Wasp what wasp?

Facebook’s timehop has just thrown up this post from two years ago.

I'm on the 'phone to Mrs Quilt and Thunderthighs comes avalaunching downstairs and into the kitchen. There is a kerfuffle, sound of Fester mounting the stairs and Thunderthighs comes into the living room with a "Where's the tea towel?".  I inform him there's a drawful in the kitchen as he well knows.  He exits and shortly thereafter heads upstairs. 

Mrs Quilt wonders what the spillage might be, I comment that whatever it is there is also an airing cupboard full of towels on the first floor.

When I get off the 'phone and it's all gone quiet I wander into the kitchen and enquire of Fester  what was going on that he wanted a teatowel.

"It was to catch a wasp. Well it wasn't a wasp. Thunderthighs said it was a wasp but it was a housefly."

As I was writing that I heard himself stumble and curse the cat for getting under his feet in the bedroom.

Only it wasn't the cat.

It was one of my slippers - which do not have the power of independent movement.

Is it any wonder I've gone grey?

Autism hours

Newcastle Trampoling Park, like many other places, has announced it will have two "Autism hours" a week "where we will turm the music down."

I'm beginning to wonder about "autism hours". If my child, or indeed I, were in a wheelchair and organisations said "We will be putting ramps in for an hour a week so you can use our facilities then, but the rest of the time you'll just have to put up with trying to get up steps and stairs because everybody else is ok with them"; then there would quite rightly be an outcry.

Trampolining is fun. 
Why does there need to be music as well? 
It makes life difficult for those who are hard of hearing. 
It also makes conversation and communication difficult for everyone else as they have to raise their voices to be heard. 
Why not turn it off entirely? 
Why have it on at all? 
Did someone ask for it? 
Is there any market research which suggests nobody would use the facility if there were no music? If there is any I bet it's from the PRS which makes money from music licensing; which organisations must pay if they wish to play recorded music in a public space. 

Unlike cinemas or theatres, where music is integral to the experience, there is no necessity for music in sports centres, shops and restaurants. The organisation Pipedown has research that it is not only annoying, it can also be detrimental to health and safety.
 
"Autism hours" may be well intentioned but, to me, they are beginning to look like band waggon jumping or tokenism and, far from being inclusive, are patronising.  Why shouldn't a family with autism be able to go trampolining or shopping any time they like - just like everyone else.

Busted flush update/you can’t get the staff

Will Fixit is back from his holidays and called in yesterday to take a look at our busted flush. 

It is repairable and he will return soon with the appropriate part and tools.

He came to us after visiting my friend Mrs Quilt to discuss installing a new bathroom.

“Mrs Quilt sent you this” he said handing over a bottle of Relaxing Bath Foam.

Fester discovered it on the kitchen table this morning.

“I get the impression she thinks you need it after all the housework and laundry” he said “mind you two or three servants would help more.”

“If the boys pulled even half their weight it would help” I commented.

“Blimey if those two pulled half their weight you and I would be sat round on our arses all day.”