Earlier today I posted this
I have a lot of stuff to do, and unfortunately it goes something like, I need to do A. Before I can do A I need to move B. Before I move B I need to clear C. Before I clear C I need to clean D. Before I clean D I need to give E a good sort out. However in order to make space to give E a good sort out I need to do A.
I was just attempting A (putting together a Billy Bookcase) when I heard the sound that strikes fear into every mother's heart. 'Muuuuuuum, it was an accident...'
Bear had managed to spill most of the three litres of bubble mix someone had kindly given bear for a belated birthday present in the porch. Actually it was over the mat, the floor and the concrete step coming in. It was a slip hazard. I ended up doing Z - cleaning the porch.
The porch really needed doing. I had ignored it for over a year, it had been the home of muddy balls, wet umbrellas and the roof sometimes leaks. It did not make a good first impression. It is about four foot square - perhaps a little more than a metre. I managed to fill two bin bags. To be fair, that was mainly matting. Father put down mats. I ignored them. Today, when I shifted to clean, one disintegrated and a centipede ran out. I can cope with ridiculously large spiders but centipedes are a step too far.
I've thrown out the mats, wiped over the window sills and taken the first layer of dirt off the lino. It will take a few more goes. But I have done something, and it felt good. Now I need to find a screwdriver and a hammer for the bookcase. Onward and upward.
Tuesday, 4 August 2015
Trying to Start
I have a lot of stuff to do, and unfortunately it goes something like, I need to do A. Before I can do A I need to move B. Before I move B I need to clear C. Before I clear C I need to clean D. Before I clean D I need to give E a good sort out. However in order to make space to give E a good sort out I need to do A.
I'm just going to dive in.
Last night bear climbed into bed early to pretend he was asleep while DH used the bathroom. Bless him, bear was flat out before DH had finished a very brief visit, he has been exhausted. We all have been exhausted.
One random purchase from some time ago is '365 Luncheon Dishes: A Luncheon Dish for Every Day in the Year'. It is an American publication, and was originally published a long time ago. I have a modern reprint but there is no information except that it was by 'Anonymous'. At a rough guess I would say that the recipes pre-date WWI and are from the USA. Some are attributed to places like 'Table Talk, Philadelphia' or 'Boston Cooking School Magazine'. The recipes are variable and span the range from curried lobster to marmalade sandwiches. One recipe is just how to fry a banana to go with cold duck. It hasn't helped my complete inability to manage a healthy lunch on a regular basis, but has been entertaining.
Spider Cake - Beat 2 eggs very light, add 1 cup sour milk and 1 cup of sweet milk; stir into this 2 cups corn meal and 1/2 cup of flour, 1 tablespoon of sugar and one teaspoon each of salt and soda. Mix and beat thoroughly, and the pour it into the spider; pour over it 1 cup of sweet milk, but do not stir it into the batter. [Italics in original]. Bake in a hot oven for 1/2 an hour. Slip it carefully onto a platter and serve at once.
I wish I knew what sort of utensil a spider was.
I'm just going to dive in.
Last night bear climbed into bed early to pretend he was asleep while DH used the bathroom. Bless him, bear was flat out before DH had finished a very brief visit, he has been exhausted. We all have been exhausted.
One random purchase from some time ago is '365 Luncheon Dishes: A Luncheon Dish for Every Day in the Year'. It is an American publication, and was originally published a long time ago. I have a modern reprint but there is no information except that it was by 'Anonymous'. At a rough guess I would say that the recipes pre-date WWI and are from the USA. Some are attributed to places like 'Table Talk, Philadelphia' or 'Boston Cooking School Magazine'. The recipes are variable and span the range from curried lobster to marmalade sandwiches. One recipe is just how to fry a banana to go with cold duck. It hasn't helped my complete inability to manage a healthy lunch on a regular basis, but has been entertaining.
Spider Cake - Beat 2 eggs very light, add 1 cup sour milk and 1 cup of sweet milk; stir into this 2 cups corn meal and 1/2 cup of flour, 1 tablespoon of sugar and one teaspoon each of salt and soda. Mix and beat thoroughly, and the pour it into the spider; pour over it 1 cup of sweet milk, but do not stir it into the batter. [Italics in original]. Bake in a hot oven for 1/2 an hour. Slip it carefully onto a platter and serve at once.
