Come and tell me your dull and unexciting news 31: 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 a link to the prior thread:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5077459-come-and-tell-me-your-dull-and-unexciting-news-30-calmly-through-the-day

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

Tried for an early dinner in order to catch the last night of lumiere. Baby had been awake since 2pm and Havoc hadn't napped at all (despite still needing naps most days), so both were a bit on the fussy side. I decided to pull the plug on going out this evening and took a bath. Baby fell asleep in crib after cio and Havoc fell asleep before I could get pj's on. So, now I'm watching Elf, have eaten 8 squares of a mint choc bar, got the dishwasher going and can't believe I managed to wash my hair and shave my legs.

Didn't make pizza for dinner. Instead, baked salmon with pesto, roasted potatoes with Chinese 5 spice, sautéed baby kale and asparagus with garlic and cooked quinoa that I made kid-friendly by stirring a good pat of butter through and seasoning with a bit of salt. Both dc ate/tried everything. 👏👏👏

@Mumtobabyhavoc

Sadly I am only allowed paracetamol because of all my health issues.

I hope you left some of the salmon for me!

that dinner sounds delicious @Mumtobabyhavoc! My oldest is autistic and youngest is on the line and finding things they will eat is hard work. When I was in hospital for a couple weeks recently it was lovely to have a wider range of food to eat, and they certainly didn't stint on quantity =)

Feeling virtuous, finally went to the gym again after too many weeks.

Been there Duckling as both my dc have autism. Now they are high school age they eat most things though my dd has to touch her food before it goes into her mouth. I think she needs the sensory feedback from her fingers before she can bear to eat it but it can be messy. I have encouraged her away from things like soup and cereal 🫣

I have had a lovely weekend. Got lots done yesterday as both dc were busy with their own activities. Then today dd and I attended the local remembrance service, her parading with her girl guides pack.
In the afternoon we did our local walk and could see the distant hills which have been shrouded in grey for the last two weeks. This is the view from half way round.

I had DS and gf home for the weekend.
..
Whole months heating budget gone ..puff ☁️☁️🗯️.!

Gf feels the cold ...
I put heating on (3rd time since beginning October as weather is so mild )

Gas fire in sitting room then gets put on .

Put on again this morning.

Then..then...they decide to go to shop at bottom of road...

Wearing the same clothes that they are wearing sitting Infront of the fire !

I said are you not putting your coats in looking at gf.

She says ..ohh no ...it is really mild today !

😲🤔🤦🗯️😂😂,...

Yes I did "casually" bring it up with ds ...he said she just love the feel of an open fire to read her book next to !

She has never had that experience before !

Nb .it is not a real fire ..it is a gas fire that does real flames ...like a gas hob but arranged with pretend coal lumps under it .

Does that make sense 😂

We do use it if an evening if we are all in there ..but don't want heating on in bedrooms ......but I don't use it as much .

I mean on a Christmas get together.

I am always willing o put heating on for gf as I had to spend time with X mil hen they never put heating on full stop !

I would never want her to feel uncomfortable or not wanting to visit.

Just .....

You have 1 t shirt on ....
Put. Jumper on !!!!

Checking in for some relief.
"Off-duty" tonight with DM, unless I get a call in the middle of the night. Sat with her all night last night. She's now got a line in and a morphine driver and is asleep most of the time.

Bizzey I've lived most of my life in an assortment of draughty, high-ceilinged Victorian houses (in a very cold & wet part of England). Extra layers are the very first line of defence, followed by tucking your legs up on the settee to avoid draughts freezing your feet, a blanket/throw, a hot drink and finally, an early night in an upstairs room - less draughts, which I find are worse than the overall temperature.

Oh that is a lovely photo @DandyDandylion Has to be England? Yorkshire/Peak District? (if I may ask)

It is Cheshire in England. When lockdown hit this was our daily walk from the door which reminded us how lucky we are to live hear. You walk through farmers fields and then through a gate into the woods/valley in the picture. As soon as you get through the gate the sound of the birds hits you.

havoc, your meals always sound amazing. You should explore a career as a private chef when your kids are a bit older.

That's a lovely view, Dandy. We have Veterans Day tomorrow, which I guess is our version of Remembrance Day. We have a lot of farms in the area where I live as well (pictures below).

We haven't needed the heating on much so far either, Bizzey, but it has gotten cold at night. It was below 0 C when I woke up this morning.

And speaking of cold, drafty houses, ours isn't terrible, but I'm looking forward to replacing the 38 year old casement windows. The carpenter turned up Saturday morning to measure the windows in the kitchen and has ordered the new ones. The rest will have to wait until next spring.

DH and I went back to the cabinet showroom yesterday to finalize our order with the designer. We had to pick out the hardware for the handles and pulls, decide where we wanted pull out shelves vs. standard shelves, etc. They have a few "show" kitchens there, and he convinced us to use the same quartz we're using for the worktops as the backsplash. It should look lovely and save us a bit of money by not having all of the labor involved in installing a tile backsplash.

On the way home we stopped by a historic farm in the area. It's not a pick your own place, but they have a lovely farm store and fabulous bakery, so we bought some cider donuts and cherry strudel to take home.

