Come and tell me your dull and unexciting news 25: 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.

Here is the link to the prior thread:

Come and tell me your dull and unexciting news 24: Calmly through the day

Welcome to all regulars, lurkers, and new contributors! Everyone is welcome to join.

Silkie the struggle you're having just shouldn't be happening.
If you move, will you go to an area with a better reputation for SEN provision?

I was busy all weekend and into the week, with the Ikea trip on Saturday, packing for DS and loading some boxes into his car on Sunday (he was out of the country on a last hurrah trip) and working all day Monday, followed by some squeezing of small sundries into the remaining tight spaces into DS's car on Tuesday morning, and then we all waved him off. Ikea was everything I remember - I really love going there and would cheerfully move into any of the rooms they have set up. I could live on Swedish meatballs and lingonberry sauce... We bought a lot of kitchen and bathroom stuff in Ikea, which DS only saw when he unpacked because I sealed boxes as they filled on Sunday. He reported that the local grocery stores where he is have only very basic foods - hoping he'll find a better selection further afield and will get to use all the shiny new utensils.

Bizzey, was the wine any good?

Math, well done getting your son prepared for the move. We don't have an Ikea in my area, but I'd love to visit one. Grocery stores in rural areas can be pretty sparse. We get some groceries via Amazon subscribe and save if he has favorites he can't find locally.

I saw a duck for the first time in weeks. I took this picture just before he dove to catch a fish. I'm a bit shocked the crane let me get this close. The crane stands on the bank looking for fish to break the water. I now know that there are at least two cranes of similar appearance at the reservoir because as soon as I saw this one I spotted another one on the opposite bank.

We had my boss's good riddance farewell party yesterday. He is staying on for another six weeks due to a delay in hiring his successor.

Thanks MissC lovely pictures.

Math Well done on getting your DS ready.

Bizzey Well done on discovering wine.

Hope you are feeling better now Havoc

Still thinking about you Prok I really hope all is well.

Swimming again today and jacuzzi, steam room and sauna, did 80 lengths.

Had carpenter round yesterday and discussed a few projects and hopefully he can start work on one before too long.

Finally a bit of progress re DS and education. E-mail today from head of send at LA saying our first choice school Head wants to meet us. Say that's fine and when can do. He messages back what about now. I say fine so we met today online. He was so lovely. They've currently gone can't meet needs but every school everywhere seems to do that for all SN kids at the moment as part of political battles for money. Meeting went well. Bizarrely he said LA have applied for a 6th form place for A levels which shocked me as he's not got the GCSEs needed to get on to A levels so he said is that right and I said no its y11 repeat we want. He said yes its strange LA have requested this. However having thought about it in more detail if we could go straight to A level why not. It would be easier to have asd DS doing 3 or 4 subjects rather than 10 to 12. And it appears not many gcses are essential mainly just maths which he could do asleep and english language. So will get back and change that. We are doing a meeting in person on Tuesday and a school tour. Told me about his kids. The issue will be DS as well but want to try.

DD is considering taking up a 4th A level as well. We go to May Bumps garden party tomorrow. Monday we have cahms home visit and I have hospital phone appointment re DIEP surgery, hopefully go on waitlist finally. Been watching Netflix about a posh man who took a 1936 Rolls Royce round India.

Gosh Silkierabbit..that sounds more stressful than it needs to be .

My NT Ds Struggled with a levels ..thought to be fair we did have COVID at the time ..(and he really only went to school to socialise!)

I don't know your whole background with your DS ...
but my lad will hopefully come out with 2 GCSE (eng and maths) .
And that is an achievement for him .
It will still be up their in the accolade area the same as his big bros A* !!

DS found college much easier to manage than a school environment and is doing BTEC stuff in what he is interested i

(He had 3 years of no school or educational setting before then )

DS is older now and can explain things better.

2 subjects is the most he could do right now .

I do hope you get a solution to what you need .
Xx

Ohh and Ds is 19 next month !!

So no not the norm ..but they all get there in the end in their own time .

he looks like he is a 15 year old !

Silkie, that sounds like real progress with the school arrangements. I wish I understood GCSEs and A levels better. Your high school, pre-university testing system sounds so different from ours. I'm so glad all we have left is one year of uni for DD.

