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Desley (Cat fosterer)
(new)
Nov 07, 2023 01:19PM
Yes, it took me back and opened the door - as I walked out, all 3 lifts had gone to the ground floor and had doors open! I did panic slightly when it started speaking in case I was trapped.
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Evening, another wet day, didn't think I'd get out at lunch to see the ducks, but it sort of cleared up (it was dry till I got 4 mins away from the house!). Went to the canal, the path was clear, looked over the railings but could only see the mallards, threw a handful of food over for them, turned round and nearly tripped over Mister, no idea where he'd been! Gave him some food, a Mrs Mallard kept trying to get close, so I threw food over to her so she wouldn't get too close, Mister didn't like that and did eventually nip her to try and stop her, so I told him off and tapped his beak! Still no sign of Daisy though. Hectic day at work, the other side had initially agreed not to use me this week as we have someone on leave, but clearly forgot they have someone on leave too, so have been asked to do a couple of things and agreed as they should have been quick, but I'm now on the telephone list, and as there are a lack of people, I got a few phone calls and had little idea what to do with them, someone did kindly point me in the right direction. I also thought arranging appointments would be quick, but took me 10 calls to get 5 appointments made! And you have to put notes on the ones you've tried. Then something urgent came up on my side, so have given line manager heads up that I'm behind, see what happens in the morning. Again I couldn't be bothered going looking for bargains after work, just did my chores. Am going to try going back to 20 mins chores and 30 mins reading after work - the reading is going well, chores not so much!
Hate to think that something has happened to Daisy. Hope it's just timing.
I know, I'm getting more worried about her.
Evening, a wet and miserable day, so for the first time since April, i haven't left my house today, feels very strange! But also glad I haven't had to force myself to go out in the rain to hit my step count, and grateful for extra reading time, though sure Mister wouldn't have been impressed! Another hectic day at work, lots of urgent things coming in, still had to do a bit of work for the other team, and only me and my line manager today and tomorrow.
Evening, bright but chilly here. Needed to pop to the library as some of our equipment had been dropped there, then went to get Mister some food, had a nice chat with candle people, then finally got a video of Mister noticing me and waddling towards me for his food - good job the walking challenge is over, I'd put my tracker on to charge and realised in candle shop that I hadn't put it back on! Another hectic day at work, only day I haven't had to help the other team, but one of those Friday's where loads of urgent things come in, and I was on my own! Went to the shops after work to see if there was anything nice, unfortunately there wasn't, though did get some of the small Chicago Town pizza's and tried them in the air fryer, took longer, but much nicer. And got to finish my book, so not too bad a day overall.
Any day you get a nice chunk of reading time, and finish a book, is a good day.
Evening, long day, but our best fair yet, walking distance from my house and £1 more than last week (and that was my purchase, which I wasn't going to buy yet, but A's niece was with us and thought it would be nice for her to bag them up for me), and my surrogate Aunty (which is A's aunty) was on the stall next to us, so got a bit of a catch up. I didn't spend that much, got some nice carrot cake, a go on the choc tombola (and won 3 prizes!). Around lunch, my sis messaged to say she had to come to my village, and thought they would feed the ducks, so I told her where I was, and she called in to see us, and bought stuff, then they waited till I was finished, we went round to feed the ducks but there was a lot of people outside the candle shop, so suspected they had just been fed, Mister was on the opposite side having a wash, then climbed on the bank, and we didn't get bombarded by geese, there was still pieces of bread on the floor, so we threw a couple of handfuls, then left. We both needed Lidl, so called in on the way home. So back later than expected and a bit cold, but now settled on the sofa. Just heard some fireworks going off, which reminded me I heard some at 7.38am yesterday, that wasn't fun!
Evening, woke up feeling drained, so didn't go to the Remembrance Parade with L, though did see her after as her husband wanted to do some errands but she needed the loo, so he told her to ring me to use mine! It started raining just after 11 and has barely stopped, so apart from putting rubbish/recycling out, I haven't left the house, feel better for it though. Did some chores, had an nice bath, and an upside of less walking/leaving the house is I finished another book, so might manage to catch up on my reading challenge, still 2 books behind.
