Tuesday 31 August 2021
A Little Stressed Today
Monday 30 August 2021
Eight Days to Go
It's nearly the end of the summer holidays. Today hasn't been a brilliant day. So...
Why does the cemetery have a wall around it? Because people are dying to get in.
Hugs and good health to all.
Sunday 29 August 2021
Temptation
Col - you obviously did something right! I hope bear turns out as well. I suspect that he appreciates my rather laid back attitude. Most of the time he can out think me and out stubborn me and he can definitely out argue me, so I pick my battles. And our family usually never visit without some sort of little gift, and I'm always looking out for stuff for DH and bear (and them for me!). I think it's just a small way to show affection.
A lot of bear's friends seem to have tiger parents or helicopter parents with lots of stress and pressure about studying. After getting near to a nervous breakdown in primary school about trying to get bear to do homework, I stepped back but told him that I would definitely enforce any punishment the school gave due to missing homework, and that as it was his homework, it was his problem. Apart from the stupid castle that they insisted bear did in history (which I swear was a punishment for parents), I've kept to that. I don't stress over his grades although I will ask a pointed question or two about effort if I think it's necessary. It means that the work is all down to bear, but so is the credit.
Having said that, we have been negotiating over flash cards today. Bear wanted to get the flash cards for revision done over the summer holidays, but hasn't really applied himself. It was his goal, so I've left him to it with an occasional reminder. I checked with him today, and I'm supposed to be more stringent from now on. He explained what he wanted on some of the physics flash cards. My brain left the room as I nodded and smiled. I swear I got a blue circle as he talked about formulas.
It's been quite quiet. I've done a little on my latch hook project and I've regrettably got caught up in YouTube videos about how to make bottles that look like they're magic potions. I don't need another craft project. I really don't need another craft project. But it would be sooooo easy to get hooked. The worst thing is, I've found a branch of The Works that is actually incredibly near my favourite branch of Tesco. It is ridiculously easy to get to. And it would have all sorts of paints, glitter, beads and such that would make it easy for me to get carried away. I need to go away and have a long talk with myself.
Hugs and good health to all.
Saturday 28 August 2021
Bear is Awesome
Today has been extraordinarily quiet. I haven't even seen a rat. But bear went for a walk and, without any prompting, brought in some chocolate buttons for me. It was the biggest hug ever.
Hugs and good health to all.
Friday 27 August 2021
Alarmed
Thursday 26 August 2021
A Little Worried
We have just had a new heat exchanger put in the boiler. I wasn't surprised it was needed. I think the boiler is around eleven years old. The new part will hopefully add a few years onto its lifespan. And there was the new sump and brake discs for my car. And I got a new halogen cooker as it was starting to get very iffy on the heating. The microwave isn't cooking as hot as its rating these days, either. I think we got it when father was living here, so that's a good seven years ago. It probably needs replacing, but I think I will wait until Aldi has something on sale.
The rice cooker isn't doing so well. It's a Tefal Multicooker thingy. I cooked rice in it yesterday, washed up the inner bowl, and now the bowl won't fit back in properly. Darn it to heck. I don't know if it got sort of squashed on the draining rack, but I've never squashed steel things before. The question is now - what do I do? I suppose I can see if I can get it to fit, but I don't want to be too heavy handed on something powered by electric. I looked on Tefal's website, but the product is quite old and they didn't have replacement parts on it. As I cannot cook rice well, and love my rice cooker, if I can't get the pot back into the cooker, I'm going to have to get something to replace it.
The six month period that included getting the current boiler installed all those years ago was a little like this. I don't know if it's on earlier posts of that time, on this blog or another, but it was horrific. It was a new gear box for DH's car, new tv, new printer, new boiler, new washer-dryer, etc etc etc. It was an horrific time. I'm a little worried that we are going back to that.
I am just going to have to be disciplined enough and watch the pennies with total attention. I can't go spending like I did today. I spent just over £20 on top of whatever the Make and Mend Latch Hook Kit that I fell for in Aldi. I've always fancied a go at rug making, so I picked the kit up yesterday. Today I picked up backing fabric to make a cushion and some PVA glue to spread over the back because I don't trust my knots.
I had a go last night and found it very soothing. I'll have another go tonight.
