Okay, now I'm jealous. All the rentals bring me lately is irritation 0_0 And scones. I hate scones. Weird little floury cake rocks. They're a waste of good jam if you ask me. Speaking of jam... I ate it with French toast yesterday. ... Tasted like a hot doughnut!
Ps. I find that many things by being feckless and spending too much time on the internet. If only that was a legitimate job prospect 0_0
'Tasted like a hot doughnut!' I'm guessing that's a good thing :) I've never had proper French toast. I tried to make it once but I don't think I made it right...
I won't lie, it was good having my parents in Sandness these last few months. Maybe I should move there now that they're back!
Of course a hot doughnut if a good thing! Next time you have one, put it in the microwave for... uh... some seconds and you'll see why I was so happy. Or just try making French toast again. How did you do it? It's real simple. Crack an egg or two onto a plate. Mix the goop. Soak slice(s) of bread in the goop. Then fry. Easy! Although, I say "easy" but I've burnt soup multiple times so what the fuck do I know? =/
There's only one reason not to move to Sandness, and that's the effects of me whining at you 24/7 because I'm Hulk-coloured with envy. And I can whine for the gods, my friend. Zeus talks shit about me alllll the time.
Ps. No, I did not eat the scones. I ate the jam. With a spoon. I'm not an animal, you know.
Fair point. Zeus really is the biggest dick of them all. Who needs that many wives, ffs?
I... can't make much but I'm a killer bread baker, my Minestrone soup is practically a solid but it tastes damn good, and just like you, I can flip pancakes with the best of them. But bread is mostly my forte.
Hot doughnuts were actually discovered by my dad. He's a weird genius. He heats up shortbread and it's really fucking good. I wouldn't even have thought of doing that =/
You're killing me, Dexterous. She really does that? She's gonna grow up to be a chipper Lydia Deetz 0_0
Weather-wise, it's been kinda weird. Incredibly sunny but overcast, but warm, but cold. My internal temperature gauge has been having a goddamn field day. Like right now? My legs are weird hot but my fingers are freezing. ... The fuck?! I don't which temperature to encourage!
Do you think there are rooms in the world that have perfect temperatures, like the air conditioning repair school in Community? Or maybe that's impossible given how different and unpredictable our bodies are. Perhaps someone has designed a room that adapts to a person's individual body temperature. Although how that would cope with hot legs and freezing fingers simultaneously, I don't know!
That's not nonsensical, that's genius. You should patent it. I can't think of single person who wouldn't want to be just the right temperature all the time. Who would choose to be frostbitten or covered in sweat?!
I've got so many bug bites at the moment. I love Summer but why must its offspring eat me alive? Do you get bitten? Do you have tasty, tasty human blood?
Are they like little black lines? If so, we get those and they are indeed, all teeth. Why can't they just eat other bugs instead of us? There's nothing wrong with a bit of cannibalism!
I remember we used to get doughnuts at school dinners. They weren't jam though. They were just plain sugared doughballs. Still, I wasn't complaining. They were better than most things we got served. Apart from a few desserts, I don't look back fondly on any of the food - there were just some days that were more tolerable than others. Mince & tatties was the worst, or soup & sandwiches day. I had strong feelings against butter and onions when I was growing up, and they seemed to be in everything. I also remember this really weird chocolate sauce - it was really thick and hot and they seemed to just pour it on anything. I did go through packed lunch phases too but I was such a fussy eater I would throw food away on my way home and tell my parents that I had eaten everything.
Dear god, remind me never to feed you anything but sugar. You're fussier than I am! And I've got the most basic taste buds.
I've never had a school dinner. Not once. Mum always packed my lunch, which was usually a peanut butter sandwich (because peanut butter is one of my main food groups), an apple/satsuma/banana, a juice carton (apple or orange - I hated both; not because of the fruit but because the brand was gross. If I was lucky I got Ribena/Five Alive/Kiora - those were the best days), and a biscuit (usually a Penguin, KitKat, or a Club - I hated Penguins as a kid, now I love them; foolish child). When high school hit, I pretty much stopped eating in front of people. I still hate it 0_0 The most you'd get me to consume was a Chomp or a Freddo. Such a healthy child =/
I think I would have had packed lunch envy if I was sitting next to you :) My mum still occasionally makes me peanut butter sandwiches to take to work. Not sure if that's something to brag about :S
I think your mum was right to give you cartons (even the gross kinds). I had a packed lunch with a flask and there was always about a 50/50 chance it would flood the box because I hadn't put the lid back on correctly :) I don't know if I had a favourite juice carton. I feel like everyone should have a favourite... I was never much of a Ribena person though.
We never had Penguins at home for some reason. In fact, we never had any of those kinds of biscuits. It was all packet biscuits - I used to go home and stuff my face with bourbons :)
I never had school dinners in high school. I used to just go to the street. Well, Commercial Street. But everyone just called it the street. It's the one with all the shops :) I would maybe get a sandwich from Slotties (that's the old name - it's actually been Faerdie Maet since I can remember but no one ever calls it that) and some sweets (they were also kind of an old fashioned sweet shop where they had jars behind the counter and would pour the sweets onto some scales), and have a look around Clive's Record Store (which was really tv, film and cd store). I was such a loser :) The sandwich shop is still open (although they don't sell many sweets anymore), the record store has closed. There's some boring Lerwick history for you :)
I would have invited you to the street with me. You wouldn't have to eat, unless you wanted some sweets, and you could have picked out music for me since that was something I sucked at in high school :)
Also, one of the best feelings in school was realising I still had 10p and could afford a Chomp or Freddo :)
I've started walking around the garden in the mornings & evenings. I did miss my walks to work everyday - it was when I did my best, most ridiculous thinking :)
I sometimes imagine running away to a city, renting a small flat, and working a night shift job to help pay the bills. Pretty sure I used to dream bigger :S
When did they stop making Cadbury Wildlife bars? Or am I confusing them with something else? Maybe there's another really thin chocolate bar that's very similar? These are the big questions occupying my mind tonight :)
Agreed. Sometimes I wear headphones just to block everything out =/ I've even looked at noise cancelling headphones but fuck a duck, they're so expensive.
I'd forgotten about Cadbury Wildlife bars! Why were they so good? It was just Cadburys with animals on it! But so much better than your average bar. I call sorcery. They still make Animal Crackers, though, don't they?! ... I checked, they do. Now I've got a craving and Amazon is failing me 0_0
If you get Animal Crackers before me, I'm going to be so mad at you! You'll feel my wrath all the way across the sea, Dexterous Epistolean! Even the mermaids will be shaking in their jellies! ... You're going to buy a million packets just to spite me and marry a mermaid, aren't you? 0_0
I have a feeling that it would be the Animal Crackers rather than the mermaid marrying that would bother you more :) I think I would have been terrified if I'd bought them and heard the wind beating on my bedroom window tonight! But the night is calm and I'm eating a Kit Kat :)
"But the night is calm and I'm eating a Kit Kat :)"
Oh no. Oh dear. My obnoxious, poetical way of speaking has finally rubbed off on you! What have I done?! ... Just kidding. Please continue. Forever. That made me so blindingly happy :D
Did you know they make a Twirl that's filled with Caramac? CARAMAC. Why was I not privy to this information until now?! >_<
Ps. If you bagged yourself a mermaid bride, I'd just coerce her into telling me all the Leafy Sea Dragons' secrets. And the Stingrays. I want to know if their little flippery feets are ticklish 0_0
I'm so glad for once that we aren't in the same place because I might of "HA!"ed in your face, like the spiteful bitch-witch that I am 0_0 Instead I did it in my head. So... still a bitch-witch ^__^
It's probably just stress. Y'know, with the world on fire. The first few weeks of Covid-19, my skin had a bitchy little tantrum. I was not please.
But maybe go outside every now and then? Drink more water? And put some of the aloe vera I made you buy on any breakouts overnight. Works wonders.
You should be receiving three parcels. One of which might be late. Fucking Covid and my procrastination gene; paralysing little fucker. Don't worry if anything's late. I always reckon, a present after your birthday is never a bad thing :) But I'm greedy...
Ps. Please never tire of my weirdness. You're the only one who understands me 0_0 But you better make good in the fishwife, dear boy. I've got questions to be ask!
I don't think I could ever tire of you. I'd even marry a mermaid just so you could get your questions answered :)
You're right, it probably is stress. That would explain the headaches too. But the aloe vera really did help! Maybe a spiteful bitch-witch, but a helpful one too :)
I need to take a look at my routine. I don't think the one I have right now is working for me. You've probably noticed that I'm obsessed with routines :)
I think I ordered 4 things, including that box from Amazon and the thing that's probably going to be late. And one of the other things is really, really small!
Typos that make something sound dirty will always get a pass :)
For sure. The birds have stopped pissing me off when they wake up and I'm trying to go to sleep, as well. Summer is definitely over. If felt fucking autumnal today. :(
Let's move to Hawaii and be uncomfortably sweaty but happy, yeah?
3 days 'til our day of celebrated birth, Dexterous. Then the three parcels in my room can finally stop eyeballing me. My restraint is medal-worthy 0_0
Okay, OCD five :) Do you still go to sleep in the early hours? I remember when I used to stay up to message you, before my body gave up - I must have really disturbed your reading! :)
I went to Hawaii once. When I was too young to remember. We have about 15 seconds of video footage before the battery went dead. I'm told it was amazing :S
I hope you're not too disappointed with the presents, although I know you'd probably never say if you were :)
Happy birthday for tomorrow, Maggot. You deserve to have the best day. I probably won't stay up until midnight to rip open presents but considering you always give me things that make me ridiculously happy on an otherwise uneventful day, I'll maybe save that feeling for nearer the end :)
Happy birthday for tomorrow to you too, Fungus :) I hope you like your gifts. I kinda wanted to keep them for myself, so that's a good sign? And I always love what you send me, you idiot! Do you have any idea how many times I've shaken my dead gelfling? It makes me so happy 0_0
What time were you born? Do you wake up older? Or does it happen later in the day? I plopped into the world at around 4am. Explains a lot =/
I know you don't even remember going to Hawaii but I'm still insanely jealous. All my Lilo & Stitch fantasies are screaming for retribution.