That's an interesting neighbor-dynamic. If he had been my husband, I would have told him off.
She's a friend, not a neighbour, and ironically as her husband is one of my brother's friends, I've actually known him nearly as long as her, and longer than she's known him! One thing my village is missing is public toilets, until you get up to the lake.
The shortage of public toilets is quite common actually. The weather has been distinctly unpleasant, Storm Debbie has been pretty damned fierce
Evening, wet and windy thanks to the storm, though it was kind this morning and stopped raining partway to work. Very busy day at work, no idea when we are going to get through the backlog! Raining when I left, decided to do all the errands in one evening rather than splitting them, it was getting worse the longer I was out, and the wind has picked up a lot since I got home. Did get two boxes of mince pies, one needs eating by the end of the month, so have just opened it! Also may have bought quite a bit of party food, will try and save that for December! Yeah, there is definitely a shortage of public toilets when I go for day trips, makes going somewhere with sis and the kids quite hard, and why we end up eating in a pub so we can use the facilities.
It's a conspiracy by the pubs? Otherwise people bring sandwiches.
Evening, kind of stayed dry today. We had a 3 hour off site meeting, luckily 4 of us were going so one person offered to take all of us, was quite dull and got a bit of a headache. A colleague asked for a lift home, as he lives up the road from me, so I said yes, was quite nice having someone to chat to on the way home. Got home and wasn't sure how long my milk would last, so decided to pop to the shop as it was dry, but then started bouncing down, so went to Sainsbury's rather than co-op, got some nice bargains and bumped into a friend, so had a nice chat. Think it's more to do with the upkeep of them! We did have a public toilet in the centre when I started going to the pub drinking, they were never pleasant at the end of the night.
they're not cheap to maintain as somebody has to go round cleaning them
I can only imagine!But the alternative is? Especially when things like the pubs are closed? Is it part of the cost of having tourists?
Believe it or not, I have a first cousin from Michigan who became a British citizen and married a pub owner. I rarely get a chance to talk to her, but I know through her mother that the pandemic was hard on business.
Evening, another wet day, so apart from putting some rubbish out, I haven't left the house, hoping I can get round to see Mister tomorrow. Was helping the other team again today, we had a catch up and line manager asked how we were all feeling about me being shared, and colleagues do miss the extra pair of hands, and that we are just keeping up, and not in the position we were to do some of the extra stuff, so not sure if that will be reported back and I'll just be helping my team. Touristy areas probably have more, the lake now has 3 sets of public ones (though in an effort to combat vandalism, the new ones are only open when they cafe they are outside is open), but none in the village, suppose it encourages people to go to the cafes and pubs, we have enough of both, I've always said the only way you'll go hungry and thirsty in my village is if you have no money, shops are open between 7am and 11pm, pubs and takeaways are open till 2am I think.
The problem, as always, is that people can be very, um... untidy? This is not improved when they've been, um... imbibing?And the automatic self-cleaning types are expensive and use a lot of water, and are probably not going to match your lovely village architecture. Humans!
Evening, don't think we've had any rain today! Managed a bit of a catch up even though only two of us. A said last night I could go round for a brew on my lunch break if I needed a change of scenery, I said yes as it was supposed to rain, I did feel a bit guilty still going as it meant I didn't go and feed Mister. Had a nice time though, she'd been making melts, so I got to see a bit of the 'behind the scenes' and smell a new one she'd bought and made, though we got distracted and she forgot to give me some she said I could have for free! I was actually surprised she invited me, you'd think she'd see enough of me on a weekend! Second Thu I've spent with her this month, both instigated by her, nice to say we didn't get on that much when we were younger. Had to go back out after work to get my prescription, was very tempted with 2 lots of mince pies in co-op, and some poss alternative 'tipsy caramel pies' in Sainsbury's - not sure they had mincemeat in them, need to look again. Should be getting my pension refund tomorrow, so as well as my alcohol free gin, think I'll be buying those - better hold off buying the new jeggings, might need a bigger size! Energy saving sessions have started again, did my first one today, unplugged everything before going to the shops, then wondered why Alexa couldn't switch my lights off! I think I started unplugging everything apart from those last winter.
