Swagger Inn 177 - The weather is turning colder, the nights are drawing in, we need a few HBFs to help us through the winter <looks around wistfully>

[ApricotCrush]

More domestic witterings...

Morning all, I have done the exercise thing, and then I have iced the Christmas cake with one of those recipes where you boil the water and sugar, then whisk it madly for hours until it cools, but before it solidifies into an unusable solid lump. I seem to have iced the cake with a slow-moving glacier, and spent ages scooping the icing back up and putting it on top again. Haven't dared check it for a while now, in case it's laying claim to the entire dining table and then the floor.

It's a bit brighter today, almost hazy sun, but not quite. There is more gardening to be done (always) and DH is doing a jigsaw. DS is x-boxing with his GF.

(Icing update - it seems to have stopped spreading. Apart from onto my joggers, which I've just noticed. Oops.)

Afternoon. The fog has gone, hurrah. I think it’s a teeny bit lighter this afternoon as well.

I have shingles. Goodness knows where it’s come from, I’ve never had it before, but it’s easily recognisable. I had the jab about 10 years ago so hopefully it won’t be too bad.

Hope MrLetUs and DS2 get better soon. There are some horrible things going around at the moment. Son-in-law had something before Christmas and said he never felt so ill.

Well done on the Christmas cake Helen, we haven’t had one this year.

Evening wenches.

I’m sure DH had shingles when one of the boys was only a baby. Hope you’re okay with it Apricot.

I did the visiting today and met up with DS1 and his girlfriend at my mum and dad’s, then they came for lunch. They played lots of Switch games with DS2 and DH kept out of the way. I do love seeing everyone but the day has been very full of people and noise. Didn’t get the ironing done but I’ve enough for Monday and Tuesday for work so I’ll do it on Wednesday.

Am 😁 at your mobile icing Helen.

Oh no! Did you get to the Dr apricot? Last time I had it they saw me same day and lobbed anti-virals at me. Hopefully MrLetUs and MiniLetUs recover quickly without sharing their lurgy.

Ended up doing very little today once the cake was iced - lots of jigsawing, but no gardening, despite the weather clearing over here as well. Judging by the forecast, that may have been a mistake.

MOnday tomorrow - sort of doooom, but DH wants to go shopping, so I may postpone the freelance return. (Or check my emails tonight to make sure there's nothing urgent!)

Evening

Have been really living it up today - completed my tax return. Oh the excitement. Am now going to reward myself with cheese and wine.

What a bugger apricot, I hope you are able to get anti-virals for it & that it isn't too painful. As you say, with luck the vaccine will give you some protection. I had it years ago - luckily on the back of my waist, so wasn't too bad as long as I avoided tight waist bands! I had been very stressed beforehand, so I suspect that's why I got it as it's not something you can catch. The only good thing I have to say about shingles is that it confirmed that DD had had chickenpox as a toddler - it was so mild we were never sure - as she had shingles a few years later.

Morning wenches.

Monday nooooooooooo.

Yes, that weather forecast does look a little iffy Helen. Best to stay indoors.

Excellent reward Fancy and well deserved. Have some more later.

Have great days wenches.

Morning all. Rather a lovely morning - the sunrise (what I saw of it) was a nice orange colour, though it is a bit chilly. Plans today include work, and seeing if DH wants to go into NearbyCity, being a cat bed, reading, and doing a jigsaw. All quite pleasant apart from the work bit. And even that is freelancing, so fine really.

Hope everyone has a good day and Apricot gets lots of drugs/feels ok. (My shingles were, I think, on my shoulder and back, and not too bad.)

Hope you feel better soon Apes ❤

Afternoon. Nice sunny day here, but a bit nippy.

Thanks everyone. It's around my waist too Fancy. I wasn't going to go to the GP, I thought it would resolve itself, but after reading yours and Helen's comments I phoned this morning but they hadn't got an appointment until Friday. I told them that's no good as you're supposed to have antivirals within 3 days. She said try a pharmacist, but they won't give out antivirals for shingles without a prescription. I don't feel ill though, it's just painful.

So far today I've done Sainsbury's, posted two birthday cards, knitted, been a cat bed and failed at a sudoku.

Evening wenches.

Work was that weird mix of busy and quiet throughout the day. I did enjoy the journey home though which from car park to home, even with temporary traffic lights, took 26 minutes. That’s around 30 minutes less than usual!

Here’s hoping that the shingles don’t cause any pain Apricot.

Days of jigsaws and knitting and cat beds sound wonderful.

FFS Apricot, so many GP practices are beyond useless these days.

We went to NearbyCity which was full of carpark queues and people, and stressful/tiring because we ended up on a parking deadline, due to being parked at the Supermarket with a 2-hour limit. We went into the supermarket at the end, and promptly turned around and left because it was too busy to get through the check-out queue before parking ran out. First world problems and all that!

On the plus side, I did get my work inbox under control for the first time in a couple of months, and we got the main things done at the shops that needed doing (and had lunch 'out'). And I put a couple of bits of jigsaw in.

Excellent news on the quiet trip home LetUs - if only it was always that easy.

Morning wenches.

