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.

On a gardening note .....I have had to do some gardening from the inside out 😳.

I have a wisteria bush that will just not be controlled.

I have a window that is nearly always opened and hard to get to .

The wisteria has crawled all the way in to the inside .

Got the prunners out and chopped what I can .

I want it all cut back but gardener keeps saying it is not the right season .

It has a life of it own ...

It is like a triffid 😂😂!

Spent a couple hours at the Chinatown Festival today and joined a short 30 minute walking tour that the festival offered.
I'm still hesitant to recommend a visit as it is rundown, but there are some good spots and would be worth a Google if interested.
Stopped at New Town Bakery on the tour, a Chinese medicine shop, fish market and butcher shop. All interesting and the bakery is definitely worth checking out.
But, the test for me is what else is around?
Afterward, I walked two blocks outside the festival zone along Columbia to Hastings and back. It is very run down, street people, drugs, filth. I'm sorry to say it, but it is true. I was with Havoc who was in the stroller and no one made me feel unsafe, though. But, I'd still caution a walk around. Going with the guide I did today is the exception.
So, that's my report. 🤓

http://www.newtownbakery.ca/

https://awokaround.com/#

It's very warm here. Around 30c and not much of a breeze. 😅😂☀️

Chinatown Festival sounds great Havoc

Welcome Three

Just had tea and a crumpet. DD worked all yesterday but the garden party she was helping host had to be moved inside. She is unwell today.

Didn't get ds to haircut but did 150 pounds payment to get and did swimming 98 lengths with dh. And some hoovering.

Got half of my next assignment completed yesterday, would like to crack on again today but we’ll see. DH and the DC spent the evening at the camp out and rolled back in at about 11pm. In the meantime I had run the perfect bath (depth/temperature/unguents all spot on!) had a g&t and lazed in bed with my book. Glorious!
Need to catch up today with ironing, clean the kitchen, make a roast and lunchboxes for tomorrow. Plus DC3 has extra gymnastics and DC2 had usual swim training.

Happy Sunday, lovelies. ☀️☺️
My alarm woke us up at 6:30am. Ugh.
Why god, why?!
Changed Havoc's diaper then miraculously Havoc went back to sleep and we're just getting up now.

Pancakes and a latte are in order. 😛
Since I didn't fall back asleep I've been scrolling things to do. Lots of cultural festivals this weekend. Might drive out to the Latin Fest in Surrey for a few hours. If so, will have to go early as I'm unsure of parking and there's no way I'm taking the train on a hot day with a toddler and stroller.

MissC I hope your floods have abated a bit.

We are back in smoky air from Canada. Yesterday's sunset was spectacular, but I'm sneezing like a crazy sneezing thing today.

I went to the local library book sale and found some interesting books, in particular a Northern Italian cookbook. Prices at the library sale are irresistible - 50c to $2.00 depending on type of cover and size. I did buy one book that I already have; it disappeared into DD4's room months ago and apparently out of sight is out of mind.

The recent rain killed some of the annuals I bought for the deck, so when I went to Walmart yesterday evening and found they were selling off their plants I bought some replacements - 50c each isn't bad. Shops are full of back to school stuff here and there's a sense of summer winding down.

Math, we've had more rain today and are still under a flood warning. I was able to get to church and the grocery store this morning with no problem, but a bridge I need to get to work is still closed and will likely take several weeks to repair. The soil supporting the abutments was washed away in the flooding last week. I may have to go in the long way on Tuesday.

My deck plants have held up okay in the rain, as they are all in self draining pots or containers/

DS is on his way back from Washington, but his train is delayed, and he won't be home tonight in time for dinner.

