Thread 12 - TalkLair: “I say we take off and nuke the entire site from orbit. It's the only way to be sure.”

[Kucinghitam]

(Previous thread 11).

The days are gradually growing longer, but the worst of the winter weather is not yet behind us. In the TalkLair, we remain hunkered down keeping cosy and warm. The hearth is glowing, the walls covered in dubious artwork, books by non-approved authors line the shelves, 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…

Belated Happy Birthday @duc748!

Yeah, happy brithday @duc748

Cat café visit was a big success, think we got the best seats cos the cats were all over us, literally all over us while other patrons looked on with envy. What's even better is next door there's a dog café ! So we're going there for Valentine's day.

Excellent. Is next door called Dog on the Tyne?

Ha!

It's called the Dog and Scone!

Belated birthday returns, @duc748 - hope it was a good one!

Last year I had a prime birthday but will have to wait a few years for the next one.

Go for those chips, MouseMinge, and enjoy every one! Eee, I could just eat a chip.

My twin has been to stay, after working away for three months, and we've had a huge catch up. All lovely, with nothing broken and no sigh inducing messes, just endless talking and a great deal of eating. It was good to see him again.

The thread is very cheerful right now and it's lovely. I went over to my local pub today for an hour or so of jazz and backgammon. Well, Snoop played backgammon, I watched and cutched with Seamus and listened to the jazz which was delightful. A drummer, a saxophonist and a double bassist. It was so calm and smooth but not smooooth jazz which would not be my thing. There's jazz every sunday (backgammon once a month), so I might head along next week as well with a book and just have some apple juice and nice live music.

I got some new trousers yesterday as well (and knickers but they weren't on show today) which fit and I looked quite nice. They're like sailor style trousers, pretend buttoning up on each hip. I'm not buying a lot of clothes at the moment because hopefully I'll put on weight again but I need some bits and pieces so that I have a few changes of clothes. I love my Adidas joggers but I can't wear them all the time! I have bras coming tomorrow too. I wanted to buy some yesterday but they didn't have anything in my size. I've bought "my first bra" bras because I've gone from a 34E to a 30C! It's handy though because they're cheaper than other bras so thank you chest balloons for making your scaffolding more affordable!

Bugger.

StepPaBint in A&E. MaBint has suspected a continuing UTI for a couple of weeks, as he been very tired and more than usually confused, but tests were negative after his intial course of antibiotics. Seems she's more accurate than the tests.

At least its a little cottage hospital that closes at 11, so they can't be kept waiting all night.

Sorry for ending the run of cheerful posts. I can improve it slightly with the information that the vending machine there does decent coffee, and MaBint packed a bag of hot cross buns for the wait.

I love those button-at-the-hip trousers. Can't wear them - they'd be an absolute disaster on me - but love them on other people.

I hope he's home soon, but I approve of packing hot cross buns. That's very sensible indeed! Don't worry about the cheerfulness at all, I feel for your poor steppabint. UTIs are a bastard but hopefully he'll be back on form again once it's sorted.

Poor StepPaBint and (more to the point) poor MaBint. Speaking from experience, this must be exhausting for her. And it always happens in the evening/at the weekend, when the GP is closed, doesn't it? It never occurs to me to take food, though - perhaps I should Be Prepared.

Poor MaBint and StepPaBint! Hope they’re now home and that he’s well on the way to being sorted. Also, taking hot cross buns is an excellent idea. They’d be just the thing!

They got back home at 10, so not too bad. Still short on answers, but at least full of buns.

Full of buns is good. I've just started reading Femina: A New History of the Middle Ages Through the Women Written Out of It by Janina Ramirez. I've just read the preface and introduction and so far so good, she writes well. The first thing I've discovered is that Emily Wilding Davison was a medievalist, that is that's what her post grad (although of course she didn't graduate) was formed around. I'm looking forward to the journey very much because I've always enjoyed watching Ramirez's documentaries.

Totally knackered though and I did nod off while reading so definitely time to sleep. Weekly blood test tomorrow and as it's at 12:50 Snoop and I might head to the restaurant on the pier for their fries afterwards. It all depends on how I'm feeling. No steroids today and the weariness and nausea really kicks in the first day off the steroids.

Sweet dreams any heading toward them. x

Sweet dreams to all from me. I’m just heading to bed. It’s currently about 3:15am where most of you are so you’ll all be awake long before me unless I have another sodding sleepless night.

Best wishes to poor MaBint and StepPaBint @NoBinturongsHereMate

And I love your gastronomic adventures @MouseMinge

Sorry to hear aboutPaBint

Is he catheterised? I just ask because my aunt was, after her stroke and my cousin recognised the gaga symptoms, not to mention the smell. She had an argument with a consultant and told him she knew what was wrong after the previous few times.

Not catheterised, and they couldn't find markers of an infection. Confusion is tricky as a symptom because he has dementia, so the increased loopiness could be a step down of that rather than a separate symptom (used to have the same with my dad - is it Parkinsons delusions, Parkinsons meds delusions, or UTI delusions?). The peeing blood is definitely a separate symptom, but we don't know of what. Further tests arranged ...

Afternoon all. Today is the day of exhaustion. Luckily Snoop was on hand to take me for my blood test but there was no trip to the restaurant on the pier because I had no desire or indeed ability to walk along the pier to the restaurant. I was worried that I had no appetite at all which wouldn't be good but I did eat a pot of seafood and prawn cocktail sandwich filler when I got back so that was good.

Currently watching Escape to the Country (they're in the Cairngorns which is a bit lush) and then I think I'll snooze again or call the energy suppliers first who want to charge me a ridiculous amount of money on top of the bills I've paid. I'm not sure what drugs they're on but I'm sure I'll find out soon enough!

Sorry @NoBinturongsHereMate to hear about StePaBint, hope he gets better from what it is that's ailing him.

Have a French cat from me.

https://twitter.com/TweetsOfCats/status/1757060769911357938

He's so French!

My cat Skittles is very vocal and has one sound that goes a bit like awoh which we have decided is her version of "hello" but other than that she mainly likes to discuss twentieth century Chinese history. We think she might have been in the Red Guard in a previous incarnation.

Kasper's miaow is so little and pitiful. He occasionally grabs a toy and starts making a mow-ow-ow-ow-ow yowling noise though, not sure what that's about.

Mochi is just LOUD.

Francis is annoying. He'll be having at it while I'm giving him the attention he's demanding. Today I was too tired for it so he got cut off when he carried on demanding.

NoBinturongsHereMate · Today 12:29

Not catheterised, and they couldn't find markers of an infection.

Ah, well in any case, I hope he stays as well as posible.