I had an emergency dentist appointment yesterday. My gum and tooth had been hurting for a while, and, although the pain has lessened, it felt sensible to check before we go to Iceland.
It's in the area where I'm due to have a filling so I thought they might do that but she just checked to make sure there wasn't any infection and them put some sludge that looked like sticky brown tar on my tooth. It tasted vile - to be fair she did warn me. In fact, tar might have tasted better.
Anyway, we'll see how it goes. I was impressed: I phoned in the morning and got an immediate appointment.
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Remember - you probably don't and I don't blame you - that I was given a lone cabbage plant last summer? It was very eaten by snails, but I checked up on it on Sunday and it's still surviving. It's even producing babies.
Is this where sprouts come from?
That 'head' is about 1" across.
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Bad weather means no roofers again. What do roofers do when they can't roof? It must be a very weather-dependent job.
This is the view from our bedroom window at the moment.
If you saw my previous post you will know we have some very tall scaffolding around us, so imagine my surprise when I returned from the bathroom and saw a pussycat peering in at me!
LI generated
The roofers arrived soon after - and then went away again. There is heavy rain forecast for later on and currently it's windier than it's been for ages.
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Trying to order a little bit of cash for our Iceland trip. On the Sainsburys site I clicked the 'Use my location' button and it placed me in Carlisle - the other end of the country. I put in my postcode and it still wanted me to travel twenty miles to get it. Or pay extra for delivery. I think we'll just get some from a machine when we get to Iceland - although I will panic about my card not working and things.
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Daughter said, "You know that's not a real cat, don't you?"
We used to play this in the school playground when I was a little girl. I find myself singing it every time I go to hang out washing as I weave my way in and out of the scaffolding.
The men finally finished on Friday. We've got some serious scaffolding in place.
We're assuming there will be a chute to throw tiles down into a skip below. The roofer said there wouldn't be, but I wonder if he realised how high the structure was going to be when he said that.
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Friday was GrandSon3's birthday and he was having four friends over to his house for a sleepover - with very little sleep by the sounds of it. Football at midnight, snooker at three. Glad those days are over for us though I seem to recall it was the girls who made the most noise when ours had sleepovers.
Saturday, oh yes, embarrassing much. I drove to Mumbles and was attempting to reverse park in a slanted space in a narrow road. Completely missed the gap - fortunately nothing in the next space - so went forward to try and reverse again, and the gear stick thing went funny.
It's an automatic but the little lights had leapt on the opposite side to the Reverse, Forward, Park marks, where it said something like M/S. And I couldn't get it to move anywhere. Not forward, not back, not to the right side. Panic!
I've never seen the other side lit up before and had no idea what it meant, and, anyway, what it meant was less important to me than getting out of it!
There were two men walking up the street so I opened my window and did my helpless woman bit. They looked in through the window and, of course, as I was explaining the problem, the gear stick returned to its normal position.
After that I decided I wouldn't park there after all.
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All the local* family came round to us for birthday cake on Saturday afternoon. A choice of two cakes as the boys had eaten so many sweets overnight nobody wanted any cake. Then we played a game of P is for Pizza.
It's a quick speed game where there are triangular cards each with a different topic on. Around the central pile are three more triangles, the other way up and they have letters on them. The game is to name something for the topic beginning with the letter next to it. And be the first to do it.
It's amazing how quickly one's mind goes blank when asked to name something with spots on beginning with r.
Highlights: Husband shouting, "Fenetre!" as something square beginning with F.
"You can't use French words!"
"Why not?"
And me. Name something beginning with I in Stars Wars. Me: "Indiana Jones!"
I wasn't allowed that!
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Sunday in prison for the church service. I was asked to do the reading and the men clapped afterwards! So I did a little bow.
And, because of the chaplain's words, I reflected on an email I was planning to send and decided against it.
* I said to GrandDaughter3 in Italy that all the family had come around for the tea party and she corrected me. "Not all the family."
Stu suggested I need some introspection. I refute that. In this case at least. In general probably!
There is often crying in writing group. Writing is or can be emotional. It can stir things up. It was nothing I said, rather it was the topic.
The bible study involves introspection, self-reflection. Some people - quite often people who might benefit from it - prefer not to look too closely at their lives. Biblically we're encouraged to 'examine our ways and test them.'
* * * * *
A couple of busy days in Rough Edges, sorting and chucking stuff. We've filled two skips to bursting and we need another one. Sean has also taken van-loads to metal and plastic recycling. We get money for metal but have to pay for plastic.
The future of the shop is still very much up in the air as we cannot continue unless we get new volunteers and, crucially, a manager. It will be very disappointing if it has to close as it has such potential as a Man Shed as well as fund-raiser.
Kathryn and Richard, who've been stalwarts in the clearing process, celebrated their 49th wedding anniversary by working in the shop with us yesterday! Kathryn even brought scones and cream for us to enjoy.
Led bible study last night; two - no, wait - three people walked out.
Ever have one of those days?
In writing group I asked people to write about themselves, maybe what or who had made them who they were or their dreams. I can see how that could be upsetting. She was fine afterwards. It was her first time in writing group too . . .
In bible study I wanted people to do some self-reflection, to think about their strengths and weaknesses. Sometimes the very people who might benefit from that prefer not to.
Other than that it was a good day. Writing group is growing. There were nine of us there with three apologies. The first task I set was to ask, "What happens next?" after the wolf has been chased away and Little Red Riding Hood and her grandma are reunited. Nine very different answers, some a bit darker than others. They're a great group. I wonder sometimes how they'll react to the exercises but they're all willing to leap in and give it a go.
And bible study was okay. It was mostly received well although I'm not sure how beneficial it was.
Back up to Rough Edges, our charity shop, for more clearing out today.
And I've just found a good use for AI. I was writing an email and couldn't think of the word for someone who's difficult to contact, so I asked Copilot and it found it for me. In fact gave me several options from which I chose elusive. You know what it's like when you can't think of the word and you can't use the thesaurus because you only have a vague description floating in your head.
Church yesterday, also sorted some washing, did some ironing, and made pizza, so a pretty good day. This morning I woke up at about 8.15 and realised the scaffolders were coming back and Mini would be in the way. Leapt up - well, got up, pulled on yesterday's clothes, and moved her.
It's nearly noon and there's still no sign of scaffolders. Still, it meant I got organised a bit earlier than I might have done, and I've planned writers' group tomorrow, and added a bit to the Zac's annual report before sending it off for others to add their bits to.
Now . . . what? Oh yes, carry on prepping to lead bible study tomorrow night. And I have a facetime call this afternoon with a prospective new trustee for Zac's. We chatted before and he's been thinking about it. Hope those thoughts were positive.
Got distracted by Daughter asking for information for our upcoming Iceland trip. Then further distracted by looking at tours, must-see sights, and the like. Folklore walking tours that take you to graveyards, quite close to the Phallological Museum, and Rainbow Street. Not sure about a tour that offers you a home-cooked meal on a horse farm though.
Have felt quite apathetic about the trip since being ill but beginning to get the excitement buzz now. the big question is, "How much can we fit in?"
Better take some headache pills before my facetime call.
* Snot is the body's way of getting rid of nasty bacteria.
Yes, I went to a party last night and was dancing until . . . phew, 9.30. The party was in full swing when I left but I'm still snuffly so thought I'd head home.
Me and two other oddbods!
It was my second night out on the trot. On Friday evening I delivered several bags of coats to the lady working on the street with 'working girls'. I stayed for an hour or so, longer than I intended, and met some of the women.
Husband meanwhile continues to sit in darkened rooms but his vision is pretty good already.
