(no subject)

[turps]

It was my youngest nephew's birthday on Wednesday. He turned four and really is a great kid, but man, he's exhausting. Also, stocky and tall, so you know about it when he rockets to jump on your lap. We went to see him and stayed for a few hours, but things got a bit fraught towards the end when the supervisor lady turned up late so his dad couldn't come into the house. So, once she did we took off.

It was just a long day, really, and one that started early as I had a really disturbing dream that woke me up, and then Milo jumped on my head, so I was up before 6. Which worked out nicely in the end as it was the first Sainsbury's double up day. For anyone that doesn't know, you collect points with your grocery shopping and then on the run-up to Christmas Sainsbury's will double them, so we got double the amount in goods that we'd saved points-wise.

But man, it was chaos by the time we were leaving. For the first time you had to double up via the app or online only. In previous years you had to go to a desk and assistants would check your card and then issue paper vouchers that would be used the same as cash. This time you had to double up online and get paper vouchers in the post, or double up via the app and have a digital card to use. That's what we did and it was easy enough, but we're well used to paying via our phones and using apps, obviously a lot of other people weren't. Add on the fact that for the first time they'd limited the amount you could double up to £100 per card and well, as we were leaving the queues to customer service desk were long and tempers were being lost.

But, we bought all the toys we needed for our youngest relatives plus some for the toy drive, got a load of clothes which will be presents at Christmas, a few odds and ends gifts as well as buying a beautiful tealight holder which is in the shape of three stags that make an arch, as well as splashing out a little on a really good frying pan. I'm sure they have an actual name but it's one of those speckled ones that feel hefty, are non-stick and it's great. I made scrambled eggs in it when I got home and it was so easy, they didn't stick at all.

Thursday we met up with Pauline and her daughter for lunch and to pay for our Christmas dinner gathering, then we did have plans to go to the cinema. But, instead, we ended up going back to Pauline's and staying so long we missed the show we wanted. So we just came home and pottered a bit.

Yesterday I was at Kayleigh's to keep her company while she waited for someone to fix her boiler and while there managed to buy tickets to see The Bodyguard at the theatre on Monday. Kayleigh really wanted to go and we priced up the tickets and with carers and theatre member discount they were a great price, so somehow within minutes, we had four tickets. Then on the night, the hot water wouldn't work, but after checking out the boiler I realised the pressure had dropped. A bit Googling to remind myself how to do it and I increased the pressure and had hot water again. No lie, I felt accomplished even though it's a small fix.

Today we've had the gutters cleaned so that's another job ticked off the list. My brother's friend offered to come do it and gave mates rate, which was great. Apparently one of the gutters had a mini tree growing in it, so no wonder it kept overflowing.

Comments

[sylvaine]

Fixing things yourself is the most rewarding thing! I always feel like a bloody wizard when I manage, no matter how small. :D

[turps]

Yes, that's it exactly!

When the boiler clicked on and the water started to run hot you'd have thought I'd installed the whole system myself, I felt so accomplished *g*

[wenchpixie]

Sainsburys seem to have done a fairly bad job of communicating all the changes this year - people don't like it when the rules change at the best of times, but it feels like they could have been a bit clearer. Sounds like you made out well thankfully :D.

[turps]

Sainsburys really have done a bad job explaining the changes.

I felt for the staff as they were getting it in the ear from customers who didn't understand what to do. Plus, as we were leaving the app had slowed to a crawl with the number of people trying to double up. It meant points were being taken with the double up voucher caught in cyberspace somewhere, so of course people were stressing about that.

I suspect paper vouchers may be back in the mix next year.

But yeah, we did okay. All those points buying cat food add up *g*

[frausorge]

That sounds like a madhouse at the store. I get the appeal for places to switch to online, but so many of them handle it so poorly! At least it sounds like you got a good haul. The pan sounds great - it's nice to cook with good equipment.

And go you solving the boiler issue! A+ adulting!!

And I'm glad to hear the gutter is taken care of too. Also good adulting to get the right help. :)

[turps]

I don't think they realised just how many people would hit the system at once. It was inevitable things would go wrong. I'm glad we got our shopping done early before the madness started. But yeah, I love the pan. We're slowly changing to better quality cookware, and this really is good.

I was so proud of myself fixing the boiler :D

I was expecting the gutter cleaning to cost much more than it did, which I know is all about the mates rates. Seeing all the crap that came out of them, it was no wonder water was going everywhere.

[turlough]

Sounds like you've had quite a busy end of the week. And that you've gotten a lot accomplished too!

That frying pan sounds like an excellent investment. I'm not a big fan of non-stick though so I'm still using the old cast-iron one my mother gave me when I moved away from home. Cast iron cookware just don't seem to wear out ever!

Go you for fixing the boiler!!

Tiny trees are always cute but not when they're growing in your gutter :-)

[turps]

It was busy, but yeah, we got a lot of things done. It's nice to feel ahead of the game for once. It doesn't happen often.

You've just reminded me of Corey. He's been buying new cookware and last time I saw him he told me all about his new cast iron pan and how it seasoned with age. Hopefully, it's like yours and will last him a very long time.


No, that tiny tree picked a bad place to grow. I'd feel sorry for it, but not so much when it was making the water overflow the gutter.

[glitteryv]

Ooof, I can only imagine the scene at Sainsbury's. Between folks trying to save money AND the changes...good on Milo for jumping on your head and waking you up so early (though boo at your brain for giving you nightmares).

I totes hear you on fixing stuff on your own. Like, I wouldn't attempt something to do with electricity (for obvious reasons) but there have been moments here and there when I've googled or YT'ed something and go AHA, I CAN DO THIS! *gives you a high-five*

[turps]

Between folks trying to save money AND the changes.

It was a nightmare, and I really don't think they'd taken into account the fact a lot of people just don't want to use an app. It seemed very short-sighted to me, like they were cutting off a lot of their customer base, because while the vast majority of people are fine doing things online, a lot really aren't, or don't have the smartphones to do so.

but there have been moments here and there when I've googled or YT'ed something and go AHA, I CAN DO THIS! *gives you a high-five*

It's such a great feeling when you can make things work. Like you, I wouldn't touch electricity but other stuff, yeah, I'll give it a go.