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[turps]

It's hc_bingo sign-up time. This means it's time for my usual 782762nd time of, do I sign and fail yet again pondering.

Saying that I actually started doing a Musketeer drabble that I may eventually post for the first sunshine challenge, and as always, was reminded I actually enjoy writing when I do it.

I met Kayleigh and Bodhi at Costa yesterday. I can't believe Bodhi will be one next month, the year has flown by.

My brother actually turned up a few days ago, measured things up and the kitchen is going to cost a lot less than I expected. Though I suspect that's mostly because he's not charging labour and passing on all his discounts. Obviously, I'll pay him something for labour anyway, but it does mean I can get some extras. He did say I could actually get an all-new basic kitchen with the money we've set aside, but if we stick to keeping the units and just changing doors etc, I can get things like a new nicer looking extractor fan and flooring. He's also going to drop the ceiling a little because our ceiling is a mess with the plaster bowed in one area and he says it would be easier and cheaper to just drop it, then add panelling and spotlights.

He put in his notice Friday gone and will leave his job completely at the end of this month, and then our refit will happen in August, giving me time to have a good declutter.

My MiL is home and was allowed to leave the hospital on Friday, though they're still not exactly sure what's wrong with her. I have to admit, she frustrated me that day. James had been sent home from work Thursday, I suspect, while testing negative for a while now, he's still feeling the effects of COVID, add on his kidney is acting up and his back is in a lot of pain and I'm half expecting him to go into an AMC flair.

Friday my MiL phoned and asked James if he would come to pick her up and take her home. He wasn't feeling well so said could my SIL or my SIL's partner -- being as he claims carer's allowance and is my MiL's official carer and is paid for being so -- pick her up in a taxi but she said no, my SiL wasn't feeling well and the partner needed to pick the kids up from school.

Which okay, fair enough. Except, by the time she was discharged from the hospital it was well past school home time and when I took her back into my SiL's house everyone was there and one of the adults could have easily brought my MiL home in a taxi. But of course, it was easier to just get us to do it, cheaper for them too.

Comments

[lilysea]

Friday my MiL phoned and asked James if he would come to pick her up and take her home. He wasn't feeling well so said could my SIL or my SIL's partner -- being as he claims carer's allowance and is my MiL's official carer and is paid for being so -- pick her up in a taxi but she said no, my SiL wasn't feeling well and the partner needed to pick the kids up from school.

Which okay, fair enough. Except, by the time she was discharged from the hospital it was well past school home time and when I took her back into my SiL's house everyone was there and one of the adults could have easily brought my MiL home in a taxi. But of course, it was easier to just get us to do it, cheaper for them too.

Ugh. :(

I wonder what they would have done if you had said "I'm sorry, that's not possible."

[turps]

I wonder what they would have done if you had said "I'm sorry, that's not possible."

I suspect my SiL's partner would have gone to the hospital and brought my MiL home in a taxi, no excessive drama, it's just my MiL leans too heavily on James sometimes as he's the only one in the family who has a car.

Normally he has no issues at all taking them places like doctor's appointments because it is more comfortable to go in a car with family. Just this time really could have done with staying home and resting which was shown when he asked if someone else could do the pickup, as usually, as long as he's not in work he'll drive anyone anywhere. So to take my MiL home and find my SiL watching tv and her partner apparently playing upstairs with my nephew was all kinds of frustrating.

You're right though, if it happens again he needs to say no.

[hc_bingo_mod]

join ussss. enjoy your shiny card and do nothing with it if it's what your heart desireth :D

[turps]

Oh sure, twist my arm.

Like I wasn't going to join anyway *g*

[jacieleigh]

I used to never sign up for challenges (other than SeSa) unless I had at least a good start on a story. I always wrote a new story, but just wouldn't sign up until I had a good chunk of the writing done. SeSa was scary as not only do you have to wait for your prompt, but someone is counting on you! But I managed it every time.

So yeah, if there isn't a downside to not finishing, go ahead and sign up. You might get inspired!

I'm sorry the other family members didn't help you guys out just this once. I hope James is feeling better soon.

[turps]

Oh man, I well remember the terror of getting the SeSa assignments. It's one thing I miss now that fandom has fractured so much, that time when everyone would post either happy or panicking about their assignment. Those were good times.

There's no downside at all, thankfully. The mods are brilliant and you don't get any sanctions for not getting a bingo. So, I actually have joined, and now will just sit looking at my card and imagining stories, and then no doubt not write them.

It's frustrating because they're more than capable of getting a taxi, and often do so when they take my MiL shopping or into town for coffee etc. Plus, they live much closer to the hospital than we do so for them it would have been one of them getting a taxi or bus to the hospital then getting the taxi back with my MiL. When for us it was driving to the hospital, then to my SiL's house, then home again when James really wasn't feeling well.

[jacieleigh]

Yes! I have so many fond memories of everyone getting their assignments, then panicking, then plotting a story, writing, sending to beta, editing and posting. It was such a *thing* every year! We used to have chat rooms where we could meet weekly and panic/encourage each other. The year that kinda sucked I'd drawn a very close friend, so I kept saying in the chat room that I'd drawn a blank. Lots of good memories (and a couple not-so-wonderful...LOL).

