Living the Good Life - mortgage free and living in line with our values

greenbee

AI is only as good as a. the instructions you give it and b. the data available. Generally people don't know how to do (a) well and (b) is rubbish... 

EssexHebridean

AI is turning into a complete PITA in the legal world - it has the nasty habit of conflating case details then spitting out information relating to entirely fictional legal precedents using case law that doesn't exist...and then of course people say "Oh but it must be true because..." - MrEH tells me it is increasingly causing issues, and they now have various reminders to clients that it should not be relied on inserted into their various precedent documents. 

Delighted to hear that it sounds as though your niece is now on the mend - such scary times. 

themadvix

Afternoon all,

Finally beginning to feel slightly caught up with myself. Niece was discharged yesterday - the main hold-up being waiting for them to find suitable antibiotics for her to continue with at home, as she was having IV-only ones that required daily blood testing while she was in hospital (her poor non-existent gut microbiome!). She is well on the road to recovery - just a few dissolvable stitches and the remaining antibiotics to contend with.

Brain has now moved on to worrying about cats - Ginger has his sedation for diagnostics tomorrow and B&W's lump has definitely grown a bit so it needs to come off. Tried to make an appointment at the vets for the latter and was told the earliest (I could do, as I couldn't do today) was 24th November, but I could ring at 8 am for same day appointments - since when has the system been the same as the NHS?!

So I'm still tired (obviously brain wants to worry about all these things when it should be sleeping). But I have been able to concentrate on Cambridge work this morning (alongside sorting out some cat sitting admin). And I intend to continue this afternoon too. Good job too as I really need to actually earn some money this month!

Sent my complaint to Octopus contact yesterday and guess what? She's OOO again. She's been on holiday or training every week I think since she was allocated to us at the end of August. So I won't hear from her until tomorrow at the earliest. Between heat pump woes and not knowing what the outcome of Ginger Cat's diagnostics will be (and then booking the op for B&W - and the concomitant worry there), I still don't feel we're very settled at the moment!

Had planned to start Christmas shopping this month to alleviate December stress. I have made a list so far (and have something for Niece and a couple of further ideas for her), but that's it. And realised we've got 8 people coming for Christmas Eve takeaway, a table that only seats 6 at a push and only 6 chairs.... beginning to regret inviting them now (although alternative means travelling 45 mins on Christmas Eve and then the same back at 11pm+).

I did make a meal plan at the weekend and so far we're sticking to it, which is helping. R'ford order set for tomorrow (not a lot but I have included a recipe box). Milk was cancelled as we had/have loads still. Have also declined an invitation for an event next weekend - tbh I was looking for an excuse not to go, but with the last couple of weeks, I feel I really need a quiet, calm weekend at home or doing something gentle and fun.

MS things:
* Parking at supermarket and walking must have saved me a fortune this week
* Got a free hot chocolate in Cafe Nero courtesy of the 🐙 (I feel they owe me at least that at the moment!) when I went to the refill shop yesterday
* Cat sitting for one day at the weekend
* Cat sitting all booked and in diary for December and January

Gratitudes:
* Niece is home at last!
* Mum is finally sounding much better after her brush with Covid
* The two above mean caring duties are much reduced!
* House is warm and cosy

Have a good day all!

themadvix

Afternoon all,

Feeling on a much more even keel today. And Ginger Cat has been for his procedure and is home now (still very dopey - wandering round with his tongue half out and his back legs not working properly, so he looks a bit like a sausage dog). Possible early signs of heart disease, but no way of knowing how long he's been like that - so nothing too much to worry about. Will monitor annually (with the whole shebang again!). Have left the vets to submit the insurance claim via their portal - for the time being, I've put it on the heat pump 0% card. We'll have to pay about £350 of it anyway - bill is £1100 🙄). Cat funds definitely need upping.

Plan to ring first thing tomorrow for appointment for B&W Cat. He'll be Patient no. 3. Patient no. 1 is doing well and annoying my sister by being hungry every 5 mins - definitely almost back to normal then!

Workwise, today has been an entirely Cambridge day - usual meetings and admin.  I didn't get as far as the report writing. I've also baked bread, made granola and finished the easy washing of Mr MV's wardrobe from where the heat pump installers just let everything get covered in brick dust (there's still a suit and ties etc., which I think will have to be hoovered as I'm not paying out for dry cleaning for them). It was dry so shirts have been hanging on the line - brought in now and arranged on curtain rails (on their hangers). And I picked up the key for cat sitting at the weekend.

Haven't heard anything from 🐙 contact - not even an acknowledgement. I will be following that up first thing.

I may have made a meal plan for the week, but apparently didn't put anything against today! I was going to do soupy leeky rice, but it's now dark and I don't have the leeks. I will have to think on that. Maybe egg on toast? (Was going to suggest masala carrots but we don't have any onions until R'ford deliver tomorrow). Mr MV at a conference in London - will be picking him up from the station at some point - he's got canapes and drinks currently, so think he'd be OK with a light dinner (and there's yoghurt we could have for dessert).

MS things:
* PA surveys
* 1P surveys
* Clicks and HW
* 0% card is coming in useful (and the receptionist at the vets was a ML fan!)
* ETA: We made £13.13 from 🐙 free electricity sessions over the summer - not bad at all!