I went out to try and find some of the rat repellant. The peppermint oil is doing okay, but the stuff from Amazon that broke was amazing. There was a garden centre next to the uniform shop we visited Tuesday which I knew had weird slug pellet stuff, so I thought I would try there, but there was nothing. Fortunately there was a haberdashery and craft shop opposite, which is where I got the backing fabric, cotton and glue. I also tried at a garden centre on the way home. They also had nothing. There was poison, but I am a little reluctant. I've seen falcons and herons around and there are rumours of a fox. There are definitely cats. Even if I was happy about poisoning the rats (not entirely sure), I am not really ready to add poison to the food chain if I can help it. Of course, I didn't get any gardening done today.
I also got a delivery today. It wasn't too bad for substitutions, so I was happy. These are strange times for shopping. I couldnt find any mention of the rug kit on Aldi's website when I looked to check the price, and I wonder if it was old stock that had been dragged out to fill a gap.
I am now utterly exhausted, so I think I will sit and see how the latch hook stuff goes.
Hugs and good health to all.
Wednesday 25 August 2021
Minty Fresh
The dratted rats are driving me nuts. One of them actually ran across the actual kitchen window while I was washing up. I am not a washing up ninja. I make a lot of noise and the window was open (closed now!). How very dare it!
I splashed some washing up sponges with a generous amount of pure peppermint oil and put them near the (seriously and totally closed) window. I also put one in front of the bird feeder which is unlikely to bother the birds but seemed to deter the rodents. I could see them through the kitchen window ducking around and trying to get to the bird food without going near the peppermint. I wasn't going to take a pic of the state of my garden, so here is a generic pic from Unsplash.
They seemed to be very much put out by the broken bottle that we got from Amazon, so tomorrow I'm going to do the rounds of local garden centres.
I had already been out today, just for some bits in the run up to Bank Holiday, but after seeing the (actually quite cute looking and very sleek) rats, I went out to the Co-op for something alcoholic.
I'm going to tempt fate, but tomorrow is going to be 'clean up the garden day and cut everything back!' I'll pick up a stiff brush with the rat deterrent and I'll let you know how it goes.
Hugs and good health to all.
Tuesday 24 August 2021
I Survived School Uniform Shopping
Monday 23 August 2021
Relatively Quiet
Sunday 22 August 2021
Wonderfully Quiet
Saturday 21 August 2021
Another Dinner Fail
Friday 20 August 2021
Finally Friday
Thursday 19 August 2021
Insert Pun Here
Wednesday 18 August 2021
Darn it to Heck (again)!
Fifitr - there is a sewer down the middle of the street, I guess twenty or thirty yards from my kitchen door, and there's a beck just a few hundred yards away. Rats are inevitable. And they did look very sleek. I'd just rather pay for birdfood for the birds. I agree, the walk is the thing and I may have a good opportunity to have a long one tomorrow, back from the garage again. I couldn't drive anywhere today. As far as I can tell, there is little or no oil in the engine. I'll probably be just about okay getting my car to the garage two miles away, but I don't want to go further. Also, I hate throwing things out. I think I'm a hoarder, or at least a potential hoarder. I can see the use for so many things, or the potential, so it's hard to let go. And I am incredibly sentimental about things so it's hard to part with stuff from family.
The nice man came to service the boiler today. He found a leak in the heat exchange. It's going to be expensive. To be honest, the boiler must be around 11 years old, and this is the first major part that has needed to be replaced, so it could be worse. However he had to shut the boiler off, which means that we are without the boiler until Monday - if the part comes on time! We have a shower and a kettle, but it's still a nuisance. The cost of this is on top of whatever is needed for the car, plus the halogen oven is on it's way out and I ordered a new one before the blow about the heater. I could also do with a new microwave. It's not heating up to the standard it used to. I have been trying to remember when we got it, and I think it may have been when father was still here. It's probably just wearing out. I think I shall just see what I can get cheap.
We got the boiler when bear was little and paid cash. However in that six month period, we also paid cash for a new TV (had to), new printer, new washer, new gear box for DH's car, etc etc etc. In fact, that may have been when we got the microwave as we went through a spell where we had to replace everything.
And to reinforce that we need rewiring, the kitchen sockets circuit just blew because I had the brass nerve to have the washer, dryer and the kettle on at the same time. No more excuses.
Having said that, I'm planning a knitting evening tonight as running down the stash is sort of a valid decluttering activity.
On a bright note, I found some sweet pea in with the honeysuckle. The planters originally had sweet peas and I think this may have self seeded. I love sweet peas.
Hugs and good health to all.
Tuesday 17 August 2021
The Rats are Back
There were three or four rats in the garden this afternoon. I think it is the ones from before, but a little more grown up. They are reasonably large with gorgeous glossy brown coats. They look incredibly cute and the picture of health. I still don't want them in my garden. I put some more peppermint oil down which seemed to deter them, but I think that I need to get the spray that broke during the Amazon delivery. The rats seemed to utterly recoil from that.
