The Cockroach Cafe (the successor to the Shiny Thread)

[MereDintofPandiculation]

A space for us all to get together for relief from caring, share news, frustrations, problems, or just have a rant. Everyone and everything welcome (though if you have a big problem needing advice, you may want to start a new thread so as to be heard above the noise of the clanking gin bottles and general chatter)

Oh LEM I’m sorry. So glad you got to doc. 🌺🌺

OH's friends ashes were made into shotgun cartridges and his friends and family had a clay pigeon shoot with him.

Stylish countrygirl, I like that!

Well, after frantic calls, huge angst, and getting friends calling in favours, I found an agency to help cover bank hol calls to dm- only to find that miraculously dms current carers would be able to cover nearly all of the calls- and the key ones for me. Hmmm.... amazing what a whiff of competition can do.....
How is everyone? , cats, dogs and cockroaches to all.

sandwich um, really?

And how has the rate changed?

I’d be concerned that the agency is promising something they can’t deliver....sorry.

Rates not changed- I think they just realised they might lose a very major and relatively easy and pleasant client! I think they will deliver. And dm likes them- I would have huge resistance trying to get another agency in unless current ones say to her they can’t cover....

sandwich bloody well done, but ffs why put you through the hassle? bastards.

We had a lovely day out in London today with DD2 and her boyf - fantastic lunch and then to the Museum of London for the 40th anniv of the release of London Calling by the Clash exhib. How the hell can it be 40 years since its release, and 41 years since DH and I got together?? (we were children...)

Still nothing from hospital so need to chase that tomorrow. Also considering, in light of GE result, looking into whether there is some kind of voluntary inspection role within the NHS like the police used to have. Depends on time and potential brexit loss of income for me I guess.

Sandwich “I think they just realised they might lose a very major and relatively easy and pleasant client!”

Ah, that’s good.

yolo my last visit to the Museum of London was really off putting. It was the Sherlock Holmes exhibition and there were loads of bored toddlers crying. Well, I presume it was boredom and not fear of the hound or Moriarty 😂 honestly, it was like a crèche.

Thanks yolo so glad you had a good day!
What about being a nhs non exec director? Expenses paid- I’m sure you would be very valuable!!

sandwich someone else suggested that to me... I'm not sure I'm qualifed though? was a sec school gov for 8 years, but have no real knowledge about NHS procedures, rather than a burning desire for change. Other than that, I'm just a freelance PR person.

Yolo a burning desire for change is what is needed! Go for it xx

London sounds lovely - we haven't been for ages. In fact I think it's been a year - need to put that straight.

Yolo was the exhibition worth the visit? I've been thinking of going when I'm off over xmas.

nota it's quite small, but some amazing stuff - eg the shattered broken guitar from the London Calling cover. Loads of memorabilia that it's quite hard to wonder why anyone kept. DH spent a small fortune in the gift shop, which is decked out like a merch stall at a gig, but is very happy with his purchases! I think if it's a long way/ expensive to come then maybe not, but if you can make an excuse like we did - half day for DD2, nice lunch, then a totter round an exhib then it's fun. They should have turned the music up though!!

I saw a review of the exhibition, and did wonder that very thing about how on earth these things were kept for so long. Was listening to the album on the way to work this morning in homage.

I put my mum's Xmas decs up this evening. Having last year said that they were so old and broken that they needed to be chucked, instead they were put away in a tangled mess into the attic. I hate to think what it will look like in the cold light of day.

LC is one of my favourite albums, along with Pulp Different Class and so many Bowie I cant choose...

We have some of mum's decs in our porch at the moment - always do the porch up fan-tack-stily!

ooh and here's another view!

Oooh lovely!!!

The cactus, whose face you can't see because he is old and frail, sings and dances Feliz Navidad. The bearded one next to him looks exactly like our next door neighbour and used to sing and dance, but appears to have died this year - must try new batts.

London sounds lovely - we haven't been for ages. In fact I think it's been a year - need to put that straight. I haven't been since 2008 and haven't felt much desire to revisit. Mind, that was for work - I haven't had pleasure time in London since about 1990. It would seem very different now - all those tall buildings, and having to find out how to pay on the tube.

Mere 2008?

I think you might find it pretty horrendous tbh. There's no glamour - despite the tall buildings, which do look grand from Primrose Hill or something - and the overcrowding is much worse, even though I thought 2008 would be a tipping point. How foolish I was!

I dunno... I like going to London for a show or a meal or something, but am always so glad to get out again. Lived there for almost 30 years, cannot imagine living there now. So many people! And you cant see the sky for all the buildings and the lights! (old gimmer) BUT the people watching is amazing, and so much choice of places to go...

London is amazing, i have a real sense of belonging which is weird because I've never lived there. My DP is from Lewisham though and used to courier in London so we always manage to find parking. I'm always glad to leave though.

I enjoy getting into London, going to a gallery, or show- and getting on a train home!

Did anyone watch The Cure on C4? Chilling, but so true to our experiences.

I didn't like the crowds, the litter and feeling of griminess, and the people who stop dead in front of you at the top of the tube, or suddenly swing round and hit you in the face with their rucksacks. I don't really think I miss anything. Things in the north may be more spread out, but there's enough to keep me going. London does have more of the music I'm interested in, but there is enough round here, so a whole lot extra that would be more than I could make use of isn't really any advantage. Yes, I know, I'm turning into a country yokel, limited in my horizons.