Swagger Inn 168 - New Year, New Thread - same Tavern

[SisterHelenoftheEternalCatchUp]

Welcome one and all to thread 168. We're still going though because, (like the HBFs) we have stamina and an unending supply of double-entendres and HBFs

Morning wenches.

RM also did a very good Prince Charming in Cinderella

Pleased the headache eventually went Helen and that MiniHelen got on with his work.

We’ve gone from no snow forecast to snow on the ground and more due. Top.

Morning

Am working. Really
I'll see if I can summon a hot flush to get rid of the snow apricot

Today the robin has been chivvying me - was hanging around the bird feeder and giving me the side-eye through the window while I was making breakfast.

We have snow here. Hasn't stopped all morning, but it's not massive fluffy flakes so the roads are still passable as far as I can see.

The birds were very pleased to see me this morning, the lazy sods couldn't be bothered scratching under the snow to get to the food already on the feeder. No - they want fresh food on top of the snow. To be fair, the food under the snow was likely to be frozen solid, judging by the state of the chickens ice bowl water. The chickens are refusing to come out of their coop. The cats are not impressed either - there's snow and wind at every potential exit. Though Inconvenient Cat is mostly spending his time asleep (or peering at food which he's sure he wants, but hasn't actually got the appetite for.)

In the meantime, I have lots of work and DS wants attention re. homeschooling queries and to chatter about his xbox games...

The builders have stayed home as well.

Afternoon. We've had snow showers as forecast, but it hasn't stuck. Very cold though.

We followed DD to fetch DGS earlier, anything to get out of the house. We realised that we haven't been to the new school he started in September and in an emergency wouldn't know where to go. We wouldn't have him in the car but could shadow him home with him walking. Actually someone from the school did this with his grandchild and was reported for kerb crawling which is fair enough, but it was all sorted.

Hope InconvenientCat is alright Helen.

Evening wenches. Bit parky isn’t it? We’ve had snow on and off for most of the day, but it doesn’t seem to have stuck.

Next step will be the robin tapping on the window with its wing and gesturing towards the bird table.

“snow and wind at every potential exit”. I’ve definitely been experiencing one of those things. Gentle for InconvenientCat.

That’s a point re not being familiar with DGS’s new school Apricot. I wonder how many grandparents are in a similar position?

Not a stellar day at work on not much sleep and a call from a very upset DS2 re some of his schoolwork. I need an early night.

Evening. We are watching University Challenge. We called DS down for the round on Infinity Stones

to DS2 and for LetUs DS did ok here with school, though he hasn't actually sent the work in. FFS.

LOL at bossy birds demanding food. They'll be tapping their claws as well.

It feels like it's been a very long day. Went for a lunchtime walk and got sandblasted by snow - not terribly pleasant, but I suppose it was good to get out. Then had a snowball fight with DS, which ended in tears - they always do [rolls eyes]

I think being wrapped in HBFs is a very good plan.

for InconvenientCat

Hope you managed to get that early night letus?

Morning wenches. Did manage a sort of early night in that I was in bed for 10 but was a bit restless. Also woke up at one point thinking what day is it and thought for a second or two it was Sunday. And then I realised nope

Love a University Challenge round like that!

No snow - hurrah!

Morning. Snow. Not too much and there a few are breaks in the cloudy, but... snow.

We have three robins demanding food and having periodic dust-ups. And I need to log into work... and get warmer clothes on

Morning
Yay for no snow your way letus, we have a bit & some more flakes at the moment.

Task for tomorrow is to watch where the robin arrives from - I am beginning to think there's a nest close to the feeder so they can see me putting food out.

I've found a way of getting both cats to sleep in the room with me while I work. Priorities

I think that Robins have some sort of surveillance/klaxon thing going on which they're all wired into. They just sit snug in the shrubs until their earpiece crackles into life:

"Mealworms! Repeat mealworms at No.2!"
.
.
"Curtains are open at No.5, feeder will be topped up in the next half hour - everyone on standby please..."
.
.
.
"Builders at no.16 - the peanut feeders are full, but there are builders in the garden. Proceed with caution."
.
.
.
"Chickens are being fed at No.23. All small birds to tool up for a raid on the feeder."
.
.
.
"No.14 has been seen unwrapping a new fat ball - prepare to launch."
.
.
.
"No. 11's cat is sitting under the bird table - assuming taunting pose where possible."

Stupid cat is asleep on me as I type, but I'm going to turf her off to go and build a snowman. #priorities

helen - wonder if they can be trained to develop an hbf alert system too?
The little feathery bugger is literally staring at me now - it's found a perch in one of the trees in the garden that gives a direct view to the desk where I'm working. I think I may call it Oliver/Olivia (unoriginal and tenuous literary reference)........

