Monday

So, I have acquired a freezer. This may not seem like a big deal to most people, but I've never had one before, only the little freezer box you get at the top of the fridge. My Dad spent last week in Kent helping my sister and her husband move into their new house, and the couple they bought it from left them a brand new fridge-freezer, so their old little one has been passed on to me. Before Deb had it, it belonged to my Nan's boyfriend Bert, so it isn't exactly new. It isn't that big, either, which is just as well, since my flat is full to bursting already. I now have to work out where to put it so it will be useful, accessible, but not in the way.

Practically everything I own is second- or third-hand. It's the reason none of my furniture matches.

Small made it back from her weekend away in one piece, all tired and muddy. She did lose her hearing aid, but enlisted everyone's help to search for it and managed to find it again - just as well, since the digital ones like she's got are really expensive! She also, apparently, almost got run over while running away from a donkey (don't ask), but apart from that managed not to have any disasters and also, more importantly, didn't throw any tantrums, either of the temper variety or of the distraught-misunterstanding variety that we get so often. We had a bit of an alarm when she left a message on the answerphone while we were in Sunday School, saying they were leaving early and were already on their way. Cue lots of concern over why they might be leaving early. But they didn't actually get back till 5.30, half an hour late. So it was probably just a Small misunderstanding about checking out of the hotel, and not realising there were still activities planned for the rest of the day. Between her hearing and her language disorder and her semantic-pragmatic thing (she absolutely does not get humour or sarcasm) she misunderstands a hell of a lot.

Still think Efa's dad must be either very brave or very insane (probably both) to take three over-excited 10-11 year old girls away for the weekend, but they all seem to have had a pretty good time, which is the important thing.

Monday

So, I have acquired a freezer. This may not seem like a big deal to most people, but I've never had one before, only the little freezer box you get at the top of the fridge. My Dad spent last week in Kent helping my sister and her husband move into their new house, and the couple they bought it from left them a brand new fridge-freezer, so their old little one has been passed on to me. Before Deb had it, it belonged to my Nan's boyfriend Bert, so it isn't exactly new. It isn't that big, either, which is just as well, since my flat is full to bursting already. I now have to work out where to put it so it will be useful, accessible, but not in the way.

Practically everything I own is second- or third-hand. It's the reason none of my furniture matches.

Small made it back from her weekend away in one piece, all tired and muddy. She did lose her hearing aid, but enlisted everyone's help to search for it and managed to find it again - just as well, since the digital ones like she's got are really expensive! She also, apparently, almost got run over while running away from a donkey (don't ask), but apart from that managed not to have any disasters and also, more importantly, didn't throw any tantrums, either of the temper variety or of the distraught-misunterstanding variety that we get so often. We had a bit of an alarm when she left a message on the answerphone while we were in Sunday School, saying they were leaving early and were already on their way. Cue lots of concern over why they might be leaving early. But they didn't actually get back till 5.30, half an hour late. So it was probably just a Small misunderstanding about checking out of the hotel, and not realising there were still activities planned for the rest of the day. Between her hearing and her language disorder and her semantic-pragmatic thing (she absolutely does not get humour or sarcasm) she misunderstands a hell of a lot.

Still think Efa's dad must be either very brave or very insane (probably both) to take three over-excited 10-11 year old girls away for the weekend, but they all seem to have had a pretty good time, which is the important thing.

more shiny newness

Finally went and had that sight test today. I thought I should, since new glasses were the reason I wanted cash for my birthday (even though I then blew most of that on the new monitor instead). I've had my current glasses for about four years now and they are really scratched, so it couldn't really be put off any longer. Time for a change.

Got in there and remembered why I hate going, though. I really hate having other peoples' faces right up in my face, and of course the optician has to do that in order to examine the eyes properly. And I hate having people staring at my face, which they have to do in order to help choose and then adjust new glasses.

Still. It's done now. I had a nice little trainee chap help me choose, since I was all awash in a sea of frames. Decided to have a complete change - I've always had really discreet, round little gold frames before. Since I had two-for-the-price-of-one I went with narrower, squarer frames this time, in dark green (almost black) and a deep burgundy. I think they look okay - the chap seemed to think so anyway - but it's hard to tell when you are squinting at yourself in the mirror without your actual lenses to enable you to see! I'll pick them up tomorrow and find out.

This is turning into a really expensive month, what with the new monitor and the new glasses and the winter electricity bill rolling in. Plus, if Mum and I are going to do the Hampton Court Flower Show this summer, which we'd quite like to, that'll have to be booked soon as well. Plus, we're getting into birthday season starting this month.

Money, money, money...

more shiny newness

Finally went and had that sight test today. I thought I should, since new glasses were the reason I wanted cash for my birthday (even though I then blew most of that on the new monitor instead). I've had my current glasses for about four years now and they are really scratched, so it couldn't really be put off any longer. Time for a change.

Got in there and remembered why I hate going, though. I really hate having other peoples' faces right up in my face, and of course the optician has to do that in order to examine the eyes properly. And I hate having people staring at my face, which they have to do in order to help choose and then adjust new glasses.

Still. It's done now. I had a nice little trainee chap help me choose, since I was all awash in a sea of frames. Decided to have a complete change - I've always had really discreet, round little gold frames before. Since I had two-for-the-price-of-one I went with narrower, squarer frames this time, in dark green (almost black) and a deep burgundy. I think they look okay - the chap seemed to think so anyway - but it's hard to tell when you are squinting at yourself in the mirror without your actual lenses to enable you to see! I'll pick them up tomorrow and find out.

This is turning into a really expensive month, what with the new monitor and the new glasses and the winter electricity bill rolling in. Plus, if Mum and I are going to do the Hampton Court Flower Show this summer, which we'd quite like to, that'll have to be booked soon as well. Plus, we're getting into birthday season starting this month.

Money, money, money...