January 2022 - Neues Jahr

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January 2022 - Neues Jahr

1Maddz
Jan 1, 2022, 3:42 am

A great start to the new year: "There's a large mouse scampering around on the lawn..." No, it wasn't a large mouse - it was Rattus norvegicus. Just as well as I insisted on getting rodent-proof floors for the new sheds.

Given where it was foraging, I've said no seed or grain in the hedgehog bowl or the lawn from now on - just stick to the hedgehog kibble (if that). We may end up calling out pest control if it hangs around. Hopefully, it's coming from the sewer on the main road - or possibly the patch of woodland on the school grounds.

2Maddz
Jan 1, 2022, 4:45 am

It got worse - our hedgehog is dead.

3haydninvienna
Jan 1, 2022, 4:57 am

Somebody else put out some rat bait?

Hope the new year gets better from here on.

4Maddz
Jan 1, 2022, 5:14 am

>3 haydninvienna: Possibly - I did wonder if the school had spotted the rat... I was planning to go round next week and report it to the caretaker. I might still do that and ask if they've put bait out and report the death of the hedgehog.

Paul did say the magpies were very interested in the jasmine clump yesterday, although he didn't take a look.

I expect we'll leave the water bowl out as the birds use it, but I think we'll hold off on leaving any food out (except in the bird feeder) until the autumn (unless we spot a new welcome visitor).

5Maddz
Jan 1, 2022, 6:51 am

Paul's just been round to the school - apparently they have a pest controller and they will let them know about the rat and the corpse. I've seen the hedgehog slipping under the fence, so I fear it got the rat bait...

At least that means we won't get charged to call the controller out from the district council.

6gilroy
Jan 1, 2022, 6:54 am

>1 Maddz: Was it a ROUS?

7Maddz
Jan 1, 2022, 7:41 am

8gilroy
Jan 1, 2022, 8:04 am

>7 Maddz: Princess Bride Reference.
Rodent of Unusual Size?

9Maddz
Jan 1, 2022, 8:19 am

>8 gilroy: Ah. I don't recall that from either the film or the book.

ROUS if it was a mouse, but perfectly normal for a brown rat (but probably ROUS for a Giant Sumatran Rat).

Either way, NOT something I want to encourage in the garden, thank you very much!

(The field mice I'll tolerate because they're unobtrusive - I'll occasionally spot them taking a drink from the plant trays in the summer - they'd dash out from under the old shed. Rats on the other hand, urgh. Which reminds me, I must put some screw eyes on the new fence posts to string some wires for the tomato plants.)

10Karlstar
Jan 1, 2022, 9:14 am

Happy New Year! Sorry to hear about the ROUS.

11clamairy
Jan 1, 2022, 9:17 am

>2 Maddz: Oh, I'm so sorry... That poison should be the absolute last resort. There are too many other casualties from it.

12Darth-Heather
Jan 1, 2022, 11:00 am

>9 Maddz: Ugh, rats... we do get mice, and I don't tolerate them anymore because one of my indoor cats got tapeworms from a mouse that got in the house. I have to use traps, out of fear that a cat could encounter a poisoned mouse and get sick.

oh the poor hedgehog :(

13clamairy
Jan 1, 2022, 11:41 am

>12 Darth-Heather: I use traps as well. The snap kind, never the sticky. Those are an awful invention. With the poison not only are your indoor cats in danger, but plenty of outdoor wildlife as well. If the poisoned mouse ventures outside for water birds of prey or other critters can eat it and die as well.

14MrsLee
Jan 2, 2022, 4:12 pm

>2 Maddz: I am so sorry to hear about the loss of the hedgehog! Hope there will be a safe and sane ending to the rat though.

