Come and tell me your dull and unexciting news 12: 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.

The men are real to me, @Champagneforeveryone, and I think that’s all that really matters.

I am not convinced by Duolingo Latin, mainly because I remember from school that Latin is relatively easy if you learn the endings, and Duolingo doesn’t explain that AT ALL and just keeps going on about cookies.

I have got it and replied. Thank you. I shall also look that cookbook up

squirrel I tried Latin for a while, to see if it is still there and stopped again. There are better apps for Latin.

I use Duolingo for Italian which seems to work quite well. I'm not a natural linguist but I am now very knowledgeable about Italian cake eating snakes and electric shoes.

@Champagneforeveryone
How far into Italian are you - I want electric shoes as well!! No electric shoes for me.
But - I have you know - the bakery is south-east of the airport!

I have no knowledge of airports prok, Italy is devoid of them as far as I'm aware

I am on day 204 so far, perhaps airports are on the horizon.

Had rib eye steaks tonight in the new cast iron pan, they were amazing

I started using Duolingo to brush up my Italian but it annoyed me a bit because it insisted on using unnecessary pronouns. For example, if you wanted to say ‘I’m going to the airport’ Duolingo insists that is ‘Io vado al aeroporto’ when actually the ‘io’ (I) is not needed because the verb itself tells you who is speaking anyway by the way that it’s conjugated. The only time you’d use the I is if you wanted to emphasise who was going - as in ‘I’m going to the airport [as opposed to someone else]!’ Also, I can’t roll my Rs and it refused to understand what I was saying in the spoken bits. So I fell out with it

A large round pebble has appeared on our front garden (next to the pavement with no wall or fence)

It's smooth and shiny, midway between a kiwi fruit and a mango in size. I'm of the opinion it was a small child who dropped or placed it there. DH is convinced it's dog thieves

DH has also been sent to a job 130 miles away!!! He only works three days a week and seems to take real umbrage when required to do any sort of actual work that's not on the door step. He may wear his high viz...

@Spudlet
You are not a beginner - have a look at the Duo forum, you are not alone!

Ooh I wonder if he’s coming here, @Champagneforeveryone. It is now quite difficult to navigate the corridor as there are 2 stepladders, 2 large orange barriers and a variable number of highly visible men.

There’s also a van parked in the loading bay that has ‘Specialists in confined space safety and rescue’ on the side. So that’s reassuring.

No men in high vis here today, even though they were here last week and built a big chipboard wall around an area they’re going to be working on and secured it with an enormous padlock. I have made up for the lack of fluorescence in my day by eating my chicken katsu soup with a white plastic spork and dying it bright yellow...

I don't think so squirrel, I'm not sure he's got barriers and he's usually a solitary high viz presence.

OTOH, if one of them is muttering about having to drive 130 miles and casting dark looks at his tool bag give him a wave from me

Welcome, @grassisjeweled, and thanks for your gastronomic update. My DS is an aspiring cook, being ably taught by my DH and he asked for and received a massive cast-iron skillet for Christmas. When we do steaks it's normally on the charcoal grill, which is in use at our house year round.

In other news, my Lands End Light Lake Blue bath sheets have shipped, with an anticipated arrival date of Friday, so I hope to be posting a picture of them hung up in the bathroom over the weekend.

@Champagneforeveryone, the only thing that has appeared in my front garden is more snow. Even the chipmunks are gone. Is your DH doing that drive every day or is he staying over at the work location?

I’m supposed to be having personal training in the park, but I’ve literally forgotten my PE kit. In fact, I’m not entirely sure where it is, as I definitely got it ready this morning...

Ooh squirrel it’s a bit nippy to be out in your vest and pants! Does your PT have a lost property box?

I'm just off out for a run but definitely wearing two layers.

Talking of shipping things missconductus I ordered a zip yesterday afternoon (making a dress) and it arrived in this morning's post. 400 miles in about 18 hours. Very impressed.

I can't decide what to make for tea. I wrote out a plan at the beginning of the week but forgot to check it yesterday and DS made today's menu. But I don't feel like making what he was due to make yesterday.

missconduct, just a one off and he's home now. We've had the obligatory moan about the traffic and the caretaker on site, so all is well.

Ooh squirrel yes, a bit nippy for vest and knickers

Tried my new socks out today. They were so comfy I’ve come home are ordered two more pairs. I hope they have enough stock.

@Squirrel26 Have you been keeping a tally of the men in hi-viz? Do you think they’ve gone and got one of their number jammed into a filing cabinet or something?

@Sunbird24

Ooh squirrel it’s a bit nippy to be out in your vest and pants! Does your PT have a lost property box?

This made me properly cackle. My DC don't believe me that we had to do PE in our best and pants if we'd forgotten them.

The youth of today don’t know they’re born 👵🏻

DH is just back from collecting a Decathlon order from Asda. After 6.5 years, my faithful Dublin boots had split, so he bought a new pair for me. They're so pretty and clean. My old ones are currently at work. I'll get a photo of them side by side tomorrow.

Eggy, those are proper winter boots. I have a similar pair from LL Bean which are called "Duck Boots" as they were designed for duck hunters.

I had my appointment with the orthopedist this morning. He's a lovely chap, a bit younger and quite handsome. They took radiographs of both hips to check for arthritis (finding none to speak of). I also got my cortisone jab and talked to him about the surgery. I'd be on crutches for two months, unable to drive for two to three weeks but would be able to handle stairs with some practice. The whole visit took about 30 minutes. I'm now thinking more positively about having the surgery this summer.

It'll be a day or so before I notice any relief from the cortisone injection.

@EggyPegg I have boot envy! I had a beautiful pair of Tuffa Suffolks but eventually they just wore out, and I couldn't afford to replace them. I miss my big old boots. When I get another job, I will be treating myself 😊