Friday Five!

What a terrible week I've had!

1.  My new dog, Becky, escaped on Sunday night... we were out a walk, something spooked her, she bolted, and it was so sudden that I dropped the leash and she got away. I feel thoroughly guilty.

2.  We got her back a couple of hours later... some boys on bikes chased her and caught her.  I'm sure she was absolutely terrified about being chased, but thank goodness they did. 

3.  All 4 paws were completely raw and bleeding... don't know exactly what happened to her feet, but I imagine she was running so fast and so frantically, that she skinned them on the tarmac or some other rough surfaces.  Took her to the  vet on Monday.  Vet put her on painkillers and antibiotic cream and said to keep her off her feet for as long as possible.  Not that she was willing to walk anyway... she's been in a lot of pain.

4.  Since we live in a 2nd floor flat, with a dog that can't walk, I have been cleaning up pee and poo in the house all week long.  Scrubbing carpets multiple times a day.  Washing towels and tea towels every day.  On Wednesday someone advised me to get puppy pads, and that's been a revelation... never had a puppy, so didn't know such things existed!

5.  This has taken over my life.  Absolutely nothing else has happened this week... it's all about this little nightmare.  But she's on the mend and at least she's alive and home with us... it could have ended so very differently.

 

Aww, poor Becky, poor Albatross! Glad she's on the mend! 

Well it's Friday, again!

1.) Mmm. Been quite stressful and busy at work. Has zapped any energy for anything else during the week. So tired. Yet, insomnia last night.  Lots on my brain.

2.) Soul searching

3.) Garden is looking good, finally! 

4.) Cleaning, organising, cleaning this weekend 

5.) One of my hens has gone broody again. Wish I had some fertile eggs to put under here so she can be a Mum. She's determined! 

Oh, Albatross!  Your week and Becky's week sound awful!  I'm sorry you're both going through what you're going through, but at least she's healing and you now know about puppy pads!

Soul searching, PB?  Is everything okay?

My five:

1.  Two weeks ago, I bought a Set For Life lottery ticket to play on Thursdays for four weeks, as part of a promotion.  £1.50 x 4 = £6 outlay, and the promotion gave me an immediate £5 back for the purchase, so I had four plays for £1.  Last week's draw netted me a £5 win, so now I'm up £4 'profit'.  I didn't win anything in the first draw after my purchase or last night's draw, but there's one more week to go...

2.  Meanwhile, when we had the workshop roof replaced, I pulled most of my money out of Premium Bonds because that paid out the least "interest" (I'd only won one £25 prize in the almost-two-years that I had the larger amount invested).  I left £25 in so I'd always have that glimmer of a chance, and this month I won £25.  Ridiculous,

3.  Lotteries are not a sound investment plan, but they are fun.

4.  Oh oh!  THIS ONE IS HUGE!  So, like, last week we were working in workshop, and I randomly made a "guitar" for Domo (who immediately re-gifted it to John Lewis, but whatever... they're both happy).  Part of the job came to "angle grinding" with a dremel, which produced a shocking amount of dust, and my husband wasn't happy with that much stuff getting into my little lungs (rightfully so).  So we tried a thing... I used my oxygen cannula inside my respirator.  Obviously, I didn't have a good fit around the edges of the respirator, so it wouldn't keep virus out, but it did keep the majority of the wood dust out, and I was able to stay oxygenated.  If we can figure out a way to securely fit a cannula into a mask, and if I used an oxygen cylinder (rather than a concentrator, which pulls in ambient air and concentrates O₂ out of it, and so it could pull in virus), there's a way that I might be able to go into the world again.  (Yes, I'm fully vaccinated, with Pfizer, but it's "only" 88% effective, and I can't take that 12% chance while it's still so rampant.)

5.  This was a silly project, but it made me happy:

What a terrible week I've had!

1.  My new dog, Becky, escaped on Sunday night... we were out a walk, something spooked her, she bolted, and it was so sudden that I dropped the leash and she got away. I feel thoroughly guilty.

2.  We got her back a couple of hours later... some boys on bikes chased her and caught her.  I'm sure she was absolutely terrified about being chased, but thank goodness they did. 

3.  All 4 paws were completely raw and bleeding... don't know exactly what happened to her feet, but I imagine she was running so fast and so frantically, that she skinned them on the tarmac or some other rough surfaces.  Took her to the  vet on Monday.  Vet put her on painkillers and antibiotic cream and said to keep her off her feet for as long as possible.  Not that she was willing to walk anyway... she's been in a lot of pain.

