COLD DARK ROOM

[CarolM]

Happy Sunday!!

We have been so busy around here!!
Lots of home improvement projects going on at once because my husband doesn’t procrastinate.

Just finished up painting the new fireplace walls.
Then he started cleaning the garage so he could install metal shelving that we disassembled and put back up!
Cleared out office to paint this morning and add baseboards.
Adding baseboards to daughter’s new room.
Designed a walk in closet which took hours!! Just ordered the cupboards and rods yesterday so waiting 4 weeks. We are installing it ourselves.

We took our older girls out to dinner for their 29th birthday.

Oh, we had scare yesterday! I woke my son up at 10:30 to help us in the garage and the first thing he helped me move I noticed his face was white as a ghost and so were his lips. Then he started shaking and stared in space. He thought he was looking at me but his eyes weren’t. My husband grabbed him and I called 911.
He is fine now and his vitals were ok and his blood sugar was good.

We don’t know what happened but I’m taking him to his Dr this week for blood work.
We were so scared!
The first thing I asked him was if he took drugs. He doesn’t do them but he is a teen so it was my first thought and wanted to let the EMT know so they knew how to treat him.

I aged like 10yrs yesterday!!

OMW That is very scary. I hope it is nothing serious.

 

[CarolM]

This is a long one, but stick with it.

My day started with the alarm going off at 07:30.

One hundred miles up the A26 motorway, heading for Calais, JoesDad suddenly says “Is the passport folder in the glove box?”

It wasn’t.

He’d left the folder on the roof of the car.

I rang the hotel, but they couldn’t find it in their car park - the receptionist was outside looking whilst talking to me on the phone.

Then a text from JoesDad’s Dad saying Reims Police had the folder and 2 passports. They’d rung the emergency contact number in the passports.

We headed back to Reims Police Station.

Yes only 2 passports out of 4 and they had clearly been run over several times. The police said they were picked up on the A344 (a major road) near J25 and we might spot the others. Thankfully I speak passable French because the police were lovely, but didn’t speak much English.

So, hazard flashers on, we retraced our route and there they were! Unfortunately 1 was in the central reservation (mine); the other we were able to pick up.

So next call was to the UK Foreign Office helpline who said that the UK Border Agency would probably let us through, but I might have to go to Paris tomorrow to get emergency documents.

So, we headed back to Eurotunnel Calais. Lunch was a quarter of a dried sausage, quarter of a nectarine and either a brioche bun or a pain au chocolat. Arrived late for our crossing. Got through French passport control with 3 bent passports and my driving licence and then ... UK Border Agency

The Border Force lady was brilliant. She gave me a form and we had to park in the “parking spaces of shame” (my words not hers) next to a British car with a baby that had no passport... it’s still there I think.

We filled in the form, were advised the damaged passports should be replaced and, obviously, mine too.

And now we’re on board a Eurotunnel train with our car, only just over 2 hours late so far. I am actually somewhere under the English Channel with an internet connection!

Thank goodness we live in Kent and don’t have a long journey the other side. Although the children must catch trains to their homes.

Wow. Not sure if I should say you were lucky or commiserate with you on being unlucky.

 

[CarolM]

@EllieMay

Look, I have roots!! Also a green bud!!
View attachment 250299

Whoop whoop.

 

[CarolM]

I might seriously have to look into that. Somebody is giving away an old mini piano not too far from us, but the guy says it weighs about 200 kg (440 pounds). I can’t realistically haul that into our rented space and then get rid of it in 8-10 months’ time.

Oh dear. That would have been ideal.

 

[CarolM]

I’ll ask. That would be the perfect solution.

Why don't you ask the school if you can keep the mini piano there. Then daughter can practice and they can keep it when you move. Obviously only if it is being given to you for free.

 

[CarolM]

Oh! It’s lovely and sunny here!

Daughter’s car jump started fine and we took it to the garage without me stalling it.

JoesDad is now at work.

I am working my way through the post holiday chores. Laundry, sorting out the car (tyre pressures, washer water, and a trip to the car wash later to remove a couple of thousand miles of squished bugs!)

I also need to go shopping so I can have some lunch and so we can eat dinner

Welcome home

 

[CarolM]

Our vet said at least 5. It it’s okay, we are loving him up and he’s really getting a personality.

I do love that he does not bark and pretty easy going. Last night we had a fire at our outside fireplace and the wood popped and popped and he didn’t even flinch while sleeping next to me.

That is a good sign.

 

[CarolM]

Good morning, Linda! Good mornooning, roommates!

Yesterday I woke up to the sight of cranes leaving. And this morning we had a bit of fog! It's that time of the year, I guess, although the temps will still be up to 20 C (68 F) later today. Saw some lovely lacework while taking daughter to school:

View attachment 250482

Love the pic.

 

[CarolM]

Good morning my friends! Guess who is SO very glad the holiday is over?? ME ME ME MEEEEEE!!! Lol! I got two kids on the bus & two to go. I’ll have many travel miles for work today but I’m looking forward to it. I never mind the drive..
So.... I have news. I have been holding off on saying anything but I’m super excited... I’m adopting a 2yr old Sulcata . I am picking her up on Friday. [emoji1317]
That being said, I now have to get a jump start on my outdoors area. I started a thread yesterday titled Large Sulcata Fence. I would like to hear from those of you with Giant tortoises and see some pics of your area if possible.. Please
@Maro2Bear
@Bee62

Wow. Congratulations Heather. So very happy for you.

