couldn't find anything for tea, so went to chippy. Nail varnishes arrived today, wondering why I've never bought some of these before!

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening, glad it's Friday! Woke ip 3 times but got back to sleep quickly. Feel I've managed OK, emails are up by 8 (and there are 10 from today that haven't been processed, so happy with that, plus it's 25 less than colleague was expecting to come back to!). Other is up by 3 from Mon, but 3 came in just this afternoon, did clear 5 today, so think I've done well on my own. Went to coffee shop at lunch, had decaf white mocha with gingerbread syrup, there was a new girl on who had to ask how to do a white mocha, owner came out from the kitchen to see who ordered that, she was very surprised it was me! Found out who new manager will be, she's quite new, got a bit of a funny feel about it, she might be the first person I clash with.

[Alicia]

Hope the new manager is good at getting help and then being thankful for it - insecurity is a bad reason to reject help.

Today I vegged out. I refuse to read all the political analysis, because it gives me things to worry about I can't change, and wastes my time. But I hope the writing gets its priority - need a solid couple of scenes to keep going.

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening all, didn't sleep too great, so had a slow start to the day. Did an hours housework, felt headachy and realised it was after 12 and hadn't eaten. Went to bakery for a sandwich, ate it, then went to take plastic recycling, went the long way to see what was on the canal, then bumped into a local wildlife photographer and his lovely border collie, had a little chat and got something reduced for tea. Did a bit more housework when I got back, but was getting half hearted, every room is cleaner than it was and tackled a few things that haven't been touched for a while (finally took some clothes upstairs, one was a dress I only wear in the summer!)

[Alicia]

Most of my clothes stay in the drawers/closets - it is so easy to just wear the favorite soft ones, and throw them in the washer and dryer right outside my office door.

One of these days I'll get more organized, the book will be moving along, I might become more social (especially if they get a vaccine that is preventive) - or not.

Meanwhile, I'm clean and neat. Good enough.

And so many fewer decisions.

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening all, another rubbish night sleep and an early start. Craft fair at our favourite venue today, a cat charities Christmas fair, so different set up to usual, Jeff and his mum were next to us, and Marvin and his mum next to them. Organiser couldn't remember my name at one point so said 'thingy, will you shut the door please?' and I did! Jeff's mum did keep bringing up me asking where Jeff was last week before saying Hello! We did a 2 minute silence and Marvin snored through part of it! Won 4 tombola prizes, but told them to keep 2, the ones I kept were candle and hand stuff. No cake though, so have started on mince pies. Near the end I was stroking Jeff and Marvin got so jealous he barked at me! Was a nice day, A dropped me at coop and got something reduced for tomorrow's lunch. Have tried 2 new nail varnishes, loving one and can't believe I didn't buy it when it was launched.

Ah, my washer is in the kitchen, as are the clothes maidens (no dryer), or the washing line outside, so more effort required to get them where they live and do end up just grabbing the same ones off the top of the pile.

[Alicia]

I LIVE from the top of the pile unless I have an assistant - she puts things away in 5 min. that would take me quite a bit longer to do myself (so I rarely bother).

Irritating to spend energy on unnecessaries when I don't have enough for what I want to do, but I do like a tidier room.

[Jay-me (Janet)]

My washer & dryer are in the utility room off the kitchen. The kitchen is small. At the moment I generally use heated airers to dry clothes unless it is dry enough to hang the washing outside, the drier is only for finishing off and if I need something drying quicker. As I am still sorting the garage one freezer is still in the utility room and the heated driers are upstairs in mum's bedroom. Eventually the freezer will be in the garage and the driers in the utility room. Then I won't need to carry the wet washing upstairs. Just the dry stuff to put away. And the bedroom will be clearer to use as a guest room.

I have some of my furniture down here at mum's now, and have sorted with the estate agents to get my house on the market. I have arranged to paint the dining room before Christmas and will bring more of my furniture down then.

My brother was here yesterday and I made soup. I was going to make potato and leek, but didn't have any cream, so instead I added carrot and cabbage to the mix. It was OK, and I have some left for today and to freeze.

My knee is still sore from when I fell a couple of weeks ago, so I will not be doing any yoga that puts pressure on my knee. The instructor is very good at suggesting alternatives as several people in the class have problems with backs, knees, shoulders or hips. There is a "yoga for the unbendy" class before ours. There is also an unbendy class for a new class started recently - Mindful Movement. I don't know what that is like. When I am a bit more organised with the clearing and moving I might try that, also a pilates class. My sister in law thinks I should join The Ramblers to keep up with my walking.

