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Aug. 21st, 2016 05:05 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
turpsMy niece has decided she wants a MCR backpack for her birthday. And I've run into issues because I can't actually find one in the UK. If she wanted a messenger bag I could have had a choice, even smaller pilot bags would have been okay, but backpacks? Apparently they'd need to be ordered from abroad, wouldn't come in time, plus cost far too much. I may just buy her the very cheesy 'I love Gerard' pencil case, she likes stuff like that.
Like I said in my last post, last week I went to a new cat cafe. I found out about it one night, checked it out, and we went there the next day. I enjoyed going there, it had a very different vibe to Mog on the Tyne. This one was themed more like a garden and was more chilled. It also had mostly pedigree cats with one foster cat they bring in to introduce to potential forever home owners.
Like Mog on the Tyne you pay a £5 cover charge per person that goes toward looking after the cats, but at Catpawcino for that price you can have a cold drink or cup of tea or coffee, too. It also has the bonus of being on the Newcastle quayside, so parking was easy.
The outside of the Swedish deli looking over to the Tyne bridge.
It was a beautiful day that day, so we had a short stroll along the quay and then shared an ice cream at a Swedish deli, which was very much chosen because it reminded me of Turlough.
After that we went on to MetroCenter for a cinema visit. The initial plan was to see Nine Lives and keep the cat themed day going. But for some reason the Odeon website and app wouldn't let me book my free carers ticket. So we went to book at the cinema itself, and got to talking to one of the staff members who we've come to know. After explaining the issue he checked the screen, but the only seats left were the first two rows. We were about to pick one of those and he told us full stop, don't, as it was a small screen and you wouldn't be able to comfortably see anything from those rows. So, despite the queue building up behind us, he went through everything else that was on, and sold us on seeing first, The Shallows, then walking out of that screen, along two more, and then into Nerve, where the actual main feature would just be starting -- and it worked out exactly like that, his timings were spot on.
We also found out the reason I couldn't book a seat was James' cinema card had run out the day before. Thankfully being regulars helped there as he just fudged the tickets somehow so I got in for free anyway. And by that night James had renewed and paid for his next year of ticket.
As for the films, I went in with no expectations for either. The Shallows was entertaining enough, but one scene really turned my stomach. While I enjoyed Nerve so much more than I expected.
Nanna's stair-lift is in, but her getting used to it is a work in progress. Yesterday we got a phone call saying she needed the toilet but was frightened of going up on it on her own. So we quickly nipped up. Today we called in because James had made her a big print sign saying how to use the stair-lift which he's taped to the walls, and she was so frightened of getting stuck upstairs that she'd used her commode instead.
She was getting a bit distressed today about not having the nerve to use it alone. But like I told her, it's a very new thing for her that she's had for all of a few days. She just needs practice -- and for her friend to stop telling her how she got stuck on hers for three hours once -- and she'll gain the confidence to use it easily. Until then, she's got the carers and if need be, we're not that far away.
James is on his second shift of his shorter night shifts today. We still need to experiment with them because yesterday he wanted to go swimming, and thought it would be okay as didn't start work until 4:30 staying until 2. I was a bit worried whether it would be too much on a night shift day, and it sort of was. Because we like swimming early before it gets busy he needed to get up early, then after we'd finished we popped into Asda as it's just over the road, then called in nanna's, and really, he had no time to just chill before going to work. So from now on, while it does seem he would have time to do things like swimming, energy wise it's not a good idea. Much better to sleep until he wakes naturally, and then have a short drive out if needed or wanted.
Corey's been home this weekend and has just gone back to Newcastle with James dropping him off on the way to work. As always it was lovely to have him home, and it really doesn't seem like a year since he got his A level results and we had the panic of realising he was just a few points short for his first choice uni.
Like many I've joined Imzy, though have done nothing over there yet. But in the unlikely event anyone who wants one still hasn't got an invite, feel free to ask. All I'll need is your email address.
Like I said in my last post, last week I went to a new cat cafe. I found out about it one night, checked it out, and we went there the next day. I enjoyed going there, it had a very different vibe to Mog on the Tyne. This one was themed more like a garden and was more chilled. It also had mostly pedigree cats with one foster cat they bring in to introduce to potential forever home owners.
Like Mog on the Tyne you pay a £5 cover charge per person that goes toward looking after the cats, but at Catpawcino for that price you can have a cold drink or cup of tea or coffee, too. It also has the bonus of being on the Newcastle quayside, so parking was easy.
The outside of the Swedish deli looking over to the Tyne bridge.
It was a beautiful day that day, so we had a short stroll along the quay and then shared an ice cream at a Swedish deli, which was very much chosen because it reminded me of Turlough.
After that we went on to MetroCenter for a cinema visit. The initial plan was to see Nine Lives and keep the cat themed day going. But for some reason the Odeon website and app wouldn't let me book my free carers ticket. So we went to book at the cinema itself, and got to talking to one of the staff members who we've come to know. After explaining the issue he checked the screen, but the only seats left were the first two rows. We were about to pick one of those and he told us full stop, don't, as it was a small screen and you wouldn't be able to comfortably see anything from those rows. So, despite the queue building up behind us, he went through everything else that was on, and sold us on seeing first, The Shallows, then walking out of that screen, along two more, and then into Nerve, where the actual main feature would just be starting -- and it worked out exactly like that, his timings were spot on.
