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.

Afternoon. Rain all day here too.

at 5G and vaccine.

We've still got barrier things up all round the front garden and half of them blew into the road this morning which wasn't good as we're on a somewhat dangerous corner. DH phoned the council as he didn't want to take responsibility for moving them and they've put them back up for now until the next gust of wind.

DH wouldn't know where to start with a cake. I keep thinking I'll make one, but that's as far as I get.

Afternoon
Have also been faffing around a lot this weekend, and sleeping and relaxing in the bath. Need to get a few things done now and then have a video call with a friend, which will be nice. Put up a few decorations yesterday & plan to get the tree tomorrow. Probably ought to tackle the ironing mountain before it collapses - may try that later with some trashy tv to distract me.

Hmm, radiators, always something going on with them. Have you googled rebalancing them helen? Worth a try if the issue isn't air.

Cards delivered. DS1 did accompany me so it was nice for mum and dad to see him and have a bit of a chat, if only from a distance.

I’ve ironed and watched Emma and Little Women. DS2 has been a bit of a PITA resulting in a laptop and iPad ban.

Ohhh one of those “I’ll make the cake” Helen. Hayloft sounds the best plan.

Hope the barriers don’t cause any damage anywhere Apricot, particularly to your property.

That sounds a really lovely weekend Fancy.

That does sound like a rather nice weekend Fancy - apart from the ironing part.

I've started wrapping presents (so I can post them). Started. I just have to keep going and actually get them done... Or I could just say 'sod it' for the day, and head off for a bath and bed. Athos can help with those. I could practise wrapping.unwrapping with towels...

I’d approach the presents with a fresh mind tomorrow Helen and approach Athos with fresh towels tonight.

We’ve watched His Dark Materials which was excellent. Hayloft now.

Morning wenches.

Oh look, it’s Monday again. How did that happen? Absolutely crap night. Lots of disturbing unpleasant dreams.

Shall we just hunker down in the Tav with HBFs, Christmas snacks and various drinks? Yes, we’ll do that.

It's a plan.

Now that it's stopped raining and the clouds have blown over, we have blue sky and pinky vapour trails here. So I should probably squelch outside and feed the chickens - see if they've forgiven me yet for covering their run over and making it dark. (They will - the moment I give them some food.)

re. the dreams LetUs. Stupid subconsciousness. I'd suggest sending it to the dungeon, but lord knowns what disturbing ideas it would pick up down there

Evening. They're still working outside in the dark again.

All the postable cards have been posted and I've done quite a lot of Christmas food shopping.

We were going to have the DC and DGC round on Boxing Day, but have decided the risk isn't worth it, so we'll be on our own. It is what it is.

Hope LetUs has a better night.

Evening wenches.

Did the chickens deign to forgive you Helen? I suspect the answer’s yes.

Yes, my subconscious doesn’t exactly need any further ideas from the dungeon.

No family get togethers here either Apricot. LovelyMIL is already in a bubble with SIL so she won’t be alone and my parents are happy enough to treat it as “well it’s basically like a Sunday really”. It’s lovely to get together with everyone usually but I’m hoping we get to have the “whose house are we going to for Christmas dinner?” discussion next year

Crikey I’m tired. DS2 is playing FIFA and I’m getting a constant commentary from him.

It's been such a Monday today. Yuk.

for Letus

and for everyone in need.

I had a running minecraft commentary LetUs - I'm hoping that I made the right noises in the right places I really don't understand much of what he was chattering about, but he's so enthusiastic, and so rarely chatters away that I'll take what I can get, even if it's a baffling subject!

We have my father in a bubble with us, so he's here for Christmas, but no other plans. It's a bit shit (lack of family get-togethers)

Watching Amanda Seyfried on Graham Norton trying to get her goats to go outside really cheered me up

Oh arse... you know that way you think you've got all the presents that you need, and then discover that you're forgotten an entire family. FFS. [face-palm] I shall be popping out to the local shops tomorrow...

Evening
Have had a pleasant day - FancyMan came round for the day & helped me get the tree & put it up Not decorated it yet through......

Fingers crossed for better dreams for you tonight letus & a big 'yes' for your plan, whatever the problem, that surely is the answer?

It is crap isn't it apricot? Just hanging on in there hoping next year will be better, at least my parents will be taking the vaccine as soon as it is offered to them.

