Re: The Happy Thought Thread Part 4
 

My wife retired today (technically, she retires 31st May, but using up annual leave and accumulated flexi-time) - so pleased for her.

Drinking fizz and having a celebration meal.

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My partner also retired today... cannot wait to have a good celebration do with all the family.. I have another 2.5 years to go yet:(

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Hope she enjoys her retirement, ;)

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Our swifts have just appeared, always a good sign of approaching Summer. :)

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As well as seeing a kingfisher the other day, I saw a fox and a deer today. More varieties of butterflies than I've seen for years too. The wildlife are taking over, about time :)

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Have you ever seen that series Life After People..;)

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I noticed that picture on Netflix. Is it worth watching ?

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Life After People is usually on the History channel nash.

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Ok. Den , Must look and see if I have a history channel on Freesat,

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SWMBO took our current dog out yesterday to visit a rescue center. She came back 90 mins later with Pepper, and also Penny. Penny is a Staffy, we think approx. 11-12 years old and has been horrifically treated by previous owners. She's also a bit deaf and has some vision impairment.

We also think shes been used for puppy farming. Also, coming down this morning at 4am to find pools of diarrhoea on the kitchen tiles wasn't pleasant but certainly expected.

However, she's eating and drinking She will let us put the cream on her rear legs so that's a positive start. She will let us stroke her and she loves her new bed. Oddly, she's impeccably house trained.

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Out for a walk along our beach and was pleasantly surprised to see a seal. In 50 years that's the first time I've seen one in the Solent.

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Wildlife has certainly made a comeback over the last couple of months. Shows how beautiful the uk can be without us traipsing all over it.

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Hopefully it will make some finally realise how precious and vulnerable nature is.

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Just had a nice quietish walk down on the promenade and cliff tops. I see some are already setting up for the day. I'm going to stay home.

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Just got the barbecue out from the garage and cleaned off the rust on the grill :D

I finally managed to get some charcoal briquettes last week. I prefer these over lumpwood as they stay in longer and those bags you set fire to are too large for just a small BBQ.

Burgers*, sausages and brioche buns are defrosting. I'll make up some coleslaw with low calorie mayo, mixed salad and the garlic butter for the toasted baguette slices. ( Cheats garlic bread )

Today the nagging breeze that we've had over the holiday weekend has finally fallen light.

The OH is still furloughed so we'll have a nice lazy afternoon with plenty of beer. :)

* Wild venison ( Sainsbury's TTD ) and chicken 1/4lbs.

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I use lumpwood from CPL - it was £13 for 12kg and at Easter 25% off. Now £17 for 12kg. But likely bits are too big for small unit.

---
Happy thought : found local blacksmith who can repair firetray in our BBQ. Much, much cheaper than buying a good new unit. Kamado BBQ of a decent size and make would be near £1500.

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Met up with my sister today at a local beauty spot. We both bought packed lunches and the views from the top of the down were majestic.

https://www.cableforum.uk/board/atta...3&d=1590679811

With the air being so clear we could see the sea to the south at Newhaven and also the north downs scarp near Guilford. :)

Attachment 28393

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Happy to get my Computer back today as it was playing up;

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Got my furloughed wage, nearly £500 down (pre-tax) on what I would normally get, but hey, I'm being paid to stay at home.

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Well done

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Let's hope people have a job to go back to.

Any news when they will let you return?

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Thankfully my young brother is going back to his job next Tuesday but how long for is another matter as because their sales are down quite a bit there are rumours that some staff might be laid off permanently.

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Sadly that is going to happen in alot of companies.

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Indeed especially when the Furlough scheme goes.

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It should be 1st July hopefully

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Haven’t been out running since I mangled my knee in the 2016 Newport half marathon.

This morning I did 5 miles which took this week’s total to 15 miles. I’m heavier than I was during my half marathon days so it’s all been slow and steady but hopefully I’ll get some semblance of cardio back soon.

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The Falcon 9 1st stage just landed on "Of Course I Still Love You", and the Crew Dragon just achieved SECO - outstanding!!

