What’s on your mind?

[The-Real-Deal82]

A relaxing day in store after a busy day running around yesterday. I do live Christmas but it comes and goes so quickly. A nice day with loved ones not worrying about anything other than food and drink. Love winter too, with cold weather wrapping up warm. I can understand why some don’t like this time of year though.

 

[Apple fanboy]

A relaxing day in store after a busy day running around yesterday. I do live Christmas but it comes and goes so quickly. A nice day with loved ones not worrying about anything other than food and drink. Love winter too, with cold weather wrapping up warm. I can understand why some don’t like this time of year though.

More of a spring and summer man myself! But it’s not as cold today. It was pretty icy in places on yesterday’s walk. I nearly fell over!
But no such issues today.
Lots of people out walking today though. Makes it less enjoyable for us. Still managed to see a squirrel and a small deer.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

More of a spring and summer man myself! But it’s not as cold today. It was pretty icy in places on yesterday’s walk. I nearly fell over!
But no such issues today.
Lots of people out walking today though. Makes it less enjoyable for us. Still managed to see a squirrel and a small deer.

It’s been light drizzle here all day so far so I think sadly a walk is no longer on the cards. I may go tonight once the kids are in bed.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Winds rising, but managed a short stroll.

Books to read, wines this evening, and a coffee awaits me.

Some emails to attend to, too.

 

[Apple fanboy]

It’s been light drizzle here all day so far so I think sadly a walk is no longer on the cards. I may go tonight once the kids are in bed.

We have no street lights here, so that’s not a good option. The weather has deteriorated since lunch. It’s blowing a gale out there.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Winds rising, but managed a short stroll.

Books to read, wines this evening, and a coffee awaits me.

Some emails to attend to, too.

Enjoy your coffee, wine and books.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Enjoy your coffee, wine and books.

Lashing rain now, but thank you, I shall enjoy my coffee (it is finished, perhaps it is high time to prepare another cup), wine, cheese - I forgot to mention cheese, and between the cheesemonger's generous and kind gift on Christas Eve, and my own cheese shopping, I am more than amply supplied - and yes, books.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Lashing rain now, but thank you, I shall enjoy my coffee (it is finished, perhaps it is high time to prepare another cup), wine, cheese - I forgot to mention cheese, and between the cheesemonger's generous and kind gift on Christas Eve, and my own cheese shopping, I am more than amply supplied - and yes, books.

Just done the vacuuming and made myself a nice cup of tea as a reward.
Dinner is in the oven. The usual. Chicken breast with carrots and sprouts.
Will be served with rice.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Just done the vacuuming and made myself a nice cup of tea as a reward.
Dinner is in the oven. The usual. Chicken breast with carrots and sprouts.
Will be served with rice.

Apart from some baked Camembert this evening, (and I am both exceptionally well stocked with cheese, and not in a mood for serious cooking today), and a cheese board, already laid out, nothing else is planned for diner.

I did, however, remove two turkey thighs from the freezer, and shall prepare them tomorrow, poached with roasted vegetables.

No vacuuming or anything of the sort today; I'll leave the bedlinen changes for another day or two.

However, in years past, pubs were open, as were shops, while my father would attend some sort of sporting event (often with Decent Brother) and I would spend much of today preparing a selection of salads for a formal dinner with my aunt, mother of my favourite cousin, (still alive, at 95) and her husband, as they always came to visit us for dinner on Boxing Day/St Stephen's Day.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

We have no street lights here, so that’s not a good option. The weather has deteriorated since lunch. It’s blowing a gale out there.

Yes, it was already deterioratd when I headed out for a brief stroll earlier; within half an hour of my return, it had begun to spit rain.

Now, it is now blowing a gale and lashing rain, the rain driving against the windows.

It has been dark for the past hour, the sort of day when one's indoor lights have been switched on since shortly after three in the afternoon.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Apart from some baked Camembert this evening, (and I am both exceptionally well stocked with cheese, and not in a mood for serious cooking today), and a cheese board, already laid out, nothing else is planned for diner.

I did, however, remove two turkey thighs from the freezer, and shall prepare them tomorrow, poached with roasted vegetables.

No vacuuming or anything of the sort today; I'll leave the bedlinen changes for another day or two.

However, in years past, pubs were open, as were shops, while my father would attend some sort of sporting event (often with Decent Brother) and I would spend much of today preparing a selection of salads for a formal dinner with my aunt, mother of my favourite cousin, (still alive, at 95) and her husband, as they always came to visit us for dinner on Boxing Day/St Stephen's Day.

I’d not call what we do serious cooking. Just stick it in the oven. Take out when it’s cooked. Pretty standard for us.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Yes, it was already deterioratd when I headed out for a brief stroll earlier; within half an hour of my return, it had begun to spit rain.