Gratitudes:
* Ginger Cat is okay - nothing too awful to worry about (have forgotten to mention to Mr MV that he'll need a dental in the NY 🙄 - more money!)
* Niece is still improving
* Evening class was nice - I needed that social interaction, it cheered me up enormously.

Have a good evening all!

greenbee

Dust here too. Plumber has been taking up flooring again... 

themadvix

greenbee said:

Dust here too. Plumber has been taking up flooring again... 

I don't know how you put up with it Greenbee - you always seem to be having work done! We've had one lot and it's taking us ages to get square.

themadvix

Morning all,

B&W Cat visited the vets yesterday. Decision is that I was imagining lump had got bigger - nothing to worry about. A very expensive trip (£67 for a consult! 🤬). In good news, despite refusing most of the gaba-laced food we offered him, B&W Cat behaved beautifully, albeit probably mostly because basically he got a head and neck massage and a load of treats and didn't have to leave his carrier. And my mind is put at ease, although I do resent the cost. I have considered switching to another local surgery but a) I don't know that they'll be any cheaper and b) they're also owned by one of the big six. And our surgery does at least have all the notes.

Mr MV sold the old Hive thermostat, hub and a bulb for £75 on ebay, so I took that to the PO this morning (got soaked, but it was nice to get a walk in).

I've now got a meal plan until next Saturday when we're out with friends for Mr MV's and one of the friend's birthdays (again, though, I have missed Wednesday evening... I'm sure we'll find something for then). We have a lot of food in and spending has been a bit chaotic so far this month, so now is the time to focus, especially as work is quiet.

We ended up having our R'ford recipe box last night instead of on Saturday as the avocado for last night's fajitas isn't quite ripe yet. It was crispy sprout quesadillas and very yummy. As with all R'ford recipes, the portions were generous and we were stuffed. I've got leftover sprouts, beans and salsa on toast for lunch today (and the fridge absolutely stinks of the garlic in the salsa!).

Mr MV still awaiting the staff discount fiasco to be sorted - he's had to raise a ticket and the department dealing with it is useless. He is not alone however - it's a technical issue.

Still haven't heard from our 🐙 contact. I chased yesterday and got an auto-response saying she had a lot of emails to deal with and had received my message. Hmm... I think if I haven't heard by the end of today I'll be escalating and complaining about her too. We ventured into the loft last night briefly and discovered a) a whole bunch of used copper pipe they'd left, so I think we'll get my dad to trade that in for us as he has an account with a scrap metal merchant (I'm not sure why?!) and b) that they've erected a plywood wall blocking off one end of our loft.... No idea why and they didn't ask first. We hadn't used that end previously because there wasn't access to it, but I don't think that gives them the right to unilaterally block it off... Very odd.

The activity present I got for ex-Brownies friends has arrived and looks good - I'm looking forward to playing it and I think I might buy another one for a present too. It was from Cases and Clues in case anyone's interested. Ordered part of Mr MV's birthday present and card yesterday too.

Yesterday I spent (around the vets) doing Cambridge work (main client still very quiet 😕) - am doing well with reports and did a lot of admin too. I'll do some more this afternoon, but I've also been trying to get some house prep done as we're intending to change the floor in our downstairs loo this weekend (long-time readers may remember that B&W cat pees on the floor in here and has absolutely wrecked it - the time has come to sort it out). So room has been cleared and I intend to ensure we have everything needed for easy meals over the next couple of days as getting it all done is going to be a push (need to remove toilet and basin cupboard - cupboard is also wrecked by naughty cat).

MS things:
* Meal plan
* HW and clicks
* NV poll
* 1P up to date

Gratitudes:
* The novelty and ease of a recipe box for dinner - no having to think 'have I got that' halfway through the cooking!
* B&W Cat was well behaved at the vets - it could have been very different (he is of course now curled up happily in the cat carrier 🙄)
* B&W Cat is fine ❤️

Have a good afternoon all!

ETA: LinkedIn shenanigans continues - I had to submit my ID yesterday as needed it for work. Of course, they won't accept my ID as account is in maiden (professional name) and ID is in married name. Submitted a form explaining this, but error on submission that then disappeared, so no idea if form was submitted! 

Also nudged the RM survey panel as I'm now well overdue for being back on it 🙄 and have run out of stamps!

greenbee

themadvix said:

greenbee said:

Dust here too. Plumber has been taking up flooring again... 

I don't know how you put up with it Greenbee - you always seem to be having work done! We've had one lot and it's taking us ages to get square.

With great difficulty. The plumber isn't here today, which is nice, but he'd better finish the job properly tomorrow...

Re. your downstairs loo. Are you putting ceramic tiles down to deal with the cat wee issues? I have concrete on the floor in mine still, as the wee-soaked vinyl had to be removed when I moved in, and after two years it finally doesn't smell (or I've got used to it!). 

themadvix

Yes, we are putting down ceramic tiles and will be sealing well! We'll also be putting a splashback behind the litter trays (despite being high sided - and I mean taller than the cats - B&W Cat does an exceptionally ridiculous downward-facing cat pose whilst he's weeing, which manages to escape the trays - you honestly have never met a more awkward cat to cater for toilet-wise!). Have convinced Mr MV that yes, this really does need to be the same colour tiles as the floor or it will look incredibly odd! 🙄

greenbee

I'm glad you've got Mr MV to see sense! 

My cats are currently disapproving of the weather and trying to see how long they can hold out before using indoor loos...