What was your fasting blood glucose? (full on chat)

Annb said:

Thanks @gennepher, for your thoughtful reply. In fact, it's my son, Neil, who has applied for this new benefit. We found out what we did about it from the CAB in Stornoway. I had gone along to check that I was not entitled to any enhancement to my benefit (I didn't think I was, but a friend was determined that I should, so I went along, just to satisfy her, really). Neil went along with me to push me around in my chair and while there, he asked about this benefit which he had been invited to apply for at a DSS interview. He was encouraged to do so and it was then that we were told that it was intended to be more compassionate than the normal PIP. Obviously the CAB have the best of intentions but were not aware of the actual technical difficulties. We have yet to see if the department can come up with a solution. Can't believe that nobody else on the Isle of Lewis has come up against this problem before.

As it happens, I am not eligible for any enhancement (including dental work or glasses) because my disability post dates my pension age. My friend felt that justice would allow me the benefits she gets because her disability pre-dates her reaching pension age. According to the CAB person, those over pension age can expect disability, whereas those under pension age don't! That seems to be the reasoning behind the difference. Slight sense of injustice, but the rules are the rules and anyway I wasn't disappointed. Even in this situation it's nice to be vindicated.

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Annb said:

But, I ask her, what happens if none of them speak for you? Who do you vote for?

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ianpspurs said:

UK 2019 G.E. was just such a choice since neither main party leader should have been within a million miles of No 10. Explains why we are where we are but even though the consequences aren't funny best just to laugh at least for a few seconds since the lady's not for turning, at least not today. Courtesy of Daily Star.

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ianpspurs said:

Greetings from the distinctly chilly East. Good news on the washing machine still being covered by the guarantee @Krystyna23040 and your fbg @alf_Josiah . Remarkable longevity for your washing machine @gennepher. We walked the dogs in the local part of Thetford forest yesterday for the first time in over a year which was a joy as well as much easier for me as the paths and underfoot conditions suit me better than uneven/rutted grass. It is also cheaper, well free actually, than dog adventure parks. Have a great day and make what you will of the two creatives attached. Yes I know it isn't Dec 17th yet.

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ianpspurs said:

Thank you for the art which will be amazing when you decide enough is enough. Talking of which, hug for the bad night and even if the double vaccination wasn't the cause I'm glad I decided to split them. Take care and if the art was today's kudos for being so creative and patient but I also hope the process was therapeutic.

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Annb said:

What a talent you have @dunelm. I realise that you will develop the image, but already it is so evocative. Looking forward to seeing how it develops.

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gennepher said:

Fbg 6.2

Midnight slept indoors on the comfy kitchen chair nearly all day yesterday.
I think you can call him an indoors cat now. The wildlife trail cam showed he had not been out to the swing all night...

Is this the end of the nighttime videos of Midnight keeping a look out all night on the activities of the wild beasts?

Here is an earlier YouTube video on Midnight keeping watch all night...
I have a few more of these to show, then maybe it will just be the wild beasts after this?

I was watching the sparrows yesterday. I watch them everyday. There is a flock of them living 24/7 in my back garden these last two weeks. I am not sure how many, 50 or more? They are extremely noisy, like they are having a party all day long. They are eating me out of house and home. And I am running out of fatballs, which are virtually unobtainable at the moment. So yesterday I rationed them to two fatballs, one in each feeder...

Whoops, that did not go down well.

I did put bird seed out, but the sparrows wanted their fatballs.

To start with, it was very orderly, the sparrows sat two or three on a branch while one sparrow was on the fatball feeder, that one took a few pecks, then flew away, and the next sparrow came along and had her feed from the fatball feeder. And in the meantime from the branch behind came another sparrow to sit on the nearest branch to the fatball feeder. And so this orderly queueing went on for a short while, then suddenly chaos. One sparrow decided it was getting to the front of the queue without waiting. And all the others joined. This meant the fatball got broken up easily and fell between the wire frame to the ground. No more fatball.

So the sparrows regrouped themselves and went and had a raucous party on the wind fallen apples at the end of the garden. Then they retired to the rose bush right outside my bedroom door and carried on their noisy celebrations. I actually went outside and told them to shut up. They were silent for one minute...

Now Midnight is hardly outside at the moment, this flock of sparrows are taking up the whole garden, including being on the ground a lot, and turning over the area when the foxes and badgers root for food, which they didn't do with Midnight watching them 24/7...

The times are changing. Nothing stays the same.

Creative is a painting of 3 sparrows looking at me for only providing 1 fatball in their feeder.

I need to go on a fatball expedition...

But first a cuppa, then wend my way to a covid vaccination centre...

Have a good day...

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gennepher said:

Yes @Krystyna23040 it does always get a problem or two in the 13th month...which is what in the past I have paid for an extended guarantee...

My current machine is 16 years old...

Lady Luck is on your side!

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gennepher said:

Fbg 6.2

Midnight slept indoors on the comfy kitchen chair nearly all day yesterday.
I think you can call him an indoors cat now. The wildlife trail cam showed he had not been out to the swing all night...

