Friday Five!

Which Costco are you going to? Maybe I can meet y'all there or maybe I can catch a train close by and you can swing by and pick me up. I have a Costco card.

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I hope you are caught up on all the soaps. 

I hope you are caught up on all the soaps. 

I don't watch any. It's just me and Judge Judy with a side of Master Chef.

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I don't watch any. It's just me and Judge Judy with a side of Master Chef.

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Sounds like my kind of lady!

Friday's almost over, but here are my 5:

1) Still trying to find out what the charges that the energy company Ofgem slid us over to are. It's been a month and they've not bothered to let us know. Utilita. Have already put in to switch to a new company, but it won't happen for another couple of weeks. Color me annoyed. I redid my spreadsheet and it looks like, if the charges for their energy are the same as what is on the "switch to" website, they are 20% higher for gas and 12% higher for electricity than the Green Network Energy folks we have switched to. Who are higher than Our Power was, but, hey, they are not a variable rate (as Utilita is) and they lock in the rate for 18 months. Plus we now get Meerkat movie tickets on Tuesdays or Wednesdays. If something would just be worth going to see now....

2) It was lovely out today. Went for a walk in the botanic gardens and there are crocus and snowdrops, and the start of some trees as well, blooming. Daughter needs to take allergy pills again, I think. We sat on a bench and watched the bees, and the pigeons, for quite some time. The squirrels in there are particularly bold.

3) Have been really tired since our vacation. Walking a few miles and doing some light shopping tired me out enough that I needed a nap this afternoon. Not sure what's up with that, but it can stop anytime and I'd be ok with it. Am very happy to be home. Did not actually enjoy being in San Diego, although Encinitas was great. Too much traffic, too much noise, too much air pollution, too crowded. I guess living there was like being a frog boiled in a pot. It just happens to you slowly so you don't realize it.... It's much nicer to be listening to the night bird singing outside my bedroom window again, here.

4) We tried a new delivery service, from an organic farm in Fife. Had them send their small box of veg, and they were delivered today. Nice potatoes, onions, carrots, leeks, and broccoli. I had signed up for a box every three weeks. Not sure I'm going to get all those potatoes eaten in three weeks!  They were all harvested yesterday, apparently. Still have dirt on them to be washed off, but I'm ok with that. That broccoli is going into a stir-fry tomorrow for the Daughter's supper.

5) All the corydoras eggs that she stuck to the glass of the aquarium just after we got home from holiday seem to be gone. We assume they were eaten, but perhaps one or two little cory babies are hiding somewhere in the tank. They would be tough to spot in there. We certainly couldn't have managed to deal with 200 babies, but I was hoping maybe one or two might have made it. 

Another Friday. Tomorrow is the farmer's market, but we really are so well-stocked now that I don't need any groceries. Will go down and get a freshly-grilled angus cheesburger though. There's a guy who grills them on a big BBQ while you wait. They are really good! And it's a nice walk. Supposed to be another pretty day - I hope this continues and it doesn't turn ugly cold again, for the sake of all those blooming flowers and the trees that are waking up now!

My Friday Five this week:

4 I’m especially looking forward to Disneyland (haven’t been to the California one since 2008)... thoug I just looked up the prices of tickets and they have gone up so much! Back in 2008, I paid $91 for a 1-day Park Hopper (and I’m sure I got a 5-day Park Hopper in 2004 for only $150)... but looking at the website now, the 1-day Park Hopper is between $160 and $200!

5 I’ve been trying to think of what I can do in L.A. while I’m there... I’ve done the usual tourist stuff before (Hollywood homes tour with quick stops at Venice Beach, Farmers Market etc.; Universal Studios etc.), but I’m hoping to see more of the non-tourist stuff. I’ll be staying with a friend in Koreatown, and will have 4 full days (one will be for Disneyland).... so any suggestions are welcome .


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Eat at Pinks. The Lord of the Rings dog is great! Have a YooHoo with it. The Ozzy Osborne dog should be eaten with caution. And antacids.

Get some Randy's Donuts. They are worth the line. Seriously. The best American-style donuts I've ever had. On Manchester at La Cienega, near the 405,  by LAX.

Go to the Griffith Observatory. Leonard Nimoy "lives" there. And seems happy. 

Go to the Natural History Museum and see the butterflies. The La Brea Tar Pits are corny, but cool if you like that sort of thing. Nice little museum there.

Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and there's a whole bunch of museums there. FIDM (Fashion Institute) usually has the Oscar-nominated costumes, but they might be gone by June. Nice little fashion museum, though. Parking under the building.

The Getty Villa is a spectacularly good museum of antiquities. You need to book in advance, but only parking is charged. The Getty Center (the ivory tower at Supulveda Pass) is world-class, and not the same as the Villa. You only pay for parking. If you like museums, this one can take all day.

You can see the space shuttle at the Science Center. Next door to the Nat History museum in Expedition Park.

Check to see if you can get on the list to tour the JPL at Pasadena. It's really cool, but the tours are typically booked well in advance.

Santa Monic Pier.

If you know someone who lives in SoCal who will do it for you, get them to get a "resident's pass" to Disneyland. They are only $180 but you get in for three days. https://disneyland.disney.go.com/offers-discounts/southern-california-tickets/  Assuming you actually like Disneyland that much. And are going before May. (I think you said June, so nevermind if so!)

https://www.events12.com/losangeles/june/

https://www.timeout.com/los-angeles/things-to-do/june-events-calendar

https://freetoursbyfoot.com/things-to-do-in-los-angeles-in-june/

Your local friend there will know lots more.... Enjoy!

PS, You may get "June Gloom" - cloudy days. Be sure to wear sunscreen anyway, as you can get a serious sunburn through the clouds!

I'm not really a shopper and I don't get into too many shows/films, but there's a shop in Los Angeles that sells clothing and props that were used (or not used, but previously owned) by studios who no longer need them.  It's all discounted off of retail, and includes some items that span from serviceable to sparkling.  Shop is called "It's a Wrap!", and it's at 3315 West Magnolia Blvd., up in Burbank (just north of Griffith Park).  I recall buying at least one pair of strappy heels and an outfit from there.  You have to enjoy thrift store shopping for it to appeal to you... I don't like shopping at all, but I was with a friend, so... 

Oh, the tags will tell you which studio or production the items were used in.

Which Costco are you going to? Maybe I can meet y'all there or maybe I can catch a train close by and you can swing by and pick me up. I have a Costco card.

I know Larrabee PM'd you ... we'll get you next time! 

PS... watching Judge Judy right now!

1.    Finally Friday!  This week has felt like an eternity…
2.   A really annoying woman at work got sacked yesterday!  And the funny part is that she told me she was going to hand in her resignation on Friday (today)!  So they beat her to the punch… and it was so awkward watching her clear out her desk with the boss standing over her, and then escorting her from the premises! 
3.   Next Wednesday is my friend’s birthday, so im taking a half-day from work, and a bunch of us are going to her favourite Chinese for lunch, and then for a few beers.
4.    The following week, my OH is going off to Manchester for a week for his pal’s 60th… a week-long celebration.  I’m glad because it will give me a chance to do a couple of projects around the flat unhindered and surprise him when he gets home!
5.   There’s this guy in my work who is super awkward and inept, but we all kind of feel bad for him – he’s just a poor soul.  Anyway it’s his 40th today and we have made a big fuss, decorated his desk, bought presents and cards and sweets, and a golden jewelled plastic crown with a sort of faux ermine king’s robe.  Hope he has a great day and realises that he does have friends at work.

Albatross. Number 5... Awwww that's a lovely thing to do! 

Ahh, number five is great Albatross. Hopefully he enjoys it!

Friday.

1.) Work. 

2.) Going on my gin distilling course tomorrow. I can't wait.   

3.) Weather is looking okayish to try and get in the garden on Sunday. 

4.) One of the members of my band passed away from brain cancer last week. Her funeral is Monday. We're going to play some songs for her. 

5.) Next week ,all brass band, all the time as we head into the Scottish Brass Band Championships.   

What a great #5, Albatross!

1. Signed off work again.  Management meeting was not as expected yesterday and they are asking me to make decisions without having been assessed by Occupational Health.  I think the best thing for me/my mental  health is to stay away until I have been properly assessed, so my GP has signed me off until that happens next week.

2. Had the best sleep that I can even remember last night.  I had such vivid dreams, and if I wake up knowing I've been dreaming then I know I've been sleeping well.  I feel refreshed, and I didn't sleep in even though I'm off work.  Have been referred to a clinic for sleep apnea so I'm hoping that comes through soon; I am supposed to hear more by Monday.