Thank you so much! A Dunder Mifflin top, David quotes, and a Wednesday Addams' pin - I can't blame you for wanting to keep them. I'm glad you didn't though because they made me so happy. I don't think anyone will ever know me as well as you :)
Freya also phoned to sing happy birthday, although she only did it for a chocolate gold coin :) And someone actually made me a blueberry cheesecake. You should have seen Freya licking her lips when I showed her the cake over the video chat :)
Eek! I have no idea when I was born. I really should know :S I want to guess morning, maybe 8am. That's roughly when I'm at my best, although it's a rapid decline from there :)
First of all. Freya is adorable. I have no cousins, but if I did, I'd want them just like her. Because I would also video chat - the worst horror known to man - for money-shaped chocolate. Food bribery is the best.
I'm so glad someone baked for you! Now I don't have to feel bad for my baking sister badasses.
Seriously, I want all your gifts but the teeny tiny felted Sanderson sisters and Blade Runner unicorn are totally making up for it! And I don't know what the manga is, and I have no idea what order it should be read in but it looks gory, and twisted, and weird as fuck. Consider me a very happy Maggot. :D
Happy birthday again, Fungus. My day was weird but good. I cried in the middle of it. But then there was cake and presents and Charlize Theron immortally kicking people (watch The Old Guard. So good), so not a bad day. Apart from the weather. Holy fuck, it is horrible here. Charlie's so crinkly from the rain he's basically a walking advertisement for the 80s. ... It's so cute 0_0
Well, I had cake and Freya and presents. I even went for a proper walk for the first time in ages. So not a bad day at all :)
However, I will never not be jealous of your sisters :)
I think it would break my heart to see you cry. I wish I had been there so you could have buried your face in my new Dunder Mifflin top. But I'm glad Charlie was there to cheer you up :)
We did have really bad weather a week or so ago. It rained almost as hard as I can remember. I was driving home and it sounded like an explosion when I went through a massive puddle :)
Ps. I keep saying it but you really are the best person in the world to buy presents for :)
My skin is getting much better thanks to the aloe vera (thank you Lilliputty!). I've started reducing my shower temperatures too, seeing if that helps. I still don't understand my body, trying to find habits that mean it's not going to sabotage me whenever I think I've got it under control... I tell you the best things :)
I think I'm going to have to stop working extra hours and weekends. I'm feeling burnt out. I could do with a nice break of film watching and music listening. That's really all I want :)
Haven't quite made the full transition to my chromebook yet. It's really good but the one thing I'm struggling to get used to is the spotify app. The version on there isn't quite as good as the one for Windows. I mean, it's fine, but the layout and navigation isn't as straightforward, at least for my brain :)
It's finally happened. I can now destroy technology remotely! Sorry about that but maybe my overzealous coding will give you the nudge to embrace the Chromebook? ... I don't know why August's Monthlies was so... abundant. Some parts of it - mainly Twitter - weren't even loading =/ I'd scale back but uh... no?
This might sound boring, too, but a new duvet sounds kinda epic. I dread to think how old mine is 0_0
I got a handpainted lazy sweatshirt in the post. It's so fucking snuggly. Thank you, Dexterous :)
I loved your August post! Definitely worth the loading time :) But yeah, I really need to fully commit to the Chromebook :)
I'm really glad the sweatshirt arrived :) I thought maybe a lazy sweatshirt was one you wore on days when you felt like doing nothing - I'm quite happy with it being thought of as that :)
I would guess that you sleep in a very comfy bed. I hope so anyway :)
In all honesty, when the weather really turns, I am probably going to sleep in it. My lizard blood requires fleece-lining.
My bed might be comfortable but I wouldn't know because my fucked up back makes everything uncomfortable! I thought yoga was supposed to help muscle pain but it was a lie! A devious, hideous lie! >_<
I'm sorry, Lilliputty. I wish I could suggest something. Are you still doing your yoga? Is at least good for relaxing even if it doesn't help with your back pain?
I keep meaning to do proper grown up shopping but I always end up coming home with things like Viennese biscuits dipped in chocolate. Half price though :)
Are you sure that meme is only you at work and not in life in general? Because I'm relating to it pretty hard and you and I, my friend, are pretty fucking similar. Be grumpy with me, Dexterous. It's so good for premature wrinkleage :D
I wish I could have a toastie. I used to love them when I was little but hot cheese is the work of the devil. Even saying "hot cheese" makes me want to barf. One day, though. One day I'm going to muster the courage to make a banana Nutella toastie and not barf from sugar overload immediately afterwards. That will be my golden day. It will be celebrating throughout the ages 0_0 ... Or more likely I'll toss my cookies and shame will be my master -_-
I think you do the best shopping. I'd be so happy if you were my food provider. I'd probably have scurvy but I'd be happy and scurvied. Although, I'd need some breakfast bars thrown into the mix. My dad's got me hooked on Jordans Frusli bars. I keep lurking on amazon to see if I can bulk buy them so I can stay in bed all day and overdose on oats.
I think I'm gonna get a body pillow. For the disaster that is my back. I never know what to do with my arms when I'm sleeping anyways, this'll give me somewhere to put them! ... I think I'm 104 years old 0_0
'Or more likely I'll toss my cookies and shame will be my master -_-'
How can I be grumpy with you when you say things like that :)
Are body pillows those ones you hold onto while you sleep?
Do you eat the Frusli bars for breakfast? Or whatever time you eat your first meal of the day :) My breakfasts are very boring. Or non existent. A cup of tea is the only constant really. I'll occasionally get into a certain cereal for a few weeks. Although this morning I had a Kit Kat :S I was going to have cereal but for some reason all the bowls were in the dishwasher. And I wasn't going to eat the Kit Kat but I wanted to take a painkiller and thought it was best to eat something first. There's a tiny glimpse into what my days are really like :)
I would probably just end up buying the things you tell me to buy. I might occasionally surprise you though :) Do you think banana Nutella toasties would ward off the scurvy?
"Do you think banana Nutella toasties would ward off the scurvy?"
You're a genius! See, this is why you should do the shopping and I should do the feeding. I'm guessing neither of us would cook because, well, that has disaster written all over it. We can live off bread, pancakes and obscene toasties, right? That's healthy and normal?
The Dadmonster brought home Buenos. He's also a great food provider :D Although, the Mater might disagree with that.
Frusli bars are actually dessert for me. I've always like cereal and cereal-like products for dessert. A bowl of Frosted Shreddies after dinner? Goddamn decadent, in my opinion. And I don't eat breakfast. Not even when I'm up in the morning. Hurts my belly. I guess I eat elevenses, if I had to call it something. And then it's only something small. My stomach just isn't ready to be filled until lunchtime >_< A Kit Kat, though? You monster. Chunky, regular, or 4x? Either way, you're still a monster.
Body pillows are either this:
Or this:
I'm getting the latter, even though I really want the previous but it'd take over my entire bed =/
Cereal is for anytime. I learned that while I was fending for myself during lockdown :)
We can pretend we're carb loading for a marathon :) I'm trying to think of what else I can make... I once made a lasagne. I feel like I should put the emphasis on 'once'. It was edible though :)
Does your family make a lot of soups? I feel like that's something I could get into, making soup.
It was just a regular Kit Kat. Does that make it better? :) Obviously, I didn't buy them. I mean, who buys a 2 bar Kit Kats and not 4 bar Kit Kats? Who?! :)
I. Love. Buenos. In fact, Kit Kats and Buenos may be my favourite chocolate bars on a day by day basis. As you know, I'm a weirdo who likes chocolate I can chill so I'm very much a thin chocolate kind of person - one of the reasons I miss Wildlife bars so much (maybe a slight exaggeration as I hadn't thought about them in ages until we spoke about them the other day, but now I can't stop thinking about them).
Big news! I picked up a bag a peanut butter coated pretzels when I was last at the shops :)
I'm glad you've decided to get a body pillow if it'll help you're back. Also, you are not stupid. But you are my best friend. So you were half right :)
A friend from work keeps sending me links to houses and flats for sale. I think it has made me realise that even though a part of me wants to move out, weighing everything up, I just don't know if I want it enough or that it makes much sense :S
Hey buddy, sent you an email yesterday but I don't know if you check that account anymore. Either way, it's there. It'll explain why I might be absent for a bit.