I don't really want to stop feeding the birds. The sparrows are great entertainment, and I saw a blackbird, a blue tit and a robin this afternoon. The bushes across the road are growing back slightly thicker, so that should be a great place for birds by the end of next year. My garden is turning out accidentally to be good for wildlife. There is a huge patch of alyssum (that badly needs weeding), the flowers on the beans and the fuschia which all attract insects, as well as the few remaining flowers on the honeysuckle. The berries on the honeysuckle and fuschia are good for the birds as well as any insects they scrounge. And if a toad every comes back, they are very welcome to the slugs.
The man from the bathroom place came around today. It's looking like it will cost over £6k, but that's what I expected really. I think we need to sort out the re-wiring first. As the house is FULL that may take some getting ready. Mind you, I've been meaning to get it done since bear was in primary school and he's been in high school three full years so I need to shake myself.
I'm feeling a little run down. I have a cold sore and I feel very achy. I also haven't gone out for a walk. I find it incredibly hard to get out of the house still unless I'm using the car. I may try and push myself after the boiler service tomorrow.
On the bright side, I have a much cleaner bathroom and I've got some writing done, so today is not entirely a fail.
Hugs and good health to all.
Monday 16 August 2021
Probably Productive
I didn't get a walk this morning, and I'm regretting it. I had a race around Tesco and picked up some baby clothes for a friend and the mop head I needed. Then I came home very carefully. I drove more carefully than normal because as I reached Tesco carpark I had a red STOP! and oil warning light come on. They didn't come back on during the drive home, but I was extremely worried. I checked the oil once the car cooled down, and I don't think that there's much in there. It looked like there was barely any at all. As I had had a full service at the beginning of July, I was worried. I have the bathroom man coming tomorrow and the boiler service Wednesday, so my poor little car is booked in on Thursday.
I felt very grown up when I checked the oil. Father had shown me how when I was a teenager, and it's part of the test now anyway, but it's the first time I had done it all by myself. It was also nerve wracking as I had just put some birdfood out and the pigeons were getting very stressed about me being there. The wanted peace and quiet. I got quite an avian telling off. At least I wasn't getting it from the sparrows.
I had an Aldi delivery later on. I ordered some revision books for bear from them and some hangers. Revision books are remarkably inexpensive after the exam season. I should also mention that Yankee Bundles have what look like some very good deals on Christmas candles at the moment. I checked against Amazon prices, but I always double check discount sites anyway. I'm expecting a delivery from them as well.
The bathroom is looking considerably cleaner now, and I've done quite a bit of writing, and everyone has been fed. I think I would count today as almost productive. Nothing earth shattering has been achieved, but at least some things have. I'll take it.
Writing stuff - I'm back at the flash fiction and today is a slightly more steampunk flavour, though I think is a good read even if you don't usually bother. It's here.
Hugs and good health to all.
Sunday 15 August 2021
Sparrows!
I went for a very short walk today. It would have been longer but there were a group of older men gathering in the carpark and I didn't really want to take up a space. I think they gather to race or demonstrate remote controlled boats on the pond. I may go back and park somewhere out of the way to leave room for them and go and watch. I think it looked fascinating. I managed to get a pic of some tiny fungi on the walk. I'll see if I can keep an eye out and watch them grow.
I called into Tesco and bought some snacks for bear (currently something like a bottomless pit) and a mop, but I forgot the mop head. I'll go back tomorrow for it, and it's an excuse to walk in the wood again.
The fuschia is back to being roughly the size of a car. It also rustles. It sounds alive. The sparrows who used to colonise the hawthorn at the other end of the street seem to have relocated here. Or it may be a different family that has been dispossessed when the laurels got pruned. Whichever it is, the fushcia is apparently big enough and leafy enough to contain a tribe. It is also convenient when we put out bird food. I counted nine sparrows on and around the bird feeder the other day, and the arguments they have wake me up!
I suppose it means that I have to be a little careful about cutting the fuschia back. I've resigned myself to it becoming a massive, sparrow filled nuisance. I've had a quick google and it seems that sparrows can eat the berries. I hope that they get the ants as well! I'll cut the bush back from the path and the lilac and hope for the best. Currently it looks overdue for a trim, but it could be worse, I suppose.
I must make time to have a real clearout in the garden. I want to tidy up early enough so that there's enough regrowth to shelter any birds or toads passing through - though definitely not rats or slugs! I keep on with the peppermint oil, and so far it seems to be working.
