A bed of roses

Had a good chat with new colleague that actually included work! We added a couple of the new docs to the existing folder structure rather than starting from scratch. Apparently, there are links to specific documents that people are using, so it's a good thing I didn't take the unilateral decision to wipe everything!

Also had a meeting with our former placement student who is now back at uni for their final year - and wants to be working instead! There was another member of their team on the call and they and I were trying to encourage the student to just stick it out. It isn't even a full year, really, because final assessments happen in April. And they are working with us one day a week - hence the meeting. I thought I'd solved the problem I'd booked the meeting to discuss but then I remembered later on that there was something else. Doh! So I messaged both student and colleague to ask for help on that. Will look at the response on Monday.

Then daughter and little ones arrived. Younger grandson had managed to go all morning without a nap but was in a very good mood. Granddaughter was slightly less happy, despite downing a bottle and a half of milk! Daughter said she might need to do slightly fuller bottles - 6oz instead of 5. Grandson was zipping about like a mad thing as usual. All our ornaments are out of their 'right' place - either moved by him or by us! He's also found his way into the cupboard we keep our spare mugs in... I brought granddaughter upstairs with me for a third meeting. She finished her bottle and had a snooze - such an angel <3 Grandson still stops to give her a kiss or a pat.

Tonight I played another hour of Stray Blade - I think I'm about to meet the first boss. Then I watched HIGNFY; always so funny.

And now to bed!

I feel like I'm getting a cold *sulks* Hopefully it's just a (very!) delayed reaction to the 'flu jab on Tuesday...? I'll take tomorrow slowly and dose myself with Beecham's. Having written this damned talk for Sunday, I want to be able to deliver it!

Looks like younger grandson is getting over whatever he had - and he's saying his baby sister's name! So cute.

I finished watching Rex Sterling's first stream of FFVIII. I do love watching people play something I love for the first time - it's the closest I'll get to playing it for the first time again. So, I'll carry on watching the recordings of his stream, now and then.

This morning, I watched a YT video about great games that were going really cheaply. The only one that piqued my interest was something called Inscryption, which is on PS+ so REALLY cheap! I had a go with it this evening. It's a card game... with some story... and puzzles...? It's definitely kind of out there! Very much not my usual thing but I might prioritise that over Stray Blade.

Turns out I've accidentally wandered into some DLC for Skyrim when I thought I was following the main quest! I think it's a symptom of how late to the party I am with this one :D

Work-wise, I had a 1:1 with my LM and we found a way to tweak the PMF - after saying it was going to be static for 6 months >D But it's more around the documentation than the process and will pre-empt a conversation with the PMs on Monday. I also have more MSForms to write for people to use to get stuff into P4W. And I want to look at the way Lessons Learned are displayed sometime next week. But I made progress with the governance doc today - it's still a WiP, though.

Well, time to turn in, I think. A good night's sleep will help with this lurgy!

Daughter and grandbabies came to visit this afternoon. Younger grandson (nearly 20 months) is into absolutely everything - can't take your eyes off him for a moment. He's so full of mischief but there's nothing mean about him. Granddaughter (5 weeks tomorrow :O) is gorgeous and starting to smile. Why is it a baby's face lights up so much when they first smile?

To our grandchildren we're Granny and Pop-pop. Younger grandson calls us Gee (Granny without the 'rann' :D) and Po-po (Pop-pop without the 'p's). So cute.

So, that was the afternoon. I also managed to get some work done! But like last Friday, I have a task that I'll pick up over the weekend.

I played an hour of The Plucky Squire and it's as cute as I hoped - and also very funny. Too early to have any Thoughts, but it has not only a Story Mode but also 'can't fall off ledges' and 'can't die' options!

Now I'm watching the second episode of 'The Perfect Couple'. It's grabbed me in a way that Kaos didn't. OK - make that the third episode... Not normally one to binge-watch but it is Friday night...

I got some feedback from one of my Beta readers on the synopsis - it's looking promising!

I've just finished watching Umbrella Academy. I found the ending to be (mostly) very satisfying, and I enjoyed the little post-credit montage.

I have a couple of logic-related quibbles.

1) there were 43 children born on 1 October 1989, so they should all have been there at the end (or do we assume the Cleanse swallowed up the whole world and got them that way?), and 2) how do Allison, and Diego and Lila's children continue to exist?!

But otherwise I'm pretty happy with how it turned out.

Not sure I'll ever look at marigolds in the same way, though...

