In which case I entirely agree that the Cruise line coach is the best way. There is no direct train or coach, and you would have to change in London.
I did my Senior Day shopping. It took longer than I had thought because there was a traffic jam. In the parking lot. There was a GoRaleigh short bus, and apparently it now takes 20 minutes to belt someone in and close the lift to stop blocking me. Plus 3 neighbors filling the cardboard dumpster. And the self checkout decided I didn’t scan the bananas I scanned. I also rearranged the auxiliary kitchen tool drawer, but otherwise slothed. I’m having a Mai Tai and Smoked Paprika Chicken for dinner.
< crosses fingers >
Don’t be. That’s a lot to deal with in a short time. {{{{Jack}}}}
LOL. Although Spot has gone nearly 20 hours without puncturing me.
Hugs to you and yours, JBatts.
I was running around today. Now I am home and chilling.
I went to the foot dr this morn.
I have never seen a cleaner office in my life.
They took x rays. Seems one toe is indeed hammer. The other one is sore at the base, not a toenail problem.
He asked if I’d fallen. Yes 9 weeks ago and my back is still sore. I am to make an appt at another place. They gave me inserts for my shoes, which feel like they are more arched.
They also gave me methylprednisolone.
Sigh.
I acquired a few groceries.
It was 80 degrees.
There was more but it will come back to me.
ETA oh yeah, the bees are out and on the warpath. A few came at me ( on purpose just to make me run).
Yes they are important! But they should back off of me.
I’m so sorry, Jack.
FCM, the ship-arranged shuttle can be more expensive but has always gotten me to my flights, and Heathrow isn’t a bad airport if you need to hand around for a while.
{{{Jack}}}
Are you ready for this?
$64,000! for the windows in my house. The guy was just about an inch away from getting my teacher voice. We told him nicely when MusicMan had to go to bed and he kept stalling to try to get the sale. Ugh.
The brace seems good so far. My foot is not hurting in the usual way since I wore it today. Also, my knee is a little bit twingy, but overall not too bad. I am going to do an inordinate amount of sitting around tomorrow and then Saturday it’s on!
ETA: And I forgot to mention that they weren’t even the kind of windows that I’d want because they didn’t make windows that were rounded at the top which is what we have now and I’d like to keep them the same.
OH
MY
GAWD
How big is your place? We had 9 room windows, 2 bathroom windows and one big living room window replaced with all the upgrades for just over ten grand. Granted, they didn’t have to deal with second story windows, but holy cow.
We are on the far west side of the state, Kentucky is only a couple of hours away so the guys we used might not want to drive that far, but would you like names and numbers?
I’m glad your brace seems to be helping and hope that you will be walking easier next week.
That’s progress! Jolene has only drawn blood once this week and we are calling that a win as well!
So we had a nice little rain with a couple of thunderboomers and I put the fern and fushia out on the front walk so they could get a drink. The lady who said she wanted the fern didn’t show up so I guess I’ll take it to the library on Monday.
Hubs is feeling so well now that his heart is working right and he’s lost weight that he wants another Harley. I don’t want him to start riding, his reaction times are way to slow to deal with agressive drivers…but I relly can’t stop him. I have demanded that he starts selling guns because I don’t want to have to deal with that after he gets run over by a logging truck.
Speaking of which, I’m going to have to move my desk so I can’t see the highway. Now that the logging companies have permission to go after the little areas of old growth left in the Appalachians I’m watching far too many trucks carrying big fat trees off the mountains. It hurts my heart, all of the things that are being broken will never recover and the old growth forests will be lost forever.
I have a Friday funeral to go to tomorrow morning. A woman at the church I liked has passed. She was a widow. The first time I visited the congregation her husband was the first person who came up and spoke to me. Now they can be together again.
The Spousal Unit got out the Canadian flag today. We’re thinking of going to the cross-border handshake at the Peace Arch on Saturday.
We went for Mexican food today. I almost wore my Avirex WWII-pattern A2 jacket that someone I knew painted for me.
But it was too warm, so I didn’t. Our server has a bunch of tattoos on her arms. I didn’t notice her left arm, but her right arm was WWII aviation themed in honour of her family who served. I should have worn the jacket.