Hugs and good health to you all.
Saturday 14 August 2021
Much Nothing
Fifitr - your dad sounds awesome. I love the idea of checking out canoes. I daren't go near the middle of Lidl or Aldi's aisle of wonder.
Today has not been a good day for exercise. I've been bunging things in the washer, and trying to set things up so that I don't use the dryer so much. I don't like line drying outside because I often feel that there is a smell. I'm setting up a clothes airer next to a dehumidifier and that works extremely well. I've been pottering around, just doing bits and bobs. I'll have another go at exercise tomorrow.
It's been that sort of day. I've done a little washing, a little sorting, a little cleaning, a little writing, a little work for the editor about future plans - nothing that I can say - look! I have done things! Even dinner was made by DH. I watered the garden, but I think that it's about to rain, and the one tomato that has ripened against all odds now has a bite taken out of it. I'll have to start with the peppermint oil again.
I forgot to ring Specsavers, where I'm supposed to get my glasses. I'll try again tomorrow. I did get a call about getting a new bathroom fitted. It's likely to be a wait until February or March! They also recommended that the rewiring be done first. My house is so full it could burst. Re-wiring requires an incredible clear out. I'm starting that tomorrow. I have been saying that I will do it for years. Procrastination has to stop now.
Mind you, I've promised bear that I will nip out first thing and get some bits from Tesco for him tomorrow, and I may fit in a walk before that. And I have some vouchers for Morrisons that expire tomorrow, so I may call in there. Who knows what the end number of steps will be?
I think that I had better have an early night.
Hugs and good health to all.
Friday 13 August 2021
Not Too Unlucky
Thursday 12 August 2021
A Little Worried
Wednesday 11 August 2021
Another Dull Day
Tuesday 10 August 2021
Dull Day
Monday 9 August 2021
Moving Onward
Sunday 8 August 2021
Underachieving
Today I pottered around and reduced the pile of ironing the size of the Himalayas down to the level of the Alps. I wrote a short flash fiction and cued it up for a week on Monday. I did a lot of pottering. I feel that I could have done more.
I had a Delifresh order delivered today, and it was a little underwhelming. I had to pitch the broad beans and the peas in the pod (my weakness!) looked a bit on the skinny side. Mind you, I'm just glad to get them after all this weather.
I think that there may be some parking wars going on on the street. I'm keeping my head down. DH and I park carefully in front of our house, though I think I will practice tucking closer to the curb. There may only be an inch or two gap, but at the moment, every inch counts. All I know is that there has been some parking without perhaps realising the flow of traffic, and then late last night I was half woken by all sorts of shouting and car noises. Cars had been moved when I came down this morning - thankfully not ours.
There isn't really enough room to park. That is the top and bottom of it, especially if the clients of the hairdresser on the corner get carried away. I've had some very severe glares when I've been parking in front of the house, which is usually tight and at least a seven point turn. I've had a few narrow misses when someone, high on hairspray, swings around our corner with a little too much enthusiasm.
On a more cheerful note, I found that the magazine given away free in Tesco has coupons in. I probably knew it already, but had forgotten. However there are at least two or three coupons for things that I buy regularly, and a couple of bits that are worth me picking up this once. If I get the things that I buy anyway, and the hot sauce and the dessert as a treat, then I may save two or three quid, and that has to be worth something.
I have tentatively put together a meal plan for the next couple of weeks that references what is on the coupons and what is in the cupboards. I can almost hear Fate sniggering as it never seems to go well when I try it. I'll share if it ever works out. But I've checked against boiler service, bathroom appointments and bear's climbing lesson, so I'm hoping that it will work out.
Hugs and good health to all.
Saturday 7 August 2021
Where Did the Day Go?
Friday 6 August 2021
So Much for Today!
Kelly - The electrician was supposed to sort out the electric switch on the shower, which was one an electrician from the Able group installed. I don't know watt I expected in the current situation, but troubles are amping up. Sorry, I couldn't resist. Poor bear has a mum who does dad jokes.
Pam - I really should just get on a ladder and sort it out myself, but who wants to risk me on a ladder with my track record?
Hopefully the shower will get sorted out with a new bathroom.
Last night I made the mistake of telling DH of my plans for today. Of course none of them happened. I'm sure I have a syndrome. But all the household are still alive and have been fed, so I'll take that. I put a punnet of that 'living basil' that you can get from the supermarket into a tub and I'll see how it goes. I was planning on pruning the berries from the honeysuckle. They look lovely and bright, but I'm more likely to get another round of flowers if I cut them off.