Speaking of DD, she's off on a solo road trip to the Catskills, which is the local part of the Appalachian Mountain chain. We think she'll be back tomorrow, which is nice as it will be Father's Day in the US tomorrow. We may go out to dinner tonight to celebrate as the restaurants will be packed tomorrow.

This ducky chap in new to the reservoir, as I don't recognize his distinctive markings. He was scraping the stone spillway with his beak for some reason.

Hope your DD has a nice time MissC

Yes we are so happy about the school negotiations though its still at a no atm and also need DS to engage. But they've offered us 2 meetings and a tour and told us about their kids. Its not the action of somebody who says no.

But what the LA have asked for is unprecedented in skipping GCSEs but he has got exceptional circumstances. And he's very bright and we have mocks and Olympiads to back that up.

Been to May Bumps garden party today. Also got quote in to fix living room floor. Feel like we are finally turning a corner though school could go to a firm no on Tuesday though think LA can force in at GCSE level. Never a great option but we have zero options currently.

It seems you have the first whiff of a hopeful breeze blowing your way wrt school, Silkies. Fingers crossed for DS.

We have had unusually cool weather here for the last few days. I sat out on my deck after dinner yesterday evening but beat a retreat indoors after about 20 minutes, feeling chilled.

DD4 agreed to look in on a friend's cat while she was away for a few days but then came down with a sore throat and general malaise, so I have done cat duty for the past three days. The cat and I are now firm friends. He's a lovely rescue cat who apparently takes a while to warm up to new people, so I'm feeling quite chuffed that he approached me cautiously and sniffed my hand, then graduated to letting me brush his very fluffy fur.

DS found a supermarket 45 minutes away, and now has a few bags of frozen veg, various meats, decent bread, garlic, and a bottle of wine.

Had a lovely day with Ds 1 today in a town near him .
It is on the train line down to him ...just 3 stops before.

So the best 1/2 way we could do !

He needed some stuff brought down that he didn't want posted so we decided to meet up.

Beautiful Cathedral that we walked around and I lit a candle for my dad for tomorrow as he passed away 7 years ago.

We sat outside a lovely pub to have some food and a busker was playing lovely music.
We both agreed ...it felt like we were on holiday !!

It was so nice going somewhere different....but just as easy for us both to get to.

I like his place where he lives ....but I think I have done it all now !!

(Pubs,bars,cafes,places of historical interest sort of thing !)

Makes you realise how big London is !

I am old ...and there are still places in London that I have not been too 🤭😳!

Glad the cat loves you Math

Great you had a nice day Bizzey

Talking of cats. DH who apparently doesn't like cats but they all love him is just saying hello pepere (little papa) to Floof at 0.20am

DD was also on the step next to the step with Floof's food and Floof was being very dramatic about it walking upright on just his two front paws with back two resting on top of fridge. He's currently trilling at DH. DH is saying dodo pepere but I don't think Floof has any plans to sleep. Give it 5 mins until DH is playing a game. 😂

Math, cats know which people like cats and which don't. You also understand cat etiquette, which is crucial when establishing a relationship with them.

And speaking of cats, DD has just returned from her jaunt to the Catskills. DH went to the posh bakery this morning and picked up cupcakes for us tonight to celebrate Father's Day.

I have my first cactus flower of the summer. The garden is doing well, and I have some snapdragons on the deck in a big planter that are growing like mad but have yet to flower.

It was Father’s Day here too yesterday, unfortunately DH had to do quite a lot of work, but he had an unexpectedly lovely day on Saturday which balanced things out. I was out with DC3 so DC1 made him a Father’s Day lunch very successfully!

After a weekend which contained; a football tournament, swim training x 2, dance lessons, end-of-season party, Mass, a gymnastics display, and a visit to my own Dad… I am yet again going back to work for a rest!

Pretty flower MissC

That's a very full weekend Helena, nice to have lots of activities but hope you can rest.

DD took DH out for Father's Day and they went bowling together. DS wouldn't go and wouldn't sign his card (he signed mine) so DH was a bit sad so DD cancelled seeing her boyfriend to be with DH. Got a second memory foam pillow, they are very good and last longer.

