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floor cry - swimming team

July 21, 2019

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Dex said...: I suppose we both make up for it by staying very close to our immediate families. Even if we'd like to escape to somewhere quieter whenever we needed it :)

I promise I would never ask you to do a video call with me. Except maybe to see Freya :) Anyway, in my head I am so sure that you, me and Freya will spend a perfect day together sometime :)

A circus of puffins is a little more fun than what I thought it would be. Not a patch on puffle though :D

I have a lot of faith in Charlie's powers :) I wonder if the hurricane is heading this way. We got an email at work today warning of floods on Wednesday night and Thursday morning...; 20 August 2024 at 19:25
Dex said...: I have a day off today so just sitting in the living room with sugar and tv :) I had originally booked this whole week off but changed it to next week so I can spend more time with Freya :); 21 August 2024 at 10:03
Louise Boyd said...: Sugar and tv is the best combination, trumped only by a pile of buttery toast, some with Marmite, others without, maybe some jam or peanut butter thrown in there.
Throw in a cup of tea? Best day ever.
Question is, what tv will be accompanying your sugar-fest?

I'm guessing the weather is worse for you because your proximity to water? And lack of trees?
Christ, the wind must just howl 0_0

Sooooo I fucked up a little and fretted too long over what to get you for your birthday and now it'll be arriving on the 27th :)
Hopefully.
Storm permitting.
And I'm not even 100% sure of my choice but hell! It's a present! Even late presents are awesome!
...
Present buying is so stressful x_x; 21 August 2024 at 21:16
Dex said...: My tv watching on my day off was X-Files and Star Trek TNG. A very 90s day :) And as soon as I got home from work today, I had a cup of tea and chocolate pretzels :) I really should get into buttery toast and Marmite! I used to have that for breakfast at my granny's (the same house where my parents have been staying this last week - she died quite a while ago but my uncle still lives there). I think my dad has enjoyed visiting his brother. Apparently, they just spend all their time talking, watching tv and doing crosswords :)

It was very heavy rain here last night but hasn't been too bad today. We did get a flood warning email at work but we never really have to worry about floods in town and we live on a hillside. The wind was definitely howling too! The wind direction quite affects how bad it seems at the house as we are at least sheltered on the one side by the hill. Has it been very bad in Blair?

You know I never mind how small the present is or how late it arrives :) I'm just very lucky to have a best friend like you :) And I'm not sure of my choice either!; 22 August 2024 at 18:52
Dex said...: I had a video call with Freya yesterday. She is looking forward to all the pillow fights :); 23 August 2024 at 18:42
Dex said...: A parcel arrived today...; 24 August 2024 at 15:17
Louise Boyd said...: For me, too :)
Three, in fact!
The endorphin rush of just receiving gifts, not even opening them yet, really highlights what a present-hungry brat I am ^-^

I've forgotten when Freya arrives; is it tomorrow or Monday?!
Whenever it is, it's not soon enough >_<
You gotta take her to the Cake Fridge, especially as I totally fucked up and forgot your order on Thursday and there were Banoffee Blondies! Goddamn my total unawareness of the days of the week.
Tell me you went anyway?

Okay, I think the universe is trying to tell me I've got to watch Star Trek in some form, because you're watching it and it keeps coming up on my FYP.
Should I take this as a sign? And where should I start?! Patrick Stewart's always a good bet, so should it be TNG or should I go old school?
Guide me, Dexterous *-*; 24 August 2024 at 20:50
Dex said...: I missed the cake fridge too! I'm sorry, I really don't mean to depend on you to remind me, I just seem to enjoy cake fridge a lot more when I am following your recommendations :D

I will definitely take Freya there on Friday! It's actually Tuesday morning that she arrive here. And leave on Saturday night. And I'm off work every day she is here. So I should get to spend quite a lot of time with her :)

I think only 2 of the 3 boxes will be from me! Hopefully the mysterious 3rd box has something really good in it though :)

I've only watched Star Trek TNG (apart from a few random episodes of the other series) but I really enjoy it. If you don't mind skipping seasons, I would definitely recommend starting with season 3. Season 1 is genuinely awful, season 2 is definitely better but only a few episodes stand out. Seasons 3-6 are peak TNG for me :) Season 7 is a decline but the finale is excellent.; 25 August 2024 at 20:15
Dex said...: I hope you have a very laid back birthday, Maggot. With plenty of cake and presents, of course! You are my best friend and I love you a ridiculous amount, and I'm only sad that you won't be spending the day with me and Freya :); 26 August 2024 at 19:08
Louise Boyd said...: Me too! What's the plan with Freya? Run around Lerwick causing delightful mayhem like birthday Godzillas? Or will it be a pillow fort-building kinda day?There's gotta be cake, at the very least? Cake in a pillow fort sounds epic *-*
And are you prepared to get beaten up by a tiny monster? Will you require body armour?

You were right, one of the boxes was from my aunt, which I only figured out by doing some stealth prodding at the parcels and feeling out which one held my yearly and beloved Amazon voucher. I'm very good at prodding presents and knowing their contents; it's a superpower :)
Cannot wait to see what's in the remaining two, though :D

Look at you with all your Star Trek knowledge. How could I not know you were a Trekkie?!
I'll definitely start with season three TNG, but only as long as there's no backstory I'll be missing. Is there?

Happy almost Birthday, Fungus :D; 26 August 2024 at 21:37
Louise Boyd said...: Delicious in Dungeon and fancy as fuck chocolate?!
Honestly the best guy on the planet who I totally don't deserve but I'm keeping you anyway :)
Thank you, Dexterous and happy birthday ^-^
Hope Freya isn't beating on you too much, although the tiny bruises would be adorable!; 27 August 2024 at 17:27
Dex said...: I'm sorry for the short message, Lilliputty. I genuinely feel exhausted after today - I'm in my bed on the verge of passing out as I write this :) I had to get up very early to pick up my parents and Freya from the boat, and I've spent most of the day with Freya either sitting on me, jumping on me, using the cord of my dressing gown to tie our legs together so she can drag me around... I did get chocolate cake though :)

And some awesome person who clearly knows me so well sent me a detective book, bubble tea and hot fudge sundae pop tarts! I genuinely cannot wait to enjoy those things :D I didn't even know that flavour of pop tart existed! You are aware of all the best things :) Thank you so much!

And Happy Birthday :D; 27 August 2024 at 23:15
Dex said...: Freya and I had a Pop Tart each for breakfast. I have a feeling she'll be demanding more of the same tomorrow :); 28 August 2024 at 15:25
Louise Boyd said...: You're such a good cousin :)
And I'm glad my gift is being put to good use!
I would genuinely sell my soul for the amount of energy kids have. I was never a particularly energetic kid but I swear, there's like a four window in the day now where I'm not knackered *-* And I don't even do all that much!
Make it make sense, Dexterous!

What's next up on the Freya agenda? Because I'm guessing she needs entertained 24/7?
Oh, and I'm not gonna give you a Cake Fridge order tomorrow, I'm going to let Freya decide your cakey fate ^-^; 28 August 2024 at 22:13
Dex said...: If it makes you feel any better Lilliputty, our office is usually like an old people's home by the late afternoon with people (most of them younger than us) half asleep and barely functioning :) And Freya did have to lift my eyelids up a couple of times during the day :)

To give my mum a break this morning, I took Freya to the museum and the play park. I don't know why she never seems to get tired although she is a very deep sleeper when she finally falls asleep. She went to bed at 10pm and was still sleeping soundly at 8am :)

I haven't even looked at the Facebook page for the cake fridge as I will leave it as a surprise and take Freya there tomorrow morning so she can pick whatever box she likes the look of :); 29 August 2024 at 16:04
Dex said...: Oreo Nutella Caramel Slice :); 30 August 2024 at 18:00
Louise Boyd said...: I knew she would have excellent taste!
And honestly, I wouldn't have been able to pick for you this week. The entire menu looked fucking delicious *-*
I'm hoping you started the day off right with another Pop Tart each?
I'd ask how the little ball of energy is faring but I think you're the one who might need the most concern atm. Surviving? Or has she broken you? :D; 30 August 2024 at 22:43
Dex said...: Freya went back on the boat to Aberdeen this evening with my mum (she'll get the boat back to Shetland tomorrow night). Freya isn't the most sentimental person in the world - her way of saying goodbye was to headbutt me twice in the belly :)

We did have more Pop Tarts this morning! We didn't have them every morning as my mum sometimes made us pancakes :) So at least I still have some left - thank you so much for sending them. You always know what I'll like :)

I promise I will give you a full report on Freya's activities but I really am so tired now that she has left! Currently resting my aching body on my bed and looking forward to a proper lie in tomorrow :); 31 August 2024 at 23:12
Dex said...: My mother is on her way back on the boat tonight but she wasn't able to get a cabin so has to find somewhere to sit for 12 hours! And she has picked up a cold from Freya! I'll need to get up quite early tomorrow to pick her up. And then back to work...