3. Must have at least 10 job applications on the go, and have had chats with two recruiters already.  I am absolutely determined to get out of my current situation as soon as possible.  I am not interested in the slightest in giving my managers any more of my time.

4. Three more weeks until we go to the US and I can forget about all this rubbish for a while.

5. This little guy curled up next to me on the couch while I fire out job applications.


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Agree with Larrabee... Albatross, your #5 is awesome!  I hope he feels the love.  Sometimes humanity is awesome.  But, I also kind of like your #2... I'm a fickle one. 

PB, have fun on the gin course!  Stay strong for #4 (that would be soooo hard!)... I'm sorry for your loss.

Jay, it's true... vivid dreams are a sign of good, restful sleep.  I was warned about increased dreams when I first saw a sleep specialist.  They never materialized for me because he could never get me sorted out, though.  Good luck with that referral.  The people I've known who do get sorted say it changed their lives... so much more energy and ability to focus throughout the day.  I'm kind of envious about the potential improvement you are about to experience.    Happy trip in three weeks!

My five:

1.  Today is the 8th day since the ABG, and the bruising is still visible.  But the pain is gone, finally, so I don't care how it looks.  For the first 4 days, I had to take medication because the pain kept me awake at night.

2.  I have to buy new tires for my car tomorrow, in preparation for MOT Monday.  First MOT since we bought it, so fingers crossed.

3.  Meanwhile, my husband is taking our campervan to our mechanic friend near Salisbury (again) to put in a new exhaust system because it failed MOT on that two weeks ago.  March is going to be a very expensive month... repairs, MOTs, road tax (at least my car's road tax is only £30!).  Ouch.  And then April is council tax and water rates... *sigh*  I only just caught up from the triple-whammy of ILR, citizenship, and buying (and insuring) the car last year.  Plus, my husband pointed out that "Welcome to Booze Corner" isn't looking so boozy at the moment.  I'm going to have to replenish our supply.  That'll cost.  But it'll make all the rest of the expenses not hurt so much, so there's that. 

4.  A few weeks ago, Ooni (formerly -- and forever in my heart -- Uuni) announced a contest to win a new oven they were launching, and there were 5 runner-up prizes of a copy of their recently-published cookbook.  I had planned to buy the cookbook for my husband (the title is "Cooking With Fire"... he will love it just for that!), but held off because I entered the contest.  I even told my husband about the book and smiled smugly at him and said, "But I'm not going to buy it yet.  I'll wait for them to send me a free copy when I win."  Two days ago, I received email saying I won a cookbook (!!) ... and when I replied to give my details so they could send it, I mentioned a damaged Uuni glove (through no fault of Ooni!  A rodent gnawed a hole in it, and I told the Ooni rep that!), they threw in a free pair of replacement gloves, too.  My husband was giddy as a child when I told him about the new gloves.  I said there was a "better" prize in the contest, but I was happy with the cookbook... he said, "Yeah, we already have a pizza oven.  The cookbook and gloves are things we need!"  They are due to arrive sometime today. 

5.  At my respiratory appointment last week, I was invited to join a charitable organization for people with rare lung diseases.  It's a new charity, and they currently have a Facebook page (with 67 likes/follows), and a domain name that was meant to lead to a website, but it's one of those all-in-one hosting and design platform things that take a regular subscription fee, which hasn't apparently been paid.  The organization is registered and they've had events, but they really don't seem to know what they're doing, IT/marketing-wise.  My husband and I are capable, but I don't know if I want to get involved and take on another website commitment (that would give us three sites, total).  I haven't mentioned it to my husband yet, much less the organization, but I kind of feel like I should make the offer, though...  Okay, I've decided.  I will tell my husband I'd like to do this, but I'll need his help with the initial design aspect (coding is "easy"... designing is hard).  If he's willing to help me get it started, I'll be responsible for the maintenance.  And if he agrees to that, I'll make the offer to the organization.

Agree with Larrabee... Albatross, your #5 is awesome!  I hope he feels the love.  Sometimes humanity is awesome.  But, I also kind of like your #2... I'm a fickle one. 

PB, have fun on the gin course!  Stay strong for #4 (that would be soooo hard!)... I'm sorry for your loss.

