(no subject)

[turps]

Thank you so much bettina for the card ♥

On Monday the builder was supposed to come and install my shelves and do a few tidy up jobs. I emptied the cupboards again -- and man, a person does not need as many carrier bags and bags for life that I had stuffed in the freezer cupboard, seriously, there were hundreds of them -- and then he sent a text saying they weren't coming and would phone at some point yesterday. That was not helpful, builder! I left everything out of the cupboards that night because the thought of putting everything back to just get it out again was too much. Then he did phone and isn't coming until Sunday, so I've had to put everything back.

Other than that, Monday got another negative tick because Kayleigh got in touch to say her dad had been emergency admitted to hospital the night before. He needed to have a pacemaker fitted and the op went a bit wrong and he needed to be resuscitated and he was in a bit of a mess. My relationship with him is a little complicated. Mam left dad for him, and then got pregnant with Kayleigh, and it was just a period of my life that sucked with the divorce and changes and the fact both mam and Kay's dad had alcohol issues which led to horrendous arguments and domestic violence. We had to live with him for a while and sometimes I loved him and sometimes I hated him but over the years that has changed to just feeling sorry for him. He and mam split up a long time ago and he's stayed in the same house, until recently not even a tv, same bedding for 30 years, just existing and not living. I do think he and mam loved one another, but their relationship was toxic for both. In the last year or so mam got in contact via text, and they seemed happy with that. But I haven't seen him for a very long time. Despite that rough day he was discharged home yesterday, so that was good. Because, he's Kayleigh's dad, and Kayleigh's my sister and I love her to bits, so anything that affects her affects me, and she's pretty broken at this point.

Had an okay day yesterday, the highlight being a free order at Costa when their card payment system went down. It's one of our regular haunts and we always have a chat to the manager, so when she realised we couldn't pay by card she just told us everything was free. I know, it doesn't take much to make me happy.

Today we had plans for an early shopping trip. My niece wants LoL dolls and man, it's proving hard to find the specific one she wants. All the looking is giving me flashbacks to Corey's toddlerhood and looking everywhere for Teletubbies. Those shopping plans aren't happening just yet as James had a bad sleep so is still sacked out on the couch. But he's got a physio appointment in a few hours so I'll have to wake him up soon. Maybe hide the window spray snow before that. He was watching Kirstie's Christmas programme where she helped decorate windows with snowy scenes using spray snow, and hers looked lovely, and to be fair, the one James has done looks nice too, but that stuff gets everywhere.

It's lovely to see so many people posting here again, though I am sorry you've lost your tumblr homes. Obviously, I'm still here, still posting if not as frequently as before. Fannish wise I'm still hanging onto bandom, and read in Musketeers and MCU, specifically Winterhawk which is my obsession atm. I still mostly post about my day to day life. I've seen a few old faces post so if you're interested, Corey is now 22 and in his final year at university, James is doing okay and I had a gastric bypass back in 2016 and have lost a lot of weight and am now healthier than I've been in a very long time. Though the latest rl thing is mam died in the summer so I'm just trying to get through this first Christmas as best as I can.

Comments

[shadowhive]

Yay cards!

I think bags tend to multiply when they’re not being watched. Ugh I’m sorry the builders were faily like that

I’m sorry you had to deal with that, it sounds like a complicated relationship which these sorts of things sometimes are. I’m glad he made it through though

Ohh that was nice, free stuff is always good

It makes me glad I don’t have kids when I hear about the new thing that kids want. They seem to want such strange things, or ones that are hard to come by. (I don’t get the sudden fixation with slime some have lately). Oh we watched Kristie p’s thing on the 4 player Saturday and yeah, I can imagine 5he snow gets everywhere

It’s a shame tumblr has screwed up, but hopefully it’ll build up the fandoms here again. I really hope it’ll lead to more bandom people coming since I’m craving fic still.

Yay MCU! I loved the musketeers, though for some reason missed the last series of it

[turps]

I love getting cards. While I understand why people are moving away from them I still think it's a shame. It's lovely getting a personal greeting delivered to you.

I think bags tend to multiply when they’re not being watched I agree! And what's stupid is I don't want to just throw them away because all that plastic and all those 10 pences add up. But at the same time, I really don't need that many bags shoved in a cupboard.

It is complicated but ultimately he's just an old man now and if it wasn't for Kayleigh going out and buying him stuff, would spend all his time in a cold house just staring at the walls. I wouldn't wish that on anyone.