I think Freya enjoyed her visit to Shetland. She certainly enjoyed taking over my mother's chair. It was quite funny to see her making herself comfortable on it. She made me think of how I imagine Charlie makes himself comfortable in other people's spaces :); 1 September 2024 at 19:21
Louise Boyd said...: When she was in the chair, did she circle herself a few dozen times only to land in exactly the same position, then proceed to wiggle around until the perfect butt to cushion ratio is found, and then let out a sigh of happiness?
Because if it's anything like that? Then yeah, she's a cat :)
The head-butting is definitely feline. So fucking cute and personally, that's the only appropriate goodbye in my book. Hugs are for suckers!

Your poor mum, and with her energy levels I reckon she'll go a little stir crazy! If it was either of us, we'd be fine, sloth-like humans that we are ^-^
How're the bones? Did Freya completely wreck them or do you think you'll recover?
I'm sure another Pop Tart will help! What's that flavour like, anyway? I've never had it before; mostly because I chicken out of trying new flavours and just get chocolate every time. It's so good, though >_<

Ps. For some reason blogger's forgotten this is my account and won't let me comment under my old profile.
So, this isn't an imposter! Totally me!
I'm really starting to hate this website, it's so glitchy <_<; 1 September 2024 at 21:05
Dex said...: I just knew you would approve of the headbutt goodbye :D I think she will miss my mother even more though. And I think my mum will miss her too, despite being worn out. No more hearing 'auntie' every 5 minutes whenever Freya wants to show or ask her something :)

There was definitely a lot of wriggling around on the chair and making her body as sprawled out as possible :) Or squeezing into a small gap on a chair that either myself or my mum were sitting on, and then gradually taking over :)

I really hope you get around to trying a hot fudge sundae Pop Tart one of these days. It's just like having a dessert for breakfast!
Although I totally get sticking to the flavour you know you'll love :) And I'm guessing you like eating your Pop Tarts hot or cold :)

I was thinking that something looked a little bit different when I went to comment!; 2 September 2024 at 19:23
Dex said...: Because my mum didn't have a cabin on the boat up to Shetland after taking Freya back to Aberdeen, she says that Freya made them tour the boat on the way down so that my mum could find the best place to sit for the return journey. And it worked! My mum found the best place and got there early the claim it the next day :); 3 September 2024 at 18:55
Louise Boyd said...: See, she's a genius *-*
Now I'm wondering where prime real estate on a boat is, just in case I risk crossing a critter-filled body of water in the future.
Also, would there be snacks and wi-fi? I can't survive without snacks and wi-fi 0_0

You see that chair behaviour? That's how goblin queens get their thrones.
I think next time she visits you're going to have to set her up one, sit in it, and then she'll have to dethrone you and it'll be an even better seat.; 3 September 2024 at 22:08
Dex said...: Even though my mother was happy with her space, I don't think I would ever cross the sea without a cabin. I really am the worst person at travelling. The slightest bit of motion and I have to lie down :) I actually don't mind travelling on the boat if the weather is calm, I have a cabin to myself, plenty of snacks, kindle and my portable dvd player with suitable boxset to watch :) Spending 12 hours in isolation with a comfortable bed and bathroom is certainly not unpleasant :) There is wi-fi but it was so slow last time that I just gave up on it!

I am 100% positive that Freya would love to think of herself as a goblin queen on her throne :D; 4 September 2024 at 19:12
Dex said...: I have been ordered to get the Bounty Brownies for work tomorrow as they are gluten free and a surprising number of people like coconut!; 5 September 2024 at 21:01
Louise Boyd said...: :O
I've been usurped!
This is heresy!
But actually a good choice because Bounty's are immense... but still! I was gonna make you get the Eton Mess Cake, dammit!
I am outraged, Fungus. OUTraged.
:); 5 September 2024 at 22:26
Dex said...: You could never be usurped! And I had to buy the Eton Mess Cake to prove it to you :D Obviously, I didn't share it with the gannets at work. It was all for me. I promise I was thinking of you while eating it :); 6 September 2024 at 19:40
Dex said...: Leftover fridge cake for breakfast :); 7 September 2024 at 11:49
Louise Boyd said...: You're the best buddy :)
Although, I highly doubt you were thinking of me while you were eating it,, I bet it was more along the lines of "cake, cake, cake, cakey, cakety, cake-cake!"
Am I right?
I bet I'm right.
It's what my brain was doing when I was eating the Biscoff-filled chocolate bar Sarah brought home for me. So fucking good. You should get some next time you're in Tesco!
...
I swear to the gods, I'm not normally a feeder, but I think it's because you're like me, people just want to feed you for no apparent reason and you're really happy about it. Therefore: I must tell you all the things to devour.
Hope you don't mind! (Of course you don't mind!) ^-^

Ps. I think tomorrow is Blair's last day of Summer and I'm not ready 0_0; 7 September 2024 at 22:44
Dex said...: Of course you're right about my thought process while eating cake. It's almost like you're a mind reader :D

Wait! They sell Biscoff-filled chocolate bars in Tesco?! This is literally the most exciting news I've heard in months! :) And I think you know that it makes me very happy when you tell me the things to devour :)

I think it might be the same for us here weather wise next week. I see a distressing drop in temperature is forecast...; 8 September 2024 at 18:41
Dex said...: Rainfall warning for tomorrow! I am not looking forward to going outside!; 9 September 2024 at 17:42
Louise Boyd said...: I feel like I'm being a total drama queen, but it's already so much harder to make myself get out of bed. It's so autumnal; where did summer go?! Did it even happen?! >_< *-* -_-

At least this is the time of year when the streaming services start dropping new shows/next in series. Chase away the seasonal disorder blues with the arts and such? Don't mind if I do! Hopefully the final season of What We Do in the Shadows will get me through October =/; 9 September 2024 at 22:41
Dex said...: What We Do in the Shadows will certainly help :) You deserve all the TV to get you through the autumn!

I'm down to my last pair of Pop Tarts. You really are the best person for sending them to me :)

Freya randomly sent me a text last night - a skull, a skull and crossbones, and a laughing cat!; 10 September 2024 at 19:15
Dex said...: I know this goes without saying but I will still say it anyway :) You really are a brilliant writer, Maggot.; 10 September 2024 at 19:28
Dex said...: I really hope you and Charlie are coping okay with the sudden change in weather!; 11 September 2024 at 19:25
Louise Boyd said...: Oh, we're not coping well at all. Charlie's fine during the day but his bratty behaviour increases a thousand fold at night. The boy doesn't like the cold, so we all must suffer.
And me? Crawling out of bed and cursing the number of fleece-y layers I'm having to wear already >_<
It must be fucking freezing in Lerwick *-*

Y'see, you say I'm a brilliant writer (thank you! Where'd that come from?) but then Freya sends you text messages like that, and it's game over. Archaeologists will uncover that some day and a whole team will be dedicated to figuring out what she meant!
...
How did you respond?
Dinosaur, shades emoji, fist bump?; 11 September 2024 at 21:15
Dex said...: I don't think you or Charlie would enjoy Lerwick at the moment. On Tuesday we had some of the heaviest rain I have seen, Wednesday was cold and showery, today is still cold but a little less showery and a little more sun. It is supposed to get a bit better by the weekend though...

I'm sorry that is seemed like such a random comment. I was just reading your latest monthly and felt like saying it :) And I replied to Freya with a cupcake :); 12 September 2024 at 19:26
Louise Boyd said...: A cupcake is kind of the perfect and only response to her message; you're a genius!
Has she texted back? Is this the start of an emoji war? Which, clearly you'll lose, because she's a frickin' poet.
As commiserations for your future loss, I think you've gotta go to the Cake Fridge (plus it'll be shut for the next couple of weeks! Boooo!).
And I'm actually giving you no choices this time, it's gotta be the White Biscoff Millionaires.
Have you found the Biscoff chocolate bar yet? It's the one with the cream inside, not the broken bits of biscuit!; 12 September 2024 at 22:49
Louise Boyd said...: Ps. Never apologise for randomly complementing me! I'm vain enough to enjoy the fuck out of it while I squirm ^-^
Thanks, Dexterous :); 12 September 2024 at 22:50
Dex said...: I don't know what I would do without you to keep me informed of cake fridge news. 3 weeks! But I am very happy that you gave me no choice with the White Biscoff Millionaires. You know what's good for me :D

I haven't yet found the Biscoff chocolate bar but I haven't given up hope. I think I will need to go to Tesco at a quieter time so I can properly explore :) I will make sure it is the one with cream rather than broken biscuit. But I wouldn't be surprised if it is one of those things which is too amazing to have made its way up to Shetland!