Cleaned the house and put the black bin out full, always happy its full. The green and blue bins are already full for next week. Hoovered upstairs, Floof is getting so much fluff on the carpets. He's so trilly.

We had cahms home treatment team round a third time today, DS pretended to be asleep and it was just 10 mins but its a start. Had a call with hospital re my DIEP surgery for reconstruction, said its OK and they will add me to waitlist and will be around a year.

See round the school tomorrow and a second meeting.

I am actually in awe of you Silkie.

Your strength is inspiring. I have my own issues atm with DSs dad and I'd love to have even a tenth of your strength.

Good luck tomorrow at the school and hope the waiting list moves quickly.

That was a busy weekend Helena!
We had two birthday parties, a rugby tournament, grocery shopping and a pizza party this weekend.. all while dodging heavy thundery showers... it certainly went by quickly.

Hope the visit and meeting go well today Silke

Am catching up.

lovey pictures of flowers MissC.

The exam I did was with the WJEC.

Someone has bumped into DHs car so he needs a new windscreen. First date he can have it done is in two weeks. We have borrowed a car for the period we need.

I hope your meeting at the school went well, Silkie.

Yesterday was a holiday here, so we had a nice three day weekend. DH had a nice Father's Day with a meal out, nice cards and presents, and cupcakes from the posh bakery. DS got him a coffee mug with a battery and heater built in that keeps the coffee hot. It has a app that lets you control the temperature. I may have to "borrow" it from time to time. 😁

This is my first duckling sighting of the summer! I hate to see them on the spillway, as some in years past have been washed down the tunnel that drains the water if the current is too swift.

That's very kind of you to say Half I am so sorry to hear you have issues with your DSs dad. You seem such a lovely person and deserve so much better. I could not have got through things without DH.

Had the second meeting and visit to school to see Head and senco. About an hour. Really lovely and supportive. The senco said to me she thought we were amazing to me and DH especially me. They said they are happy LA will give enough resources and they can adjust but they are concerned whether DS will engage. So they've asked us to bring DS into meet them. Ds has not left house since he came back from hospital. But he has been calm on talk of this school and also ate 6 Mars Bars and eating is up. I am going to speak to cahms to ask their advice about meeting, it seems a big jump for DS but I was delighted to have a maybe and only issue seemed to be will ds engage.

And went swimming 93 lengths, jacuzzi, steam room, sauna. Not told DS yet about meeting. I need a least 24 hours to delude myself this will happen. 😂Am going to ask cahms advice.

Sorry about car Lemons

Glad Father's Day went well MissC

Thursday we have a man coming to refit the living room Wooden floor, first guy bodged it though even it still looks much better than the carpet but expansion gaps are wrong and it has a slopy bit. Floof loves the slope and uses it for gaming. He was up all night playing with me trilling as I couldn't sleep. Just had KFC.

Silkie, keeping fingers crossed things continue to progress for your ds. Glad you're now on the waitlist for surgery. Can you bug them to be on a cancellation list or call every so often to check date?
Lemons, when will you get exam results? How did a bump into the car result in windshield being damaged? 🤔

Glad Father's Day went well for those observing. It's been quiet here. I've been a bit down as can't seem to shake this illness. Keep relapsing and quite fatigued. Havoc is mostly well but sleeping long naps still.
Made salmon, wild rice rice, and roasted new potatoes with sour cream for dinner. Potatoes were so good! I have a new appreciation for the humble spud. 😋

Wild rice.
(although wild rice rice might be interesting? )

Lemons, as I found out recently, having a windscreen replaced is not easy or cheap. Was there other damage to the car?

Mum, I'm concerned that you keep relapsing. What medical advice have you received?

Silkie, has the date been set for the meeting of your DS with the school staff?

All pretty quiet here. My wedding anniversary is a week from today, but we don't generally make a big fuss over it. DS went into the city today for in person training at his office, so that's good.

One of the cranes has taken to perching on the mysterious stone structure in the reservoir, more cactus flowers are blooming and I spotted a whole turtle family on one of the rocks.