Multipla Moment

When I got my big blue frog Fiat Multipla in 2009 OldestBestFriend’s partner Tudor Python sucked his teeth and said we’d have to spend some money to keep it on the road.

He was right, but that didn’t stop me from loving it and being sad when the MOT recommendations covered two pages and it had to go.

This was one of its more spectacular moments.

Of course as I pulled up the farm manager was standing there grinning with a “Is it supposed to make that noise?”

From Facebook archives

30 September 2010 at 15:19 

The Multipla is back at Richard Hardie.  Going over the bridge to Nafferton Farm the gearbox dropped.  So I've had a nice long trip in a recovery waggon and am back in a hirecar.   

A Fiat 500 is a great little nippy car for a single girl - no good for kids over 6ft and overweight entomologist.

2 October 2010 at 16:17

Got the Multipla back from Richard Hardie - an engine mounting had sheared - 

no charge and I got the courtesy car for free with them covering the insurance whilst I had it.

The service manager sincerely hopes not to see me again for at least 12 months.

Dulcima  I expect you don't want to see him at least a year, either.

Bureaucracy

Yesterday I had a morning of bureaucracy.

My new mobile phone’s text alert is a chime so loud and arresting Fester described it as “Like f*cking Tinkerbell landing.

Tinkerbell landed at a quarter past seven in the morning with a text from Hextol, the work experience people.

"Thunderthighs is starting some gardening at a new college today.  Could you please ask him to bring his most recent DBS certificate with him this morning?  Thanks."

I arose, bleary eyed, and passed on the message (like his father Thunderthighs only uses his mobile to phone out so it is never on).

"Where is it Mum?"

So Mum goes downstairs, digs the file out of the filing cabinet and, the age of miracles not being entirely over, actually finds it.  We put it in a polypocket for safety, and it was returned to the file when he got home.

When I got back from dropping Ferretfingers off at the Rising Sun I remembered a text I’d received from the GP about his flu jab.

The text was too long for my little phone, which doesn’t do the internet, so I had to go online to read it in full.

Phone the GP and their next flu jab day is 8 October when I'm away with the Coven. Receptionist assures me anyone can take him in, so make an appointment for 10am and Fester will have to do it (I've put a note on his computer screen).

Ask about Thunderthighs; he's not at the top of the list yet so the joy of taking him along will fall to me.  That's after the joy of taking him for dental treatment again.   

And possibly his Covid booster when that comes around.

As I'm here I decide to fill in the online form to have the Covid booster at LDNE on Friday (I qualify as a Volunteer Outreach Worker).

But before I can do that I feel morally obliged to do a test and Deo Gratias it's negative.

Whilst I was in the filing cabinet looking for Thunderthighs’ I couldn't find my own DBS.  I check old emails and discover the last one was sent May 2019;  so email LDNE who send me the link for the website to apply for a new one.

Which I've done.

And printed off bills from Virgin and Bulb for proof of address.

It wasn't the morning I planned when I went to bed the night before last.

I wonder what, if anything, will be achieved today.

 

DBS = Disclosure & Barring Service, the certificate proves you haven't been arrested for anything and are probably safe to be around children and other vulnerable people. 

 

The Joy of Sixty

“Old age comes not alone” as Granma used to say.

From Facebook archives

28 September 2016 at 12:19 ·

Today's post has brought: 

an alumni booklet and begging letter from Newcastle University; 

a birthday card from my cousin-once-removed; 

my senior railcard; 

and a forewarning of the bowel cancer test kit the NHS are about to send me.

 #joyofsixty

Sheamus Murphy  Join the bowel cancer testing club!

Mr E Twin  I don't remember getting the Alumni stuff from Newcastle when I turned sixty.  Oh, and Happy Birthday if it's not too late

Bentonbag  I suspect my turning sixty was just coincidental to them churning out another mail out.

