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Post by kerouac2 on Dec 16, 2018 13:54:19 GMT
Just imagine how horribly (more) omnipresent I would have been here if I had not been dealing with my mother all those years. Of course this place allowed me to blow off some steam, and I hope that Cheery can do the same from time to time if she feels the need.
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Post by whatagain on Dec 16, 2018 14:22:49 GMT
Yes, anything tat helps you is good to take. And when you've got good news we all like it !!!!
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Post by questa on Dec 16, 2018 22:04:25 GMT
What amazes me is how far current cancer treatments have come since I left hospital work. The tests for the various cancers led to early detection which gave the specialists a head start. Then the oncologists were able to refine treatments to match the individual patient's needs...some surgery here, chemo there, radiologists able to pinpoint the tumours small as a grain of rice. Machines like CT and MRI to keep watch for any rogue cells. Remission rates run into many years with the people often living more healthy lives and valuing life more.
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Feb 18, 2020 20:31:14 GMT
I visited a garden centre today with my sister, we both have a loyalty card with the chain where we get a discount on plants that we buy there, and we get 2 'free' cups of tea or coffee every month. (We pay £11 per year for the privilege)
Anyway
Sue and I were in the restaurant with this month's free coffee when I heard a "LIZZIE" screamed from across the restaurant. It was my old chum Gina, I worked with her for many years until she retired just before I did. Altho we 'speak' online most days I haven't seen her for over 3 years!
A ran across and we screamed and hugged jumping up and down (as you do) for quite a long time. My sister got her phone out (embarrassed) Gina's daughter stood laughing and the whole restaurant queue, the staff and customers just gawped grinning.
Gina and I are meeting for coffee with another completely bonkers ex colleague. Great stuff.
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Post by kerouac2 on Feb 18, 2020 20:37:09 GMT
But will it be FREE coffee?
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Post by bixaorellana on Feb 19, 2020 1:08:42 GMT
That really is something to be happy about, Cheery! And what a thrill to have her drop out of the skies, so to speak.
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Feb 19, 2020 9:06:26 GMT
It's very good coffee Kerouac, and as I get a 10%, sometimes 20% discount when i buy plants it soon covers the cost of membership. Yesterday I bought a colocasia bulb and a huge ginger lily corm
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Post by bjd on Feb 19, 2020 10:24:28 GMT
I always end up googling plants after you mention them, Cheery. Do you have room for such big-leaved plants like colocasia?
And happy for you that you found your friend too.
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Post by monetsmum on Feb 23, 2020 6:48:52 GMT
My sis and I have those loyalty cards too Cheery and use them quite often. We always spend too much when they have the 20% weekends. I got a great bargain last month. I'd had my eye on a little slate water feature since last summer but it was almost £200. I was telling my daughter-in-law about it (she's found the gardening 'bug') and said I'd save up and get it when they have a 'special' weekend. She said, 'Oh, we'll buy that for you for Christmas if you use your discount card'. Christmas arrived along with a nice bundle of cash. Sis and I fancied a run out so off we went to our favourite garden centre. Said water feature was on sale at half price. It wasn't a special weekend but I reckoned it was worth having anyway. Got my 10% discount and paid £90. Shamefully didn't tell son and d-in-l, but spent the leftover cash on plants and bulbs. Very happy, but naughty, bunny here.
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Post by kerouac2 on May 1, 2020 15:36:23 GMT
Today the calendar changed from April to May, and that is good. May will be better than April.
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Post by whatagain on May 1, 2020 18:37:05 GMT
In 3 dans we celebrate star wars. May thé fourth be with you.
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Post by htmb on May 1, 2020 20:39:31 GMT
As of today, with the exception of the balcony railings, my exterior home repairs have been completed and my bill settled. The original contract was signed last July, but the water encroachment had been ongoing for years. The contracted work should have been completed in December 2019, but due to various aggravations, the process was drawn out for what seemed like forever! As it turned out, after scrutinizing the contract, I was able to have them adjust the final cost down a good bit, too.
Now, to get them to complete the interior punch list. A totally separate contract. That’s my goal for next week.
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Post by bixaorellana on May 1, 2020 20:49:45 GMT
Well congratulations, Htmb, but good grief -- didn't that all start at least three years ago?!
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Post by htmb on May 2, 2020 2:45:38 GMT
More like ten. Seems like an eternity.
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Post by htmb on May 7, 2020 19:55:01 GMT
And so, today the company doing my home repairs finished the interior work and my roof leak problems have been resolved (for now?) with the exception of installation of new balcony railings. In order for the job foreman to complete the master bedroom work, he climbed up a ladder and came in through the second floor balcony doors. Meanwhile, I had dragged my mattress out into the hallway where I’m sleeping for a couple of nights while all potential "virus germs" die off in the bedroom where he was working. Since the foreman’s wife is a hospital nurse, there’s a minor chance he’s been exposed to covid-19. We’re not taking any unnecessary chances and will give the room a good airing and a wipe down before I move back in.
