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jadesfire1. After over a year of reasonable service, our washing machine refused to turn on last night. No warning, no drama, just...nothing. We checked the plug and even changed the fuse in it, but still. Nothing. Luckily we bought it from John Lewis, specifically because they give a 2 year guarantee, which is feeling like a very wise decision at this point. But it's the hassle of it, more than the fact of it. One of us is going to have to work from home, or we'll have to hope they can come at the weekend, or something. I hate dealing with these things, and fully intend to set J to Lawyer Mode and get him to do it.
2. Luckily, we're staying with a friend in Bristol this weekend, and so can take shameless advantage of her washing machine. I'd already said I'd bring my own food because of the Whole 30 thing, which I think puts me on the road to being a Bad Houseguest, but she's a good friend and I know she won't mind.
3. I meant to take a survey of my ongoing craft projects last night, but got distracted by a shawl that needed frogging. My mum bought me a ball winder for Christmas and it was so deeply satisfying to be able to just turn the handle and have a perfect yarn cake appear on it. I only got it half done, because there were too many ends all over the place, but I'm equally looking forward to Stage 2, which involves moving the yarn onto my swift so I can skein it and soak it to get the kinks out. It sounds silly, but I'd forgotten how much I love playing with yarn, whether making or just messing around, and so spending half an hour last night fiddling with the shawl felt like the next step on my recovery road.
4. I finished my book! I'm going to try and use Goodreads to track what I'm reading this year, and although I don't know if I'll always put up a review, you're welcome to add me there if you want. Flaubert's Parrot was a very odd book, which isn't a criticism. Just that it wrong-foots you at every step. It worked for me, but I like multiple voice and style books, and I enjoy oblique references rather than direct ones. What I look for in stories, fanfic and music is a sign of the brain behind it all. I like things that are "too clever", and find them immensely satisfying. Flaubert's Parrot isn't subtle about the level of research, nor its intellectual games, which is something I find deeply appealing, although I'm sure others would find it irritating.
5. J and I sat down together last night for the first time since last Friday and actually had a grown up conversation that wasn't just about work or being tired. It took us about five minutes to get the hang of it, as we both kept saying "oh, this is weird." Hopefully next week will be less nuts at work for him and I won't want to fall asleep at 7.30, because it was really quite nice! We also took the chance to plan out dates for the next few months, weekends away, holidays and suchlike. It makes such a difference having things to look forward to. We'll go away over Easter, and again for his birthday in June, but I'm also hoping we can have a night away at the beginning of March. My favourite plant in the entire universe is the Magnolia*, and they have a huge collection of them down at Wakehurst Place. So at the beginning of March, when they should be in full bloom, we're going to head down to see them. It's something I've wanted to do for years, so I'm already looking forward to it! Of course, it will probably rain solidly for the whole weekend, but I honestly don't care. Magnolias are always wonderful
*my favourite flowers are dahlias, but magnolias have the first place in my heart.
Have a good weekend, folks, whatever you're doing. I'll mostly be playing board games and trying to work out how to use someone else's washing machine!
2. Luckily, we're staying with a friend in Bristol this weekend, and so can take shameless advantage of her washing machine. I'd already said I'd bring my own food because of the Whole 30 thing, which I think puts me on the road to being a Bad Houseguest, but she's a good friend and I know she won't mind.
3. I meant to take a survey of my ongoing craft projects last night, but got distracted by a shawl that needed frogging. My mum bought me a ball winder for Christmas and it was so deeply satisfying to be able to just turn the handle and have a perfect yarn cake appear on it. I only got it half done, because there were too many ends all over the place, but I'm equally looking forward to Stage 2, which involves moving the yarn onto my swift so I can skein it and soak it to get the kinks out. It sounds silly, but I'd forgotten how much I love playing with yarn, whether making or just messing around, and so spending half an hour last night fiddling with the shawl felt like the next step on my recovery road.
4. I finished my book! I'm going to try and use Goodreads to track what I'm reading this year, and although I don't know if I'll always put up a review, you're welcome to add me there if you want. Flaubert's Parrot was a very odd book, which isn't a criticism. Just that it wrong-foots you at every step. It worked for me, but I like multiple voice and style books, and I enjoy oblique references rather than direct ones. What I look for in stories, fanfic and music is a sign of the brain behind it all. I like things that are "too clever", and find them immensely satisfying. Flaubert's Parrot isn't subtle about the level of research, nor its intellectual games, which is something I find deeply appealing, although I'm sure others would find it irritating.
5. J and I sat down together last night for the first time since last Friday and actually had a grown up conversation that wasn't just about work or being tired. It took us about five minutes to get the hang of it, as we both kept saying "oh, this is weird." Hopefully next week will be less nuts at work for him and I won't want to fall asleep at 7.30, because it was really quite nice! We also took the chance to plan out dates for the next few months, weekends away, holidays and suchlike. It makes such a difference having things to look forward to. We'll go away over Easter, and again for his birthday in June, but I'm also hoping we can have a night away at the beginning of March. My favourite plant in the entire universe is the Magnolia*, and they have a huge collection of them down at Wakehurst Place. So at the beginning of March, when they should be in full bloom, we're going to head down to see them. It's something I've wanted to do for years, so I'm already looking forward to it! Of course, it will probably rain solidly for the whole weekend, but I honestly don't care. Magnolias are always wonderful
*my favourite flowers are dahlias, but magnolias have the first place in my heart.
Have a good weekend, folks, whatever you're doing. I'll mostly be playing board games and trying to work out how to use someone else's washing machine!
(no subject)
Date: 2018-02-02 10:55 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2018-02-02 12:44 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2018-02-02 09:46 pm (UTC)Also: yay, Goodreads buddies!