Intrigued by the tipsy caramel piesWe don't have Sainsbury's here so I can be interested with no risk to my waist line :-)
Evening, a pretty much dry day, I had decided to put my towel out on the washing line to finish drying, at some point I heard a bang, looked towards the window and realised it was raining. Stopped about 5 mins after I took the towel in, but couldn't be bothered putting it back out! Had a busy day at work, I don't feel I got through much though, had a couple of awkward phone calls that required follow ups. Went to go and see Mister at lunch (still no Daisy), took ages to get him to swim over, then when he did, he run over with his little bum in the air, and devoured some food, though wasn't interested in being stroked! Not sure if it was the same goose, or a couple of them, but they kept getting close. I did try throwing food away to distract them, but it didn't work, Mister just pulls at a feather and carries on tugging as they run away, the third goose ran as soon as he turned his head, clearly wasn't keen on having it's feathers pulled. Ironically, he is smaller than the geese (and Canadian geese aren't exactly known for having a soft temperament!), but they don't seem to have a go back. Had a delayed parcel that Amazon just dropped at my neighbours rather than walking down the street, then had to put ratty neighbour's parcel from yesterday in her house as she forgot to pick it up, had some paper for the rats anyway. Was a good job I had my pension refund, and randomly still a bit more than expected, as I went a bit crazy on the Black Friday deals, though at least it was a combination of things I want, things I (well, the cats!) need, and a last present for G. Vegan friend came to collect her milk and left me a present, that she said I could either have now or leave till next month, it felt like something fluffy, so asked if I'd get benefit from opening it now, and she said yes, so opened it, and it's a lovely extra large woollen scarf, that will be going to all our craft fairs for the rest of the year! They are a layer of spiced caramel topped with a rum infused frangipane. Yet called Tipsy Toffee Pies.
Sorry only Mister shows up.The scarf sounds perfect!
I'm managing to block the internet for several hours at a time (Freedom is the name of the program I use), and am making solid progress on the structure for the last book of my trilogy, and that feels good. Can't wait to get back to my writing.
If I can surf the web, I do. So not being able to works for me (and I can get out any time I need to, so it's not problematic). Starting it up means I've committed to TRYING to do the next bit.
Glad your internet blocker is working and you are making good progress on the book Alicia.
Thanks, Desley. It's hard doing the workarounds, but I like the results.
Evening, slightly different day than planned, was supposed to rain all day, which I was fine with as I had deliveries and my job application. Cat litter was delivered, did the tray, then realised it was brightening up, and Amazon hadn't given me a timeslot, so nipped out, went to see Mister, he was that quick today that I hadn't opened the new bag, so he had to stand there gazing at me and shaking his bum waiting! There was a distinct lack of geese today, but there seemed to be about 18 gulls that were incredibly loud! Did start raining as I had finished feeding him though. Decided while out to get some hot black peas, but they had sold out, so came home and made some party food instead! Had enough time to shower and eat before the Amazon delivery arrived, am happy with my new storage for coffee jars - it's actually a spice rack, have bought one for the other worktop where the spice jars actually live, while it's on offer. As long as you are happy with the results.
Evening, rained pretty much all day and not sure we saw daylight! Had another craft fair, it was quite funny when we got there, we looked out of the window behind our table, and thought 'wow, rather a large puddle', till we realised there is a canal behind the room we were in! Despite the weather there was a decent turn out of people, but didn't do all that well, though at least we took enough to make the table fee. No decent cake, and I didn't buy anything, so at least it was a cheap one for me, and got me out of the house on a day I probably wouldn't have otherwise - though I did have to put up with Christmas music all day. Had an interesting conversation with A, her dad had randomly asked what I do for Christmas, and he said I was welcome to go there if I wanted, she did tell him not to be offended if I said no, I might see about just going up at some point for a drink with them, I was very touched as I don't think I've ever met her dad. She has asked him to come and see if he can put a couple of shelves up for me though, which is nice.
Craft fairs sound like fun - I don't think I've ever been to one.
