No T Words mentioned at all - a fresh start

hoglet121

Argh now I have Ikea withdrawl symptoms!!!! I've been to that one near you Candlelight, that's where we bought all our first bits on bobs when we moved in together. DH hates Ikea with a passion, so of course we had a huge row, we had his kids with us who were totally hyper after going in the kiddie thing, and his mum too. We do still use almost everything we bought there tho, and our 19p plates and bowls are still going strong. And MLW, I went to the Southampton one just before we left to stock up on furniture - I got 4 x chest of drawers for 15 pounds each which I thought was very reasonable.

We don't have one in NZ at all - can you tell?! There are some in Aus, but it seems a bit of a way to go! Actually, we're supposed to be in Aus for Christmas with lots of DH's family, maybe I can persuade someone to go with me to one there.

scottishminnie

Working from home so just poppng in between calls to say hi.

Cold, wet and miserable here. It's been a disaster of a summer as far as weather goes. We had dreadful winds about two weeks ago and lost two fully grown fruit trees. We now have only eight left and have counted that we have purchased somewhere around 18/20 over the years so we won't be replacing any more. I'm simply calling a halt. We have two which were perfectly healthy until a few weeks back and it now seems inevitable that they will die too. We don't have any decent plant nurseries or specialist around to ask for opinions. I tried the garden centres in the past but it's a waste of time. Despite taking photos and leaves in to show the problem they simply point to shelves of sprays and say try one of those and it doesn't work come back and try another.

I lifted a dozen onions at the weekend and have another 8 or so to take up. Potatoes seem OK if a bit less than expected and what we managed to get from the fruit bushes was ok.
I have a 10ft by 4ft raised veggie bed which we are abandoning. We simply can't control the worms and slugs. Despite every type of repellent known to man they are back within days. Last weekend I removed over 70 slugs and covered in the blue granules. Yesterday I saw it was positively moving with them again so it's no longer fit for vegetables. Next year it will be shrubs - well that's assuming I can find some which they won't eat.

Stupidly busy at work so there hasn't been much baking although I did make more ice cream. Pineapple and coconut and butter pecan this time. My ice cream attachment yields about a litre per batch but it's amazing how fast two of those disappear amongst 6 people!

My birthday i coming up and my mother offered to buy me a sewing machine (my sisters birthday is the same week and that was her request). I have my late grandmothers treadle machine though which still works so I've turned it down. She's now getting quite agitated because I said I really didn't want anything. I just don't have any need for more "stuff" but the danger is if I don't find something to suggest I will end up with "stuff" anyway. I don't know why she is so obsessed with making sure we both receive "equal" gifts - is this just a normal parent thing?

Anyway, lunch break over. Better get ready for my next call. Hoping if I don't come out of the call with a list of things to do I can maybe get an early finish and get to the gym for an hours run. That makes me feel much happier!

Floss

ScottishMinnie why not ask for a voucher for somewhere you will shop, whether it be B&Q, M&S or Dunelm, where you can buy something that sparks joy - or Christmas gifts - with it?

candlelight_2013

Floss that's a good idea, my sister and I usually go for Amazon vouchers. we are lazy shoppers and always look there first before we go around the stores :)

Candlelightx

[Deleted User]

Evening everyone, been a bleak couple of days as we found yesterday there are some problems with the new unhatched baby and may be more which will be tested for over the next week, rock and hard place territory. However with the morning for me at least came acceptance of the situation and that has helped, a little. It seems so unfair that folks as 'good' and giving to society as Ru and hubs should be in such a difficult position, having said that I can't think of anyone else as capable of making the right decisions for the right reasons in this one. So we wait as there is no other option and while we wait we hope, and we pray because that really is ALL that can be done. Life is sometimes wearisome and this is one of them for us, Lyn xxx.

Floss

MrsLW, please accept a dodgy hug from Blackpool:grouphug: Me & my boys' dad had hard decisions & lots of tests with DS1 and happily he turned out ok. I hope your little one turns out well.

Love & hugs
Floss xx

candlelight_2013

Lyn, you know how I feel. I know Ruthie and Neil will, in time, make the right decision for them.

It is so hard waiting for the results of tests and imagining all sorts of things, but I send gentle hugs and much love to you all.

Candlelightx

[Deleted User]

Bless all of you, hugs of any kind accepted with gratefulness and much appreciated, Lyn xxx.

Nargleblast

Mrs LW - waiting for the outcome of tests which may mean bad news is always difficult. Been there, done that, fortunately happy result who has just got a place at university on the back of decent A level grades. I do hope all goes well and whatever the outcome, I wish you all strength and blessings.

LaineyT

Sending much love and all hugs to Lyn & her family, candle is light for your little one x