Now, it is now blowing a gale and lashing rain, the rain driving against the windows.

It has been dark for the past hour, the sort of day when one's indoor lights have been switched on since shortly after three in the afternoon.

Indeed. Roll on Spring. Had enough of Winter already.

 

[Clix Pix]

Brrrr! Sunny but chilly here today, pretty much a repeat of yesterday, but tomorrow and the following days are supposed to be a bit warmer. I've got to make a run to the library, as I hadn't realized that two books are due today. Oops! Since the library has implemented the automatic renewal system it's easy to lose track of what is due when, and to be mindful of the number of renewals remaining. Only three are permitted, and that's reasonable, as each is three weeks. I had just kept pushing these two books to the bottom of the pile as other, more appealing ones came into my hands, and when I received the last notification hadn't looked too closely. No problem to go over there; it'll be good to get away from here for at least a little while, and my car could use some exercise anyway.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Indeed. Roll on Spring. Had enough of Winter already.

Amen to that.

Brrrr! Sunny but chilly here today, pretty much a repeat of yesterday, but tomorrow and the following days are supposed to be a bit warmer. I've got to make a run to the library, as I hadn't realized that two books are due today. Oops! Since the library has implemented the automatic renewal system it's easy to lose track of what is due when, and to be mindful of the number of renewals remaining. Only three are permitted, and that's reasonable, as each is three weeks. I had just kept pushing these two books to the bottom of the pile as other, more appealing ones came into my hands, and when I received the last notification hadn't looked too closely. No problem to go over there; it'll be good to get away from here for at least a little while, and my car could use some exercise anyway.

Ah, yes, the mounting challenges - in these Covid times - of remembering which books need to be returned and which can be retained for a little longer.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Brrrr! Sunny but chilly here today, pretty much a repeat of yesterday, but tomorrow and the following days are supposed to be a bit warmer. I've got to make a run to the library, as I hadn't realized that two books are due today. Oops! Since the library has implemented the automatic renewal system it's easy to lose track of what is due when, and to be mindful of the number of renewals remaining. Only three are permitted, and that's reasonable, as each is three weeks. I had just kept pushing these two books to the bottom of the pile as other, more appealing ones came into my hands, and when I received the last notification hadn't looked too closely. No problem to go over there; it'll be good to get away from here for at least a little while, and my car could use some exercise anyway.

Not used mine since Wednesday. Will give it a run at some point in the next few days.

 

[Clix Pix]

When I go to the library and check out books, first thing I do when returning home is to take the due date slip and mark on my calendar when the items are due. That system has worked out fine -- until the library started this new automatic renewal system where now they renew the books automatically so that the patron doesn't even have to think about it, and the result is that, yeah, I DON'T think about it and when reading the email don't think to put the new due date(s) on the calendar, too, as what usually happens is that I think, "oh, yeah, I'll mark the calendar later...." In addition, the Pandemic Protocols also add another layer of confusion to this, too, because the library sends notification of when books are due, including the ones that someone has already returned. The items have not yet been checked in, even though they're no longer in the patron's possession. Easy to let things slip under the wire and not remember that such-and-such an item needs to be read next because it'll be due in a few days because it's in its third renewal period now. !!! I'm sure I'm not the only one who has been caught out by this and had to make a hasty trip to the library to return something!

 

[Scepticalscribe]

When I go to the library and check out books, first thing I do when returning home is to take the due date slip and mark on my calendar when the items are due. That system has worked out fine -- until the library started this new automatic renewal system where now they renew the books automatically so that the patron doesn't even have to think about it, and the result is that, yeah, I DON'T think about it and when reading the email don't think to put the new due date(s) on the calendar, too, as what usually happens is that I think, "oh, yeah, I'll mark the calendar later...." In addition, the Pandemic Protocols also add another layer of confusion to this, too, because the library sends notification of when books are due, including the ones that someone has already returned. The items have not yet been checked in, even though they're no longer in the patron's possession. Easy to let things slip under the wire and not remember that such-and-such an item needs to be read next because it'll be due in a few days because it's in its third renewal period now. !!! I'm sure I'm not the only one who has been caught out by this and had to make a hasty trip to the library to return something!

Decent Brother has also been caught with this.

How many renewals are you allowed?

One (small but welcome) advantage of lock-down is that all books are automatically renewed, or, the clock on returning them is suspended (formally) as the libraries tend to be shut and could not receive returns anyway.

 

[Clix Pix]

We are permitted three renewals, each period of which is the same as the regular check-out period, three weeks.

