Come and tell us your dull and unexciting news 32: 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/5148913-come-and-tell-me-your-dull-and-unexciting-news-31-calmly-through-the-day

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

Note there is one minor change to the thread title. "tell me your dull news" has been changed to "tell us...". I thought it was more in keeping with the spirit of the thread.

It was Small Things Like These. The book was astonishing and the film lived up to the book.

I picked up my glass tree today then had my nails done for Christmas. Then opened some white wine and relaxed. I'm not sleeping particularly well for many reasons and the drive wore me out. I will post images of the craft results soon.

Hilda, I was supposed to get an Amazon deivery on Tuesday. On Tuesday rec'd message would arrive Wednesday. On Wednesday (y/day) rec'd message would arrive Dec 21. Luckily, I'm not dependent on that particular delivery. I hope you can sort yours out.

Miss I tried your Mongolian beef recipe yesterday, I can confirm it is gorgeous, thank you for sharing it.

We attended my Mum's burial of ashes today, it was a cold, sunny day. All went well. I must now think about buying a Christmas tree.

Thanks MissC That will be nice to have Christmas lunch together, and hope the trades visits went well. I can't believe how much trouble am having with Currys, may end up in court as chargeback will be reversed if Curry's tell back collected people say even though not us. Though apparently Curry's often back down at pre action letter. Its taken about 20 hours or so already, nightmare company for problems. And bought so much from them previously and they can see that. Just hope it can be resolved before I go abroad.

Hilda I normally get Amazon delivered to the post office but once we had it to here and told delivered and turned up next day. I wonder if they have to record being delivered by a certain time. F&M never had an issue with, except latest parcel one biscuits was missing and was hard to get in touch but best way was phone and choose call me back option. Was called 1.5 hours later so glad didn't stay on line and they are sending another one out though did take 20 mins of music. Floof liked the music though, it was quite regal sounding and made him sit up in his chair.

Can never have too many Christmas dinners Death unless you eat them all on the same day of course. 😂

Iwandered, are you coping all right? Bereavement is always tough, but certain times make it more difficult. Are you ok?

Thanks for asking Havoc, it's very up and down. Grief is an odd thing, isn't it? I will find Christmas Day difficult as mum always spent the day with us, but my children and grandchildren will be here, so I'll have plenty of cuddles and cooking to keep me busy.

Iwandered, that does sound nice. Try not to overload yourself. Yes, grief comes in waves, doesn't it.

Glad your children and grandchildren will be with you Iwandered and hope you will be OK.

Thinking of you, @IWanderedLonely 💐

I'm relieved to report that my Amazon parcel mysteriously appeared on my doorstep earlier today, rather damp but in one piece. Someone - whoever had discovered it outside their door - evidently came round with it but didn’t bother ringing the doorbell to tell me.

Glad it turned up Hilda

Just moving my Vanguard account as they have put fees up to a minimum of £48 a year so applied to move the pension I have in there with one of my other ones as there's not much in Vanguard one.

Floof is now curled up on my bed. I am his favourite person as I have a heater (DS is still keeping the boiler off) and Floof loves the warmth and I always point it to him and he purrs. If ever I turn it off he comes in and taps his paw on the top of it to ask for it on again. He rolls over in front of it to warm his tummy. Though once he went behind it and was rather puzzled it didn't blow hot air from that side as well.

DSs child trust fund have sent me an e-mail saying DS will soon need to take action in big bold letters. Its only the original government money but would prefer can move it out but setting up a bank account for him is proving tricky. I had one before which the bank put back in my name so he doesn't have one in his name. It requires him to go on a video for a check he matches passport. He won't do that. His passport also expires soon. It will stay invested but trying to find solution.

I think I've finished my Christmas and birthday shopping now. 🤞
Roads and the mall were crazy busy. Found next year's snowsuit for Havoc on a clearance rack for $60 and some other needed clothes as well as a few more gifts for baby to ensure Christmas and birthday are covered. Just need to wrap this weekend or whenever both dc are asleep. Will do a small grocery shop to take us through to Monday when I'll do the Christmas grocery shop.
Pretty exhausted today. I'm sure everyone is feeling similar.

Luckily I have not needed to do much Christmas shopping but I went to Sainsburys this morning for some tinned fish and came out with sweets for the postmas at work and biscuits for my Boss!!! No tinned fish. However I am going shopping tomorrow.

Glad you have lovely Christmas plans IWandered. We have a short walk planned on Christmas Day which we have done most years gong back decades. I was idly thinking today that 10 years ago my Dad walked that walk not knowing it would be the last time. His ashes are scattered at the top of the hill under a majestic beech tree where I have many photos of him sat. It’s a reminder to enjoy today.
On the parcel front I received a postage short demand from Royal Mail today. They basically hold it hostage until we go online and pay. Trouble is we have everything we have ordered so presumably someone has tried to send us a gift and skimped on the postage. All very mysterious. There was also a local social media post of an Amazon van that had broken down due to potholes. They posted “if you’re waiting for your parcel it may be in this van”!

Turn it into a Junior ISA and it should be really straightforward.

@DandyDandylion ..did you get the red card through your letter box ?

Otherwise ..I think some Royal Mail emails are scams especially if it is not a parcel you were expecting.

How would they know your email ?

Check the sender's email.
Will be obvious if not RM .

I understand what you're going through, Iwandered. I lost my mum just before Christmas of last year, and my lovely MiL last May. This Christmas will be hard for my DH, I'm sure.

Penguinsa, I'm sorry to hear you're leaving Vanguard, but it makes sense if you don't have a big balance there. My work retirement account is with Vanguard and I am really fond of the company.