This will be the 9th year of running an NCIS SeSa. We've only had two years with over 10 participants. Usually, it's around 7. Last year was our smallest SeSa with only 6. Being down to 6, it's a bit hard to really talk about what's going on with your SeSa (plus many really do not check into LJ or DW much at all, and sign-ups are through AO3 for this challenge). There have been 2 years I drew my beta and fortunately both years I'd also had to write a backup for someone else, so I let her beta those! With only 6, it's also pretty easy to determine who wrote what, but it's still fun!

For the challenges I run now, there is no issue with people dropping out unless they are assigned a partner (like SeSa, or after claims for the Big Bang or Reverse Bang). Even then, if someone drops out early with plenty of notice, and someone else steps in, there are usually no consequences. Last-minute dropouts with notice are usually a 1-year ban (but not always). Dropping out with no notice, requiring both the partner and myself to send multiple emails with no responses, that's a permanent ban. Sorry, but if you're going to sign up and are assigned a partner, then you should be mature enough to spend 1-2 minutes to respond to an email, or preferably advise both the mod and the partner you have to drop. I don't even care about the reason, just let people know. And my holiday advent one, no sign-ups at all, just post if you have something to post! That's the Happy Holidays, no-stress challenge. *G*

I'm glad you signed up! As a mod, it's always disappointing to do so much work and have few to none sign up. My challenge that is the most work is the Happy Holidays challenge and which often only has 2-3 participants. *sigh*. But as it's an advent challenge, there are two who try to fulfill every day's prompt each year. They seem to enjoy it. *G*. Anyway, even if you don't get a bingo, maybe you can get some writing done. *G*

Yeah, it's a shame they couldn't help you guys out the one time James isn't feeling well. It's a bit pricey, but over here, we have care companies you can pay to do that sort of stuff. It cost me around $125 when I needed to hire someone to drive me to a procedure (if they knock you out here, you're not allowed to drive for 24 hours. They will not allow you to use a taxi or Uber, etc. You have to have a driver that will stay there the whole time.). So yeah, looking forward to moving to CO where hopefully one of my brothers will drive me as needed. And of course, I would offer the same. Between the three of us, I'd hope we could cover everything.

[spikedluv]

I can't resist signing up for trope_bingo even though I rarely get a bingo, and lately, don't even write a single fic. o_O I see in comments that you did sign up. Enjoy thinking about the fic you won't be writing. *g*

Yay for good kitchen news! It sounds very exciting.

How frustrating about having to pick up your m-i-l! (Maybe you guys can make plans for things like that directly with s-i-l so you get the most accurate information?)

[turps]

I see in comments that you did sign up. Enjoy thinking about the fic you won't be writing. *g*

It's like you're getting to know me or something *g*

It is exciting, also very daunting when he turned up with the books with samples of doors etc. I'll be living with this kitchen for a long time. I don't want to make the wrong choices now.

We should have phoned my SiL because I'm sure her partner could have gone for my MiL. He did need to pick up my niece and nephew from school, but that was a good two hours before my MiL phoned and said she was ready to be picked up.

[sperrywink]

Saw you signed up!! WRITE WITH ME THIS MONTH. Keep me honest for Camp Nano.

Ooohh, post pictures of your kitchen in progress and when it is done! I'm sure it'll be smashing.

Glad your brother can finally quit his job.

Man, that was inconsiderate. I'm sure James practically never says no, so give him a break when he needs it.

[turps]

I did sign up! And I have written this month, for the first time in ages. Admittedly, it's less than 200 words but it's something.

I will post pictures. Chris says he'll take the top units down first so the electrician can get at the fuse box and move it. Then once that is done I can paint the walls and he'll take over. I can see us living in chaos for a while.

He quit his job and went out drinking and was hanging big time yesterday. But, it was a big decision so why not.

Yeah, he really doesn't say no very often, if at all. The only time he does is if he's working so she should have known if he asked if someone else could do it he really was feeling rough.

[i_amthecosmos]

I signed up and I might only use the prompts once and never do it again, but it's still inspo. So it counts. My card is pretty juicy this year!

[turps]

Oh I'll keep an eye out for your card.

I'm like you, I may just look at my shiny card and not use it, but it's still great that it's there. And I love the mods don't care if you don't actually post anything.

[frausorge]

Yay for writing! and also for enjoying thinking about potential writing! As long as you're having fun, who should cavil at it?

I hope you get to choose just what you like for your kitchen. It definitely makes sense to keep some "behind the scenes" parts and upgrade the more visible things.

I'm sorry you and James were imposed on for the driving when the others could have handled it. I hope another time they'll step up and take on the effort (with a nudge if necessary!)

[turps]

As long as you're having fun, who should cavil at it?

I like the way you think.

It's daunting picking things for the kitchen. I've been looking at the ceiling cladding today and knowing it'll be there for many years had me hesitating for ages.

I hope so, though I suspect that nudge will be needed.

[turlough]

Good luck with your bingo!

That's good to hear about you kitchen. ALL the good luck with the clearing out and then the fitting!

It must be really frustrating the way your inlaws tend to treat James as their own private taxi service.

[turps]

As you know, I need all the luck available for me to get a bingo.

The kitchen is going to be great, it's just going to be a lot of work to get to that point. But, we've been waiting long enough and it'll be good to declutter a bit.

It must be really frustrating the way your inlaws tend to treat James as their own private taxi service.

It really is. He doesn't mind mostly, but he really didn't feel well that day my MiL wanted to go home and she couldn't seem to comprehend that.