4.  Since we live in a 2nd floor flat, with a dog that can't walk, I have been cleaning up pee and poo in the house all week long.  Scrubbing carpets multiple times a day.  Washing towels and tea towels every day.  On Wednesday someone advised me to get puppy pads, and that's been a revelation... never had a puppy, so didn't know such things existed!

5.  This has taken over my life.  Absolutely nothing else has happened this week... it's all about this little nightmare.  But she's on the mend and at least she's alive and home with us... it could have ended so very differently.

 

Oh no! So sorry to hear this. But how wonderful that you have her home and safe and (almost) in one piece.

I'm sure you're going to hold her really tightly now but if you wanted extra reassurance, maybe a jogging lead to go around your waist as well as her usual lead might be an idea?

Oh Albatrosss!!!!  This will soon be over.  You are all together and safe.  Puppy pads are a staple in my house with kids and a cat!  Look at bed mats as you may find one cheaper, they are all the same thing.  Thankfully when potty training kids at night we were introduced to “kylie sheets”.  I doubt they would benefit you or Becky though!

Hope everything is okay PB.  Glad you were able to do an experiment JF!

1.  Frustrating end to the week at work.  I don’t like it when people think they aren’t dispensable.   

2.  SO glad we aren’t going anywhere but in the UK for the second year running!  Travel drama everywhere in the news.  I don’t get why people are surprised it’s a hassle?!?

3.  I love owning a hot tub!

4.  My cleaner decided to not restart after covid which is devastating.  We have tried someone the last two weeks and while I am SO happy to no longer be living in filth….  She’s not cutting it.  Ugh!  Hate to tell someone they duck, but….

5.  Ventured into London to GOSH on Tuesday.  Thoroughly depressing, London was dead!  I hope the spark isn’t gone.  Son was AMAZING for his tests and looking forward to the results.  Hoping we don’t have to have endoscopy/colonoscopy.

Oh, Albatross!  Your week and Becky's week sound awful!  I'm sorry you're both going through what you're going through, but at least she's healing and you now know about puppy pads!

Soul searching, PB?  Is everything okay?

My five:

1.  Two weeks ago, I bought a Set For Life lottery ticket to play on Thursdays for four weeks, as part of a promotion.  £1.50 x 4 = £6 outlay, and the promotion gave me an immediate £5 back for the purchase, so I had four plays for £1.  Last week's draw netted me a £5 win, so now I'm up £4 'profit'.  I didn't win anything in the first draw after my purchase or last night's draw, but there's one more week to go...

2.  Meanwhile, when we had the workshop roof replaced, I pulled most of my money out of Premium Bonds because that paid out the least "interest" (I'd only won one £25 prize in the almost-two-years that I had the larger amount invested).  I left £25 in so I'd always have that glimmer of a chance, and this month I won £25.  Ridiculous,

3.  Lotteries are not a sound investment plan, but they are fun.

4.  Oh oh!  THIS ONE IS HUGE!  So, like, last week we were working in workshop, and I randomly made a "guitar" for Domo (who immediately re-gifted it to John Lewis, but whatever... they're both happy).  Part of the job came to "angle grinding" with a dremel, which produced a shocking amount of dust, and my husband wasn't happy with that much stuff getting into my little lungs (rightfully so).  So we tried a thing... I used my oxygen cannula inside my respirator.  Obviously, I didn't have a good fit around the edges of the respirator, so it wouldn't keep virus out, but it did keep the majority of the wood dust out, and I was able to stay oxygenated.  If we can figure out a way to securely fit a cannula into a mask, and if I used an oxygen cylinder (rather than a concentrator, which pulls in ambient air and concentrates O₂ out of it, and so it could pull in virus), there's a way that I might be able to go into the world again.  (Yes, I'm fully vaccinated, with Pfizer, but it's "only" 88% effective, and I can't take that 12% chance while it's still so rampant.)

5.  This was a silly project, but it made me happy:

  Are you sure you are not working on some kind of super hero costume that involves a hacked respirator with supplemental oxygen and an angle grinder?  Next it will be an exoskeleton!

4.  Oh oh!  THIS ONE IS HUGE!  So, like, last week we were working in workshop, and I randomly made a "guitar" for Domo (who immediately re-gifted it to John Lewis, but whatever... they're both happy).  Part of the job came to "angle grinding" with a dremel, which produced a shocking amount of dust, and my husband wasn't happy with that much stuff getting into my little lungs (rightfully so).  So we tried a thing... I used my oxygen cannula inside my respirator.  Obviously, I didn't have a good fit around the edges of the respirator, so it wouldn't keep virus out, but it did keep the majority of the wood dust out, and I was able to stay oxygenated.  If we can figure out a way to securely fit a cannula into a mask, and if I used an oxygen cylinder (rather than a concentrator, which pulls in ambient air and concentrates O₂ out of it, and so it could pull in virus), there's a way that I might be able to go into the world again.  (Yes, I'm fully vaccinated, with Pfizer, but it's "only" 88% effective, and I can't take that 12% chance while it's still so rampant.)

