Friday Five!

Have a safe trip KoD!!

Thanks! Starting to really panic a bit now about the expected Typhoon. I don't *think* it will impact us but I'm not sure if I'm missing some important info...and I'm freaking out about the flight itself...

RE Carc, did you order the big box?

You have to do what is right for you RE the driving lessons. At least you gave it a go! If it's too much given pain levels, it's too much. Glad kitty seems to be flea-free

Friday -

1)  Noticed a bit of condensation on the kitchen windows this morning, so I checked the temp outside. We have a little stick-on thermometer outside the window, and I thought it must be malfunctioning, so I stuck my oven-probe thermometer out there. No malfunction, 37F and clear as a bell. The indoor heat has not seemed to have come on today, so the house has not gotten to the triggering temperature, I guess. It's 64F in the living room. Nice enough, with a sweater. Lots of warm sun coming in the windows that I finally got around to cleaning earlier this week. Amazing how much difference not having them covered in dirt made!

2) We're supposed to go out shopping in a bit. Hmmm. It's seeming a bit warmer, but I think the winter coat is going to come out of the closet today.

3) Phoned Tommy Automatic on Wednesday to set up driving lessons. He was on a lesson and was supposed to call me back in an hour. It's now Friday and I've had no call back. I'll phone him again this afternoon.  I am halfway through the AA book on the highway code and so far am getting all but a very few of the test answers correct.

4) My friend in the States who was diagnosed with cancer is going through chemo now and says it's hell. I have no idea what to say to her that could help her feel better - I suspect there is nothing.  Am trying to send her a card or something every few weeks, in the hope it'll cheer her up.

5)  Did I mention it's chilly out!  Need much hot tea!

4) My friend in the States who was diagnosed with cancer is going through chemo now and says it's hell. I have no idea what to say to her that could help her feel better - I suspect there is nothing.  Am trying to send her a card or something every few weeks, in the hope it'll cheer her up.

If you want a unique gift, this coloring book was created by a friend of mine with metastatic breast cancer. I love it, it's full of hope and the pictures are big enough they're easy to color with sore hands.
 

(her graphic novel, In Between Days is also incredible and a bit heart wrenching about life with MBC - here's a non amazon link in case you have an adblocker enabled: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29371389-the-joyful-living-colouring-book)

KoD - Yeah, I got the big box. I wanted the expansions and it was the best value.   For travel, you may want to sign up for embassy alerts while in Japan. That way if anything serious does happen on your itinerary you'll be notified and have quick access to help. I hope nothing gets in the way, but always better to be safe!

KoD - Yeah, I got the big box. I wanted the expansions and it was the best value.   For travel, you may want to sign up for embassy alerts while in Japan. That way if anything serious does happen on your itinerary you'll be notified and have quick access to help. I hope nothing gets in the way, but always better to be safe!

Yeah been advised to register with the embassy when we get there as well which we very well might do.

Big box is definitely best value for money! We bought it while on holiday in Italy with handluggage only as it was a very reasonable price and hard to get online as was sold out everywhere. Made packing to go home interesting LOL

Happy anniversaries, PB!  I'm approaching 6 years on UKY, myself.  Or maybe I'm there... six years ago now, I would've been looking into the elusive "girlfriend visa", I think.  I will research and report back when I'm less overwhelmed with to-dos.

Have an amaaaaaazing trip, KoD!

God luck with the driving, Margo.  If you think you'll need to drive an automatic, anyway, you should just go for that license.  Don't hurt yourself needlessly.

I'm sorry to hear about your friend, Nan.  I often don't know what to say in times like that, either.  You're being great by send her little reminders that you care. 

My five:

1.  Eeeek!  In-laws re coming tomorrow,  so we have a LOT of cleaning, etc., to do today.

2.  Plus, we have to put 16 drawer fronts on my husband's workbench,  do some cursory weeding to look like we've been sort of maintaining the garden even halfway, and think of what we'll do for dinner while they're here.  They've offered to take us out (they're bringing me a birthday present, and dinner would be a treat for my birthday), but I'd rather stay in.  Staying in requires a dinner plan, though.  And forxsome reason, my husband doesn't like my idea of making eggrolls for them. 