I wish I knew what sort of utensil a spider was.
Monday, 3 August 2015
Not a Good Day
It hasn't been a bad day in terms of grieving. Bear has had a tough time, but on the whole we are doing okay there.
However trying to find the right page on the internet to add data on to my phone and failing, then failing to get through security on the phone (DH set up the phone) then needing to get a taxi as I was running late and while I had kept the same appointment for the registrar to register the death they had changed the location so I was on the hop, then the taxi driver creatively misunderstanding where I wanted to go, then trying to get back to pick up bear afterwards on the world's slowest bus, then not having someone at the funeral parlour that knew what they were doing and that knew father, then being overrun with small boys, then failing to get an answer from the delivery driver re the missed parcel and not being able to pick up the click and collect stuff at Matalan because I don't have enough data to show the email on my phone, to staggering round IKEA with a blinding headache because the new glasses are really not working, then frantically hoping that DH's bedding had dried...
It could be worse. The beef is cooked for tomorrow, IKEA had everything we needed (and only two extra cushion inserts added to the bill) and we got the delivery date we wanted. Start again tomorrow.
However trying to find the right page on the internet to add data on to my phone and failing, then failing to get through security on the phone (DH set up the phone) then needing to get a taxi as I was running late and while I had kept the same appointment for the registrar to register the death they had changed the location so I was on the hop, then the taxi driver creatively misunderstanding where I wanted to go, then trying to get back to pick up bear afterwards on the world's slowest bus, then not having someone at the funeral parlour that knew what they were doing and that knew father, then being overrun with small boys, then failing to get an answer from the delivery driver re the missed parcel and not being able to pick up the click and collect stuff at Matalan because I don't have enough data to show the email on my phone, to staggering round IKEA with a blinding headache because the new glasses are really not working, then frantically hoping that DH's bedding had dried...
It could be worse. The beef is cooked for tomorrow, IKEA had everything we needed (and only two extra cushion inserts added to the bill) and we got the delivery date we wanted. Start again tomorrow.
Sunday, 2 August 2015
Bear and Jeans
He isn't even a teenager.
Tonight bear bitterly complained that none of the jeans in his drawer fitted him. What he actually meant was that he didn't want me to wash the skinny jeans he had been wearing for a week. My view was that if they didn't get a wash soon I would have to hit them with a hammer to get them in the washing machine.
I know that there are a pair of Bench jeans in there that he has loved for around two years but not only are they not his lovely skinny jeans that he doesn't want washing but they are now barely fitting him. One more growth spurt and they are finished. I asked bear if he was asking me for more jeans. I got a baffled, 'I don't know.' in reply. I knew the answer. What he really wants is for me not to wash his skinny jeans. The jeans are disgusting. Apart from the general falling in mud puddles and encounters with yogurt and baked beans, I don't think that the same pair of jeans should be worn by a small boy for days on end.
I'm going to be digging out the suit bear wore for the wedding last September as I believe he may well fit into it for the funeral. Father always liked to be smart, so we will all be dressing up. Bear will like that bit and insist on wearing a tie. Bear can be convinced to wear all sorts of smart things, peacocking around and generally pretending to be a spy. However this does not include new jeans. In his view he has a pair of jeans that are perfectly adequate thank you and they would be better for not being washed.
I'm going to have a quick look at my friend eBay for skinny jeans, but to be honest I am not in a hurry to get him some more. This is training for the teenage years, and I am taking it seriously.
Tonight bear bitterly complained that none of the jeans in his drawer fitted him. What he actually meant was that he didn't want me to wash the skinny jeans he had been wearing for a week. My view was that if they didn't get a wash soon I would have to hit them with a hammer to get them in the washing machine.
I know that there are a pair of Bench jeans in there that he has loved for around two years but not only are they not his lovely skinny jeans that he doesn't want washing but they are now barely fitting him. One more growth spurt and they are finished. I asked bear if he was asking me for more jeans. I got a baffled, 'I don't know.' in reply. I knew the answer. What he really wants is for me not to wash his skinny jeans. The jeans are disgusting. Apart from the general falling in mud puddles and encounters with yogurt and baked beans, I don't think that the same pair of jeans should be worn by a small boy for days on end.
