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The son's company ran a one-day football tournament and his shop's team won! He was a really useful player when he was little. Like people would stop and watch him when we were out-and-about, and when he was in infants (under 7yo) the older juniors (11yo) let him play with them before school started. I honestly thought he could make a career of it but had no idea how to get him started - and he wasn't pushing for it, so it didn't happen. Now, I'm hoping he'll find a way to take it up again because, frankly, he needs the exercise.

I finished Plucky Squire, thanks in no small part to the ability to skip the mini games. I am very comfortable with this. I also think it's a game I want to introduce the grandbabies to in a few years - and hope that being young will give them the necessary reflexes to get through the mini games :D A few thoughts:
  • I loved the art style - I know I've said it many, many times, but give me cartoony/stylised over realistic any time
  • I loved the story-book feel to the whole thing, and the dire warnings of how dull life is without good stories (younger grandson is already protecting himself :D)
  • I loved the story itself - not exactly unique but (as with Trek to Yomi) telling a familiar story in a new way, and doing it well, is a skill in itself
  • I loved that all the companions had their part to play, even if I skipped over their individual battles
  • And I loved all the characters with their little quirks and different skills
  • I loved the LOTR reference at the end (I'm sure there were others but I've either forgotten them or didn't spot them), and the self-deprecating humour of the game as a whole
  • I loved that 'story mode' really did mean 'focus on the story without having to struggle with annoying mini games'
  • I loved that I could make Story Mode even easier by making myself invincible
  • I enjoyed using light bulbs as currency
  • I was less than enthusiastic about some of the mechanics - particularly throwing, or rather the lack of explanation about throwing
  • I didn't like finding stuff out by accident - but whether that's about my brain or the game design, I'm not sure
  • I don't think there's much replay value, unless you want the plat (there are separate trophies for completing the game in Story Mode and Adventure Mode) - or want to speed run it, or set up contests between family members or something
  • Overall, I give it 8/10 - a solid little game that isn't too taxing but does have some puzzles that require real thought
My miniature tea shop is nearing completion! and the roof doesn't fit together properly... I'm not going to buy a kit like this again. But when it's sitting on a shelf, I can admire it from a distance and not see all the imperfections :D

I watched a couple of episodes of New Amsterdam. I've decided this is my go-to 'brain dead' programme, so a good way to round off the weekend.
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Turns out this month we're doing a series on OT stories and Ruth is NEXT month... Well, Ruth is in the OT, so last week fits. Yes, it does!

This week was a passage from 2 Samuel all about David's warring children, and David's own cycle of violence. Our vicar wove in the events in Southport and across the country really well, and suggested we look at cycles in our own lives we might want to break. I've definitely done some work on my conversations with my boys. I've changed how I phrase things to (hopefully!) make it more obvious that I do hear them and acknowledge their feelings, even when I disagree. And, actually, we're finding that mythical thing called 'common ground' far more often. Who knew?

Of course, if I slip up and don't say quite the right thing, well I still meant what I said, but if they don't say quite the right thing I'm supposed to interpret what they REALLY meant... Yeah, double standards, and inner blindness, are still alive and well. But on the whole it still feels like progress.

Took husband for a walk in the sunshine today - with hats, sunglasses, and water! We stopped for a rest about half-way round and I found a bright yellow ladybird sitting next to me, so I took a photo. When we left, son was watching Carry On Up the Khyber and when we got back it was Carry On Don't Lose Your Head - both 'costume' carry ons and, therefore, amongst the best, but we've seen them so many times. Cleo is still my all time favourite, despite the historic inaccuracies regarding Britain. I especially love that they reused the sets and costumes from Elizabeth Taylor's Cleopatra. Amanda Barry is clearly having a great time dressing up in Taylor's clothes, and who can blame her?

I'm making an effort to pick up my make-your-own miniature tea shop again. Because super glue is such awful stuff to work with, nothing is quite the way it's supposed to be - but when everything is packed in the details will be hidden... Right...? Anyway, I have definitely made progress with it. I might actually finish it before the end of the year! And then I'll need to find something else for 2025.

And made progress with ISS, too. I'm mostly using my original power - it just feels more 'right'. But I have learned how to switch between them, which is something. Taking down the jamming towers is so much fun I'll prioritise that over anything else :D 

Rounded off the day with an episode of Umbrella Academy. I remember something being up with Leonard but I'm not sure exactly what - which is why I'm rewatching the whole thing, after all!

I have two full weeks in work, then a full week off - and then it's September and I can book next year's leave! Oh, and granddaughter should be making an appearance any time. Can't wait to meet this little wriggler <3
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Today would have been our niece's 36th birthday. Still takes me by surprise.

And so sad to hear Jurgen Klopp is moving on. He's been such a great leader for our great club.

You know those days when this morning feels like it happened a week ago but suddenly it's way past your bedtime and stuff - so MUCH stuff - has happened in between? I have a lot of those.

Today actually started with me sleeping through my alarm - or turning it off in my sleep, not sure which. But I guess I needed the sleep...? And since today was a WFH day AND mostly desk-based, it didn't matter too much. Got through some work and two loads of washing, feeding husband, son and myself at various points.

Then my chat buddy turned up an hour earlier than usual, which was nice because I had a meeting that lasted most of the afternoon and it gave me more time to chat with them before it started. The meeting was pretty productive but ChatGPT let me down again. It has a limit on the size of file you can give it and when you have a meeting that runs for 75 minutes with 4 people all talking a LOT (in the way I noted yesterday), you have a) too many words and b) almost no way of knowing how to chunk it up. Maybe it's because I'm using the free version? But there's no point upgrading because when we move to Windows 11 we'll get Copilot to play with, and that will be happening pretty soon. Anyway, by some miracle I remembered all (most?) of the actions and was able to check the transcript for bits I wasn't sure of, and got everything I remembered I needed to do boxed off before the end of my working day.

This evening, I wrapped grandson #2's presents and used up all the non-Christmas wrapping paper. I don't normally wrap presents - I've been using (and reusing!) gift bags and tissue paper for years. But the husband likes seeing small people rip things open, so we go with paper. But note to self - invest in some wrapping paper!

I did a bit more on my miniature tea shop. There's no real deadline on it but I do want to finish it! One of the items is a dresser with 6 shelves, none of which are straight or correctly spaced ROFL. I did my best but it is what it is. I'm now working out how to fit all the bags and tins of tea on it, when nothing can go where it's supposed to.

And we rounded the night off by watching the final of Traitors. It was sooo tense and... I can't say any more because SPOILERS but it was really good.

Right, time for bed. Night, DW!

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