15clamairy
Jan 5, 2022, 10:38 pm

Omicron is starting to get my family members. My brother and his wife caught it from the future son-in-law. Luckily they were both vaccinated and boosted, so they had two days of aches and terrible fatigue, but then bounced back pretty quickly. Now both of my kids have it. :o( One lives in Manhattan, and the other is still in Connecticut. They are also both vaccinated and boosted, so I'm hopeful that they will get over it quickly. I wish they lived closer so I could deliver soup or something... :o(

16Silversi
Jan 5, 2022, 10:48 pm

>15 clamairy: oh no. I wish them all a quick and full recovery. Thankfully this omnicron seems milder. My daughter and her guy had it a couple of months ago. She never got sick, he was sick for about 2 days. Both are fine now as well.

17catzteach
Jan 5, 2022, 11:15 pm

>15 clamairy: oh, man! I hope they all have super mild symptoms.

We had a third grader test positive today. He was at school yesterday when he complained of a sore throat. We are masked, but I still wonder if it’s going to spread now.

18pgmcc
Jan 6, 2022, 9:10 am

>15 clamairy: I wish them a speedy recovery.

19haydninvienna
Jan 6, 2022, 10:00 am

>15 clamairy: Best wishes to all of them.

>17 catzteach: Best of luck for you and the school.

Mrs H and I were at the stables where she keeps the horses the other day and noticed that a few of the regulars weren't there. Nat (who runs the place) said they had Covid. Oh dear. No symptoms for us so far through. Being a stables there's plenty of ventilation so maybe the droplets didn't hang around.

20NorthernStar
Jan 6, 2022, 12:39 pm

Official temperature is -41°C for the second day in a row. That's at the airport, which is always a little colder than town. My thermometer hasn't read lower than -37. It has been really cold for several weeks, though, and I'm tired of it. One day last week got up to -16, which is the best day we've had for about 3 weeks.

OK, whine over.

Next Monday the forecast is for -13, and it will feel like spring!

21tardis
Jan 6, 2022, 12:48 pm

>20 NorthernStar: It's only -26C here. We've only been getting into the -30s at night. Next week could get as high as -1.

I don't mind the cold much, but yesterday my son's truck wouldn't start and he ended up having to take my car to work, and being quite late. My husband got the truck started and moved into the garage for the day, and then he parked out front so the truck could be easily plugged in out back. Started okay this morning. Might need a new battery.

Excuse me - the cat is being super annoying again. I need to throw him in a snowbank.

22pgmcc
Jan 6, 2022, 12:56 pm

>20 NorthernStar: & >21 tardis:

The coldest we have experienced here is -19C and that was only once in my experience. A bad winter might see temperatures drop to -10C. Normally we get -4 to -8 during cold spells.

I have only experienced the likes of -40C in a warehouse for frozen food product, and I was only in there for a matter of minutes at a time.

Keep well and keep warm.

23haydninvienna
Jan 6, 2022, 1:18 pm

And to think I was talking about cold this morning just because there was some frost around …

24tardis
Jan 6, 2022, 1:24 pm

>22 pgmcc: Extreme cold is hardest on the houseless. My brother found a man curled up in the snow the other day. He thought the guy was dead at first, but got him up and into his truck and warmed him up a bit, then took him to a shelter. He had to get back to work so he didn't find out what happened to the guy after that.

For those of us with cozy homes and proper clothing it's just a thing. I find extreme heat harder to deal with.

25NorthernStar
Jan 6, 2022, 8:43 pm

>24 tardis: very true. I'm certainly thankful for my cosy house. My truck battery has been doing OK, as long as the truck is plugged in, which is nice, because I thought I'd have to replace it two winters ago. And facemasks are great for preventing frostbite! I've been wearing one of the disposable ones skiing this week. Not that I've been going as far as usual. Tomorrow is supposed to be warmer, though.

26clamairy
Jan 7, 2022, 7:48 pm

I think several of us were talking about keeping string lights up and on inside the house for the Winter in MrsLee's thread, but I didn't want to place my pics in her space. So here's what my mantle looks like. I will keep it like this until April, I think.

27pgmcc
Jan 7, 2022, 7:50 pm

>26 clamairy:
Very nice.