No reply from Freya yet but I hope I get another random emoji text at some point :); 13 September 2024 at 18:51
Dex said...: Parents are in Sandness for the weekend so I am taking full advantage of having the living room to myself with tea, chocolate, kindle, laptop and tv :); 14 September 2024 at 13:41
Louise Boyd said...: You tell me these things but you never give me details!
What kind of chocolate? Which kindle book? What will the tv be showing for your viewing pleasure? Will the chocolate be swiftly dunked in the tea just to find out how long it lasts before it melts?
Details, Dexterous. It's all in the details! >_<

Do you ever get spooked in the house when your parents aren't there? I got left alone today for an hour and I swear I heard the door opening at least half a dozen times.
The curse of an overactive imagination *-*

Ps. Sorry if that triggers something! I'll send chocolate as penance if it does :)

Pps. What happens if you text Freya? Is that against the rules? I don't know how conversing via text with a fairy queen works! >_<; 14 September 2024 at 21:36
Dex said...: I'm sorry I never give proper details. I'm very glad you ask form them thought :) Freya's mum sent me a box of fancy chocolates for my birthday so I finally got around to opening them :) It's a variety box from Hotel Chocolat. My parents used to have a subscription to get a box every month but they stopped a few years ago.

And it was just old man TV and books :) Columbo and Sherlock Holmes. That's probably why I sometimes don't give details. Too embarrassing :)

I didn't put the chocolate in my tea. I'm not sure if I have ever done that! It just never occurs to me. Is that something you would recommend? I've heard that people sometimes drink their tea through a KitKat! Have you ever tried that?

I occasionally get a little bit scared when it's dark and I'm alone in the house. Also, I always keep the doors locked when I'm home alone! But I think my fear is probably negated by my enjoyment of the peace and quiet :)

I'll definitely send Freya another text this week :); 15 September 2024 at 19:24
Dex said...: I'm very jealous of Blair's weather forecast this week :); 16 September 2024 at 19:05
Louise Boyd said...: It has been pretty nice, honestly, but somehow I'm still cold? It's like my bones went "it's autumn! No more being warm until next summer!" x_x
Maybe tomorrow I'll stand in a patch of sunlight and see if I can heat up the old skeleton.

I don't know how many times I have to scold you, but you never have to feel embarrassment for the things you like with me! I love that you like "old man" things! And come on, Columbo and Sherlock are classics.
Oh, and the only chocolate you should put in tea are Smarties. But you don't really put them "in", just plop a couple on a spoon and hold them above it to melt them :D
It's really bloody good.

Locking all the doors when you're alone is, in fact, the correct behaviour to stop Bigfoot from entering the residence.
Which is why I do it, too ^-^

Ps. I have drunk tea through a KitKat and honestly, it's not worth it!; 16 September 2024 at 21:53
Dex said...: I think the house we live in together would be very secure :)

Heating up Smarties over the tea on a teaspoon... I wish you were always around to tell me the correct ways of doing things :D And I did wonder if drinking tea through a KitKat was overrated!

I think tomorrow is our only nice day forecast so I will try to heat up the old skeleton too :) I think we both definitely deserve another summer!

It makes me very happy that you don't mind my old man ways :); 17 September 2024 at 23:10
Dex said...: It really was a very nice day today! I think it might be the only one though :S; 18 September 2024 at 20:08
Louise Boyd said...: We're cursed to have subpar weather, my friend. There should really be some tangible compensation for all we suffer at the hands of our islands' tectonic positioning.
Infinite cups of tea or heated flooring, or maybe a bonus summer that happens in the dead of winter where it's 20 degrees and 99ers are free.
I think that's more than fair, don't you think?; 18 September 2024 at 21:41
Dex said...: We did end up having another sunny day but it is now very misty!

I would love a bonus summer, Lilliputty. 20 degrees with free 99ers would be perfect :) And if I had the money, I would definitely buy a house with heated flooring!

It is not nice to think that in a few weeks we will have to endure 4-5 months of darkness :S; 19 September 2024 at 19:52
Dex said...: I'm very glad it's Friday evening. And I'm on leave for a week so I don't have to go back to work until the following Monday :); 20 September 2024 at 17:50
Louise Boyd said...: Dex on holiday, Dex on holiday, Dex on holidayyyyy!
...
Apparently I'm pretty excited for you. Or the amount of lounging you can do ^-^
Will it be more tv, tea, and mysteries? Or hanging out with Kerry? Or both! Shame there's no cake fridge this week :( Pop Tarts, instead? I managed to get my hands on the Hot Fudge Sundae ones and they are damn good. The fact that you got to share them with the tiny one makes me all the happier for getting them for you :)

Ps. Em made gingerbread banana bread. Kind of epic.; 20 September 2024 at 22:35
Dex said...: I love that you get excited for me :) And I am going over to Kerry's tonight with Chinese takeaway to watch whatever is on TV :) One of the annoying things about work is that because we both do the same job, we can't really take time off together! The only holidays we get together are Christmas and New Year. She's spending Christmas with her family but we have booked a small house for New Year.

I'm very glad you got to try the Hot Fudge Sundae Pop Tarts :) Freya really did love them - I'm sure she will be asking her mother to buy some :) You definitely send me the best things! It's just a shame you can't send me gingerbread banana bread - I'll just have to be very jealous instead :); 21 September 2024 at 16:26
Dex said...: I definitely think autumn has started here. The trees in our garden are starting to lose their leaves.; 22 September 2024 at 19:49
Louise Boyd said...: Yeah, it's officially the season of orange, no escaping it now. Sigh. I love Halloween, I really do, but I'd sacrifice it for a month of real summer. I'm not ready for dark evenings and cold bones >_<
Why hasn't Hawaii offered to come and rescue us yet? We don't take up much room, they'd hardly notice we were there! And we'd totally contribute to the economy with the amount of money we'd spend on trying national desserts and sweets and such.
We're an asset!; 22 September 2024 at 21:30
Dex said...: I'm sure Hawaii would let us bring Charlie & Freya too :)

I had a look in Tesco today for the Biscoff Chocolate bars and I don't think they sell them up here... I will look again though. Or try Co-op!; 23 September 2024 at 21:37
Dex said...: Apparently my parents are going to Aberdeen on 5 November to look after Freya for a week or so before travelling to the Philippines for 4 months... They will get to avoid most of the dark nights!; 24 September 2024 at 20:12
Louise Boyd said...: Lucky!
Have they/you/Freya ever seen the Northern lights there? My mum says we saw them once while we lived there but I was way too little to remember it :(

I've had a rethink about Hawaii, I don't we should live in an American state, for obvious reasons. Plus, the rain can get crazy intense there and I've had enough of rain!
Maybe Australia instead? There's some scary critters than properly kill you but they still have Cadbury's Marble Bar, so I think I could compromise ^-^

Boo! No Biscoff Bar? Bad form, Shetlands, bad form.; 24 September 2024 at 21:11
Dex said...: I don't know about Freya but I have never seen the Northern Lights! I don't think they can be seen in Lerwick as it isn't dark enough but I might have a chance in Sandness one of these days :)

I've been to Hawaii but like you and the Northern Lights, I was too little to remember it. We do have about 10 seconds of it on video but something went wrong with the camera and there is no more!

Maybe there are some places in Australia without scary critters... The Cadbury's Marble Bar is definitely a major plus point though :) What about the Mediterranean?; 25 September 2024 at 21:17
Dex said...: I don't think I am doing annual leave correctly. I think I actually prefer being at work during the weekdays!; 26 September 2024 at 19:56
Louise Boyd said...: Dex... that's dark *-*
Are you just bored? Or do you genuinely miss the work?!

... but where in the Mediterranean? Greece? Italy? Morocco?
I mean, the food has to be an important factor, right? We're simple creatures when it comes to what we put in our bellies, so... Italy? The land of pizza and gelato?

I'm gonna need you to list all the foreign places you've been to; I've never left the country, so I need to live vicariously through you.
I know there's the Philippines, obviously, Hawaii, and somewhere in Scandinavia?; 26 September 2024 at 22:02
Dex said...: I will maybe enjoy being off work a bit more when I have the house to myself :)

Sadly, I've never been to the Mediterranean, so we'll both just have to imagine :) Our holidays were mostly in East Asia. Hopefully I don't miss out any of the them!

