stop feeling guilty, small rant (BENCHLAND)

[JCJ]

Aaaaaaaaaaaargh!! Where's that swearshirt?

Been up since 7:30am as no time was given for electrician. He arrived at 11:30 with a new shower but said it's more likely to be a plumbing issue than the shower (which is what I've thought all along!) He offered to fit the new shower to check but we couldn't turn the water off as the stop tap is k******ed. The fitters did advise us we'd need to replace it soon but didn't say it was already useless! Grrrr!

Electrician is going to tell the boss he needs to send a plumber out. Goodness knows when that will be. We'll have to pay for a new stop tap before they can sort the shower problem out.

Message from D*L, this morning: delay with delivery. Blind will now be delivered "next working day".

Think I'll go back to bed!! 

[katytc]

Aah they have turned out great 😃 GD will love.

What has happened with shower and blind?? Xx

[JCJ]

 

 

 

[JCJ]

Still no blind. Email to say the carriers have it but no delivery time given. Yet. 

Shower will be looked at sometime tomorrow. He's bringing a new one in case ours can't be fixed!! That was the delay, apparently: they were waiting for the shower to arrive.

Loofy's uniform is finished and it's taken me ages and a lot of fiddling but I'm ridiculously proud of the end result, seen below modelled by my bear, who is about the same size....but much too old for school! 😁

Grrrr. It won't let me put the photos in. 👺

[JCJ]

It's been freezing here the last few days. I'd - very carefully - washed my amazing technicolour dressing gown as I thought I wouldn't need it again for a few months. Wrong! Luckily it dried quickly in the wind!

Glad your GS's school is promising and great he gets to know one of his classmates - and YD to make a friend and ally - before he starts.

I emailed, on Wednesday, to ask when I might expect the replacement blind and within 10 minutes had a text message, and email, to say my order had been placed. So much for "I'll arrange a replacement"?! Apparently, it's due to arrive today. By the same carriers who bent the last one! Why am I not overly hopeful?

Still haven't heard anything from the shower guy so I'm about to ring them again. I'll try not to wear the swearshirt but it feels like I've been waiting for this bathroom forever!! 😡

Tiny trousers made and I'm battling with the polo shirt. It's a bit of a bodge but I have to keep reminding myself of GD saying, "She's only four! You should see the c*** she brings home from nursery!!" every time I get perfectionist about things I make for her. 😁

Right. Gathering my polite but firm. Gritting my teeth. Time to make that phone call. 

[katytc]

You can wear your swearshirt when you play with the sparklers JCJ haha 😂😂

Hope someone has sorted your shower and your blind has arrived, arrgh.

My goodness where did the sunshine disappear to? None here for last 2 days...

YD went to GS's new school yesterday and he will have 6 in his class, she was chatting to another mum and they are going to meet up in the summer holidays. She was impressed and said it was everything she could wish for for GS. 🥰

Hayfever is awful and ended up with a migraine yesterday arrgh. Taken hayfever tab early this morning so it doesn't happen again.

Quiet day today, no plans at all hurrah xx

[JCJ]

Glad you got back OK... with a bonus chippy supper as well! 😁

Visiting and travelling are always tiring so try not to get on your own nerves too much! 😜

Just phoned the bathroom people and it's lucky we did have the shower replaced - by them - a couple of months ago because he said, "You kept your existing shower and old showers don't like being moved." (I'm paraphrasing to abbreviate a long lecture!) When I pointed out that they installed the new shower, 2 months ago, he was immediately: "No problem. I'll get someone out to you. Our electrician or a plumber will ring you, probably tomorrow."

No news about the blind. Yesterday was a bank holiday so I'll see if they contact me today. If not, I'll chase it up. Grrr! Why is life never simple?

I've made the tiny school uniform sweatshirt (lol spellchecker changed that to swearshirt.... Moi?!) Now to tackle the trousers and figure out how to make a minute polo shirt! 

[katytc]

Journey was fine, thank goodness, bus only stopped once so ended up half an hour longer than by train.

You are right scenery is beautiful.

Thank you for dinner woo hoo, did a bypass by the chippie so was well fed haha.

That is annoying about shower, hopefully you will get someone out soon. Any word about blind?

Six years? my goodness, really where does the time go? Iron card very funny, made me laugh.

Went out for lunch, was really lovely.

Weather has been beautiful again today.

Still tired, getting on my nerves now grrrrrrrrrr. xx

[JCJ]

Hope you got back OK and aren't still sitting on a bus in the back end of nowhere, Katy. 🤞🏼I bet the scenery is a darn site better up there than from my last rail replacement bus journey - although you probably take it for granted! 😃

Dinner tonight is lamb steak, roasties, roasted beetroot, mini corn cobs, mange tout, carrots, cabbage, Yorkshire pudding, gravy and mint sauce followed by apple strudel (supermarket finest) and ice cream. Enjoy.

Girls' 6th Wedding anniversary today.. 6 years?! Where did that go? It's iron, apparently, so I sent them a photo of a steam iron with my "Happy Anniversary!" message, this morning. 😂 A friend had GD for the day so they could go out for lunch to celebrate. 