Evening all. Have grilled and assimilated my ham-n-cheese sammiches along with some other stuff that probably isn’t all that good for me, but stomach is happy now. Got a little more rain and more is expected tomorrow, so the wet season will continue. Have the Firday shopping list pretty much done, just depends when I want to do that tomorrow. Otherwise just a couple quiet hours before slumberland.
2 bob, boofae, been told I can just tap my credit card to use the London system, but I think I’d rather have the Oyster card anyway.
coppertone, haven’t had any close encounters with bees yet. Down in Ali-bama we have to check the soccer fields for fire ant nests, those are our major concerns.
Agreed, just make sure you are at the right Terminal, getting around them can be a pain. I like Amsterdam Schipol the best when it comes to European Airports, but avoid Paris Charles DeGaulle at all costs.
Sticky Buns, that window price is outrageous, I presume you are getting other estimates besides that whopper. And having a sit-in at home is not the worst thing in the world…
JtC, concur that a motorcycle at this time and age is probably not a good decision, but…make sure the will is up to date (extremely dry humor…parched even).
flyboy, love the jacket collection, it won’t be cold enough here to wear one around here until December, however.
And it’s 9pm and I’m a little tired, so early bedtime tonight. Take careall.
Even in December/January, it’s rarely cold enough to wear the RAF ‘Irvin’ jacket. Maybe when I lived in L.A. and hadn’t been acclimatised to cooler weather. The other are just leather with a nylon (or whatever) lining… little more than windbreakers.
Just to update … my dad is doing better. He has suffered no neurological effects (he can speak and walk and do everything) and no droopiness. As I get more news it seems it has mostly to do with a blood clot that they’re trying to track down. The “mini-stroke” was the clot making its way through his head. It also affected his vision - and that’s what was worrying me the most because they kept saying the vision thing has nothing to do with the stroke thing. So the vision thing is also a clot - I suppose the same one they’re trying to track down. His headache has mostly gone away and he’s going to be in the hospital for tests for a couple of days but he fully plans on loading up the truck and driving home by end of week (they’re in Maine with my sister right now but they live in Florida).
My father is a tough motherfucker.
Morning, mumpers! It’s currently 9c/49f with a predicted high of 14c/57f and cloudy. Weather app says “It’s fucking dreich out. Please pronounce “dreich” like you’re spitting at the fucking sky.” Well, not that bad from where I’m sitting, it’s sunny and the sky is clear, and there’s no precipitation in the forecast either.
My experience of National Express coaches tends to leave them as an absolute last resort. 
I’ve spent far too much time on coaches on the M25 fretting about getting to the airport on time when the coach has been delayed by traffic problems. And that’s with being on the coach at least 2hrs earlier than I really should have needed.
If I’m working at home, we’re in the same room for two days of the week, and other times I’m in and out every time I come upstairs for anything. I talk to her when I’m in the room and try to at least pet her head if she’ll let me. She won’t tolerate any touch apart from the top of her head at the moment, so that’s what we’re limited to.
Funny! I am sure wifey was laughing on the inside
Don’t be sorry, we are always here for the venting and the bad news just as much as we like hearing all the good stuff. I’m sorry about all the crappy stuff happening around you, but glad to hear that you’re dad’s going to be ok. It’s always hard to deal with family stuff when there are big distances involved.
Sticky Buns I’d need to lie down in a dark room after that kind of estimate!
I had a quiet evening at home on the sofa and was in bed relatively early. Got up this morning when Cherry climbed over me to tell me it was time for breakfast. So, breakfast has been had, Miffin has growled and hissed at me for daring to take her bowl away and fill it with something nice.
I have to go into town today, I have a cheque that needs to be deposited at the bank and I am rarely able to get in early enough on Saturday when they close early. Since I’m off work, today is a good day to do that. I also need to look for a retirement gift for my work colleague as she leaves next Wednesday so that is top of my list of things to do. Other than that, fence panels are in my future (again).
The Southampton/Heathrow trip has a pretty good reputation with people joining and leaving cruises there. Of course, the M3 is less problematic than the M25.
Dover is the most awkward of the ports for Heathrow, as there is no alternative to a trip around the M25.
Good Mornin’ Y’all! Up and caffeinatin’. YAWN ‘Tis 64 Amurrkin out and mostly clear with a predicted high of 86 and clear this mornin’ but cloudy the rest of the day. I shall shred chikin and make chikin sallit this mornin’. The rest of the day will be spent in high RDOS inactivities. Sup will be burgers’n fixin’s and oven fries.