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Just had my first shower since lockdown began, i was devastated when it was announced all you could do was wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds,any hoo now the restrictions have eased i've had a wash ;)

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Stinky papa stinky. Bet the neighbours are happy the fishy pong has disappeared. :D

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We all smelt the same we where all in it together,i was a bit crafty i used fly spray as a deodorant :)

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Ahhhh, now I understand what the odour often found at the shore line really is. For years we inlanders have been told it's the smell of bracing sea air when in reality it's just the locals needing a bath. :D

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Yesterday I didn't feellike cooking, so I popped to my local takeaway to see if they were hopefully open (it's just around the corner from me), I could smell it as I do normally.

But walking up my hill I saw someone carrying what looked like one of their bags.

I get there and I cried, they were open and people were queueing outside (social distancing).

So I got my dad his Chilli Beef, and I had my first chips in 3 months.

So Takeaway Tuesday is back.

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My VR headset decides to pack up. Luckily, within a week before the (2 yr) warranty runs out. The chance of that happening, usually things pack up just after the warranty runs out.

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:tu:

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As you may know life has been a bitch to me lately.

First my mum catches the Coronavirus which leaves her paralysed, and is currently in a nursing home 30 mins drive from home.

I then go for self-isolation at work to being furloughed.

Well I am now at risk of redundancy as my job has been deemed part-time, and have had 2 meeting today and last Monday, well if I lose my job I lose my car and the ability to see my mum.

But I said I'm willing to work 4 morning a week as this will give me enough money to pay my car and mobiles, other luxuries can go.

Today my sister said that they are looking at letting her come home, so I've been sorting out a room with 10 years of dumping ground.

So I have a lot of humping crap into the garage and loft.

But I need to get to a point where they feel if she should be upstairs or at the end of our living room, as she currently has a weak core due to being bed bound since March.

So getting my mum home is more important than my job

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That was a lucky shot ! Good Luck with it

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Not sure if this is a good thing or not, but after feeling bullied and victimised in my job ad with sweet FA in the way of management support I resigned from my job. Last day was the 6th. So far, feeling better mentally out of it but at the same time am a little stressed about money. But mental wellbeing was suffering so much

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Received the self-install pack for the V6, also came with an SH3. Activation is by an automated phone system - no hard to understand Indians.:)

Sh3 and V6 fitted, SH3 set to modem mode to connect to my router. V6 connected by WiFi and passes speed test with flying colours. What it is to have a decent router.

All done within an hour. :)

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Personally l think you did the right thing Mark as there is nothing worse when one is being bullied in the workplace as my Mum had it for many years in the workplace before she entered retirement.

Ones mental wellbeing is just as important as ones physical wellbeing.

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Unfortunately the V6 has no SCART output to my RF modulator so temporarily I'm using the laptop plugged into the kitchen TV via HDMI and the Virgin TVgo app.

Since I tend to have both on at the same time it's not a bad solution. A raspberry pie might be the final solution.

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I believe there are connectors/adapters you can get for the scart. But it's all a kerfuffle.... One of the reasons why I'm hanging on to my TiVo, the independent broadband connection another.

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I've looked into it and there's a minefield of stuff: Apparently there are any number of DRM methods that prevent HDMI to SCART convertors and HDMI splitters from working properly and they're changing all the time so a solution that works this week may not the next.

Using a Pi with its HDMI output together with TVgo is probably the easiest solution and it allows the TV's to be on different channels.

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We have HDMI->SCART composite that works. it's not brilliant but is usable as long as you don't want to look at lots of text/menus and the like.

---------- Post added at 15:30 ---------- Previous post was at 15:22 ----------

In the "Hates" thread I mentioned our shower packing in. Well we got the spare solenoid but on our shower it needs a near complete disassemble to replace it. We eventually heard from Triton who "don't send engineers out to our model as it's too old".

So onto Check-A-Trade to look for shower repairs and I contact 2 who are local and well rated. Once calls back that day (Friday) and says he can come over next day. He duly arrives, asks if we want him to wear a mask (we don't) and show him the shower. About an hour and a cup of coffee later the shower is working and recommissioned and he has repaired the shower isolation switch and bathroom light switch (ceiling). His quote for the shower was £65 and we had to ensure he added £15 for the switch work. So £80 and our shower is working and the switches are safer and not sticking anymore. Must remember to give excellent review.

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Finally managed to book a hair appointment, shame its 21st July.

