Thread 8 - TalkLair: “Brewing Russell's teapot”

[Kucinghitam]

Continuation of previous threads (thread 7).

The new lair of JTT escapees is all cosy and homey; we have truly settled here. Outside, the garden is blooming with spring flowers. Inside, the hearth is glowing, pictures are up on the walls, rugs are down on the floors (and assorted pets curled up on them).

We just won’t mention the gnawed bones of our prey over there in the corner of the cave…

I wash brand new towels and tea towels before use, as they are peculiarly unabsorbent if you don’t.

Not bed sheets though, I like the brand new feeling of brand new sheets.

I always wash new crockery before using it for the first time.

I wash underwear and towels before use, but otherwise I don't have a particular policy on laundering new clothes. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't. Having a total lack of position on this may render me an MN outcast.

I usually don't wash new things, but did once get an extreme allergic reaction to dye in a new pair of trouser (minor graze on shin developed into tennis-ball sized lump) - and got a nasty rash from a new silk scarf was back (cheap Indian silk), so have to admit that it might be sensible. I would wash pillowcases.

Towels and tea towels for the absorbency thing, yes, and for tea towels I strongly favour linen as way more absorbent than cotton.

I have really sensitive skin but new clothes have never triggered a reaction whereas the wrong washing powder of just too much of it have dove. And I have to avoid wool for things that will come in contact with my arms, legs, torso or neck (basically I can have wool coats but will need a non-wool scarf and wool is fine for gloves and shoes).

Both my allergic reactions were more than 30 years ago, and I think the laws around dyes have been tightened up since then.

My lack of position on this issue resembles @Kucinghitam's . Maybe we should form a group? The Great Unaligned?

I would be prepared to join a chapter for those too lazy to care. Join it, not run it.

Looks like I might be a MN Weirdo, oh well 😅

Anyway, went to have the wax sucked out of my left ear earlier and feel like I've been reborn. I can hear again! It was a rather strange, slurpy experience but the final 'plop' as the last bit came out and my ear canal cleared was amazing. I was so relieved I practically danced around the room afterwards, which the ear cleaning woman said made her day. Walking home, all the bird song was bright and clear, it was lovely.

I wash new things if I feel they need washing. Knickers and towels usually, other clothes mostly not. Bedding if it smells funny or feels as if it has a dressing in.

Hooray for restoration of hearing! I have to wear hearing aids now and I find it quite depressing.

On a related note, I had an eye test this morning. I need a new set of reading glasses, but all the blood vessels are sound, no pre-cataract signs, no glaucoma, good peripheral vision and I don't have to wear them for driving.

I'm at the beach with the Hooliganette. I'm in the shade, I feel too hot and a bit nauseous.

Glad your eyes are healthy, Sinner. It is reassuring to be told such things.

Feeling nauseous from being too hot is horrible. Have you got a towel or something you can wet and drape round your neck like a scarf? That can really help.

I'm starting to feel better now, it's something I seem prone to. The pint of tea before coming down has probably rehydrated me!

I'm glad about my eyes, too. There is family history of glaucoma and cataracts...

Glad you're feeling better. The wet tea towel thing is great for emergencies and works very quickly.

Thanks, I had to substitute damp sand in the shade! Hi

Anyway, dinner is on and I've just rescued a fledgling goldfinch, which steadfastly refused to go out of the doors. It clung onto the woodwork of the front porch.

I caught it and put it on the garage roof, where it displayed its gratitude by trapping itself in the gutter, necessitating Rescue #2.

It's now flown away.

Yay! It's posted!

Wonderful, Sinner!

Apparently cats like to eat ear wax.

Something wonderful happened today, my erstwhile best friend phoned, 10 weeks after the event, to thank me for the birthday pressie I sent her. We’ve been estranged really since 2016, although until 2020 we still met up, just couldn’t talk about any of the things I’m interested in, like politics and Brexit and Boris fucking Johnson, because she loves Brexit and “Boris” and happily voted for them.

Anyway, after thrashing it out, we had a lovely long talk, she’s coming over next month for my birthday, and I feel so relieved. I have thought about her every day and felt terrible for letting politics come between us, but she’s one of very few people I know who vote Tory and Brexit so I’ve focused all my malcontent upon her, held HER responsible for the demolition of the UK and the ruination of my retirement/pension.

So it was cathartic to tell her that. Why are these things so much easier on the phone than face to face?

I'm way too lazy to wash clothes etc before wearing/using. Wrt washing my washing machine went wrong again on Wednesday and delightfully leaked water into the flat downstairs. Bastard thing. I'm going to have to fork out for a new one and pay for delivery/removal. On the plus side it's so hot that my sodden laundry dried pretty soon and there's a launderette nearby until I get a new machine. In other news I got a call from the hospital earlier and have an endoscopy for next week. Yay and huzzah!

In lovely news I visited a friend who's relocated to the south of England and got to meet her cat, Elvis, for the first time. He's a chonky delight!

Staged is excellent for those of you who are fans of the David Tennant/ Michael Sheen chemistry.

Oh yes - I watched Staged and thoroughly enjoyed it.

There's a new season just started, Brit.

@BinturongsSmellOfPopcorn is it on streaming yet? I'd have to fire up the VPN to see it on iPlayer.

Oh, excellent!