rosa_heartlily | Entries tagged with grandson

I used to get very frustrated very easily but that's really calmed down the last few years. Standing in queues used to make my blood boil, sometimes - now I just go all zen, let it all go... But yesterday and today I've been really spikey. Yesterday was work shenanigans, today was the poor husband.

He has this thing where he'll ask the most random questions. Tonight (after several other questions) was - if someone from Turkey gained British citizenship, would they spell Turkey the way we do, or as Turkiye? I mean... how do I answer that?! I said I thought they'd continue to spell it the way they had all their life - I mean, their heritage is what it is, right? If I gained French citizenship, I'd still say I grew up in the UK, not Royaume-Uni. Or would I? After all, I'd want to fit in...

Anyway, I got annoyed by it. I was tired, I wanted to chill after work and before evening prayer - and I didn't want random questions!!!

I've been sleeping pretty well, but this morning I turned the alarm off - then zonked out for another 45 minutes. I guess I needed the sleep but it didn't help my mood that I was in a rush getting ready.

I found that someone had done a speed run of Tunic - 25 minutes for a (normally) 12-15 hour game. It was watched by the game's devs, who were not only impressed but commented that the player had done things they'd tried and couldn't do, or that they hadn't thought of. Some things received a comment along the lines of - that's going in the next patch! But most things they seemed happy with. I do think that player has spent far too long playing the game overall, though, to be able to exploit it like that. But kudos to them.

Eldest grandson made it onto the plane to Greece - he'll be landing soon, I think. I hope he has the time of his life. I hope he comes home safe.

I am definitely heading for an earlier night, tonight.

Current Mood: irritated
Current Location: bedroom

So, grandson #1 turned 18 today. Husband, son and I went up to daughter's house to see both grandsons and the dog - and the adults, of course...

The 'slang phrase book' we got has some... questionable phrases. Let's just say, they have all the bases covered. But it's his first real adventure - who knows what he's going to need to know :D

He leaves for Greece on Tuesday and I'll be worrying about him every day. I told him to make sure he stays with his mates (there are 6 of them going), stay hydrated and use sun screen.

Grandson #2 continues to be very cute. Granddaughter continues to grow - daughter looked like she might pop any minute! I think we might not have to wait for August after all...

I also edited another of my stories, which I know was inspired by a line in The Magician's Nephew - Jadis says her grandfather killed 400 nobles for rebellious thoughts. My story ends with the 400 assembled guests drinking a toast - but what happens next? I think I may have the origin story for my MC in this year's Nano.

Also got in a couple of sessions with Tunic. I've found all the fairies - next step is the remaining secret treasures, then the rest of the manual. I'm hoping the remaining money banks and gold coins will also be revealed as I do. Then there's just the 'good ending' and the gun, and I should have the plat.

And rounded the day off with Playstation Access' Friday Feature (evil corporations we secretly want to work for), and an episode of Psych.

Tomorrow is the usual round of cleaning and slobbing out :D

Current Mood: indescribable
Current Location: bedroom

Had a church meeting to plan our worship pattern for the next few months. We started with reflections on how things are going, then some suggestions for the future, then the dates. With 9 people on the call it took two hours to even begin filling in dates. The person leading the meeting said people could leave, so I took advantage of that - saying I'm always happy to lead morning prayer at either St B's or St M's, and happy to speak occasionally, but there are people who are a) PAID for that or b) are in some form of training, so need the time and practice.

I've decided against 'proper' prayers - I think 2 hours with fellow Christians counts as prayer! I have read my daily portion of 'With My Whole Heart' by former Bishop of Liverpool James Jones, and the CAC daily meditation and written them up in my paper journal. Prayer is for the pray-er not for God, after all.

I suggested to new LM that we should set up some 1-1's - they've been my LM for about 6 weeks now and we haven't had anything formal. Of course, we sit next to each other in the office and often speak about stuff, it's just getting on to the right footing. So, they put in a fortnightly recurring meeting for Fridays. Now, I have a tendency to book Fridays or Thursdays and Fridays as leave. The first meeting - I'm on leave. The second one, I have a project board (suggested moving that one). The third AND fourth I'm on leave - although I suggested a different day for the last one. Still, summer is always an odd time, and it's the principle of the thing, rather than the actual doing.

Grandson #1's plastic 18 key arrived today, and I finally got round to ordering 'Dirty Greek' to help him on his holibobs in July.