The Philippines (obviously!)
Hong Kong (when it was still administered by UK)
Singapore
Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur)
Indonesia (Bali)
Thailand
USA (including Hawaii)
Norway
Sweden

I can't really remember any details about a lot of them (particularly Hong Kong, Singapore & USA) as I was very young but I think there is photographic evidence!; 27 September 2024 at 08:52
Dex said...: My parents have been to a lot more places than I have. I never went on holiday with them after 2004 (that was when we went to Norway and Sweden) but they used to go on walking holidays. So they went to the Himalayas a couple of times and I think also to Tanzania. And my brother has been to Japan a couple of times. So I am definitely the least well travelled in our family :); 28 September 2024 at 13:26
Dex said...: It was so cold here last night, Lilliputty. I had to sleep under a duvet, two blankets and my dressing gown as a makeshift third blanket!; 29 September 2024 at 16:03
Dex said...: I hope your monthly is coming along okay and that you're not getting stressed by it. If it helps, I always think they are worth all the effort they clearly took :); 30 September 2024 at 19:34
Dex said...: The sun came back today!; 1 October 2024 at 17:13
Louise Boyd said...: I'm freeeee! Monthlies, completed. Enjoy watching them lag the fuck out of your browser ^-^
I don't say this enough, but I really appreciate that you don't mind when I disappear for five+ days straight because all my mental spoons are being used for things I've left 'til the last minute. Not many people are as understanding. It's yet another quality that makes you an above average awesome human :)
Hope the sun didn't burn your islander skin to a crisp ^-^

You've been to so many different places (even if your memory's foggy), I'm pretty jealous *-*
Especially of Indonesia. Komodo dragons live there and I've always wanted to see a dragon irl. From a distance, obviously, those fuckers are terrifying.; 1 October 2024 at 21:39
Dex said...: You know I will always understand whenever you need to take the time out for monthlies or just to have some time to yourself. I'll always be here to leave messages about Freya and sugar and all the other things I love telling you about :)

I wish I could remember seeing Komodo dragons in Indonesia! I have seen plenty of tiny Gekko lizards in the Philippines. They were actually one of my favourite things about going there :)

I will look forward to trying to open the monthly on my browser :) I hope the weather has been nice in Blair too. You definitely deserve a sunny autumn :); 2 October 2024 at 21:53
Louise Boyd said...: Does that mean you have Freya intel? Don't taunt me with tales of the tiny one, Dexterous.

What is it about tiny lizards that's so satisfying? Geckos, frogs, newts, skinks? Have you ever seen a skink? They're like little dragons. So cute *-*

Cake fridge is officially back in business!
Your choices are:

- Honeycomb Flapjacks
- Oreo Nutella Caramel Slice
- Banana Blondies with Brown Sugar Frosting; 3 October 2024 at 21:13
Dex said...: I wish I had more Freya tales, Lilliputty. Maybe when my parents go to visit. I do miss having her around the house. She really did take over it completely :)

I don't think I've ever seen a skink! I have just been googling lizards to see if there are any native to UK. Apparently there are 3 - the Common Lizard, the Sand Lizard and the Slow-Worm,

Thank you for always keeping me informed about the cake fridge! I think we both know that I am going for the Oreo Nutella Caramel Slice :); 4 October 2024 at 00:19
Dex said...: Just to confirm, I did go for the Oreo Nutella Caramel Slices :); 4 October 2024 at 19:35
Louise Boyd said...: Oh, I never had any doubt, Fungus, you're a man of your word :)

I do not enjoy the Slow-Worm, legless lizards make no sense to me. How are they not snakes?! And I do not like snakes x_x Wish them no harm (although, could they stop with the biting), but if they enter my personal space, I'm running to Antartica.; 4 October 2024 at 21:52
Dex said...: I completely agree, Lilliputty. I am very happy to live somewhere with no snakes or poisonous spiders. Definitely one of the few benefits of living in a cold climate :) I can't say I am looking forward to the dark evenings that are just around the corner though!

I still had some of the slices leftover for my breakfast :); 5 October 2024 at 12:09
Louise Boyd said...: Me neither. My request for an eternal summer has been rejected once again :(
I would actually take the dark nights if it was still warm, though. I'd miss the sun but at least my extremities wouldn't be fucking freezing!; 5 October 2024 at 22:01
Dex said...: I have to laugh sometimes when I see the tourist information describe our winters as mild!

What do you wear around the house when you are feeling cold? Also, do you use hot water bottles? Such big questions :); 6 October 2024 at 14:46
Dex said...: I was thinking the other day that I would be really good at retirement. I feel like I would do it right :); 7 October 2024 at 21:30
Louise Boyd said...: Oh, absolutely. You're basically there already, except the doing work thing =/
Maybe you'd turn out to be one of those twitchy retirees who now they're allowed to sit still and do as they please, actually turns into the Energizer Bunny and drives everyone in a ten foot radius mental (my dad, this is my dad, I might have to tranquillise him x_x)

Who's describing our winters as mild?! Are they insane?! I mean, we're not Northern Canada or Russia but come on, it's horrible here >_< And yours are worse than mine! I would not survive in Lerwick. Or if did, it would be because I made myself a heated nest and never left it. Like a roosting bird.
Did you know chickens eat their own eggs? And are happy carnivores? Such little dinosaurs.

Ps. Hot water bottles are necessary and beloved, and I wear fleece-lined everything when it hits below ten degrees. I've been thinking about getting an actual fleece lately, which is not a garment I saw myself wearing again after the nineties *-*; 7 October 2024 at 22:02
Dex said...: My mum and your dad definitely have too much energy for retirees :) I like to think that I would settle into a very quiet daily routine that I would rarely deviate from :)

I think that they lie about the mild winters in order to trick people into visiting here :) But I would let you stay in the warmest room in the house with hot water bottles and fleece lined blankets and bring you sugar while you watched tv and read your books :) I imagine you would need all of your books though!

I did not know that about chickens!; 8 October 2024 at 19:42
Louise Boyd said...: Yeah, you'd be fantastic at retirement. You'd just potter about with your murder mysteries and make pancakes for every meal :D
I think you'd need a pet, though, to make the scene complete. Maybe a lazy, older dog who still needs walks and playtime but sleepy enough to take naps with you. Something scruggly, like Colin from Spaced!

Um, when can I move in? I would need all my books, though, you're absolutely right. Maybe I could hire a whole ass boat to ship them over in bubblewrap-lined crates? I don't think the carrier pigeon service would cut it *-*; 8 October 2024 at 21:21
Dex said...: I think me just pottering about is the perfect description of how I would spend retirement :)

It probably would be ridiculous to get two Samoyeds again :) They really were very good dogs though. My dad has been watching plenty of home movies recently of our holidays to the Philippines. We used to have some excellent dogs living on the farm. Two of them were called Copper & Champ and they used to act as our bodyguards whenever we went for walks. It was nice being reminded of them :)

People can dismantle buildings and move them to different locations so I have confidence that we could move all of your books :) We would definitely have to convert one room into a library for you :); 9 October 2024 at 20:27
Louise Boyd said...: The dream has always been to have my own library one day, and I've got enough books for a big one! Would there be ladders? The books will reach the ceiling so there's gotta be ladders, right? And a stamping system! >_< I'm excited about a dream library.

I will never not be jealous of your Samoyeds. Did you have them from when they were puppies? If so, how did you not explode from how insanely cute they are?
What kind of dogs were Copper and Champ? Or were they mutts? No shade, I love a mutt. Cariad was a spaniel/border collie mutt and she was the most perfect girl.; 9 October 2024 at 22:31
Louise Boyd said...: Cake fridge order!:

- Salted Caramel Apple Pie Bars
- Biscoff Rocky Road
- Fudgy Malteser Slice; 10 October 2024 at 22:06
Dex said...: Of course your library could have ladders and a stamping system :) And plenty of hidden corners with comfortable chairs :)

My dad had the Samoyeds as puppies but by the time I came along, they were already fully grown. I do miss having them around :) I'm not actually sure what kinds of dogs Copper and Champ were. But Copper was Alsatian like while Champ was a bit more athletic (not big but what I would call a sporty dog and white with brown spots). Cariad really does sound like the perfect dog :)

Thank you for the Cake Fridge order. I really do love that you take the time :) And I am definitely intrigues by the Salted Caramel Apple Pie Bars!; 10 October 2024 at 22:31
Dex said...: I wish I could have sent you one of the Apple Pie Bars. You do give me the best commendations :) It really was just like eating an apple pie that had been squished and covered with caramel sauce :D; 11 October 2024 at 19:23
Louise Boyd said...: Well, that sounds bloody delicious. Kinda like the cake I would get at Bonhard Nursery before it closed. I'm extra jealous now!

Puppies or not, Samoyeds are amazing. I bet they seemed like giant white clouds when you were little ^-^
Tiny Dex totally could've ridden one into battle.

I don't really know what it's like to own a dog; Carrie only stayed with us for a little while after I was born and went to live with my gran. I'm not sure I'd be very good at it, way too lazy for all those walks and playing :); 11 October 2024 at 21:25
Dex said...: Why do all the best places close?! Although I'm sure your sisters will make something equally or even more delicious very soon :)

Maybe between the two of us, we would manage to cope with a dog :) I wonder what kind we would get... I get so bothered by mess these days that I wonder how I ever coped with two dogs in the house! I must have been a much more easy going person back then :); 12 October 2024 at 19:15
Louise Boyd said...: I think it's twofold, actually:

1) When you're little the only tidying up you have to do is your room, so it's fairly small scale tidiness you're involved in.

