Daisy Turnip writes.....
Daughter has broken up from college for the summer. During the summer break she will be working most days but requires a lift to get there as there is no public transport available. She therefore needs a lift from Mother! If I’m home on that day it’s no problem as I can take her as it’s only a 10 minute trip up the motorway. However, bit of a problem - I’m not home based most days. This therefore gives her a dilemma of how can she get to work. Coming home is no problem as Hubby or I are usually available most evenings.
I suggested she offers to pay someone £5 to take her to work, as and when required. She moaned at this. Yes, of course silly me, she’s never had to pay parents to shuttle her round in her hectic social, college, social or working life style. I suggested I gave up work so that I’m at her beck and call! She liked that idea, and then I said, ‘oh, if I’m not working, I don’t need a car’ – bit of a catch 22 situation.
Daughter has therefore done a deal with someone in the village to take her to work on an ad hoc basis.
She has a 3 hour shift one day next week and I’m not here to drop her off at work. She’s therefore got to pay someone virtually a third of the wages she’s going to earn that day. She’s gutted!
Welcome to our world!
Wednesday, 11 July 2007
Wall Eating Wasps
Daisy Turnip writes.....
We’ve had a wasps nest in the eaves of our house for quite a while now. They haven’t bothered us so we were quite happy to leave it there.
At the weekend I walked into the bedroom and could hear this strange noise – a little bit like rain drops gently falling on the window ledge. Strangely, for the middle of this English summer time, the weather was glorious outside and not a drop of rain could be either seen or felt. To my horror I realised it was the wasps nest behind the wall!
Monday morning I rang the pest control team at our local council who informed me they’d love to come and get rid of it for us and would equally love to charge us £50 for the pleasure of doing so. I begrudgingly agreed and was then informed, “Someone will call you in 24 hours to arrange a visit”
No one called.
This morning I went into the spare room and could seriously hear the wasps behind the wall. I walked right up to the wall and then spotted that part of the wall – about the size of a 10 pence piece was coming away from the rest of the wall. Adrenalin rush extraordinaire! Oh my God, the wasps are coming through the wall I thought. Then I calmed down and thought this couldn’t be so.
I rang the pest control team and asked why no one had called and what had happened to the visit. I then, slightly embarrassed by asking the question, asked if they could eat their way through a wall, “oh yes, came the reply” aaarrrrrggggghhh, “Would you make that call out an urgent one then please?” I screeched as I quickly ran upstairs and pushed back the plaster into the wall and carefully ripped off a whole tape of sellotape, trying to seal the broken plaster back into the wall.
Luckily, the lovely Neil turned up an hour or so later and gave me all the gory stories behind the life and times of being a ‘wasp man’ – twice this week he’s been on call outs where the wasps have eaten their way through the plaster board of both a wall and a ceiling. Talking and writing about it is seriously giving me the heebygeebies!
Anyway, Neil sprayed his potion into the eaves and then snatched a cheque from me and said, “All should be fine within the next few hours, you might see minor activity for the next couple of weeks, but if there’s anything more after 14 days, give me a call and I’ll be back” – thanks Arnie of the wasp world!
I’ll do nothing about the wall and the sellotape until a fortnight then? Any visitors can just assume we’re holding up the wall with sellotape. I’m not going to mention the wasps!
I later rang a colleague, who had slept in the room only just over a week ago. She’s now receiving counselling for mental trauma. She too thought she was going mad as she thought she could hear rain but when she looked out of the window could only see sunshine. In her head, she can now permanently hear the sound of wasps buzzing behind the wall at the side of the bed!!
Biodiversity in my eaves – you can stick it thanks!!
We’ve had a wasps nest in the eaves of our house for quite a while now. They haven’t bothered us so we were quite happy to leave it there.
At the weekend I walked into the bedroom and could hear this strange noise – a little bit like rain drops gently falling on the window ledge. Strangely, for the middle of this English summer time, the weather was glorious outside and not a drop of rain could be either seen or felt. To my horror I realised it was the wasps nest behind the wall!
