(no subject)

[turps]

We had Tinker to the vets this morning, and may I express another, ouch. I keep joking about having to survive on courgettes and tomatoes and this new bill hasn't changed that. But, she should be okay, which is all that matters. We took her as she kept sneezing thick green snot out of one nostril, plus, just hasn't been right in herself for a bit. I thought she was missing Freesia at first, but the longer it went on the more I knew something was up. Turns out she has thyroid issues that mean tablets for life, plus, has been given antibiotics to see if she has a nose infection, but if they don't clear it she may have a polyp, meaning a scope and sedation. She's an old cat and Sarah the vet was lovely but clear about the fact worse case scenario is a tumour and if that was the case it would be cruel to operate at her age. But, that is the worst case so fingers crossed, she's just picked up some kind of sinus infection.

Then James had to battle Npower on the phone after they tried to increase our electric and gas bill to a ridiculous amount despite our usage dropping. 90 minutes he ended up on the phone but got things sorted in the end. It also ended up with us getting a smart meter next week so that should help us keep an eye on usage. Though I suspect I'll be put off boiling a kettle and will never touch the tumbler again once it's installed and I can keep an eye on costs.

The latest heat wave broke today, which I'm very glad about. I don't mind the heat and sun so much during the day but the nights I want to be cool. We had an excellent electrical storm when I went to bed last night and some brief downpours, but sadly the temp was still high. But, like I said it's dropped a lot today which is good.

We went to see Angel Falling yesterday at Durham, I actually enjoyed it more than I expected, though that's not saying much as it really is a popcorn lowbrain summer movie I'll never want to see again. We'd also been to Durham just for a stroll the day before, but in that case I'd been too optimistic in terms of how James could cope because heat, sun, cobbles and a hell of a lot of hills wiped him out big time.

Bake Off started last night. I enjoyed the episode but am surprised at how many of the bakers are young men. I like a bit of diversity in my bakers and haven't got that at all this season. I still enjoy the show but doubt we'd get things like bingate now.

Once I've done the cat litter trays I've nothing to do this afternoon so I plan on some fic reading. I have some new bandom stories tabbed that I'm looking forward to reading and a few MCU. For that fandom I've been reading Your Daughters Shall Be Soldiers, Your Sons Their Patron Saints series. It's focussed on Clint and Steve's friendship and written in a very interesting style. Clint/Bucky is the pairing, but it's very background, the focus very much on Clint and Steve, but warning. It's based around Clint dying in a horrible manner so while I do rec, only read if you're in the right headspace to do so.

Comments

[shadowhive]

*hugs* aww poor kitty, I hope it is just a sinus thing too that can be sorted

Boo bills. Although it’s good the heat wave broke for you too. The weather’s been the same here though it broke today with blissful rain

[turps]

Well, so far she's had no sneezing with snot so I hope that's a good sign. Though I know the antibiotics won't have kicked in yet.

I was so thankful to see the rain last night. No doubt I'll be complaining about it again soon, but today I was pleased to see a grey sky.

[chalcopyrite]

Velvet was on thyroid tablets as she aged, as well, and it really made a difference. I hear you on the OUCH, but I hope this is just a sinus infection and the antibiotics clear it up.

They're talking about rolling out smart meters in this area next year or so; I'm simultaneously intrigued and don't want to know! Well done James on not letting them charge you ridiculous sums!

[turps]

I was reading a leaflet about thyroid issues in cats while we were waiting for Tinker's blood to be tested, and she ticked so many boxes in terms of symptoms. First tablet today, so hopefully she'll be feeling better soon.

I really do hope it's a synus infection. I know my vet has to lay everything out, but a tumour would be terrible. But, I'm holding onto that she said that's the worst possible outcome.

I think getting a smart meter was inevitable, and I'm sure I'll spend the first weeks after its installed watching it go up when I'm using stuff.

[dine]

I sure hope Tinker will respond to the antibiotics!

thanks for that fic rec - it looks interesting, and I hope to dive in soonish

[turps]

Tinker seems to be responding to the antibiotics nicely. She's not sneezing, so that means no more snot flying everywhere, because that was gross.

If you read I hope you enjoy. It's a hard read at times, but I really liked how Clint and Steve's friendship was shown and how it was something that had to be built up and not instant.

[eglantiere]

poor kitty! poor you! fingers crossed for her and for you, and i hope the infection clears up soon ♥

[turps]

Thankfully it seems the infection is clearning up, she's had no more sneezing and snot attacks anyway, which is a good thing.

[frausorge]

Oh no, I hope Tinker will feel better soon! And that there’s nothing additional going on.

Also, yikes about the power bill. I’m glad they backed down, that sounds ridiculous.

[turps]

She's had no more sneezing and snot attacks since she started the meds, so it's looking positive.

It was ridiculous. What annoys me is you have to phone up and fight increases like that, and a lot of people won't have the spoons or knowledge to do that. So I'd imagine lots of people just pay the increases when they shouldn't have to.

[sperrywink]

Aww, poor Tinker, and I hope the vet bill isn't too much.

Yeah, now that i have seen Blinded by the Light, I'm not seeing any new movies I am into.