2) Age makes you lazy as fuck but you have to clean more now and absolutely don't want to, so the neater you can keep things the less tidying there is to do.

I reckon if the house stays clean, a dog would be no bother. It's washing the dog that'd be the issue *-*

I'd like a greyhound, please :)
But really, any crossbreed that's liberal with affection and exudes chill. You'd have to go to the shelter and pick though, I cannot handle those places, I'd leave with every dog or move in >_<

Sarah and Em have both tried to recreate the Bonhard cake but alas, it's impossible.; 12 October 2024 at 22:09
Dex said...: I definitely am quite lazy when it comes to cleaning :) Although I usually manage to motivate myself by remembering how nice it feels after it is done :) I really am going to have to give the house a proper clean when my parents are away. It's not that the house is very dirty but it is cluttered and some areas definitely need dusting! And the fridges need a good clear out!

You'd definitely get the final say when it comes to our dog :) Although I've actually never been to a shelter so I'm not sure how I would cope! I might end up being the same as you :)

At least Sarah and Em can make so many other things to make up for it :); 13 October 2024 at 21:54
Dex said...: I really do love the Mario cube lamp you gave me :); 14 October 2024 at 19:29
Louise Boyd said...: Dangerous thing to admit, Dexterous; next thing you know you'll have a bushel of weird lamps in your room like I do (because I'll have sent them to you, obviously). My favourite? My potato lamp ^-^
I bet the Mario cube gives off a particularly nice glow at this time of year :)

Your house sounds like my house. There's so much shit everywhere 0_0
Empty houses are so creepy, though. My next door neighbour's moving (watch as I panic about new people) and we were creeping on her online listing, and her house is so bare and white and has no personality =/ Super clean, though?
I don't know, I just don't get how you can't accumulate stuff? If I like a thing, I'll get a thing and put it in my home. Isn't that normal? Do bare house people just not like things?
...
Weird!

I'm not letting you away with this, tell me your dream dog, Dexterous.; 14 October 2024 at 22:02
Dex said...: I think I would end up going for a Samoyed just because I get very nostalgic and sentimental these days :) Other choices would be something like a Golden Retriever or a Sheepdog :)

The thought of having a very minimalist house or flat used to be very appealing to me just because I sometimes struggle to cope with mess but I honestly think I would be very sad living in a house with hardly anything in it. I've come to realise that I like living in a house with lots of things in it. I just wish it was a bit tidier and there was a bit more space :) I always picture your house and garden as being something magical. And I will refuse to believe that it isn't :)

A potato lamp! You really do have the best taste in things :) And you're right about the glow of the Mario lamp at this time of year :); 15 October 2024 at 23:18
Dex said...: Freya was asking her mum why one of her friends at school has stopped talking to her. And her mum said that she shouldn't worry about it and that she has lots of other friends she can speak to. And Freya's response was 'just like when you've had enough of your tea and want to move onto dessert' :); 16 October 2024 at 19:36
Louise Boyd said...: How is Freya real? Seriously? That's the sweetest reaction I've ever seen to something as stressful as kid friendship. Did she hatch from an egg? Is she a divine god on holiday? How do you not just squish her every time she comes and visits you?! *-*

How about... just a little army of dogs? So we could get all the kinds we like and not worry about leaving anyone out?
Because I'm gonna need a Border Collie :); 16 October 2024 at 21:28
Dex said...: We will definitely get a Border Collie :) It was one of the dogs in my head but my ridiculous brain couldn't think of the name!

I wish I had more Freya stories for you :) I'm just relying on the fragments that my mother shares after speaking with my cousin. I keep hoping for another emoji text at some point :); 17 October 2024 at 20:17
Louise Boyd said...: I think you need to initiate an emoji text. Like, maybe Freya's waiting for a random cat emoji from you!

Command decision, I'm just gonna give you a Cake fridge order every week but leave the decision up to you whether to go or not!
And this week your choices are:

- Golden Toblerone Brownies
- Churro Bars with Choc Dipping Pot

Not gonna lie, but they sound immense.; 17 October 2024 at 22:29
Dex said...: I mean, I just had to get the Churro Bars! :)

I'm glad I have you, Lilliputty. I will text Freya this weekend :D; 18 October 2024 at 20:00
Dex said...: So many dead leaves in our garden now!; 19 October 2024 at 17:28
Louise Boyd said...: Hah, I know, it very much feels like Autumn bust into season with no gradualness at all this year. Just, wham! Autumnal!
Kinda love the colours, though.
How is almost Halloween? Do you feel spooky this year? I don't feel spooky :(
If Halloween's lost its lustre, I might have conniption.

Texted Freya yet? And how were the Churro Bars?! I was hoping you'd get them :D; 19 October 2024 at 21:46
Dex said...: Conniption... I'm always learning new words from you :)

No, can't say I feeling particularly spooky either. But Kerry loves Halloween so she will maybe force me to get into the mood :) Maybe we'll watch some scary films. And I suppose there is always the chance of sugar :)

I love Autumn colours too. If only it wasn't so cold, windy and dark!

Have you ever had a proper churro? I haven't so I'm not sure how the churro bars compared. But dipping them into the melted chocolate was amazing :)

I just texted her to ask what she'll be dressing up for at Halloween. With a picture of a vampire and ghost :); 20 October 2024 at 21:54
Louise Boyd said...: I'm way too invested to know what she'll be. Whatever it is, I reckon it'll be amazing.
Wish I'd dressed up more as a kid!

It's bonkers, here, wind speed up in the 50s, which I see is just the same in Lerwick and continuing into tomorrow! That'll be fun on the way to work =/
Don't get blown away into the sea, Dexterous, not before Halloween and the inevitable sugar coma Kerry will watch you fall into :)
Is Kerry into hardcore horror or more the softer side? I know you watched Barbarian (is on my list of potential scary watches), but it's more psychological than gore?

I've had crappy mini churro's from M&S, but never a proper deep fried one. I think it's the cinnamon that's meant to be the main flavour, which, I like cinnamon a lot, so it's a big draw. And indeed, dipping most things in melted chocolate is pretty sublime :D; 20 October 2024 at 22:07
Dex said...: Even as a kid, I remember thinking that dressing up for Halloween was more trouble than it was worth. Such a grump, even at that age :) I never dressed up as anything original either. There was a vampire, a ghost, a mummy... My bandages kept coming loose so I had to keep going home to get them tightened up :) I did enjoy the sweets and decorations though. And there was something a little bit exciting about going around our road in the dark :)

Definitely nothing too disturbing when it comes to horror. And no torture! Silly slasher films like Scream is what she likes best :) We watched I Know What You Did Last Summer last weekend and very much enjoyed FPJ's terrible acting :) Barbarian definitely wasn't too bad. Quite creepy initially and more ridiculous towards the end :)

I hope we both get to try a proper churro one of these days!; 21 October 2024 at 21:45
Dex said...: I forgot to tell you that the Japanese coffee shop is closing as the owners are moving away :(; 22 October 2024 at 20:07
Louise Boyd said...: Noooo! But whyyyy?! You gotta try everything you've ever wanted to try off the menu before they leave, Dex. No regrets!

As much as I love Halloween, I've only truly dressed up once when I was a kid (a witch), and another time as a teenager for a house party, but that was me wearing a red shirt/black t shirt combo with a name sticker underneath that said "Hello, my name is: God" on it (my love for Oz knows no bounds).
Needless to say, the party host was not impressed with my efforts.
I love seeing people put their whole ass into dressing up, though. The unhinged folks who spend months making their costume for one night are, in my opinion, absolute legends :D

I'm not a huge IKWYDLS fan, even with SMG starring; I could never really get into the story. Comedy horror's the best, though.
Evil Dead 2, Ready or Not, Ginger Snaps, Shaun of the Dead, Fright Night, of course (^-^), they're definitely more my speed.
Do you count Gremlins as a Halloween movie or are you firmly in the Christmas movie camp?; 22 October 2024 at 21:34
Dex said...: I can proudly say that I have seen all of those films :) And Gremlins is a Christmas movie in my opinion. Hopefully that's acceptable :)

I will definitely drop by the Japanese coffee house tomorrow. I can have all the sugar for lunch if I want to as Kerry isn't around to stop me :) She's flying down to Inverness with some of her family and won't be back until next Wednesday.

I would have very much enjoyed your Halloween house party costume :) And as much as I love people putting so much effort into their costumes, I just can't see myself putting that much effort into anything ever :); 23 October 2024 at 20:17
Dex said...: Japanese pancakes and hot chocolate for lunch today :); 24 October 2024 at 17:09
Louise Boyd said...: The lunch of winners! :D
I can't remember, are these the pancakes that have stuff in them or are they just really thick, fluffy ones?