We finally have a bit of rain here. The air is so nice now. It's not near enough, but it giving relief from heat for now.
Didn't manage to go out yesterday. Was just so tired from heat and not enough sleep. It was much cooler inside with fans on and there was no breeze yesterday to entice me outdoors.
Made a crab pizza for dinner: pesto, crab, sun dried tomatoes, capers, mozza. Was loathe to turn oven on, but it wasn't too bad as it was only 30 mins total for heating and cooking.
Pizza was worth it. 😛

Sprouts, forgot to mention if you do take a water taxi across False Creek ro Olympic Village there are kayak rentals available. I think the sign said $25/hr. You can also take it to Granville Island under Granville street Bridge and wander the market, artisan shops and check out restaurants. It is loaded with tourists, but locals go there, too. If you do go save space for a doughnut from Lee's. I go to Granville Isle just for doughnuts. 😛😛😛
I recommend a simple cinnamon sugar cake donut. 😛😛😛😛

Saw this today. It’s July !!!!

Havoc, your pizza sounds lovely. I'm surprised it took 30 minutes. We cook ours in a very hot oven set to convection cooking at 260C. It's ready in 10-11 minutes.

And speaking of water taxis, I took a ferry to work. The bad news is that there's no parking at the ferry landing, so I have to take a quick train ride there, then get picked up by a van at the other side. It also won't run if there are thunderstorms in the area, so I have to be careful not to take it over the river in the morning and get stuck on the other side with no way to get home.

The views are lovely, though. The river crossing takes about eight minutes.

Getting ready to welcome baby no 2. 10 weeks to go and a list of jobs as long as arm.

Feeling overwhelmed by how close things are now. I feel so slow. Today, l managed to sort through clothes, take out the sheets for the moses basket. Got some ironing done and put on two loads of washing!!.

Just chilling now, baby No1 is asleep as she didn't nap during the day.

Welcome, @BritishDesiGirl, and thanks for sharing your new little human news. The last ten weeks are overwhelming. How old is baby number one? Mine were 22 months apart, which worked well for us. Number two was a happy surprise. I was planning on a bit more of a break between them.

Hope air quality has improved now Math

That sounds like a very fancy pizza Havoc

Lovely boat trip MissC

Welcome Britishdesigirl

Bit early for that Lemons

Hope camp out went well Helena

Yesterday had a roast dinner and apple crumble and DS ate the crumble. Did some hoovering.

Today we have had a delivery of the chicken stainless steel drinking container and my Boden parcel with some earrings in, 3 lots so happy with that. I need earrings more with shorter hair after the chemo. Still at just below ear length and some way to go.

Sent the documents back for PIP mandatory reassessment but we have first two payments through.

Got a Thai meal for dinner. DD will be back from work shortly. No cahms visit today as on holiday.

@MissConductUS thankyou for the welcome. Baby No1 is 28 months so a good gap between them for me and my husband.

Miss, oven to 500f in about 15 mins; pizza about 12 mins to cook. Hope flooding subsides and roads fixed soon. Stay safe!
Silkie, I love Thai food. I don't have too much spice now, but it's still delicious. It's nice you've got something pretty for yourself. ☺️
Welcome, British. Ahhh, nesting time. I went a bit nuts last two weeks or so before DC arrived.

Just ate two slices cold leff-over pizza. Mouth is salivating for that last lonely piece in the container on the counter I have yet to put away....
Is eating cold left-over pizza (or Chinese take-out) a horror to you in the UK? It is to my French friends. And taking left-overs home from a restaurant (a doggie bag) is unheard of to my Euro friends as well. What about asking for more hot water for your tea in a cafe or restaurant? Another shocker to my Euro friends. 🤔

I don't eat pizza or chinese cold but people do. Generally not that keen on pizza as I don't like tomato so don't eat it much (also takeaway ones here are soggy and luke warm) whereas Chinese/Thai/indian I love and so eat it all. DD loves pizza and she eats Chinese cold and I think pizza cold. Fine to ask for extra hot water for a tea here. In the 80s people used to get doggie bags from restaurants, don't do now afaik. We do eat things like samosas cold.

DH always eats all the leftovers here, every time he declares he wants nothing then takes bits of everybody's meals before giving them out. I don't mind but I always adjust the order. Think its the spending money on him he doesn't like.

Silkie, come over and I'll make you one of my pesto pizzas!!! Bring trilly Floof as well!!!! 😁

If I don't eat much of my meal out i'll ask for it to be packed "to go" and no one will bat an eye.

