5 OS pleasures in your day today - part 3

DigForVictory

Frith - always good to keep siblings well supplied with their preferred reading. Courgette roasted with sumac and cinnamon - sounds delicious! Sighting bigger son - an unexpected perk. Hoping you are better, and that sleeper trains are as much fun in reality as in the planning. Ooops hayfever.

LaineyT - harvest gathered Already? Wow! Quizzing Mondays? Hurrah! Aw grey beauty admiring handsome grey thoroughbred stablemate! Ah, summer pudding! Deadheading lavender? (Now mine has decide to flower At All, clearly I should encourage it!) TMS blancmange as well as cake? (Even I have heard of the cakes!) Ooh, the arrival anticipation... She Is Gorgeous! 

ampersand - It's an absolute belter of a book. Ye gods yes, the details on a guinea pig are hassle, at least they don't have tails.

mhagster - you merwoman! Famdram - brilliant word, often gruesome situation. Yikes antibiotics and antihistamines. Invaded by sweetpeas (what a way to go!) then doing the Scandanavian cleaning so your children don't have to. Lovely to still have the cards & letters - we moved & didn't. Ah hindsight. Then photos.

Purple kitten - fingers crossed for interview & love ferret defending garden from invader pigeons! Had to Google 'hummingbird moths', stunning! Glad gardening a happy place - I have leafy triumphs on windowsills & regularly round up everything that hasn't "got the idea" off to the compost heap - mum thinks I'm an amazing gardener when fact I just hide the evidence. 

topsyturphy - the North Yorkshire moors, with sunlight, butterflies & sheep = beautiful place if for heartbreaking reason. Chickpea & green lentil curry sounds yumm!

Highdays - Think of the Fat Rascals & how much easier they will be to enjoy once all the dental stuff is sorted. I missed the primary school nativity something rotten - enjoy the socks off this last year? 'More than initially thought' - yes but you'll be able to eat an apple in another two decades. 

PaulieHerts - I adore your photos. The downside of wonderful escapes, the laundry on return...

Happycas - leavers' assembly can be a real wrenching empotional event. Oooh VCM! Run out of washing?!

OS Pleasures recently

Colleague is reading ‘My Family & other animals’ with her book club - I remember bits of it across decades, snorting with laughter & relief that bad though they are, at least my lot don’t attain assort Durrell family heights.

Fire engine hurtled past our house - very shocking but mass speculation & surge of collective hope.

Youngest has his eye on a potential course. I have read the small print & know he needs to contact them for details of the portfolio. It is very hard not being a pushy mother.

Somehow, Youngest & I have an occasional role reversal & I brew up & take him a mug. Often in bed, so I get to see him in a nest of bedding, charmingly drowsy but sharpening to ‘alert enough to get manage mug’.

Washed & line dried bedlinen. There’s a pleasure in doing & a pleasure to look forward to! Not least as tomorrow, no way are we going to avoid rain.

The white lavender is starting to blossom! All that sunlight. The rain will wash through - odd how lavender is nearly a desert plant yet it’s “so English”.

One of Mum’s care team took her to the local reservoir today, and took a photo of her enjoying the sunlight & the view of the water & a coffee - and WhatsApped us the photo. Wonderful to see her happy & outside!

Sometimes I bump into lines by Pratchett that catch me all over again. “The Bursar himself in any normal society would have been considered more unglued than a used stamp in a downpour.” It’s only taken me decades to realise that’s the iambic pentameter of Shakespeare (& others) sitting there, waiting for me to realise. (Some circle of life, I want to go to the Unseen University. As a visiting academic, their approach to students being diligent in minimising waste.)

Just how did we come to have at least 7 types of plastic razor? I have decluttered the bathroom & now need to go to the pharmacy to hand off two bags for disposal (& lay down a cellar of cough mixtures for autumn). The bathroom looks dusty but rather less like a junkyard. I am promised the vomit pail will be cleaned (just dusty at present). {The cost of a bottle of cough mixture, even a generic! Off to eyeball Home Bargains offerings, having jotted the PL numbers - the same old mischief reported in 2016….}

Ye gods. Called mum to check visiting cousins well & happy, got passed around like a dessert trolley. Still, everyone seems in good form, coffee was imminent so I wished them all well as it’s not sensible to get between mum & her coffee.

Hadn’t realised Rob Brydon was a Springsteen fan! Much amused he wants to know What Supplements the Boss is taking, as they clearly work…!

