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Come and tell us your dull and unexciting news 35: Calmly through the day

688 replies

Mumtobabyhavoc · 18/01/2026 00:25

Previous:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/chat/5361906-come-and-tell-us-your-dull-and-unexciting-news-34-calmly-through-the-day?page=1

A quiet and friendly corner of MN to share the very dull day to day happenings of our lives. No criticisms, political discussions or controversies here - unless it is along the lines of "scone" v "scahn" and jam or cream first. Then it's gloves off! 😁

How did this start? I have found v.2, but not the original:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/chat/4006800-Come-and-tell-me-your-dull-and-unexciting-news-THE-SEQUEL?page=1

OP posts:
Thread gallery
141
Mumtobabyhavoc · 05/02/2026 00:06

Bizzey, Miss: they locked it and closed it so we couldn't get in. Luckily, I have a butter knife and I know how to use it! 🤣

They're currently playing, Bed Ball. 😵‍💫
They invented it.
Baby gets self into cot (up, over and thump!); Havoc throws a ball to Baby; Baby throws ball back. 🤷‍♀️

OP posts:
ImDoneOnceAndForAll2 · 05/02/2026 03:04

Im currently laying in bed bloody freezing...
If you are awake at 3am. Why? 🫠

Mumtobabyhavoc · 05/02/2026 03:32

ImDoneOnceAndForAll2 · 05/02/2026 03:04

Im currently laying in bed bloody freezing...
If you are awake at 3am. Why? 🫠

It's just 7:30pm here. 😊

OP posts:
MissConductUS · 05/02/2026 09:37

@ImDoneOnceAndForAll2, Havoc lives in western Canada, and I live on the U.S. East Coast, so we are respectively eight hours and five hours behind you in the UK.

I woke up early and couldn't go back to sleep.

We're still in the Arctic deep freeze here, and the Super Bowl is this Sunday. I think that gets broadcast in the UK.

I've discovered a fabulous series on Apple TV+ called Lessons in Chemistry. It's set in the 1950s and follows a brilliant chemist who struggles with the barriers women faced professionally at the time. She gets fired from her job for not "knowing her place" and goes on to host a TV cooking show that becomes wildly popular, giving her a platform to uplift her female audience and show them they don't have to be nothing but housewives. It sounds serious, but it's also a lot of fun to watch.

DanaScullysLegoHair · 05/02/2026 09:43

@MissConductUS being in the midst of a deep freeze sounds fabulous. Although in reality I'm sure it's no fun at all. I LOVE the snow and colder weather and feel deprived up here in Yorkshire!

It's the Super Bowl this weekend? Nice. I don't really understand the game as haven't seen much of it but I do enjoy all the hype and excitement of the fans. I suppose it equates to the World Cup final 😁

The TV series sounds good, I'm always looking for something new to watch. If it has a slightly feminist slant then that's even better.

MissConductUS · 05/02/2026 10:05

Dana, let's trade places for a few weeks. I'm sure I'd love Yorkshire, even though I'm sure everyone would make fun of my accent. It's currently -13 C here, and this is what the view from my kitchen window has looked like for the last ten days.

We're used to cold, harsh winters here in the Hudson Highlands, but it does get a bit tiresome after a while.

The Super Bowl is fun even if you don't understand the fine points of the game. The half-time show and the adverts alone make it worth watching.

Come and tell us your dull and unexciting news 35: Calmly through the day
DanaScullysLegoHair · 05/02/2026 10:25

Oh wow, @MissConductUS! I would be thrilled to bits with a view like that. You're very welcome to swap with me for a while. It is currently 3°C here but feels a bit colder. The weather app on my phone keeps threatening us with significant snowfall and it doesn't happen.

I don't think anyone would make fun of your accent here, we're a very cosmopolitan area and get a wide mix of accents. I'd probably be quite curious and ask you lots of questions 😁 DP and I met a family from Boston in the pub last month. They were over here to watch my local football team and we had a lovely chat with them. I'd love to visit the east coast around Christmas, I bet it is really lovely.