Evening, mainly rain again today, just fine drizzle. We had a reset day today, which is kind of team building. We did a bit of work, then went and did a quiz in teams, bit more work, then went down for a pie and pea lunch and a bit of a chat, then a bit more work, before a couple more games, one was a bingo card of fun facts (mine was having fostered 252 cats/kittens in 14 years), and the other two were building things in teams, the blokes all took charge of building towers and bridges! We came 3rd, though there was only one point between us and 2nd, if only they'd listened to me on a question!, all the teams got a box of chocs, though they are being put in the cupboard to be shared around for the next few weeks. Finished earlier than planned, so enough time to do some more work. There had been an accident on the way home, but wasn't too badly affected. Did B & M, Lidl, collected a parcel then popped in co-op on way home, but forgot a couple of things, so will have to go to Lidl and Co-op again, might do Lidl on way home tomorrow to get it over with, I need washing powder, and if I forget that again, I won't be getting much washing done! They can be. Just a big room with various tables of people selling things they've made (with the odd stall selling non homemade items), I like seeing all the stallholders wares and what I can buy.
Wow - that's a lovely kit of kittens. How sweet of you!
Alicia wrote: "Craft fairs sound like fun - I don't think I've ever been to one."I don't know what Desley is finding but round here there are now so many, especially in November and December in the run up to Christmas.
A friend of mine sells wooden stuff he's made and this year is doing one a weekend. The problem is that one that was very successful last year can be dead this year. It has got to the stage that most weekends have several in a ten mile radius
I don't often leave the office in my apartment - too many people out there without masks, and I'm TRYING to finish my PLOT so I can get back to writing...No craft fairs - and we have too much stuff even though I threw away everything (or gave away) I possibly could before we moved! I can't imagine how people deal with storage units years later!
Evening, had traffic issues both directions today, was annoyed with the traffic coming home, some roadworks had been put out after I'd gone to work, if I'd known they were going up, I'd have gone the other way home and might not have hit as much traffic. I was allowed to work with my usual team today and got shown a couple of new things. Thanks Alicia. Yes, we have one pretty much every weekend till 17th December (and only because one the week before that got cancelled). Another thing I'm noticing is that there are a lot being held on a Thu evening, we are trying one the week we had one cancelled, but I'm not convinced, though that might be the homebody in me thinking that going somewhere 7-9pm at this time of year doesn't sound fun! There have been a couple of weekends where we've gone for the first ones we've seen, then ones closer to home have come up, so might suggest we don't jump in too quickly with some venues next year. We have one that do Feb-Dec that we are going to do every month.
I agree about Thursday evening, knowing the following day is a work day.I'm wondering if these venues have OTHER things going on Saturdays, which would be a good day for people to go to fairs, so you can't schedule on the best days, and are left with "Maybe someone will show up" days.
It will be interesting to see how the Thursday evening go.I suspect they've chosen Thursday rather than Friday for the Stallholders who might struggle with a fair on Friday night and then getting sorted for another on Saturday morning
Evening, wet and windy today. Had to help the other team today, but got loads of awkward phone calls, that required phone calls to check I'd done the right thing, so didn't do as much as they wanted me to. Was supposed to go and see surrogate aunty at lunch as C has ordered some resin stag heads, but I wasn't willing to walk up, so said I'd risk driving (there are roadworks near her house) but she said she was dropping other stuff off at the shop round the corner from my house this pm, so could include mine, so I said yes please! Was glad as I was behind on chores with being late home last night, so at least got those done at lunch. Went bargain hunting after work, decided to get some of the apple mince pies from co-op - one part of the box just says deep filled apple mince pies, another bit says apple cider filled. Have warmed one up and put some cream on it, rather delicious, shame they only come in a box of two! Well, I know when I used to do fundraising, we found Sun more popular, it was like Sat was shopping and chores, then Sun was more of a family, let's see where we can go, kind of day. I personally prefer doing fairs on a Sat. The only weekday we could do is a Thu, as A doesn't work on a Thu, I've just taken an early finish (got enough hols to use up!) to go with her.
