Come and tell me your dull and unexciting news 11: 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.

Well done on your new job @Mintjulia

I have just retrieved my three wool (so can't be tumble dried) jumpers from the drying rack in the garage, where they have been for the last 3 weeks.

Great news, @Mintjulia - Congratulations!

Happy birthday to your DS, @MissConductUS

It’s bins day here tomorrow. DH has put the rubbish out apart from the one cardboard box that I didn’t flatten until after he had done all the bins. He thought I was keeping it.

@MissConductUS

Welcome, *@chocolateisavegetable*, and thanks for sharing the news of your good fortune! I think what to spend the five quid on is obvious - chocolate of course.

Of course! But which chocolate bar is the question

Cleared the attic of crap. Will be painting it out next week, setting up a big TV screen on the wall, a click clack sofabed and a poang chair and a mini fridge in and it will become a movie room for our Y13 when, hopefully, he can finally invite friends again come uni in September. He’s been stellar for the past year and deserves it.

Congratulations, @Mintjulia. And happy birthday to @MissConductUS junior.

I increased my coat count from 2 to 4 this evening when I went to do horse-related stuff. They were not really ‘proper’ coats to be fair - gilet, puffa, fleece and padded gilet. I wasn’t cold then, but I am now in my living room.

Don't want to make you jealous Silkiechickscat but I have just had a virtual options/parents evening with DS's teachers. I had 10 5 minute appointments via an online platform and it cuts you off after the 5 mins so no overrunning and no queuing up in a crowded hall. All in all I think this could be the way forward even after you know what.

@sproutsandparsnips

Don't want to make you jealous Silkiechickscat but I have just had a virtual options/parents evening with DS's teachers. I had 10 5 minute appointments via an online platform and it cuts you off after the 5 mins so no overrunning and no queuing up in a crowded hall. All in all I think this could be the way forward even after you know what.

That sounds like heaven. I dreaded those nights at the school, dashing from one room to the next and everyone running late.

I just received an email from IKEA - they are going to deliver DS's desk chair tomorrow - a week early. And DHL delivered my new shirts almost to our door. The neighbour wasn't in tonight so I'll try again.

I had to attend mandatory training today in person, with other real life humans, nay strangers, in the same room. 😮 The venue was freezing cold so I spent most of it wearing my scarf, hat and coat. Indoors. For the whole day. 😕 We were also advised to take packed lunches and enough water to last us the day because all the food outlets nearby are closed and there was no catering. I’m starting to get a sense of what post-war Britain was like, basics provided but no frills.

I didn’t have room in my rucksack for my stainless steel travel coffee mug on the way back. It was painfully cold to carry on the walk home, as I only had fingerless gloves in my bag.

Still no snow.

Congratulations mintjulia! 🍾🥂

We had snow in the morning which melted in the afternoon. DS got to make a snowman though. I felt so guilty that I couldn't go out with him as it was too cold and blustery for DD and DP was at work so we stayed in and shouted encouragement through the patio doors.

I made another omelette for dinner - so quick tasty and filling but not too filling to not have room for dessert.

Happy birthday to @MissConductUS DS.. enjoy the pizza

We got 6 minutes for PT conferences in high school. The building had four floors. It still has

Anyway, I used to start reserving my meeting times the second reservations opened up online, and I worked from the first floor upwards, leaving at least 6 minutes between meetings. I know parents who used to work their way down from the top floor.

I have heard wonderful things about the virtual PT meetings the school did during the lockdown. Even parents who had never attended conferences before (because of no car, no childcare for small children, SN child at home, etc) were suddenly able to participate. It's amazing how tied to in-person work and school contact people have been so many decades after the invention of the internet, and how the possibilities have broadened. Even textbooks have been online. Next up, the end of printing out documents? Not holding my breath on that one.

Sorry about your miserable day, Sodding

The cold continues unabated here.

@MissConductUS Thanks for the lovely welcome and advice. I’m in the US too - what a year we have had here!

I think we probably will be offered a virtual options parents evening later though we already know all the options from DD last year and the issue is just getting a sensible choice out of DS. No is his default answer to anything school related. I think I know what to choose now though.

DD liked her one-off day in school just to see people for first time since December. Glad its one day to half term. Still sorting bank accounts and house paperwork.

DH just came upstairs saying where is my phone, is it here? I said it might be but haven't noticed it then he said oh its not, its in my pocket.

DH says we've had another council tax bill through, this time the amount off has gone up from £3.66 to £277 and they've closed it as its old house.

@mathanxiety
We have 20 minutes per teacher. The day starts at 12 ends at 18 pm and you book your slots online. I always had a 'tour' planned, too.
This year it's videocalls.

Exciting news! (Sorry!) I got my red down padded coat from Lands End.
Not so exciting news - I could not do the bloody zip up! It had two zippers. I have had to wear it today because I texted my colleague that when she comes in this afternoon, she helps me zip it up. Anyway, when I got in, the porter that wears a similar coat has shown me what to do. I sort of did realise but didn't do it quite right. Feel a right fool now!

I have history for this. Had to bring in 2 tortoiseshell hair slides because I could not undo them. My colleague simply squeezed the sides and they sprung open. There was me thinking I wold need a degree in engineering or something to do it.

I would be dangerous if I had a brain.

I also hurt my lip trying to get into a tub of Ariel liquitabs.

@soddingkitten I had to attend mandatory training today in person, with other real life humans, nay strangers, in the same room

I hope you weren't tempted to hug them!!!! I had to restrain my self when my colleagues and some of the porters came back from being ill with Covid!

Sounds dire, that mandatory training. I remember when I used to go for training there was usually tea and coffee but now nope!

@MissConductUS I have seen some good reviews for circulon I have recently ordered some at last! My brother still has his from just before he was married so as his kids are in their twenties now, that is some time!

I got mine from Amazon.

Sorry! That message was for @Halfpasteleven

Well, in my defence it is quite early (08.02).

@nitflux and @MissConductUS How are you both feeling about life in general in the US at the moment. Are you confident US can move forward, excited about the future or do you feel Trump was robbed?!

@QuestionableMouse

Bloody hell! Warn us before you mention dumplings please! Too exciting! I haven't had any in years :(

I hope you weren't tempted to hug them!!!! I had to restrain my self when my colleagues and some of the porters came back from being ill with Covid!

Not out of any fellow feeling, but if the course had been any longer we might have had to huddle together for warmth. They were all from different parts of my company, so no one that I knew and would have wanted to catch up with. There was someone who’d been ignoring my emails and calls for the last two weeks, so I cornered him in the first break and got the answer I needed.

Daytime temperatures are on the rise, it is only -5°C at the moment and sunny!

I cleaned the bio bin and started a load of washing and at 10 I will have a talk with DS on how he intends to spent the time till the new school year starts. (To adapt a quote: Idleness is not an option!) I am sooooo looking forward to this.