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.

I meant to ask about the hosepipe. We disconnect ours and drain the pipe leading to the taps they connect to in the late fall to prevent them from freezing up in the cold weather. I'm surprised that's not a concern in the UK. The hosepipe itself would probably be fine but the copper pipe that supplies the water could freeze and burst, as part of it is outside the house.

DS2 (he's 18) and I went to M&S food and got a coffee at the starbucks drive through. It was almost like normal! Ordinarycat has settled on the sofa for an afternoon nap after an exhausting morning of napping.

Mine did freeze the other week, but it’s defrosted now and seems fine. Only the actual tap and (I assume, I haven’t really paid attention) a very short bit of pipe are actually protruding from the wall though.

My parents have a little inflatable plastic bag that they put over their outdoor tap in the winter. (I’ve only just remembered this. It’s really cute. Like a little life jacket. )

@MissConductUS

I meant to ask about the hosepipe. We disconnect ours and drain the pipe leading to the taps they connect to in the late fall to prevent them from freezing up in the cold weather. I'm surprised that's not a concern in the UK. The hosepipe itself would probably be fine but the copper pipe that supplies the water could freeze and burst, as part of it is outside the house.

My DH gets antsy about the outside tap. From about August, he’s itching to stop the water supply to that tap, disconnect the hose and wrap the tap up in lots of plastic and bubble wrap and I have to fend of his attempts until mid October when I cave in with exhaustion. He will ask nervously about whether all risk of frost is actually gone when I try and switch on the water supply again in the spring.

We have our outside tap well wrapped up (with he an old baby muslin actually). Plenty of layers wrapped round and round and cable tied firmly into place. Touch wood, it hasn’t frozen once, not even during the beast from the East.

Unfortunately the tap itself is so old that the hosepipe won’t connect properly, so DH is going to have to replace it. However for today we lashed the connector on with string and managed to get all the bikes clean and shiny. DS enjoyed it very much although did have an epic tantrum / meltdown when it was time to put the hose away 🙈

Hmm, obviously it was so exciting I made a serious typo and forgot to attach the photo. I should probably go for a lie down...

Spudlet, what's the temperature outside where you are? I'd have thought it a bit cold to be outside washing down your bikes.

The snow has arrived, so here is the customary bird feeder picture. DH filled it up this morning in anticipation of lots of customers and they have been arriving steadily. Note that the previously clear walkway to the front door is now covered again.

I'd say we have about two inches already, and it's the light, fluffy variety.

It’s about 10 degrees here, so a bit chilly but not too bad at all. They were all so grubby they really needed some tlc, what with DS’s and my little adventure yesterday, and DH riding through a flood and coming to a complete halt in the mud the other week... it might get as warm as 13 degrees here at the weekend!

Yep, heatwave!
We had our first Lent group meeting this afternoon, on teams, the course is called The Wellbeing Journey, and aims to help us look at our lives holistically.

My friend left me a new mug in the doorstep today. It's zebra print and she saw it in the supermarket and thought of me (!). I'm having my first cup of tea out if it and feeling happy.

I'm taking tomorrow off (taking some flexitime back) and I'm now sitting in PJs and dressing gown, with feet on hot water bottle, watching Masterchef Australia and browsing Mumsnet. Having a little think about what simple thing to have for dinner :-)

They let me out I am in the underground on my way home.

Welcome, @WisestIsShe, and thanks for sharing your mug and brew news. I've picked up so many gift and souvenir mugs over the years there is literally nowhere to store them. I was just considering binning a few to make room.

It's still snowing heavily.

@MissConductUS I donated a load of souvenir and gifted mugs to my old workplace when I left. It meant I/they could bin a load of the old stained ones!

My boss told me he’s written me up for an award - this would normally be too exciting for this thread, but I’ve been written up before and didn’t get it, so I know that it’s likely that’s as far as it will get. There’s a lot of competition. Still nice to be recognised!

You can never have enough mugs - I have my favourites on a seperate shelf - for my use only.

That's lovely @sunbird24 even if you don't win being nominated means you're doing a great job.

Congratulations @Sunbird24!

That is nice, @Sunbird24.

It's so warm here I only wore one coat to deposit the horse back in his field this evening.

Thank you @ChazsBrilliantAttitude, yes, Dianxi Xiaoge was the woman I was thinking of.

Congratulations @Sunbird24 celebrate the effort being recognised!

Congrats @sunbird24! Even if you don't win, it shows what a good job you're doing.

I step away again and it's all moved on without me.

I got my car back today. It has indeed been valeted. I don't think it's been that clean since the day I bought it, inside and out. I had fallen head over heels in love with the Galaxy I'd been given as a courtesy car so it was a wrench to return it. However it was lovely to be back in the familiarity of mine, I know it so well and exactly how to drive it.

I put a scuff on the corner of my car in the summer, back on to a friend's drive and not seeing the stupid pointless tiny wall. I joked with the garage man when he collected it that they could buff that out at the same time and he told me no. When I collected it today, it's gone! So I wonder if they changed the whole bumper?

Congratulations @Sunbird24!!!