Shower stopped working yesterday. 🙄 Low pressure warning light. It will only come on if I turn it to cold and then stay on when I turn the temperature dial, but it's not right. I'll have to phone on Tuesday to get them to come and fix it. Thank goodness they had to replace it: they can't blame the shower!! 

Right. Must stop procrastinating and attempt to turn these charity shop t-shirts into Loofy's new school uniform, or GD will be starting school and I'll still be thinking about it!

[katytc]

No don't feel guilty you have given them lots of time volunteering...do to your own thing 😄

Sewing, knitting, swimming etc, oh my maybe even quilt making? That would be fab everyone would receive one for Xmas or birthdays haha.

Still at YD'S would have stayed till tomorrow but have lunch out Mon. Checked times of trains and there are buses instead arrgh going to take ages to get home😡

Checked all other ways and they are just as bad....an hour journey taking 2 hours.

Weather lovely today.

Am hoping for a dinner in the shed tonight please.

How annoying about your blind would have just been too sensible to arrive same time as pick up xx

[JCJ]

PS forgot to say: You packed already, Katy? I thought you weren't going until July?!! 

[JCJ]

Blind collected yesterday. No new one delivered. I know it got back to them because the tracking information says it was signed for this morning but I've heard nothing. Just checked my emails and they definitely said they would organise a replacement. It's (yet another) Bank Holiday on Monday so I'll contact them next week if I don't hear anything by Tuesday. Another week avoiding showering with the light on; the frosted glass is not terribly effective 🤭

New bog bush arrived. It's so posh in there now it doesn't feel like our house!! And I'm loving the fact that the toilet works properly!!

Knitting was good. The last one in our temporary accommodation as the library renovations are finished and it's moving back into the usual premises. The move means there won't be any groups for the whole of June 😕 but one of the knitters has invited us to her flat, which is quite close to the temporary location, for one of the weeks we'll miss. We're hoping the weather will be nice enough to sit in her garden.... or it'll be a bit of a squeeze! Taking each other's eyes out with our knitting needles?! 😁

Another knitter gave me the phone number of the woman who runs the sewing group and I rang her today. Next meeting is 13th June (they're only once a month) and it's a special one: a talk by her sister who is a world renowned maker of quilts! She seems very friendly and welcoming so I'm looking forward to it.

I told school I probably won't be going next year but that I'd be happy to train someone up to take over and I'd definitely set it all up for the new school year: quite a big task. They seemed genuinely sorry I was leaving and I felt guilty, especially as several people had little jobs they needed me to do, this time, after so many weeks when I felt almost redundant! 🙄 Executive HT (Head of both our and our sister school, who isn't usually there on a Tuesday; I usually liaise with the Associate HT who is always there) asked me for my email address, (now I no longer have my school one!) so she could contact me if necessary! Perhaps I'll keep my options open and go once a month or something. I'll see how I feel in September.

Summer has arrived here this week. Even getting my sandals out and putting my boots away hasn't deterred it! 🌞😄 The garden is going berserk. Going to have to do some serious wilderness taming this weekend!! 

[katytc]

Aaaaah that's such a shame, so very annoying.

Hopefully you will receive new one when they pick up broken one😀, that would be sensible.

Posh bathroom indeed, in less than a week decorated and only waiting for the blind, fabulous.

Are you still giving up school?

Did you enjoy your knitting club?

Managed to go into town today and came home not exhausted, hurrah. Am hoping that's it.

It was warm when I left home and as I wandered it got hotter and hotter, had a jumper on arrrgh haha. Face was a little red by the time I walked up the road😳 xx

[JCJ]

Grrrrr! New blind arrived just before I left to go to school. I was all excited to install it when I got home so the bathroom would finally be finished. Dashed home, impatiently imbibed  a much needed mugatea, and went to unveil the blind. As I tipped it out of the - rather bent - packaging, the bottom plastic strip was in 2 pieces! On further inspection, I discovered that the main roller bar was bent and squashed in the middle and the fabric badly creased. Someone has seriously mistreated it in transit. Half an hour negotiating their website later, and emailing photos, I have arranged for it to be collected on Thursday and a replacement sent.... presumably after they receive this one back. Harrumph! 😡 More waiting. I asked if I could take it to my nearest store to exchange it, to be quicker, but was told I'd only be able to have a refund as this blind is not eligible for click and collect and probably won't be in stock. It's 6ft long anyway, and I don't know if it would fit in my car without damaging it!

On the plus side, when it does eventually arrive, I think it will look great - providing I don't bodge the installation!!

New bog brush also ordered, from Mr Futon, today, as our (very) old one suddenly looks really naff in the swanky new room. 😄

[JCJ]

Finished now.... unless the woodwork needs a 2nd coat, but hopefully it won't. We've also got to fit the blind, after cutting it to size, when it arrives in the next day or so. 

The job was much bigger than I anticipated but I'm reasonably pleased with the results (as long as I don't look at the medicine cabinet whilst showering!!) You were right, Katy, 2nd coat on the ceiling and walls was so much easier!

Took a break from the decorating, today, to go swimming. I took it gently and didn't try to swim the mile: saved some energy for painting the skirting board and door fame this evening. On the K bench again now though.

