Crossstitchforum - A FREE forum for Cross Stitchers

We did chicken out this afternoon and stopped. I do feel a bit guilty that mere physical infirmity stopped us.

Regards,

Richard.

A common ailment, especially among chaps reaching a certain age (i.e. anything over 25, I suspect). You are no use to Orianna if you do yourselves an injury!

Three of us were there to paint, do electrics and receive parcels today. Started to do the top coloured coats in the downstairs rooms, the internet was connected and white goods were delivered and we then installed them. The kitchen is so narrow we had to take the drawers out of one side to allow the washing machine to go down the gap in the middle, and only after installing the washing machine could the fridge-freezer go in.

It's starting to look rather nice now that we've coated the worst colour walls in four coats of white.

Regards,

Richard

Think y'all deserve a pint in the Stash & Grab.

Finally having a rest at work.

Finished a new ceiling rose in the front room & added a 5 arm chandelier. We've put 6 coats of paint on 3 walls in the front room, 4 coats to cover the blue-black, then 2 to colour the walls the colour Orianna wants. We've managed 4 coats in the dining room, two white and two coloured, marking the picture rail line. The front bedroom was good, so only needed a partial coat to cover a few discoloured bits. Orianna can't yet decide on the colour for the room. The back bedroom green-black is mostly covered with 4 coats of white, ran out of time and energy to completely cover it. Then it'll need 2 coats of colour to make it nice, she has the paint, we just ran out of time & energy.

Yesterday dropped off 3 book cases and several hundred books. Naturally, with it being Sunday, there was no parking within 100m of Orianna's house. So, 5 trips with a sack barrow were needed. I'm so glad I fished the sack barrow out of the rubbish skip at work...

There is one unhappy family member at the moment. Our ginger & white Maine Coon 'Ozzie' knows that all this moving stuff means Orianna is leaving home, and he's trying to stake a claim on her lap every second she sits down at home. He is being very needy and unsettled at the moment. He's just 14 now, so is getting to be an older cat, and he adores Orianna, so doesn't want this change at all.

Our grey tabby Maine Coon 'Toby' is now just over 1 year old, and is a very bouncy, happy soul. He has learnt to catch mice, which we're pleased about, but not nearly as pleased and proud as he is. He parades back and forth on tip toes, head held high and tail straight up showing off his kill.
Yesterday Toby also brought the baby rabbit back for the 4th time. He last brought it back last Thursday, and the poor thing was utterly terrified. I think it was sufficiently frightened that it died of fright after we dragged Toby away on Thursday. As a result, when Toby brought it back again on Sunday, it was dead and didn't smell too good, but looked unharmed.

Regards,

Richard

"Dead but unharmed" is a new one on me...

Poor Ozzie, will he have to find a new lap to claim?

Thinking of the dark walls, if it's the darkness rather than the colour which is the problem perhaps "several coats of white which turns it into a pale Wedgwood green/blue/whatever" might be all that's needed?

Wallpaper?

Cats are very suspicious of change, that's for sure. Poor Ozzie. Bad enough to have the kitten bouncing around, but to have "his" girl going who knows where? The nerve of these hoomans!

Mabel Figworthy wrote: Mon Jun 01, 2026 5:27 pm "Dead but unharmed" is a new one on me...

...

I didn't think that through properly, did I?
I was trying to say there were no obvious wounds, no blood, etc, all of which is expected when a cat kills its prey.

Regards,

Richard

Perhaps it died of fright?

That was my thought too, poor little thing.

Regards,

Richard

Daughter is now living in her own house.
She moved in on Saturday. When it rained. Rained some more. And then deluged. Followed by rain, hard rain and then more rain.

We moved the last 3 of her book cases, last 20 boxed sets of books (25 per box), precious Lego models, boxes, more boxes, bedding, bed base, headboard and mattress, her DMC thread box (yes, the box with drawers and all thread colours), her pictures and all the rest of her cross stitch stuff.
Tried to get the bed base up the stairs. No go. Took the bed base back - she's sleeping on a mattress.
We put up the net curtains, tied her 6 book cases to the wall with the anti-topple brackets, and..
Seized up, totally exhausted.
Had a Chinese takeaway and left.
Taking the bed base & headboard with us.

She seems to be OK.

Our Maine Coon, Ozzie, though, was bereft. His human's room was empty (except for 6 Dyson DC07 vacuumful's of dust and hair) and she was gooonnne.
He is really moping around. He slept outside her bedroom doorway last night, trying to be there for her when she turned up.
It's actually rather hard to see. Cats are supposed to be independent, free spirits. Not this one.

Poor Ozzie.

Regards,

Richard

Poor Puss!

Very devoted and dedicated.

As for your hard work, and The (near-)Completed Move, that calls for a party at the S&G!

Thanks Mabel & Serinde, much appreciated.

Ozzie is less down today. He spent quite a few hours on our bed overnight. I suspect we're the designated daughter replacement. He slept next to her like a teddy bear snuggled up to her most nights, taking over half her single bed... Something he's trying to replicate with us.

Regards,

Richard

Nice and snug - let's hope he'll have cured himself off the habit by the time the next heatwave arrives....

The best of Other Halves has just given me this 2-day class at Hampton Court Palace for my birthday/Christmas!

Oh very nice!! What a lucky Mabel you are.

It looks gorgeous, and being able to go on a course to do such work, perfect. I am rather envious, I must admit.

I tried to get Tracy to think about a stained glass course (possibly for both of us), which she's expressed an interest in in the past, but I get the vibe she feels there's too much going on this year. Not least of which is getting 'Priested' (becoming a Vicar) rather than 'Deaconed' (becoming a Curate) and wanting to get used to the workload as a consequence.

Regards,

Richard

Fair point on her part, I'd say. When her church's windows are really in need of maintenance and/or upgrade, you can do your course together and save the congregation some funds

I am not entirely sure how English Heritage would take that. They usually require costs of repairs and replacement to be extortionate, and DIY (however 'authentic') breaks that whole philosophy. Despite the fact a 21stC beginner with 21stC tools and materials will probably do work on a par with some of the Mediaeval work I've seen.

Regards,
Richard