I celebrated by cleaning out my garage and organizing donations into various piles depending on where they will be going. There’s the "give away, decent clothes" pile, the "beg someone to take" pile, and the "electronics/batteries, recycle and dispose of carefully" pile that includes a very old television set.
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Post by kerouac2 on May 7, 2020 20:10:25 GMT
It has become embarrassing to have an old TV set with a picture tube. I still have one because it is a combi TV-VCR and I am still looking for two cassettes that I would like to copy. More than 95% of my cassettes have been dumped, but there are still 10 or 20 mystery cassettes lying around without labels.
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Post by htmb on May 7, 2020 20:21:30 GMT
Yes.....mine was hooked up to a DVD player and used by the girls for watching movies. Since they’ve moved to California it was pointless to keep and just took up space. But, even my flatscreen is getting old. I’ve had it for thirteen years.
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Post by questa on Jun 22, 2020 12:58:33 GMT
Some good news for today...Have you seen the stats for our members and guests for yesterday...! 15 of all the usual suspects and 408 guests. Sit up straight, Mind your spelling and grammar, Mick...stop doing that, please. Settle down girls.
*Throws open the door*. Hello welcome to you all (err...haven't got any Aussies I suppose?)
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Post by mickthecactus on Jun 29, 2020 12:01:05 GMT
Eldest son offered a place at the University of East London to study for a BA in Creative Writing.
This is particularly good because he has had his problems and was unable to take his A levels so had to submit a short story instead. He is 21.
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Post by kerouac2 on Jun 29, 2020 12:42:24 GMT
Great news, mick! We're with him all the way.
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Post by mickthecactus on Jun 29, 2020 13:32:52 GMT
And it’s grandson not son btw.
Thanks K2!
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Post by monetsmum on Jun 29, 2020 13:44:52 GMT
That's great news Mick! Can't believe he's 21 already. My grandson missed out on his GCSEs this year.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jun 29, 2020 16:32:37 GMT
was unable to take his A levels so had to submit a short story instead. That seems so much harder than taking tests! Very impressive and wonderful news, Mick. You must be so proud and happy.
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Post by kerouac2 on Jun 29, 2020 17:19:54 GMT
I think A levels are quite a bit like the baccalaureat in France. I think American high school students don't have a clue as to how easy they have it. However, I think the American SAT test (assuming it still exists) for qualifying for various universities might be the closest thing, but it is appallingly simple.
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Post by htmb on Jun 29, 2020 17:40:22 GMT
Congratulations, Mick!
Kerouac, While certainly not every student in the US sits for A Levels, don’t assume that type of testing isn’t done here. However, this year, there were no A or AS Levels given in the US during the Spring testing period, and many other evaluation measurements (SAT, ACT) were cancelled, as well. Universities are not only having to find various ways to teach current students, they’re also employing creative solutions for student admissions. This year, A and AS Levels in the US and for Cambridge International Examinations worldwide (though I’m not sure about the UK because testing is handled separately), scores for A and AS Level subjects are being determined with direct input from the subject instructors.
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Post by kerouac2 on Jun 29, 2020 18:01:27 GMT
I would love to know the percentage of American students who take these tests.
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Post by htmb on Jun 29, 2020 20:37:09 GMT
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Post by mickthecactus on Jun 30, 2020 8:46:56 GMT
He was also very fortunate to have an excellent mentor assigned when he went onto social security. She recognised his talent, arranged courses for him and spoke to the Universities to explain the situation. Good to have people like that.
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Sept 22, 2020 17:43:55 GMT
I wasn't looking forward to today. It's our wedding anniversary (43 years!) and my birthday. Usually on this day we are either on holiday or having a meal out often meeting family, but we have decided not to risk going anywhere because there are idiots ambling about not wearing masks, not social distancing etc etc...nothing is regulated and people are pretty much doing as they like. Not here....in my area we are all behaving responsibly. Anyway...my beloved got me PRESENTS...gosh...and things that I actually wanted. I'd been after one of these for a while because I can't reach the tops of the cupboards and I'm always having to ask Jeff or Russell to get stuff down for me. Independence at last! I collect the artist Govinder Nazran bits and bobs, can't affordhis original pieces but I have some limited edition things. Jeff found something that I didn't have...things are becoming increasingly hard to find! it isn't limited edition but still rare (and lovely) 3 elephants....standing next to of our wedding photographs until I can decide where to put them/it.
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Post by kerouac2 on Sept 22, 2020 17:46:52 GMT
What a wonderful romantic gift! But shouldn't you be cleaning the ceiling instead of posting here?
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