I don't get the slime fixation either. I mean, what do you even do with it? It makes no sense, and as for these LoL dolls. Every adult seems to know they're overpriced for what the actually are, but the kids still want them. There's always some new fad I guess, and always people ready to pay and support that fad.

That snow. Kirstie has a lot to answer for!

I hope more bandom people turn up, too. Have you read any of the big bangs yet? I've a few tabbed that I like the look of but haven't had a chance to actually read yet.

Tbh, you're probably best not seeing the last season of The Musketeers. It pains me because I love the relationship between the four and Aramis going off to be a monk for years and the others fighting without him changes their friendship a lot. Aramis is my OTC in the fandom, and the distance between them all makes me sad every time.

I keep meaning to ask every time I see your icon. Does it mean you're a Flash fan, too?

[shadowhive]

I do too! I just fail at sending them sometimes.

When this was still my grandparents place there were bags everywhere! Now, not so much, especially when you need them. Oh yeah that’s true!

That’s sad really. :(

I have no idea! I have no idea what lol are so I’m clueless. (I’m baffled that one toy kids want is a pooing unicorn, like what?) I just stick to Lego

She does! Heh, I bet there’ll be something else in the next one.

I do too. *crosses fingers* No I haven’t yet, I saw someone mention it but I’ve not looked. I’m too focussed on finishing my bandom holidays one to read other yet heh. Is there anything interesting sounding?

Aww that sucks, I had seen others saying similar things so I’m glad I missed it really which is a shame.

Yes I am! But a fairly new one. Pick tv put on the first three seasons recently and I loved it. Cisco is my fav💜

[pensnest]

Depending on exactly how many carrier bags you have, it may well be worth sorting out the newest, strongest ones to keep and taking the rest to shove in the supermarket's recycling bin. Plastic bags degrade after a while, and disintegrate into shards. I keep a 'bag sausage', a tube of material with elasticated ends, which holds all the 'active' carrier bags, though I actually have some proper fabric ones now which are definitely going to last.

I pulled at least a thousand carrier bags out of one of the cupboards at FIL's house when we were helping him get ready to move to Oz. They mostly disintegrated.

*

Your family as a whole is really going through tough times. I'm so sorry.

[turps]

Wenchpixie suggested charity shops would be glad of some bags, so I got rid of a lot like that. But also did as you suggested first and went through them first as some had gone a bit crumbly.

What's stupid is I have a load of fabric bags too. Mostly I do remember to take bags with me when I go shopping. But sometimes I forget, or buy something on impulse and need to buy a bag. So get one of the nice long-lasting ones. And there's yet another for the collection.

[sylvaine]

Oof, plastic bags! They really do multiple when you aren't looking, don't they.

*hugs* sorry Monday was hard for you. I hope the rest of the week improves!

[turps]

Oof, plastic bags! They really do multiple when you aren't looking, don't they.

They do. I really don't know where they all came from. I could go shopping every day for years, chucking away a bag every time, and still not use every one.

I hope the rest of the week improves!

It mostly did. Thank you.

[bettina]

You're welcome! :)

[turps]

Thank you again ♥

[frausorge]

That sounds like a tough history and a tough current situation with Kayleigh's dad. But what you said about your concern for and through her shows a lot of compassion. Sending well wishes.

And good luck with the shopping!

[turps]

Thank you. It looks like her dad is on the mend, slowly, but getting there. Hopefully, that continues.

Thank you again!

[sperrywink]

Good luck to Kayleigh's dad.

AHahha, I bought a LOL doll too! For the great-niece. It's in a ball, so I don't know how you figure out which one it is.

Winterhawk is the best.

[turps]

Kayleigh's dad seems to be getting a little better. She taking him to the doctor's this week and getting social services involved, so hopefully that'll take some of the strain off her.

Those LOL dolls are ridiculous. They're so small and yet my niece adores them. Last time I was at hers she sat on my knee showing me and talking about Little Spike for almost an hour. You wouldn't think there was as much to say about a tiny plastic doll.

Yes, yes it is!

[wenchpixie]

I had the same issue with bags-for-life and other decent carriers and I took them down to the local hospice shop and they were DELIGHTED with them so that might be an option for you? bloody builders though.