Oh the joys of communal living. I’ve a guaranteed cheap LED light in the hall so people moving floors can do so in safety. Some young idiot turned it off & I descended into relative darkness. (Still demanded & for my bedtime hug, even as I grumbled. I am unspeakably lucky.)

A birthday book has arrived & I have my family out to first cousins inscribed. And realising that I need a different pen to track the death days, as you can always send a belated birthday card or message, but death days not so much. Off to refill my fountain pen.

At the family zoom we somehow got into the Tham Luang cave rescue which rightly has a Wikipedia page. I remain in awe of the efforts & the sheer survival rate (& had forgotten the suggestion the team be left with food & educational material til after the monsoon season.) I just hope all the Young Boars team are living normal happy healthy lives now. The divers I affectionately regard as heroically bonkers - caving is adrenaline packed without knowing there’s more rain forecast & you’re hoped to emerge with a football-mad schoolboy under your arm. People forget that as the last lad was brought out, the water behind them was rising half a metre every 10 minutes - the rescuers abandoned kit to get the heck up & out.

Anyone heard of a Burgers Drinks & Salsa Music party? I found a to-be-hoped fake message from mother to offspring asking why had they misled their father, who has now invited neighbours over - “we are not done talking about this” & I’m just giggling helplessly.

“I’ll soak it in formaldehyde.” “It’s a little early; I’m still breathing.” (Youngest & I debating what to do with remaining pizza.)

“Brotherly episodes” - the offspring version of the Labrador “bitey-face”….

Fingers crossed for the Lionesses tonight in Geneva. (Rousing cheers!) [And now keeping an eye and trying not to gnaw fingernails. Penalties, eep.]

Glorious morning quiet, after the rubbish truck has been. Birds chirping, doves cooing, & there’s even a cool breeze!

PG Wodehouse - especially the Gutenberg miscellany. Deeply amused by indoor golf, where “you may lose a stroke through hitting the maid” - a local rule apparently.

Just had a winter heating allowance message, & blinking somewhat, checked. Still a bit young to be eligible, but then realised it’s a scam & reported it.

Awww! Heard the ice cream van, briefly. Unusually, thanks to noise-cancelling headphones, no thudding boots as family give pursuit. (They’re so grown up, they rummage the freezer. Happily, this year’s annual fingertip weeding & laying down of bark chippings is complete.)

Chuckling with sisters over exercise we like, one walks (two Labradors), one does tae kwon do, I do yoga. Doesn’t make me slim, doesn’t get the heart rate pounding, but I keep going back for more.

Ah scout planning meeting & yes, we will have a Burns Night ceilidh - of a sort!

Google distracted me with the new format of Bourneville. Yikes! Still, if it helps me buy the supermarket own brand (winner of the blind taste test) instead, onwards with this “progress”.

Dear me. After thirty five years of Imperial Blue, Denby have stopped making eggcups. Not wholly, there’s the studio blue chalk egg cup for the very traditional breakfast egg, but then it’s soju cups all the way (& soju appears to be Korea’s National version of vodka - oh Denby…)

Trying to embroider and listen to ISIHAC at the same time. Gosh, in my next life I want to come back as Samantha. Smitten with ‘the Glyndeborne Identity’ - is that what to call the wedding guest frock?!

More linen on the line, baby oaks weeded, and a handful of plums pulled from the tree, stones carefully bagged in the fridge. All washed & back to embroidery.

Had my memory updated - Stoke Mandeville is the spinal specialist hospital & so if Middleson or his mates come a purler off the via ferrata, I know which hospital in the UK to route them through. (Whilst head injuries go direct to Queen Square London for neurosurgery & neurology.) The more research & vocabulary I prep, the less should be needed & luck is boosted with a suggested plan. [Middleson rolling eyes but still not learning any Italian. Or updating his first aid.]

I do hope only in the Dig household but “dear, why is there an assortment of torches laid out on your father’s side of the bed, and why have you not put the others back?” Swiftly followed by a “but by all means focus on the stew first” (oh my priorities.)

Youngest happily wrestling with his new DVD player. Wholly aware his brother schemes to rid the family home of all these space-hogging discs...

Replacement shaver charger cable has arrived & Youngest all hopeful “I don’t want to look all uncouth for the honeys”… me laughing harder when my email tells me it’s been left “in a safe place” - yep, the front doorstep.

Grinning at disgruntled bishop ruthlessly wrong footed on social media (memo to self, to exercise authority, dress for it).

