Thread 4 - TalkExiles: "The Planet Goes On Being Round"

[Kucinghitam]

Continuation of previous lifeboat threads 1 & 2 & 3.

Gather here all ye refugees from the JTT Flat Earth Society, welcome to the reassuringly oblate spheroid of MN! Ye all already know the answers to the questions "How the heck do I format my post?" "Why can't I edit my typos?" "What do those acronyms mean?" and most importantly, "Where is everybody that I used to know?"

So really we're all here just to chat randomly.

Amidst the chaos of moving, I made the mistake of leaving an empty box sitting on the floor. It was claimed within seconds.

Adorable. I love the face, it's saying, "Don't even think of trying to move me. It's my box now."

Good box claiming.

In the depths of the aibu changing room thread is buried this gem of linguistics: www.straightdope.com/21343278/what-is-the-plural-of-penis

Well, all good cats love a box!

Anyway, bathroom disaster. The bath was delivered last spring, without the feet, which we hadn't realised. The sink has come with no fittings, or waste pipe etc, despite the Tecaz salesman going round with us and helping to choose a suitable tap. The smart toilet hasn't got a mounting frame, or cistern - thanks, supplier.

I've just had to pay £144 for replacement feet. The toilet supplier still hasn't replied. Why didn't they say that they were needed, FFS?!

That sounds like a nightmare, Sinner! Hope you get it sorted soon. Is the old loo still there?

Greetings from the frozen wastelands of The North.

What a pain, @SinnerBoy!

And snow!! @bignosebignose

Our Monday morning drama was:

We walked the DC to the bus stop as usual, and as usual 5 minutes before the school coach is scheduled as per school instructions. We are very particular about showing up at the earlier time because we are car-free and it would be a hassle if DC missed the bus. (The bus has never in 3 years arrived early, it's almost always exactly on time, sometimes a couple of minutes late.) Just as we were approaching the junction, we saw a coach pulling away onto the main road. DD said, "I hope that isn't our bus!"

Well, the scheduled bus time came and went, and it became clear that that had been the school bus. DCs messaged a friend at the next stop, and friend confirmed that they'd not seen the bus either (2 kids waiting at that stop). Luckily, friend's dad was WFH today and so offered to drive the 4 kids to school (DH was actually about to hurry off to get a club car).

Just as we were confirming where we'd meet to be picked up, a third kid came hurrying up to our stop. He usually got on at the stop before, and in desperation had decided to walk towards our stop in search of schoolmates. So I ended up escorting 2+1 kids to the car rendezvous because I didn't know what else to do, and I could hardly leave the poor lad alone unable to get to school. And even more luckily it turned out that the car was in fact a people-carrier. So friend's dad was a hero to a whole car-load of kids!

Anyway, I've rung school to complain. They're going to get in touch with the coach company and find out what on earth happened.

We've got one of these for all our spider-catching needs:

argh @Kucinghitam at least it got sorted out (luckily!)

Our DD is not really a morning person and also a bit of a drama llama at the best of times, so we have some fun in the mornings. I've only had to take her in (late) past the office one time, and my wife once too. That's 2 in one term, which is 2 too many.

Oh dear, Kuc!

Bignose, we had snow as well, which froze solid on windscreens. The weather station says it's -2°

Anyway, I'm feeling quite stressed about the bathroom. Not as bad as when we had no kitchen, but quite shaky. I was going to drive to Tecaz, to ask some questions, but didn't feel like getting behind the wheel. I have to now, as I have a slot at the recycling centre....

No snow here, just grey and chilly. Lovely snow pic!

What a carry on, Kuc.

Good news is that the car I use passed its MOT this morning. Been driving it nine years so very pleased it's got through again.

Thin layer of snow here but not enough I would worry about driving in.

No snow here, in fact it is very sunny ATM. But bloody freezing.

We were just discussing how most people on the bus route wouldn't have realised the bus had gone past 5 minutes early, because most kids come to the bus stop much closer to the scheduled departure time. So most of the kids were messaging each other to say "Bus didn't come!" and it was only our DC who knew that it had. And that hopefully they "saved" some of the later kids from missing it, because the message "Bus is 5 minutes early!!" might have filtered through.

Mostly, kids make their own way to the bus stops (or get dropped off and left by parents) and probably wouldn't know what on earth to do. We are already pretty unusual that we do walk the DC to the stop in the morning, it's because we usually then walk (or DH runs) to work from there. And we only stuck around because of the weirdness of seeing the possible early bus driving off.

It's a bit of a puzzle though. Must be a new driver or something? There are usually a few regular drivers who (a) know the schedule and (b) know the kids who get on at each stop. But you'd think even a new driver might have noticed that nobody was getting on the bus

Fuxache. Apparently the reason for Sadiq Khan sacking Cressida Dick.

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/jan/16/metropolitan-police-officer-david-carrick-revealed-as-serial-rapist

One incident took place before Carrick joined the Met in 2001. The Guardian understands another, in 2002, included an allegation that he had bitten a woman’s shoulder after their relationship ended, and came during his probation period when it would have been easier to dismiss him.

Ridiculous. And then after other allegations over several years, he was promoted and given a gun.

Expensive morning for me - yesterday Elwood threw up at 5pm like a hosepipe and then refused to eat at all, not purring, sleeping and being reluctant to move. So an urgent vet appointment this morning, anti nausea injection and I had to cancel my iceskating lesson (which I won't get money back on) as the only time the vet could see him today was during that time.

Anyway, anti nausea injection seems to have worked because I'm being bugged for food.

Poor Elwood. And poor you @kittykarate. I hope he feels better soon.

My morning drama was plunging the toilet for half an hour after I accidentally flushed a scrunchie (I picked up some tissues to put down the loo, must’ve been hidden among them), all while desperate to actually use it.

Snow here too - only a couple of inches but more is forecast for later. The city plough has been by though, so the roads are driveable.

My cats are sending good vibes to Elwood.

Oh poor Elwood! I hope he feels better soon.

@CyanCrystalViolet I have found the best way of plunging a toilet is a mop with a plastic bag tied over the end of it. Probably too late to try it now but always worth a go in the future if needed.

Elwood is currently assisting with my work ( begging for food)

That Met copper, bloody hell! 😡

There's some stables need cleaning out there.

Also, great cat pix, obv.

For some reason, this thread isn't coming up as having new posts when I look at the "I'm on" section on my phone. Don't understand it... but here's this morning's cat picture. Skittles, my very shy and nervous girl, consented to sit on my lap briefly. My DH had her sister on his shoulder and I wanted to get both of them into the picture, but Reese jumped down too fast so all I have is his knees. We are in our home office.