Come and tell me your dull and unexciting news 15: 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.

@Spudlet so sorry for your loss. He sounded much loved and I’m sure you will miss him very much.

DC4’s First Holy Communion was a very special Mass. and we had a fabulous celebration in the garden afterwards. I over-catered as usual We’ll be eating cake all week! Feels quite the landmark to have got all 4 DC past this point in their journey of faith.

The cherries on the tree outside my flat are on the small side but I expect that suits the wood pigeons who eat most of them. Not many get to be fully ripe.

No kingfishers today but a big brown trout in the river and lots of grey wagtails flitting about. And a big ginger and white tom cat who briefly stopped to say hello.

@Spudlet

Sad news.

I just had another spider land on me. I am concerned I seem to be attracting spiders but at least this was a small one.

Spudlet I am sorry to hear about the loss of Spuddog. It is never easy to let a beloved pet go, but it sounds like he was ready and you made a wise and compassionate decision. 💐💐💐

simon I bought two Emma Bridgewater mugs in our local department store yesterday. The assistant commented how lovely they were, all I could think was that 18yo me would be horrified at paying £40 for 2 mugs

I took a shine to an unusual and very lovely mug in a naice Cornish gift shop a few years ago. It was only after wrapping it that the woman put it through the till. £28! I was too far gone and committed (clever saleswoman) so meekly paid up and left. DH and my children ribbed me mercilessly about it at the time. I love drinking out of it and, on balance, feel I’ve had my money’s worth.

All is well here. We’ve had two lots of very good family news in the last few days, too outing to post, but there have been many celebratory hugs and we are in fine fettle.

I caught Sodding drinking out of the bathroom toilet again yesterday and he has resumed climbing into the bath tub to lick the puddles left behind after we’ve showered. He’s a great Siamese, characteristically quirky and funny, but some of his personal habits are revolting.

@soddingkitten Have you read any of Doreen Tovey's books about her Siamese cats?

I'm up, didn't really sleep that well. I'm listening to the BBC news. They're reporting that some secret British military documents were found on a street in London.

Dinner last night with MIL was nice. The crowd in the bar at the restaurant was watching soccer football so there was some periodic shouting. They also never brought our appetizer, a plate of fried calamari we were going to share. On the good side, the lobster rolls were excellent and it was nice to see MIL in person. She was very pleased to get a sack of cherries from the farm.

We went to our favorite supermarket, Wegmans, on the way home from dinner. We bought an angel food cake that we're going to have with the cherries and some whipped cream. I'm trying to decide whether to go to church this morning. It's going to be really hot here today.

Sodding, congratulations on your good family news. Our Dboycat likes to lick the rainwater puddles on the deck, which the vet says isn't a good idea.

Thank you for the Doreen Tovey tip Sue. I hadn’t heard of her before and will look her up.

MissC Have you heard Louis Theroux’s interview with his cousin Justin Theroux in that podcast series? It’s brilliant. I love the two worlds collide description of their summer holiday at the lake, particularly the bit with the bb gun and the discussion about rules.

Sunny day here - I sit at my desk, looking out at the flowers, drinking a very nice Rivaner. Tomorrow I will start a FL course on healthy ageing and I am preparing for that.

Most FL courses (the work place related ones) are - naturally - aimed at UK/Commonwealth realities, but some are applicable at wider audiences.

I went to a friend’s birthday barbecue yesterday, didn’t drink any alcohol and somehow still have a headache this morning.

How unfair sunbird - too much sun?

I thought sun stroke as well, maybe a bit of dehydration as well.

Well as much as the ZSL party was pricey it was very very good, we had two members of staff who were brilliant, the food was good and well managed, facepainting was great as was the little animal show. The goodie bags were quite good, as I’m sad I costed it and the giftbag was £6.50 cheaper than buying it in the giftshop. The only thing I didn’t go for was the birthday cake (£65), instead we all had cupcakes.

Def not sunstroke, was cloudy & chilly all afternoon and we were sitting under a covered pergola 😊 Possibly dehydration, thinking maybe I got too much smoke as it was all blowing my direction once they lit the wood burner

I've got the stupid hiccups at present. It really is quite irritating.

MissConductUS I'll definitely join you in sobriety next month. Just have a bottle of champagne to drink next month for a special occasion but that's between 5 of us. Oh hiccups hiccups go away

I'm at work, DH and DM are going to meet friends at a local boozer pub. I'm secretly quite pleased to have an excuse to get out of it

Frownette, I'm sure you'll like it once you've given it a go. I still remember how nice it was to wake up feeling good every day.

Prok, what are FL courses?

Sunbird, it might also be from allergies. You were exposed to a lot of pollen being outside for so long.

Simon, I'm glad the birthday party went so well. It sounds like a lot of fun. I mentioned a few threads back that my husband, who is also a Yank, lived in London for a year before we met and absolutely loved the city and the people. He had a service flat in Knightsbridge and did consulting work with a very large accounting firm. I suspect that he had a least one British girlfriend while he was there, but he refuses to discuss it.

Sodding, I found the podcast and am giving a listen to the episode you suggested. I don't normally care for chatty podcasts, but this one seems quite good. I mostly follow news, science, and medical podcasts. The Economist does some brilliant podcasts. If you want to listen to Brits and Yanks talk about American culture and politics, listen to an episode of Checks and Balance. They started it last year to cover the presidential election, but it proved so popular that they've kept it going.

I've decided to run out to the posh Italian grocery store and get a few things. I may also skip church as wash my car. Since I'll be out and about, I've started the next thread:

Come and tell me your dull and unexciting news 16: Calmly through the day

As usual, let's complete this one before jumping on the next.

Sorry - I had to sign in to the new one - my MN drops threads and I'll never find you again.

Are waffles a good idea? or should I bake a cake?

Sorry for Spuddog. I guess it was time ❤

Is this one full now?

Oh, guess not!

It's traditionally been @RhubarbFairy who closes out the thread.

Bless you @MissConductUS. Hello all and thank you for the link to the next. I've been somewhat AWOL.

So this one is done...

and done.