[Jim]

Walking can be very good for you. If nothing else it gives you time to think :-)

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening all, rubbish night sleep again. Colleague was back though,gave me a necklace for my birthday, not something I'd have chosen, but nice. We had a 2 hour staff conference this afternoon and Colleague had an hour training session, so we ended up with emails up 14, think they are the highest in the past week, ironic given that we are 'fully staffed'. Was torn whether to go to Aldi or Lidl (need stuff from both), was late leaving, so did Ludl as only needed 2 things, spent £20, including 2 boxes of mine pies. Then nipped to Sainsbury's and got reduced sandwich for lunch tomorrow

At one point i had the clothes maidens and underwear things in the bathroom, but got fed up of taking wet washing upstairs. I think you should join the esmblets

[Alicia]

Keep walking if you can - everything in life changes, as it has in mine, when you are no longer capable of getting around.

I still have hopes (probably surgical) if they ever fix ME and Long Covid and I can heal in a reasonable time - but loved to walk and hike and can't.

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening all, think I slept through till 6.20, but was very tired. Colleague had other things, so was still kind of on my own, emails are higher again. Finished late again, had a chat with old big manager as I was leaving, they are really short staffed so told me I am welcome back. Walked to Aldi so couldn't buy too much, had some nice alcohol but was good (ish). Forgot to say yesterday, drove past a house that has 'festive' lights round the door and a giant spider halfway up the wall! Must have had a different doctor authorising my prescription as they rang to check I was getting regular eye checks, never had GP questioning it before.

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening all, a bad night's sleep and one of those days where pretty much everything I touched was tricky and time consuming so numbers are higher still, hoped colleague would have skne time today but she didn't, and is unavailable tomorrow afternoon so the light I thought I saw last week has gone again. Was cold and dark when I finished work, so couldn't be bothered to leave the house.

[Jim]

Desley (Cat fosterer) wrote: " drove past a house that has 'festive' lights round the door and a giant spider halfway up the wall! ..."

Drove into town last night and there are already festive lights round here as well.
Normally they'd come on at the start of December, but frankly I wonder if people are just so hacked off with the summer and autumn we've had that they are doing it to cheer themselves up?

[Alicia]

Somebody else decorates the facility for holidays and events; they do a good job, and I no longer have the only undecorated house in the neighborhood.

We don't do anything inside - all we have to do to get holiday cheer is walk out our apartment door. Works for us!

[Jay-me (Janet)]

One of the houses across the road has a Christmas tree up already. It is pink.
Mine usually is put up on Christmas Eve.

[Rosemary (grooving with the Picts)]

I've always thought that it's actually January and February that could do with a bit of cheering up with sparkling lights

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening all, slept through till 4.30, so still a bit tired, but not as bad. Easier morning at work, cleared a few things, was on my own in the afternoon and had a faffy thing, but did end the day with numbers less than we started. Went to get my prescription at lunch, then 10 mins before lunch was over, one of the neighbours wanted help getting a SIM card out of her old phone, she thought I didn't want to help as I said it would be after work, but hadn't finished eating. Went to shops after work but no decent bargains. Did see a house with rather bright decorations, sure they don't normally decorate this early.

Quite possibly Jim. Never thought of that R, but completely agree. If i get my new burner on 30th, it will go in front of the TV, but rest not till at least mid Dec

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening all, slept OK and actually got woken by the alarm! Had my first one to one, manager said she was proud of me for getting the job and of what she has seen/heard since she started, but I'm still on the fence. Didn't get a coffee as coffee shop was cash only. It is one of the managers birthday soon, so as it is payday, she suggested going out for tea, so 15 of us went to a place that recently opened, it was really nice, with a good drinks menu, would happily go back again. Feel like I'm starting with a cold though.

[Alicia]

Take care of yourself - give the cold some rest and TLC.

[Jim]

Jay-me (Janet) wrote: "One of the houses across the road has a Christmas tree up already. It is pink.
Mine usually is put up on Christmas Eve."

My late mother taught infants and juniors. Christmas at school was so full on that we never did any decorations here until the school holidays started, so basically Christmas Eve. And all taken down on 12th night.