I remember the first time my friend from France was here for a visit and was surprised at me asking for more water for the little teapot. He said in France it would be seen as totally cheap and would never be done. Servers in restaurants will usually check if you want more hot water here, too.

Silkie, just curious re your cancer meds. My mum gets hers for free from the cancer clinic at the hospital that was treated at and where her oncologist is. Do you have to pay for yours?

Would love to come over to yours Havoc and Floof would love it food and people, no pesto please though says Floof, uncooked prawns are good. Floof dislikes the Chinese for cooking the prawns. DH said Floof has been at our front window downstairs like a meercat standing and banging the windows, he normally does that for a game.

The cancer meds during active treatment when you go to hospital are all paid for by NHS though after first surgery they gave no painkillers but those are only £1 or so and 1 biscuit. Second surgery they sent me to a private hospital paid for by NHS and I got a whole carrier bag of free meds, an overnight stay and lots of lovely meals. Chemo all drugs are paid for by NHS including any complications, just phone chemo line 24/7 for those. Radio didn't have any meds. Now I am on Tamoxifen for 10 years and in theory I can get an exemption for prescription charges but we have never filled the form in and got it signed so we pay around £10 a month for those. They also offered me a drug which costs about £80,000 a year (abem...) and that again would be free if I got the card or £10 a month or so if not but I didn't have that one in the end. They have a stupid NHS rule you can only get 1 months drugs a time which is a right pain. Especially as there are shortages and you have to play hunt the tablets. Though last time I got really stressed about it to them and they gave me 3 months but the chemist only had 2 months so we have an IOU.

My pumpkin plant is enormous, but it doesn't have any female flowers yet.

Silkie, That's a bit stressful....
My mum is 4 years post mastectomy. To be on Letrazole for 5 years then consider a switch, but oncologist said likely 10 years and may consider a switch to Tamoxifen. She can get a script to fill at pharmacy but it's pointless as oncologist has standing order for her and all that needs to be done is call clinic pharmacy for refill and it's ready for pick-up next day. Three months filled at a time. During covid they would deliver for free if you wanted.
Our system is not perfect, but some things work well. After chemo my mum applied for a single white blood cell injection ($1200) instead of the covered 1 p/d for 7 days. Drug company forwarded the shot before extended health approved co-pay to make sure she got the meds in time. If you can believe that!

Sorry your Mum had cancer Havoc but glad she's got good treatment.

And you, too, Silkie. She's one of the lucky ones, though. The last four years have been fraught with complications and co-morbidities. Her life has been saved, literally, three times.

Just catching up again.
Helena I feel your pain - just sorted out the 3 separate documents I need to upload to turnitin and have exam on weds.
Gosh Miss your weather sounds extreme - we have had winds that blew out the greenhouse glass (plastic) and rain but not like that! Lovely views on your ride across the water.
Havoc thank you. I think we will go to aquarium (we all enjoy an aquarium), the water taxi sounds good but we have had bad kayaking experiences so may give that a miss!
Silkie we had roast chicken yesterday yum!
British good luck, make the most of this time.......it will be a fantastic rollercoaster journey!

Welcome, @MeinKraft, and thanks for sharing your pumpkin news. Your garden looks lovely! What part of the world are you located in? Pumpkins are grown locally to me as well. There's an annual competition for the largest pumpkin raised. I live in an area north of New York City called the Hudson Highlands

I was taking the ferry home and saw an absolute gaggle of ducks on the river. It turns out that a lady who works on the ferry feeds them, so they were gathering for dinner. I asked her what she was feeding them. Dry cat food is apparently the perfect food source for them and they love it.

The picture from the stern of the ferry looks hazy thanks to the wildfire smoke from Canada.

Sorry your Mum has been so ill Havoc but glad they treated it.

I love kayaking but Floof is afraid of water, didn't read the Maine Coon job description. There was a case by here well hour or two away were people went guided sea kayaking and came back and car under water.

There is a lavender field round here want to visit.