DD's entire school is closed for the rest of the term & one of DS's housemate's girlfriend got a positive test. Housemate tested negative & they're all getting tested again later in the week. DS is supposed to be coming home on Friday. Hoping they're all clear as they haven't been in contact with the girlfriend & don't see much of the housemate. Given it's probably one of those tests that gives lots of false negatives, it probably will be negative

Morning wenches. Saw the thing about the goats Wicked. Made me

That is a bit of a sinking feeling Helen. Hope you get gifts sorted smoothly.

Hope you and FancyMan had fun getting it up Oh blimey re the FancyDC. 🤞🏻FancyDS gets to come home Friday.

Another crap night with weird dreams. It’s nice that there’s always a slightly threatening bit in there. Mind you, this also had Fiona Shaw at a wedding and then a baby playing in my mum’s living room so those bits were pleasant.

I should really get up.

Morning.

My bonkers dream had me and Fancy doing an adult education course together which I think was meant ot be about accountancy but was actually about history/tracing ancestors sort of thing. Fancy told me off for saying that it was exciting when they announced that yes, one of their teachers had just killed someone. She was probably right, it seems a slightly inappropriate reaction.

Fingers also crossed here for FancyDS getting home on Friday. I really don't understand why they're just not letting the schools move to homeschooling if they want to - it stops any more spread from them, and it's the last week of the Xmas term FFS - how much time would they have normally lost anyway to Christmas stuff by now anyway? (Yes, irritating for parents having to deal with childcare again, but...) Someone told me a rumour about a government plan to keep the schools shut for a week longer than usual at the end of Xmas hold, to prevent Xmas-covid cases coming into school. There's been no announcements though, so if that's true they're obviously planning to announce it on New Years Eve at 11:59pm.

Cloudy and grey outside. Duvet it is then....

Evening.

Some weird dreams there. I had a nightmare last night, but thankfully couldn't remember what it was about.

Hope FancyDS is okay to come home. I haven't heard about it, but it's probably a good idea to keep the schools off for another week, but whatever they do there'll be those who won't be happy about it.

Evening wenches.

Teensy bit of an inappropriate reaction Helen . That timing of announcement wouldn’t surprise me at all.

for your nightmare Apricot - phew for not being able to remember. Still a bugger that sleep gets disturbed.

Not too bad of a day today. Am eyeing up books on Amazon —to teeter on the already huge pile of books I’ve bought and still not read—. I should make an effort to support local independent booksellers —if I’ve got any—

DH suggested something for DS2 for Christmas (sporty) the other day. Asked me today if I’d sorted it. Surprisingly no.

Evening. Have bought emergency x-mas pressies and stuff. and worked, and... um.

Poop to bad dreams Apricot, though as LetUs says, at least you don't remember them. Still not nice though. Alos, yes to the goats.

I'm mostly cold, despite the cat on my lap. Hot bath and hayloft are calling...

Bad dreams suck

Morning wenches.

They definitely do Wicked.

Hope the bath helped with the feeling cold Helen.

It seems quite breezy here. Just been up to check whether DS2’s dressed yet (which he should be). Not even started so I’ve pointed out the time. I can hear him still chunnering away that it’s my fault he’s not ready and he might be late (he won’t). I’m listening to Christmas carols and ignoring him.

Afternoon. It was one minute lighter today than yesterday although it didn't feel like it as it's raining. Anyway, we're on the other side. Yaaaay! We won't mention the mornings.

I've finally got the individual cards I was missing, so I think I'm done now. At least with cards. Presents to be wrapped now.

DH has been doing a Jamie Oliver in the kitchen with his soup again.

Evening wenches.

Blimey it’s a bit chilly. Hurrah for one minute lighter today! And well done on being done with the cards Apricot. Same here, just presents to wrap. I’m not usually this organised.

Watching a Midsomer Murders that I don’t think I’ve ever seen before, or if I have I’ve only seen it once and I don’t remember what happened.

Evening. Have blue-arsed-fly-ing all day. Baking and working and socially-distanced-meeting and in the bloody shops again getting another emergency present (DS forgot to tell me that he had a present from a friend and needed to reciprocate.)

Am finally sitting down.

It's always our fault, isn't it LetUs

LOL at MrA being all Jamie Oliver I thought that the shortest day was 21st? Are we gettign longer days again?! Hurrah!!!!

Oh, exciting Letus, what is it about?