 

[CarolM]

A huge flock of wild geese eat a lot of gras and make a lot of poop. The birds are not welcome everywhere because of this.

It's natural fertilizer.

 

[CarolM]

@CarolM
Where are you ? I hope you and your family are fine. Haven`t not seen you in the dark for a long time.
Please send a sign of life to us.

Will give you a run down shortly.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

@ZEROPILOT
Ed, is the storm headed your way too?

It passed us to the south.
Its headed towards @Moozillion

 

[CarolM]

All caught up. Yes I am still alive. [emoji6]
Last week was super busy with one disaster after another happening at work. So I have been trying to sort it all out.
Eldest son was down with gastro on Wednesday and Thursday. Then Hubby got it Friday morning. And I came down with it Friday night. So me and the porcelian bowl were very friendly over the weekend. The only one to not get it so far has been Jarrod. Yesterday at work was just as hectic. Hopefully it will start to settle soon.
I am still not drinking caffeine. No pain tablets and have gone two whole days without vaping at all. I have been eating less bread. Take carrot, cucumber, greenpepper, celery sticks to work to eat all day. So it seems that things are starting to come right as far as my health is concerned.
Missed you guys.
Thought of you all this morning when i saw this. A pic of Table Mountain. Jan Van Riebeck and The Devil were obviously smoking their pipes this morning.
Hope the rest of your Tuesdays is a good one.
And just because I can - a pic of Rue super relaxing.

 

[Momof4]

OMW That is very scary. I hope it is nothing serious.

It was! I can’t get the look on his face out of my mind!
He has an appt Wednesday afternoon.
I’m pretty sure he’ll get his first blood draw.

 

[Momof4]

All caught up. Yes I am still alive. [emoji6]
Last week was super busy with one disaster after another happening at work. So I have been trying to sort it all out.
Eldest son was down with gastro on Wednesday and Thursday. Then Hubby got it Friday morning. And I came down with it Friday night. So me and the porcelian bowl were very friendly over the weekend. The only one to not get it so far has been Jarrod. Yesterday at work was just as hectic. Hopefully it will start to settle soon.
I am still not drinking caffeine. No pain tablets and have gone two whole days without vaping at all. I have been eating less bread. Take carrot, cucumber, greenpepper, celery sticks to work to eat all day. So it seems that things are starting to come right as far as my health is concerned.
Missed you guys.
Thought of you all this morning when i saw this. A pic of Table Mountain. Jan Van Riebeck and The Devil were obviously smoking their pipes this morning.
Hope the rest of your Tuesdays is a good one.
And just because I can - a pic of Rue super relaxing. View attachment 250508View attachment 250509

Yuck!! I guess it’s about time for us to get flu shots.

Work sounds tough right now! Hopefully it gets sorted soon!

 

[ZEROPILOT]

It passed us to the south.
Its headed towards @Moozillion

There has been so much activity the last few years, I think that most of us could handle a strong tropical storm of even a CAT 1 hurricane pretty easily. We've been forced to upgrade our houses, fences and supplies.
I've recently reinforced my privacy fence and patio. And purchased new metal shutters.

 

[JoesMum]

All caught up. Yes I am still alive. [emoji6]
Last week was super busy with one disaster after another happening at work. So I have been trying to sort it all out.
Eldest son was down with gastro on Wednesday and Thursday. Then Hubby got it Friday morning. And I came down with it Friday night. So me and the porcelian bowl were very friendly over the weekend. The only one to not get it so far has been Jarrod. Yesterday at work was just as hectic. Hopefully it will start to settle soon.
I am still not drinking caffeine. No pain tablets and have gone two whole days without vaping at all. I have been eating less bread. Take carrot, cucumber, greenpepper, celery sticks to work to eat all day. So it seems that things are starting to come right as far as my health is concerned.
Missed you guys.
Thought of you all this morning when i saw this. A pic of Table Mountain. Jan Van Riebeck and The Devil were obviously smoking their pipes this morning.
Hope the rest of your Tuesdays is a good one.
And just because I can - a pic of Rue super relaxing. View attachment 250508View attachment 250509

Nice to not see you back in the CDR. Sorry to hear about the gastro bugs; they are truly awful

Cutting out vaping too! You are a woman on a mission!

I love both your photos. The cloud on table mountain is very atmospheric and Rue is just cute

 

[JoesMum]

Yuck!! I guess it’s about time for us to get flu shots.

Work sounds tough right now! Hopefully it gets sorted soon!

Thanks for the reminder! I just booked mine. The online booking system at Boots, a UK pharmacy chain, works well

 

[Maro2Bear]

I hear the Canada geese are not always welcome visitors on farms. Make great winter coats though!

Although they can create havoc to farmer’s grain fields, many Marylanders, especially those on the Eastern Shore, make a good bit of extra $$$ by catering to hunters. There are goose blinds up and down all of the rivers and marshes and fence rows, once goose season starts it can sound like a mini civil war. Yes... goose down good for lots of goods.

 

[Maro2Bear]

Fascinating. So which is the part you eat?

They really aren’t edible for/by humans... all sticky and very “pithy” with tons of seeds. Apparently the wood is as strong as “steel” and logs were made into fenceposts (in the day); the trees were planted as natural hedges.