I have the most random collection of books on my bedside table and they haven't changed for years. A bunch of film guides, a year's worth of National Geographics (it was a present from ages ago), some Marvel Essentials, Lord of the Rings, Around the World in 80 Days, and the Folio Book of Historical Mysteries :S
Did I ever tell you we have a music room at home? That's what we call it. It's basically my dad's room where he listens to classical music. It has a record player, a cd player, 2 really large loudspeakers and a very comfortable chair. That's his main hobby - listening, collecting and cataloguing classical music. I think he has something like 5000 vinyls and cds. We're probably a pretty odd family :S
I am not disappointed in my new duvet :) I also sleeping on top of my old duvet which I'm using as a breaker between the mattress and the bed sheet. Just because :)
Have I bragged to you yet about finally being able to touch my toes after months of slight exercise? It's about the only thing I've achieved this year :)
I don't think my parents trust me to look after myself when they're not here. I've been made a massive batch of spaghetti bolognese to last me the weekend :S
Slightly concerned my skincare issues may be developing into full blown acne! I'm going to blame it on stress, to make it seem like there's actually stuff going on in my life :)
We had our monthly film quiz tonight. They've been doing it online since lockdown, which is okay with me as I can make cups of tea and take naps between rounds :)
I am feeling very middle aged these days :) Although I was probably exaggerating when I said I took naps - it was more like lying on my bed off-camera and occasionally sticking my arm in the air to show I was paying attention... I'm such a team player :)
At the moment, I've been drinking Ridgways tea although I think the only place that sells it in Shetland is a place called Scoop Wholefoods so I usually have to make a special trip. My life is so interesting :)
2, 10, 11 - eyes, fingers, toes. I always forget how much I like the first Addams Family film, mainly because it's not quite as good as Values. A very productive Saturday :)
Freya's been learning how to put her plate in the sink after eating. However, when she doesn't like her food, she'll just get up from the table and dump it in the bin, then put the plate in the sink :)
I swear to the gods, that kid is an evil mastermind. Nay, a goddess. I mean, she's got the name for it. And I bet people give her little offerings all the time. Her temple's a blanket fort, isn't it?
Did you end up getting her something Ghibli for her birthday? I feel like she'd be a Totoro kinda girl.
I think everyone with a working brain wants to hide from the world inside a blanket fort. At least sometimes. The sisterlings and I used to build epic blanket forts. Sometimes we'd use duvets for extra insulation, and take our hoard of pilfered junk food inside to gorge like hungry dragons. At least that's how I remember it. My memory bank is not to be trusted =/
I just bought her some books. She loves her books :) She's such a smart cookie, she's probably a better reader than me. She can already read something and then recite it without looking :)
But we'll have to get her onto Ghibli soon. Totoro is definitely where we'll be starting :)
Do you remember what books you enjoyed reading when you were small?
I was looking at blanket forts the other night after you mentioned them and I just knew you and your sisters would have made ones that were probably like something out of a dream. I doubt you would have settled for anything less than epic :)
A weekend of work? That sucks, Dexterous. I think you should throw in something sugary and possibly baked to cushion the boredom. American Dad will only get you so far!
What books did you get her? Is she a Fantasy girl? If you say yes, I may have to deem her the perfect human.
I don't actually remember reading or being read to when I was little. I know there must have been some Roald Dahl, definitely The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and I had this Sesame Street sound book that had buttons at the side. I can't remember what the sounds were but I know I loved it. Other than that... no idea. And I didn't start reading like a fiend until my early 20s. A switch just sorta flipped and I essentially did nothing else but draw and read. I liked the reading better. If I'd known it was the thing I loved the most, I'd probably have studied English so I could do Glasgow's MLitt in Fantasy. But I really hate Academia, so I'd probably have run for the hills once I got my BA. Who even knows if I'd stuck out another year for the honours. I certainly didn't with Fine Art =/ ... That got a little depressing. Ignore me. I'm just a little rattled by "the future" lately and my complete lack of experience! 0_0
Do you have any childhood books that stick out in your memory?
I never feel qualified to be reassuring about the future. I mean, what the fuck do I know? :) All I can say is that I seem to get through life okay without much effort (constant bad mood notwithstanding). Besides, you're way more intelligent and imaginative than I'll ever be and I just think, that at some point in the future, it's all going to come together for you and you'll find something that makes you truly happy and do something amazing with it.
If I could start again, I don't think I would have gone to university. I would have stayed home, found a job, maybe studied at the local college, and found a place of my own. It's hard to explain but there's a part of me that feels like I'm still paying for what going to university did to me... Now I'm the one being depressing :)
I'll just talk about Freya because she always cheers me up :) To be honest, my mum and cousin chose most of the books... I don't think I could stand the thought of choosing and buying her something that she didn't love. Maybe I'll have more courage at Christmas :) But apparently she likes scary stories! Another funny thing about Freya is that she loves baddies. My cousin says that in all the Disney films she watches, her favourite characters are always the villains - she thinks Ursula is the best!
The original Winnie The Pooh books were my favourites when I was growing up and I still love them :) I actually don't think I owned any Roald Dahl books but I always used to borrow them from the school library :)
First of all, thanks, mister. Your unwavering faith in me is both mystifying and comforting :)
Second of all:
"...there's a part of me that feels like I'm still paying for what going to university did to me..."
Holy fuck. YES. That is exactly how it feels. Like you're being punished for not fitting a societal stereotype that everyone else seem to naturally subscribe to. ... It sucks -_- There should really be some majestic wizarding school we could attend instead of this life nonsense. I want a fucking patronus, Dexterous!
Winnie the Pooh is so lovely. It always will be. I was always a big fan of Piglet, which is weird because he's so optimistic and I'm such a pessimist =/ Or, no, more like an optimist with pessimistic tendencies...
Ah buddy, I feel your pain. The problem with acne or breakouts of any kind is it's so hard to pinpoint what's causing it. Is it dairy? Is it cosmetic? Is it hormones? Stress? Sugar? Medication? Punishment from the fucking gods?! There should really be a little computer on your arm that analyses your body for you and tells you how to fix it. But. Alas. The only solution, from my experience, is trial and error. A face wash might help - never did for me, I'm allergic to everything - but it might exacerbate the problem. Moisturiser's really helped my skin overall but it's doesn't solve the problem completely. But it might for you! This is the problem, y'see? The only advice I can offer with certainty is that using anything harsh is not going to do your skin any favours. Stripping your face of its natural oils is just going to make it produce more oil to compensate and then it'll block your pores. The best advice I ever read was to treat moisture with moisture. It's how I treat my hair, as well. What you been using to treat the acne so far? I've fairly fucking knowledgable about products and whatnot, after years of research, so might be able to help.
Thanks, Lilliputty :) I've been using CeraVe SA Smoothing Cream in the mornings and nights, and also this weird drying lotion on the worst spots. It sometimes seems like it's working in parts but then I get an outbreak somewhere else. So I'm not sure if covering my skin in salicylic acid has been the best thing for it!
I'm just glad you can't see me because it's really awful :S
I won't say it's probably not as bad as you think becauseeeee so many people said that to me when my breakouts were at their worst and it made me feel crazy. So fuck that. I'm just sorry you're experiencing this at all. Going from clear skin to acne almost instantly is fucking traumatic.
I would say that CeraVe SA Smoothing Cream is not something I would recommend. I know it says it's moisturising but nothing with salicylic acid in it is going to soothe your skin. For some people it's liquid gold but for most it's just going to dry your skin out and cause more breakouts. Is it making your skin red? Or itchy? Or burn at all? Because if anything causes these reactions, stop using it. Immediately. That's how we get rashes and chemical burns, my friend. You want your skin calm, so it can start healing and balancing. So, instead, I would suggest, if you still want to use SA or the drying lotion, use them to spot treat. Not over the entire face. And only on the worst cases. Use the aloe vera gel on the small stuff. Also, get a moisturiser. The one I suggested a while ago is the best I've found but Em's been using CeraVe's moisturiser and she quite likes it. Again, it depends on skin type. But I figure the more soothing the better. Harsh chemicals are not for the sensitive and acne-prone. Do you use a cleanser? I don't. I wash my face with rolled oats. ... Sounds bonkers, I know, but oats are one of the most soothing things you can use for your skin. It's why Aveeno use it for babies. Colloidal oatmeal is finely ground oats and it's actual magic. I'm cheap, though, and I just put a small pile of oats in my hand, splash it with warm water, squish it up with my finger to get the oat milk out and them use the milk on my face. It's actually really nice. Plus, you can use the oats for some exfoliation but personally, I don't enjoy the feeling. Anyway, then I rinse - warm water, not hot, definitely not cold! - and use a hot, damp microfibre cloth to remove anything that's left over on my face. THEN we moisturise and spot treat.
It took me an age to figure this shit out and I'm still looking for holy grail products to get rid of my pigmentation (I pigment so fucking easily! And I don't even pick at my breakouts! Which you shouldn't either, by the way. Don't spread the germs around, mister. Plus, you'll get scarring and no one wants that), but that's what I'd recommend before your try anything harsher.
Also, if you're self-conscious, which I imagine you are because acne sucks balls, find a mineral makeup brand (I use Lily Lolo) and cover it up if it'll make you feel better. Makeup isn't just for women. You don't have to feel like shit just because you're a guy. ... Okay, I'm stepping off my soap box. Ask me for advice about this shit anytime you want, dearest. Because trust me, I know how much it sucks.