And I'm going to stop there because it's time to sleep.

Current Mood: drained
Current Location: bedroom

It's one of those days where it seems like a VERY long time since I got up but the day hasn't dragged at all.

Started with a bath. When I got downstairs husband was having a nap, so I cleaned the bathroom. When that was done he was awake, so we had breakfast - filter coffee and crumpets with butter. <3

Quick clean of the living room in preparation for daughter and grandson #2. He takes sooo much energy, even when he's sitting still :D He's also learned to climb the stairs, so that's going to be fun going forward.

We still don't have a name for granddaughter. The two new ones daughter mentioned today were... well, I wouldn't have chosen them. One of them was my maternal grandmother's name, FCOL! Who was born in 1905! And she hadn't chosen it BECAUSE it was my grandmother's name because she thought that was something similar but different. Anyway, at this rate she'll only have her middle name, which is my name :D

And daughter has less idea of what to get grandson #1 for his 18th than we do >D

I played an hour of Tunic and hit a very nasty boss. Again, I'm playing on the easier setting. Again, the game's definition of 'easier' is different to mine. Again, I will give it another go, but really...

Then I watched Doctor Who on iPlayer. OMG!!! The best episode so far by a country MILE. And written by two women. Just sayin'... Sharp dialogue, LOL comedy, tears, ol' skool monster of the week, another glimpse of Susan Twist... Just wonderful. Won-der-ful!!! My only down (channelling Whoculture!), was The Kiss. Not because I'm homophobic (obvs) but because, for me, The Doctor and romance don't work. Whilst I liked that Rose got her 'own Doctor', if Rose and The Doctor had been 'a thing', I wouldn't have enjoyed it. Plus, he already has the TARDIS AND River. There's being polyamorous and there's being... whatever The Doctor is being :D

The thing with the psychic paper is bringing back memories, too. Was it something with River...? Don't know...

So, after DW, I went down and made tea for me and husband - ham with cauliflower cheese. Which was tasty and perfectly edible but the husband is one of those people who eat with their eyes and I hadn't drained the cauliflower enough and it put him off, so he didn't eat it. Then he made himself a sandwich so he could have his tablets and insulin and it was one of those occasions when I hit a nerve with the needle. I decided discretion was the better part of valour and made myself scarce to do the washing up and clean the kitchen.

And after THAT, I watched Mrs Harris goes to Paris, which was just delightful.

Husband came up to bed half-way through and we had a nice goodnight kiss and cuddle. His days of holding grudges and sulking for days on end are very much behind us - one of the positive results of the memory loss.

So, an event-filled day!

Next week, I will swap out my editing sessions for writing a talk on mustard seeds for St M's on 16 June. There's the version that says the kingdom of heaven starts small and grows to be enormous. And there's the version that says the mustard bush is a weed and the birds nesting in it are pests - and the kingdom is FOR the pests (the outcast, the lost and unwanted, the people on the edge). And is there a person in the world who has NEVER felt like that? Hmm... Something to run with there, I think...

Current Mood: thoughtful
Current Location: bedroom

Husband had an appointment at the Royal today. He refuses to get a taxi because it's only a half-hour walk. It was raining but he has an umbrella and I have my waterproof coat, so we thought we'd be fine. We weren't.

It's rained all day, which is good for the pond, and just the world in general. We need water, right?

The general election is expected to happen on 4 July. I'm sure there's a joke in there, but I can't find it :D Grandson #1 will be old enough to vote!!! He's going to be in Greece :O He can vote by post!!!

I'm meeting up with my favourite colleague tomorrow to chat about Doctor Who. I know they'll tell me not voting Labour is a wasted vote and/or a vote for the Tories. The way I feel about Labour, I see a vote for THEM is a vote for the Tories because they're almost indistinguishable at this point. What's the point in voting for more of the same, just with different coloured rosettes?! I am exercising my duty by voting with my conscience - otherwise, I betray all those who fought and died so that I can vote.

But seeing FC is always good times <3

I rounded the day off with a couple of episodes of Psych. Just enough brain required to keep track of the story but daft enough that it never requires really deep thought. I am seeing some of the twists before they happen, though.

Current Mood: sleepy
Current Location: bedroom

I am a lover of words. Evocative words - sumptuous - far too rare words - myriad - and fun words - hodge podge.

ANYWAY...