Monday morning I rang the pest control team at our local council who informed me they’d love to come and get rid of it for us and would equally love to charge us £50 for the pleasure of doing so. I begrudgingly agreed and was then informed, “Someone will call you in 24 hours to arrange a visit”
No one called.
This morning I went into the spare room and could seriously hear the wasps behind the wall. I walked right up to the wall and then spotted that part of the wall – about the size of a 10 pence piece was coming away from the rest of the wall. Adrenalin rush extraordinaire! Oh my God, the wasps are coming through the wall I thought. Then I calmed down and thought this couldn’t be so.
I rang the pest control team and asked why no one had called and what had happened to the visit. I then, slightly embarrassed by asking the question, asked if they could eat their way through a wall, “oh yes, came the reply” aaarrrrrggggghhh, “Would you make that call out an urgent one then please?” I screeched as I quickly ran upstairs and pushed back the plaster into the wall and carefully ripped off a whole tape of sellotape, trying to seal the broken plaster back into the wall.
Luckily, the lovely Neil turned up an hour or so later and gave me all the gory stories behind the life and times of being a ‘wasp man’ – twice this week he’s been on call outs where the wasps have eaten their way through the plaster board of both a wall and a ceiling. Talking and writing about it is seriously giving me the heebygeebies!
Anyway, Neil sprayed his potion into the eaves and then snatched a cheque from me and said, “All should be fine within the next few hours, you might see minor activity for the next couple of weeks, but if there’s anything more after 14 days, give me a call and I’ll be back” – thanks Arnie of the wasp world!
I’ll do nothing about the wall and the sellotape until a fortnight then? Any visitors can just assume we’re holding up the wall with sellotape. I’m not going to mention the wasps!
I later rang a colleague, who had slept in the room only just over a week ago. She’s now receiving counselling for mental trauma. She too thought she was going mad as she thought she could hear rain but when she looked out of the window could only see sunshine. In her head, she can now permanently hear the sound of wasps buzzing behind the wall at the side of the bed!!
Biodiversity in my eaves – you can stick it thanks!!
Thursday, 5 July 2007
Men eh – Just Typical!
Daisy Turnip writes.....
A friend rang me the other night to tell me she had driven her car through the front door of her house, straight into her hall!
Apparently, it was the fault of her husband who just happened to be 20 miles away at work at the time!! He had left the car parked ‘in gear’ the previous evening – tut tut, shame on him!!
At the time, her youngest child was already in the car, the middle child was putting his shoes on in the kitchen – luckily he wasn’t in the hall and her eldest child was upstairs getting ready for school.
Since the accident, the first thing she now hears the kids do as soon as they get into the car is a hurried ‘clunk clink’ of the seat belt. And the eldest child – he’s now offered to walk to school. Something she’s been trying to get him to do for several months now! : )
See, every cloud has a silver lining.
A friend rang me the other night to tell me she had driven her car through the front door of her house, straight into her hall!
Apparently, it was the fault of her husband who just happened to be 20 miles away at work at the time!! He had left the car parked ‘in gear’ the previous evening – tut tut, shame on him!!
At the time, her youngest child was already in the car, the middle child was putting his shoes on in the kitchen – luckily he wasn’t in the hall and her eldest child was upstairs getting ready for school.
Since the accident, the first thing she now hears the kids do as soon as they get into the car is a hurried ‘clunk clink’ of the seat belt. And the eldest child – he’s now offered to walk to school. Something she’s been trying to get him to do for several months now! : )
See, every cloud has a silver lining.
Tuesday, 3 July 2007
Fairy Good
Daisy Turnip writes.....
Remember my colleague who has problems with all the trains across the UK? He sent me the following text whilst sitting on a train
‘I accidentally put my iPod in the washing machine yesterday and when I fished it out I thought I would have to send it to that great Mac shop (he’s a Mac freak, btw) in the sky. Not so. Currently listening to Mozart.