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l can imagine your hair being nearly as long as one of those 1970's rockers by now SnoopZ.;)

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Nineties raver more like I'd bet, I've certainly regressed to that anyway, floppy curtains all round. I'm getting mine cut on the 9th luckily as I needed a haircut before lockdown began!

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Worzel gummidge is my likeness.

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Wife's hairdresser called up because my daughters appointment was cancelled at start of lockdown - guess they are honouring those bookings first - so 8th July for both of them one day after they open.
Fine for hairdressers but most barbers don't do appointment.

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Update on the update - everything went quiet (due to a small local issue (affecting the entire planet)), but two weeks ago, the buyers got back to us and asked us to do £7.5k's worth of "remedial" work before exchanging contracts - allegedly, they had an electrical survey done and the work would need to be done (complete rewiring, and then the re-decoration to tidy the mess made by rewiring).

We asked to see the report, and were told "the guy who wrote is ill at the moment, so we can't get hold of it". We said no work would be done until we could view the report, so they withdrew their offer late last week.

I organised an EICR report, and there were some shortfalls - the house fuse box didn't have a RCD fitted, and the same for the garage, and the lights in the house bathroom weren't IP rated (all of these shortfalls were C2 and C3), so I have arranged for the electrician to come and resolve these issues next week, at a price of £330 (bit of a difference to £7,500). The electrician said as it's a bungalow, if he had had to rewire it, it would have required none to very little decoration, as all the wiring goes through the loft and then down the partition walls.

Anyway, on to the good news - we had five viewings last night, three weren't interested, and the other two made offers at the asking price - the estate agent told them both had bid the same amount, and one of the viewers raised the offer by £5k, and we accepted and took it off the market (there is no chain - the buyer is purchasing it for her mother, as she lives locally, and is moving her mother from rented accommodation elsewhere).

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Glad you got it sorted. The original 'buyers' must have thought you were intellectually challenged to have assumed you would believe their attempted scam. :tu:

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l have just come back from having a chest X Ray done at one of the city offshoots of the main city hospital.

In and out within 10 minutes.

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I think that is one of the few positive things at the moment. I still have to have blood tests every week and where I would have to wait in a side room until someone turned up now I have a timed appointment and can be in and out without any delay in a couple of minutes.

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l have to agree with you jo as its definitely one of the positives going in and out within a few minutes as l had bloods done yesterday although it was pretty surreal witnessing a waiting room where 90% of the seats are cordoned off with partitions and those present in the surgery all had their face masks on.

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One less thing to worry about and 5k over during a pandemic is impressive work

Can't be bad, shame it's not like that every visit!

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Our Toby Carvery opens on Saturday. Major change is that the chefs will be serving the carvery items and accompanyments rather than the self service and most menue dishes will be served at the ( spaced ) Tables. Prior booking required.

The e-flyer I got doesn't say what the bar situation is so we'll have to go up there Sunday lunchtime if it's fine enough to sit outside in the large beer garden and see.

I still have a discount offer on a meal for two+ that is hopefully still valid until the end of July

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My hairdresser phone me as they open on 15th July in Scotland, I am a weekly customer so she gave me an appointment for 17'. Cannot wait as I have had to tie my hair back in a pony tail,

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You get your hair done every week? :shocked:

I have to wait until 21st to sort out Worzlegummidge.

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I haven't had an haircut in about 4 months. Mine is a mess and I can't wait to get it cut. It has become very obvious that I'm going bald now :erm::erm:

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I invested in a set of Whal clippers many years ago. A quick #3 is all that's needed. Paid themselves back many times over in saved hairdressing bills.

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My mum normally shaves mine and my dads hair, but as she is still in the nursing home we cut each others.

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l get my hair done at home as well as the OH uses clippers on my hair.

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I have cut my husband's hair since I first started dating him 57 years ago. From curly blond shoulder length locks to sparse white curls surrounding his bald patch.

I must have saved him a fortune. which, I claim, helped fund my shoe collection. :D :D

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Oh dear it might take him a little time to recover from this jo but while he recovers you can quickly buy that next pair of shoes.:D

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My mum just called to say, that the home has noticed that she's had virtually no visitors since April.

So I have been booked a visit next Wednesday at 2:30 for 30 mins.