Never mind the alert system for HBFs - could they maybe arrange a delivery service? How big are your BigBirdsOfPrey? I'm thinking we may need to stray into Tolkein-sized eagles for that service (unless we tied a flock together as per the seagulls in James and the Giant Peach), which might not be entirely realistic, but then neither is the concept of HBFs by avian delivery
FMLackOfHBFs

It's snowing again.

Afternoon. White over again this morning, but it's mostly gone now.

at avian alert system.

Nothing much going on here. I'm embroidering a jumper I'm knitting and I want to get it finished by the end of the month. If I don't set myself a target I'll keep putting it off. I probably won't wear it like the last four I've done, two of which aren't finished but I just love knitting.

DH is ominously measuring up the perspex roof between the garage and the house which needs replacing.

Evening wenches.

The Bird Surveillance is fantastic Helen . I am picturing them in tiny headsets with microphones . Very much in favour of HBF delivery service.

That’s a good idea re giving yourself a target to finish a project Apricot. I might try that —it won’t work—

There’s something about Tuesdays that’s affecting DS2. Three weeks in a row he says he’s not felt well on a Tuesday. Usually starts mid-morning. Says he likes all the lessons he has today so who knows. And I don’t want to tell him not to phone me at work but it’s just another layer of stress and anxiety on top of all the shit at work. I’ve been close to tears a few times the last couple of days. He’s fine now, as he is every week. Hey, perhaps he could phone and text DH several times a day?

I’m off for bath’n’book as there’s football on shortly.

❤️❤️❤️❤️ Letus

Evening all. Snowmen have been built. One is more of a leaning tower of pisa.

Death in Paradise is on - we've borrowed S1-3. Did I know/had I forgotten that the 1st episode kicks off with Treville getting killed?

That's rubbish LetUs poor you and poor DS2 Can DS1 help investigate the Tuesday problem?

Good luck with the embroidery Apricot - I put some away half finished at Christmas. It's not come back out yet to be finished

letus, it's difficult when they either don't know what's bothering them, or won't admit it. DD can be a bit like that. It's the only good thing about lockdown - she's being a bit more open with me. Or maybe she's just maturing. Or maybe it's the bottle of wine we share on Fridays!

Oh - Tuesday....

(And I think you're an excellent mother Fancy - as are all wenches)

Morning wenches. Thanks for the wench kindness re DS2. He’s a fairly non-chatty type about stuff like this anyway so perhaps I’ll follow Fancy’s suggestion of sharing a drink with him of a Friday evening. Obviously he’s not old enough to drink so I’ll have his share

Hurrah for snowmen leaning and otherwise! Treville does pop up in quite a lot of things doesn’t he?

Love the Tuesday Duvet poem

No snow hurrah but frozen cars. I’ll take that. Shower - but sadly no HBFs - awaits.

Cold and on-off sun here brrrrrr......

Like that poetic masterpiece helen

how about hot chocolates for you both letus, only yours has a hefty addition of something a bit stronger? Nooooo, not an hbf letus

Afternoon. More snow, but it's mostly gone now.

Stand down wenches, DH isn't going up any ladders any time soon, it's too cold. He's just doing research.

Oh poor DS2 and you LetUs, hope you're both feeling better today.

at duvet poem.

Well, Medici has let us down. We finished season 1, which was brilliant, and went onto season 2. It seems it's a generation further on, there are only 3 characters from season 1 and two of them are played by new actors, and worst of all Richard Madden has disappeared with no explanation. We spent the whole of ep 1 trying to work out who was related to whom with the help of IMDb and Wiki and gave up in the end. Even Sean Bean didn't save it.

I've got to go for a heart ultrasound tomorrow. I really don't want to go to the hospital but it's almost a year overdue. I've postponed it twice already and I'm scared they'll chuck me out of the system.

Evening wenches.

Ooo Fancy, HBF covered in not too hot chocolate! That’s a fab idea though - DS2 does love hot chocolate.

We’ve both had a better day today thanks and we won’t have the Tuesday issue next week as it’s half term.

Phew at research only at this stage by MrApricot! That’s a bollocks re the Medici major cast change - what a shame. Good luck for tomorrow, hopefully you can then forget about it for another year.

Have watched another episode of Incredible Journeys. Lovely Simon. No visit to his house this time but a lovely walk in the woods and down to the beach. Lots of potential for outdoor activities when the temperature picks up.

Evening.

Busy day getting ready for builders, who cancelled, and then firefighting at BoringSpareRoomJob. I did fit in a hot chocolate though. (Without any HBFs involvement )

Fair bit of melting here today and a smattering of fresh snow.

at Medici series. That's very disappointing. Glad to hear that MrA isn't planning on re-roofing any time soon though. It's very nice to hear that Simon is putting the research in too though - scouting locations is very important.

Good luck for tomorrow Apricot