Happy New Years?

From Facebook Archives

1 January 2011 at 10:46

In about 20 minutes time it will be 11.11.1.1.1

a little later 

Ms Exlibris  Well spotted! I missed that! 

Did anything significant happen?

Bentonbag  Don't know - my sister was on the 'phone

Ms Exlibris  Partner says it doesn't count anyway, he says you have to wait for 11.11.11.11.11

Bentonbag  Haven't you told him I make my own rules?

White Rose  Never mind a week on Tuesday will be 11.1.11

1 January 2014 at 12:33

How long or often do you have to do something before it becomes a tradition or ritual?

Last New Year's Eve was Thunderthighs' first in the loft and, at midnight, we opened the top landing window and stood watching the fireworks and wishing goodbye and good-riddance to 2012.

The family bug has finally caught up with me so last night I was in bed to hear Big Ben strike midnight on BBCRadio4. 

After the last stroke I got up, put on my dressing gown and stood with Thunderthighs looking out of the open loft window as Tyneside re-enacted the Battle of the Somme (with added Chinese lanterns).  

2013 wasn't a bad year, a couple of momentous decisions were made and we ended up happier and more settled than we started.

Thunderthighs looked forward with "2014 is going to be a hard year. I'm going to become a college student"

By the end of 2014 both my baby boys will be legally men...   

and what will their Mummy do then? ...

1 January 2024 at 16.43

Conversation in the car on the way to Druridge Bay...

"X and Y are getting on much better since the kids left home.  They're making the effort to spend time together."

"We should do that..."

"We already do.  We go out for lunch, and then we do it again four years later."

"It must be coming around to that time again."

"Only if you promise not to read the Guardian at me and actually make conversation."

"Well ... if you're going to put strict stipulations on to it ..."

"I can be ignored and taken no notice of at home for far less effort and expense."

 

24 Ways to Create a More Peaceful Home

Yesterday I prepared a nice blog full of New Year messages.

Then this morning this reel/meme came up in Facebook Memories and my and my friends’ reactions to it made me smile.

So here it is

31 December 2024 at 08.38

"Play gentle background music" FFS! This person has obviously never tried living with an autistic person and has little consideration for the hard of hearing, for whom background music is a real inconvenience. Play music and listen to it, it took skill and dedication to create; don't use it as chewing gum for the ears.

There's also far too much about cleaning and decluttering; however then you're meant to add plants, artwork, photos and meaningful personal items and "Set up a cozy reading nook".

Personally I'd rather go with Max Erhmann's Desiderata

"Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence."

https://www.desiderata.com/desiderata.html

Not in the best of fettles this morning, as you may have noticed...

Dulcima  How big a house are we talking about here? My cosy reading nook is my sitting room.

Bentonbag  Quite; chair in bay window with pouffe, chaiselongue with reading light, or bed (if poorly)

Miss Doozer  Here's my guess.  The post was created by AI.  The music was created by AI, as was the artwork and 'meaningful personal items'.  The AI has an AI to clean and declutter, and AI kids that fold up and slot into their chargers when not in use, along with the air purifying plants.  The AI's job is reading and meditation, then creating meaningless posts like these.

Meanwhile, normal humans obey the second law of thermodynamics (chaos always increases) and we trip over stuff, pets and one another, a lot.

Bess Cavalier  The only one I agree with is investing in comfortable furniture, which seems to contradict the art gallery vibe of all the other suggestions!

Bentonbag  Which begs the question "who the heck invests in uncomfortable furniture?"

Bess Cavalier  People who are more concerned about style and image than making a welcoming home.

Squireen  I aspire to clear work surfaces.  Couldn’t cope with the aromic smells

Bentonbag  I have similar aspirations but that's as far as they get.  I need the aromic smells to cover the ones from places we don't like to think about.

Meanwhile I'm leaving the Old Year with the Irish Prayer, although having got down on my knees I shall need a hand getting up again.

 

A happy, healthy and peaceful New Year to us all. 

Cards Plans Dolly

From Facebook Archives

30 December 2009 at 13:10

Have just got back from buying next year's Christmas cards half price in the charity shops on Shields Road, Byker

FifiD  Were they free???!!!!! Xx

30 December 2012 at 16:41

Overnight stay in Sheffield booked on-line.

Train tickets for Mummy's Trip To London For Bigbrother's 70th booked on-line.