Jay, it's true... vivid dreams are a sign of good, restful sleep.  I was warned about increased dreams when I first saw a sleep specialist.  They never materialized for me because he could never get me sorted out, though.  Good luck with that referral.  The people I've known who do get sorted say it changed their lives... so much more energy and ability to focus throughout the day.  I'm kind of envious about the potential improvement you are about to experience.    Happy trip in three weeks!

My five:

1.  Today is the 8th day since the ABG, and the bruising is still visible.  But the pain is gone, finally, so I don't care how it looks.  For the first 4 days, I had to take medication because the pain kept me awake at night.

2.  I have to buy new tires for my car tomorrow, in preparation for MOT Monday.  First MOT since we bought it, so fingers crossed.

3.  Meanwhile, my husband is taking our campervan to our mechanic friend near Salisbury (again) to put in a new exhaust system because it failed MOT on that two weeks ago.  March is going to be a very expensive month... repairs, MOTs, road tax (at least my car's road tax is only £30!).  Ouch.  And then April is council tax and water rates... *sigh*  I only just caught up from the triple-whammy of ILR, citizenship, and buying (and insuring) the car last year.  Plus, my husband pointed out that "Welcome to Booze Corner" isn't looking so boozy at the moment.  I'm going to have to replenish our supply.  That'll cost.  But it'll make all the rest of the expenses not hurt so much, so there's that. 

4.  A few weeks ago, Ooni (formerly -- and forever in my heart -- Uuni) announced a contest to win a new oven they were launching, and there were 5 runner-up prizes of a copy of their recently-published cookbook.  I had planned to buy the cookbook for my husband (the title is "Cooking With Fire"... he will love it just for that!), but held off because I entered the contest.  I even told my husband about the book and smiled smugly at him and said, "But I'm not going to buy it yet.  I'll wait for them to send me a free copy when I win."  Two days ago, I received email saying I won a cookbook (!!) ... and when I replied to give my details so they could send it, I mentioned a damaged Uuni glove (through no fault of Ooni!  A rodent gnawed a hole in it, and I told the Ooni rep that!), they threw in a free pair of replacement gloves, too.  My husband was giddy as a child when I told him about the new gloves.  I said there was a "better" prize in the contest, but I was happy with the cookbook... he said, "Yeah, we already have a pizza oven.  The cookbook and gloves are things we need!"  They are due to arrive sometime today. 

5.  At my respiratory appointment last week, I was invited to join a charitable organization for people with rare lung diseases.  It's a new charity, and they currently have a Facebook page (with 67 likes/follows), and a domain name that was meant to lead to a website, but it's one of those all-in-one hosting and design platform things that take a regular subscription fee, which hasn't apparently been paid.  The organization is registered and they've had events, but they really don't seem to know what they're doing, IT/marketing-wise.  My husband and I are capable, but I don't know if I want to get involved and take on another website commitment (that would give us three sites, total).  I haven't mentioned it to my husband yet, much less the organization, but I kind of feel like I should make the offer, though...  Okay, I've decided.  I will tell my husband I'd like to do this, but I'll need his help with the initial design aspect (coding is "easy"... designing is hard).  If he's willing to help me get it started, I'll be responsible for the maintenance.  And if he agrees to that, I'll make the offer to the organization.

Your #4 is amazing!  I always get so excited when companies have amazing customer service. And to have won something!

I won tickets to a live music even at Hard Rock Cafe once.  I don't even know why I entered because all their events are on weekdays, so there was no way it was going to be feasible.  I was just like... There's no way I'll win.  And then I did.  Didn't I feel like a right idiot.

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5.   There’s this guy in my work who is super awkward and inept, but we all kind of feel bad for him – he’s just a poor soul .  Anyway it’s his 40th today and we have made a big fuss, decorated his desk, bought presents and cards and sweets, and a golden jewelled plastic crown with a sort of faux ermine king’s robe.  Hope he has a great day and realises that he does have friends at work.

I'm sorry, but this doesn't make me feel good. You're being nice because you *feel badly for him* for being different? That doesn't sound friendly to me, at all.


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I'm sorry, but this doesn't make me feel good. You're being nice because you *feel badly for him* for being different? That doesn't sound friendly to me, at all.

What's the alternative, though?  To continue to ignore him so he never feels part of the group?  I think it's absolutely lovely that they have gone out of their way to try to make him feel special, for whatever reason.