Had a horrible dream last night. I dreamt I went into school to volunteer in the library and was told I was teaching Year 6. Permanently. Back on the payroll! Horrific. Where did THAT come from? (Probably all those times, over the years, that I discovered, at the last minute, I was covering classes.) Makes me anxious about going in tomorrow. 🤔

Rhubarb crumble and cinnamon apple cake in the shed, (we were given the rhubarb but I don't like it so I made 2 puddings! 😁) along with roast chicken dinner. 

[katytc]

Are you finished??

Think that is a wonderful job you are managing because it looked really difficult, fingers crossed 2nd coat is so much easier. First coat is always the worst........

Still quiet but def not nodding off all the time haha, coffee cake is most welcome.

Monday is usually a day I nip into town but so can't be bothered so not going.

Did ironing over the weekend, suitcase half packed and everything hung up and ready to pack nearer the time.

Am going to YD's later this week, wanted to be properly ok, seems like ages since I've seen them.

 Iced ginger cake in the shed xx

[JCJ]

Glad the tiredness is gradually abating, Katy. Rest when you need to. 

I'm on the Absolutely K******* bench. Spent most of Thursday fiddling about with lining paper, filler, sealant etc, prepping the bathroom for painting. I didn't do anything in there yesterday because I needed to recover and also I had knitting at 2pm and didn't want to rush the painting. That was an excellent decision because, today, I've spent ALL DAY doing the first coat: a job I thought would take 2 or 3 hours! It may be a small room, but there's SO much cutting in to do round all the sockets, towel rail, window, light fitting etc (thank goodness I'm doing the ceiling and walls the same!!)  So fiddly! The flexible, long handled, mini roller worked a treat behind the towel rail (no splashes!) and in various other spots too small for the big roller. The bathroom cabinet (that I insisted on keeping: ES made it and it's a perfect medicine cabinet) has been a proper pain in the proverbial. There's a 2cm gap between it and the (fixed) shower screen: too big to leave as it's very visible from inside the shower but a nightmare to paint without getting paint on the glass screen, as the cabinet is about a foot deep. I had to use a long handled paintbrush - like the kids use in school - and bodge it. The cupboard was also painted to match the wall, so I've had to try to paint the shower side of it - not very successfully. Going to have to avoid looking at in when I'm showering!! 🙈

First coat is all done. I'll probably have a day off from it tomorrow and try to finish on Monday, before swimming!! I'm hoping the 2nd coat won't be quite so onerous..... famous last words?!

I've ordered a navy bath mat and roller blind, which will tie in the grey and white with our blue towels, hopefully. The blind will need cutting to size: apparently a simple job... 🤞🏼

Tea and coffee cake in the garden while I try to recover. 

[katytc]

You have a plan, woo hoo. So much easier when you know what's what.

ED changed her screen to a dark one so not noticeable water marks, she has three children though...........

Am on the not falling asleep after doing anything bench, thank goodness, still tired but def getting better.

Appointment lasted 5 mins haha, just a review about lido and if I needed to ask anything so all good.

GS was at dental hospital today, he has sensitivity around mouth so extremely difficult to get him to brush his teeth, have ended up with a finger brush and toothpaste that has no taste so YD has been trying everything, she has been so worried about his teeth. Today dentist said all was good with teeth and they would start him on a course of stuff that would counteract against him not brushing. Whew thank goodness. He has beautiful white teeth but always a worry, daughter is so relieved.

Still keeping quiet xx

[JCJ]

Hope the pain clinic appointment was helpful, Katy. 

Dinner tonight is one of my favourites: sausage, egg and chips with frozen mixed veg. Yum. Oven chips because a) I'm not very good with the fryer b) they're slightly less fatty (and I'm still not able to eat too much fat 😒) but mainly c) I CBA.

Went into school today. Apparently, I made a good choice not to be there when the big cheeses were in because the man I can't stand was in a foul mood all day. Dodged a bullet there! Definitely think I shan't bother going next year: I feel less and less part of the team anymore. Time to move on. 

I have a cunning plan for the decorating. I've managed to remove the small section of damaged lining paper + paint and will replace the lining paper (will have to Google that!) before repainting. As I'll have to buy lining paper, I'm going to use some to cover up all the mess and mayhem behind the towel rail, then I can just paint over it - using one of those teeny rollers on a long handle. Should work and it'll be behind the towels so hopefully it won't be too visible 🤞🏼 I plan to shop for paint tomorrow and get cracking on Thursday while OH is out of the way. He's announced that he wants to walk to and from the library so, if he does, that will give me more time.

Discovered the delights of the shower seat this evening. Excellent for shaving one's legs!! It's also quite comfy so it's VERY tempting to just sit there under the spray. 😊 This makes up for the fact that it is so big and ugly and is extremely visible behind the clear glass screen 😒. The chrome grab rail and corner basket show the water marks horribly so I'll have to keep a cloth there to wipe them, along with the squeegee for the glass. So much for this bathroom being easier to keep clean? 🤔

[katytc]

Oh my goodness, dinner was fabulous, you have surpassed yourself😄

Will take a while to get used to change, good luck with decorating, sounds as though it will be difficult.