I'm quite surprised I got this pic, as the wind was blowing around like crazy!
Then I saw a bird eating them, so I thought I'd leave them in place. It looked a little like a female blackbird, but I thought they ate insects. I'll keep an eye out. It wasn't a sparrow or a pigeon.
I even managed to spray the garden with a mix of peppermint tea, washing up liquid and sodium bicarbonate. It's supposed to deter rats, get rid of aphids and sort out the rust on the plants. I hope it doesn't put the birds off the berries. I'll let you know. All gardening suggestions welcome. What I really should do is actually make a bit of effort.
Hugs and good health to all.
Thursday 5 August 2021
Sort of Sad
It's been a mixed sort of day. I washed out the black wheelie bin which completely needed it! It was missed for one collection so had rubbish sitting in it for a month! So that was a win. I did some pottering, more or less kept on top of the kitchen, and booked someone to come in and quote for a new bathroom. Ours is a disaster! This is an actual 'need a new bathroom before there is a crisis' type purchase. I've been putting that off for ages, so that was a win. I also texted the plumber about getting the boiler serviced, but I haven't had a reply back from that.
On the downside, the electrician that was supposed to sort out our shower is no longer going to peoples' houses and so I'm going to keep on until we get the new bathroom. It should be okay. I hope.
But back on the good side, I split the huge doc of the White Hart into three and hope to get it into three volumes soon. And I got a short story cued up on my writing blog for next Monday, which is the first proper writing I've done in months.
As I got a call from the Opticians cancelling my appointment with them tomorrow, I thought I would pick up the stuff for the weekend this evening and stay in all tomorrow. I also remembered father. I'm not sure how healthy it is, remembering him so often, but it would have been his birthday this month. I called the church where he used to give sweeties to the kids, but they aren't having proper services still. So I went and bought a load of little bags and fun sized bars and left it for the food bank in Tesco. I think that father would approve.
Hugs and good health to all.
Wednesday 4 August 2021
Oops
I met up with a friend today. We called in at a very disappointing farm shop, had a brief tootle around some shops, complained about everyone else's driving and had a great lunch. I am shattered, and I just checked that I drove 60 miles today on unfamiliar roads, many of them country roads with tricky corners and speed limits.
Yesterday I was caught up in writing stuff and forgot to post! Again I was pottering around and I took some stuff to the tip.
There ought to be more exciting stuff to write, but there isn't. I've been very dull. Hopefully I'll have something more to say tomorrow.
Hugs and good health to all.
Monday 2 August 2021
So Much for Monday
Sunday 1 August 2021
Aphids!
Col - that's how we got the plant there. The originals were planted nearby but it self seeded in a crack, and stuff happened and the original plants died off but this one in the crack comes back every year. I'm going to have to save the seed heads next year and sprinkle them around.
Pam - I love that they are called lady's bonnets. I shall have to call it that.
Fifitr - thank you for the hugs. I'll let you know how the hat goes on. I'm starting on the scarf, and the way I go on, it could be a while for the hat. I agree that a lot of the veggie stuff tastes like stuffing. I'm trying to go down roads that use less meat but sort of traditionally. As bear doesn't like eggs and I can't have cheese, there are a few restrictions and I can't have anything with proper breadcrumbs, but it's worth it, I think.
I think it's sad that the horse chestnuts were felled by rust. They are such majestic trees and I'm glad that some were saved. I'm having a long think and some YouTube searching about rust, aphids and the chances of me having a functional garden, especially as I'm deliberately making windbreaks and nooks where such things as rust and aphids and dratted rats could easily lurk. The fuschia is once again nearly as big as my car and I'm considering a flame thrower.
As for the beans...
I went out and picked the ones that seemed a decent size. I had a look on YouTube and tried to remember the beans when I was a kid and went out picked some. There are loads of little ones coming.
They feel sticky. Even after a good wash, they still feel sticky. I consulted Google and apparently it's aphids. Those dratted things are driving me demented! They have almost seen off the courgette plant (with help from my neglect, I admit) and the tomato plants are looking very poorly. Between that and the rust, I'm wondering if I should bother trying to eat them. I may try soaking them in salt and vinegar water.
We didn't have them for dinner. Instead I used half a jar of roasted pepper with some pickled onions with mince, some gravy granules, some peas and some brown sauce, served up with mashed potatoes. The men very much enjoyed it. I would have enjoyed the beans more.
Hugs and good health to all.