Tea? (Part 2)

[longers]

We've got plenty of the Blue or Mountain hares round here if that is what they're properly called and I'm always amazed at them toughing it out in their little scrapes up there. Seen maybe fifteen or so on one hillside once, all in white.

 

[Amanda P]

We were walking on the wolds the other day. With the snow, hares were very visible. They seemed to be having a bit of a get-together: one field contained 24 hares.

 

[Speicher]

We haven't had any Speichers. But then these are designed specifically for Tytonidae tenants, not Strigidae. Strigidae are welcome, but there are other des reses designed with them in mind. They like less spacious surroundings. Tytonidae go for extensive views, light and air. Well, air anyway.

We have had bran wols in past years, but also jackdaws, stock doves and little owls. It's so hard to attract the right class of tenants...

Am I a Strigidae then? I like spacious surroundings, with lots of air.

Yesterday, while waiting at the pedestrian lights, two teenage lads cycled from the car park across a short bit of pedestrianised courtyard type of arrangement. So I took the opportunity to say to them, I could see why they used the pavement* for that short bit, but would they be very careful about pedestrians. Guess what the reply was?

* I could draw you a map, but that would take too long.

 

[Amanda P]

You look like a Strix, Speicher. But perhaps you are a Tyto by temperament.

 

[Speicher]

You look like a Strix, Speicher. But perhaps you are a Tyto by temperament.

I will bear that in mind.

Just consumed a lovely hot choc, Divine from Oxfam. It needs full fat milk tho', but is extremely scrumptious.

 

[wafflycat]

Tea. I am requiring of tea. To soothe and calm.

 

[tdr1nka]

*rushes in*

Tea for Waffles!

 

[Speicher]

Strong tea for me please, with a ginger biskit.

The place where I used to Volunteer has closed until further notice. The building was flooded and furniture and displays damaged. The heating was affected as well. The heating is a special sort, ground source heat pump possibly, and IMO sounds expensive to repair. One member of staff has resigned, one not returned from maternity leave, and one on long term sick leave. Of the remaining staff, one is temporarily working elsewhere. The one on sick leave I consider as a friend. I will phone her, but what can I say to her in these circumstances. I mention this on here because I think I will get sensible answers from Tea people.

The above scenario is bad enough if you are well and able to deal with it, if you are unwell, it is at least three times as difficult. I would like to offer her moral support but not sure how.

 

[Arch]

Strong tea for me please, with a ginger biskit.

The place where I used to Volunteer has closed until further notice. The building was flooded and furniture and displays damaged. The heating was affected as well. The heating is a special sort, ground source heat pump possibly, and IMO sounds expensive to repair. One member of staff has resigned, one not returned from maternity leave, and one on long term sick leave. Of the remaining staff, one is temporarily working elsewhere. The one on sick leave I consider as a friend. I will phone her, but what can I say to her in these circumstances. I mention this on here because I think I will get sensible answers from Tea people.

The above scenario is bad enough if you are well and able to deal with it, if you are unwell, it is at least three times as difficult. I would like to offer her moral support but not sure how.

You can say hundreds of things, and not one of them will help, as such, but just being there to say them will. If you see what I mean. Even if you just ring her up and cheer her up with mindless chitchat for an hour, you'll help.

The best phrase of course is "Is there anything I can do?". There probably isn't, but just in case. If she's on sick leave, is she housebound? if so, suggest you pop round for tea and cake (and bring the cake of course). If not, suggest going out for lunch. I suspect the best thing is to have your mind taken off your woes for a bit, in this sort of case.

24 hares in a field, Phil? That's almost a wig!

I'm just putting the kettle on again. It rained today, all day, getting steadily heavier and heavier as time went on. My waterproof trousers stopped being so (waterproof, not trousers) by lunchtime, and we all spent half the day wet to the skin. The boss cooked a corned beef hash for lunch, but we were still soggy when we went back out, and bits of our clothing were wringable by the end. So I came home, took everything off, slung it all in the hot shower and got in with it until I felt human again. Then I went to the chippie. No, I got dressed, THEN I went to the chippie, and I've just absorbed pie, chips and mushy peas and tea, and I'm ready for a second cup.