Don't fancy a brrrrr blast haha.

Still keeping quiet, am so tired no other symptoms now so hopefully will be over it all soon.

Have a phone appointment with pain clinic today, will take around 15-30 mins, arrgh so cannot be bothered.

Terrible I know but..........xx

[JCJ]

First shower today as the sealant needed at least 48 hours to set. Now the initial excitement has worn off, I'm having to get used to it. There are little niggles. I'm not very good with change, but we'll soon forget what it was before. Part of the problem is that the wait has been sooo long and I've built it up too much in my mind - it was never going to live up to that!!

OH not happy with his douche: we thought it was going to be fitted so it's warm, but it's cold. I've tried it and it's not that bad - but tricky to use without spraying water everywhere!! I'll probably have to phone them tomorrow to enquire. Grrr.

The painting will be a pain because the towel rail is fixed and there's rawl plugs, old wallpaper and stuff to get out from behind.... not to mention getting a paintbrush in! There are other painting issues I'm not sure how to deal with but I'll give it some thought and will get there eventually. Probably going to get white paint so I can do the ceiling and walls (1 1/2 walls and some small bits) without having to faff about cutting in. I need to investigate whether I can get the blind off, to replace it, myself. I've seen the one I want, if it will fit. 

Dinner is roast lamb etc followed by shortbread biscuits (thank you getaway house host!) raspberries, ice cream, raspberry sorbet and chocolate sauce.

I'm trying to get some tidying done in the garden — it's gone completely mad while we've been away — but it's sunny and warm today (of course, now we're back home 🙄) so I keep having to retreat to the shady bench.

There is a coffee cake, ready to make use of the warm oven when the meat comes out. 

[katytc]

hurrah for glorious new bathroom. 

How many times have you had a shower?? haha 😂

Is OH pleased too?

Will you look for paint and blind next week? So exciting.

No carpet woo hoo.

Have been quiet feeling much better, still tired but that's ok.

Did go along to see ED yesterday, it was a beautiful day, not beautiful today though, back to dull and grey. Mmmm

Am hoping there will be a dinner in the shed tonight???

Still on the CBA bench till further notice xx

[JCJ]

At home. Briefly. The fitters called me to come and say where to put the grab rail and shower basket. They'll be finished in about an hour so I'm having a coffee and waiting to pay them and take the keys back.

It looks a.maz.ing! 👌 Can't believe it's our bathroom!! They have even improved on the original design 😍

Kitchen tap replaced and they've even fixed the strange flooding problem we had every time the water was turned off. So impressed!

It feels a bit weird - like I'm a guest in my own house. 😂

Excited to choose some paint now. That's next week's project.

[JCJ]

OH had his appointment at 2pm yesterday. 25 minutes later he came out minus the offending tooth, the removal of which his dentist has been recommending for at least 2 years! He's had to chew carefully (making him eat EVEN slower!) and take regular paracetamol but I think the worst is over.

We might have dinner in the nearby pub, tomorrow evening, if his mouth is sufficiently healed. 🤞

No calls from the fitters today so I assume everything is going to plan. I had to resist the temptation to call in at the house on the way back from the dentist, yesterday, to check progress.

Apparently, they need us there to say exactly where we want the grab rail in the shower so I expect we'll get a call tomorrow. They usually finish by 2pm on Thursday, allowing Friday as a contingency if problems arise but, as they didn't start ours until Tuesday, it may take until Friday? Maybe not as there's no tiling involved. Who knows? We'll have to wait and see. Nervous and excited.

Holiday is OK. Weather has been disappointing but I've managed to sit in the garden with my knitting, between the showers, and had a walk every day without getting more than dripped on. Today, we needed milk so I used Google maps to find the nearest shop - 1.7 miles away apparently- and walked there along quiet country lanes I've never been on before. I realised it didn't feel like we are just 20 minutes from home: we could be anywhere! Perhaps there is no point in journeying far afield - except to see the sea?! 

It was, therefore, an hilarious surprise to see, outside the shop, a sign advertising our favourite bread from a little local bakery (almost next door to the first school I worked at!!) which we regularly buy in our local village and/or farm shop. A reminder of how close to home we really are. 😀

I got the milk, treated myself to a magnum (ice cream - not a gun or large glass of plonk! 🤣) and walked back, nervously eyeing the massive, threatening black clouds. 2 minutes after I got back in the house it p***ed it down, only for a few minutes but I was glad I wasn't out in it! 😊 

[katytc]

What a nightmare, did OH eventually have his appointment?

Have you enjoyed your stay away? Did you manage to have some eat out days?

Will it be finished tomorrow? Bet you are really excited..........

Had to go into town, didn't talk to anyone, in and out in around half an hour, came back home, settled on sofa and again fell sound asleep. Am just so tired arrgh.

Lovely day yesterday, sun shining, torrential downpours today, missed all of them hurrah. xx

[JCJ]

PS took "before" pictures, Katy, but will have to wait for "after" ones! 😄 Will probably take "in between" ones, when the fitters have gone but I still need to paint and replace the blind.