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Had my 2 year old Grandaughter around yesterday,she thoughtfully reorganised my tinned food cupboard into mummy tins ,daddy tins and baby tins :)

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”Where do baby tins come from, Grandad?"

"Well, dear, when a daddy tin and a mummy tin love each other very much..." :D

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I bet that was a lovely visit papa s.

I think that is the main thing I have missed. The brief waves through the window just haven't made up for all the cuddles we have missed from our young Grandson.

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Aldi :)
All the baby tins were tinned tomatoes [not sure if that has some hidden meaning]

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Well my favourite cafe was open and seemed to have got the social distancing right so I took refuge from the rain.

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Our Online food delivery order came 2 and a half hours earlier then its original time slot.:)

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That will be nice for you both :)

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Thanks,


I'm going to book the 16th of July if possible and take my dad there as it is their 54th wedding anniversary.

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Happy to hear your Mum was able to contact you and that you are able to see her. I am sure if you tell the Home that it will be their 54th Anniversary the Home will sort out a visit for you and your Dad on the day. :)

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Lovely idea, hope they have a great day

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Got the next week off work, looking forward to chilling out!

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Wonderful first day on the 'English Riviera'.:cool:

Goodness knows why anyone bothers going abroad at this time of the year.

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Our family has been going there since l was knee-high to a grasshopper Mr K as it does not take too long to get there from where we live.

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Happy to get out and visit EK shopping centre again, it was really quiet, My hubby got his books from Waterstones and I bought Angel Pervime from the Perfume Shop with a free Gift of two of Angel favourites, Wearing a mask for a while is not so good, but better to be safe.

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Just bought a new mobile phone. I have spent all day procrastinating and then remembered GSMarena. I love that site.

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Had our first meal out in this country since the 5th March - it was lovely.

Penne Arrabiata for starters, Rib eye steak for main, all wonderfully cooked, washed down with a couple of glasses of Vesevo, Beneventano Aglianico...

We ate at an outdoor table, with lots of COVID-19 mitigation in place at the restaurant, so didn’t feel anxious at all.

Re: The Happy Thought Thread Part 4
 

Yesterday for the 2nd time I was officially aloud to see my mum with my dad.

We sat outside all wearing masks, but no contact allowed.


It was also their 54th wedding anniversary.


I have also been doing a massive sort out/ tidy of 45 years of memories so the end of our living room so it can be turned in to her bedroom.

once I have done this (by next weekend) we can get the bed and hoist and other stuff sorted to be delivered.

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So glad your parents got to be together on their anniversary Hom3r. I hope that getting her home will make things a lot easier for you all. <hugs>

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It will, cooking for 2 is easier when it comes to portion sizes and food packet quantity (I'm a fussy eater)

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Fantastic to get out and shop in shopping centres Although it was ver quiet,

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just had my hair cut,feels great to get the unruly lockdown mop removed:)

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Noddy Holder will be disappointed then.:p:

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I'm gonna give it another week or so, should have enough to re-stuff the cushions of a 3 seater settee by then . . . or make a few bob selling it to a wig maker :D

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Get mine done tomorrow from my usual person, had to wait 2.5 weeks though for the appointment!

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Me too hair cut and colour back in, Was brilliant ,

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Is there a market for grey wigs :D

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Well said

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There is for those desperate people who have used 'wash n go' :D

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I now have 14 days off work chilling and doing very little, so looking forward to it and no more getting up at 5am and nodding off at 4pm after work for a while! :)

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I'm on my 134th "day off".

I've done all I can do ATM to get my mum out of the nursing home.

So on Monday, I'm signing on to all the job agencies in my area, last night I signed up to LinkedIn.

This Morning I had a Facebook call from my cousin, who live in Western Australia who gave me a few pointers on how to improve my profile on LinkedIn.

She said If she could help me get a job she would, But I said the commute would be a killer. :D

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I wish you luck finding a job quicker than it did last time.

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That definitely gets a thumbs up.:tu:

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Have fun and enjoy your time off ;)

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Air conditioning in the bedroom. 16°C bliss. :cool:

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We had a nice day at Gretna Outlet today, M. & S had a good discount on quite a few items, I bought a few things, But it is a shame we cannot try anything on with the virus situation, I bought a pair of Sandals from Pavers shoe shop too, A really nice day indeed,