I'm going to be digging out the suit bear wore for the wedding last September as I believe he may well fit into it for the funeral. Father always liked to be smart, so we will all be dressing up. Bear will like that bit and insist on wearing a tie. Bear can be convinced to wear all sorts of smart things, peacocking around and generally pretending to be a spy. However this does not include new jeans. In his view he has a pair of jeans that are perfectly adequate thank you and they would be better for not being washed.
I'm going to have a quick look at my friend eBay for skinny jeans, but to be honest I am not in a hurry to get him some more. This is training for the teenage years, and I am taking it seriously.
Does Washing Up Liquid Go Off?
I have just tried using some of the washing up liquid that had been in father's room. Father was set up in his room with a sink, fridge, microwave and stuff like plates etc so that he could do his own thing. I wanted him to be independent as long as possible, even though he was living with us, as it kept him more functional. This means that I am finding all sorts of household stuff that has hung around for the last year. The fairy liquid was fine, but there were only a few drops left. The Asda stuff smells funny. I may just pour it down the drains. You can use a mix of washing up liquid and water on greenfly, but our greenfly come with ladybirds and ants so I'm leaving them for now.
I have also run out of vases. This isn't a big surprise, as I only had one and lots of people loved father. At the moment I have just run out of plastic boxes tall enough but on the bright side I have just remembered a tall jug in father's room. I really appreciate the flowers.
I have also come across the idea of Slow Sewing. It's sewing stuff like quilts by hand. Bear is not keen on me doing any sewing, but will tolerate me stitching things. He violently objects to the sewing machine. I am working on it. I am determined to try and shoe horn some of this in, but not at the moment. At the moment I am just doing what comes to hand first.
Thank you for all the good wishes, they really help. I think you are right, BlueHouseDebs, I will be able to function a little better after the funeral. You sound like your furry friend was lovely and close to you. Evil cat really was evil. The war over the right to sit in the armchair has passed into family legend. The vet's receptionist spoke of her in hushed tones. She was a legend and not in a good way. However she gave awesome cuddles.
I have also run out of vases. This isn't a big surprise, as I only had one and lots of people loved father. At the moment I have just run out of plastic boxes tall enough but on the bright side I have just remembered a tall jug in father's room. I really appreciate the flowers.
I have also come across the idea of Slow Sewing. It's sewing stuff like quilts by hand. Bear is not keen on me doing any sewing, but will tolerate me stitching things. He violently objects to the sewing machine. I am working on it. I am determined to try and shoe horn some of this in, but not at the moment. At the moment I am just doing what comes to hand first.
Thank you for all the good wishes, they really help. I think you are right, BlueHouseDebs, I will be able to function a little better after the funeral. You sound like your furry friend was lovely and close to you. Evil cat really was evil. The war over the right to sit in the armchair has passed into family legend. The vet's receptionist spoke of her in hushed tones. She was a legend and not in a good way. However she gave awesome cuddles.
Saturday, 1 August 2015
Bear's Day Gets Better
Poor bear was really upset as we cleared father's room in the care home. However he then went to his tutor.
As I have mentioned, bear goes to visit a maths tutor on the strict understanding that he doesn't go beyond his year, beyond what his school has taught him and that it is for fun.
Today the tutor allowed bear to play with non-Newtonian fluids. If you slowly push your hand into a cornflour and water mix then it is liquid, if you hit it, then the mix is solid. Bear and DH explained but I didn't keep up. I found a link on Wikipedia here, but I didn't understand it. The tutor (who is really lovely) then put some dry ice into test tubes, put a cork in and then they went outside to see the test tubes explode. Bear was in heaven.
DH was very impressed as well. When asked to give an example of a solid, bear said, 'sodium'. It just goes to show that YouTube is for more than just cat videos. For those, like me, that stick to cat videos, here is a favourite one of mine. I miss evil cat.
As I have mentioned, bear goes to visit a maths tutor on the strict understanding that he doesn't go beyond his year, beyond what his school has taught him and that it is for fun.