Gremlins is a Christmas movie, but I personally think it's a totally acceptable Halloween watch because those little bastards are pretty gnarly when they want to be *-*
I reckon that'd be a pretty fun movie to cosplay for the season, and comfortable. Imagine running around begging for sweets in a Gizmo costume? I'm with you, though, way too much effort; I'd rather be at home watching Gremlins and eating sweets from the comfort of my bed own ^-^

Does Kerry really police your sugar intake? I was gonna be in your corner, but really, it's probably for the best she makes you ingest some vegetables when I send you to the cake fridge every week :D
Speaking of!:

- Biscoff Brownies
- Raspberry and White Choc Millionaires
- Kinder Fudgy Slice
- Stroopwafel Brownies

This was hard this week *-*; 24 October 2024 at 22:29
Dex said...: They are thick, fluffy pancakes :)

Kerry actually ends up feeding me sugar a lot of the time :) For my birthday, she ordered me a jar a sweets full of things she thought I would like - strawberry pencils, mini refresher bars, fizzers, vampire teeth, flumps... :) But she does make sure I have proper lunches!

She seemed to have different things in the cake fridge... I would have much preferred your list :D But she did have some fudge malteser slices which I very much enjoyed :)

Freya should definitely dress up as Gizmo :); 25 October 2024 at 23:03
Dex said...: I didn't actually realise how long my parents are going to be in Aberdeen looking after Freya before they go to the Philippines. 3 weeks!; 26 October 2024 at 11:34
Louise Boyd said...: Do your parents ever sit still?! My folks are pretty hectic as well but in a very localised way. I'd be bloody flabbergasted if they left for over a month 0_0
This is, however, your chance to watch Delicious in Dungeon. Free couch, unoccupied Netflix, sounds like the right time to me ^-^

Freya would make the cutest Gizmo in existence! And she's kind and gentle like the mogwai, as well.
How does this become a reality? Bribe her mum?

I don't even know how I managed to see the wrong Cake Fridge Menu 0_0 Like, legit, I have no idea.
And she had Pecan Pie Brownies, goddammit! >_<; 26 October 2024 at 22:31
Dex said...: I like to think that you just listed random items that you know I would love :D

Do your parents still go away on holiday sometimes? A long weekend in York or something like that? I think that would definitely be the kind of holiday that I would much prefer :)

I really am intending to watch Delicious in Dungeon as soon as I have some time to myself but please keep encouraging me :)

Could we get Freya a little car to drive around in just like Gizmo? :); 27 October 2024 at 18:47
Louise Boyd said...: I don't know, would a tiny car be too much power? Would she drive around picking up unsuspecting critters and taking them home with her? Gizmo Freya: taxi service to creatures of the world over!
...
Yeah, she needs a little car :D

My parents haven't been away in ages, the last time was pre-pandemic, and it was only a few days in York. I'd love them to go on holiday again, partially to get some peace (!) but just because it'd be nice for them. Personally, I just want a nice hotel room to watch tv, get room service, and not have anyone need anything from me for at least a week *-*; 28 October 2024 at 17:01
Dex said...: Although I do also worry that she would end up chasing me with it :)

I really hope your parents do get away at some point. They probably have a few favourite places that they would love revisiting :) I'm definitely with you when it comes to the hotel room. One of my favourite memories is being allowed to stay in my hotel room while my parents went out for the evening. I ordered room service and watched Cartoon Network for hours :); 28 October 2024 at 18:39
Dex said...: Kerry is back from Inverness now. And Pete's cafe is open again (they closed over the October holidays) so I have another source of cake :); 29 October 2024 at 19:19
Dex said...: Tomorrow will be the last day for the Showa coffee house so I will have to go in for a hot chocolate and pancake!; 30 October 2024 at 19:50
Louise Boyd said...: Hot chocolate, pancakes, and... cake fridge?
Wait, I just checked and there's no menu?!
On Halloween?!
I am shocked :O

Freya would absolutely run you over with a tiny car. In a loving way, if that's possible ^-^; 30 October 2024 at 23:18
Dex said...: Happy Halloween, Lilliputty :D The weather was very poor today so not many children. Which means more leftover Haribo for me :) And for some reason, my mother also bought marshmallows to give them!

It was definitely a little bit sad getting my last ever hot chocolate from Showa today!

That is very shocking about the cake fridge! But thank you for looking. I will maybe go to Pete's cafe tomorrow as they sometimes have some very nice cakes :)

I am definitely looking forward to all the video calls with Freya :); 31 October 2024 at 23:07
Dex said...: For some reason, my mother bought marshmallows to give away at Halloween! Oh well, I might as well eat them :); 1 November 2024 at 19:28
Louise Boyd said...: Marshmallows are such a bold choice! Was she just gonna give them out unpackaged? Like "here, small child, open your demon paw and let me place a lump of fluffy sugar into it"?
Because I kind of approve :D

We had zero trick or treaters, but that's the norm. Living on a cul-de-sac with minimal kids has its benefits. Plus, there's a box of Quality Street for me to pick clean now ^-^

They changed the Cake Fridge date! It was open today >_<
I'm sorry to say, you missed out on Toffee Crisp Caramel Cookie Bars 0_0
I wonder if it'll be open on a Friday from now on, then? Hmm.
Or has it always been on open on a Friday and my brain's confused itself? o_O

Did you video chat with Freya for Halloween? What did she dress up as?! And did she ever reply to your text?; 1 November 2024 at 22:33
Dex said...: No, I never got a reply to my text but that's okay, there will be 3 weeks of video calls to look forward to. I will have to remember to ask her about Halloween :)

I have a feeling that is exactly what happened on Halloween! Obviously, I spent the evening hiding in my bedroom and hoping there would be leftovers :) I'm very glad you have a box of Quality Street to work your way through. So much better than Roses & Milk Tray in my opinion :)

The cake fridge has always been open on Fridays :D; 2 November 2024 at 13:26
Dex said...: Also, October Monthly! :D; 3 November 2024 at 14:06
Louise Boyd said...: Oh wow, I brain-spasmed hard *-* And on Halloween as well! I cost you spooky baked goods! You must disown me immediately for this grievous error in bff-ship >_<
Have I been doing this all along?! What is even real, Dex?! 0_0
I pledge to you, I will NOT fuck up for Christmas. You will receive seasonal goodies if it kills me!
...
Or I'll just send you stuff :D

Y'know, my neighbour bought my dad a box of Milk Tray a couple of weeks ago for helping him with his glasses, and they're actually pretty good! I mean, nothing beats a caramel stick or praline triangle, but there's an orange segment in there that tasted like Terry's Chocolate Orange and that's the mark of a damn fine chocolate box imo ^-^
What's your stance on Celebrations vs Miniature Heroes?

Hope you enjoy the Monthlies, m'dear :) ie. you better because it almost killed me to get that one out *-*
Also, should I change the name of the blog to The Sensitive Goblin? Or is that too emo?

I thought you were spending Halloween with Kerry? Did I get this wrong as well?!
My brain might have finally atrophied and you are now best friends with a lump of semi-sentient dough *-*; 3 November 2024 at 17:41
Dex said...: Please don't worry about the cake fridge at all. It's good for me to have a break :)

I haven't actually had Milk Tray for about 25 years. I think I never forgave them for getting rid of the coffee creams :) I would definitely be interested to give them another try though. If you say they are worth getting, then they certainly are :) And I'm firmly in the Miniature Heroes camp :)

I always enjoy the Monthlies :) They must take a huge amount of effort to put together so I really do feel very lucky that I get to read them every month. I would never see you as a Goblin but I still think it's a good name for the blog. Obviously, you'll always be my Lilliputty and Maggot :)

I was just at home on actual Halloween but was with Kerry at the weekend watching slasher films :)

I'm sorry for the late message tonight. Things have been a bit hectic at home this evening with my parents getting ready for going away tomorrow!; 5 November 2024 at 00:12
Louise Boyd said...: Oh fuck, I'd forgotten about the coffee creams. Why do chocolate boxes always get rid of the best ones? Like Celebrations swapping out Malteser Truffles for the current ones, which are fine, but not great? Why fuck with perfection?
I'll be so pissed if they ever get rid of the coconut eclairs in Quality street. Absolutely livid. They're better than Bounty *-*

I was wondering where you'd gotten to! I know I flake all the time but you're like clockwork. I hope the rentals didn't drive you too batty with what I assume was an frightening amount of chaos?
Do you have to get up at an unholy hour to take them to the boat?