I wish I had asked for your advice 4 weeks ago, maybe I would have nipped it in the bud by now. And thank you much Lilliputty for taking the time to write all this out! I love how even the smallest routines, you seem to take a lot of care over and you actually make it sound interesting! I'd get the oat milk just to see what it's like :)
You must have really nice skin - I'm surprised you don't brag about it more :) You've obviously put so much effort into figuring all this stuff out over the years, I actually feel a little bit guilty about being given this knowledge without having earned it :S
Although I have now made a list of things I need to get based on what you've told me :) I think my problem is that I suck at trial and error! I just want a magic fix :)
Life seemed so much simpler before all this :) I just keep worrying, what if it never goes back to normal! Having decent skin was pretty much all I had going for me :)
"I just keep worrying, what if it never goes back to normal! Having decent skin was pretty much all I had going for me :)"
Obviously I can't agree with this because y'know, it's stupid and I like more than just your face, you idiot. And other people do too. But! I absolutely understand. I felt pretty much the same when my skin starting turning to shit. I'd had clear skin all my life and then I took the contraceptive pill, promptly stopped taking it after a few months because the side effects are bonkers, and then bam! Breakout city. It was fucking devastating and years later I'm still not 100% clear. Getting there, but that little bitch called the menstrual cycle fucks me over every month. You're very luck that you don't have that to deal with, my friend. But yeah, I get it, you totally take for granted how thoughtless and easy it is when you have clear skin. I used to just roll out of bed and get going, now it takes me a ridiculous amount of time to get ready 0_0
It will get better though. I promise you. You might never be clear, however. I won't lie about that, it wouldn't be fair. This could be hormonal and that takes a stupid amount of knowledge about the body that most people don't have and the beauty industry won't give out because then they can't make money off of our pain. It's all rather sucky and there are a ton of people out there who will help but, shit, truth time, I've read so much and tried so many things and I'm still breaking out and I get pigment scars from the breakouts and most days it makes me want to curl up in a ball and hide. Hence the makeup. It's the only way I can face people. Body dysmorphia, it's delightful :)
That's my experience, though. You might just be having a weird skin shit-fit. They happen. It will probably go away fairly quickly. But I don't know. If it gets really bad, you can see a doctor and they'll maybe refer you to a dermatologist. Maybe. GPs are seriously fucking lazy and do the minimum to help in my experience. My doctor gave me a roll on acne stick. ROLL ON. The germs. Oh dear god, the germs! And I was young and scared and really uninformed so I put it on my face! 0_0 ... Guess what happened? Total moisture loss. Even more breakouts. Angry red skin. Doctors are idiots. Don't listen to them. And don't let them put you on Accutane unless it's 100% necessary, that shit is scary. They put you on suicide watch while you're on it =/ ... Getting waaaay ahead of myself. Try what I've suggested. Wait a couple of weeks, and see what happens. This stuff unfortunately takes time. Even if it doesn't stop the breakouts entirely, the softer acne care technique will in the long run slow everything down and give your skin more balance.
Oh, and another thing. Change your pillowcases at least every two days. I flip mine every two days and then replace. 2 nights each side. There's a ton of bacteria all over those squishy things and that isn't helping anyone.
Ooft. I'm sleepy now. Teaching is tiring.
Ps. Don't feel bad about getting this advice for free, I'm happy to impart and would have killed for someone to do the same for me. Just don't go getting magical skin now I've told you my secrets. I will hunt you.
I don't deserve you :) How do you store so much information? Your brain must just be better than mine :) I wish I could tell you something worthwhile in exchange...
I actually don't know much about anything :S I guess that's why I talk about mundane stuff all the time :) I mean, I am spending all my time working, sleeping and re-watching - it's probably not doing much for my personal development :) You seem like you're always learning and discovering.
Including weekends, I've had 2 days off since June, and apparently it shows. I'm supposed to be on leave the end of next week but I might cancel it because someone else has been signed off and I really don't want to leave the other person I work with on her own. I don't think her mental health is any better than mine at the moment and we've both just been trying to get through it together.
You... are an exceptionally decent human being. Not everyone would give up their free time as willingly as that. I may have the knowledge, my friend, but you've got the heart. So much heart it makes me a little pukey :) ... Sorry. But you know I can't be entirely nice to you. That also makes me a little pukey :D
I forgot to mention, skin-wise, with the spot treatment? Let whatever you've put on dry and then put a little moisturiser over the top. Gently, so you don't remove any of the underlying product. Since I started doing that, the healing rate has really increased.
Y'know, I almost always feel overwhelmed by how much I consume. I don't give myself enough time to really process anything before moving on to the next thing. But I have to move on to the next thing. It's compulsive. And aggravating. I really wish I could just re-read a fucking book without having a meltdown about it. But my brain won't let me. I truly envy you ability to stick with things. Grass is always greener, right?
But there are just so many books! And you never know when you're going to find the next one you love :) For me, it does just mean I run out of things to share with you. But I don't feel too bad since you obviously don't need help finding things :)
Anyway, here's some awkward dancing from a horror sequel. I was watching a video on these the other day. Clearly spending my spare time well :)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocgj9tewHso
What you said the other day about trying to calm my skin down, that made so much sense in my head! I think that's what I'm going to focus on trying to do.
Crispin Glover really is the most delightful creature. I've never seen any of the Friday the 13th movies. I don't know why; you'd think they were right up my creepy alley but nah, Jason's never graced my screen. Am I missing anything? Is my 80s horror repertoire lacking a hocked masked freak?
I swear I'll shut up about skin stuff after I ask this very important question:
Are you wearing a mask a lot? Because a whole new term has been coined for mask related acne. ... MaskNe. Clever, huh? -_-
Oh, I've never seen them :) One of the channels I sometimes watch on youtube posted a video about the sequels and I ended up watching it for some reason. Apparently 4 & 6 are the best ones from the franchise, 4 being the archetypal Jason film and 6 being the best made and sort of a proto Scream in terms of not taking itself too seriously. So if you do watch one of them... that's what I do, recommend crap I've never seen :)
I will always listen (and count myself lucky) if you have something to tell me about skincare! No, I don't wear a mask. But more importantly, did you ask me about wearing a mask just so you could make the maskne pun? Because, if so, all I can say is 'ugh, why do you say things to make me like you so much' :D
Wait, won't I be confused if I don't watch the prequels? How will I know why Jason's so murdery?! Although, we never really find out that shit with 80s horror movies, do we? Was there ever a backstory for Freddy Kreuger? ... This is going to hurt my brain, I can feel it 0_0
I don't think Jason is the killer in the first film (or the fifth for that matter), and doesn't even get his hockey mask until the third. But I wouldn't go looking too hard for backstory in this franchise - I think the appeal is its dumb bluntness :)
I think I've only seen the first Nightmare on Elm Street. All I remember about Freddy's backstory is that he was a child murderer so the parents all got together and burned him. The appeal of slasher films to me usually is that you can imagine them happening in your own street so a supernatural slasher film doesn't really do it for me. And the kills were a bit too wacky.
I talk like I've seen a million slasher films - I really haven't :) Halloween, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, the Scream films of course, and I remember being very creeped out by the original Black Christmas :)
There's a 4k release of the original 'Dawn of the Dead' available for pre-order (released in November). It's pretty expensive though because it contains several different cuts of the film. But I really want it...
I just realised, when you asked me if I wear a mask a lot, I thought you meant for my skin - like a beauty mask. I'm such an idiot!
Yeah, I do wear a mask but usually only when I'm out shopping, but it's now a rule at the office that you need to wear one unless you're working at your desk. I'm still working from home most days though.
Why is Freya announcing, very politely may I add, that she'd like pie so fucking adorable? What sorcery is this? I swear you have a kawaii siren for a niece. She just lures you in with her cuteness and then you're completely fucked 0_0 ... Do I sound jealous? I'm a tad jealous. Do you think she'd dress as a dinosaur? Y'know, just because it's a Wednesday? Because that might tip me over the edge.
"It's only been about 3 months but I think I'm starting to really like my chromebook :)"
I think this the most you thing you've ever said. I don't know why. It just is.
Well, she does love dinosaurs. Dinosaurs and pastry :) And she really is the politest girl in the world! I haven't yet found out what she's dressing up as for Halloween.
It does take me an awful long time to make up my mind about things :)
I hope you enjoy lots of sweets and horror movies this weekend :)
Huh, for some reason I thought he was only a couple of years older than you.
Happy birthday! ... I don't know you brother's name. That's fucking terrible. I am not a good friend 0_0 Did you have cake? Tell me there was cake.
Strawberry. Cheesecake. Pretzels. *Googles intensely* Flipz? Are they Flipz? Why did I never know this flavour existed?! Holy shit. Guess what I'm requesting from the shops on Friday 0____0
Yeah, they are Flipz :) They were brand new and on offer so of course I had to buy them :)
I've probably never told you his name before... his name's Richard. He's much nicer than me, loves computer games and manga, and his room is a tip - he seems to have everything in there, which does come in handy. Also survived travelling to Japan on his own. Twice. Something which would probably be beyond me.
It will probably shock you to know that we didn't really do much for his birthday :) We did have a take-away, but no cake. He's not really a cake person :S
What time does it start to get dark in Blair at the moment?
... This sentence does not compute. How is this possible? How are you even related... ? 0_0 And how the hell is he nicer? Is he a Care Bear or something?! ... YOU'RE SO NICE. I'm so confused.
It gets dark here at about... uh... 5ish? I'm really not sure. I'm such a dope, I haven't been paying that much attention =/
I know. You hear stories about people who don't like sweet things but you never think it'll be one of your own family :)
Okay, I won't pretend I'm a horrible person because you wouldn't believe me. Anyway, so long as still like me a little, that makes me think I must be an okay person because I know you'd tell me if I was being an asshole :)
I think I pay too much attention to the weather. I was wanting to brag about how much darker it is up north but it sounds like it's pretty much the same :)
Also, just to give you my regular skincare update, I completely stopped with the SA after talking with you, and anything that I think might be harsh on my skin. I've actually started using manuka honey and it really does seem to be helping. I was going to look for the oats but I honestly felt really bad about ripping off your skincare routine so I did some research on other natural products I could use instead. Although I'm still using the aloe vera you recommended, every night :)
I was going to look for the oats but I honestly felt really bad about ripping off your skincare routine
... Dex. That's bananas. Like, seriously, straight up bananas 0_0 But I'll give you props for Manuka honey. Been down that road myself. Very messy. Very sticky. But all that anti-bacterial goodness? Super soothing. Not for me, though. I kept getting it in my mouth. Honey is not people food. Nuh-uh. Dissssgusting. Is it helping though? Or, better question, is it getting any worse? Because truly, you won't see positive results for at least a month or two, unless you're really lucky. I'm crossing my fingers that you're lucky!