DP and I are staying in a shepherds hut for 2 nights this weekend. It has a log burner and underfloor heating. We'll have a little fire outdoors too. Really looking forward to it. Pray for snow as that would be the literal 'icing' on the cake!

I shall put the SuperBowl on (if I'm awake) and see if I can catch the half time show. I know it is a coveted spot. Do you have a horse in the race this year?

MissConductUS · 05/02/2026 10:55

Since there's no New York team playing, I'm not deeply invested in the outcome. But I would like to see the Patriots win. I have loads of family in the Boston area, and both of my kids went to uni in Massachusetts, one right outside the city and the other in central Massachusetts. I've been there countless times visiting.

Do you recall what part of Boston that family lived in? While there is a city center, it's fairly spread out, with many neighborhoods and adjacent towns like Cambridge.

I'm about 50 miles north of NYC. Lots of people in this area commute into the city for work. DH did so for many years until he found a job in this area.

MyrtleLion · 05/02/2026 13:16

MissConductUS · 05/02/2026 09:37

@ImDoneOnceAndForAll2, Havoc lives in western Canada, and I live on the U.S. East Coast, so we are respectively eight hours and five hours behind you in the UK.

I woke up early and couldn't go back to sleep.

We're still in the Arctic deep freeze here, and the Super Bowl is this Sunday. I think that gets broadcast in the UK.

I've discovered a fabulous series on Apple TV+ called Lessons in Chemistry. It's set in the 1950s and follows a brilliant chemist who struggles with the barriers women faced professionally at the time. She gets fired from her job for not "knowing her place" and goes on to host a TV cooking show that becomes wildly popular, giving her a platform to uplift her female audience and show them they don't have to be nothing but housewives. It sounds serious, but it's also a lot of fun to watch.

The book is a million times better! And I met the author is who so amazing.

bizzey · 05/02/2026 13:35

Following my soup experiment in the slow cooker the other day ....
I am now a proud owner of a soup maker. 🤣🤣😂!

I know they get mocked and ridiculed as doing it without is so easy ..ja da jda ...

But ..

It will be a lot quicker than the SC .
And a lot less condensation (and quicker !) than a big pan on the hob/stove .

I wonder how long for the novelty to wear off 🤣🤣

DanaScullysLegoHair · 05/02/2026 13:59

I did see the Patriots playing recently (last week perhaps?) It was snowing a fair bit then. I know they're a very good team. Good luck!!

As for the Boston family - no idea. I was in the loo when DP started the conversation with them so it may have been mentioned then. I'll ask. We were out with my DS celebrating his 18th 🙂 DP has an uncle in Boston, he moved out there years ago. I'll ask if she knows whereabouts. We've always said we'd like to go.

Incidentally, we had planned to visit NY in May. DP has been before but I haven't. We decided against it for now while everything is turbulent and we're going on a beach holiday instead. 50 miles seems a long commute to us here in England, from what I gather, it aint that far for you guys! Did it bother your DH?

bizzey · 05/02/2026 14:39

What tastes better than a slice of homemade lasagna...

...a slice of leftover homemade lasagna re heated ! 😂.

It was jummy 😁

Left overs reheated or not always taste better !

MissConductUS · 05/02/2026 18:05

Myrtle, I'll have to read the book then. How did you meet the author?

Dana, I hope you do make it to visit the US at some point. Boston is a lovely, historic city and very manageable, with lots of great museums and dining, particularly seafood. NYC is bigger and more interesting, I think, or at least grittier, with a bit more diversity and personality than Boston.

DH took the train into the city and walked to his office from there, so it wasn't terrible. The commuter rail service where we live is very good, and the trip takes about an hour. He didn't hate the commute because it gave him some quiet time at the beginning and end of the day when he could read, listen to music, etc. But he loved the shorter workdays when he started working locally, and I loved having him home earlier in the evenings.

Bizzey, you've inspired me. I'm making chicken soup for dinner.