Is this the end of the nighttime videos of Midnight keeping a look out all night on the activities of the wild beasts?

Here is an earlier YouTube video on Midnight keeping watch all night...
I have a few more of these to show, then maybe it will just be the wild beasts after this?

I was watching the sparrows yesterday. I watch them everyday. There is a flock of them living 24/7 in my back garden these last two weeks. I am not sure how many, 50 or more? They are extremely noisy, like they are having a party all day long. They are eating me out of house and home. And I am running out of fatballs, which are virtually unobtainable at the moment. So yesterday I rationed them to two fatballs, one in each feeder...

Whoops, that did not go down well.

I did put bird seed out, but the sparrows wanted their fatballs.

To start with, it was very orderly, the sparrows sat two or three on a branch while one sparrow was on the fatball feeder, that one took a few pecks, then flew away, and the next sparrow came along and had her feed from the fatball feeder. And in the meantime from the branch behind came another sparrow to sit on the nearest branch to the fatball feeder. And so this orderly queueing went on for a short while, then suddenly chaos. One sparrow decided it was getting to the front of the queue without waiting. And all the others joined. This meant the fatball got broken up easily and fell between the wire frame to the ground. No more fatball.

So the sparrows regrouped themselves and went and had a raucous party on the wind fallen apples at the end of the garden. Then they retired to the rose bush right outside my bedroom door and carried on their noisy celebrations. I actually went outside and told them to shut up. They were silent for one minute...

Now Midnight is hardly outside at the moment, this flock of sparrows are taking up the whole garden, including being on the ground a lot, and turning over the area when the foxes and badgers root for food, which they didn't do with Midnight watching them 24/7...

The times are changing. Nothing stays the same.

Creative is a painting of 3 sparrows looking at me for only providing 1 fatball in their feeder.

I need to go on a fatball expedition...

But first a cuppa, then wend my way to a covid vaccination centre...

Have a good day...

View attachment 56617

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dunelm said:

Good morning everyone from what I hope is a back to normal day for me here in the dark and dangerous north. Our eldest grandchild is 18 today - where did all that time go? Just demonstrates how fleeting our time is and how much of it gets wasted. My sister is packing in so much at present and last week went on a bee keeping course - she knows that she doesn’t have enough time left to actually keep bees but enjoyed the experience. We are still walking the Amalfi Coast together in the virtual universe - smashing, I will have to go there with Mrs Miggins but it may be by car. She would like a trip on the back of a motorcycle but cannot leave France so will have to look at hiring something but it will need to be a trike with a seatbelt for her. Art bit, added some detail. Will do a bit more today. I hope that everyone has a good day, I shall make koffy and enjoy the quiet.


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ianpspurs said:

@Annb yet another early morning due to pain so a gentle hug for you.

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Annb said:

Don't worry about me Ian. I'm used to the pain - the pills just take the edge off but it's all I need. Possibly the short nights are becoming a habit these days. I'm pretty good on the whole - especially compared to others on this thread.

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dunelm said:

Splendid sparrows - I love the colour choices

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ianpspurs said:

Morning all from a decidedly chilly but brilliantly bright outpost of Uncle Sam's protectorate. I may make a statement on my fbg around the end of November. There is no hurry as The Plan is working perfectly. Definitely no shouting match on Monday.. What people heard was harmonious singing of joyful songs. @dunelm a proper Curate’s egg of a post. Congratulations on the development of your wonderful art and to the birthday grandchild but hug for the underlying sadness contained in the reason for the wonderful way your sister is packing so much in. @gennepher thanks for the highly creative video, hug for the cost of showering those sparrows with love and food. You seem to have turned Midnight into a house cat with your love and care. Bravo. I hope the jab goes smoothly and after effects are minor or non existent. @Annb yet another early morning due to pain so a gentle hug for you. Best wishes for the hospital appointment @alf_Josiah - loved the cricket reference. Today some ridiculously expensive chocolate will arrive in the post all the way from Cambridge, the German bars myself and my bg like are so expensive to ship. Perhaps I should buy in bulk? We are off in search of dog food later since Amazon's has become too expensive and unreliable. No doubt some unspecified human provisions will appear: blueberries are cheaper these days. Keep out of trouble except you young Alfred me sparrow, me owl.

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dunelm said:

Good morning everyone from what I hope is a back to normal day for me here in the dark and dangerous north. Our eldest grandchild is 18 today - where did all that time go? Just demonstrates how fleeting our time is and how much of it gets wasted. My sister is packing in so much at present and last week went on a bee keeping course - she knows that she doesn’t have enough time left to actually keep bees but enjoyed the experience. We are still walking the Amalfi Coast together in the virtual universe - smashing, I will have to go there with Mrs Miggins but it may be by car. She would like a trip on the back of a motorcycle but cannot leave France so will have to look at hiring something but it will need to be a trike with a seatbelt for her. Art bit, added some detail. Will do a bit more today. I hope that everyone has a good day, I shall make koffy and enjoy the quiet.


View attachment 56618

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