If you haven't already, google air fed respirator systems. That might give you some more inspiration for your creation.   

If you haven't already, google air fed respirator systems. That might give you some more inspiration for your creation.   

Very cool!  Like an astronaut!

Very cool!  Like an astronaut!

Right? 

3.  I love owning a hot tub!

>>JEALOUS!!!!<<<

5.   Son was AMAZING for his tests and looking forward to the results.  Hoping we don’t have to have endoscopy/colonoscopy.

Fingers crossed!!

Happy Friday!

1.) Hayfever!!! Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaachoooooooooooooooooooo!!! 

2.) Thinking of taking some voice lessons.  I've been recording some songs I have written and I'm not impressed. 

3.)  Work is sooooooooooooooooo busy! 

4.) Made a BLT for breakfast. Yum. 

5.) We're overrun with rhubarb. Rhubarb jam making continues this weekend. 

Ugh, hayfever for reals.  PB!  Voice lessons!  Ohmigosh, I don't even have the confidence to take lessons for hope of improvement.  I bought a microphone so I could get harmonica into my guitar loops, and I decided to hear my attempts at singing.  I, too, was not impressed.    I hope you have more confidence and the lessons get you to a happy place.

My five:

1.  It took 2 days and dreaded phone calls, but I now have a stocks and shares ISA that I never thought I would have, and I have made a small investment (managed to buy in a dip, too, so that was lucky).  Now I must try to ignore it so I don't stress about how much money I've "lost" when it continues to go down.

2.  I am expanding my CAD skillset, and yesterday was progress.  Go, me!

3.  WE MADE HOMEMADE JALAPENO fake-VELVEETA!  Like, fake cheese that melts smoothly and it has jalapeno flavour, and it is aMAZing on tortilla chips.  Instant nachos!  My husband put it on burgers for us yesterday, and mygawd, they were good.

4.  Our weather forecast keeps promising sunshine the day after tomorrow.  Then the next day, it's pushed to the day after tomorrow... I don't think I'll ever seen big sun again.    But, more importantly, the air is soooo damp.  I really hate humidity.

5.  In the brokerage website, it mentioned that pension funds might not be accessible until my 55th birthday, and a quick mental calculation resulted in the shocking conclusion that that isn't really too far away.

Anyway, coffee time!

FRIYAY!!!!

1.  Off to the spa for the afternoon.  It's a tough life, but someone has to do it.

2.  Ordered "bits" of school uniform while the 20% off sale is on.  £150.... and that's just "bits".  SO MUCH MORE still needs to be purchased and there are lots of hand-me-downs in circulation.  ARGH.  I always thought uniforms would save money.  Instead it's double the clothing budget!

3.  Husband's car is at the shop having a towbar fitted today for our touring caravan holiday.

4.  Photos are rescheduled for the FOURTH TIME tomorrow.  Forecast is rain - of course.  Looks like we will end up going to a FIFTH date.  The weather REALLY needs to get it together!!!

5.  I know people who's workplaces have given Monday off.      I also know people who have the day off IF England win.  Umm.... people will be three sheets to the wind regardless of England winning or losing.  I do think that yesterday's statistic of 20% of the work force calling in sick shows that maybe *just maybe* the drinking culture isn't overly healthy?   And I suspect Albratross is rolling her eyes at me after we met up and I threw back 6 cocktails without trying.   

BIT OF A BONUS - Bubbles have been popping all over at the schools I govern.  My daughter's school only has 2 year groups in (hers included).  This whole school isolating crap really does need to change!!!  Sister school has 1 year group in!

  And I suspect Albratross is rolling her eyes at me after we met up and I threw back 6 cocktails without trying.   

   HAHAHAHA!  Believe me, I'd have been doing that too, if I hadn't brought the car!!! 

Happy Friday!

1.) Hmm.  Glad it's Friday. I need a holiday. 

2.) Took a voice lesson this week. That was awesome! Feeling very inspired. 

3.) One of my chickens is broody and she keeps breaking all the eggs. Sigh. 

4.) More chutney and jam making this weekend to add to our supplies. 

5.) Been craving a blueberry beer.  Need to make one soon!