Come and tell me your dull and unexciting news 8: 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.

@bloodywhitecat, sorry to hear about your DH. I hope the chemo goes as well as it can.

@Gilead (awesome name), good luck today.

Boiler Man has been here since 0830. The old boiler is now in several pieces scattered over the house and garden and the new one is on the floor of the playroom, but he's had to go and get more sealant.

EggyCat1 is enjoying the box that the new boiler has come in. I have been looking at the wallpaper where the old one was. It's always fascinating to see old decor. So far I can see patterned wallpaper and orange paint, so I'm thinking late 70s early 80s.

In keeping with Prok’s update, DH and DS1 are fiddling about with an ethernet cable to see whether they can improve the wifi at the back of the house. DS1 says his gaming is hampered by the “laggy” wifi. This is the proof of concept testing. If it works, DH will go up in the loft later to lay the cable properly.

It’s still raining here, non-stop. I should have asked for a canoe for Christmas or waders and a sou’wester.

Just drove my teen to deliver a gift to a friend. We came back a way I've never driven before with gorgeous views. Would have looked better without the drizzle.

I popped into town to get some Flash Spray Wipe Done which an influencer I follow says is great. Obviously I ended up picking up some Christmassy bits too. But am most excited about a cleaning spray that might not leave my surfaces looking greasy.

DH got up early to do some wfh and has now been napping a while, the cat has just woken up and realised he is not on duty cat.

DS is just taking more water and food to the silkies for their first lunch.

DD has done more painting of her room.

I wrote a list of things to do and went through the bank accounts, on third cup of tea though I did fall asleep before 1.5 of them.

Sainsburys sent me a confirmation of Xmas order message for tomorrow which looks hopeful though normally its morning of day getting on they say products not in. Still not refunded me for 2 weeks ago. Got the bill from the plumber for fitting mixer taps, £114, which is twice the rate of the electrician for same time but fine still. Sink taps still need doing but not urgent. I've ordered two sink taps incase DH's Christmas miracle mending taps the plumber cannot mend doesn't materialise.

eggnog
DS had a box like that to retreat into when he felt overwhelmed, the cat prefered smaller boxes on desks (to better help with work).

My son and I just got our first NHS dental appointment starting before 9am today since the pandemic - it was fine, dentist was lovely, lots of PPE, check up - you knock on the door at your time and are let in in your mask and gloves. The dentist did my cleaning too (no hygienist so in fact it was easier for me as both things done at the same time), even xrays and next appointment in July. I was very impressed.

Then son applied for his law school place with a small amkount of help from me which I had been wanting him to do for a while as his twin did it 2 mnoths ago (this is for Sept 2021) and then not so good - in driving rain I filled my car with yet more stuff for the tip - went yesterday too and you have to book so it is more complex. full to the brim volvo estate. Got so wet my coat and gloves are in the drier now as I go in less than an hour. It was that stage of a job when it looks worse than when you start as everything is now spread out. I take one wooden pallet on each trip and see after this trip I have FIVE more, never mind all the rest - this is all mostly left from my son's house by his tenants last week. I suppose each trip there is less left so may be I can even book a slot for tomorrow before they shut - it is annoying you cannot book in advance. You have to fulfil your slot and only once back home then book ahead. I used to do 3 or 4 trips in a day until i had cleared a load but now it takes weeks due to CV19.

Welcome @Xenia.

The tip slots are very annoying. I drove around with our old dishwasher in my boot for almost a week as I couldn't get a slot any earlier.

Back from my slither around the fields and feeling so much better for it. Although I tried to desmell my trainers before going which, given how soggy they now are, was probably a bit of a waste of time and bicarbonate of soda 🙊

We iced the cake today. Flirting with becoming dangerously exciting, as I put enough lemon juice in to ensure that eating the rock hard icing rosettes will be like eating broken glass.

Good luck with cataract removal been there done that twice waves hope all goes well.
Have ordered a tiny Iceland shop for next Tuesday so I’ve now got a week of just chilling, also treated myself to two long hot water bottles they’ll arrive after Christmas now but I don’t care, one is for next December I buy Christmas themed things for December, daft I know and we’ve both had COVID tests both negative so a safe quiet cosy Christmas for us both, big shop tomorrow is being delivered.

Thank you all. Home and it was apparently successful!
💐

Yes, tip slots have been a big issue for me as I did more garden work than for 20 years including clearing a wooded area and was top of the whole of my London borough in the summer in slot booking, so much they sent the head man over twice when I arrived as they were sure I must be a professional gardener (not so of course). As soon as I got home I booked the next ( you cannot book in advance of the next slot) so have been going about 4 times a week for quite a few weeks. Then I had a lull and am now clearing non garden waste but again feel a bit worried each time that because I go much more often than anyone they will think I am a trader. They seem to know me as yesterday one said to me as he helped me throw something over - you're a solicitor. I would rather just turn up anonymously and dump it. Anyway they are mostly a nice group of men so it's okay really. I just booked my next slot - Sunday morning.

Boiler Man is still at my house. I have escaped to soft play with the DC. When I left, the new boiler was on the wall, there was bits of wall all over the work surface, water everywhere,and Boiler Man was becoming increasingly agitated.

According to DH he has since ripped the cover off the gas meter box (in temper we think) and is now on the phone. We think he needs to call in the cavalry.

I grabbed my laptop and books and am attempting to work on my assignment despite the noise. I am kicking myself for removing my earbuds from my laptop bag.