He makes my day: )
Remember my colleague who has problems with all the trains across the UK? He sent me the following text whilst sitting on a train
‘I accidentally put my iPod in the washing machine yesterday and when I fished it out I thought I would have to send it to that great Mac shop (he’s a Mac freak, btw) in the sky. Not so. Currently listening to Mozart.
He makes my day: )
To the dedicated Traffic Wardens of Tameside
Daisy Turnip writes.....
To the dedicated Traffic Wardens of Tameside
Yesterday I had to go to Manchester for a meeting. I set off in plenty of time and tootled up the M40, M42 and M6. At the end of the M6 part of the journey I hit traffic. Very heavy traffic. I sat and watched as my satnav system kept updating me on the fact that I was going to be late for my meeting. And then the heavens opened and it didn’t stop.
By the time I got to my meeting destination it was torrential rain fall. I pulled onto the car park and drove to the pay and display machine to get my ticket. In the minute it took me to put my money into the machine I was drenched – seriously, my hair that was perfectly washed and groomed that morning, now looked as if I’d just got out of the shower! And then all the money came out the bottom of the machine and therefore wouldn’t let me purchase a ticket.
As the rain was still hammering down, I jumped into the car and drove to the other end of the car park and tried the other pay and display machine – the same thing happened.
A huge clap of thunder burst above my head. It made myself and another woman who was waiting at the machine jump so much. It was really very scary. She then informed me the other machine wasn’t working too.
I therefore gave up, scribbled a note and left it on my windscreen telling the lovely traffic wardens of Tameside that the machines weren’t working and I couldn’t purchase a ticket. As I scribbled the note I thought to myself that no one in this weather would be mad enough to be looking to issue tickets to poor, unsuspecting car drivers.
I had my meeting and walked back to the car. And there, right above my note to the traffic warden, was a ticket stuck to my windscreen!
Are you immune to torrential rain ‘upt north?!
Happy Monday!
To the dedicated Traffic Wardens of Tameside
Yesterday I had to go to Manchester for a meeting. I set off in plenty of time and tootled up the M40, M42 and M6. At the end of the M6 part of the journey I hit traffic. Very heavy traffic. I sat and watched as my satnav system kept updating me on the fact that I was going to be late for my meeting. And then the heavens opened and it didn’t stop.
By the time I got to my meeting destination it was torrential rain fall. I pulled onto the car park and drove to the pay and display machine to get my ticket. In the minute it took me to put my money into the machine I was drenched – seriously, my hair that was perfectly washed and groomed that morning, now looked as if I’d just got out of the shower! And then all the money came out the bottom of the machine and therefore wouldn’t let me purchase a ticket.
As the rain was still hammering down, I jumped into the car and drove to the other end of the car park and tried the other pay and display machine – the same thing happened.
A huge clap of thunder burst above my head. It made myself and another woman who was waiting at the machine jump so much. It was really very scary. She then informed me the other machine wasn’t working too.
I therefore gave up, scribbled a note and left it on my windscreen telling the lovely traffic wardens of Tameside that the machines weren’t working and I couldn’t purchase a ticket. As I scribbled the note I thought to myself that no one in this weather would be mad enough to be looking to issue tickets to poor, unsuspecting car drivers.
I had my meeting and walked back to the car. And there, right above my note to the traffic warden, was a ticket stuck to my windscreen!
Are you immune to torrential rain ‘upt north?!
Happy Monday!
Sunday, 24 June 2007
They must have been truly evil in a previous life
Daisy Turnip writes.....
My Hubby’s cousin, her other half and their three young kids have just left! The parents must have been seriously evil in a previous life.
I am knackered!! Completely and utterly knackered!
Hubby, who is chief kid’s entertainer, was up at 7.30am playing with the kids and then took them down to the park with the dog – all before 9am on a Sunday morning! Impressive! He’s now totally passed out on the sofa!