During the time the library system was actually closed during our stay-at-home/lockdown period, no returns were accepted at all, no one could check out anything since the buildings were closed. People could use online services and many people availed themselves of the e-books system, but I never did that. Then the library slowly reopened, first by accepting returns via bookdrop only, then after a few weeks they began offering curbside pickup if patrons called in and requested an item or two, and/or had holds that were now waiting for them. A few weeks of that and then thankfully the library branches all reopened, with limited hours and of course specific requirements: masks must be worn, patrons may only be in the branch for a period of 30 minutes, no lingering, no use of public computers, can only use the computers which have just the library catalog on them. I go in, return my books to the canvas bin awaiting them, then pick up my holds, if any are on the shelf for me, and after that I quickly browse the new books shelves or if I have a particular item I want from the regular shelves, I go and fetch that. Self-checkout and I'm on the way out the door!

I think this afternoon I'll probably just drop the books into the bookdrop and not go in.... I've still got several books here now waiting for me to get to them, anyway.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

My wine is going down rather well, I am listening to excellent music, there are books to read and thoughts to think.

 

[Apple fanboy]

My wine is going down rather well, I am listening to excellent music, there are books to read and thoughts to think.

Enjoy. Having a tea here. I should imagine the football results put you in a good mood.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Enjoy. Having a tea here. I should imagine the football results put you in a good mood.

Yes, and my team won - handsomely and well - which yes, has indeed served to brighten my mood.

Actually, I have broken out the crisps a good hour or so before I would normally thought to have done so.

Enjoy your tea.

 

[Clix Pix]

What's on my mind? Setting up my brand-new 13" M1 MBP with 1 TB SSD and 16 GB RAM!!!

When I got up today I certainly was not anticipating this happening.....but in the early afternoon as I was doing my usual online routine, I idly went into the Apple store site and ran the specs, not expecting anything except the usual "Unavailable" indication, so was startled when I realized that my local store actually had inventory!!! Today! NOW! After I picked my jaw off the floor, I placed my order and about an hour and a half later a nice young man from the Apple store, playing courier, handed me the bag containing the box with my lovely new machine! I'm still in kind of a daze, actually! 🙂

I unboxed her but haven't yet unwrapped her from the protective plastic around her, as I'm not quite ready to set her up yet and I know that once I lift the lid I'll be wanting to get right to that.....

Instead, because she was still pretty cold from being exposed albeit it briefly to our chilly outdoor temperatures today, I left her to warm up and become acclimated to the house here while I made a quick trip to the library and got those books returned, that whole thing out of my way. With regard to computers, I have a couple of things I need to do (primarily clean out stuff in my email client) before I'm ready to set up the new machine and I'm thinking I'll do the needful tonight and then spend tomorrow happily setting up and playing with the newest member of the household.

Having that courier service is just terrific and certainly it is invaluable this time of year where there are going to be a lot of people at a mall anyway, not to mention particularly THIS year with the whole pandemic thing going on..... I placed my order, using Apple Pay and my Apple Card, and that way I will be getting the nice little percentage back from Apple, too.

I had thought that 2020 might be the first year in a very long time when I had actually not bought anything new from Apple, no exciting products, having other priorities for the most part and dealing with what had been local unavailability, but bingo, I came in under the wire with this!!! 😀

 

[Apple fanboy]

Having just watched Dunkirk, my Grandad is in my mind as he was there, survived and headed back to France for D-Day. He only went abroad 3 times.
He was part of the British Expeditionary force at the start of WW2. D-Day and Palestine after the war.
As he was a farmer, he could have stayed at home of course, but (rightly so), thought he should do his bit. He never spoke of the horror’s he saw.

 

[Geekbabe]

Gratitude is on my mind. I have been living with metastatic lung cancer for 6 years, immunotherapy has kept me alive. I have a loving husband and family, 2 cats who tolerate me 😂 I am still employed at a caring company, our rent is paid, we are warm & have food. As a health care worker I also received my 1st dose of the Pfizer Covid vaccine last Monday.

so yes, deep gratitude is what is on my mind

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Having just watched Dunkirk, my Grandad is in my mind as he was there, survived and headed back to France for D-Day. He only went abroad 3 times.
He was part of the British Expeditionary force at the start of WW2. D-Day and Palestine after the war.
As he was a farmer, he could have stayed at home of course, but (rightly so), thought he should do his bit. He never spoke of the horror’s he saw.

I must watch that movie.

I may have mentioned that an uncle by marriage - he married my mother's eldest sister - was a pilot in the RAF with Coastal Command, an Acting Flight Lieutenant, when he was killed with his entire crew in November 1943.

I have his pencil case, his "wings", their photo album, and his ring, which I wear, daily, to this day.

My aunt was a section officer (equivalent of captain) in the WAAFs, and to this day, I wear his ring, which my aunt (who died in January 2000) also wore, and which I inherited (as I am interested in history), even though, years later, - a second marriage for them both - she married again, to a chap who had worked (and I confirmed this, checking the records), in Bletchley Park, although he predeceased her.