I'm gonna give your brother a pass because you say he's nice and he likes manga. Two plus points in the awesome people column. But it's still weird 0_0 Maybe he's a changeling? Maybe you're a changeling!
Thanks Lilliputty, that does make me feel a little more optimistic, if you think it'll take a couple of months to have much effect. I guess I just need to stick with it and not get too disheartened :) I definitely don't think it's getting any worse so maybe it is helping.
Are all your family cake people? I imagine they must be since you're all such good bakers.
Everyone in my family loves cake. You're outlawed if you don't. Where we differ is in the types of cake we like. Me, though? There's only two - I know of - that I will not eat:
Victoria Sandwich Devil's Food Cake
VS, because I just don't get it =/ It's so bland and whipped cream is demented. DFC, because it's just, excuse my blasphemy, too fucking chocolatey. I know, I know, what kinda freak am I? The kinda freak that'll pass on DFC, but happily put their entire face in her sister's homemade version of Bruce Bogtrotter's Chocolate Cake. It's obscene. She puts coffee in it. It barely stays together because it's so gloopy and delicious. If I could ship you a piece, I would. I think it might give you the ultimate sugar high 0_0
Sooooo it'd be real shitty of me to tell you it's Sarah's birthday tomorrow and we're having a Chocolate Malt cake? The icing tastes exactly like Maltesers. Which I know because I hovered over the icing bowl while Em was doing the finishing touches and promptly plunged a spoon into the remainders. Multiple times. Cake is awesome. ... Too mean?
Strangely, Charlie-bear doesn't like fish. He's crazy about roast chicken and gravy, though. Oh, and butter. Today he licked a cling-film covered bowl full of the stuff (it was warming up for the icing). It was adorable. He looked so sad when it didn't taste of anything and promptly ran away. Little weirdo.
I think the best cake I've ever had is something I'll never get again. My dad had an Italian patient (the wife of my primary school lollipop man, actually), Mrs Caruso, real nice lady. As a thank you to my dad for looking after her so well, she made him a Chocolate Amaretti Cake. Which I promptly stuffed down my throat because heaven should be ingested when heaven is presented to mere mortals. Ughhhhhh I need to find a good recipe for it because damn. Damn, damn, damn.
Incredibly shitty, I used to spend my childhood imagining what extract of malt tasted like... but I must know everything about your adventures in cake! All the gruesome details. The gruesome, delicious details :)
I'm going to have to give some serious thought to my best cake ever. I feel like after talking to you, my life seems to have been bereft of amazing cakes - such a sad life :) But I'm sure the best cake if still to come :) Maybe a Chocolate Amaretti Cake. Because looking it up, I just know that I need this in my life! Unfortunately, nice people don't tend to send in thank you cakes to HR :)
Charlie stories make me happy, probably because he so clearly loves his home :)
Sorry, had to be done. But it's the truth. Malty and chocolatey and moist and didn't make me feel ill. And I'm going to eat more after I've finished this message. ... Proceed in hating my guts, my good sir.
I think the only reason I've tried various forms of cake is because the sisterlings enjoy baking, and Sarah went through a phase a few years ago where she baked like every week. It was epic. I'll never forgive myself for missing out on her Guinness Chocolate Cake, though. I wasn't eating sugar for a reason I can't actually remember. It was hell. 1000% do not recommend. And I missed out on boozy chocolate cake 0_0 Such a foolish life error.
You know I secretly love it :D I just assumed you were getting cakes made for you every week so I've learned to live with my jealousy :)
In my head, your family spend their days making all these magical things :)
I thought of maybe cutting down on sugar to see if it would help with my skincare issues, and then I thought 'nah' :) Do you think if we ever live near each other, we could have boozy dessert film nights?
Do you think if we ever live near each other, we could have boozy dessert film nights?
You stupid boy. That'd be every night. And any respective partners would just have to deal with our weird traditions!
That's why I did it! I totally forgot. No sugar was supposed to magically clear my skin up. ... Didn't work. And I was a horrendous bitch most of the time. Apparently depriving my body makes me monstrous =/
I found this recipe for Nutella Brownies a few weeks ago and I can't stop thinking about it:
Y'know what, I felt the same way the first time I spied twinkly lights out in the open but then I kinda thought... this year is the fucking worst, let there be twinkly lights! Full disclosure, I've lowkey been trying to convince the motherling to let us put them up early. She loves our Christmas decorations and she's been so sad since gramps died. I think they'd make her smile. But alas, no twinkly lights yet. I'll win, though. I'm very persuasive. ... Okay, I'm bossy. Very, very bossy 0_0
This is going to make me sound really stupid but I had no idea Kinder Buenos, Nutella and Ferrero Rocher were all made by the same company!
I didn't either! Until I watched Claire Saffitz make Ferrero Rocher earlier in the year and my mind was fucking blown! I think they make it differently for Buenos, though. It's way fluffier. Less cloying. If Nutella tasted more like it does inside a Bueno, I'd like it way more. Tesco's Nutella's pretty good. Nuttier. Which I prefer. Oh, and I'm a fudgey brownie kinda girl. The squidgier the better. If I wanted cake, I'd eat cake =/ You?
Ps. Watch out for harsh facial scrubs, they have the potential to irritate and cause micro-cuts on the skin. But if it's not having any adverse effect, keep doing it. Exfoliation is a must to get rid of those pore-clogging dead skin cells. Skin's so weird. And gross. But freckles exist, so that's something...
I feel terrible for being such a grump about Christmas lights. You're right, this year has been the worst. I hope your mum is doing okay.
Besides, I bet your Christmas decorations are the best, so it would be impossible for me to be grumpy about them :)
Claire Saffitz making Ferrero Rocher - I'm going to have to watch that right now! I actually haven't had Nutella in so long. Toast with Nutella was a staple of growing up. It was what I used to have when I got home from primary school :) I'm going to have to try Tesco's one though.
You've pretty much summed up my feelings on brownies :)
Thanks for the the advice re the scrubs. I keep wishing I had asked for your advice on skincare ages ago. To be honest, I'm not sure if the sugar scrub is working - it's probably just turning me into a walking dessert :)
A walking dessert? Now you're just asking for hummingbirds to lick your face.
Ughhhh, now I want Nutella on toast. How could you mention such a wondrous foodstuff. You're a monster! A MONSTER, I TELL YOU! ... I have bread and Nutella, I don't know why I'm being so dramatic 0_0
That... sounds like it's not going to end well. What are you now? A sleep-deprived, jitter-monster? What movies did you choose? I watched Voltron and Dawson's Creek =/
Y'know, I'm not a fan of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, but I do respect its greatness. Too real, though. I like my scares with a healthy dose of fantasy so can I walk around my house in the dark without wetting myself at ever irregular shadow 0_0
Speaking of horror. Watch A Quiet Place. It's so good. I don't think I breathed the entire time. Plus, Emily Blunt and John Krasinski goodness.
I'm not sure if Voltron's any good because I keep falling asleep during the important parts! >_< So frustrating.
I'm the worst for jump scares. They get me every time and I hate myself for it :S
Do you think we are at that stage now where we keep falling asleep while watching tv? :) To be honest, I've always been pretty bad at that. Is that a stupid thing to miss, falling asleep and waking up to the dvd menu that's been playing for hours :)
Well, I do completely trust your judgement when it comes to films! Is A Quiet Place a supernatural horror?
Hah! I knew you'd cave. I hadn't realised it until now but you're kind of a horror nerd, aren't you?
The horror movie that freaked me out the most was a French abomination called Switchblade Romance. A friend in high school told me not to watch it because it was so fucking horrible, so of course I watched it immediately -_- Big mistake. Huge. I should've known better. There aren't any monsters in it, except for the human kind. ... Bleurgh! Now I'm getting flashbacks! What's your favourite horror?
A Quiet Place is for sure supernatural horror. But not overtly. It's monster horror. Like zombies but not. It's so measured and tense, though. Every scare feels precise but organic. It blew me away and I'm desperate for the sequel. Desperate. I think I'm gonna catch up on the horror I've been meaning to watch, like Hereditary and The Babadook. ... I may need a virtual hug when I'm done 0_0
I wish I knew enough about anything to be called a nerd :)
Dawn of the Dead came in the post today. I'm so excited, mainly because I hardly get anything through the post these days :)
Does sci-fi horror count? Because then I'd go with Alien and The Thing. Hardly original choices, I know :S I don't know which horror film I find the scariest, although Switchblade Romance sounds like exactly the kind of thing that would traumitise me - I really don't cope well with that kind of violence. Also, even though I love it, I find the zombies in Return of the Living Dead absolutely terrifying - they're so fast and impossible to stop :)
I'm going to have to watch A Quiet Place, aren't I? We could have a horror night with our booze filled desserts - maybe we'd cope better being half drunk on pudding and not being alone :)
Being uncool with you is one of my very favourite things :) Although, I foresee a flaw in your logic ointment. ... I can't eat while watching horror =/ Not even the tamest of horrors. I tried to watch The Walking Dead while eating a yoghurt once and I just couldn't do it. So squishy. Like undead goop 0_0 0_0 0_0 0_0
Fast zombies are the worst! My first experience with them was in 28 Days Later and I may love that movie but holy shit, fuck the person who decided to put living corpses on hyperdrive. Not cool. Not cool one tiny bit! I'm still waiting for the third movie in that series, though. Danny Boyle's always teasing us with "maybe"s. Evil man <_<
Ps. Alien is awesome. Aliens is be better. Get away from her, bitch. Classic.
