Swagger Inn 167 - Autumn is here, the days are getting shorter and colder...

[ApricotCrush]

...so the wenches will snuggle down in the Tav with the HBFs maybe.

Morning. It's raining. And Windy. The window is dripping (inside). I think I shall be up on a ladder this morning.... but maybe later on when the rain has eased up and I can lift tiles without letting more rain in. Also, Stupid Cat has just jumped on my lap, so now I'm not allowed to move of the sofa.

This was posted this morning? Then again, our internet is up and down like a yoyo, so...

Almost the morning Helen, but totally worth the wait anyway. Have you done the laddering safely?

I’ve done some washing, wrapped DS2’s presents for tomorrow, and expressed my disappointment to DS1 that despite many reminders to him for over two weeks he hasn’t sent DS2 a card. He’d have been so chuffed tomorrow to get a card from his brother but 🤷🏻‍♀️ can’t be helped now. I’m watching a cheesy Christmas romantic film. I’m sure I could be doing something useful but I don’t want to.

His Dark Materials tonight.

Afternoon. Not a bad day here, but I haven't been out. Instead of playing golf DH is watching it and driving me mad with regular updates.

Poor DS has hurt his ankle doing DIY. He fell off a ladder. Can't think where he gets that from. Hope Helen was more careful.

Love Dirty Dancing.

Gosh, that thing's hideous. Why??

In spite of giving episode 1 of His Dark Materials two goes, I think we're giving up on it. We enjoyed the first series, but couldn't make head nor tail of this one.

Aw, that's sad about the card LetUs, maybe one will arrive tomorrow.

Skipped to season 4 of The Crown, think it might be a bit more interesting with Thatcher and Diana in it.

Why do the weekends go so fast?

Wicked You'll get TB at some point too in That series.

I was very careful with the laddering - so careful that I didn't actually get up there. I am trying to arrange roofers/builders to come round and look. tbh, it's just not been dry enough today for me to get up and see if the felt looks wet, because all that would happen would be I'd lift tiles and then the felt would get wet in the persistent drizzly mizzly rain. There was a brief break in the weather, but I dug up potatoes and helped lop trees instead.

Need to serve up tea now, will RTFT properly later. at DS1 though LetUs.

How very considerate of MrApricot to keep you up to date with the golfing developments. Ouch at ApricotDS hurting his ankle. Hope he’s okay.

Hope The Crown picks up for you Wicked.

That is being super careful Helen. What else could we be very careful about? Housework? Work?

DH has put Family Fortunes on (we’ll watch HDM when DS2 has gone to bed). It’s not improved with age.

Just saw TB dancing. But he's much hotter as Cormoran or Athos.

Evening We've watched HDM and are a bit baffled by the start fo this week's episode, which completely ignores last week's apparent cliff-hanger

Hope that ApricotDS is ok and just twisted his ankle , and FFS at running commentary. DH was also 'watching' the golf - i.e. he had it on the TV while he was in another room, but insisted that the golf be left on so he could check the score if he wanted to. I think I have to have words with DH about hogging household technology.

I think you're right LetUs - we should treat housework and general work with the same level of care as ladder-work. It's only sensible. HBFs don't need to e treated with care though, so that's ok.

That was very weird Helen - how the end of ep1 just wasn’t referred to at all. Enjoyed it though.

Big at MrHelen and his technology hogging.

I’m off to the hayloft to throw cares and clothing to the wind with HBFs.

Morning wenches.

Another wet and dreary day. DS2’s birthday today so he’s happy. I’ve got a flu jab booked and am collecting new glasses this morning. General tidying and housework and ironing to do, although perhaps I should be careful with those activities

Morning all. Sunshine!!!!!!!!!!!!! We have actual blue skies and sunshine (and an ever increasing amount of cloud).

Couldn't sleep last night. Ended up getting up tidying the sitting room at 1-2am in readiness for the chimney sweep who is coming today. Which is good, since if I'd just been lying in bed, I'd still have been trashed by this morning and in no mood to do the tidying. So I think that's a silver lining.

Hope everywench has a good day.