28-pilgrim-
Jan 7, 2022, 8:21 pm

>26 clamairy: Very serene.

29catzteach
Jan 7, 2022, 8:50 pm

>21 tardis: so did the cat enjoy the snowbank? ;)

>26 clamairy: I have string lights up in my classroom. I love the cozy feeling they bring.

Ah, the weekend. :)

30tardis
Jan 7, 2022, 9:28 pm

>29 catzteach: Not really :) Haven't had to throw him in another one yet, though, but it's probably not because of that.

31MrsLee
Jan 8, 2022, 11:22 am

>26 clamairy: Sparkly goodness! Looks very comforting. I am a little disappointed in the new colored lights we bought for my crystal cabinet. They are the new LED, and the color is a lot of blue coldness to my eyes. I like the warmer tones.

32clamairy
Jan 8, 2022, 11:50 am

>31 MrsLee: Yeah, I have only seen a couple of colored LED lights that weren't a bit harsh. I bought this string on Amazon, listed as warm white. And they do have a nice yellowish color. A lot of the other ones I've bought over these last few years look good from a distance, but then appear almost gray up-close. I use those outside!

33Sakerfalcon
Jan 10, 2022, 5:29 am

>26 clamairy: That looks lovely!

34-pilgrim-
Jan 10, 2022, 5:46 am

I gave my first piece of good news for a long time in my own thread: a visit from my bishop. (He was just a priest when he first promised to come: that is how long Covid had dragged on!)

But with every good news there follows some bad. I learnt yesterday that he has Covid.

35catzteach
Jan 10, 2022, 9:36 pm

Just went down the rabbit hole that is our Bad Jokes thread. Oh my gosh! Did I need those laughs!

>34 -pilgrim-: I hope your bishop has mild symptoms.

We had a staff meeting about the possibility of going virtual. The district will do everything they can to not let it happen. Even on a school by school basis. We have six staff out. Three of them I know have Covid. Not sure about the others. We had 60 kids (out of 450ish) out today. All of our upper admin, except the superintendent, were subbing in schools today.

36clamairy
Jan 11, 2022, 10:07 am

>35 catzteach: Oh my... Best of luck with all of that. It will be short term though, won't it?

>34 -pilgrim-: I hope he wasn't infected when he was visiting you!

37-pilgrim-
Jan 11, 2022, 10:21 am

>36 clamairy: I am coughing more now, but:

His Grace was very careful to take lateral flow tests for three days consecutively before coming - although I do remember the discussion between you and WholeHouseLibrary - about their reliability! - and the incubation would be wrong, I think.

I think that is the cancer rather than Covid.

38MrsLee
Modifié : Jan 13, 2022, 1:46 pm

As most of you know, each year my husband and I make a list of words that begin with a certain letter of the alphabet and Focus on choosing just a Few of them to Finalize. Then we try to Fit them into our plans that year, hopefully and Frequently, doing Fresh things together.

This is the year of "F" for Mark and I. Alright, I'm sure a few of you think the last two years were years of "F," but aside from that, here we are. Since it is the year of "F" we don't intend to get serious about it until February, but we've already been Fighting (Feuding? Fraught?) about Family History, so we have actually begun. Also I am Finished with my last job and looking Forward to the next.

The words we have chosen thus Far:
Family Records
Fenestration
Frugal
February
Fencing (as in fixing, not swordplay, but who knows?)

Those are all pretty practical, so we will have to be sure to choose some Festive, Fun, Frippery words as well.

Because we are being Frugal, we may have to do a bit of Fasting to Fit in our clothes instead of buying Fashionable new ones.

39Taphophile13
Jan 13, 2022, 1:54 pm

>38 MrsLee: Sounds Fabulous. Have you considered Flugelhorn,
Flibbertigibbet, Farthingale and Flivver?