The kids are gorgeous, so very very well behaved, but energy, where on earth do kids get their energy from? A weekend has totally wiped me out – actually, it’s not even a full weekend, they arrived at 5pm’ish on Saturday evening. How do parents manage 24/7?
I’m off to bed!
My Hubby’s cousin, her other half and their three young kids have just left! The parents must have been seriously evil in a previous life.
I am knackered!! Completely and utterly knackered!
Hubby, who is chief kid’s entertainer, was up at 7.30am playing with the kids and then took them down to the park with the dog – all before 9am on a Sunday morning! Impressive! He’s now totally passed out on the sofa!
The kids are gorgeous, so very very well behaved, but energy, where on earth do kids get their energy from? A weekend has totally wiped me out – actually, it’s not even a full weekend, they arrived at 5pm’ish on Saturday evening. How do parents manage 24/7?
I’m off to bed!
Saturday, 23 June 2007
Can You Hear Me Mother?
Daisy Turnip writes.....
I recently changed my car and with my old car going, so did my built in hands free ‘phone kit. Not being able to use the phone whilst driving has become a bit of a problem and along with my current job, getting lost around new towns and cities was also driving me insane. I therefore treated myself to a satnav system with built in bluetooth for hands free phone calls.
The Bluetooth is not brilliant and no way compares to the quality of my old system. My mother called me whilst I was driving! The conversation went as follows:-
Mom: Hello, Michelle, are you there?
Me: Hi Mom, yes, I’m here.
Mom: You sound strange, what’s the matter?
Me: Nothing, it’s this new hands free system, it’s not very good.
Mom: Are you sure you’re ok?
Me: Yes mom, I’m fine, it’s the car kit, it’s no good.
Mom: Ok, you sound strange. Have you got your hayfever then?
Me: Mom, I’m 39 years old, I’ve never had hayfever!
Hmmmm!!
I recently changed my car and with my old car going, so did my built in hands free ‘phone kit. Not being able to use the phone whilst driving has become a bit of a problem and along with my current job, getting lost around new towns and cities was also driving me insane. I therefore treated myself to a satnav system with built in bluetooth for hands free phone calls.
The Bluetooth is not brilliant and no way compares to the quality of my old system. My mother called me whilst I was driving! The conversation went as follows:-
Mom: Hello, Michelle, are you there?
Me: Hi Mom, yes, I’m here.
Mom: You sound strange, what’s the matter?
Me: Nothing, it’s this new hands free system, it’s not very good.
Mom: Are you sure you’re ok?
Me: Yes mom, I’m fine, it’s the car kit, it’s no good.
Mom: Ok, you sound strange. Have you got your hayfever then?
Me: Mom, I’m 39 years old, I’ve never had hayfever!
Hmmmm!!
Friday, 15 June 2007
Ben Nevis – The Three Peak Challenge
Daisy Turnip writes.....
We came, we saw, we conquered and I hobbled for a week in absolute agony!
But it was simply awesome and worth every single ache and every single pain.
When we finally got to the top of Ben Nevis – we went up the tourist route – by God, they should have just tarmac’d it, the route is so easy to follow, there was several foot of snow at the top and visibility was incredibly poor. So we sat there and ate our sandwiches, had a cup of coffee and then suddenly the cloud lifted and the sun appeared and there before us was this AMAZING view of the surrounding mountains. Everyone just stood speechless and this was quickly followed with many gasps and ‘awwww, look at that’.
Going back down was the killer. We left the tourist route and took a more direct route. A more direct route means it’s more of a vertical challenge which means it hurts more. They should put a knee pain indicator on all the OS maps! It would seriously mean we picked our routes with greater concentration.
We were nearly at the foot of Ben Nevis, when we came across a team of walkers going up. We said hello and asked if they were ‘going all the way?’ they informed us they’d just started the 3 peak challenge. I told them, that once at the bottom, I will have just finished mine – they looked surprised until I added that instead of the usual 24 hour challenge, it had only taken me 6 years to complete!! I’m chuffed anyway. Being the trophy hunter that I am, I can now tick off my list, each of the highest peaks for England, Scotland and Wales.