I'm glad the universe saw fit to gift you with a bit of free costas, you need some nice things right now <3

[turps]

I had the same issue with bags-for-life and other decent carriers and I took them down to the local hospice shop and they were DELIGHTED with them so that might be an option for you?

Thank you for your excellent idea. We have a local charity shop and they happily took all the spares. Though, I did go through them as suggested by Pen above, as some were a bit crumbly. However, I was still left with many good quality bags.

Thank you ♥

[wenchpixie]

I had that issue with some of mine (some were literally confetti) - I'm so glad I could help you find a home for the intact ones :D

[turlough]

Arrgghhh! How incredibly frustrating! Also, how come things taken out of a cupboard/shelf/etc always take up twice as much space outside then they do when inside whateveritis?!

Lots of good thoughts to Kayleigh's dad!

Free orders are a good thing no matter how small they are!

I'd no idea what a LoL doll was so I'd to look them up. I will blame you if I get nightmares of the ugly things :-D

I still refuse to believe Corey is 22. It's just not possible it's been 12 years since I first met you!

[turps]

Arrgghhh! How incredibly frustrating! Also, how come things taken out of a cupboard/shelf/etc always take up twice as much space outside then they do when inside whateveritis?

I know, then they were supposed to come this morning but apparently, the main man was in an accident, so I'm waiting again. At least this time I hadn't unpacked everything when they let us know.

Free orders are a good thing no matter how small they are!

That is very true.

Kayleigh's dad has been sitting and not moving at home for two days. I was with Kay yesterday and waited in the car wh ile she popped in for moment and he insisted on getting up so he could come wave at me. Complicated relationship always with him.

Lol dolls are horrible. And what's worse is they're tiny. I'm literally talking an inch or so tall and you pay a ridiculous amount for something that would cost all of £1 if it wasn't inside of an egg. But it's what she wanted so what can you do?

I know, time flies. Fannish friendships make such a big chunk of my life and I love that.

[glitteryv]

Ugh, sometimes contractors can be such a pia. Here's hoping they get to fix your cupboards sometime soon.

I'm sorry to hear about Kayleigh's father's situation. It's a tough one and I can't imagine how you or her are feeling right now. *give you both all the hugs ever*

Hunting down for that specific gift each holiday season is something that has become so stressful for me that I've opted to go the gift card route with everyone. I mean, at least I'll know that the person will enjoy their present? LOL. I do know it's different with children because, well, they do play with their toys and all that. Good luck with finding the LOL doll thingie.

Fake/spray snow is the WORST.

HOW IS IT THAT COREY IS 22? SINCE WHEN? WHY? WHAT IS TIME?

[turps]

Well, the builders have been in touch again today and have said they're coming on Friday. If they don't turn up again then I'll really be pissed. It's not as if it's a big job either. But it does mean emptying cupboards every time.

Yeah, it's hard. Kayleigh's taking him to the doctor's today and hopefully, some help will be put in place. She really can't do it all alone.

Hunting down for that specific gift each holiday season is something that has become so stressful for me that I've opted to go the gift card route with everyone.

Thankfully I'm at that point with most people apart from my youngest nieces and nephews, mainly because they do like toys. Everyone else is getting gift cards and it's so much easier. Thankfully we found the LoL doll, so that's the end of that search.

Yes, yes it is! I can see me cleaning that stuff up well into the spring next year.

Related to Corey and what is time. With the thunderbird email mess I've been having to sort out and reinstall all my email folders, and I was astounded to realise just how long we've been friends. It really doesn't feel that long, but in reality is a huge chunk of my fannish life. And I'm so pleased about that.

[glitteryv]

Those builders will probably be getting a whole bag of coal from Santa. Because, yes, even though the project might be small to them, it is still a pain in the butt to be taking stuff out only to put it back in again and gain.

Yays for finding the doll.

Time is a thing that's so wild. It truly doesn't feel that long ago and yet. <3

[ephemera]

*hugs* - that sounds like tough stuff going on.

I've managed to wrangle the bags down to (one bunch that live in the boot of the car) and (smaller selection that lives in the house) which makes it slightly likely that we'll have bags with us when we need them, and less likely to buy yet more bags for life. I also have a cotton tote bag that lives in my handbag, for small things.

[turps]

Hugs are always welcome.

I aspire to your bag organisation. Actually, a suggestion on here means I got rid of a lot of my spares without guilt, so now they're easier to handle. I've a load in the boot of the car and some in the house. Now I need to remember to always take some so I don't need to buy more.