40tardis
Jan 13, 2022, 1:56 pm

>38 MrsLee: Some of those do sound like chores, but the satisfaction of getting a job done is a good Feeling :)

We're enjoying (NOT!!) freezing rain today and our lovely thick blanket of snow is shrinking from that and above 0C temperatures. I think it's supposed to get colder again next week, but there will be a nasty crust on everything and the sidewalks will be hazardous. I hate freezing rain.

41NorthernStar
Jan 13, 2022, 2:00 pm

>40 tardis: I hope the roads will be better before Monday!

42MrsLee
Jan 13, 2022, 2:09 pm

>39 Taphophile13: Oh my gosh! Four of my Favorite words! How did I Forget them?

Although I can tell you right off that a Farthingale is NOT in the picture, unless my husband wants to wear one.

43Taphophile13
Jan 13, 2022, 2:33 pm

>42 MrsLee: How about a Fibonacci Filigree Factory? Just let your Freak Flag Fly!

44tardis
Jan 13, 2022, 2:44 pm

>41 NorthernStar: Me too! Although I don't think the rain extends too far north. I know friends are getting it in Alberta Beach but it doesn't seem to go much beyond that. In any case, it should stop tomorrow.

45gilroy
Jan 13, 2022, 3:13 pm

>38 MrsLee: Actually, I thought 2020 might have been the year of "H" (for home) and 2021 might have been "P" (for reasons) but that's just me.

F... Frankfurter Festivals? Fanciful ... okay, I can't figure out a fun way to end that one...

46ScoLgo
Jan 13, 2022, 3:31 pm

>38 MrsLee:

- Figure Skating
- Finger Painting
- Fishing
- Flag Crafting
- Flowers
- Foot Massage
- Framing Pictures (or maybe a deck if you are feeling particularly energetic!)
- Frappe making

47Taphophile13
Jan 13, 2022, 3:39 pm

>38 MrsLee:
Foster a Flerken.

48NorthernStar
Jan 13, 2022, 4:13 pm

>38 MrsLee: you could go Floating - in a balloon or on a river - or both!

49Marissa_Doyle
Jan 13, 2022, 4:29 pm

Forestry? Fennel? Frankenstein? Flannel? Farces?

50catzteach
Jan 13, 2022, 4:32 pm

Oh, how about fostering kittens or puppies?

Then there’s always fungi feasting.

51Taphophile13
Jan 13, 2022, 5:51 pm

>42 MrsLee: Maybe you could interest your husband in a Fleece Furbelow.

52tardis
Jan 24, 2022, 10:13 am

NorthernStar and I are still in Nova Scotia, helping out with Dad's care. We were originally supposed to fly home today, but extended until Wednesday because the trip here was such a mess and we arrived a day later than we should have. Now we're looking at staying an additional week. Dad continues to decline, but no way of knowing how much time he has, and our stepmother needs the help, company, and respite.

53clamairy
Jan 24, 2022, 10:39 am

>52 tardis: I'm sorry about his declining health, but I'm glad you're both able to stay and help with his care. I'm sure your stepmom is very appreciative.

54Sakerfalcon
Jan 24, 2022, 10:53 am

>52 tardis: Thinking of you both and your family. I'm glad you can be there for each other at this difficult time.

55pgmcc
Jan 24, 2022, 11:01 am

>52 tardis:
I am thinking of you both at this difficult time.

56MrsLee
Modifié : Jan 25, 2022, 3:23 pm

>52 tardis: Hard times, but glad you are there.

I have been gardening, cooking and working through the family ephemera. A foretaste of retirement. It will be hard to return to the workforce in February.

57gilroy
Jan 24, 2022, 12:13 pm

>52 tardis: Many positive thoughts to you and your family.

58gilroy
Jan 24, 2022, 12:16 pm

So I'm wading through some rocky moments these days. The following list happened just in one day:
- My Mom having problems recovering from COVID
- My Dad recovering from COVID (and hadn't told his kids he had it until he'd gotten to recovery)
- Contract #4 on the house we're trying to sell (Yes, 4. Three fell through. Lots of story behind that.)
- We found they missed putting something back on the furnace at the old house when we went to check on repairs. Walked into the house and were overwhelmed by the smell of in essence diesel fumes. (Fortunately, got it mostly fixed that day)
- One of our smoke detectors in the new house, which was brand new in October, had a dead battery already. And that happened while we were away on vacation, so the cats were freaked out for the cat sitter. Then the battery I put in to replace it turned out to be old and low on juice... But I did get this one fixed.

