A bit like the discovery of my slow cooker last week, I have had another epiphany this week: SkyQ. Why oh why oh why haven’t we bothered our arses and sorted this out before now? It is utterly brilliant and, as often verbalised by many married couples, the best divorce-avoidance strategy possible as we struggle with lockdown.
Overall, Dave is less happy with SkyQ as “his” big TV in the lounge has become “ours”; “his” remote control has also become “ours”; and, on several occasions, I have had to show him how to use it. This is not only unheard of in our house but apparently I have emasculated him.
I jest not when I say I would go to watch the TV in a different room in the past to avoid touching the multiple remote controls, especially when Dave is on holiday with the boys. I’ve lost count of the number of times I broke his TV by trying to change the channel and it has become a standing joke when he returns from a trip, he will say, “How is my lovely wife and how have you broken my TV this time?!?”. Well, David Padbury, NOT ANY MORE – LOL!
My binge watching has consequently now reached new heights and I finished watching all four seasons of Queen of the South. It does make me laugh when I say I simply don’t have time to go to the gym but somehow I find time to watch 52 hours worth of TV footage in a week. Ridiculous, and, in my defense, ma lord, I am usually multi-tasking with some other gym-avoidance but very important job like Christmas shopping to stay ahead of the curve.
On that note, I was really sad going into one long-standing gift shops in Didsbury on Saturday as they were so quiet. In a flash of inspiration, I have asked the shop owner if she can help me with my Christmas present list and she has agreed. This is a definite win-win and so I spent a bit of time constructing said list.
Hopefully Dave is not reading this bit but, Holy Crap, Batman, how did I manage to collect all these friends? I had forgotten how many people we – for “we”, read “me” – actually buy for and I’ve not even included the milkman, car-park attendant, butcher, baker and candlestick maker at this point. Oh well, no pockets in shrouds and all that.
Instead of the anticipated six months off I had about two days of chilling to myself so I consciously didn’t log in and just tried to relax on my final days of freedom. It will be the reduced holidays that cripple me as I’ve got used to taking about 45 days a year with the ones I need to take and the furlough time the organisations put me on over Christmas and Easter. I’m now down to 25 days but at least I will be paid for them.
Don’t get me wrong, this is still very good but it is all relative. Dave thinks it is hilarious but he won’t be thinking that when he sees the bank balance dwindle with the 50% cut in earnings I’ve taken too! Oh, dear, what have I done?
As predicted, of course the weather turned into thunderbolts and lightening which were not very very frightening at all but rather stunning. I’m really not sure what I’ve done to upset the universe but you can guarantee when I start work properly, the weather will be glorious again.
There was a bit of a hokey cokey faff about when I was actually starting my new job and we eventually agreed Friday would be my day 1. Yes, it is a bit of a crazy crackers day to start a job but I was working from home, managed to get my laptop working and did all my compliance tests so I am good to go and hit the ground running on Monday. See, up there for thinking and down there for dancing, I’m really not quite as daft as I look!
I noticed that the nights are beginning to draw in so to quote Game of Thrones, Winter is coming. Hopefully there won’t be any White Walkers and dragons but it’s a bit miserable the Summer is nearly over.
My list: I single-handedly tidied the remaining 400 million cupboards in the house! That’s what it felt like but, in reality, there were only about 6 and a couple of drawers! Seriously, it is one thing our house lacks – cupboard space – and that’s all part of the remodeling the house plan for retirement that I’ve not brought Dave in the loop on yet!
My lowlight: Dave’s brother-in-law’s mum sadly died in her care home. We know she was over 90 but it doesn’t make it any easier. It is so upsetting that contact was so limited in the final few months and it is really difficult to stick to the allowable numbers for the funeral. I count my blessings every day I have my parents still with us being as hilarious and loveable as they are.
My highlight: The most excellent news on the driving front as my dad has been granted his licence back from the medics that will make my parents independent again. I had no real idea on the impact to their mental health and you can see they are visibly happier as a result. Just MARVELLOUS! Similarly, Dave has started to drive to work by himself too. It’s been a good 18 months after his big accident so this too is fabulous news. I know he is still nervous but it will get easier and will be good for him – and me – too.