Cookie I giggled, so make room in the hand basket for me. Also, back in my kolledge days, there was a librarian who had Parkinson’s. We called her shake and bake. I have borne that shame for years. She and a student eloped and I here they were very happy together.
CupCakes sorry for the loss of your friend.
Bats good news about your father. Hope he is able to head home soonest.
JtC I don kitchen gloves and shred the chikin by hand. I could do it without the gloves, but I don’t like touchin’ cooked or raw meat. One of my many weirdnesses.
Now I need more caffeine and to feed rumbly tummy. Then, onward into the day! Rah.
Happy Firday Y’all!
Up, caffeinated, and sheveled. Laundry today! And copious amounts of sloth
I have a 60% chance of afternoon storms here. And a 100% chance of afternoon cocktails.
Also, Happy Perfect Date Day!
Its to rain the entire day but the phone forecast always over predicts.
I’m going to derm so she can see how well my scalp is doing.
I have not started my methylprednisolone because I am worried about side effects. I suppose it would help my back and toes though. I am to return to foot dr next Thurs.
Yesterday CVS gave me an 8 dollar coupon for the store so I got free t.p!
Am so tired though of just barely scraping by and hoping others help. Wish I could buy clothes or get a radio or go out to eat.
We’ll be at T5 near as I can tell. I’m kinda sorry I didn’t book a few extra days to hang out around London since FCD has never been there and I was there briefly 40+ years ago, but I know by the end of the cruise, he’ll want to be home and I expect I will, too. Next time…
Was that from a national company or local? If national, are you willing to share (or just message me.) Our windows are 15-ish years old and they weren’t that great to start, Once this boat stuff is done, I want to get a few quotes.
And not that it means anything, but the first two houses I bought cost less than that estimate. OK, it was in the early 80s, so a completely different economic climate, but still, DANG!!!
So glad to hear that. It’s scary watching parents age and decline, and worse when a disease hastens the end. Altho I don’t think a long drive is smart, not that my opinion counts. And having live with and around determined men, I know that I don’t get a vote. Still, I hope he’s properly cautious, for his sake and that of others on the road.
And she still doesn’t trust you? How odd - you’d think being able to watch you work from up close would start to relax her. Unless you cuss and fuss while working. 
Yeah, cats is weird.
I noticed there was an end-of-cruise excursion from Dover to a few sights around London, then to Heathrow, but it recommends you not take it if your flight is earlier than 4:45. Ours is 4:35 - just a tad too close for comfort. Anyway, I was able to book the straight shot via the cruise line, so we should have plenty of time for the pre-flight check-in stuff.
No!! You have weirdnesses? How can that be???
While it is, theoretically, laundry day, it’ll have to be put off till tomorrow, since we’ll be working at Daughter’s house. If we get back early enough, I might get it done this afternoon, but I’m not counting on it. FCD is still abed and SIL will be coming over to get the truck after dropping Tobias off at school. We have to go to the marina to get some tools that are on the boat.
Nice weather today, rain likely tomorrow, then back to nice for early next week. Channel 7 weather guy said we’d see 90 midweek, but accuweather disagrees by a lot. So we shall see.
Speaking of the plumber, he didn’t fix the dripping valve at the deep sink, so I just turned it off. We may need a new one and I know we can do that replacement ourselves. The cold water there is still good, and we don’t need hot now that we don’t have a dog to bathe in the sink. So no biggie. The rest of his fixes are good, I hope.
And so it begins. Happy Firday!
OMG, me too!
That was 25 years ago??
Jack, glad your father is doing better!
Sorry to hear about your friend, Cookie.
We have lots of windows here, I guess because the house is two separate boxes connected together because the back box was the servant’s quarters and the front box is the main house. There are approximately 22 windows. However, given JtC’s cost, it appears that I could knock at least 20-30K off our price if I find the right company.
Today is my day of rest. Currently a very comfy poodle is sitting next to me in here chair snoozing. We’ve both had breakfast and now I have to deal with humans because Verizon charged us about $400 up front when we switched phones and now my next bill is $500 because of more random charges. I had wanted to switch somethings to save money but this is not what I was expecting.