Shopping with (immaculately clean shaven) Youngest, we dicker the protocol of clearing out a shop’s stock of tea. I opine you should always leave one item on the shelf (if only to inform the staff to refill it), his view is ‘they know I’m coming for the lot’ no further information is needed.

There are days (indeed, possibly weeks) where you can’t win. I have spent five days Annual Leave embroidering (half cross stitching, nothing exotic!) a cushion cover for my mum. I have done this sat on the floor, to get the best light & easy access to all the wools etc. Today (Sunday) I thought I’ll sit on a toolbox & my back won’t ache as much. (Rightly.) Just my knees are now straightening with near pistol-shot noises, & there’s still a good three more days sewing.

Health Strength Love & Courage to all as have need, huge welcomes to a lovely Labrador, and the very best of luck with the coming week.

mhagster

I love it when dfv summarises my fortnight 😆

And welcome new doggyLainey ! I look forward to hearing all about her new adventures. 

Up early and down to CP…rainy walk. 

Lazy morning at caravan. Read. Snoozed. Read some more. Bit of weeding. Came home around 3ish.

Made a chilli and then sat and read my library book until I finished it.

Chat to friend on phone. 

LaineyT

For yesterday,

The beautiful blond one slept through the night again with not a peep, am aware of the 3, 3, 3 rule so know this might not last but good while it does.

Bacon butties and catching up on all things Ambridge.

Trip out to pet store for a harness and shampoo, she had a mini bath in the garden with bucket of warm water which was tolerated ☺️

Lots of time in garden so she had time to really explore and chill out, at one point I turned around and she was fast asleep in the grass, belly up to the sun, awww.

But #5 has to be our fabulous Lionesses and their incredible retention of European title, so many epic performances but special mention to Lucy B for playing the tournament with a fractured tibia!!

ampersand

Osps, whenever they eventually go. Still no vehicle until at least Tuesday, so using buses.
(Currently Monday a.m. in JLP)

1....which gave a remarkable pleasure.  A waiting couple in rural fenny bit asked driver if this was the same bus that had gone the other way an hour previous.  If so, was a phone handed in?

New driver did not know, but told chap to look.

English was not the first language for either.  Upstairs he ran and was back down in an instant, beaming, phone in hand!😁  It was wonderful.👏

2. A very rainy day and another series of early buses to reach The Alma in time for 11h rugby.   Result tough on Australia, but equally, & is glad for Maro Itoje, as the victory should curb the appalling racist abuse he's often been subjected to.  Though Joe Schmidt does have a strong case about the illegal clear out which the referee did not seem to grasp.

3. Lovely catch-up in The Alma with young friend and recent-ish Mum, also archaeologist and formerly Leader of the Cambridge Graduate Orchestra.  Very much a Scot and Finn Russell fan.  We all loathe both Farrells, therefore glad son did nothing of note while on.  At least he didn't deliberately stamp on - and break - an opponent's forearm, which & saw him do at Twickenham some years ago.😡

4. Here it was, in CUBG yesterday!😱

No snakes of any kind in Aotearoa, DG.  Now know it's a grass snake, don't I Frith?😉
Tree chap at work there told me about a much bigger one he first saw 2 years ago.  Said they live in CUBG's compost heap.

5. Well, those round ball girls certainly did it again, but oh my goodness! & listened to it on R5.  Even shouted a Yessss! while attempting to finish more guinea pig eyes, noses, ears and feet.😁

mhagster

Hello. Bedtime. I’ve been yawning for the past hour! 

Up early and did the hoovering whilst waiting on the washing machine then out to CP. 

Was blooming chilly first thing. I was wishing I’d brought a jacket. 

Had a very lovely swim. First in a week. 

Hot shower was definitely needed!

Did my caravan housework! Hoovered washed floors and cleaned bathrooms…the good thing is it doesn’t take long 😆

Left about 1pm. Brought all the throws home to was and they got dried outside.

Cut grass. 

Sorted some things out of garage. Put some things on local fb page both collected this evening. 

Dropped off some boxes to a friend, quick chat as she was going out

Then down to see mums NDN . 

