Come and tell me your dull and unexciting news 6: Calmly through the day

[MissConductUS]

I've started a new one. Please join us and share the boring and mundane things happening in your world. It will be calming for all.

I have been buzzing around like a blue-arsed fly all morning. I have done three loads of washing, had a shower (this wouldn’t count as a job except for the fact that DS insisted on getting in as well...), trimmed DS’s nails, cleaned the work surfaces and the hob, cleaned the ash out of the wood burner, cleaned the glass in the door and polished the hearth, dusted, hoovered, mopped the kitchen floor, cleaned up after ddog in the garden, polished DS’s school shoes, and baked an apple cake.

I am now putting my feet up while the cake bakes.

This is by far the most comforting thing I've read in 2020.
Thank you @MissConductUS for keeping the threads going.

Looking after my DD (17 Mths) while feeling bad I can't give more time to DS (8yrs).. DP is laid up with a knee injury..
I'm just taking things day by day here.
Might go for a walk if it dries up later.
Hope everyone is having a lovely restful Saturday.

The kitchen is clean now.
I will probably take a shower and then go back to my book.

We are watching Christmas films and have opened the Celebrations.

COVID test kit has arrived. We're doing it at 5pm. Worried about the tonsil bit!

Off to have mushrooms and melted brie soon in a seeded roll.

I've not had a shower yet today. Didn't seem much point as I was going to go for a run. But first I did a bit of yoga. Then I needed to help DS with homework, lunch, a bit of xmas cake prep.. Just heading out for a run now.

@halfpasteleven - You are quite welcome, I assure you. I only jumped in on thread 4 but I've enjoyed them as much as anyone.

I took DD to work at 6:00 AM this morning. She's received a promotion to "Team Leader" and starts training for it today. She's not really sure what it entails or how much more she'll get paid. She's just been working there part time since August (it's a nice chain bakery/cafe type place).

I received an email from Runner's World which highlighted a review of winter running clothes, so bought a new pair of sweatpants that were highly rated. They were a bit more than I wanted to spend, but hey ho, it's a cheap hobby.

Here's a picture of the bird feeder I've been going on about, as seen from the kitchen window. This is New York Cat TV. If you look closely you'll see there are two birds on the perch ring. It's a squirrel proof feeder. The perch ring is on springs and if anything as heavy as a squirrel lands on it, it slides down and a metal sleeve comes down with it and covers the food ports. The local squirrels tried it on and eventually gave up. It's quite clever I think.

The woods on the other side of the stone wall is a county nature preserve, which surrounds the house on three side, so we'll never have close neighbors.

I saw a method on YouTube of putting a duvet cover on by rolling it. It didn't look all that much easier tbh, but it might work for some.

I'm supposed to be painting the walls I've painted two 6×4 mdf blocks of wood instead

Tesco have sent me an email entitled ‘Amazing ways to use baked beans’.

I dispute the use of ‘amazing’.

@MissConductUS ha! When I looked at the pic I was about to ask about neighbours. Clever contraption.

You've reminded me that I want to do a walk around some ancient walls, I couldn't get to the museum to pick up a map on Wednesday before it shut for lockdown, so I'll have to look at the map on my phone which is more awkward.

@slipperywhensparticus how did that come anout...?

My 7 month old said ‘zip’ today

I’ve painted the shed with much “help” from my tiny assistants. Plus washed all the uniform. No more procrastination is possible, I have to cook the chicken!!

@MissConductUS I am so jealous of where you live!!

@PersisFord I know, right? It looks so scenic and peaceful.

May the chicken last you many happy meals.

My insurer sent me an e-mail on how to have a safe fireworks display at home (due to covid stopping most organised ones), probably not the best idea as we live in a thatched cottage as do the neighbours.

Doing the forms with DH, still on 1 of 10 and DH is deaf so every question he says can you repeat please but refuses to get help, argh.

The apple cake was good! If anyone wants to give it a go, it’s a recipe Joules posted on their Instagram fairly recently. Very easy although it did take a bit longer in the oven than it said it should. I should get an oven thermometer one of these days.

We have been for a walk in the woods and now DH is cooking dinner. Chicken and chips with veg 😋 DS is watching Howl’s Moving Castle again, and DFil (who is in our bubble) is reading a walking magazine. One of my washing has fully dried so now it’s all hung over airers - we’ll light the fire later and it will be dry by morning.

@PersisFord - Do you live in an urban area? It has been a lovely, peaceful place to raise the kids, who got to grow up with bugs in the house and a lot of wildlife in the yard. It's also two miles to the shops and so heavily wooded that we lose power a lot (as we did on Monday) when the weather is bad. Good luck with the chicken.

@Frownette - We tried a regular feeder but the bloody squirrels were literally launching themselves off the roof to get to it, then knocking it to the ground as they ransacked it. It was like a barbarian invasion. Enjoy your walk. The oldest structures in my area (which was originally settled by the Dutch and has a Dutch place name) only go back to the early 1600's, practically new for you all.

@SilkieRabbits I'm not deaf but I do have hearing loss from a childhood case of measles. Getting help with it was life changing, so do keep after him about it.

[quote Frownette]@MissConductUS ha! When I looked at the pic I was about to ask about neighbours. Clever contraption.

You've reminded me that I want to do a walk around some ancient walls, I couldn't get to the museum to pick up a map on Wednesday before it shut for lockdown, so I'll have to look at the map on my phone which is more awkward.

@slipperywhensparticus how did that come anout...?[/quote]
Honestly? I'm just not feeling the whole paint and wallpaper thing so i painted some mdf blocks i had lying around

Ooh, thanks @Spudlet, I love apple cake and it’s surprisingly hard to find a recipe.

I’m doing yet more washing (bath and hand towels). I shall run out of hanging space soon.

I went to town to try and pay some cash onto my credit card but I couldn't do it in the post office or my bank so I rushed to another bank and it was closed down even when I googled and it said that branch was open.

Then I walked the dog for 90 mins and he had a swim.

Then I watched 'That Thing You Do'

Had some soup and veg for tea.

Now going to pour a Pepsi Max and online game with DS1 (15) who is at his dad's house.

I've cleared out the airing cupboard and thrown away all the miserable old towels and sheets which seem to have accumulated. Made cottage pie for tea and am now relaxing.

I have a good few items in my basket, ready for me to order for Christmas gifts. I'll add more today.

We had lasagna for dinner last night. DS managed to arrive looking for shoe polish (which I couldn't find) ten minutes before I took it out of the oven, so he joined us for dinner. I found the shoe polish this morning.

I took in the hummingbird feeder this morning even though we're having an unexpected spell of glorious weather. I don't think we'll have any more callers before next summer. I intend to festoon it with dots of red nail polish over the winter to make it more attractive.

I asked DP to pick up a dark chocolate advent calendar with the shopping. He came back with a Green and Blacks one. It is massive and doesn't even fit in any of the cupboards on the kitchen so is currently hidden in the garage.

Busy day here too. DS had MASSES of homework, so had to keep him chained to the kitchen table. I’ve done some work I’ve been putting off, 4 loads of laundry, cleared the ironing pile and dragged everyone out for a walk. And my new bank card arrived, so I’ve updated Amazon etc.

Now watching Strictly and waiting for a Thai takeaway.