Next to look into Scotland train trip @ half-term and Wales @ Easter. This time last year I had everything booked up until November, but I haven't had the hwyl this year.

Mr Paddington  My best man and best friend lives in Sheffield so if you need any local gen you know where to come.

Mr Mull  Do think about coming over to Mull!

Bentonbag  I've promised the boys we will.  The Family Railcard runs out this month so Thunderthighs has been ordered to pick up a 16-25 leaflet and when that's done we'll be off for the Freedom of Scotand Travel Pass (Fester has his >60s and Ferretfingers and I go on his Disabled Person's Card).  The question is can we realistically do Newcastle-Tobermoray by train in one day or should we stop overnight in Oban and get the first ferry over?

Mr Mull  The first question is what day & dates would you be travelling on?  After that I can let you know what the options are.  Different days have different travelling options.  If you message me that would be great.

30 December 2019 at 23:31

This maybe showing off (ok it is) but this is the dolly my great-niece found in her Xmas box.  

Dolly and yarn came from charity shops, 

Doc Martens' box covered with shiny paper, knitting by me (including knickers).

Reuse, recycle, regift.

Mrs Lasagne She’s lovely Ben, I bet she loved it xx.  They are the best sort of presents so much work and thought put into it xxxx❤️

Bentonbag It's what I enjoy doing so it's a win-win.  By the way, have you got Moana dolly's waist measurement?

Mrs Lasagne  You are so kind. I will measure her 😘

Bess Cavalier  Love the little teddy.

Bentonbag  Mum and Dad were RAF so I like to buy something off the RAFA stall.  There's a rubber duck looking for a good home.

Post Script

This yearBarnardo’s were selling their cards at £1 a pack (of 10) and 7metre gift wrap at £1 a roll.

We made it to Mull in the February of 2013 and had a magical picnic with Mr & Mrs Mull at Calgary Bay.  It was so warm we were able to go barefoot on the sand.

Party Wax Plan

From Facebook Archives

29 December 2023 at 09.36

Yesterday I had a delightful afternoon at the Springfield Community Association children's party.  The kids were all lovely, the parents grateful, there were plenty of helpers and all I had to do was turn up and do as I was told.

 

Today up at 07.25 to take Thunderthighs to his 08.10 ear irrigation appointment in Forest Hall.  

The health assistant was a little lady who loved her work. 

"Ooo lovely and full ... great job satisfaction … I see you've been oiling them ... the wax is shining back at me."

Two lovely big plugs came out and his ears are now clear.

Today's plan is:-

Shields Road charity shops for next year's cards (not that we need any but might see something useful)

Goose stew making

Pleasure Delayed

From Facebook Archives

28 December 2022 at 11.41

Postlady has just been.

Cards from people we thought had forgotten us; including one from Bigsister with the boys' gifts in.

Thunderthighs had just got back from banking his uncle and auntie's cheque so was delighted to see it was cash.

I made him phone her and my Middlesister was still there, so they both got to have a nice, happy stress-free chat with him.

There was also a package addressed to Fester.   

He hadn't been able to get a page-per-day Dr Who calendar in the shop so they organised for it to be sent by post, but the strike got in the way.   

So he'd bought Thunderthighs an ordinary Dr Who calendar (if such a thing exists).

I gave Thunderthighs the resealed package in the kitchen.

"Is this for me? Really!"

He was so pleased he dashed upstairs to the office and barged in with a delighted 

"What can I say!"

Almost better than if it had worked out as planned.

Mrs Walker  Lovely to see delight in simple things!

Finding My Tribe

From Facebook Archives

27 December 2022

Remembering my mother visiting the Squireen and me when we were flatmates.

"Who dusts?" she asked

"No one" I answered

"So I noticed"

then 

"You should have a rota for that sort of thing."

Oh how we laughed…

Tylebach  Hahaha

Mrs Walker  What's dusting?

Bentonbag  It's good when you find fellow members of your tribe.

Mrs Walker  I'm a fully paid up member!

The Goddaughter  Mam still doesn't dust and I apparently have a dust allergy (which may have just been my asthma in disguise)

 

See Also

https://bentonbag.blogspot.com/2023/05/coming-clean-on-housework.html 

https://bentonbag.blogspot.com/2021/05/cat-tales-25-dusting.html 

https://bentonbag.blogspot.com/2021/02/housework.html