We also found out the reason I couldn't book a seat was James' cinema card had run out the day before. Thankfully being regulars helped there as he just fudged the tickets somehow so I got in for free anyway. And by that night James had renewed and paid for his next year of ticket.
As for the films, I went in with no expectations for either. The Shallows was entertaining enough, but one scene really turned my stomach. While I enjoyed Nerve so much more than I expected.
Nanna's stair-lift is in, but her getting used to it is a work in progress. Yesterday we got a phone call saying she needed the toilet but was frightened of going up on it on her own. So we quickly nipped up. Today we called in because James had made her a big print sign saying how to use the stair-lift which he's taped to the walls, and she was so frightened of getting stuck upstairs that she'd used her commode instead.
She was getting a bit distressed today about not having the nerve to use it alone. But like I told her, it's a very new thing for her that she's had for all of a few days. She just needs practice -- and for her friend to stop telling her how she got stuck on hers for three hours once -- and she'll gain the confidence to use it easily. Until then, she's got the carers and if need be, we're not that far away.
James is on his second shift of his shorter night shifts today. We still need to experiment with them because yesterday he wanted to go swimming, and thought it would be okay as didn't start work until 4:30 staying until 2. I was a bit worried whether it would be too much on a night shift day, and it sort of was. Because we like swimming early before it gets busy he needed to get up early, then after we'd finished we popped into Asda as it's just over the road, then called in nanna's, and really, he had no time to just chill before going to work. So from now on, while it does seem he would have time to do things like swimming, energy wise it's not a good idea. Much better to sleep until he wakes naturally, and then have a short drive out if needed or wanted.
Corey's been home this weekend and has just gone back to Newcastle with James dropping him off on the way to work. As always it was lovely to have him home, and it really doesn't seem like a year since he got his A level results and we had the panic of realising he was just a few points short for his first choice uni.
Like many I've joined Imzy, though have done nothing over there yet. But in the unlikely event anyone who wants one still hasn't got an invite, feel free to ask. All I'll need is your email address.
no subject
Date: 2016-08-21 04:25 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-08-21 04:43 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-08-21 04:32 pm (UTC)Poor Nanna! Hopefully it becomes second nature to her.
Well, maybe James could have handled just swimming, but it it never works out to be just one thing one you go out, I find. I always tack on 2 other errands or whatever too.
If you want to get your fan girl niece a MCR backpack from the states (Looks like there is a TBP one and a Sweet Cheers for Revenge one), let me know an dI'll order and ship it to you. CHristmas is right around the corner! *g*
no subject
Date: 2016-08-21 04:42 pm (UTC)I hope it does. The main problem is her stairlift doesn't automatically turn at the top so she has to push a lever and sort of push herself around so she's facing the right way. Our stairlift does that automatically, and I wish hers did too. It would help a lot.
Yeah, that's the main issue. While we were out it seemed pointless not to pop into the shops etc, but things like that do take there toll energy wise.
You're a star and I may take you up on that later. It would be an excellent Christmas gift. But really, you'd think you could get one here, but nope.
no subject
Date: 2016-08-21 05:33 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-08-21 06:14 pm (UTC)The portly B&W is the rescue cat. They bring in a foster cat every few months and if people want to adopt it they can put their names down to be vetted by the cat rescue home the foster comes from. I think it's a fantastic idea, and would have loved to take Gary, because he was just this huge, placid ball of cat. Except I don't think my cats would have been amused.
no subject
Date: 2016-08-21 09:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-08-22 10:17 am (UTC)His icecream was blueberry. It was very tasty, though am unsure if it's actually a Swedish delicacy.
no subject
Date: 2016-08-22 09:43 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-09-04 08:25 am (UTC)I like blueberries a lot. It's good to know they are a delicacy.
no subject
Date: 2016-08-22 12:51 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-08-22 04:45 pm (UTC)A cat cafe with a cat pun name is a very awesome thing.
no subject
Date: 2016-08-22 09:41 pm (UTC)What kind of things can one buy at a Swedish Deli? Well, apart from ice cream that is :-) Hard bread and meat balls??
I'm not suprised your nanna finds her new stair lift a bit daunting. I definitely would in her place. But I'm sure she'll get used to it in no time. (Stupid friend! That's really NOT the sort of thing you tell someone until they've gotten used to theirs!!)
I'm still on the fence about Imzy. I really don't like the idea of tipping writers/artists and the no-porn thing makes me doubt it's really a good place for fandom.
no subject
Date: 2016-09-04 12:30 pm (UTC)Well, you can read a review here but from what I could see a lot of pastries and yeah, meat balls.
Nanna loves her stairlift now. I wish she'd agreed to get one ages ago.
Imzy is a weird place. I can't seem to get away with it, and it seems difficult to actually find out if someone has posted anything you're interested in reading.
no subject
Date: 2016-08-24 12:24 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-09-03 10:57 am (UTC)