Evening, another wet and windy day, had wondered if I'd get to go and feed Mister at lunch, but Amazon gave me a timeslot of 12-2, and it came halfway through my lunch break, so didn't get out. Was on my own most of the morning, so of course had an urgent thing come in, and a couple of awkward calls! When my colleagues were back this afternoon, things went smoothly! So feel as though I've got through quite a bit. Did my usual bargain hunting after work to get out for a bit. A has just been dropping off wax melts for my cleaner to collect when she's here tomorrow.
Happy Thanksgiving (American style) to anyone celebrating in the UK - including my cousin, Linda Butcher.Glad I'm not traveling, sad to miss the family events in Mexico.
Shame you'll get to miss the family events Alicia, hope you have a good Thanksgiving though x
Problem is that if I WERE there, aside from the travel implications, I would be overwhelmed quickly by all the lovely people wanting to 'catch up' on everything I've done since 2014 when I was last there (or earlier, if I didn't see them then) - and they don't seem to have ANY idea, ANY of them (including my sisters), what this might be like for someone who's chronically ill. You'd think that after 34 years they'd finally get it, but it only takes a few people to blow through my reserves.
I'll go one of these days, not around a holiday!
They have good intentions...
Even in New Jersey, our holiday tradition stopped being turkey many years ago, and became 'Mom helps you make your OWN LARGE PIZZA exactly the way YOU want it, and YOU get all the leftovers' Day - very popular with the offspring, and much easier on me.I made/purchased the pizza dough of their choice, stretched it out, let THEM put whatever they wanted on it, and baked them (got pretty good at that) - everybody happy, nobody stuffed, leftovers carefully created and stored for days.
It is sad that family don't understand your health issues. I like the idea of an alternative food tradition
Evening, nice bright day, but very cold, think the radio said highs of 5! Though with the sun, felt like I should have gone out at lunch with sunglasses and hat! Had to go and get C's resin stuff, then went to the canal, Mister was on his own a bit further down the bank, though it didn't take long for the geese and ducks to come up, a couple of times I tried throwing some food towards them so they didn't get too close to him, and he just went for my hand as I was trying to throw, he didn't want to share! Had a nice call to end my day, the bloke I was speaking to called me a star! Line manager said she has reported back that not having me for 2/3 days isn't working well, will see what the outcome of that is.
Desley (Cat fosterer) wrote: "It is sad that family don't understand your health issues. I like the idea of an alternative food tradition"Thanks - it was always a great relaxed day when the kids were home, and no one insisted on turkey. My inlaws stopped being able to come - too far for MIL - so we only had to please ourselves, and I got very good at getting the pizza crust, etc., to come out well in an ordinary American kitchen. Mention 'Thanksgiving pizza' to the offspring, and you'll still get a smile, and it's been over five years since we last did it in New Jersey, where our youngest was still close enough to drive down from New York.
I'M smiling.
The 'families not really understanding chronic illness' is starting to hit the long covid victims - people don't understand things that linger until it hits them personally. It IS hard to understand.
Your employer really seems to like having you to rely on. Hope it results in what you want long-term.
Evening, woke up before 6am and couldn't get back to sleep, so gave up around 6am, none of the cats were bothered by an early breakfast, though when I went downstairs, I did disturb Coco and Chanel cuddling on my sofa (love when they sit on places I sit a lot, shows they aren't bothered by my scent - or Lucy's, even if they don't want attention). Had to chill for a while, was going out with C at 1, decided as it was dry I'd go and feed Mister again, but I'd run out of his food, so had to wait till 10am for the shop to open. I knew it was cold when I woke up, but turned out it had got below freezing overnight, all the fields were white when I went to feed them, there were no geese in goose field, Mister didn't need much encouragement this morning. C came early. we went to get the train, just about to press the button on the ticket machine when we heard an announcement that it was cancelled! The history museum were doing something, so we went in there to wait and ask them what the situation was, he found a solution, it just meant swapping trains at a different station as one train was 40 mins late, so should have got there about 20 mins after we did, but we stood waiting for 30 mins! We got there though, but it was so busy you couldn't have a proper look at some of the stuff, and there wasn't anything C wanted to eat. We decided to come back to my village as the Christmas lights were being switched on, had another issue getting home, the train before the one we wanted had been delayed, so there were loads of people waiting, we all got on, but it was standing room only, can't remember the last time I saw such a packed train! Went to candle shop as they were doing bratwurst and C fancied that, I wanted tealights, but she said no, had a go at the tombola's, only won on the 'guaranteed prize' choc tombola, my friends from Lucy's rescue had been disappointed not to see me last week, and think they wanted me to stick around today, but was with C. Came back, went on my banking to pay for C's resin stuff, to see that I'd been given more money from the agency, logged on to see it was classed as 'underpayment' so hopefully that is my back pay for the pay rise though it was only for 7 weeks, so wonder if I am owed more? Going to get those tealights now! Very sore though, didn't think we would do much walking, so went with warm shoes that aren't good for doing a few miles, plus too much standing for my back. A tradition that makes you all smile years later is a good one!
