Today I've mostly bin...

[giraffe]

The dishwasher man recommended Bosch too, so it sounds like it's unanimous. Current one is Hotpoint Aquarius, because that's what the washing machine is and that's never had a problem. (In about 8 years) It wasn't a particularly cheap one, so I thought it would be ok.

I think we had a Bosch oven in the house we rented when we were first married, and I hated that. The oven was like a drawer, it slid out towards you with the shelves coming out too. The only way to get anything in it was to post it in from the side. I've never seen another like it, thank heavens.

[eirian]

our dishwasher is an Indesit (sp) which came with the house when we bought it 8 years ago and has never given us a moment's distress. Ok, so it doesn't get used as much as some (after all we've been just 2 of us right up till 5 months ago), but I still reckon that's pretty good going as I've no idea how old it was when we inherited it.

today mostly bin... making the most of my last few days with Thomas before I have to return to work. I'm back on Thursday, and although I've got enough leave accrued to take every wednesday off for the rest of the year, I've still got to leave him for 4 days a week Wonder how long I'll last on Thursday before I'm phoning home to see how he is?? (and I can see me having to be really strict with myself not to phone work on Friday to take the day off on leave!)

[SparkOut]

We had an Indesit dishwasher for 12 years, replaced when we moved (again) by two or three different built in jobs (pah, rip out the cupboard front and put a standalone dishwasher in, whatever the make!) with each subsequent one giving up about 20 seconds after it was out of warranty, and always blocking up and flooding. I can't remember the make of those ones for the life of me now though, so I can't tell you which I would steer clear of.

[giraffe]

I don't have built in appliances for exactly that reason. My mother in law's dishwasher is about 25 years old. It is a bit on it's last legs, but she only uses it now when the family descend on her, but it used to be used daily. The door seal has to be put back on before you close the door, but it's had a good innings.

[Laura]

Crikey! My grandad has a vacuum cleaner about that old. I have to do his cleaning, and I love several things about it. One is that it actually says 'Vacuum Cleaner' on it, because obviously in those days, if it didn't say what it was, no-one would recognise it! Another is the fact that it sounds rather like an RAF flypast when you switch it on. You can sing along to yourself, and no-one can hear you!!!

Today, I've been actually getting the Brownie Accounts to balance. We are only on week 4, mind you, but this is still a huge achievement. I did have a wobbly moment, when I had written down on the register that one girl had only paid £1.00 and should have paid £7.00, but then the figures ended up £6.00 out from what I actually have in cash!!! Funny that! I have come to the conclusion that my accounting is fine - the problem is that with 18 screaming crazy 7-10yr old girls to deal with, things never get written down properly on the night, and then no-one can remember why they were like that when it comes to working it all out afterwards. Hey-ho. It balances. Hurrah!!!

[Bunnylump]

That sounds like an achievement, Laura. Can you imagine what fun we had trying to get the proceeds of a school fete to tally up?

[LAT]

There's a trick to that Bunny. Amend the total of a stall run by kids/someone who won't know or care exactly how much they made so that the grand total agrees with what you have to bank.

Today I have been up in a balloon for a ride over Surrey countryside. It was a birthday present from my family and was definitely worth getting up at crack of dawn for. It is so peaceful up there and I felt amazingly calm for someone who doesn't do heights. I suppose it was because I felt totally secure in the basket. I would certainly recommend it.

[Bunnylump]

I'm so glad you had a great time LAT. (That is actually my idea of hell,because of the height, but I can see why people would enjoy it!!). What a lucky girl you are!!

[pebbles]

I agree with Bunny about it being my idea of hell, but well done for doing it! So glad you enjoyed it.

[giraffe]

My great aunt did that for her 90th birthday! I wonder what she has planned for her 100th, she only has 18 months to organise it.

[MBH]

Today I have been up in a balloon for a ride over Surrey countryside. It was a birthday present from my family and was definitely worth getting up at crack of dawn for.

You Lucky Soul I've seen these floating up the Tyne valley many times and it does look very peaceful. A wonderful view of the countryside I'll bet.

Glad to have your feet firmly back on Earth though I imagine it's the last 10-seconds of the 'flight' that is the most hairy



Sorry Giraffe - never had a dishwasher machine. It only takes a few minutes to wash up in the sink, and you have helpers with you. Washing up was always one of my childhood chores back at home.... Do people do 'chores' anymore?

[Bunnylump]

Yes.

We had a hot air balloon come over our house so low (we're half way up a valley) that I was seriously concerned that they were going to knock our chimney down!! The people in the balloon shouted "Do you want your chimneys cleaned while we're here?" They then emergency crash landed in the school field a few doors up. It looked absolutely terrifying, but they seemed to take it all in their stride!! Mind you, being a person who has to stand facing the wall when on a landing at the top of the three storey block at school when we're waiting to go in, because otherwise the staircase makes me feel sick, I don't think I'll be in a balloon in a hurry!! Stupid thing is I'll happily go in all the hideous rides at Alton Towers (Oblivion etc.)!

[strep98]

You will all be glad to know that your taxes paid for a steroid injection into my shoulder today (not worked yet though), So you've all contributed to an ultrasound, a needle in my neck, a needle in my shoulder and 2 different sorts of physio a week for the last month. I just would like to thank you all.

[Bunnylump]

Couldn't think of anyone I'd prefer my taxes to be spent on!! Hope all this treatment helps you to get better quickly!

[chazzie]

My pleasure Strep!! - hope the treatment starts to work soon

[LAT]

Delighted to help too Strep. Hope my money was well spent and the end result is good.

At work our shredder is on the landing at the top of the stairs and I'm not too keen on facing down when I'm shredding paper but on the balloon ride you feel so safe as the basket comes up easily to chest height. I can do roller coasters when you're strapped in but not rickety bridges in Northern Ireland.
The funniest thing was a boxer dog in a garden who didn't know whether to bark at us to scare us off, or run away because he was scared. He kept barking madly then running away. Eventually he ran into his house to get away but even then he reappeared a few moments later to bark again. We were all laughing at him

[MBH]

I can do roller coasters when you're strapped in but not rickety bridges in Northern Ireland.

We share a surname, but we're nice and opposite there. I have motion sickness problems, but anything that is under my OWN control (bridges, cliff edges, death-slides in leasure pools) I'm fine with.

[LAT]

We share a surname, but we're nice

Shouldn't that be "We share a surname AND we're nice"?

[MBH]

Some things go without saying my friend I take "nice" as being the standard, and worry / deal with those that arn't up to standard

[tricia]

Just thought I'd let you know - I won first prize at the raffle for our Mcmillan coffee morning at work.! What was that first prize?.............................. A tour for 6 people round Ibrox football ground! I was the envy of every rangers supporter and had the sympathy of every celtic supporter. Me - I prefer Rugby! What did I do - I gave the prize to the first Ranger's supporter I met at work that day - my reward - the pleasure in that guys face - as a consolation I was also given a bottle of wine - But it was reward enough to see the pleasure in Alecs face when I handed it to him - fortunately I had to answer the phone or he might have seen a little tear!
Tricia

Now if it was Murrayfield and rugby - that would be an entirely different story