We came, we saw, we conquered and I hobbled for a week in absolute agony!
But it was simply awesome and worth every single ache and every single pain.
When we finally got to the top of Ben Nevis – we went up the tourist route – by God, they should have just tarmac’d it, the route is so easy to follow, there was several foot of snow at the top and visibility was incredibly poor. So we sat there and ate our sandwiches, had a cup of coffee and then suddenly the cloud lifted and the sun appeared and there before us was this AMAZING view of the surrounding mountains. Everyone just stood speechless and this was quickly followed with many gasps and ‘awwww, look at that’.
Going back down was the killer. We left the tourist route and took a more direct route. A more direct route means it’s more of a vertical challenge which means it hurts more. They should put a knee pain indicator on all the OS maps! It would seriously mean we picked our routes with greater concentration.
We were nearly at the foot of Ben Nevis, when we came across a team of walkers going up. We said hello and asked if they were ‘going all the way?’ they informed us they’d just started the 3 peak challenge. I told them, that once at the bottom, I will have just finished mine – they looked surprised until I added that instead of the usual 24 hour challenge, it had only taken me 6 years to complete!! I’m chuffed anyway. Being the trophy hunter that I am, I can now tick off my list, each of the highest peaks for England, Scotland and Wales.
Scotland in a tent with rain, Grease and a laptop – Just Perfect
Daisy Turnip writes.....
Once in the Highlands, our plan was to walk Ben Nevis, we pitched our tent at the Glen Nevis campsite. If you ever plan to walk Ben Nevis and camp, stay here. The site was super, the staff are great and it sits more or less at the very foot of Ben Nevis in the most spectacular setting. We sat outside the tent, just looking up and around us at this most magnificent view – BBC Spring Watch eat your heart out. It was totally breathtaking.
The only downside was the midgies – millions of the pesky things. When we arrived, we saw loads of people wearing ‘things’ over their heads – it looked like there had been a nuclear or severe chemical accident on the campsite and a team of specialist chemical ‘cleaneruppers’ were there – this is what they were wearing. We chuckled! An hour later, we too were part of the clean up operation!
Fortunately, not long after we arrived the rain started and the number of midgies reduced considerably. Great. Or may be not – it just didn’t stop raining. Rain, rain, rain, rain and more rain fell. Even with all the proper walking gear, when the weather is so abysmal and the visibility is virtually zilch, it does take away the enjoyment slightly!!! We therefore decided that we’d be cowards, sit it out and wait for a good, dry and clear day to attempt our walk. We continued to sit, waiting for the rain to stop! For just over 2 days we were still waiting! It ‘ain’t no fun’ in a tent when it constantly rains for that long. We honestly couldn’t believe that so much rain could fall – and continue to fall.
One the second day, we debated whether or not, we should just give up, go down to the pub and get totally wasted. We decided that if we did that, we could guarantee that the rain would cease, we’d end up with a hangover and wouldn’t be able to face that big beast Ben Nevis. So we agreed we’d stay one more night and if it was still raining the following morning, we’d throw the tent in the back of the car and come home. Failing in our attempt to walk Ben Nevis!
On Wednesday evening, we set off to Morrisons in Fort William, to buy our 3rd pack of ready made sandwiches, praying, this pack, we’d be able to eat whilst walking up Ben Nevis the following day. And not whilst driving home because it was still raining and we’d given up on our venture. We picked up other provisions, and as is usual practice, we ended up in the DVD aisle. We came across, at the bargain price of £3.99, the DVD of Grease. Great, we’d found tonight’s entertainment. The added bonus was that it came with a song book.
We spent the evening watching Grease on the laptop, singing along with the aid of the song book, listening to the rain bouncing off the tent! What more could you ask for on your holiday??
We went to bed – still raining.
We woke up in the morning – no rain!!!! Yes, Thursday was our day for tackling Big Ben!