Zoomed with all the kids for the Thanksgiving holiday here, and we're planning a family vacation one of these days. So much to consider - it's a real zoo, and we've only managed to do it twice in five years.Need a big house with room for four different family groups, things nearby to do outdoors, and that I can get around in with minimum stairs. I'll probably end up again never leaving the building - not great, but the home time is, and I do some writing while people are out hiking and stuff.
Not that easy - but if we don't all get together periodically, I miss the heck out of them, and I worry they won't be there for each other when we're not here. No perfect solutions.
Well after a promising start - that is new bosses promised nothing would change- we were informed last week that it is not cost effective keeping our office open, so all work is being transferred to the head office at the end of this week. I was only in our office for a couple of hours last week as I was taking mum for hospital appointments for scans and a biopsy - she has swollen glands in her neck. So I will have to let the new bosses know that I can't add two hours commuting to my work days then I will be without a job for one week before I start getting my state pension. And a bus pass :). We have the porch work starting this week, the landline going next week and new lounge carpet fitted the following week, then hospital appointment for scan and biopsy results so I have plenty to keep me busy until Christmas. Although there could be a delay on the porch work starting as it is raining at the moment and not forecast to stop until almost lunchtime.
I've missed my gym classes for a couple of weeks, hopefully can get back to them soon, plus with no work I will have more time for reading, walking and house sorting, and as soon as I have a craft space organised I can get back to my card making. As we have a few parks and a canal within walking distance I may be able to see as much wildlife as Desley!
See if they'll offer your redundancy Janet ;-)Typical how things come, but hopefully things will settle down for you now. Congratulations on the bus pass. I am entitled to one, and as as soon as they start running them out here I might even get one :-)
Evening, didn't get on yesterday, yesterdays news: another bright but cold day, was doing a craft fair at a venue I like, it was for a cat charity's Christmas Fair, but had some of the regulars we normally see at that venue, we were next to my favourite stallholder, she's lovely, and just likes to wander off to see people, did make sure she didn't lose a sale though, she told us she loves us! Was only £2. She spent more than that on our stall. I nearly didn't come home with wax melts, A was trying to tell me I wasn't allowed, pointed out that isn't good business sense! Got them and a free bar she said I could have. Also had some nice poached eggs on toast, a bailey's hot choc, and despite having cake on Sat, couldn't resist a Christmas pudding brownie, as that stall won't be there next Sat when are there again. We had someone buy a couple of scents, and by the time we'd got home, she'd messaged asking how to buy more, she is going to come on Sat for more. Think that will be our monthly venue for regulars. Today: started off rather wet, then dried up and we could see a bit of white on some of the hills! Was helping the other team today, and was chatting to someone who was off last week, she was asking if I'd applied, she is confident I'll get the job too, which is nice. There was traffic on the way home, but luckily I was doing a bit of shopping, so missed it. Did buy too much, trying to get ahead so I won't need to go to shops for much longer! Plus buying treat things before they sell. Happy that I managed to get presents for 3 people though
Sorry to hear that Janet, I agree with Jim about going for redundancy rather than resigning. Hope you do get to see plenty of wildlife.
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