3.  Birthday month/week is coming to a close.  My actual birthday was Wednesday, and I can say it was one of the jolliest.  We were up late the night before, playing backgammon and listening to music, and at midnight, the playlist shifted suddenly to variations of the birthday song, my husband tuened on the disco lights, and a drink loosely resembling an amaretto sour appeared next to me (soon followed by another...).  We went to sleep around half-three, and started up again at 9am.  There was a trail of hazelnut truffles (my favorite lindt lindor truffles) leading out to a large box in the lounge covered by a sheet... only a jointer/planer-thicknesser!  Wheeeee!  We had breakfast, made doughnuts, went out to workshop to assemble The Machine and play with it, worked on the drawer fronts (see #2), came in and had my birthday dinner of steak and chips, relaxed a bit, then gave in and went to bed at about 11pm... maybe midnight.

4.  Hedonism is an awesome way of life, and I don't know why I didn't embrace it sooner.  I can't believe how many years I devoted to just doing what was expected of me.  I love this life!

5.  My husband proves himself to be my perfect companion over and over and over again.  Yay!

5.  My husband proves himself to be my perfect companion over and over and over again.  Yay!

Your husband sounds so dreamy and observant!! I'm so glad your bonus years are filled with so much love and happiness. Good luck planning dinner for the in-laws. Maybe time to fire up the pizza oven again?

This week has passed with lightening speed.  I truly cannot believe it's Friday.

XoD - eeek!!!!  So exciting!!!  Have a blast.  Can't wait to see photos!!

PB, fingers crossed the sale means positive change for the future.

Margo, do what's right for the driving.

Nan - hugs about the friend with cancer.  My dance partner growing up has recently decided to stop all treatment.  It's awful.  40 years old with a 9 year old.   

My five:

1.  Husband is off to London for the Arsenal game tomorrow so I get all the kiddos on my own for the day.  We are on a "Paw Patrol Diet" at our house so we need to get out and about - which is tough because....

2.  On our return flight from our holiday on September 4th our buggy was destroyed.  We *still* don't have it sorted.  And no timeline on when it will be sorted.  To say I'm frustrated would be an understatement.  Supposedly a supervisor will be calling me back to discuss but no one from this company has EVER called me.  I do not know who to complain to!

3.  Had a first yesterday!  I interviewed an American!  She was fantastic but crazy over qualified for the role (as I suspected but HR wanted to see her).  I know it'll frustrate some of you that I discounted her from the next stage due to being over qualified, but the role just wouldn't be the right fit.  She also expressed concerns that it would be a step backwards... you know... because it would be.

4.  FINALLY got flights booked to Madrid for between Christmas and New Years yesterday.  I was having a horrible time booking as it kept saying "the flight you are booking must have been booked while processing.  Please select again at the new fare"  And it just kept doing that in circles.  Finally got it sorted.  So excited that my panda-obsessed little girl is going to see REAL LIVE PANDAS!  One of my great friends lives in Madrid, but sadly she'll be in Florida for Christmas.  We have her blessing to visit while she is away though.  Just bummed that it didn't work out to see her then.  If anyone has any hidden gems for where they've stayed in Madrid, let me know.

5.  I lost a stone out of my engagement ring (that I had for 13 hours before we got married).  Just a tiny stone on the band.  But I've been nervous to mail it for repair so my husband is going to take it while in London tomorrow.  I've felt very naked the last few weeks without my ring.  Looking forward to getting it fixed and having all the fittings checked. 

Sounds like a perfect Friday Five JF!!!  So happy for you!!

KF - thanks!  haha meanwhile I take my ring off some nights and forget to put it back on when I wake up far too often! Hope it's fixed quickly

Couldn't make it to book club, but the photos looked like SO many new faces!