Hmm, might table the blog rename for now (although, I am absolutely a goblin and proud of it ^-^), if you're not feeling it, then I'm not feeling it.
I need to rehaul the whole thing at some point, though, it hasn't changed in years, but I've fucked with the code so much I don't know how to unfuck it :)
Oh, how I wish I was more of a computer-y person.; 5 November 2024 at 18:15
Dex said...: Parents are now on the boat :) The boat usually departs in the evening, either 5.30pm (if it is going via Orkney) or 7pm (if it's a direct sailing to Aberdeen). Tonight's was a 7pm sailing. It's only when picking them up from the boat that I have to get up early as the boat arrives 7.30am.

They really weren't too bad at getting packed and ready to go, it's just that there was a lot of activity. And I get very stressed about the weather but fortunately it is a good night for a sailing. I did take a couple of hours off work this afternoon to spend some time with them as I won't seen them until the end of March! They had finished getting ready by 3pm so we had a couple of hours of cups of tea and old sitcoms :)

I think when it comes to demolishing a tin of Quality Street, we would make a good team :) Obviously, I am now on wikipedia looking up the current and previous contents of Quality Street... Apparently, they had a coffee creme as well! Why do all these chocolate boxes insist on getting rid of their coffee cremes?!

I don't know the first thing about coding so the fact that you can do it and manage to maintain a blog makes you a technological wizard in my eyes :); 5 November 2024 at 19:36
Louise Boyd said...: I swear, my lack of ability to remember the things you tell me (because I knew all that stuff about the boat schedule!) is not a reflection on what you mean to me, I swear, my brain is just not sponge-like. It's a water-repellent rock x_x
Glad they got away okay, though; are you gonna be alright over Christmas without them? I know you'll be with Kerry for New Year's, but I worry about you!
I'd smuggle you over here if I could ^-^

I don't even remember coffee cremes in Quality Street! What the hell! I bet they were good, as well. Hmm, maybe the chocolate industry has a vendetta against the combination of cocoa and coffee. Like... it's too good to make because all anybody would ever want from the chocolate box is the mocha and fistfights would break out, and then the chocolate industry would have pay out from all the lawsuits?
Yeah, I reckon that's the reason.
Thank fuck we've never had this problem with coffee ice cream, which is one of the best creations in the known universe. I watched a video ages ago of someone putting a mini Magnum in a cup under an espresso machine and making affogato.
I think about that a lot... *-*

Ps. Freya soon! :D; 6 November 2024 at 17:33
Dex said...: I did get a brief video call with Freya today - she tried to lick me through the screen :) But I didn't find out what she dressed up as at Halloween. All she said was that it wasn't very interesting! But I think she'll enjoy having my mum and dad staying with them. She woke her mum up at 6am this morning as she was so excited to pick them up from the boat :)

I like that you worry about me :) I worry about you too. Nothing specific, just general 'what on earth would I do if you weren't around' type worry :) And my sibling will still be here to keep me company over Christmas. He usually works either Christmas or New Year so I'm not sure which one he is working this year, but he finishes about lunchtime. Not that we'll be having a traditional Christmas dinner when he arrives home :)

And I don't think your brain is like that at all. You remember millions of tiny details about me :)

Mini magnum in cup under espresso machine... These are the things that the internet was made for sharing :) I've always been very curious to try affogato! Is it really as nice as I imagine?; 6 November 2024 at 23:11
Dex said...: I do love stealing my mother's chair in the living room when she's not around. It's perfectly situated for tv watching and there's a small table for my tea and a lamp for when I want to read a book :); 7 November 2024 at 18:26
Louise Boyd said...: Why does it not surprise me in the slightest that your mum has the best seat in the living room? That just feels absolutely right :D
What kind of seat is it? One of those really squishy cushioned ones that you could totally curl up and fall asleep in? Does it recline? I always wanted a recliner. They aren't pretty but there's something about being able to probably kick your feet up and binge watch that really appeals.

I haven't had affogato, but I reckon it's amazing as long as you get the right intensity of espresso for you. We'd probably be, like a two on the scale :D Just mildly coffee tasting vanilla ice cream!
Have you see those blenders that turn anything you want into frozen drinks/ice cream? Imagine the possibilities!

I'm glad your brother's going to be around, and let me guess, for Christmas dinner it'll be... Chinese? Which actually sounds really good tbh ^-^
And hopefully a Freya video call on the day? I can't imagine much better than her trying to lick you through the screen before she recants every present she's gotten. Who needs Santa when you've got Freya? Even if she does get up at ungodly hours!

Ps. Soppy moment: I'm rewatching Fright Night and all I can think is "without this, I wouldn't have Dex and that would be unthinkable!"
Thank fuck for trashy vampire movies :); 7 November 2024 at 21:21
Dex said...: Actually, my mum's chair in the living room is the exact same as the other chair that I tend to sit in. But her chair is so perfectly situated :) Our furniture is very boring though. In the living room, we have two chairs and a sofa that were bought together probably about 30 years ago! Cream coloured with very tiny red and blue dots. So they are not fancy and they don't have any extras but are very comfortable to sit on :) Kerry and her mum went shopping for a new sofa when they were in Inverness. It's for Kerry's sister's flat in Lerwick. According to Kerry, the old sofa is an atrocity :) But the new sofa is apparently very fancy and it even has a massage function! I'm sure your house is full of comfortable places to sit. Most of them occupied by Charlie :)

Yes, I would definitely prefer my affogato to taste more like ice cream with a hint of espresso than the other way around :) I haven't heard of those blenders thought! Maybe I should hint about them to my mother as she loves kitchen gadgets. What would you use them to make?

I would definitely enjoy Chinese takeaway on Christmas :) There's actually a small chance that Freya will be going to the Philippines on Christmas! She's been there before and absolutely loves the farm. She calls it Freya's Kingdom :)

Well, I had to know if it was the original Fright Night :) Definitely the most important thing I have ever written!; 8 November 2024 at 19:01
Dex said...: My parents are taking Freya to a classical music concert tonight. I don't know how that will turn out...; 9 November 2024 at 15:47
Louise Boyd said...: What, you think she'll take the stage by storm and perform her dinosaur ballet?
Because, honestly, that sounds pretty epic :D
Or I guess she could save that for Freya's Kingdom!
What's the temperature like in the Philippines at Christmastime? Do you wear Santa hats and shorts?

I wish I could tell you there we comfortable seats in the Boyd household, but they're all terrible =/
I don't know how we've managed it, because most of them are new, except two seats my grandparents have had since the 70s and didn't want anymore. They're the least objectionable, but I swear to you, Ikea cannot make a comfortable piece of furniture. They don't exist. All of them are like sitting on a plank of wood >_<
So, let's just say, I'm deeply envious of Kerry's sister and her vibrating couch!
If I had the means and the space, these are the sofas I'd want:

https://www.dunelm.com/product/martha-vintage-chenille-4-seater-sofa-1000236880?colour=Vintage+Chenille+Berry

https://loaf.com/products/new-pudding-sofa?size=small&source=plp

So squishy *-*

Top thing I'd make in the magic blender? Ice cream, obviously!
I watched someone on TikTok crush up a Chunky KitKat in the wrapper, pour cream into it, freeze it, remove the wrapper and drench in melted chocolate.
...
I learn the best things online :D; 9 November 2024 at 21:26
Dex said...: My parents said that Freya was very well behaved at the concert. I'm assuming that means there was no stage storming or dinosaur ballet :) I wasn't able to speak to her this morning as she is out ice skating with her mum :)

It just occurred to me that I have no idea of the seasonal temperatures in the Philippines! In my head, I just think it is always too hot :) But apparently, Christmas to February time is probably the best time to go when the temperatures are mid-late 20s. Still too hot for the Santa costumes :)

I would definitely let you be in charge of furnishing our house if those are the kinds of sofas you would choose :) I reckon we would have the most comfortable house with wall to wall books :)

I need that frozen Chunky KitKat / cream / melted chocolate combination in my life right now :D; 10 November 2024 at 12:12
Louise Boyd said...: Aw, I'm almost disappointed, but I guess Freya has more class than I do :)
Is ice skating a hobby or just for fun? I've only done it a couple of times and I was not great at it! Plus, I couldn't unthink the vision of someone skating over my fingers *-*

I could totally get on board with a warm Christmas; it doesn't even snow here, so why not at least be toasty?
Throw in those squishy sofas - one each for max comfort and I reckon that'd be a damn fine way to spend the season. I'd make sure all the necessities were at grabbing level, as well, so we can fully embrace the vegetative state. Mini fridge stocked with chocolate milk and Dr Pepper at the head of each couch? You can of course choose your own soft drink, I realise not everyone is as enamoured of the Dr as I am :)

Hope you get to speak to Freya at some point and she tries to lick you through the screen again ^-^; 10 November 2024 at 21:48
Dex said...: I haven't had Dr Pepper in so long that I have almost forgotten what it tasted like! I will need to try one again soon (I'm pretty sure they have them in the vending machine at work). I'm sure there was a time when I had Dr Pepper out of choice so I must have liked it :) Hopefully you would let me keep my Kinder Buenos in the mini fridge :) I actually don't have soft drinks very often but when I do, I usually just go for a normal Coke.