Maybe we should just eat the desserts before the film. Or after. Or both. Basically anytime we're not watching films :)
Fortunately, the zombies in Dawn of the Dead are very slow :) If it was a zombie apocalypse, instead of a shopping mall, we could maybe barricade ourselves in a massive library so you could read all the books. Not sure what we'd do for food though. You'd maybe send me out on night raids... I am so uncool :)
I used to be so into the Alien films when I was growing up, when I was about 10 or 11. I remember being super excited for Alien Resurrection :S Aliens was my favourite at that age, but Alien is now one of my very favourite films of all time, right up there with the first 3 Indiana Jones films and Jurassic Park. Actually, I have a ton of favourite films - I'll list them one day :)
Asian horror films are something that I haven't really seen much of. I remember when I used to spend my days wandering around HMV in Edinburgh, I kept looking at the 'Asia Extreme' section, but I never bought anything - usually because I had no money :)
You bite your tongue, Dexterous Fungus Epistolean! 39 is not old <_< Especially as it's not that far away from us. Definitely not old. The epitome of youth, actually. ... I can trick my brain into just about anything if I want it to believe it badly enough. Neat trick, huh?
Did Freya do anything adorable for her mum? I bet she did, the little goblin 0_0
Trolling HMV's foreign cinema section is one of the true great pastimes. Although, FOPP had a better selection. Does FOPP even still exist? I miss Borders. It was perfect. Food. Books. Movies. Places to sit. I basically wanted to live there =/
Apparently FOPP does still exist. We should plan a trip once all this madness is over - and if we change into completely different people who would actually go anywhere :)
I did go to the one in Edinburgh, although not very often. I remember it was somewhere in New Town, behind Princes Street. That's what I like about cities, exploring all the hidden streets. And I hardly ever went to Borders. I think when we used to go to Liverpool for Christmas, there was this shopping village called Cheshire Oaks that had a Borders.
Actually, I'm so happy you mentioned this. I haven't thought about Cheshire Oaks in ages, and I had the vaguest memory of an aquarium being somewhere nearby. So I looked it up and I was remembering correctly - Blue Planet Aquarium located right next to Cheshire Oaks :)
I've caught 3 mice in 2 days! Trapped them with peanut butter in a cage so I don't have to kill them. I just have to take them down to the loch and set them free. Although I'm slightly suspicious that it's the just same mouse following me home each time!
I just... that wasn't the message I was expecting! But I liked it! And happy to know you're a humane mouse trapper, even if it is Basil the Great Mouse Detective following you home each time :)
The only mice I tend to see are dead ones =/ Charlie's quite the murderer and he likes to show his kills. It's like Pet Sematary outside mine and Em's windows 0_0 We did catch one a couple of years ago, though. Also with peanut butter. It had the prettiest little face; I hope Charlie didn't eat it =/
If I was a mouse, you could totally catch me with peanut butter.
If it was a mouse detective, it wasn't smart enough not to fall for the same trap 3 nights in a row. This is where I'm at, proud of outsmarting a mouse :) The last time, I drove it all the way across town and there was nothing in the cage the next morning - I'm almost convinced now that it was the same mouse!
I just imagine Charlie sitting there, expecting the mice to be brought to him for his entertainment :)
Hah! That's nothing. I don't remember the last time I even spoke to a delivery person 0_0 Get any good quiz questions? Dazzle anyone with any random knowledge? Do you watch Only Connect? On BBC2? The fam and I love it (except my dad but that's because he sucks at it :D ), and normally I'm terrible at answering anything (logic puzzles are not forte) but I got so many questions right this week and, well, I gotta say, I'm embarrassingly proud 0_0 I get this way when I answer things correctly on University Challenge, as well =/
Ps. SO glad your skin's clearing up, bud. Simple's always better for ye olde face.
University Challenge used to make me feel dumb. Only Connect would probably do the same. I know nothing worthwhile :) I'm not surprised that you do well. You're one of the smartest people I know!
We won the film quiz by a half point :D And one of the answers was the title of a Korean film I had behind me on my piano. That's the only kind of knowledge I store :)
I did have a small breakout of spots but I'm blaming it on something I got really stressed about at the weekend :)
Which Korean movie? And technically, did you cheat? I'm saying no, because no one prove anything. That's how the law of pub quizzing works, right?
Ah, stress breakouts. Joyous things. As if you're not stressed enough without to physically showing on your fucking body. ... Physiology is both amazing and idiotic at the same time 0_0
It was Memories of Murder. And no, I didn't cheat - where's the fun in that :) But I would never do well on my own. I have too many gaps in my film knowledge. I do pretty well with old films - for some reason, I can remember boring details from films I maybe watched once when I was growing up, but can scarcely remember what I did yesterday!
I reckon you could win a film quiz all on you own :)
Nooooooooo. This isn't fair. Even just the idea of Freyacorn is too much to bear 0_0 Like, I kinda want photography evidence, but I also think my brain will squee itself into a coma =/ How do you stand having a relative that fucking cute? HOW?!
Apparently, whenever the postman brings a parcel, she asks 'it is for me?' :)
FUNGUS! You must STOP 0_0 That girl, she's gonna run the world, unicorn costume and all.
I have also sucked miserably at gifts this year. There's one thing on its way to you and I'm contemplating another but ugh, I dunno, shopping for other people is hard, man. Saying that, though, whatever you've got me will be great. I have no doubt. And if it's not, I'll just never tell you :D
I'll never work out how you manage to find so many things to enjoy in a month...
One advantage of my parents being back is that I occasionally get massive slabs of cake delivered to my room.
Okay, now I'm jealous.
All the rentals bring me lately is irritation 0_0
And scones.
I hate scones.
Weird little floury cake rocks.
They're a waste of good jam if you ask me.
Speaking of jam... I ate it with French toast yesterday.
...
Tasted like a hot doughnut!
Ps. I find that many things by being feckless and spending too much time on the internet. If only that was a legitimate job prospect 0_0
'Tasted like a hot doughnut!' I'm guessing that's a good thing :) I've never had proper French toast. I tried to make it once but I don't think I made it right...
I won't lie, it was good having my parents in Sandness these last few months. Maybe I should move there now that they're back!
You did still eat the scones, right?
Of course a hot doughnut if a good thing!
Next time you have one, put it in the microwave for... uh... some seconds and you'll see why I was so happy.
Or just try making French toast again.
How did you do it? It's real simple.
Crack an egg or two onto a plate. Mix the goop. Soak slice(s) of bread in the goop. Then fry.
Easy!
Although, I say "easy" but I've burnt soup multiple times so what the fuck do I know? =/
There's only one reason not to move to Sandness, and that's the effects of me whining at you 24/7 because I'm Hulk-coloured with envy.
And I can whine for the gods, my friend. Zeus talks shit about me alllll the time.
Ps. No, I did not eat the scones. I ate the jam. With a spoon. I'm not an animal, you know.
You're so civilised :)
Other than hot doughnuts (how did you discover that?!) and French toast, what else are you good at making?
Don't worry, I'm stuck at home with the family for now, so you and I can suffer together :)
Also I wouldn't worry about what Zeus says. He's done more than his fair share of terrible things!
Fair point. Zeus really is the biggest dick of them all. Who needs that many wives, ffs?
I... can't make much but I'm a killer bread baker, my Minestrone soup is practically a solid but it tastes damn good, and just like you, I can flip pancakes with the best of them.
But bread is mostly my forte.
Hot doughnuts were actually discovered by my dad. He's a weird genius. He heats up shortbread and it's really fucking good. I wouldn't even have thought of doing that =/
A Sandwitch, like Emily said :)
I have a feeling I may meet my end by exploding doughnut!
Well... there are worse ways to go?
If they find my dead body covered in jam, that's what happened :)
I swear I am going to find things to share with you one of these days. When work calms down and I get some semblance of a life back :)
I wish I could share the birthday video Freya sent my mum. At one point she blows a kiss and says 'catch it' :)
Noooooooooooooo!
SHE'S SO FUCKING CUTE I CAN'T STAND IT >_<
I know, she hurts my heart! Like when she pretends to play with baby spiders, or tries to catch ghosts :)
Have you had nice weather in Blair? These last few days have been really nice although I've barely noticed them since I'm always inside!
You're killing me, Dexterous. She really does that?
She's gonna grow up to be a chipper Lydia Deetz 0_0
Weather-wise, it's been kinda weird. Incredibly sunny but overcast, but warm, but cold.
My internal temperature gauge has been having a goddamn field day. Like right now? My legs are weird hot but my fingers are freezing.
...
The fuck?!
I don't which temperature to encourage!
Do you think there are rooms in the world that have perfect temperatures, like the air conditioning repair school in Community? Or maybe that's impossible given how different and unpredictable our bodies are. Perhaps someone has designed a room that adapts to a person's individual body temperature. Although how that would cope with hot legs and freezing fingers simultaneously, I don't know!
Sorry, ignore my nonsensical ramblings :)
That's not nonsensical, that's genius. You should patent it.
I can't think of single person who wouldn't want to be just the right temperature all the time. Who would choose to be frostbitten or covered in sweat?!
I've got so many bug bites at the moment. I love Summer but why must its offspring eat me alive?
Do you get bitten? Do you have tasty, tasty human blood?
Of course! With all the sugar :) We have these really annoying tiny black flies up here. They are almost invisible but I'm guessing 90% teeth!
But I'm not a garden reader like you :)
Are they like little black lines? If so, we get those and they are indeed, all teeth.
Why can't they just eat other bugs instead of us? There's nothing wrong with a bit of cannibalism!
I think those are the only really annoying ones we get, eating me alive when I'm hanging the washing :)
We get midges too, but they aren't so bad as they don't bite. And the occasional giant moth at night :)
Jam doughnuts have suddenly appeared on the kitchen table!