Mrs Quilt  Please don't discuss the modus operandi of the "Test".  They were sharp including you in with it

Bentonbag  I shall leave it to people's imaginations!

Central Heating

This is all my trawl through the Facebook Archives came up with for today.

27 September 2010 at 11:21

Central heating on two evenings running, washing on the clothes horse.

Autumn is arrived.

That being said on Friday evening (after Bob the fitter had serviced the boiler) I gave in and put the central heating on.

It's on a timer (7-10pm)

I was away at Druridge Bay on Saturday night and forgot to turn it off before leaving.

Sitting on the bed with himself on Sunday afternoon I confessed that I'd left it on.

"I know!  It was warm."

"And you couldn't have turned it off?"

"No idea how to, and no intention of finding out."

"Oh dear … What are you going to do if anything ever happens to me?"

"Thunderthighs!"

The washing went out on the line yesterday, but now we’re past the Equinox I suspect it’s for the last time until the Spring.

Bus Pass Blues

Announcing the purchase of my first Senior Railcard led to an annoyed thread from (mostly) WASPI  (Women Affected by the State Pension-age Increase) friends.

My pensioner’s bus pass arrived on Thursday, it has yet to makes its maiden voyage.

From Facebook archives

26 September 2016 at 19:11 ·

I've just bought my first Senior Railcard at half price using Tesco vouchers.

Well there has to be some consolation for turning 60.

Mrs Elplates  I was quite upset to find I couldn't get a bus pass!  Used to be the whole point of turning 60.

Bentonbag  I know - we shall have to wait even longer than Fester who couldn't get it until he was 62 and a half (or some such!)

Mrs Westie  I am livid.  I have to wait until I am 64.I have worked since I was 15 !!

Kentishlady  We have to wait until 66 for the bus pass, I think.  That's if the government hasn't done away with it by then.  They were thinking of scrapping it last year.  I didn't know about the senior railcard.  Off to have a look.

Bentonbag  You need a driving licence, passport or I.D. card to get one online.  Fester got/renews his at Central Station.

Mrs Heath  Bus pass is linked to state pension age, shafted by the government again, lol xxx  You get more advantage points at Boots as well, I'm sure someone at work said you get 10 for every £1 spent xxx

Miss Fiddle  I'm in the minority of those who can't get a national rail card - you can get one if your under 25, over 60, in a family, in a couple or disabled.  The only one I am entitled to is the network card, for off-peak in the south-east.  It's worth getting even though I live in the NE as I visit family down there so often.

Mr Mull  In Scotland bus passes still start at 60...

Bentonbag  I've got a feeling they do in London too?

Mrs BW  My 60th in May I'll be looking out for all the benefits too

Sheamus Murphy  Got an SC ticket for the Waverley Paddle Steamer a couple of weeks ago - after googling to find out what SC stood for!

Shunting

“Being the youngest child of a Tyneside bred mother she often referred to me as “my little pet lamb”.  This went on well past childhood.  So much so that when I went to university and started writing letters home I would close with “lots of love from your little pet lamb Ben.”  This was soon abbreviated to “your LPL”, and was written on all Mother’s Day and birthday cards from me to her.  I believe I even put it on the label of the family wreath for her funeral.”

On the phone to Bigsister the other day I commented that sheep seem to have become a recurring motif in my life.

She agreed.

Yesterday it was my birthday, I am now officially a pensioner with a bus pass.

Bigsister’s birthday card to me, which included a picture of a lamb, read 

“I can’t believe Mum’s LPL is a pensioner”

The envelope included something small and soft in gift wrapping paper.

Sheep bunting.

Or as Thunderthighs said when I hung it up

“Shunting”

There may be no Tale of Chateau Midden tomorrow.

Tonight I shall be camping in my car at Druridge Bay Country Park to get up before dawn, watch the day coming and take part in the North East Skinny Dip.

If you wish to reward this madness donations to Tyneside Mind can be made on this Just Giving page.