Once in the Highlands, our plan was to walk Ben Nevis, we pitched our tent at the Glen Nevis campsite. If you ever plan to walk Ben Nevis and camp, stay here. The site was super, the staff are great and it sits more or less at the very foot of Ben Nevis in the most spectacular setting. We sat outside the tent, just looking up and around us at this most magnificent view – BBC Spring Watch eat your heart out. It was totally breathtaking.
The only downside was the midgies – millions of the pesky things. When we arrived, we saw loads of people wearing ‘things’ over their heads – it looked like there had been a nuclear or severe chemical accident on the campsite and a team of specialist chemical ‘cleaneruppers’ were there – this is what they were wearing. We chuckled! An hour later, we too were part of the clean up operation!
Fortunately, not long after we arrived the rain started and the number of midgies reduced considerably. Great. Or may be not – it just didn’t stop raining. Rain, rain, rain, rain and more rain fell. Even with all the proper walking gear, when the weather is so abysmal and the visibility is virtually zilch, it does take away the enjoyment slightly!!! We therefore decided that we’d be cowards, sit it out and wait for a good, dry and clear day to attempt our walk. We continued to sit, waiting for the rain to stop! For just over 2 days we were still waiting! It ‘ain’t no fun’ in a tent when it constantly rains for that long. We honestly couldn’t believe that so much rain could fall – and continue to fall.
One the second day, we debated whether or not, we should just give up, go down to the pub and get totally wasted. We decided that if we did that, we could guarantee that the rain would cease, we’d end up with a hangover and wouldn’t be able to face that big beast Ben Nevis. So we agreed we’d stay one more night and if it was still raining the following morning, we’d throw the tent in the back of the car and come home. Failing in our attempt to walk Ben Nevis!
On Wednesday evening, we set off to Morrisons in Fort William, to buy our 3rd pack of ready made sandwiches, praying, this pack, we’d be able to eat whilst walking up Ben Nevis the following day. And not whilst driving home because it was still raining and we’d given up on our venture. We picked up other provisions, and as is usual practice, we ended up in the DVD aisle. We came across, at the bargain price of £3.99, the DVD of Grease. Great, we’d found tonight’s entertainment. The added bonus was that it came with a song book.
We spent the evening watching Grease on the laptop, singing along with the aid of the song book, listening to the rain bouncing off the tent! What more could you ask for on your holiday??
We went to bed – still raining.
We woke up in the morning – no rain!!!! Yes, Thursday was our day for tackling Big Ben!
Saturday, 9 June 2007
Home alone for the first time
Daisy Turnip writes.....
Last week, Hubby and I went on holiday to Scotland. Daughter refused to come with us because part of the holiday included walking up Ben Nevis and a spot of camping in the Highlands. We therefore left 17 year old Daughter, home alone for the first time ever for a full week by herself. Scary, very scary. Our neighbour had a key and was under strict instruction to come in every day and check that both house and Daughter was ok.
The morning we set off, Daughter had gone into town on yet another marathon shopping expedition, so we left her the following note:-
“Dear Daughter
Hope you have a great week without us. We’re sure you’re going to miss up loads!
Remember the following:-
In an emergency………………………….. and so on”
We later received a text from her, saying ‘thanks for the note!’ I wasn’t sure whether this was the written form or the cash that we had left for her!
Whilst we were away we rang her every day and most days she rang us too. Another scary point, Daughter doesn’t ring us unless she’s looking for a lift, cash or some other favour. Each phone call went through this daily routine:-
Daughter: Hi Mom, how are you?
Me: Hi Babes, good thanks, you? How you getting on?
Daughter: Fine, when are you coming home?
I’ve still yet to work out why every day she asked when we were coming home. Was she missing us or was a party in the planning? Hmmm!
Anyway, we came home to a spotless house and found out that she’d only actually spent one night here as she’d stayed every night at her friend’s house. The night that she did sleep here, she slept downstairs in the lounge with the dog! Awww, bless.
I’m not convinced she enjoyed her ‘holiday’ as much as she thought she was going to!
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