[turps]

Tinker is so much brighter now. I mean, she's an old lady so isn't jumping around like a kitten, but it's amazing how much difference a few days of meds have made. Well, the bill was £260 just for the last visit, but thankfully that was for a load of blood tests and the antibiotics too. From now on her meds will be £20 a month, which isn't that bad. Even so, pets are expensive! But worth it.

That's where I'm at, there's nothing movie wise that feels like a must see. Though right now we're at the place where we've seen everything but horror movies which I don't like, and really young kids movies. Hopefully with the schools going back next week more adult showings will start to appear.

[turlough]

Poor Tinker! I see from your comments that she's much better now so hopefully it was just a sinus infection. *sends her lost of healthy thoughts*

Power companies seem to be the same the world over it seems. I hope the smart meter will work out for you.

Our heatwave didn't break completely until last night. It's been much cooler today and most importantly, not humid! It's supposed to be warmer again over the weekend however but after that it will apparently become autumn again...

I hope you'd a nice fanfic-filled afternoon!

[turps]

I'm assuming it must have been a sinus infection as she's had no more snotty sneezing attacks since she was put on antibiotics. Which I'm very glad about.

The smart meter is being installed tomorrow. Hopefully, I don't get too paranoid watching the total go up or else I'll end up reading by candlelight wrapped in a blanket *g*

Yeah, we very much have autumn weather now. In fact, it was very chilly this morning which was weird after so long with the heat. But you're right, humidity is horrible.

I did! But still have many tabs to read.

[glitteryv]

Please give Tinker extra cuddles for me!

It's great that the James v. Npower battle turned out to have a good ending for y'all. I do wonder abt how utilities companies tend to do the weirdest increases. And you bet I've placed a phone call or two. *SMH at them*

Sleeping in hot weather is super unfun.

I've heard that exact kind of commentary about Angel Falling. I think I watched half of the first movie a few years ago. There was a "Gerard Butler talks about acting" video that YT recced to me a little while ago. He came across as a v. chill guy who takes his acting seriously but not to the point of being pedantic.

Wow at that warning (but I'm glad that your WinterHawk ppl will deffo appreciate it.) Reading your words abt it reminded me of a long Steve/Thor fic that I've bookmarked and intend to read (basic plot is Steve ends up going to Asgard and, eventually, marrying Thor, I think?). Unfortch, the first third of the fic is about Steve seeing the OG Avengers die in different ways (old age, illness, accidentally, etc) and I'm not sure I'm in the right headspace to go there just yet.

It's like that super excellent fic by Nonymos (Into That Good Night ). It's a great fic that is sort of an Interstellar AU and super amazing. But, lorde, the first 1/4 of the fic has all of the OG Avengers dying. I deffo WTF at it to the point of almost DNF'ing it. So I reached out to a fic canary and she spoiled me for the things I needed to be spoiled.

[turps]

I did give Tinker extra cuddles. In fact, she's sitting next to me on the desk so I just gave her another as I started to reply.

I do wonder abt how utilities companies tend to do the weirdest increases It was ridiculous, especially as in the summer we use much less electricity and hardly any gas at all, so why the heck they thought we needed to pay so much more I don't know.

Angel Falling is a very forgettable movie, in fact, even now just a short while later the details are blurring. But, I can believe that about Gerard Butler due to the promo he was doing for AF. He came about as likeable, and yeah, chill, is a great description.

I've just tabbed Into That Good Night as I trust to point me in the direction of good fic, even if our pairings don't mesh now.

I've had to take a break on that series I recced in the post. It has four parts and while it's written really well, the misery seemed to stretch forever. You know me, I love my h/c but a story like that is pretty much focussed on the hurt with slow healing after and you really have to be in the right headspace to read that. So yeah, I get you putting off the Steve/Thor fic.

[glitteryv]

Yays for extra cuddles for Tinker (as well as for all kitties, puppies, etc).

There was a thing in the news this morning abt a woman whose water bill jumped from $50/month to $1,750/month (this is part of a segment where ppl ask the news station for help.) It spiraled into a larger story where a city meter reader has sued the city for having broken water meters.

The woman's problem remained unsolved because now the County has begun a process of taking over the water meters & replacing the broken ones.

But, like, bruh, that is some water bill! O____o!!!

Re forgettable action movies: haha, that is deffo a genre. One of my fave duology is the absolutely ridiculous Jack Reacher movies with Tom Cruise as Jack Reacher. And, like nowadays, there are tons of dudes (sadly, it's always dudes) in their late 40s+ doing action-y films.

Into That Good Night was a fic that starts daaaaaaaark AF and ends in a really sweet spot. I enjoyed it a lot yet, at the same time, it was such an intense read that I don't see me adding it to my rereading queue.

Also, yeah, sometimes the hurt aspect can go do deep that your brain does need a break. I was like that with a long (approx. 149k) Stucky fic centered around Bucky's recovery at the end of Captain America Civil War. It's abt 24-25 chapters and the h/c was so intense that I took a couple of months off from reading it every 10 or so chapters.

That was in addition to actual!crying at least once during every chapter. It was mostly cathartic crying, but gods, it was also A LOT.

I can and do read emotionally heavy fics as long as there is a solid HEA ending.