I am colouring my hair. I am switching back to my normal (less vibrant) shade in the new year in anticipation of a return to normality at some point. I am still in my pyjamas too, though not once I’ve showered/washed the dye out of my hair. There doesn’t seem much point getting up in a hurry when we have nowhere to go, not even for a walk (biblical rain).

@EggNogPegg

Boiler Man is still at my house. I have escaped to soft play with the DC. When I left, the new boiler was on the wall, there was bits of wall all over the work surface, water everywhere,and Boiler Man was becoming increasingly agitated.

According to DH he has since ripped the cover off the gas meter box (in temper we think) and is now on the phone. We think he needs to call in the cavalry.

I grabbed my laptop and books and am attempting to work on my assignment despite the noise. I am kicking myself for removing my earbuds from my laptop bag.

I always prefer to be out of the house while work is being done, then come back to a finished job. It makes me twitchy when I hear workmen banging about.

Welcome @Gilead, @PurplePlain, and @Itsnotagazebo, and thanks for sharing your calming news. My apologies to any newcomers I might have missed.

My best wishes for all who are coping with medical challenges.

@EggNogPegg - You've created a box tunnel with the boiler box! That's brilliant.

I'm off shortly to do a socially distanced gift drop off with some family members in the area. They're not close, so I'll be off for a bit. I'm hoping the DC and DH will come with me.

I've taken the roasting chicken out of the freezer and put it in the fridge to start the defrosting process. I don't have much faith in this method, but we'll see.

We are bring evicted from soft play in five minutes. The Boiler Man is 'still ragey' according to DH. I have completed a tiny section of my assignment and have set up the renovation Instagram that I had planned to do anyway, but thought I might as well document the boiler replacement. This morning Boiler Man said it would be easy to move as both of those walls are coming down when we do the kitchen. I'm not sure he feels that way now.

Pissed off about impending tier 4, which is stupid because it makes virtually no difference to me, and most likely means I can’t do a thing I had planned next week about which I was ambivalent at best.

Also I need to go to the post office and have forgotten to bring the things to post to work with me, so now I shall have to do it later on the way to Dog School.

DH just informed me that he has arranged for the collation of a novel and it's digital version via zoom for the rest of the year. I am a member of the team apparently.

What's the English for 'etwas beschreien' - google and linguee don't help:
I am afraid to mention it, but our boiler is working at the moment.

We’re heading into tier 4 as well; like you, @Squirrel26 this will make virtually no difference to us day-to-day, but still - gah. Meh. Bah. Humbug, also.

So glad I was able to keep my hair appointment on Monday and that my lovely hairdresser gave me a cut designed to grow out well...!

eggy, DH is currently struggling with a boiler. I don't think it's yours as he would have sent me a photo of EggyCat in the box if it was (DH loves a cat in a box)

DM likely to go into tier 4. Since she has blithely ignored all previous restrictions this should bother her much less than it does We are likely remaining in Tier 2 - makes little difference to us truthfully, but I would rather like a haircut at some point.

Weekend break in Cornwall at the end of January still hangs in the balance. As I said before, I'm starting to rather enjoy the frisson of excitement of booking and then wondering if I'll get my money back or not.

DS (16) is allegedly cooking Christmas dinner. Currently all the required items are sat in the fridge or kitchen, waiting expectantly while DS plays drums without a care in the world. This makes me faintly twitchy but I am resolved to only offer advice - we've already elected to eat Christmas dinner in the evening rather than at lunchtime to ease the experience

Today is getting seriously stressful with Ed Psych saying we need autism assessment to get any help and autism assessment have kicked out as DS couldn't communicate and put is as lack of family involvement. as someone who has spent almost every day trying to get him help for years. So I sent a series of ranting e-mails as now no help from GP, CAHMS or LA and he's just left standing in rain by a 60mph road at school alone. Though looks like no school next year way things are going - and then DD comes and says we are now going to Tier 4 on Boxing Day, day just gets better.

My pain has started not again, wails in despair. Hopefully it’s just a couple of hours.

I'm back. There was no traffic and the visits were brief. DS and I went as DH had presents to wrap and DD is cranky stabby because she's just been informed by her uni that her housing assignment has changed and she liked the first one better. I told her to start emailing to advocate for herself.

@Champagneforeveryone - Is your 16yo DS planning to make dinner for Christmas eve or Christmas day? Does he know how to cook? Do you have a backup takeout takeaway plan? We're doing takeaway tonight and probably homemade pizza Christmas eve, then the fancy dinner on Christmas day.

The priest at my church asked me to co-host the Christmas eve Zoom service so I can let people in from the waiting room and mute anyone disruptive while she does the readings and prayers. I was happy to say yes. I was a bit surprised as I've only been attending this church for a year, but it was nice to be asked.

@SilkiesnowchicksandXmastreecat - I feel your pain. When my DS needed additional educational support (he was language delayed) I remember doing battle constantly with the school district just to get him tested properly. We wound up having to do it privately. Then when he was all caught up it was a battle to get him mainstreamed and we had to have him tested privately again. They fought us tooth and nail on that change, the reason being that the district received additional funding from NY State for every child getting additional support and they didn't want to give it up. All of that was such a nightmare.

@Spudlet - did you get out for your run this morning? We're supposed to get 2-4 inches of rain Thursday night into Christmas morning. Bah Humbug indeed.

I found a British treat at the supermarket Monday. The candy aisle had genuine imported Cadbury Dairy Milk bars, so I got one with almonds. I've heard so much about them on MN I couldn't resist. It was quite good. Not quite the ambrosia I was expecting, but still very nice.

And speaking of things British, we're all looking forward to finding the new, more infectious strain of covid circulating in NY. It's probably been here for weeks.