Yesterday, the grandson turned 13. We have an actual, bone fide teenager in the family again! But because we're a Liverpool family and he's the youngest, he's still referred to as 'the baby'. ROFL

He's coming down later for presents - some Nike shorts and tee-shirts, and some currency for their holiday in August, from us; Liverpool home shirt from the son. I'll take him into town next weekend to pre-order FIFA 20. It's a bit of an annual ritual, now. And, apparently, is bringing the cake that he wouldn't let the daughter take to the restaurant last night. Such a little introvert.

I'm applying for a new job at work. Two PM posts have been created - what the post-holders will actually do remains a bit of a mystery but they're two grades above where I am AND at the very least it sends a message to the higher ups in my department that I can do more. My line manager is aware but without support from above, it doesn't get us very far.

Which brings me on to Thursday. For the last 5 years, the University has run an internal 'Professional Services Conference'. I attended a couple of sessions two years ago and the whole thing last year and this year. I enjoyed doing something different last year but this year... Wow! The morning keynote speaker was just brilliant. A female CEO, from a working-class background, who shared her feelings of self-doubt and how she overcame them. One of the take-aways for me was, don't just have a mentor - find a sponsor! Someone who can begin opening doors for you. Of course, what you do when you're in the room is out of their control!

Now, I've always rubbed shoulders with people at the top of the organisation but I've never thought of any of them as a 'sponsor'. A more strategic thinker would, no doubt, have taken full advantage and been running the place by now. I feel I've been pushed further and further away from 'the action' and have less influence now than 10 years ago! BUT I am part of the Programme Management Office for the Efficiency and Improvement Programme, which could lead in several directions.

And I've also made friends with the new FD. They are very bright, very energetic - and, I think, just what the organisation needs. I don't want to abuse the relationship before it's even begun - but I don't want to let it wither away, either. Oh, and the conversation we had on Thursday was that rarest of rare things - a direct answer to prayer. I don't often pray for anything specific - I might pray for X because I know they're going through a rough time but I don't suggest how the rough time might be resolved because they and God know that better than me. It's even rarer for me to pray for something specific for myself - God isn't Father Christmas, you know! But on Wednesday night I prayed for an opportunity to speak to the FD at the conference and the opportunity appeared and I spoke to them. My confidence in speaking to people and reaching out to people I feel even the vaguest spark of connection to has grown so much in the last year.

Like the CEO - I might describe myself as a late developer!

It really feels as though a lot of things are coming together for me. It would be nice if we actually reached a place this time, though, rather than seeing it drift by on the horizon!

And last but not least, the cover art for my novel is complete. Just need some lettering and we're good to go! Watch this space...

Current Mood: excited
Current Location: bedroom

Took the grandson to get his hair cut ready for school on Wednesday. Where did the holidays go? Not that they affect us much but I'm still feeling a flutter of getting-ready-for-school butterflies.

I played a bit more of KH. I've finished beating up helpless barrels in the Coliseum and moved on to Tarzan's jungle. I'm trying to swing across some vines and, mostly, failing. Why did nobody ever tell me this was basically a platformer? I don't do platformers and this game is all the reasons why. Jump from one ledge to another - oh, you were slightly off on that one, try again. Ooops, not quite! I know it LOOKS as though you need to be at that angle but actually you need to be at a slightly different one. OK, you did the ledges - now you have to time your jumps between moving objects. Oh, but now you have to turn around slightly... Urrrggghhh!!! The whole thing is an exercise in frustration with no warm fuzzy sense of achievement if I DO actually complete the stupid hopping about correctly AND without really enjoying the rest of the game because I'm still figuring it all out.

I did, however, return to Wonderland and Traverse Town to do some money (sorry - munny) farming. And I'm getting better at the space ship game, so there's that.

We've also made the decision to watch this series of X Factor. I gave up about 2/3 of the way through last year because Honey G (a white female rapper who can't rap) kept getting through. I'm not a fan of rap myself but I can appreciate talent; rapping is a skill and, if it's well done, I can enjoy it at that level. Honey G raps as well as I do. I can also appreciate that rap music is important to a lot of people, Honey G included. I am not even going to judge the fact that she comes from a comfortable, white middle class background, so what the fuck relevance rap music has to her life I don't know. I love Johnny Cash's version of 'Hurt' and I've never self-harmed in my life. And I seem to have a thing for drug-related songs (Bridge Over Troubled Water, Ride a White Swan, There She Goes) but have never done drugs.

Anyway, we're telling ourselves, 'maybe this year will be OK'. Yeah, maybe...