Daughter visited with the grandbabies. Younger grandson is getting to be a real handful - he isn't still for two minutes together. But toddlers are like that! We can cope for a couple of hours here and there. And he's just so much fun, even when he's doing the exact opposite of what you've just told him to do :D Granddaughter takes after her uncle - she's a determined sleeper. The only time she was awake was when she wanted feeding. They are sooo different to each other - younger grandson was the definition of FOMO Baby >D

Husband and I were reflecting that it's a good thing they were born this way round. If younger grandson had been a sleeper, daughter and sil would have been lulled into a false sense of security - and handed a very nasty surprise when hypo-child turned up! As it is, granddaughter is a little spot of calm in the whirlwind that is younger grandson.

Managed to get some work done, too!

I've sent the synopsis for Harding's Choice to some of my Beta readers to gauge their interest. I'm pretty sure one will nope out of it because the heroine is a police officer :D Or they'll tell me that no queer WoC would even join the police. But we'll see.

I was just about to log in to the Nanowrimo forum when I came across an article suggesting that the organisation is endorsing the use of AI for writing... So, maybe I won't do that. I'll still do the challenge itself, though.

We met new granddaughter, today. She's so long! When you offer most babies a finger, they hold it in their full hand - with this one, her fingers are so long it felt like she just wrapped her fingers around mine, rather than her whole hand. Some compare and contrast between her and younger grandson.

• Not much difference in birth weight but he's chunky and stocky, she's long and thin
• He was more interactive when we first met him - but he was nearly 3 weeks old and she's still only a few days
• They have exactly the same hairline, and beautifully clear skin
• She's more of a cuddler

Looking forward to seeing them both together.

Got some work done, and a couple of loads of washing.

And watched Rex Sterling on YouTube on the space station in FFVIII. The naivete of his comments is both hilarious and endearing. He's managed to live in the same universe as FFVIII for 25 years without knowing anything about it. Watching his LP is the closest I'll ever come to playing it for the first time again. It is a wonderful experience.

I've added W3 and the DLCs to my library, along with Deliver Us Mars - sequel to Deliver Us The Moon, which I mostly enjoyed but had to abandon at the end. The final puzzle wasn't difficult to solve but there was a timer and aiming...? I know I had to look it up on YouTube, anyway. With DAV as my Christmas game, I may embark on a replay of W3 because I can flex that to fill the time available. Or I may just keep grabbing and playing shorter games.

I watched a couple of episodes of Royal Autopsy tonight - George IV and Mary I. I think I've tended to overlook Mary who was, after all, the first English queen to reign in her own right. Elizabeth reigned because Mary did.

Back into the office tomorrow for a couple of project boards and a Spiritual Direction meeting. A woman's work is never done...

But I got through it. Did some poking around in Power App/Project and also watched some webinars that gave me some ideas. Next week's looking pretty quiet, too, so I shall continue with the poking.

I made husband laugh by mimicking his youngest brother, earlier - in an affectionate way, of course. It's good to laugh together.

Still no baby... But today is not only the birthday of one of my sisters-in-law but, as far as I could work out, of our last cat. When I told daughter it was Boris' birthday she said, 'as in the cat?'. Well... yeah... how many Borises do you think I know?!

I'd quite like her to be born tomorrow. 16 is twice 8 and 16 + 8 = 24. I like number patterns :D

But eldest grandson passed all his A Levels, the first in the immediate family to do so. Daughter and I both did the first year but then gave up due to being pregnant. I did an access course - equivalent of 3 A Levels - later, and then uni. Daughter has learned through doing. Of course, uni is always there - both our kids could cope with a degree. But it would be part-time with work and stuff.

Grandson has been applying for apprenticeships but we don't know if he's been accepted on one. Fingers crossed...

And it sounds like Clearing went well for the uni. It's a lovely feeling when you can make someone an offer but so hard when you can't. But as most of my family prove, uni really isn't everything!

Just caught up with The Rookie. Monica is so deliciously bad - but she's in danger of tipping into caricature, I think. Lopez and Harper are total bad asses - really looking forward to them taking her down. And they're juggling small children and long-term relationships AND daily danger. I know it's fiction but real police officers are parents.

Foot doctor for husband tomorrow - and I need to book the dentist for a check up.