59clamairy
Jan 24, 2022, 2:14 pm

>58 gilroy: Oh yikes on all of these things, but especially the Long Covid. Hope she makes a full recovery.

60catzteach
Jan 24, 2022, 9:33 pm

>52 tardis: sorry you guys are going through this. Glad you are able to be there together to help each other, and your stepmom. Sending you strength juju. 58 yikes! That’s quite a day!

My mom is doing ok since her surgeries. She still gets tired really easily. She told me yesterday she feels like she’s “winding down.” I’m hoping my car is fixed soon so I can go visit her on President’s Day weekend.

Work is crazy right now. At my school alone we have at least 7 staff members out. Many of them without subs. I’m not sure if they are Covid related. I know one isn’t. Poor thing has shingles. The others have been out a while so I’m guessing they are being quarantined. I had 5 students out last week for quarantine. I should have all but one back tomorrow.

61tardis
Jan 26, 2022, 9:39 pm

Dad died this evening. NorthernStar and I and our brother were there with him. We're quite sad, of course, but also relieved. His quality of life at the end was not good.

62catzteach
Jan 26, 2022, 10:17 pm

>61 tardis: I’m so sorry for your loss. I’m glad you, northernstar, and your brother were able to be there with him. Hugs

63clamairy
Jan 26, 2022, 10:21 pm

>61 tardis: Big hugs to all of you. I'm sorry his end was so rough, but I suspect all of you being there helped ease his passing. I will be holding you in my thoughts.

64pgmcc
Jan 26, 2022, 10:26 pm

>61 tardis:
My condolences to you and NorthernStar.

65NorthernStar
Jan 26, 2022, 10:36 pm

Thanks for all the condolences and good wishes. I'm very glad I was there, and tardis and our brother, even though it was hard to see Dad getting weaker by the day. Even today we had a good conversation with him after our brother arrived.

66Marissa_Doyle
Jan 27, 2022, 12:13 am

>61 tardis: I'm so sorry--but I'm glad you were all there to say good-bye.

67Sakerfalcon
Jan 27, 2022, 5:46 am

>61 tardis: I'm sorry to hear your news, but glad that you could all be with him, and that you feel his passing was an end to his suffering. I hope you and your family can support each other in the days ahead.

68gilroy
Jan 27, 2022, 5:53 am

>61 tardis: >65 NorthernStar: May you, your family, and your father find peace in this trying time.

69Athabasca
Jan 27, 2022, 6:02 am

>61 tardis: So sorry to hear about your father. May you and your family find peace in such a difficult time.

70AHS-Wolfy
Jan 27, 2022, 6:51 am

>61 tardis: & >65 NorthernStar: My condolences to both of you and your family.

71-pilgrim-
Modifié : Jan 27, 2022, 6:53 am

>61 tardis: I am sorry for your loss, but so glad that your father had the comfort of having his family around him as he passed. That is a rare blessing in these times. You must be so relieved that you decided not to take the return journey that you mentioned in >52 tardis:.

May you find peace and comfort from one another in your loss.

72Bookmarque
Jan 27, 2022, 7:41 am

Oh so sad even if expected and prepared for, insofar as a person can. Wishing you and your family strength and good memories to share.

73Taphophile13
Jan 27, 2022, 12:15 pm

>61 tardis: It's never easy to lose a parent. So glad that you, NorthernStar and your brother were all there for him and for each other. Gentle hugs to all of you.

74hfglen
Jan 27, 2022, 2:33 pm

>61 tardis: Thinking of you ...