1-5 still waiting for my citizenship application to be approved. That is all

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KF - thanks!  haha meanwhile I take my ring off some nights and forget to put it back on when I wake up far too often! Hope it's fixed quickly

Couldn't make it to book club, but the photos looked like SO many new faces!

You would have been so proud.  I prepared 5 questions for us to discuss.    Of course we still spent a good amount of time just having a good ole chat. 

It was decided that the person who's book is chosen will prepare a few questions to discuss at the review. 

My Friday Five:

1. Only 4 days left until I fly home .

2. After today, I only have 2 shifts left before I leave - 1 day and 1 night .

3. It might be getting cooler in the UK now, but when I get back, it’ll still be about 10 Celsius warmer than we’ve had here the last few weeks .

4. It’s Payday!

5. We’re getting into new TV season time (and I’m looking forward to catching up with Bake Off when I get back).


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My Friday Five:

1. Only 4 days left until I fly home .

2. After today, I only have 2 shifts left before I leave - 1 day and 1 night .

3. It might be getting cooler in the UK now, but when I get back, it’ll still be about 10 Celsius warmer than we’ve had here the last few weeks .

4. It’s Payday!

5. We’re getting into new TV season time (and I’m looking forward to catching up with Bake Off when I get back).


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Safe trip back home!  The weather is glorious today.  Hope it greets you this way.

Friday -

1)  Noticed a bit of condensation on the kitchen windows this morning, so I checked the temp outside. We have a little stick-on thermometer outside the window, and I thought it must be malfunctioning, so I stuck my oven-probe thermometer out there. No malfunction, 37F and clear as a bell. The indoor heat has not seemed to have come on today, so the house has not gotten to the triggering temperature, I guess. It's 64F in the living room. Nice enough, with a sweater. Lots of warm sun coming in the windows that I finally got around to cleaning earlier this week. Amazing how much difference not having them covered in dirt made!

2) We're supposed to go out shopping in a bit. Hmmm. It's seeming a bit warmer, but I think the winter coat is going to come out of the closet today.

3) Phoned Tommy Automatic on Wednesday to set up driving lessons. He was on a lesson and was supposed to call me back in an hour. It's now Friday and I've had no call back. I'll phone him again this afternoon.  I am halfway through the AA book on the highway code and so far am getting all but a very few of the test answers correct.

4) My friend in the States who was diagnosed with cancer is going through chemo now and says it's hell. I have no idea what to say to her that could help her feel better - I suspect there is nothing.  Am trying to send her a card or something every few weeks, in the hope it'll cheer her up.

5)  Did I mention it's chilly out!  Need much hot tea!

Amended - Well bummer. Came back from shopping to find a "Something for you" note from the Royal Mail. Origin of post is Ireland. Checking the tracking, it was sent out the afternoon of the day the Daughter's application for naturalization was delivered there to Tipperary. Which means they've bounced the application.

There are two possiblities why: 1) the stupid bank draft with the payee name botched up is not acceptable to them; or 2) the application has been refused out-of-hand.  If it's the former, I can take the draft back to the bank and get it re-issued, then send everything in again. If it's #2, then that avenue has closed to the Daughter. For now.

It being Friday, we won't know which it is until Monday, when it's re-delivered.  We knew it was an incredibly iffy chance, so if it's that it's summarily been refused, well, at least we know that option is off the table.  She's still out, and I'm wondering if I should say anything to her at all or let her have a nice, hopeful weekend. Probably should tell her, as there's another package to be delivered as well and I don't know what that is - there's no tracking on it.

On the good side, my first driving lesson is set up for next Friday. Look out, Glasgow!

Safe travels to those who are traveling.... 

If you want a unique gift, this coloring book was created by a friend of mine with metastatic breast cancer. I love it, it's full of hope and the pictures are big enough they're easy to color with sore hands.
 

That's cool!
The lady is in her 80s, and is having a tough time with the chemo right now, so I think I'll just keep sending cards and little things.