Oh yes - happy birthday to miniLetUs - hope it's full of cake and happiness (and no homework).

Happy birthday to miniLetus

Yay for being careful Helen, we don't need any more ladder related stress!

I do hope DS is ok apricot?

Have been out for a walk with a friend, now contemplating the blocked kitchen sink.....

Afternoon wenches.

Thanks for the birthday wishes. He’s had a lovely day, despite having to do all his schoolwork for the day, and is currently playing with his new Switch game - Ring Fit Adventure —which is not a sneaky way to get him to do some exercise, no not at all— We do indeed have cake for later

Hope you’re not too tired Helen.

Any sink progress Fancy?

I picked up my new reading glasses. They seemed okay in the opticians but it was a bit tricky when said glasses kept steaming up because of the face mask which I couldn’t tuck under because I was trying to make sure they fit properly on my nose. Anyway, I’ve tried them this afternoon and the right lens is completely wrong so I’ll have to go back which is a bit of a PITA.

Watched part of another cheesy Christmas romantic film. It had Colin Ferguson in it who was in A Town Called Eureka. Lovely

Afternoon. More rain, although it stopped long enough for me to go and post a card in the next road.

DS came round this afternoon to do an end of the drive hand-over of something DH is working on for him, and he's limping very badly. Managed to go to work though and says he'll survive. You still worry about them no matter how old they are.

I've seen a clip of TB dancing. It is a bit dire. Agree WW, he's much hotter when he's grubby and beardy and unkempt.

Hope your chimney clean has been successful Helen and Fancy's been able to sort her sink.

That's a pain about the glasses LetUs. Happy Birthday to MiniLetUs. Glad he's had a good day.

Evening all.

Still very very trashed LetUs - fortunately tonight is leftovers tea, so I can just reheat asap and go to bed.

LOL at chimney clean apricot - yes it was fine, though apparently our ancient bag of coal will be illegal soon since it's not smokeless. Never mind that we use about 2 coals once a week when DH is having trouble lighting the fire.

Boo to wonky glass lenses and blocked sinks and limping children; hurrah for birthday fun and walks.

I don't think there are many HBFs who are not improved by the addition of grubby/beardy/unkemptness... and leather of course

Happy birthday MiniLetus

Thanks all

Oh poor ApricotDS . Hope his ankle recovers soon. at chimney clean

Hope you’ve managed an early night Helen and/or a decent night’s sleep.

Obviously checking whether and to what extent HBFs are improved by grubbiness, beardiness, unkemptness, and leather will require an in-depth study by wenches. I’ll get cracking on my section - might take a while

Sink still blocked - am hoping that FancyMan can apply some muscle tomorrow - I have another day off. What an exciting way to spend a day's holiday

Morning all. I managed a relatively early night, and a good night's sleep so I'm feeling much better today. Though no going back to bed because a man is coming about the leaky window/roof at 9am.

This morning we also have internet, which is good - it was off all evening yesterday. BT engineer should be out tomorrow. Apparently the whole area is having problems with intermittent faults. So I'm getting online now while I can.

Good luck with your in-depth study LetUs - I think that Aiden gives you a good range from scrubbed up to grubby, though not so much the beardy part? Just as well you have to Santi to provide the full range of options

Good luck with the sink Fancy - how tedious. Have you tried one of the flexible wire things that you can wind down the drain? Has the U-bend been taken off and checked? Have you tried concentrated hydrochloric acid? I seem to know far too much about blocked sinks. DH cheerfully admits that the drains are my job, except when it looks like fin or it needs more muscle than I have.

Will hit 'post' while I remember and have internet....

LetUs - if you didn't already see it, there's a link to the Goes Wrong Show's Children in need thing here: twitter.com/mischiefcomedy/status/1328393870741213195

Morning wenches.

What a complete pain about the sink Fancy. Lots of good suggestions from Helen, as always

Excellent that you had a good night Helen. Weird discombobulating dreams here so I don’t feel terribly refreshed. Woe is me etc. Here’s hoping I have enough energy to at least conduct the baseline studies.

Best get on with breakfast.

Brilliant Helen - thank you!