Tea?

 

[Arch]

Oh, and well done Waffles!

 

[HelenD123]

I didn't know what to say Speicher but Arch has some very good suggestions. Not knowing whether you have something to go back to after sick or maternity leave must be awful.

Arch - this endless bad weather is a real bummer. The forecast for tomorrow was looking better but now seems to just be grey cloud. I'm getting out on the bike whatever tomorrow.

 

[Arch]

I didn't know what to say Speicher but Arch has some very good suggestions. Not knowing whether you have something to go back to after sick or maternity leave must be awful.

Arch - this endless bad weather is a real bummer. The forecast for tomorrow was looking better but now seems to just be grey cloud. I'm getting out on the bike whatever tomorrow.

Just grey is good, compared to today....

There's a whole new dimension to rain on our job. The boxes fill up with it and then runs out of the drain hole when you pick them up, all over your foot (this is officially known as box-wee, and usually contains the dregs of many drinks, and several baked beans). The paper gets soggy, and weighs twice as much. The bottles and cans inevitably fill up too, and then tip down your sleeve when you reach up to put them in the boxes on top of the vehicle. And everytime you look up to do this, you get a wet face from the rain. The compound and centre grounds become a quagmire, and the dip in the access path becomes a lake.

Still, I actually like being outdoors all day, and we'll have a nice day to make up for it, eventually...

We can't complain really, it is January. Roll on spring eh?

 

[HelenD123]

Arch - that sounds bad! All you can do it console yourself with dreams of working out in the sun in the summer (it will be sunny - honest!)

 

[Speicher]

Yesterday, while waiting at the pedestrian lights, two teenage lads cycled from the car park across a short bit of pedestrianised courtyard type of arrangement. So I took the opportunity to say to them, I could see why they used the pavement* for that short bit, but would they be very careful about pedestrians. Guess what the reply was?

* I could draw you a map, but that would take too long.

Did anyone wonder what the reply was? it was ........... "yes"

On the subject of my friend on sick leave, I think I will ring her tomorrow afternoon. She is unlikely to be going out for the evening. She has various dietary restrictions, so does not eat cake or drink alcohol. She can eat Divine Dark Choc. I might see if she would like us to go for a walk sometime with her dog. Is she is not feeling energetic, and he wants to play chase the ball, I will have to learn how to play ball.

I can also offer to rejoin as a Volunteer when the Centre re-opens to assist putting the place back together. I am sure it is a matter of when, not if, but these things take time - drying out the building, fixing the heating, then putting the displays back etc along with three million other things that need doing. It is a Centre a bit like St Nicks in York, with, amongst other things, displays on recycling, manuals on how to construct straw bale buildings, bike-powered radios and orange-powered clocks.

Anyone got a use for three large boxes of wet Tyrrells crisps? and boxes of damp organic chocolate biskits.

 

[Arch]

Arch - that sounds bad! All you can do it console yourself with dreams of working out in the sun in the summer (it will be sunny - honest!)

Ah, it's just rain. We moan, but we have fun too. And it will be nice in the summer. Except it smells more... I just have to look at the proximity of 10 stone on the scales, to see the good it's doing me.

I've just been talking to my sister on the phone confirming dates for my post C-section helping visit. Apparently Oli (who has a rotten cold, and is very fed up with Mummy being unable to carry him due to back pain) was looking at one of his books, one of a series, and pointed at the picture of one of the other books in the series, and said "Auntie Sue come on train, buy it!"

Of course, I'll have to won't I! I'm so thrilled to think he thought about me, even if it's as a bringer of new stuff!

He's getting a coal mine for his train set, 'from' the new baby. In a grump today, because Mummy wouldn't carry him downstairs, he said "I don't want coal miner!" - meaning of course, I don't want this new baby disrupting my life. Sis said, "well, ok, we'll have to see, what would you like the new baby to buy you?"

<pause>

"Coal miner!"