Blowing in the Winds of Change

Hello MSE World, :hello:

Had good news and bad news yesterday.. Bad news was finding out the amount of CGT am going to be liable for on selling DH's flat. Very bad news, that. Suspect it will mean improvements to PNH having to be put on hold, or worse depending on timing of the demand (much larger bridging loan - if I can get one?)..

Good news was that DS4 got a letter, saying he's won the prize for being the best graduating arts student of the year at his college (suppose him being asked to do the speech should have given us a clue). Not only is it a cash award, but includes a family invite to the VIP p!ss-up/bun-fight afterwards! Most of you would relish such an opportunity to bask in his glory, buy new clobber for the occasion etc etc., but it fills me with dread..
Why? Well, as I had to go back to bed for six hours just following the exertion of having a shower yesterday, you can imagine how long am likely to be wiped out after attending such a posh function.
..Might have to send DS3 & GGF instead - let the other attendees think DS3 is related to the famous catwalk model GGF is apparently often mistaken for! :rotfl:

CD is cross with me today; have put her fluffy bed in the wash. She says she doesn't want to sit on van's floor without it - instead is lying outside in the dust on the drive, in high dudgeon.
Think we'll go for a walk at the burial ground as soon as CD's bed is on the line; could do with a meditation session next to DH's grave.

Hello MSE World, :hello:

Thanks for posting, Lucky, Sparky and Joey. :T

Lost a long heart-pouring post yesterday when lappy had another fit.. Perhaps just as well all m' angst has flown to the Netherworld - doesn't do any good being too self-indulgent. <sigh>
A mate has pointed me towards a much more ethically acceptable small laptop-building company, but the choices mean nothing; talk about arcane knowledge! ..Wish Divo Two wasn't so busy; he'd relish discussing the merits of the many variations on offer.
Muggins got as far as:
"Ooh, a back-lit keyboard, that would be handy! Hmm, is it worth an extra £75?"

Plans the day before yesterday were totally derailed when I realised PNH's washer had forgotten it's tricks. Now that's technology I can tackle; luckily had brought number-two oven tray from the Nest, which from long experience I know is the only thing which will fit under the idiotically-designed standard washing machine drain plug (< a feature which must have been dreamed-up by a man!).
Van's tool-kit sufficed, m' knees suffered mightily, but two hours later the machine was working properly again.
(The cuprits: Half a jay-cloth and a bent hair-grip removed from it's gizzards for the lads' inspection. Interestingly, the housemate who favours jay-cloths for cleaning and also wears hairgrips, moved out of PNH over three months ago :cool:).

Alas in it's madness, the washer had reduced CD's fluffy rug to a sad doughnut, obliging me to spend the rest of the afternoon cobbling a repair. From beneath my efforts are a right mess, but on the top it looks perfect again - representing an MSE saving of £50 (< cost of a replacement).

By then DS was back, in an ill humour because his current job is so tedious. Neither of us felt like cooking, which made it an opportunity to try another of the local takeaways.. We agreed on the chippy. Both pieces of fish were very good; light crispy batter blanketing succulent fillets, portions generous enough to share with CD yet half the price of the place closest to homehome. DS bought himself some chips but they were so disappointing he lobbed 'em straight into the green bin. It occurred to me to ask:
"Are the proprietors Chinese, by any chance?"
"How did you know?"
"There are two things those of Chinese descent simply cannot do; pronounce the letter 'R' and cook decent British chips," I said, handing DS a bowl of salad. Not sure whether the former is strictly true, but at least it made Divo Four laugh.

Yesterday CD and self spent most of the day at the burial grounds. Such a beautiful place; the trees have grown enough now to fully justify the word 'woodland' on the gate. CD followed rabbit-scent while I nibbled blackberries as we wandered through the groves, pausing to spend time with each of our loved-ones who rest there.

Couldn't find m' keys for the parts of homehome which aren't rented out, so decided I might as well cook DH's favourite meal while searching camper-van thoroughly. Took my plate to his grave; enjoyed the 'hot picnic' immensely while wishing DH was able to share, but it was so delightfully peaceful.. Fell asleep for a time when meditating afterwards, lying on the spot where I too will rest one day (that was a little strange, although it was satisfying to be able to appreciate the view - mostly tree-tops, admittedly).
Woke up to a niggling certainty; last Autumn I left homehome's keys with Divo Four, in order to avoid losing 'em - mystery solved!

Lucky - thanks for congrats to DS4; am indeed very proud of the effort he's put in.

Sparky - thanks for your offer, and also reminding me that Accountant may be able to help too. Will get in touch if he can't, but the official guidelines seem fairly clear (:().

Joey - Divo Three and GGF as avatars? ..Oh my goodness, what a thought! :rotfl:
..Hope you're still in Scruffy's 'good books' after his bath!

Spends:
Takeaway fish & throw-away chips - £6.50