Doesn’t exactly make for a relaxing trip out does it when you’re checking your watch all the time because of limited parking. Good news on the jigsaw though 😁. BestFriend got me an excellent one for Christmas.

Already quite gusty here. Work beckons and then we’re out tonight but will be home well before midnight.

Have super days wenches.

Morning all. There is a sliver of orange sunrise (fading to gold) along the horizon this morning. It's weighed down beneath a solid grey sky though, so no bright sunshine for us today. It's a bit breezy here too.

Nothing planned today other than work (and gardening if I empty my inbox in time). This evening we are handing out with friends for a night of chat and board games. Finish time depends on if my energy levels rise above 'slug'.

Fingers crossed for good traffic again today LetUs.

Afternoon.

Have met my target of something being thrown out everyday (on average ) this year - in fact am slightly over. Go me! Now need to start clearing the bedrooms ready for the decorator next week. Will make a start after lunch, am on a bit of a go slow after a late night - went to the cinema with DD to see Conclave in BigCity. It was very interesting, even though we both knew the plot as she's already seen it & told me all about it. Ralph Fiennes was excellent & Isabella Rosellini was awesome, even with limited screen time.

Am staying in with Chonk & Floof tonight - need to chill the wine, get dinner out of the freezer & plan the evening's viewing.

How is the shingles today apricot?

I should also do gardening helen, but... <peers outside>... Nope. Too cold looking.

Glad the commute was easier letus, hope the same goes for today.

Afternoon. It’s a bit blowy out there. I’m feeling a bit miserable to be honest. I’ve been in my nightclothes all day but I’ve got to find something comfortable to wear this evening as we’re all going to DS’s. He’s got a load of buffet food that we didn’t eat last week. A lot of cheese apparently Fancy. We won’t stay late though. I won’t infect anyone as they’ve all had chicken pox.

Have a pleasant evening all.

Happy New Year everyone. I'm invited over to Nice Landladies, they're serving seafood, looking forward to that, I only had shrimps before and a tiny lobster once. 😀

Have a lovely time Wicked - your landladies are awesome

I didn't do any gardening in the end - I have been working all day, apart from a brief break to take DH shopping, again.

Now I just feel a bit cold and tired and not like going out. Ho hum, I'm sure I'll perk up when I'm there. I'll have a hot chocolate, that will help.

Can you complain to the practice manager Apricot - quote the NHS advice at them? "Speak to your GP or pharmacist as soon as you get symptoms of shingles. Early treatment may help to reduce the severity of the condition and complications."

Have a lovely evening ww

Hope you find something comfortable to wear apricot - I was lucky in that I had it in the summer so could wear floaty dresses. Winter is harder for comfyness. Although I think shingles can only be caught by direct contact with the rash, so being covered up with winter clothes is good for that at least. It may be a bit late for you, but I think some pharmacies will issue prescriptions for anti virals per the NHS website, also Superdrug website

Evening wenches.

I shall catch up in the morning. Work was busier than it should be. Been out to family for food and wine. Much wine.

Nooooo! We want pissed letus posts 😁

Happy New Year wenches 🥳🥂🎉

Am on the pink fizz while trying to keep Floof from stealing my Twiglets. Living the dream.

Morning all. Happy New Year. Fun and silly games have been had. Alcohol has been consumed by others. I am the taxi driver going to bed!

at Floof'n'Twiglets That sounds like a very satisfactory way to spend the night.

Morning wenches. Happy new year!🥳

I’d have probably fallen asleep halfway through pissed posting Fancy 😁

Hope the shingles isn’t causing too many problems Apricot. How long is it supposed to last?

Sounds like wenches had lovely evenings of family, friends, epic landladies, and twiglet-stealing cats - as is only right and proper.

Today’s plan is breakfast, ironing, then cinema on my own. DS2 got a cinema voucher but there’s nothing he wants to watch and our local branch closes in a couple of weeks. Then visiting at some point and hopefully knitting.

Have lovely days wenches.

Morning all. It's a bit windy out there! Good job it's a bank holiday so no wenches have to battle their way to work.

Enjoy the Cinema LetUs - hope there's something good on. <cbf> at the local cinema closing

Happy New Year everyone. It's a bit wet and windy out there, but I dont intend to go anywhere. We got home around 10ish last night, went to bed and were woken up by the fireworks.

How lovely WW, hope you had a good time.

I would complain Helen, but I wrote to them last month when they reduced the strength of my blood thinners by half without contacting Cardiology at the hospital and I thought they should have. Apparently it's 'national guidance' when you get to a certain age. Anyway I don't like to be a nuisance, as they can chuck you off the list if you're a troublemaker. I know this because after I officially retired I took a part-time receptionist job at a different surgery for 6 years for something to do, and I saw it happen. They're not much help, but I don't want to risk being stranded without a GP.

Google tells me it lasts between 3 and 5 weeks LetUs. Woe.

at Floof and the Twiglets (that famous indie band from the 80s)

Evening all. Wind and rain galore this morning, but it calmed down this afternoon - by with time family turned up to visit so I didn't get outdoors anyway, and I've done very little. Just realised I'm back to work on Friday - woe.

LOL at the Indie Band.

Apparently there are Northern Lights about tonight <side-eyes at solid cloud cover>