Then you know what to do, my friend.
Just don't explode it, okay?
No doughnut murder; they have feelings too, you know.
I remember we used to get doughnuts at school dinners. They weren't jam though. They were just plain sugared doughballs. Still, I wasn't complaining. They were better than most things we got served. Apart from a few desserts, I don't look back fondly on any of the food - there were just some days that were more tolerable than others. Mince & tatties was the worst, or soup & sandwiches day. I had strong feelings against butter and onions when I was growing up, and they seemed to be in everything. I also remember this really weird chocolate sauce - it was really thick and hot and they seemed to just pour it on anything. I did go through packed lunch phases too but I was such a fussy eater I would throw food away on my way home and tell my parents that I had eaten everything.
Okay, that's enough reminiscing for today :)
Dear god, remind me never to feed you anything but sugar.
You're fussier than I am! And I've got the most basic taste buds.
I've never had a school dinner.
Not once.
Mum always packed my lunch, which was usually a peanut butter sandwich (because peanut butter is one of my main food groups), an apple/satsuma/banana, a juice carton (apple or orange - I hated both; not because of the fruit but because the brand was gross. If I was lucky I got Ribena/Five Alive/Kiora - those were the best days), and a biscuit (usually a Penguin, KitKat, or a Club - I hated Penguins as a kid, now I love them; foolish child).
When high school hit, I pretty much stopped eating in front of people. I still hate it 0_0 The most you'd get me to consume was a Chomp or a Freddo. Such a healthy child =/
I think I would have had packed lunch envy if I was sitting next to you :) My mum still occasionally makes me peanut butter sandwiches to take to work. Not sure if that's something to brag about :S
I think your mum was right to give you cartons (even the gross kinds). I had a packed lunch with a flask and there was always about a 50/50 chance it would flood the box because I hadn't put the lid back on correctly :) I don't know if I had a favourite juice carton. I feel like everyone should have a favourite... I was never much of a Ribena person though.
We never had Penguins at home for some reason. In fact, we never had any of those kinds of biscuits. It was all packet biscuits - I used to go home and stuff my face with bourbons :)
I never had school dinners in high school. I used to just go to the street. Well, Commercial Street. But everyone just called it the street. It's the one with all the shops :) I would maybe get a sandwich from Slotties (that's the old name - it's actually been Faerdie Maet since I can remember but no one ever calls it that) and some sweets (they were also kind of an old fashioned sweet shop where they had jars behind the counter and would pour the sweets onto some scales), and have a look around Clive's Record Store (which was really tv, film and cd store). I was such a loser :) The sandwich shop is still open (although they don't sell many sweets anymore), the record store has closed. There's some boring Lerwick history for you :)
I would have invited you to the street with me. You wouldn't have to eat, unless you wanted some sweets, and you could have picked out music for me since that was something I sucked at in high school :)
Also, one of the best feelings in school was realising I still had 10p and could afford a Chomp or Freddo :)
I've started walking around the garden in the mornings & evenings. I did miss my walks to work everyday - it was when I did my best, most ridiculous thinking :)
I sometimes imagine running away to a city, renting a small flat, and working a night shift job to help pay the bills. Pretty sure I used to dream bigger :S
When did they stop making Cadbury Wildlife bars? Or am I confusing them with something else? Maybe there's another really thin chocolate bar that's very similar? These are the big questions occupying my mind tonight :)
I think I could cope more with living at home if my room was completely soundproof.
Agreed. Sometimes I wear headphones just to block everything out =/
I've even looked at noise cancelling headphones but fuck a duck, they're so expensive.
I'd forgotten about Cadbury Wildlife bars! Why were they so good? It was just Cadburys with animals on it! But so much better than your average bar.
I call sorcery.
They still make Animal Crackers, though, don't they?!
...
I checked, they do.
Now I've got a craving and Amazon is failing me 0_0
Noise cancelling headphones? I'm going to have to look into those!
I'm going to have a look for Animal Crackers next time I'm go shopping :)
If you get Animal Crackers before me, I'm going to be so mad at you!
You'll feel my wrath all the way across the sea, Dexterous Epistolean!
Even the mermaids will be shaking in their jellies!
...
You're going to buy a million packets just to spite me and marry a mermaid, aren't you? 0_0
I have a feeling that it would be the Animal Crackers rather than the mermaid marrying that would bother you more :) I think I would have been terrified if I'd bought them and heard the wind beating on my bedroom window tonight! But the night is calm and I'm eating a Kit Kat :)
"But the night is calm and I'm eating a Kit Kat :)"
Oh no. Oh dear. My obnoxious, poetical way of speaking has finally rubbed off on you!
What have I done?!
...
Just kidding. Please continue. Forever. That made me so blindingly happy :D
Did you know they make a Twirl that's filled with Caramac?
CARAMAC.
Why was I not privy to this information until now?! >_<
Ps. If you bagged yourself a mermaid bride, I'd just coerce her into telling me all the Leafy Sea Dragons' secrets.
And the Stingrays. I want to know if their little flippery feets are ticklish 0_0
I wish! I love the way you write! Is it weird that when you talk about Leafy Sea Dragons, this all sounds completely normal to me know? :)
Twirls filled with Caramacs! How did that get by us?!
Also, a couple of parcels arrived today :) However, I feel really bad because one of the things I ordered for you hasn't been dispatched yet :(
I should never have bragged about my skin. I've been getting random outbreaks this last week. Maybe it's an age thing. Or a lack of fresh air thing :S
I'm so glad for once that we aren't in the same place because I might of "HA!"ed in your face, like the spiteful bitch-witch that I am 0_0
Instead I did it in my head.
So... still a bitch-witch ^__^
It's probably just stress. Y'know, with the world on fire. The first few weeks of Covid-19, my skin had a bitchy little tantrum. I was not please.
But maybe go outside every now and then? Drink more water? And put some of the aloe vera I made you buy on any breakouts overnight. Works wonders.
You should be receiving three parcels. One of which might be late. Fucking Covid and my procrastination gene; paralysing little fucker.
Don't worry if anything's late. I always reckon, a present after your birthday is never a bad thing :) But I'm greedy...
Ps. Please never tire of my weirdness. You're the only one who understands me 0_0 But you better make good in the fishwife, dear boy. I've got questions to be ask!
"make good in the fishwife"
That sounds dirty =/
I meant "on".
Ugh.
While we're correcting typos: "pleased"
I swear to god, I check these things >_<
I don't think I could ever tire of you. I'd even marry a mermaid just so you could get your questions answered :)
You're right, it probably is stress. That would explain the headaches too. But the aloe vera really did help! Maybe a spiteful bitch-witch, but a helpful one too :)
I need to take a look at my routine. I don't think the one I have right now is working for me. You've probably noticed that I'm obsessed with routines :)
I think I ordered 4 things, including that box from Amazon and the thing that's probably going to be late. And one of the other things is really, really small!
Typos that make something sound dirty will always get a pass :)
It's getting noticeably darker here now.
For sure. The birds have stopped pissing me off when they wake up and I'm trying to go to sleep, as well.
Summer is definitely over.
If felt fucking autumnal today.
:(
Let's move to Hawaii and be uncomfortably sweaty but happy, yeah?
3 days 'til our day of celebrated birth, Dexterous. Then the three parcels in my room can finally stop eyeballing me.
My restraint is medal-worthy 0_0
Ps. I can't survive without routines. OCD five? 🖐
Okay, OCD five :) Do you still go to sleep in the early hours? I remember when I used to stay up to message you, before my body gave up - I must have really disturbed your reading! :)
I went to Hawaii once. When I was too young to remember. We have about 15 seconds of video footage before the battery went dead. I'm told it was amazing :S
I hope you're not too disappointed with the presents, although I know you'd probably never say if you were :)
Happy birthday for tomorrow, Maggot. You deserve to have the best day. I probably won't stay up until midnight to rip open presents but considering you always give me things that make me ridiculously happy on an otherwise uneventful day, I'll maybe save that feeling for nearer the end :)
Happy birthday for tomorrow to you too, Fungus :)
I hope you like your gifts. I kinda wanted to keep them for myself, so that's a good sign?
And I always love what you send me, you idiot! Do you have any idea how many times I've shaken my dead gelfling? It makes me so happy 0_0
What time were you born? Do you wake up older? Or does it happen later in the day?
I plopped into the world at around 4am. Explains a lot =/
I know you don't even remember going to Hawaii but I'm still insanely jealous. All my Lilo & Stitch fantasies are screaming for retribution.
Thank you so much! A Dunder Mifflin top, David quotes, and a Wednesday Addams' pin - I can't blame you for wanting to keep them. I'm glad you didn't though because they made me so happy. I don't think anyone will ever know me as well as you :)
Freya also phoned to sing happy birthday, although she only did it for a chocolate gold coin :) And someone actually made me a blueberry cheesecake. You should have seen Freya licking her lips when I showed her the cake over the video chat :)
Eek! I have no idea when I was born. I really should know :S I want to guess morning, maybe 8am. That's roughly when I'm at my best, although it's a rapid decline from there :)
First of all. Freya is adorable. I have no cousins, but if I did, I'd want them just like her. Because I would also video chat - the worst horror known to man - for money-shaped chocolate.
Food bribery is the best.
I'm so glad someone baked for you! Now I don't have to feel bad for my baking sister badasses.
Seriously, I want all your gifts but the teeny tiny felted Sanderson sisters and Blade Runner unicorn are totally making up for it!
And I don't know what the manga is, and I have no idea what order it should be read in but it looks gory, and twisted, and weird as fuck.
Consider me a very happy Maggot.
:D
Happy birthday again, Fungus.