And that was Saturday. Bye for now, DW!

Current Mood: happy
Current Location: bedroom

Ever wondered what I sound like? Well, you can listen to this to get an idea - although the Scouse accent sounds much stronger in recordings than in real life.

I checked the Official FF12 Guide on Friday, which recommended Level 30 for the Stilshrine, so I decided to do some hunts and side-questy stuff. I'd already completed the first two hunts, so picked up hunts 3 - 11. I've done all of them except getting the ring for the ghost lady in Giza (because we're still in the dry season) and the wyvern in the Nam-Yensa (which I'm en route for). I'm going everywhere by foot (except for Bhujerba, obviously) to get those battles in!

I used Belias for the demon/ghost thing in the Henne mines and he actually did a good job. I really want to make use of the Espers this time. I think they have been beefed up a bit from what I've read. And they needed to be - I found them completely useless in the original game.

License-wise, I'm focussing on the lores - battle, magic, potion, etc. None of the armour or weapons that are available are really much better than what I have, so I'm not in a rush to learn the licenses for them. And there are SO MANY accessories and you can only wear one at a time. Surely they could have added an extra accessory slot when they were remastering the game? I do remember Bubble Belt being a favourite when I played the original game.

I am still mourning the lack of Sky Pirate's Den. I think I always will.

Oh, and I was very amused to step out of a wet and stormy Ozmone Plain into a dry and sunny Jahara Village! Is this place under some sort of invisible, weather-proof dome?

Had a lovely day in Crosby with the grandson on Saturday. We went to the beach, nearly got stuck in some mud (thank goodness we'd taken our shoes off!) and when to see Captain Underpants. It was a fun film and the grandson was giggling away. I was a bit frustrated that both of the main characters were boys. Girls can be pranksters, too! Not to mention comic-book creators. Maybe I'm over-thinking. Anyway, it felt good to support an independent cinema and to have a day in the fresh air.

Only three days in work this week, then I'm off until 14 August. Next week we go to Cardiff! Look out Wales...

Well, that's all for now. Toodles, DW!

Current Mood: cheerful
Current Location: bedroom

Took the grandson to Crosby on Saturday to see Despicable Me 3 at the Plaza. The Crosby Plaza is an independent cinema that is run as a charity, so ticks lots of boxes. But it's tiny and when we got there they had sold out. I had thought about booking tickets as soon as we got of the train but I didn't. We had already been around town spending some of his money AND had an hour on the beach making sandcastles, so it wasn't a complete wash out. I am going to check if it's still on this weekend (if it's THAT popular, I expect it will be) and book online!

Our 'my favourite bible passage' series came to an end on Sunday. A not-very-inspiring theme that threw up loads of stuff from four very different speakers. I love how the worship planning 'hive mind' works! M will be at our next meeting - it's her very first meeting as Rector. What an introduction. And I'm actually publicising it for a change. Go me!

In exactly two weeks it will be our 25th wedding anniversary and we'll be waking up in Cardiff. I really want this trip to go well. The husband is full of doom and gloom, but my eternal positivity says it won't be as bad as he fears. However, I need to remember that some of what he predicts is very likely to come true and to be prepared!

I am greeting Sophie every morning, at the moment. One of the on-going problems with her is that, now that we've made friends, I still feel she's a separate thing. We need to be integrated for all this to have any point. Trying to call on her 'when I need her' isn't integration and makes me feel I'm using her. So, behaving like a friend, popping round to her tower to say 'good morning' feels like a way forward. Her tower looks incredibly like Rapunzel's in 'Witcher 3: Blood and Wine' - but they are both inspired by story book illustrations, so it's probably not to be wondered at.

I'm about 19 hours into FFXII:ZA and getting lost in the Henne Mines. There are now TWO bloody high-level dinosaurs living down there! It was bad enough tackling one. Thank goodness for 'fleeing'! I didn't get to play last night as the son was doing quizzes for the husband and me on Beatles' song titles. I was a bit irritated at the start but 'the family that plays together stays together' and all that. AND I ended up laughing until I cried - I have no idea why but it was that kind of night. I love my boys!

OK, time to get this day started.

Current Mood: amused
Current Location: bedroom

A bed of roses

Look out for thorns

Tetchy Rosa is tetchy

18 years... WTAF?

Mo meetings, mo... something...

Long but short

Rain, rain, go away...

Hodge podge

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