[JCJ]

Glad you're recovering. Take it steady. Stay settled on that CBA bench. 🙂

Bathroom fitter rang at 8:45 this morning (woke me up ☺) to say they were starting and to clarify something (I suspect it didn't really need clarifying: he was just wanted to let me know they were in).

OH had a dentist appointment at 12:40pm today - brought forward from check up on 2nd June because he's got a problem. Google maps said the journey would be 15 minutes so I allowed over half an hour. Absolute mare of a traffic jam. Took over an hour! Missed appointment but they've given him another at 2pm. Now sat in the car outside (on double yellow- thank you Blue Badge!!) in a dramatic thunderstorm and pelting rain. Holidays?! 😂

I nipped to a supermarket - just in time before the storm started - to get sandwiches for bith of us; a toothbrush and toothpaste ‐ but he'll probably wait until after to eat and a cup of tea for me.

It's so hot and steamy in the car but can't open any windows. 🥵

[katytc]

Work underway JCJ?? Hurrah

Did you take before and after pics?

Are you enjoying staying away?

Starting to pick up, slowly but surely, think it may be covid???

Shouldn't really have felt soooooo bad.

Sunshine here today, still cold but wonderful not to look at grey skies.

Still hanging around the CBA bench.............xx

[JCJ]

Take it easy, Katy. Hope lido works well and makes up for the horrid day.

We're not in getaway place yet. Only 20 to 30 minutes away and can't check in until after 3pm. All packed and tidied up ready to go. Bathroom and kitchen cleaned (they're replacing the dripping kitchen tap while they're here - hurrah!) tea, coffee, sugar, mugs and biscuits left out for the fitters.

Dinner tonight is roast chicken: I froze some, in gravy, the other week.  I'll cook some spuds and veggies to go with it. Also have homemade jam sponge pudding - saved in freezer ‐ and pots of custard. Sunday dinner but with minimal effort. Win. Win.

We might eat out as, apparently, there's a good pub nearby, but I've taken enough simple "Holiday cooking" stuff (eg pasta, sauces, rice) and some bits from the freezer (pies, sausages etc) for all the meals that we are away. There's no nearby shop to walk to and I'm d***ed if I'm driving to a supermarket I use from home!! We can bring back what we don't use.

When the final details for the "cottage" came through, I realised the house is on a new development (as I guessed from the photo) on the site of a garden centre that we used to like to frequent!! Not quite where I thought it was, but it's fine. It has a bathroom 2 bedroons and a garden that's all I care about! 😁

Just about to use the inefficient toilet for the very last time. 🎉 And take some "before" photos. 😁

[katytc]

Are you in getaway place now JCJ?

What will happen for dinner tonight?? will you be eating out for next few days? Hope so, no cooking woo hoo.

Me oh my, had worst ever day on Fri, felt really awful, managed to sleep in hospital and at home, ended up very early bed time arrgh. Headaches, sickness and complete tiredness. Better today just still tired.........

So have been up to nothing exciting at all haha xx

[JCJ]

Hope you like your new trainers. There's a particular make of walking trainer (K*******r: sounds like you've got extra stuff in your bag) that I always buy - I've had at leat 5 pairs now, replacing them as the previous ones wear out. DIL always buys the exact same ones... by complete coincidence.... in the same size so we have to be careful whenever we're in the same house! 😁 They're the only trainers I've found that comfortably accommodate my widish feet and stupidly short toes.

Bathroom company rang yesterday and took the 2nd - largest - payment. Final payment goes to the fitters on completion. I agreed to drop the keys off at their showroom, on Friday, because it's quite near K&N, but promised to try to be back at the house by 8am (ouch!), on Monday, to meet the fitters and talk through the plans. However, had a phone call this morning and one of the fitters came to sort everything out and take the keys. They won't start 'til Tuesday because of the Bank Holiday (so I didn't need to book the extra "holiday cottage" night 🙄) but still expect to finish Thursday afternoon or Friday. I've told them we're only 20 minutes away and I can pop back if necessary and he's promised to "Keep me in the loop" and ask before doing anything not already discussed. So far so good.

It's been a long wait but it will soon be done. Apparently, they are fully booked for the rest of the year!! I shall have to paint the wall and replace the skanky roller blind but I can't choose colours until I see the rest, although I have spotted a navy linen effect blind that I THINK will go nicely - and fit the existing bracket. 🤞🏼

Not heard any reason for the air ambulance or police helicopter.... but, to be fair, I've not tried to find out! 

[katytc]

Haha fitbit eat more...........you can walk it off by rocking hee hee.

Did you find out what was happening?

No responsibilty, how good does that feel?

Golly gosh not long now JCJ till that new shiny bathroom appears.

Went to bed early last night and couldn't sleep, body tired but brain not arrgh, so annoying. 

It's freezing cold here, brrrrrrrrrrr.

Was passing small shop last week and saw a pair of trainers I thought looked lovely, remembered name and had a search online, roughly same price as shop, one was a little cheaper. Thought I will try on to see if I like and if they are comfy would buy, so tried on yesterday they are comfy, woo hoo.  Decided to buy and at cash desk lady said there was a 20% reduction due to the coronation, win, win.