[Jim]

Rosemary (grooving with the Picts) wrote: "I've always thought that it's actually January and February that could do with a bit of cheering up with sparkling lights"

Yes, and taking stuff down after Christmas makes things feel worse

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening all, rubbish night sleep and early get up. Was going to a Christmas market at a cattle shed in Skipton (about an hours drive), with L, A and her sister. Think it's the first time I've seen L thus year. Was very cold, so not one I'd want to have a stall at, but was nice to look round 220 stalls. Came home with jam, wax melts and fudge for me, and presents for A, C and L (A knows, L doesn't!), we didn't have lunch as a massive queue, got home around 4. Got parcel from neighbour, then went for milk before resting, wondering what the difference is between sitting on my sofa watching TV and lying in bed watching TV. Have been coughing up a lot of phlegm today.

[Jim]

Cattle markets can be amazingly cold!

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening all, woke up about 5.30, then didn't want to get going at the 6.30 alarm. Feel better than yesterday. Today's craft fair was walking distance from my house, with a few crafters we are friendly with, though Marvin's mum decided to leave him at home. Got a couple of bits to finish off C and Ls presents, plus a cute 3D printed Christmas ornament. No cake, but still got mince pies. Forgot to say, finally got a peg bag yesterday, been looking all year. Won't need it for a while, but gives me chance to buy some pegs. Nipped to coop after work, got a bargain, 4 cans of fruity cider for £1.56! Cats needed dreamies, was better value to get them a Christmas box, and as it has 10 small bags, more variety

It really was Jim! MT, only had time to skim read your post, but i think the books would be a good idea, and could hopefully help others, i like the idea of the second one, even though it is more personal

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening all, was off today, was supposed to be catching up, but A and her sister were going to a garden centre in Warrington and invited me, I've heard good things about it so said yes. We weren't going till 10.30, so didn't have to get up too early, slept till about 8.15, then had a bit of a lounge. It was crazily busy for a Mon, we decided to have lunch first. I was good, only came home with a gift bag, a bottle of cordial and a toy for Lucy's Christmas present. Got home about 3, had a couple of chores to do, then had a bath before sitting out some paperwork for new job, hated the first two questions on the health form 'do you consider yourself healthy' (ironically had just had a coughing fit!) and 'do you have a disability'. Will probably have an interview with them, and need to fill in the driving licence details.

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening all, started snowing last night, woke up and there was still some around, so got ready early to scrape the car. Not sure what kind of day colleague had yesterday, but numbers were way higher than when I left on Fri! I had training all morning, bits were interesting, but didn't show all the things I was interested in learning. Did a couple of urgent things this pm, but don't feel I achieved much. Was funny in training, was sure the Tropic lady we see at monthly fair walked past, as I was going back up, I bumped into her, she's there every few weeks as part of the wellbeing initiative! Told my new colleague about her, she had a sample of a hand treatment and ended up buying from her. Nipped into m and s bargain hunting, then went to lidl and found the new vegi/vegan fridge, got a couple of things to try. Car was shouting for petrol half way home, so went to petrol station too. Quite cold, think it's below freezing.

Jim, my vets have dinea Facebook post saying they are wearing wellies in support of farmers, do you know what thats for?

[Alicia]

I used to say I was the healthiest disabled person I knew, meaning that the only thing that was wrong with me for a long time was having ME/CFS.

Not any more!

What kind of a question is that? Intrusive!

[Jim]

Desley (Cat fosterer) wrote: "Jim, my vets have dinea Facebook post saying they are wearing wellies in support of farmers, do you know what thats for?..."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQGVJ...

The farming protest in London, actually it isn't just inheritance tax, that is the last straw

[Jay-me (Janet)]

We had snow on Monday night, most of it seems to have gone now.
My cats like Dreamies too - one of them goes and scratches at the scratching post and looks at me as a request for treats.

The house across with the pink tree has now got Christmas stencils all over the downstairs windows

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening all, was up part of the night coughing, work still manic,colleague was in meetings most of the morning, so new colleague was asking me for work, the other colleague who has been helping rang a few times for advice, there were a few moments I wanted to tell them to just leave me alone! Colleague did apologise for putting so much on me, I just keep looking at a ridiculously long list and can't figure out where to start! Had my occupational health screening this pm, felt a bit depressed when her opinion was that I am classed as disabled. Been cold again today, so not left the house.

Thanks Jim.

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening all, -5 this morning so had to scrape car (couldn't find de icer), and paths were worse than Tue. It wasn't supposed to start snowing till 6, but started around 4, got home safely. We were asked to man a stall about things we don't know much about, luckily we had our stuffed cat, so spent most of the time stroking it! Went to get a letter with rose syrup at lunch, she told me they had almond syrup, so had that in a mocha instead. Didn't feel like I was very productive though, we've pretty much maintained numbers which I suppose is good as new stuff has come in. Colleague is training new colleague tomorrow so hopefully she'll be a bit more help.