75MrsLee
Jan 28, 2022, 9:59 am

>61 tardis: You are all in my thoughts as you deal with this loss.

76Maddz
Jan 30, 2022, 2:40 pm

Took Margaret to her hospital appointment at the osteoporosis clinic today. Not good news - her bones are very thin so they're trying a new treatment on her. She will have to self-inject every day for 2 years... She has to book a blood test at her GP ASAP, then somebody will come over from the pharmacy to teach her how to self-inject. It's supposed to be a really fine needle like an insulin injector, and we're hoping it's IM not IV.

77clamairy
Jan 30, 2022, 3:55 pm

>76 Maddz: Oh, I am so sorry. Well, hopefully she'll be able to do it easily. Still, not fun. This is one of the bone strengthening meds? I know a lot of the oral ones that were widely prescribed a few decades ago have been taken off the market in the US because of side effects. I hope this one does the job!

78Maddz
Jan 30, 2022, 4:51 pm

>77 clamairy: I presume so. I wasn't at the appointment, Paul accompanied her - I was just the chauffeur. I daresay we'll know more in a week or so - her letters are coming to us because of staying with us last year. Her comment when we got home was why couldn't they give her calcium tablets - but they aren't very effective.

79catzteach
Jan 30, 2022, 7:24 pm

>76 Maddz: oh, so sorry. A daily shot is tough. >77 clamairy: my mom lost all her teeth because of one of those meds.

80clamairy
Jan 31, 2022, 9:51 am

>79 catzteach: That's awful!

81pgmcc
Jan 31, 2022, 10:52 am

I would like to bring some good news to this thread.

My youngest has been doing a masters degree in Computer Science. Due to COVID he has done the last 20 months of the course on-line. He got his results on Friday. He got a first class honours. Colour me "Proud Dad!"

Colour me "Hopeful Dad" as I anticipate his getting a job and bringing thousands of euros into the household. :-) (I know. I know. Colour me "Delusional Dad!". The household will see precious little of the thousands of euros. Let me dream for a short while. Now that I think of it I must chase up payment of those invoices I gave his older siblings for their years of bed, board, education and holidays. They appear to have forgotten to pay.)

82haydninvienna
Jan 31, 2022, 11:16 am

>81 pgmcc: Congratulations to the youngest!

83haydninvienna
Jan 31, 2022, 11:21 am

And while I'm about it: >77 clamairy: best wishes to "Margaret". People can and do carry on for many years on anti-osteoporosis medication: my late second mother in law (family matriarch) was already on them when I first knew her, and was still on them when she passed, well into her nineties—about 30 years later. That was oral medication.

And >61 tardis: and >65 NorthernStar: : my thoughts go to you and yours also.

84clamairy
Jan 31, 2022, 11:22 am

>81 pgmcc: That is wonderful news! Congratulations! (And I suspect he'll do what my youngest did when he got a decent paying job and started to save up some money. He'll moved out...)

85clamairy
Jan 31, 2022, 11:28 am

>83 haydninvienna: Good to know!

86catzteach
Jan 31, 2022, 9:19 pm

>81 pgmcc: great news!

>83 haydninvienna: it’s nice to hear good news for the osteo meds. I’m scared to ever take any after what happened to Mom.

87Sakerfalcon
Fév 1, 2022, 12:40 pm

>81 pgmcc: Congratulations to your youngest, and best of luck chasing up those invoices!

88pgmcc
Fév 1, 2022, 2:00 pm

>82 haydninvienna:, >84 clamairy:, >86 catzteach: & >87 Sakerfalcon:

Thank you!

>87 Sakerfalcon: Special thanks for the good wishes in chasing up the invoices. I suspect the will end up in the "BAD DEBTS" file.

89MrsLee
Fév 2, 2022, 11:42 pm

>88 pgmcc: Just do what we do. Know that they already have had their inheritance and be sure to spend anything you have left on yourself before you check out. ;)

90pgmcc
Fév 3, 2022, 12:58 am

>89 MrsLee: Nice one.