Winters here really are grim. I can't even enjoy the occasional snow as it just makes me terrified of driving! I wish I could go into hibernation until at least March. You and I definitely deserve a winter hibernation house where we can just eat, sleep and watch tv :)

I'm going to assume the ice skating is for fun but I never know with Freya :) I've only ever been ice skating once. It was on a school trip to Edinburgh in primary 7. The only school trip I ever went on out of Shetland. We went ten pin bowling as well and that's another thing I have never tried since!; 11 November 2024 at 19:10
Dex said...: I have to help deliver some training tomorrow at work! You can probably imagine that standing up and speaking to people is not one of my strong points :); 12 November 2024 at 19:20
Louise Boyd said...: Yuck :|
I've got the sympathy shudders!
This definitely means you should get an extra special treat tomorrow. Something obviously full of sugar and brings you joy.
Hot chocolate and baked good of choice?
Or maybe tomorrow's the day you reacquaint yourself with Dr Pepper?
I'm not a huge soft drinker either, the bubbles give me a stomach ache, but every couple of months I'll stock up on tiny cans of Fanta and Dr P. They're the perfect size ^-^
You can't beat normal Coke, though, especially when it's ice cold. Back when the sibs and I drank it almost religiously, we'd put bottles in the freezer and wait until slush formed. SO good.

I miss bowling! I'm not sporty in the slightest, and bowling isn't a sporty sport, but I did enjoy doing something physical that didn't suck.
Plus, yeeting a ball down the lane is stupidly fun, and I wasn't half bad at it!; 12 November 2024 at 21:05
Dex said...: Yeeting... I love learning new words from you :D And I would definitely go bowling with you if I could. I reckon it would be a lot of fun :)

I had a normal Coke today to help get me through the training. But I will reward myself with a baked good tomorrow along with a Dr Pepper if they have them in the vending machine at work :) The day was actually okay. It was just training for a few of the others in the office so it was mostly the people I like the best. And Kerry was there to help as well :) She was a lot more prepared than me! I get very nervous even when speaking to people I know but will also refuse to make proper notes to read off. Fortunately, most of the people there know that they can make fun of my awkwardness to make me feel better :)

I hope you get some tiny cans of Fanta and Dr Pepper soon :); 13 November 2024 at 18:41
Louise Boyd said...: Coke well earned, Fungus! Damn proud, no matter the small number of people you were brave in front of, still something you'd have to strap me down and make me do 0_0 (I would have obsessive notes, though, too many and totally unhelpful in the moment as my brain goes entirely blank ^-^)
The last time I stood up in front of people and talked was Uni when we had to critique our own work and others. Even thinking about it makes me want to barf; I used to shake so hard my words came out jittery =/
I reckon if you're a neurodivergent millennial, you should automatically never have to publicly speak. There should be a law!
They'd call it the "I Don't Wanna" Law :D

Tiny can of Dr Pepper has been ingested this eve. SO good. Em and Sarah are trying to make me drink one with dill pickles in it after seeing a TikTok thing, though =/ I might do it.

Bowling: bumpers or no bumpers?; 13 November 2024 at 21:38
Dex said...: Dill pickle in a Dr Pepper?! That definitely sounds interesting! You'll have to let me know if you try it :)

I totally agree with the 'I Don't Wanna' Law :D It really should be illegal to make someone stand up and speak when they don't want to! I remember once that I completely froze on stage at some kind of volunteering awards ceremony. It was one of the worst moments of my life! And you have so many interesting opinions that you manage to express excellently in writing anyway :)

I'm going to show myself to be a complete bowling novice but what is a bumper?; 14 November 2024 at 19:19
Louise Boyd said...: The bumpers are those rubber things they put at the edge of the lane so you never put the ball in the gutter. They're normally for kids but if you're really terrible, you can request them so you actually hit some pins :D
Personally, I'm a no-bumper kind of person. It's putting enough force in the throw that gets me! Weak-ass arms *-*

Oh wow, like completely froze? Forgot how to walk and form words froze? Because that's the honest god worst. Were you receiving the award or giving it?
I'm pretty sure I would die of embarrassment and dig myself a burrow to never reappear from =/

After all that neurodivergent trauma, a well-deserved trip to the cake fridge is in order:

- Guylian Billionaires Brownies
- Almost Croissant Blondies
- Black Forest Gateau Cake; 14 November 2024 at 21:39
Dex said...: I think I would prefer without the bumpers too, even though I'm sure most of my shots would end up in the gutter :) I'm assuming that bowling places normally sell some kind of food... I really would enjoy an evening of bowling with you :)

That was such a difficult choice but I ended up going with the Almond Croissant Blondies. Thank you for choosing for me :D

As in completely forgot how to form words :S For some reason, I was asked to give a small speech at the ceremony as I had done a bit of volunteer work and they just wanted someone to say something about volunteering. Fortunately, I was giving the speech with someone else and they stepped in. And I did recover a little bit by the end to say a few words. But it really was one of the most awful moments of my life!

It's supposed to get very cold here from tonight...; 15 November 2024 at 18:38
Dex said...: I am currently under a blanket in the living room with a fan heater blowing on me! I wish I had a hot water bottle!; 16 November 2024 at 14:51
Louise Boyd said...: But in the best chair, right?
Why in the name of Celtic autumn do you not have a hot water bottle?! Or do you mean not in proximity? Or not at all? Because if not at all, that's insane! You live in the northern hemisphere, hot water bottles are necessary!
We've got three 0_0
I'm currently the polar opposite to you right, now, though; the heating's been on all day because Sarah's not well (she's on the mend, full of the good doctor drugs), and I am boiling!
...
Temperature-wise we are not happy unless it's entirely perfect, right? ^-^

I don't actually remember bowling alley food, but I assume it's your standard British diner offerings? Burgers, chips, milkshakes. The good stuff!
The bowling alley I used to go to as a kid had an arcade in it, as well; I was obsessed with air hockey and whack-a-mole. Surprise, surprise, I liked the games where you got to hit something :)

The time it took me to write this message, my temperature has plummeted and now I'm cold!
Goddammit!; 16 November 2024 at 18:23
Dex said...: Always in the best chair :) But no, I don't have a hot water bottle! I'm so ill prepared for the winter! I thought there was one somewhere around the house but I haven't been able to find it. I will be buying one as soon as possible though :)

I'm sorry that Sarah's not been feeling very well. She deserves a much easier time of things! But I'm glad she's on the mend and managing to keep warm. Has it snowed there yet? It was snowing here today but has disappeared very quickly.

I really do miss the burger and fries from Clickimin. It really was the closest thing we've ever had up here to fast food. Even the paper wrapping from the burgers :) We've never had an arcade thought! I've never even played air hockey and whack-a-mole! I bet you were really good at hitting things :)

I hope you have managed to get your temperature back up again!; 17 November 2024 at 18:02
Dex said...: More snow today! I will definitely be a bit apprehensive about opening the curtains tomorrow morning to see what it looks like outside! And I have to leave the car at the garage tomorrow night for its yearly service. So a walk back home from the outskirts of town in the dark :S; 18 November 2024 at 19:04
Louise Boyd said...: May I recommend a torch and a hot chocolate to light your way and power you along?
I hate walking in the dark =/ Well, actually, no, I like walking in the dark when I feel 100% safe - which is never. But solo? No, thank you!
I'm guessing Kerry can't come pick you up?

No snow in Blair, but it was frosty all day. I'm taking that as close to winter weather as we'll probably get!
I think you need to touch the snow so I can osmose its wintery goodness through you.
I'm feeling very seasonal, already, though, way more than I did about Halloween - so weird. Scrooged has already been watched and I'm trying to trick the fam into putting the decorations up early.
...
I need twinkly lights >_<

Did Clickimin have the fries in red baskets? I've had that once and it somehow made the chips 50% better and I don't understand why!

Ps. I was wrong. We have four hot water bottles 0_0 But there is a favourite one, so the in-fighting is intense.
Might go rogue and buy my own!
This leopard print one is calling to me:

https://www.dunelm.com/product/leopard-print-fur-hot-water-bottle-1000245496?defaultSkuId=30905553&branchCode=0970&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Bath_Soft+%26+Accessories_%5BGOO-LIA+PSB-BATHACCESS-BATH%5D&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADGqyX1beiM2SY0HsaxQKgs5eG30u&gclid=Cj0KCQiA6Ou5BhCrARIsAPoTxrCRoOqgH2qA9hyaGmGV1BtsJaKkFb0_VhK0x2QpWbk-61fqmikhQ6gaAhaxEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds; 18 November 2024 at 21:31

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midnight hagette

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July 21, 2019

"We're werewolves, not swearwolves."

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