(no subject)

[turps]

James decided we needed a doorbell, so bought one and we've just put it up. It's set to sound like birds chirping, and I know for a fact the first time someone uses it I'll be all, what the hell is that?

Yesterday I helped Kayleigh tidy her dad's house a bit. He's in hospital at the moment and they said he needs a bed downstairs before he can be let out, so she arranged that. The place hasn't changed since we lived there with mam, literally. Same furniture, same everything, and as he's a heavy smoker I came out smelling rank. But, it looked good by the time the new bed was put in and hopefully, he'll stop grumbling for a while.

Kayleigh's also started to create resin items, including making things containing ashes. I know they're not for everyone but the bead I got madecontaining some of mam's ashes was a comfort and the lady who created it was so respectful. Kayleigh's just started but she's already got some potential orders and made a beautiful heart containing a lock of mam's hair. Again, I know it's not for everyone but if you want to see it's at her new insta here. She's also going to create me beads with Tinker and Freesia's ashes to add to my memory bracelet.

The weather has been all over the place lately. So hot a few days ago while today there's a distant hint of autumn in the air, with the temp almost half of what it was last week. It's all very strange. Plus, Lush is getting reading to announce their Christmas range soon, and just, what?! It all feels very early. And it's not just them, I've seen advent calendars in the shops and Christmas chocolates and very much mutter myself when I saw them. I love Christmas, you know that, and happily watched the Christmas in July film, but actual things to buy in August just feels wrong.

Comments

[shadowhive]

Oh yeah I’m sure you will!

Oh the heart looks pretty, it’s a good idea🖤

The weather really is so strange! I wanna see more Halloween stuff before Christmas stuff

[frausorge]

I hope you get lots of visitors so you can enjoy the chirping!

That sounds like an important and lovely service Kayleigh is providing, even if it's not everyone's choice.

[sperrywink]

Ahaha. I would be like that too. When I first got a cellphone, I would forget about it and I'd be on the train or something, wondering what that sound was before someone would say, "Your phone is ringing." I'd be all OHH! RIGHT I HAVE ONE OF THOSE.

I think the resin idea is a lovely one.

I've mostly seen Halloween stuff, but it is much too early for that as well. Christmas I can't even imagine.

[badfalcon]

That's a lovely idea, the resin creations with ashes. My mum's ashes are still sitting in a pot in a carrier bag at the back of a wardrobe because I don't have a freaking clue what to do with them. She never made her wishes known and I... *flaps hands*

[turps]

When my dad died he had his whole funeral planned out, including the fact he wanted my brother to have a round of golf at their favourite club and drop his ashes around all of the holes, which my brother did.

My mam though, she never said what she wanted so while some of her ashes were given to me and my sibs, my sister has the main canister and doesn't know what to do with it. So I get your indecision.

[turps]

It's so weird! I can see myself sitting and totally ignoring someone if they use the doorbell. Though James must have been playing with the settings as when he tried it this morning we now have chimes.

Kayleigh's really enjoying working with resin. Her latest thing was to ask on FB if anyone had intact insects, I dread to think what she's going to create with them.

Halloween merch has just started to creep in here, but right now there's more Christmas stuff, which makes no sense. Who needs an advent calendar in August? No one.

[turps]

The chirping has now changed to bells chiming. James is having too much fun playing with the settings.

Yeah, the ashes thing is very much a love it or hate it thing I think, but for those that do love it, it's a great service. But Kayleigh's branching out into more 'normal' stuff too. Though as I just said to Kimberly, she was asking on FB for intact insects so goodness knows what she's planning.

[turps]

The heart came out so well. But it was the only lock of hair Kayleigh has so she was so nervous before starting in case it went wrong.

Halloween stuff has just started to appear here, but already B&M and Homebargains have whole aisles of Christmas stuff. It's all kinds of wrong.

[turlough]

I see from comments that James has been having fun with the doorbell settings. How do the cats react? Whenever I try to play with the different sound settings on my iPhone Lancecat gets very annoyed. He wants to know what's making all those sounds! And preferably make it stop!!

Here in Sweden the handling of ashes after people are strictly regulated and you're not allowed to keep them at home. If they're not buried in a cemetary (or spread in a designated memorial place) they're kept by the crematorium. The ashes after pets you're allowed to do whatever you want with but I guess people are so used to thinking that ashes should be buried it's what most people do with pets' ashes too. Which is a longwinded way of saying that I don't know what I think of making ornaments filled with ashes. It's such a foreign concept to me. That said, making resing ornaments sounds lots of fun and I hope Kayleigh will make a great success!

I WISH our weather was all over the place! I'm so tired of this heatwave! Though late this afternoon we had a heavy thunder shower that lasted for almost an hour and it still hasn't cleared up completely so it's much cooler right now. Very muggy though, blah!

Christmas items?!! In August?!!!! That's just WRONG!! I really hope Swedish shops won't take after yours!!

[turps]

I'm sure you won't be surprised but Murphy is the only one that reacts to the doorbell. I'm not sure if the others don't hear or don't care even if they do hear. Murphy, however, isn't at all happy about all the birds that apparently invaded his house, and isn't sure about the bells.

I can understand why the handling of ashes in Sweden is so regulated. For a lot of people, that system would make more sense and take away difficult decisions at what's always a horrible time. I know so many people who have loved one's ashes and can't let them go, so end up with them tucked away in their homes with no idea what to do with them, so having to bury or scatter them would take away that indecision.

Ashes in jewellery and ornaments is still a very niche thing, and a lot of people really don't care for the idea. Which again, I understand. I love my memorial beads, but doubt I'll be getting any more ashes put into ornaments, but Kayleigh loves her heart containing the hair/ashes and gets a lot of comfort looking at it, and I guess that's all that's important.

Kayleigh is loving playing with resin, at this point, I think nothing is safe from being encased in the stuff.

Muggy weather is the worst, I mean, bright sun and heat sucks too, but grey skies and air that feels thick to breath is last on my list of things I like.

You know how much I enjoy Christmas, but it's far too early to buy Christmas stuff, and yet shop after shop is starting to stock it.

[sylvaine]

Like in Sweden, Germany has very strict regulations about what you're allowed to do with ashes, though apparently there's a way around that by buying a grave plot in Switzerland but then not actually using it...? Idk my colleague was telling me about this a couple of weeks ago but I'm still unclear on the whole mechanics. :D

You didn't have a doorbell until now! This feels so incredibly strange to me. How did people call you up beforehand? Did they knock on the door? How do you hear that throughout the house?

[turps]

That's interesting about the grave plot. I actually think such a strict law could be better in a way as it doesn't allow for uncertainty about what to do with ashes. So often people don't state that, and when you're grieving it's yet another decision to make.

Though, I do wonder about how many empty grave plots there are in Switzerland. It's been interesting to read comments about ashes, it's why I enjoy having friends the world over, all with different laws and customs.

We didn't have a doorbell, no. People just knocked, it helps that I have a small house, only the kitchen and living room downstairs and the bedrooms and small bathroom upstairs. It's possible to hear someone knocking throughout the house.

Mostly it's parcel delivery people knocking and they seem to have perfected almost bashing the door down with their knocking, it's impossible not to hear tehm.