Umanresources · 05/02/2026 20:28

So the two online supermarkets I use regularly are out of stock of the elusive kalettes. I have managed to track some down on Waitrose 🕵️‍♂️ I think they deliver to my area, but the actual supermarkets are located more in the south of the country. I’m hoping for a delivery over the weekend, but I’m enjoying looking at new items in this supermarket.

@bizzey we got a soup maker last year and the novelty hasn’t really worn off. The lentil soup we made was so tasty the first time we used it. The second time it was dire, that taught us not to guess at how many lentils we needed. The vegetables we just use what we’ve got and everything else has turned out just fine.

@Mumtobabyhavoc My DC used to make up games, as they got older, with very complicated rules, but which they obviously understood. Just wait until they start putting on shows for you. We didn’t have a dressing up box, but sheets, pillowcases, hats and shoes were put to good use. DD and her friends used to be here regularly, some of her friends’ parents were quite house proud and didn’t like mess. I had been a nursery nurse and enjoyed the chaos and laughter here. Her friends still come here for games days, which include me, thank goodness.

@ImDoneOnceAndForAll2 and @MissConductUS we've watched Lessons in Chemistry and listened to the audiobook. They are very different, especially the dog! I was put off watching the series slightly because of the hype about it, but I enjoyed it very much.

I started writing this post yesterday and I got caught up in online shopping, phone calls, and illness, just now coming back to feeling a bit more like myself after a cheery phone call from my lovely SIL, who always makes me laugh. Hope everyone is feeling good.

MyrtleLion · 05/02/2026 23:28

MissConductUS · 05/02/2026 18:05

Myrtle, I'll have to read the book then. How did you meet the author?

Dana, I hope you do make it to visit the US at some point. Boston is a lovely, historic city and very manageable, with lots of great museums and dining, particularly seafood. NYC is bigger and more interesting, I think, or at least grittier, with a bit more diversity and personality than Boston.

DH took the train into the city and walked to his office from there, so it wasn't terrible. The commuter rail service where we live is very good, and the trip takes about an hour. He didn't hate the commute because it gave him some quiet time at the beginning and end of the day when he could read, listen to music, etc. But he loved the shorter workdays when he started working locally, and I loved having him home earlier in the evenings.

Bizzey, you've inspired me. I'm making chicken soup for dinner.

I won an award in 2019 that has an alumni club. They put on events every so often and she was a guest speaker.

Mumtobabyhavoc · 06/02/2026 03:11

Uman, you are welcome to mine for dinner. I made the same salad for myself and for my mum and dc pasta with sautéed kalettes and grape tomatoes then tossed in chicken, feta, pesto and rigatoni.

Took dc on a fairly good hike around Burnaby mountain this afternoon. It was a solid hour on the trail (moderate difficulty) a walk around up top and the playground, watched the sun set then home.

Come and tell us your dull and unexciting news 35: Calmly through the day
OP posts:
Umanresources · 06/02/2026 11:56

Thank you Havoc I’d love to try that. I was actually still awake at that time. I’ve managed 4 hours sleep and then had to get up early for the nurse coming. She has just been and legs are sorted again, although apparently I am still missing part of the dressings order. I have no idea how long they will be coming for. I think it’s how long is a piece of string. Yesterday was a bad day, but today I’m feeling a bit better, although really tired now. I might attempt a bit of art today, but I’m still amending my online supermarket order. Just added scallops and mustard.

Gorgeous sunset picture. We are just in monsoon season, or that’s what it feels like. Non stop rain for days. Just very grey all the time.

DandyDandylion · 06/02/2026 17:31

Love the meowing Havoc I presume they share a room. Also love the sunset, do you walk at their pace or use the buggy? I had an off road one for dd and when DS got tired he would sit on the plastic above the front wheel. He always got tired half way up the hill so I must’ve been much fitter than I am now.

That smarties mug is a thing of beauty Dana, sometimes it’s the small things that make us happy.

It feels like you have had snow forever MissC, that happened in my childhood here but it melts quickly nowadays.