Thanks for postings pics Miss and Dandy. I really love seeing them. My dear auntie used to always say I should open a restaurant. My reply was always that the fun might be lost that way. Private chef? 🧐 Might be a bit different...
Bizzey, gas used to be inexpensive here, but not any longer. Most homes/apartments/condos have electric baseboard heat. Some have gas. And I know the type of fireplace you mean. They're quite nice and can throw quite s bit of heat.
Iwandered, how are you managing?
Dandy, Cheshire? My dad's line is Stoke-on-Trent. We're practically neighbours! 😁🤗
Miss, sounds like reno plans are humming along! I love a good farm stop...speaking of which:

Went to a farmer's market today in the Kits area. Bought some lovely Ambrosia apples, some potatoes of a variety I didn't know (and have forgotten now ) and an onion ($16). Then a snack of adobo fries ($16), play at the playground then home. The wind is cold and there's a rain storm coming. Heat went on when we got home

eatlocal.org/markets/kitsilano-winter/

And a pic of a tree uprooted in last week's storm 😧

Just back from seeing Paddington in Peru with DD and DH and had a drink there and they gave us free sweets. Was a lovely movie. DD met up with her boyfriend who is also back from university this morning and they went for a couple of walks. Had a chicken, stuffing and cranberry sandwich and warm mince pie with double cream. I keep forgetting it's not really Christmas.

Floof has now engaged his brain cell and worked out the cat role and has been trying to get the robin off the tree. DS has been eating lots of the bakers brownies.

Tomorrow we have tree surgeon, then DD back to train station to return to university then I have check up with surgeon.

Your food sounds impressive as always Havoc

Lovely view Dandy

Interesting farm MissC

Sounds like a great day and good visit, Penguinsa. That sandwich had Boxing Day vibes. 🤗😋

Now having dessert: apple slices and warm dulce de leche for dipping.

Penguinsa, I just went down the Oxford's traditions rabbit hole... I understand the family thing now. Also read about punting, carnations, trashing, and tortoise races. And learned the motarboard must be carried into exams and never worn until grad. 🫡

Saw one more Lumiere exhibit tonight. It was like a mini dance party. Black lights and other lights strung through the trees in a courtyard, dj and a dance area that projected onto your movements digitally onto a screen.

Dandy I'm just over the border in Derbyshire, close to Macclesfield.

Optometrist has confirmed Blepharitis 😔😞😞 ( ! I am so vain !! With the sad faces !
Can't wear eye makeup for a while. 😂)

Hopefully now doctor will prescribe me the stuff she has recommended as this is here to stay !.

@Mumtobabyhavoc and other clever cooking people ...
Help please !
( To embarrassed to start a thread in case it it I ooo obvious!!)

I have a lot of onions to use up ..
Not sure how ?
Laziness ?

Can I just chop them and Bag portions up and put straight in freezer ?

It seems so obvious and easy...that I feel I must be missing something!

I have bought frozen chopped onions before and love how quick and easy they make a quick mid week meal !

Can I just put some chopped garlic in the bags as well ...as they are starting to look a bit dodgy 😂

Bizzey, haven't done it, so googled. Apparently you can. I'd advise to be cautious. Due to high water content they will likely be a bit mushy once thawed. I wonder if the best route might be to cook down, cool thoroughly then freeze. In that case you'd have ready onion for French onion soup. 🧐

Well the police (well one of them) came to interview me about the situation here two Sundays ago.

It was ok. He asked whether I wanted it to go to prosecution but I said no as I was unharmed and nor was the building! Anyway we don't have his details except a picture from CCTV.

The policeman was very nice and said it would be closed now but I asked if the guy reoffended here or anywhere, would they still be able to look at the report and they said yes.

It’s a shame that tree fell Havoc. Saying that we had a willow in our garden growing up which had fallen in a storm. It was left alone and managed to live for a number of years lying on its side. It was great for climbing as you could get up to the main trunk quite easily and sit swinging your legs for hours watching the world go by.

Sounds like you had a lovely family weekend Penguinsa I hope mine take the time to pop home once they fly off. My two young cats were only 4 months old their first Christmas so I have lots of pictures of them peaking out from the middle of the tree. I now only have shatterproof baubles left and each year I look out for a new once which looks nice but would be difficult to break. Hopefully your robin fits this requirement.

Hooe your eye issue cams down Bizey I always feel a bit queasy when my eyes aren’t right. I buy pre frozen chopped onions and only problem freezing your own is that they may stick together so I would portion them.

My DH went to Oxford but doesn’t recognise all your list Havoc. He does have a good story though. He studied law and the head of his college was the university expert in laws pertaining to Oxford university. A student of his once asked for a glass of port during a tutorial and without missing a beat he poured him one. Apparently there was an ancient rule that tutors had to provide port in tutorials. The student was very proud of himself until he found a note in his pigeon hole informing him he had been fined for crossing the quad without his sword. Apparently another ancient rule that has never been revoked though thankfully not normally enforced!

For some reason every Monday I spend the day busy and at the end of the day I wonder what on earth I have achieved. I did enjoy having a bit of sun on my face when I got outside though.

Dandy, have just read about more traditions. I enjoyed the port/sword story! For fun, ask him whether or not he walked on the grass in the quads and what time classes started in the morning. 😁

Slept in until just before 9am which made it too late to get myself and dc ready to attend a Remembrance Day ceremony. Still feeling crappy with the cold and dc are still coughing, too. Watched the Vancouver ceremony on tv, though. Got a bit teary when Last Post was played, as I always do. Then spent some time reviewing military records looking for family. I think I've found 4 more relatives who served in WW1. All were born in the 1880's in England.

I have wrapped Christmas presents 😲🤩😁😂!!

Some toiletries still to divide up ..and keep !

Very strange not doing it on Xmas eve ...very ,very late ...with Christmas music 😂.

But I just don't know when I will get ds 's to visit , need the room , re organise the room , hide things suddenly, ...

Feeling very smug 😂...

This is all going to go so wrong 😂

Bizzey, wow! You really are ahead of the game. Good for you! 👏

Made crab pesto pizza with caramelized onion, sautéed baby kale and yellow bell peppers. Havoc did a pretty good job of helping. I think I'll do a peach-strawberry Eve's pudding for dessert shortly. 🧐👨‍🍳😋