A bed of roses

We had a lovely time celebrating grandson #2's birthday, today. All our presents went down well. The 'not quite Duplo' blocks we got were a particular hit - he held two of the blocks next to each other, clearly knowing that they connected to each other but not actually connecting them. Then he put them all back in the bag without being told! He also got over enthusiastic and added a ball of wrapping paper for good measure ;D

Then we brought out his cake with a '1' candle that daddy helped him to blow out. And he ended up with chocolate cake all over his face and sat on a chunk of it, too. We have some adorable pictures to embarrass him with in about 15 years.

There was also good news for grandson #1 who passed his theory test on the first try. One of his mates has failed it 10 times... He's now looking at buying his first car! Still needs to pass the practical, of course.

Spent this afternoon playing R&C:RA. I'm getting more comfortable with it, but some of the weapons leave me scratching my head. What are the gloves for...? The animation is really smooth, though. And Clank has his own part to play in the story, which is nice. I really know nothing about this franchise, other than Ratchet is supposed to be the last Lombax but then Rivet turns up. She looks SO like a colleague of mine, even down to her hair. But I feel like I do know them. I certainly want to see how the story progresses, anyway.

And I played Rooms: The Main Building on the Nintendo DS in the bath this morning and that's definitely working for me, so I'll carry on with it. I found a few spare game cartridges in my carry case, which need to go back in their respective boxes at some point. 

Not much else happened today, but that's a good Saturday in my book.

 So, I don't really watch a lot of telly these days.  If I'm not working or being with the boys, I'd rather be gaming.  But a week off allows for gaming AND telly!

I've watched the full first series of Miracle Workers.  I loved Steve Buscemi as God - just beautiful.  And when the angels stopped interfering and just let the humans get on with it!  They could have saved a lot of time and lives if they'd just done that in the first place.  But I suppose that's what we're like, isn't it?  We think we understand other people's lives so much better than they do.  If so-and-so would just do X their life would be so much better!

I'm also watching The Watch, which is two half-hour episodes a week.  It's 'influenced' by the characters created by Terry Pratchett.  Detritus the Troll died in the first (or second) episode, probably to save on the CGI budget.  Also, Death's horse Binky hasn't made an appearance, probably for the same reason.  The budget may be low but the production values are high.  And it's an excellent example of how to do diverse casting.  The casting is probably the main reason I'm watching it.  It's like an AU Discworld - almost fanficcy.  But I'm enjoying it more than the adaptations Sky did a few years ago.  It is also making me want to read through the whole collection from start to finish - which would take a lot of time and money!

Then there's Anika with the wonderful Nicola Walker.  She breaks the fourth wall by talking to the camera - although we understand she's talking to herself, really.  How she's made it to DI as a single parent, I'm not sure.  Determination and available baby-sitters I suppose.  Anyway, the ongoing trials and tribulations of being a mother to a teenage daughter are a source of great enjoyment.

I've also got through some of the films on my Tivo, including New Mutants (even though I'm officially 'off' Disney, I wanted to see Anya Taylor-Joy in a very different role - she's quickly becoming a favourite) and Enemy of the State (not sure the tech in the film was really available in 1998 but I'm pretty sure it is now - and pretty much anyone can get their hands on it).

I have also exercised my emotional intelligence a couple of times, once to get my own way without a row!  After 35 years, I'm finally learning how my husband ticks.  It's never too late...

And the corner that will be the rockery is now weed-free, filled with good compost and covered in bark chippings.  I've identified some existing rocks (they're chunks of concrete but when they're buried and have cute little plants growing all over them they'll be rocks) we can use, so that will save buying and transporting any.  I'm planning on doing the planting up in the spring. 

I'm also bursting with ideas for using some of the very many (far too many) plastic bottles that pass through our house as planters, particularly for trailing plants on the now bare fence.  Just not sure there'd be enough soil...  But there's only one way to find out!

Back to work on Tuesday, so that will be fun.  In the meantime, there will be plenty of opportunities for further chilling!

Had a couple of days off last week.  Thursday I just chilled out - finished DAI - didn't do much else!

Yesterday I went shopping, not only in town but to the nearest Asda.  Came home hungry and grumpy, which - inevitably - didn't end well.  Apologies are in order for how I spoke if not for what I said.

And... That's about it.

'til next week, DW!

 It was graduation week.  I love graduation.  I helped out at 7 out of 12 ceremonies, and even did a bit of ushering for a change.  The anxiety I felt at getting 15 people from one side of the cathedral to the other was ridiculous!

Thursday was a stupidly busy day, some of which was of my own choosing.  And next Tuesday is looking set to be similar.  I do keep an eye on how much stuff I'm trying to cram into 24 hours but then Stuff Happens and...  Well, I'm on leave next Friday, so I will make that a Do Sweet FA day, I think.  Today is going to be a definite Chill Out Day, too.

There is other stuff but I want to get the day started.

Bye for now, DW!