Today the tutor allowed bear to play with non-Newtonian fluids. If you slowly push your hand into a cornflour and water mix then it is liquid, if you hit it, then the mix is solid. Bear and DH explained but I didn't keep up. I found a link on Wikipedia here, but I didn't understand it. The tutor (who is really lovely) then put some dry ice into test tubes, put a cork in and then they went outside to see the test tubes explode. Bear was in heaven.
DH was very impressed as well. When asked to give an example of a solid, bear said, 'sodium'. It just goes to show that YouTube is for more than just cat videos. For those, like me, that stick to cat videos, here is a favourite one of mine. I miss evil cat.
It's A Sign
Thank you to everyone who has given messages of condolence and sympathy. It has really helped and I really appreciate it.
I am still bewildered, and I don't suppose it will go any time soon. As my address is very easily identifiable I am being cagey about the date of the funeral. It is a little while away, though, and I am sure that there will be a lot of people nodding when I say that I feel like I am standing in the middle of a whirling mass of information and stuff to do and I am not taking it all in. It doesn't help that during this I have started moving stuff around in a major way and adding to furniture and getting rid of other stuff because we had started with the free piano before father passed. I swear in this room I can see about two square feet of carpet, the rest is stuff - and it's a big room.
We cleared father's room at the care home this morning. I really broke down in a way I hadn't since Tuesday. DH was a real rock for me, especially as he is hurting as well. The staff were upset as well. They were so lovely with father, and they really miss him. I've come home with some more Christmas cards and two rolls of wrapping paper.
Earlier I pulled a case down from the top of father's wardrobe. That was an adventure. I had to move a lot of things, including the Christian Aid thingy that father had forgotten about, a locked, keyless cash box that has, as far as I can tell by shaking it, nothing inside it. I suppose that is something I need to sort out. I found fifty more Christmas cards there as well. Bluehousedebs suggested that I do a Christmas card give away, in a very tongue in cheek fashion, and I may if I ever get to the stage of being sure I can actually get my act together enough to see it through.
When I opened the case I found decorating stuff. There were lots of paint pads. I have never used a paint pad. To be honest I've only ever used brushes on the tyres. But it's a sign, right? It may be the sort of sign that is actually just nothing at all, but I could pretend it was a sign and that I am meant to start decorating. And before I decorate I have to sort out and clean and even if finding half of B&Q's stock of paint pads is just a coincidence, it's a useful coincidence, right?
I'm off now to try and sort out some more stuff.
I am still bewildered, and I don't suppose it will go any time soon. As my address is very easily identifiable I am being cagey about the date of the funeral. It is a little while away, though, and I am sure that there will be a lot of people nodding when I say that I feel like I am standing in the middle of a whirling mass of information and stuff to do and I am not taking it all in. It doesn't help that during this I have started moving stuff around in a major way and adding to furniture and getting rid of other stuff because we had started with the free piano before father passed. I swear in this room I can see about two square feet of carpet, the rest is stuff - and it's a big room.
We cleared father's room at the care home this morning. I really broke down in a way I hadn't since Tuesday. DH was a real rock for me, especially as he is hurting as well. The staff were upset as well. They were so lovely with father, and they really miss him. I've come home with some more Christmas cards and two rolls of wrapping paper.
Earlier I pulled a case down from the top of father's wardrobe. That was an adventure. I had to move a lot of things, including the Christian Aid thingy that father had forgotten about, a locked, keyless cash box that has, as far as I can tell by shaking it, nothing inside it. I suppose that is something I need to sort out. I found fifty more Christmas cards there as well. Bluehousedebs suggested that I do a Christmas card give away, in a very tongue in cheek fashion, and I may if I ever get to the stage of being sure I can actually get my act together enough to see it through.
When I opened the case I found decorating stuff. There were lots of paint pads. I have never used a paint pad. To be honest I've only ever used brushes on the tyres. But it's a sign, right? It may be the sort of sign that is actually just nothing at all, but I could pretend it was a sign and that I am meant to start decorating. And before I decorate I have to sort out and clean and even if finding half of B&Q's stock of paint pads is just a coincidence, it's a useful coincidence, right?
I'm off now to try and sort out some more stuff.
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