Not Chill About Fridge

I rang the people about the fridge yesterday. I confirmed that, yes, I wanted to rebook at the earliest date. The woman then confirmed (on Friday) that the fridge would arrive tomorrow, on Sunday 1st of December. I pointed out that the day after the phone call was Saturday. There was a moment and she huffed that they didn't have any Saturday slots. So, all being well, tomorrow we'll get a fridge that hopefully works. Mind you, the old fridge, that was doing excellent impressions of a freezer, has been working really well since then. Next time we have issues with a fridge, we should just unplug it and carry it around for a bit and see if that works. 

I found a scarf that I'd been knitting and I've continued on with that rather than the blanket I should have focused on. To be honest, it's a nice change and I should be able to finish it soon and then it's one less project outstanding. 

It's just plain knit stitch with fancy yarn - I very much believe in making the yarn do the work.

We went to feed the crows and magpies this morning. DH had heard that crows like cat kibble, or dry catfood. I picked up some inexpensive own brand dry food from Tesco and DH distributed it along with the suet and peanuts. The crows loved it, and apparently the nutrition is good. There was a lot of enthusiastic squawking, some very close fly-bys and it sounded like all out war broke out on the car roof. 

Tomorrow is the start of winter. In September, I looked at the winter weather forecast. The general suggestion was warmer than average. So far we have had snow and it's been really early. I wonder how things will turn out. 

Hugs and good health to all. 

Looking for the Positive

We were supposed to get our fridge today, delivered some time between three and five in the afternoon. The poor delivery guys eventually turned up at 7pm and left around 8.30pm, taking the new fridge back with them. We need to have the door reversed because of the layout of the kitchen, and when the nice man did it, the whole thing went wrong. I'll find out tomorrow when we can expect the replacement. 

There were elements of a farce in it, as the guy rang up colleagues who were helpfully suggesting that he bang bits of the hardware on the kerb, even though said bit of hardware couldn't be detatched. 

It does seem like 'normal for me' to have a fridge delivery be a complete disaster. 

Bear still hasn't heard back from a couple of universities and he may not have done enough in his TMUA exam to get into Warwick. On the bright side, he did well at a computer thingy. 

I'm currently shattered and aching and I plan to knit for half an hour and then go to bed.

Also, I've lost my car keys and I've no idea where. We have DH's key, but we're missing mine and I'm turning the place upside down for them. On the bright side, I've got rid of quite a lot of rubbish that I dug out. Still, the keys have vanished!

Hugs and good health to all. 

Plenty of Weather

Bless reminded me that everyone may not know about the Samaritans, especially if you're not UK based. The Samaritans is a charity that works to prevent suicide and to provide a listening, non judgemental, calm ear to people who have to talk. They don't focus solely on suicide prevention but also on emotional support and health. I had a look and they have a page on what they do in schools here, and it's great that they do that. I just worry that bear is in an environment where it's needed. Mind you, he seems to be doing fine so I'm trying not to stress too much.

First thing this morning, the weather was like this.

And the snow was coming down hard. By 2pm, it looked like this.

And there's barely a trace of a snowflake to be found. This evening we are hunkered down in the study. Bear is playing a compute game, and I thoroughly approve, DH is browsing on his computer and I'm dotting around writing, reading and a little research while the wind is rising outside. The storm winds haven't really hit here, but we're nice and cosy and will hopefully stay safe and warm. It feels like different types of weather are queuing to get in, jostling and treading on each others heels. It's supposed to be warm next week. 

I didn't bake yesterday but I did get a couple of bags of inexpensive onions chopped and frozen. They came in handy as the gluten free gravy granules had slipped out of date and so DH made onion gravy. It was absolutely delicious!

Writing stuff - I'm in a magazine!!! It's Connections eMagazine and I have two contributions. The first is about research and the writer and there was a writing challenge which of course I couldn't resist! I didn't get place, but I was included and I had a lot of fun! The magazine is mainly aimed at writers but this issue has some recipes which look very pleasant - I fancy the Viking stew. 

Hugs and good health to all.

Worrying About Bear

I'm not worried worried about bear, but I'm sort of worried. There's all sorts of confusion going on and bear thrives on knowing what is going to happen at school. Unfortunately everything is still up in the air. Additionally, they are having a school assembly with the Samaritans tomorrow and I'm concerned. 

I remember, back sometime in the Stone Age, taking A levels and there is a lot of pressure. There's even more going on in this sort of college because it's people who are planning on going to fancy universities. What is more, it's the sort of college that collects pupils with driven parents. 

We're not particularly driven parents. DH and I tend to trail along in bear's wake only understanding the outline of what he is doing. However, from what bear says, some parents are supportive and some are more like, well, driven. 

Bear seems to be lightly stressed. He likes to know what's being taught and in what order, primarily so he can watch YouTube for lectures, read textbooks and do a few practice questions beforehand. I'm concentrating on keeping him stocked with his favourite food and snacks and letting him get on with it. I listen to him regularly for hours as he works through his niggles about school. He continues to be an absolute sweetie to me. 