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

Took husband into town to do some shopping - a few little bits for new baby (snuggle towels, cute teddy, dummies), some Milky Way Magic Stars for younger grandson, a camomile candle for the parents, a pair of Vans for me (I'm the world's coolest grandma!), and some pants for husband. We started at TK Maxx because they always have some more unusual stuff. Then on to the Liverpool shop because husband wants some pants from there, too. But the prices put him off, so we decided to try online. They do have some really nice t-shirts - they have a sponsorship deal with Converse this season - but we decided they would make good Christmas presents.

We left home about 10am and got home about 12pm, just as town was getting really busy and the temperature was getting really uncomfortable. Very well timed!

After dinner, I played some BG&ER and got through the boss fight with the nasty flying things - and used up all my healing items in the process. Then repaired the new vehicle and used it to locate the remaining pearls I needed to get me to the moon! Why do so many video games want to go to the moon? And now I'm in another boss battle with no repair items for my vehicle. I THINK I can get one item from a dispenser... My sidekick is 'helpfully' telling me I can get one from Mamago's Garage - back on the planet... <_< This game overwrites saves, so I can't even go back to an earlier save file :( So, fingers crossed I can a) get the repair item (because I'm not even sure I have enough cash...) and b) defeat the boss. I've just checked and I have an autosave from down on the planet. It would mean doing the whole moon thing again, but I think it could be worth it.

I also watched an episode of Connections - from the waterwheel to the computer, taking in the Dark Ages when the Church pretty much kept everything working, wine presses, looms and spinning wheels, cams, self-playing organs, the Black Death, cheap linen rags used to make cheap paper, printing, and punch cards. Burke didn't mention microchips, so not sure if they were in use in 1978. He did finish with a question - the other inventions on the list brought happiness to people but what will computers bring? Well, it's a mixed bag really, isn't it?

I sorted out one of my drawers to make space for my new clothes. I have three dresses I really like but can't get into any more :( They will find a new home via a charity shop.

And I watched the musical 2-parter of Psych. Shawn and Lassie dancing will stay with me :D

Tomorrow we visit daughter & co - probably the last time we'll see them before granddaughter makes her appearance. Just hope a) she isn't late and b) husband doesn't end up in hospital! With younger grandson both things happened so instead of 2 weeks it took nearly 2 months for us to meet him.

So, people are talking about how they want change! - and then you look at the Labour party and realise about all that's going to change is the colour of the rosettes. Although Jonathan Pie did point out that Starmer is a former human rights lawyer; I mean, at least he realises human rights is a Thing... right...? Anyway, I'm voting Green. Not because I believe the Green Party candidate will oust the sitting Labour MP - Liverpool, indeed, the whole of Merseyside these days, is pretty firmly red - but because I want to send a message to a) the Green Party to let them know they have support and they shouldn't give up and b) my MP to let them know I give a shit about the planet and I want them to, too. Meanwhile, Starmer is talking up his defence plans... Does nobody realise that working for environmental and social justice will make the world a safer place?! There'll be less competition for land and resources, a reduction in the threat of flooding and extreme weather, and less need to point a gun at people to make your point.

*heavy sigh*

Anyway, voting is a duty for me and no vote is wasted.

I showed the husband the latest Count Binface video, which raised a smile. Seriously, look him up. I only wish there was a Binface in Liverpool :D

Today was a desky day, and I actually got quite a bit done. Project ideas that have been approved by the prioritisation body now have a record on P4W, and I did a deep overhaul of the old SharePoint site because I'm going to have to keep using that in the short term. There are currently 3 projects not being tracked on P4W but two of them are on the brink of being finished - I think I will then have an argument for bringing the last one into the fold since it's expected to keep going until Q1 next year. It just felt really good to have the time and space to do a proper job rather than squeezing it in between other tasks and/or meetings. I've also reorganised the dashboard we use for reporting to follow the new PMF, which gets us away from 'what does delivery mean to you today?'.

I'm going to swap my days round so I WFH tomorrow and go into the office on Friday. This will allow me to go and vote in a civilised manner and be on time for a 9am meeting.

Watched 'Coming to America' with the husband, so no Psych tonight. CTA is still a funny film, although some of it is pretty dated, now.

Eldest grandson is having a lot of fun - he went jet skiing today! I'm equal parts terrified at the thought of him out there alone (apart from his 5 mates, of course...) and proud that he organised and paid for the trip all by himself.

Granddaughter is measuring extra-large just like younger grandson - any thoughts we might have had about a delicate little flower of a girl have been firmly quashed >D Daughter's midwife has requested an extra scan for her, just to keep an eye on everything.

And my new nail shaper/buffer arrived, so I spent a couple of minutes buffing my nails. Sometimes I'm just a girl.