Come and tell me your dull and unexciting news 14: 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 a new project, this time as project manager :-) (I am freelance).
Was approached on a Friday, sent CV over on the Monday, interview the following Monday, very positive feedback on the Tuesday and offer on the Friday.
I have a very good feeling about this particular role, especially as everything has gone according to the text book so far - fingers crossed.

Welcome, @queenofthenorthwest and @VictoriaLudorum, and thanks for sharing your canine outing and new project news.

Victoria, that's fab. Can I ask what sector or industry the project is in?

It was kind of a lazy weekend here. DH did some touch-up painting where the old alarm system equipment was taken out. We had a nice zoom call with DD and my MIL last night. DS is waiting to hear back from his internship interview last week. We've asked him to mow the lawn today. He doesn't really have much uni work to do now that his internship is over other than some research for his senior year thesis. I think it's nice that he's getting some downtime, even if I am a bit jealous.

I picked up two huge bags of potting soil to await the annual establishment of the deck garden. @ZZTopGuitarSolo, thanks, it's my favorite part of the house.

@Squirrel26, it's been ages since I had long hair. DD's is about 6 inches below her shoulders. It's lovely, but so much work.

Thank you. I work in IT in finance/telecoms, so I am project managing MI analysis and reporting for a global bank. Sounds rather more exciting than it may turn out to be, as I have worked at this place before in various roles.
Still, I am optimistic, after my interview, that we won't be touching any Excel spreadsheets ;-)

Victoria, that sounds very interesting. My DH also works in IT, historically in healthcare but now runs the iT department at a non-profit organization. It's so handy to have him around for tech support at home.

Are you in the London area? I'm in New York, in an area called the Hudson Highlands, north of NYC.

May I ask what MI analysis is?

Such is our gadding about lifestyle we are off for drinks in a friends garden.

DH (unusually) has work in the morning so it will be a pleasant early evening event rather than a night of debauchery, but it's lovely to be out nonetheless

DH just put a deposit down on a car!

Spudlet, was this a surprise? Car shopping in our family is a pretty lengthy process that involves both of us. We keep them until they're really knackered, so it doesn't happen that often.

Have a lovely time, Champagne.

My last outside tomato seedling has died. The inside ones are doing well. (Put the first ones out too soon clearly, I have never grown tomatoes before, I am only doing it now because you cannot buy really bg tomatoes where I live and I love them).

Wedding anniversary was nice although I had to work part of the day. Lamb chops on barbeque was dinner, DH marinated them in mint sauce, they were nice. The weather is about to turn so enjoying the sunshine today.

No, I haven’t seen it myself because of Covid but we discussed it thoroughly over the phone, went through the listing, paid for an HPI check and all of that malarkey. We’ve been looking for ages and ages now though, so it’s a relief to finally find one!

I do am doing my physio homework every day. Range of movement in my wrist has improved.

I stored my Nutella sandwich in my stasher bag that came with last month’s Birchbox, and it’s got a faint taste of roses. Not entirely unpleasant tbh!

I didn’t get the job, but that’s OK. I did well to be shortlisted and get an interview because it was an upwards move into an area outside of my immediate expertise. I had excellent feedback on my interview performance (strong). It was a worthwhile experience overall. I will sleep better tonight though. 😀

I managed to get the switch accounts to work.

Got the large sofa cover on the large sofa, its fits and DS has moved himself from the small sofa to the large sofa.

Spudlet, now I recall you have been car shopping for a while. Great news that you've finally found one that fits your needs.

Sodding, sorry you didn't get the job. They obviously thought really well of you.

Silkie, good job getting the sofa covers sorted!

I'm installing iOS 14.5 on my phone, it's just out today. I'll finally be able to unlock my phone with a mask on without inputting my code, which will be aces! And yes, I'm a bit of a geek.

Not too manic after school today, one DC swimming and 2 to Scouts. DC1 opened up about something that was upsetting them whilst in the car on the way home from the school bus - we must have sat on the drive for another 35 minutes talking. Absolutely not a waste of time, I knew something was simmering.

@soddingkitten Well done on the interview, ok maybe you didn’t get it but you got good feedback and you actually got an interview in the first place - definitely not a guaranteed thing at the moment when there’s so much competition for jobs! Onwards and upwards to the next one.

@MissConductUS It’s been a real pain car shopping as everyone seems to be trying to buy at the moment - we had two possibilities sold last weekend before we could even get to see them, we got a call actually on the way to see one. Fingers crossed this one will be a good’un - it’s a Nissan and I’ve always had good experiences with them. My current car is a Micra that I’ve had from new - 160k later and it’s still going strong. It’s just a bit on the small side as a family car 😬

@Spudlet, Nissans are great cars. You can't beat Japanese cars for reliability and long life. All of our Subarus have been gems. Cars are in short supply here too. Lots of people who took mass transit decided they wanted a car because of covid. Also the chips they put in them are in short supply, also because of covid. We lucked out replacing both of ours last year.

Another thing that you can't get here is lumber for building projects. A sheet of plywood that used to be $9 is now $52. We did a complete roof replacement in 2018 and I now see how lucky that timing was. The same project would cost thousands more this year.

DS has texted me to say he has mowed the lawn, so his dad now owes him $20. It's about a 40 minute job.

I planted 3 tomato plants in our conservatory yesterday & planted out the seed potatoes. Good to get my kitchen windowsill back.
I've been reading the "1 job a day" thread - very motivating.

@soddingkitten that is such a great growth mindset! I do believe that what is for you, won’t go by you. And to be able to take the positives is admirably resilient!

[quote HelenaJustina]@soddingkitten that is such a great growth mindset! I do believe that what is for you, won’t go by you. And to be able to take the positives is admirably resilient! [/quote]
Thank you. Part of the feedback was that the very senior member of staff on the panel (not the recruiter) was so impressed with my application and interview that it might lead to a different future role. 🤞

The last week or so of cramming and prep has caught up with me. I’m knackered!

MissC - I heard on the radio recently that there’s a shortage of timber in the UK too. It’s one of the reasons why sheds and garden furniture are hard to come by this year. I’m so relieved that I managed to get a garden table and benches at the end of last summer.

Good morning all! Another bright and cold morning.
No chance for the tomates to go outside yet. WFH today as we are only allowed 2 per desk unit.
I saw a report once about an English medieval building: They planted oaks at the time of construction in order to have timber by the time the building needed repairs. We have lost this mindset.

Quite sunny here at the moment and 4C, high of 13C today.

DS slept on the large sofa with its new velvet cover, he prefers to sleep on sofas and loves everything soft.

Children at school today, DH wfh. Hopefully will do chickens and maybe small sofa today and have to sort finances more.

Sunny and chilly here.

DH and DS are both out so the house is peaceful. Apart from ChampagneCat who is charging about upstairs like an escaped racehorse, and the guttural sounds coming from the kitchen where DDogs have a lambs neck each. The next job on the list is definitely to clean the kitchen floor!

I bought a Vax a couple days ago and the fascination has not yet worn off. I'm on phase two of the sofa and am halfway up the stairs

Chickens are done and ordered more woodchip for their coop.

DH has gone to work. Silkiecat is asleep.

Children are at school and DS has had vaccines for DTP and Meningitis.

On a break - could not wait till this eveneing:
@Champagneforeveryone - What is a Vax? And what does it do to sofas?

Very slow day at work - many of my projects are in the 'we think and plan' stages.