I think lasagne needs time to set Bizzey so it makes sense it would be nicer the next day. Chefs recommend you get it out of the oven and leave to rest for an hour before serving but I never manage that long.

Is anyone planning to watch the Winter Olympics? Olympic opening ceremonies are always entertaining if not always for the right reasons. I love seeing all the teams with their flags though so will put it on.

Mumtobabyhavoc · 06/02/2026 18:48

Dandy, we took the Pandora Trail from the western side down to the intersection of the Velodrome Trail and Gnome's Home Trail; then part-way along Gnome's Home and back. It was quite challenging, a mix of flat and steep, rocky, tree roots, bit of mud patches. Not a typical kids's walk. We did about 1.5km in then back. Pandora is pretty much down hill going in and is at the bottom of the park as well, so it was a good kilometre + back uphill to playground/parking lot. We covered about 4.5km there yesterday. I'm pretty proud of the dc managing it. 😊
If you are interested, look up Burnaby Mountain Park on Google Maps.

Come and tell us your dull and unexciting news 35: Calmly through the day
OP posts:
mathanxiety · 07/02/2026 06:17

We are finally coming to the end of the longest below freezing winter spell since the winter of 1976-77. I lived elsewhere for that, thankfully. We'll be able to turn off the dripping tap in the bathroom.

DD has just got over a horrible bug and dragged herself to work today. I went out two evenings in a row to hunt down gatorade/ oyster crackers, and ginger ale for her while she was sick, and a gift for the coworker whose name she drew for her workplace's secret Valentine exchange today. I also baked cookies for this lucky lady. I spent what remained of my evenings alternately viewing true crime documentaries and Say Yes To The Dress. I am really glad the weekend has arrived.

I noticed today when leaving work that it was still light outside. It's time to start sowing seeds indoors.

Bluecrystal2 · 07/02/2026 06:36

A fox came through the cat flap and was in my bedroom eating my cats' biscuits last night.

Mumtobabyhavoc · 07/02/2026 06:55

Bluecrystal2 · 07/02/2026 06:36

A fox came through the cat flap and was in my bedroom eating my cats' biscuits last night.

What did you do??? 😳

OP posts:
MrsSPenguins · 07/02/2026 18:11

Well done on the walk @Mumtobabyhavoc

Hope you got hold of kalettes and love them @Umanresources

Hope everyone is having a great weekend. That sounds a lovely weekend @DanaScullysLegoHair

Lovely day today at the Kew Orchid Festival, got parking space just outside, had a latte in the orangerie, went to orchid festival, then a walk around Kew then had lunch in the orangerie overlooking the gardens. Now back home having a cup of tea. Attached some pics. Hopefully gardening tomorrow with DH.

Come and tell us your dull and unexciting news 35: Calmly through the day
Come and tell us your dull and unexciting news 35: Calmly through the day
Come and tell us your dull and unexciting news 35: Calmly through the day
Come and tell us your dull and unexciting news 35: Calmly through the day
Come and tell us your dull and unexciting news 35: Calmly through the day
Mumtobabyhavoc · 07/02/2026 18:50

Love those pics @MrsSPenguins ! 😍

Grey and rainy here. Watched a bit of Olympics, ski racing and a couple of our locals competing. Awaiting replacement fridge delivery as new fridge delivered last month doesn't seem to work well and was damaged at delivery.

OP posts:
Umanresources · 07/02/2026 18:59

@MrsSPenguins ”Hope you got hold of kalettes and love them”. Oh I have indeed, but not tried them yet. OH made a Jamie Oliver chicken casserole, with braised cabbage and peas, from Jamie’s Feasts for a Fiver, that we saw on television the other week. Jamie’s is on the left and ours is on the right. It was incredibly filling and very tasty. Just right for a cold, windy and rainy day. I couldn’t finish my portion and there is,apparently enough for tomorrow’s dinner as well. I think with kalettes though.

Come and tell us your dull and unexciting news 35: Calmly through the day