The Beyoncé Belt

Although Ferretfingers can swim perfectly well he’s got into the habit of using a floatation device and would insist on using a pool noodle when swimming with his outreach worker.

When the first Lockdown relaxed enough for Ferretfingers to go swimming the pool authority required swimmers to bring their own floatation devices for hygienic purposes.

17 August 2020 at 11.27

Any ideas where I might buy a macaroni style float for Ferretfingers to take swimming?

Philsniece  A pool noodle?  We’ve got a spare you could have - think it came from B&M originally...

Bentonbag  Fester and Ferretfingers are off to Byker Retail Park so they're going to see if they can find one in JDSports or B&M or somewhere.  That should be fun for the assistants with Fester muttering "pool noodle" through his mask and Ferretfingers flitting off in all directions.  If they fail may I pop over this evening?

photo by George Bosnyak

Philsniece  You’re more than welcome - could also handover Cheap Sunglasses memorability!

Bentonbag   They certainly had memorability!

Pink Shipskitchen  There's a new B&M at Shiremoor, which is much bigger. Or maybe try ordering one online at Argos?

Mrs Quilt  Home Bargains in Killingworth is a very pleasant shop 8am - 8pm.  Shares the car park with Matalan.  No idea whether they sell them.  Perhaps you could ring first.

Paganess  Got mine in Asda

Fester and Ferretfingers' search was fruitless and I ended up taking him to a Start Fitness store where we found buoyancy belts.  They comprise a lot of linked floating lozenges with a clip fastening.   

We bought two and clipped them together to encircle his girth.   

The first time he was getting ready to go swimming with it he asked 

“Where’s my Beyoncé belt?”

It’s been the Beyoncé belt ever since.
 

More Snippets (of suburban life)

Some of these go way back

From Facebook Archives

17 August 2009 at 16:50

Back from London and clearing spam from email.

17 August 2009 at 21:40

I got a bag for the dragon in Woolwich Arsenal market - £1.50 - so no more black bin bag for him - result.

The Squireen  Reading that I thought you meant a bag for the dragon to carry not a bag to put the dragon in

Bentonbag  Both really as the dragon will undoubtedly end up carrying it

17 August 2010 at 11.52

Tesco's value large wholemeal 30p in Kingston Park

17 August 2011 at 15:09

Think these Summer holidays are going far too quickly

Mrs Jeremy  I definitely agree with you on that!  Can't believe it's half way through the 4th week!

Ernextdoor  Just been and bought the daughter's uniform before the rush and agree, can't believe where the time it going - but loving every minute of it.

17 August 2019 at 16:18 

On Monday Thunderthighs will be at the Twisting Ducks Theatre Company.

I can't get my head around the name and keep calling it Twisted Ducks.

Himself has just gone one better with 

"Oh you'll be going to Flightless Ducks on Monday then."

Snippets Of Surburban Life

From Facebook Archives

16 August 2010 at 14:12

Thunderthighs has dropped the microwave plate and it's in six pieces in the bin (18 years old so it owes me nowt). 

Anyone know where I can get a new one? 

I think I've seen them in charity shops. 

In the meantime we're using a dinner plate but that's probably not ideal.

The Squireen  I might have one somewhere I will have a look

Bentonbag  Many thanks - how was Broadstairs?

The Squireen  Good

Tylebach  ebay possibly?

Mrs Banjoman  Kwik Kook North Shields (Yellow Pages)  Happened to us while back.  Replace glass cost about £10 from this guy who had every kind of glass replace in the back of his car.

The Squireen  Sorry can’t find it

(I had a rummage in the crockery from Blodfa and found a pyrex plate of Mother’s that fit the bill perfectly)

16 August 2011 at 16:27

Have just picked 2lb of crab-apples from the tree in the back garden.

16 August 2013 at 13:03

Ferretfingers is back from his second National Citizen Scheme residential and what's the first thing he does?   

Checks the recycling bin to make sure his naughty Mummy hasn't got rid of any more of his humoungous collection of catalogues, phonebooks, brochures, timetables and other leaflets.

Miss Fiddle  Did he find any?!

Bentonbag Not this time

16 August 2013 at 23:38

Borrowed Ferretginfers’ laptop to look at Twitter (Fester was on this machine) when I said he could have it back he picked it up from my knee and said "Thanks Ma"

Ma!  

I've never thought of myself as a "Ma"

Darklady  It comes to us all even those of me who has been called by my given name since the year dot by my children.    

Does make one wince though! Smiles X

16 August 2020 at 22.15

I like to take a little night air in the garden before coming up to bed.  

Glad I took my torch tonight as I came across a hedgehog up by the pond.  

S/he's about a foot long and three or four inches wide, and stayed perfectly still.  

I politely said "Good Evening Hedgepig" and continued my stroll.   

There's plenty of windfalls, snails, slugs and scattered birdfood to keep it going.