First pair I have bought for a hundred years, never wear trainers haha xx

[JCJ]

Horseradish and mustard - all varieties - always available in the shed fridge. 

Ooh! The air ambulance has just flown over really low. (I'm outside in the garden) Somebody's day hasn't gone to plan!

Not going to school today because a chance remark by an ex-colleague, last week, warned me that they're having a full day of inspection, today, by the Academy big cheeses. Horrid memories of last time that happened, when it destroyed all the staff. As much as I want to support them, I'm not putting myself anywhere near that level of stress if I don't have to. Also, now I'm no longer on the payroll, I might be tempted to tell one of those big cheeses EXACTLY what I think of him!! 🤬

However, I'm so bored this morning I even cleaned the fridge - for the first time in goodness knows how long! I noticed the other day that the shelves looked like they might soon walk away by themselves! Though there was no ancient food in there: I'm not THAT much of a slut 🤭

Good grief! It's like Heathrow here today: police helicopter and two old biplanes just flown over. Perhaps there's an air show somewhere.

YD bought me a fitbit (other...) for my birthday because I've been trying to do 5000+ steps every day and I was moaning about the step counter app on my phone not registering my exertions eg: telling me I'd done zero steps when I was in an exhausted puddle having spent  2 hours cutting the hedge! This device is the opposite: it claimed I'd done 50 steps when I was just sat knitting.... admittedly in a rocking chair, but even so...?! I'm in danger of being LESS active: "unfit bit“? Lol. No wonder they suggest 10,000 steps. Now where's the rest of that BF gateaux? 😁

[katytc]

Oooh roast beef and birthday cake woo hoo, thank you! Horseradish too?

We are off to Bulgaria again end of June, did like it, so am quite excited. Will be at totally different end from where we were before. Remember I decided to go for a walk on my own last year and was completely lost, arrgh sense of direction is appalling..........

How exciting new bathroom very soon, I would def have to clean haha, even though it's all being thrown out, silly but that's me. Washed the boiler, that went in the bin too.

New coat and dresses came, like them all. Can wear coat because it's still so very cold, brrr. Am fed up now.

Hardly any snow or frost but it's damp and cold every day.

Lido on Fri this time which is good because can suit myself over the weekend no GC, haha.

Usually nip into town on Mon and Fri, couldn't be bothered yesterday and can't go on Fri, so will have to go in tomorrow. As you walk down our old High St 38 shops have closed, unbelievable really, who would have thought?? xx

[JCJ]

When and where is the posh place, Katy? I'll warn them that you are coming so they can put away their breakables! 😜 No, seriously, hope you are happy with the decision and have a fab holiday.

It must be such a relief that ED's results showed nothing sinister. I hope the original dx can be treated effectively with minimum SEs.

I've been half-a**ed with the bathroom cleaning, for months, because this time next week it will all be in a skip but I know what will happen: it will get to the weekend and I'll be ashamed and clean thoroughly before the fitters come to rip it all out. 😂

Roast beef dinner and black forest gateau in shed- OH's birthday cake. You're welcome.

[katytc]

Oh how that post made me laugh, (still does) so clever!!

It was Norberte JCJ.

We have finally made the decision, posh one it is........all booked today, it has more to offer therefore better for GS.

Went along to see ED and family, they have been doing lots of pressure washing patio etc, it's amazing the difference.

Blood tests all came back fine, whew so it is all to do with original diagnosis.

Weather has been yuck, damp and cold brrrr. xx

[JCJ]

Whilst looking for something else, on my computer (which I rarely turn on these days!) I found this explanation of Benchland by a former member, whose name, unfortunately, escapes me, that I saved for future reference, years ago. It made me laugh. Again. so I thought I'd share it in memory of those no longer with us. 

ok, so just to recap the benches:
to your right as you come in you'll find the guilty bench - it's small, & there's a queue so when you're sitting on it you can feel guilty about that too
to your left is the long ****ing furious bench - it's become a circular bench (with a nice easy gap entrance for those of us who can't clamber) but there's always plenty of room, & it's the powerhouse for the whole bench area, in producing steam which somehow gets turned into energy
the straight ahead we have the we're-all-equal bench - as you'll see it's conveniently near the guilty bench so people can hop across from one to the other any time they feel like they should / shouldn't be moanin’ as much / little as they are, because compared to other people they have/haven't got it better / worse
then just behind the large circular ****ing furious bench you'll find the fat b******s bench - reinforced, obviously - which is conveniently close to the it's-my-fault-I-got-cancer bench (queue there as well, sorry, we're working on making that one bigger)
then over to your right behind the guilty bench you'll find the is-it-me? bench - for when we've been shafted by the nhs getting it wrong & somehow always manage to come out thinking it's our fault or we're completely mad
conveniently near that one is the sad bench - it does what it says on the tin
& next to that we have the my-oh's-a-b****** bench, some of us will nip on & off that one but if anyone gets glued to it there's a divorce / run away crane available
& now I feel guilty that I've probably forgotten a vital one - don't worry, I'm typing this in the queue for the guilty bench - but I can confirm that each bench has tissues a tissue bin, chocolate, alcohol, wet wipes & a magic box with anything else you might need in it (meat cleaver, pin doll, photo albums ....)
hope having a map clarifies things nicely - you'll notice that large empty area to your far left where there's room for growth, & electric scooters / buggies are available for travelling around the site
please note that us disabled people can't jump the queue for the guilty bench - that'd be depriving others of something else to feel guilty about, which isn't fair play