DundeeDoll

Happycas said:

Dundee Doll - hope all is well and you are just end-of-term/year busy.

indeed the University has kept me horribly busy. have now caught up everyone's news. re consent, i remember being in labour with dd2 and the young aneasthetist asking me if i'd consent to taking part in a study - i said if he said rubbing goat !!!!!! on my legs would take the pain away i'd say yes. he looked a bit panicked then decided to go ahead anyway - i use it as an example of 'informed consent' when i'm teaching ethics. 
so what have i been up to over the last 5 (!) weeks?
1) had a staycation - 2nd week of Wimbledon, enjoyed a good mix of tennis and visiting gardens and not doing any work emails
2) applied for a job (within the uni) asked at the interview 'why do you want the job' i responded 'good question, i actually have my dream job'. i didn't get the new job lol. but think i had indeed realised i am in my dream job so let's stay put. an interesting experience
3) the principal wants to meet me next month to discuss some of my ideas (i think i was doing quite well in the interview till that question)
4) have enjoyed the lionesses - goodness my nerves though! DrM watched last night's penalties, I couldn't.
5) had a health scare (lump size of a marble suddenly appeared on my thyroid) - NHS has been lovely - awaiting the results but the sonographer thinks nothing to worry about
so there we go, 5 for 5. off to China for a week with work so will be awol again. will miss Luton's one and only televised game on 1st August - DrM says he'll watch it and let me know next Tuesday how they were.

Frith

Pleasures for today (Monday)

1) Not a bad sleep.

2) Stayed in bed for ages. 

3) Another shift at work done. Talked to the colleague who also goes to our football. 

4) Popped to B and Q to buy a plug for the Freecycled bath that will become a pool. Need sealant. 

5) Smaller son and I lit a fire and had marshmallows at about 8pm and I am still sitting outside looking at it!

6) An incredibly clear sky but I haven't seen any meteorites yet due to the fire and occasional house lights coming on. 

LaineyT

For yesterday,

Capt S working from home so popped out to horsey town for food, he stayed in the office upstairs and apparently there wasn’t a peep out of our girl, in fact we are yet to hear her bark 🤔

Decent day with a warm breeze so caught up on washing and wielded the hoover around, had forgotten about the Labrador hair situation Mhags!

Sitting on the back door step with a cup of tea and watching the buzzards riding high on the thermals.

Spending time with my other girl and a bit of work done over poles. Thanks to the recent rain the fields are showing green again.

Early rounds of Uni Challenge means we can at least answer a few, especially when they are about cricket and music

mhagster

Lainey we are in our summer cast season! I brushed off about 3 puppies worth of fur earlier! He tolerates it for so long then says nah, enough. 

Up very early. Kind of woke abruptly rather than gently. 

But up and at ‘em. I ironed. I printed and prepped for my service later this week. And off we went to CP. Very drizzly drive down. And a drizzly walk. There was a deer in the wheat field we walk alongside. I saw it before it saw me and we had eye contact then boof off it went but there were two of them. It was thrilling to watch as the wheat is full height and they just bounded through the field. Meanwhile doggo was sniffing the ground completely unaware. 

And it was too rainy for the pool to open at 9am so I was a bit at odds with myself as I kind of have my routine! But went over at 10am and ended up not getting back till almost midday! Hot shower and then a very late breakfast! Had another walk. Then came home. 

Had a work call with a service booked in. But won’t go and see family until I’m off my hols! 

Went to supermarket. 

Hung out washing ( caravan towels/ swimsuit) just had to hang them up on clothes horse as not quite dry.

Hoovered the car. We both come home with grass/ pine needles on our feet/ paws because of where I park/ walk. 

Potted up rhubarb into bigger pot. 

Cleaned downstairs loo. 

 Brushed the dog and his three puppies worth of fur and hoovered again. 

ampersand

For some reason, mse is saying "Body is 9 characters too short."
No idea why.🤔
1. & vehicle now fixed!😃. A joy to be mobile again and in time for next week's BROH appointment.👏

2. ¼-price emporium strawberries, spices and lychees, which & loves - along with other spectacular rtc's today from FW - inc.🌟single malt whisky £18, satsumas 45p, on their 10% discount Tuesday.  All sorted and shared with oldest Northern hemisphere Uni friend about an hour ago.

3. No bus timetable pressure as I write these osps quietly under a distant tree, knowing I'll drive safely back when I choose.

4. Friends' harvest, which has never had to begin so early, has just about escaped the worst weather effects, despite recent crazy downpours. Can see both their tractors' headlights right now from my fenny spot. 

5. Osp of anticipation as, mobile again, I'll attend and enjoy the final CUBG Sounds Green concert tomorrow night.  Had to miss last week.

#

Not sure when this will appear on mse, written at 2135h.  Will now drive off, in search of signal.🤞
Agreed with everyone who loved this week's isihac.😁