The dishwasher is fixed. When the repair bloke showed up the rinse aid tank was no longer leaking. He explained to DH that there's a valve that opens when it's time to squirt out the rinse aid, and it was probably stuck in the open position when we got it. Since we've run a few cycles, that reset it to closed. He replaced it anyway. So the Bosch is fully functional, which makes DH very happy as he does the washing up. The electricians also came back and labeled all of the circuit breakers.

In other kitchen remodeling news, our contractor has ordered the laminate flooring and we're scheduled to start demolition on the 6th of January. So we have to empty the cabinets before then and prepare live without a kitchen for 2-3 weeks.

DS has some good job news. He got a job offer from the Federal tax agency in August and they still haven't completed his background check and given him a final offer. The wheels of government turn slowly here too. He's kept looking, and just accepted a job locally from a wealth management firm that has a tax practice. He would have needed to relocate to Boston for the government job

I understand what you're going through, Iwandered. I lost my mum just before Christmas of last year, and my lovely MiL last May. This Christmas will be hard for my DH, I'm sure.

Penguinsa, I'm sorry to hear you're leaving Vanguard, but it makes sense if you don't have a big balance there. My work retirement account is with Vanguard and I am really fond of the company.

The dishwasher is fixed. When the repair bloke showed up the rinse aid tank was no longer leaking. He explained to DH that there's a valve that opens when it's time to squirt out the rinse aid, and it was probably stuck in the open position when we got it. Since we've run a few cycles, that reset it to closed. He replaced it anyway. So the Bosch is fully functional, which makes DH very happy as he does the washing up. The electricians also came back and labeled all of the circuit breakers.

In other kitchen remodeling news, our contractor has ordered the laminate flooring and we're scheduled to start demolition on the 6th of January. So we have to empty the cabinets before then and prepare live without a kitchen for 2-3 weeks.

DS has some good job news. He got a job offer from the Federal tax agency in August and they still haven't completed his background check and given him a final offer. The wheels of government turn slowly here too. He's kept looking, and just accepted a job locally from a wealth management firm that has a tax practice. He would have needed to relocate to Boston for the government job

I just can't get going today !

I have so much wrapping still to do for me and mam's friends !

Ds1 is coming home earlier than I was expecting....so even less time to get organised.

The bed is covered in unwrapped presents , wrapping paper, sellotape and what nots !

I know this sounds a bit wimpy ...but I think my infected toe has actually taken a bit out of me .

It has really dragged me down.

Skin is slowly healing ...but still painful.
I had to take a painkiller yesterday.

Results should have been back today to confirm if AB's are the right ones /will work , but they are not .

Which could be awkward if I need new AB's as they might not get issued till Monday and I am not free to collect them Monday or Tuesday 😳.

Nearly lost the above thread hence posting it before I had finished!

Will come back later ..

Sorry about that. My keyboard froze and then entered my post before I could finish it. I've had to reboot to fix it.

He was looking forward to being in Boston, as it's a lovely small city. He went to uni there, and he has friends there. But I think he was a little nervous about moving there, finding a flat, and being on his own. His new job is about a 45-minute drive each way, with a lot of traffic, unfortunately. But he can manage it, and he'll likely be able to work from home some of the time after he gets settled there. DH commuted to the same town for four years. And he can live with us for as long as he likes. I expect he'll look for his own flat locally later this year, but they are very expensive in our area. I'm thrilled we're not losing him anytime soon.

@MissConductUS ...that's lovely that your ds has got a job locally .
Boston's loss...your gain !😂😂.

Thanks *MyrtleStrumpet *Have just tried to transfer a stocks and shares child trust fund to a junior cash ISA though fear I might be too late as DS turns 18 soon but its worth a try. Thankfully there's just the original sum from the government in there but looks very complicated needing to be via court otherwise so really hope this works. Not keen to go down the court route and its 6 months delay. It will move to another account if we can't move it and we don't need access but want things as simple and accessible as possible.

I have also tried to track down my oldest pension and made some progress with that, not much in that one but trying to get everything sorted. They have given me the number and details and also offered me an appointment with an advisor in Jan to discuss retirement options, apparently over 50 which I just am you can get that. Got more paperwork today re transfer from Vanguard and did that and also did accounts to year end.

Also added money to my pension.

That's great news about your DSs job MissC

Hope your toe gets better soon Bizzey

Well done on shopping Havoc

Have a Waitrose collection of some food for Christmas on Sunday and then more from the butchers on the 24th.

Floof has been wanting to game a lot today. DD has been out with friends and went to an all you can eat pancake place and got 6 pancakes for under £10 and is now rather stuffed. We are having broccoli and potato gratin for dinner. Had a sausage bap for lunch and Floof climbed on my skirt and tried to take a bite, first time ever done that, he missed and I offered him some sausage but he decided it wasn't good enough for cats. He's currently trilling away with heater pointed at him lying on fleece duvet on my, well his pink chair.

Bizzey, why are such tiny parts of our bodies so painful? I'm terrible for picking the skin round my fingernails and occasionally get whitlows, the pain & throbbing is ridiculous!
Miss thank you, it's difficult isn't it, but has to be got through. The firsts are the worst.

Dandy that's lovely about your Dad. I remember my Mum and Dad going home at the end of Christmas Day 2001. Dad had been unwell, but nothing specific. Such a clear memory of them crossing the road and turning to wave goodnight once they were safely across. Dad died the following June.

I need stop being so morbid, or no-one will want to read the thread. Photo of my Christmas tree