That "large empty area" certainly got used for extra benches over the years?! 🙂

[JCJ]

Smiling to myself remembering GIJ and RevCat responding - quite forcefully - to those pestering Bible bashers on Norecambe prom at MMU1 🤭

Happy memories created in an otherwise scary time. Thank you, as always, to BCN (or BCC as it was) for enabling this fabulous lifeline. Hugs to everyone who needs them. x

[katytc]

Aaaah so many memories and laughter, who can forget the Doc Martins and Jane's antics in the cave?

Tiara, ballgown and flashing light shoes all on and glitterberry juice at the ready.

Rest in peace dear Jane, you will be very sadly missed xx

[JCJ]

Sitting on the quiet bench, in my ballgown, doc martens and tiara, shedding a tear and remembering CanonJane - formerly GIJane - and all our laughs in Benchland. I shall take a wander in the Dark, Dark Woods, later, and have a glass of something in the Jolly Merkin to celebrate her kind, caring and frequently hilarious contributions to these mad threads. Thank you Jane. RIP. 😢

[JCJ]

Outdoor reared pork chops, roasties, smashed roots, cabbage, peas, apple sauce, stuffing and gravy followed by jam sponge and custard. All in the shed. Help yourselves. xx

[JCJ]

Mini fish, small chips and mushy peas please. 😁

If you dither long enough, the decision might be made for you because one.... or both!.... might be fully booked. 😛

Bathroom work starts Mon 8th May, due for completion Thursday 11th or Friday 12th. We'll be back home lunchtime on the Friday but I'll pop back to inspect the finished article, and pay the fitters, whenever they let me know it's done.

OH coming out with some bizarre questions/statements lately. I'm convinced his mind is going. Not sure how to approach this without upsetting him. I'm going to have to try to mention it to his PD consultant at his next appointment - in December, I think.

The girls are having a bit of a mare with GD. She has point-blank refused to co-operate with the audiologist or dentist this week - appointments had to be rescheduled - and wouldn't get in the pool for her first swimming lesson! I'm trying to be supportive and uncritical (whilst privately wondering who rules that roost!!)

Lucky coincidence this week: somebody offered a load of wool oddments on Freecycle.org, on Friday. I've had a bagful before and I knew one of the Knit & Natter ladies mentioned she sometimes gives spare wool away through FC. When I collected the last lot, I didn't meet the donor because I picked it up from her front gate. The offerer, this time, had the same name as the K&N person so I replied to the post suggesting, if it was the same C***l, she could bring it to K&N that afternoon. Then I worried that that was rather presumptive of me and might make things awkward. However, I needn't have stressed. She arrived with a huge carrier bag full of lovely wool, and a big smile!! She was actually wearing a cardigan she had knitted and I recognised the wool because the leftovers were in the last batch of free wool I acquired. I showed her a photo of the baby cardy and hat I'd knitted out of it and sold (Mr Futon) for charity!! 😂

I have joined U3a because K&N has been such a success, I'm hoping to join a sewing group (only monthly, unfortunately) and possibly a walking group (ditto) that some of the other knitters go to. I need to get out more and meet people other than OH.... for my own sanity!! 

Weather wet and grey again today. We've had some sunny spells but the wind has been quite chilly. 

[katytc]

Still dithering.....

Cold here today brrr just dull and damp yuck.

Catching train later this afternoon then am sure will have to take a long cut home past chippie so orders can be taken now.

Am on the bad behaviour bench, on phone and advert is shown a sale, so thought I would have a look surprise a winter coat reduced hugely could i resist ?? No I couldn't....prob still be able to wear now anyway haha.

Ordered 4 dresses, swimsuit and beach towel for forthcoming holiday wherever that is....

So card will be hidden ufn xx

[katytc]

Sounds glorious, you will be a happy bunny when its all done......who will be first in the shower?? haha

Gosh it's wonderful you will be nowhere near until it's all over. When will it be completed?

Did sleep well last night so that was very good.

Today GD and moi walked along to the bank, it's a lovely walk as GD can climb on lots of walls all the way along. On the way back she started rubbing her eyes, looked at her and couldn't believe it she was full of an allergic reaction, hayfever. Came on so suddenly luckily had some hayfever stuff at home. There are lots of trees and bushes so am assuming that caused it. Was just the speed of it all.....

No decision yet, hopefully we will decide over the weekend and then will book on Mon.

Posh one is best just so many things that will suit us all but we feel same as you JCJ that's why we are dithering haha. xx

[JCJ]

There you were, Katy, wearing 40 fleeces and 14 blankets and still feeling cold and all along it was your kn******* boiler and not you! 🤣 Hurrah for a decent boiler and a warm home! 👏🏻

Whole bathroom is going. Bath will be replaced with a walk in shower with seat and grab rail. Toilet and sink being replaced- the latter will have a cupboard underneath. Radiator will be taken out and a towel rail, running off both heating and electric, installed. New posh thermal floor tiles that are waterproof: no more disgusting, manky carpet (his aim is rubbish and combined with the tremor.......🤢). Huge expense but hopefully it will be worth it. I would be excited but everything is just so stressful with him!!