But the college is having the Samaritans visit! 

At least there is some recognition that it's potentially stressful and it's better that there are visits from the Samaritans than some sort of tragedy, but I wish it wasn't needed. Bear finishes his exams in the middle of next June and will get the results I think in the second week of August. It's going to be a long haul. 

Sorry About Wandering Away

Ruth - thank you for the hug. I'm sorry that I've not been updating. Part of it is there's not much to write, but also there's loads. 

I went with DH to feed the crows last Saturday. It was a glorious day and the crows, magpies and squirrel were very appreciative.

We had some snow. Bear was watching it obsessively and hoping for a snow day. Before bed, the road looked like this and it was snowing hard.

It was lovely and clear the next morning so bear dragged himself to college.

I've been baking and the Ginger, Date and Oat Cake was a great success. It doesn't have any refined sugar but is sweetened by fresh ginger, lots of dates and two tablespoons of honey. The next attempt was a nice Bara Brith which turned out lovely. This had more sugar in but was very low in fat. If I bake tomorrow, I promise that I'll share.

There have been a few problems at bear's college. One of the teachers has left under something of a cloud and bear said that he'd been told to teach himself two of the modules. I'm fuming, but bear is doing okay so I'm keeping quiet and taking my lead from him.

To be fair, I'm not in a good place for sensible decisions as I had the flu and covid shot yesterday and I'm getting the usual kickback - which is still much better than the actual illness. 

Writing stuff - I posted a story for the White Hart on the 11th November here. 

Hugs and good health to all. 

Not My Best Work

I found the most amazing scarf pattern on Ravelry here. I really, really, really want to make it. However I have too many things already on the go, so I've decided that not only am I absolutely going to use yarn that I already own, but I can have a go only when I've finished the multicoloured blanket I started months ago and the baby blanket I started last week. I plan to look at the pattern every day to give me an incentive to get knitting. I hope to be able to sell the baby blanket, and I was planning to donate the multicoloured blanket, but the multicoloured blanket isn't really good enough. It's been years since I knit something so shaky.

It's supposed to be a column of stocking stitch with most of the blanket in plain knitting. It looks more like a cable in the way it's twisting all over, and blocking is unlikely to help because it's 100% acrylic. I've even got a hole!

And I have no idea how I managed that. I'm usually good at avoiding holes. But I've got maybe a quarter to a third done.

It's around 50 inches across and around 20 inches long at the moment. By the way, the combination of the camera on my phone and the lighting doesn't show the colours well. From the bottom, the colours are red, purple, bright orange and teal at the top.

Anyway, although it's not fit to either sell or donate, it's light, soft and surprisingly warm, so it will be lovely here and I'll work out a different blanket to donate. 

Hugs and good health to all. 

Fireworks

Photo by Vin Jack on Unsplash

I didn't take any pics today so used a pic from Unsplash - a site which doesn't seem to show sad roman candles in small, weedy gardens so it's a fancy pic. It was all rather dull until we decided to set off the fireworks tonight rather than Tuesday. Bear was going over what he needed to study and when, and decided that tonight was a better night for him. 

Normally we get an inexpensive assortment from a supermarket but this time I think DH went to a specialist place. This may have been a tactical error. Two of the fireworks fell over, and it was a very small assortment. There were sparks and flashes everywhere! The men took it in their stride but I was a nervous wreck. Tomorrow I'll have to pick up all the unexploded bits and check for scorch marks. 

I'm kind of glad that we're unlikely to have fireworks next year. 

Hugs and good health to all. 

A Little Limp

We didn't do much for Halloween. We were all too caught up in bear's exams, but I managed to peg a few bats onto the string lights. 

They're suprisingly sturdy and would probably hold a heavy load on the washing line. 

It's just been... limp. I've not decorated much, I've not shone at housewifery and it's all been a little... wilted. The highlight of the last two days is when DH unblocked the bathroom sink. 

But October is over. I always feel under pressure to write more, so that's gone. Now I'm starting the run up to Christmas. I had a Tesco delivery on Friday that started the stock up for Christmas. I save my Clubcard points up for this time of year and as I had a coupon for double Clubcard points, I picked up a few small gift items and some candles and used some vouchers to cover them. I need to get the freezer a lot emptier ready for the big day, and I'm absolutely not picking up anything too perishable yet. The coupon allows double points on a second shop, though, and I think the next run should include the extra pickles and relishes that we all like at Christmas. 

The fireworks have been really loud today. This morning, around 10am, it sounded like a load of roman candles being set off in a steel drum. We have some in, which we'll set off on November 5th. Father always set them off with a great deal of ceremony, so our small assortment has become a way of remembering him. It will probably be the last time we light them, though. Bear will almost certainly be at university next year, and we never bothered for just me and DH. I'm going to miss remembering father, but I'm becoming less and less thrilled about how animals must be reacting. 

Hugs and good health to all.