Have you decided which holiday to go for yet? Both sound good. I'd never be comfortable in a posh place, though: too worried we'd upset people who expect 5* customers; too used to slumming it in a field?☺

[katytc]

Def great plan JCJ, you are away from everything, hopefully OH will be relieved too, less angst all round.

Are you having whole bathroom done? New bath too??

Tiara makes a huge difference regarding youthful appearance, wear mine all the time hahaha.

Had a looooooooong day today, went up in taxi, had bloods taken, no problem, it was a lovely day so I thought I would walk down the road and if a bus passed would hop on it. No bus so just kept walking, nipped into a couple of shops on the way down. Returned home and had something to eat, was starving as had to fast arrrgh.  Was so tired but also had to go into town didn't have a choice..........came home again, put stuff away, lay down on sofa and fell sound asleep, woke up around 5 pm, NO!!!!

Probably won't sleep tonight haha.

Placements are also extremely difficult to obtain here too, so it's just wonderful for him, YD has been on tenterhooks for the last two months. She had been told there was a high probability that he would be accepted but until it's confirmed, you can't really relax. We are all very, very happy.

Still on the holiday search, we have narrowed it down to two, the one we went to last year and a 5 star hotel, we are dithering because we did like last years choice, the posh one has everything we need but will it be too posh???? haha. We are going to mull it over this weekend.

Heating is on, it's cold tonight and it's roastie toastie hurrah. Big difference so boiler must have really been on it's last legs. xx

[JCJ]

Although it's still 3 weeks away, I've been stressing about what time the bathroom fitters will start and whether we can get out of their way in time (OH is literally incapable of rushing!) and where we will go until we can access our rental place at 3pm. I have just contacted the owner and booked the Sunday night too. An extra £70 but worth it for the peace of mind. Hopefully, I can persuade him to go there on the Sunday and I'll pop back to let the fitters in. That way I shall minimise his anxiety..... and keep him from upsetting the workmen? 😜 Cunning b**ch? Moi? 

[JCJ]

Knitted bike 😂🤣

Great news little GS has got a place in a specialist school: they're like gold dust here! How brilliant it is that he got such an early diagnosis and can get help right from the start of school. It will make a huge difference. Also great that he has a place at the local school so he can transfer if and when he's ready. Win. Win.

I've just been into school. They have appointed a new TA and I recognised her, unusual, name. Spoke to her today and she was a child in the same Y3/4 class as a girl I supported, in my previous school, years and years ago. She told me I looked amazing (must have been the ballgown and tiara?), which I'll happily take, even if the subtext was: "for someone so ancient" 🤔😁

Didn't stay long at school because I dropped OH off in our local town and he's going to stay there and go to the chippy for dinner so I've come home to enjoy the peace. I'll have my favourite go to dinner, when I'm on my own: oven chips, egg and mushy peas. Minimum effort. Yum. 

[katytc]

Love the idea of matching uniform, woo hoo, what about a knitted bike too??

Congratulations for being accepted to preferred school little GD🥰

My GD will be off to school too and I keep saying what will Nannie do without you, you're such a great helper?? Then we list all the things she helps me with, I say what will I do?? She says seriously you'll just have to do it yourself, I laughed so much🤣🤣 that's my GD straight to the point.

GS has been accepted for 2 schools, his nearby school and the school that is for ASD, YD was over the moon this morning when informed.

He will attend ASD school until ready to attend his nearby school. They specialise in communication. Lot further from home but well worth it. 

New boiler is fitted and working beautifully, hurrah. Was exhausted yesterday after lunch and tidying up after guy had gone, went to bed early and couldn't sleep arrrgh, so annoying body was tired but brain was still spinning.

Lunch was ok, have had better, dessert was best part haha. Xx

[JCJ]

Hope new boiler is the business. I'm stunned you didn't have to have it fixed a million times.... like the washing machine. 😜

Also hope lunch was good. 

OH decided he didn't want to go swimming today so I went for a walk instead, after collecting the rest of his prescription, that wasn't there on Friday (having sent the online repeat request off the previous Saturday to allow for BH! Honestly, they get worse! ☹️) Not the fault of the pharmacy: they were rushed off their feet on Friday with a huge queue (for a tiny shop) and a constantly ringing phone. It was empty today, thank goodness. I seem to spend half my life in there, lately, as the last 4 months have taken more than one trip.

Jubilation in YD's household today. They received confirmation that GD has been accepted at their first choice school. Hurrah! It's not the nearest school (which they didn't like because the HT wrote to them as Mr and Mrs S****** — twice!!) but is only about a 20 minute walk away. 

GD pedalled her bike for the first time on Saturday and, today, rode all the way to T***o - over a mile from their house, so D-I-L said GD will be able to ride her bike to school in September. 😁

I googled (other...) the school. It looks lovely. I have screen shot the uniform and school logo because I'm going to make a tiny matching uniform for her teddy. Daft Nana. 😊