My day was weird but good. I cried in the middle of it. But then there was cake and presents and Charlize Theron immortally kicking people (watch The Old Guard. So good), so not a bad day.
Apart from the weather.
Holy fuck, it is horrible here.
Charlie's so crinkly from the rain he's basically a walking advertisement for the 80s.
...
It's so cute 0_0
How was your day?
Well, I had cake and Freya and presents. I even went for a proper walk for the first time in ages. So not a bad day at all :)
However, I will never not be jealous of your sisters :)
I think it would break my heart to see you cry. I wish I had been there so you could have buried your face in my new Dunder Mifflin top. But I'm glad Charlie was there to cheer you up :)
We did have really bad weather a week or so ago. It rained almost as hard as I can remember. I was driving home and it sounded like an explosion when I went through a massive puddle :)
Ps. I keep saying it but you really are the best person in the world to buy presents for :)
My skin is getting much better thanks to the aloe vera (thank you Lilliputty!). I've started reducing my shower temperatures too, seeing if that helps. I still don't understand my body, trying to find habits that mean it's not going to sabotage me whenever I think I've got it under control... I tell you the best things :)
I think I'm going to have to stop working extra hours and weekends. I'm feeling burnt out. I could do with a nice break of film watching and music listening. That's really all I want :)
Haven't quite made the full transition to my chromebook yet. It's really good but the one thing I'm struggling to get used to is the spotify app. The version on there isn't quite as good as the one for Windows. I mean, it's fine, but the layout and navigation isn't as straightforward, at least for my brain :)
I think your August post just about broke my old laptop :D
This is going to sound very boring but one of the things I got for my birthday was a new duvet :)
Finally made a decent start on this year's summer/autumn playlist.
It's finally happened. I can now destroy technology remotely!
Sorry about that but maybe my overzealous coding will give you the nudge to embrace the Chromebook?
...
I don't know why August's Monthlies was so... abundant. Some parts of it - mainly Twitter - weren't even loading =/
I'd scale back but uh... no?
This might sound boring, too, but a new duvet sounds kinda epic.
I dread to think how old mine is 0_0
I got a handpainted lazy sweatshirt in the post. It's so fucking snuggly. Thank you, Dexterous :)
Somehow "galaxy" turned into "lazy"
Autocorrect really needs to learn to chill the fuck out.
I loved your August post! Definitely worth the loading time :) But yeah, I really need to fully commit to the Chromebook :)
I'm really glad the sweatshirt arrived :) I thought maybe a lazy sweatshirt was one you wore on days when you felt like doing nothing - I'm quite happy with it being thought of as that :)
I would guess that you sleep in a very comfy bed. I hope so anyway :)
In all honesty, when the weather really turns, I am probably going to sleep in it.
My lizard blood requires fleece-lining.
My bed might be comfortable but I wouldn't know because my fucked up back makes everything uncomfortable!
I thought yoga was supposed to help muscle pain but it was a lie! A devious, hideous lie! >_<
I'm sorry, Lilliputty. I wish I could suggest something. Are you still doing your yoga? Is at least good for relaxing even if it doesn't help with your back pain?
I keep meaning to do proper grown up shopping but I always end up coming home with things like Viennese biscuits dipped in chocolate. Half price though :)
I think this is me at work :)
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/08/06/9e/08069e240c7edc25b73b604bf4819167.jpg
The okay thing about still working at home is that I sometimes get pancakes and toasties made for me :)
Are you sure that meme is only you at work and not in life in general?
Because I'm relating to it pretty hard and you and I, my friend, are pretty fucking similar.
Be grumpy with me, Dexterous. It's so good for premature wrinkleage :D
I wish I could have a toastie. I used to love them when I was little but hot cheese is the work of the devil.
Even saying "hot cheese" makes me want to barf.
One day, though. One day I'm going to muster the courage to make a banana Nutella toastie and not barf from sugar overload immediately afterwards.
That will be my golden day.
It will be celebrating throughout the ages 0_0
...
Or more likely I'll toss my cookies and shame will be my master -_-
I think you do the best shopping.
I'd be so happy if you were my food provider.
I'd probably have scurvy but I'd be happy and scurvied.
Although, I'd need some breakfast bars thrown into the mix.
My dad's got me hooked on Jordans Frusli bars.
I keep lurking on amazon to see if I can bulk buy them so I can stay in bed all day and overdose on oats.
I think I'm gonna get a body pillow. For the disaster that is my back. I never know what to do with my arms when I'm sleeping anyways, this'll give me somewhere to put them!
...
I think I'm 104 years old 0_0
'Or more likely I'll toss my cookies and shame will be my master -_-'
How can I be grumpy with you when you say things like that :)
Are body pillows those ones you hold onto while you sleep?
Do you eat the Frusli bars for breakfast? Or whatever time you eat your first meal of the day :) My breakfasts are very boring. Or non existent. A cup of tea is the only constant really. I'll occasionally get into a certain cereal for a few weeks. Although this morning I had a Kit Kat :S I was going to have cereal but for some reason all the bowls were in the dishwasher. And I wasn't going to eat the Kit Kat but I wanted to take a painkiller and thought it was best to eat something first. There's a tiny glimpse into what my days are really like :)
I would probably just end up buying the things you tell me to buy. I might occasionally surprise you though :) Do you think banana Nutella toasties would ward off the scurvy?
"Do you think banana Nutella toasties would ward off the scurvy?"
You're a genius!
See, this is why you should do the shopping and I should do the feeding.
I'm guessing neither of us would cook because, well, that has disaster written all over it.
We can live off bread, pancakes and obscene toasties, right?
That's healthy and normal?
The Dadmonster brought home Buenos.
He's also a great food provider :D
Although, the Mater might disagree with that.
Frusli bars are actually dessert for me. I've always like cereal and cereal-like products for dessert.
A bowl of Frosted Shreddies after dinner? Goddamn decadent, in my opinion.
And I don't eat breakfast. Not even when I'm up in the morning. Hurts my belly. I guess I eat elevenses, if I had to call it something. And then it's only something small.
My stomach just isn't ready to be filled until lunchtime >_<
A Kit Kat, though?
You monster.
Chunky, regular, or 4x?
Either way, you're still a monster.
Body pillows are either this:
Or this:
I'm getting the latter, even though I really want the previous but it'd take over my entire bed =/
It's clever when I write the link code AND THEN FORGET TO ADD THE LINKS 0_0
...
Your best friend is stupid.
Let's try this again.
Body pillows are either this:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pharmedoc-Pregnancy-Maternity-Detachable-Extension/dp/B07J5SMJQJ/ref=psdc_3887770031_t1_B07DLBDQW5?th=1
Or this:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07DLBDQW5/ref=sspa_dk_detail_5?pd_rd_i=B07DL5J789&pd_rd_w=K0E1J&pf_rd_p=1055d8b2-c10c-4d7d-b50d-96300553e15d&pd_rd_wg=kQv3u&pf_rd_r=H52RHJ6CBYDGPCRWYZRG&pd_rd_r=f6571e72-f263-4809-94b3-bb019677fb53&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExSEJVNVJNMDlGQVpDJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNjk1MDQwMzZXVjFZT0o1UTNZSyZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwMjg4OTc3M09STUpOVUlDUTNaQSZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2RldGFpbCZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU&th=1
Cereal is for anytime. I learned that while I was fending for myself during lockdown :)
We can pretend we're carb loading for a marathon :) I'm trying to think of what else I can make... I once made a lasagne. I feel like I should put the emphasis on 'once'. It was edible though :)
Does your family make a lot of soups? I feel like that's something I could get into, making soup.
It was just a regular Kit Kat. Does that make it better? :) Obviously, I didn't buy them. I mean, who buys a 2 bar Kit Kats and not 4 bar Kit Kats? Who?! :)
I. Love. Buenos. In fact, Kit Kats and Buenos may be my favourite chocolate bars on a day by day basis. As you know, I'm a weirdo who likes chocolate I can chill so I'm very much a thin chocolate kind of person - one of the reasons I miss Wildlife bars so much (maybe a slight exaggeration as I hadn't thought about them in ages until we spoke about them the other day, but now I can't stop thinking about them).
Big news! I picked up a bag a peanut butter coated pretzels when I was last at the shops :)
I'm glad you've decided to get a body pillow if it'll help you're back. Also, you are not stupid. But you are my best friend. So you were half right :)
A friend from work keeps sending me links to houses and flats for sale. I think it has made me realise that even though a part of me wants to move out, weighing everything up, I just don't know if I want it enough or that it makes much sense :S
I've had way too many cups of tea today :S
I think I'm coping much less well with this gradual coming out of lockdown phase than I was with total lockdown phase :S
Do you want to know something stupid that I really miss? Browsing through dvd magazines, looking for films to buy. That was me in the early 2000s :)
Hey buddy, sent you an email yesterday but I don't know if you check that account anymore.
Either way, it's there.
It'll explain why I might be absent for a bit.
Thanks, Lilliputty. Of course I'll still message you about mundane, silly things. It's my favourite thing to do :)
I have the most random collection of books on my bedside table and they haven't changed for years. A bunch of film guides, a year's worth of National Geographics (it was a present from ages ago), some Marvel Essentials, Lord of the Rings, Around the World in 80 Days, and the Folio Book of Historical Mysteries :S
I'd almost forgotten how much tv I used to watch when I was living in Edinburgh. I kinda miss watching random late night films on Film 4 :)
Had a walk to the office today as I needed to deal with the mail. Hoping the fresh air improves my complexion :)
Did I ever tell you we have a music room at home? That's what we call it. It's basically my dad's room where he listens to classical music. It has a record player, a cd player, 2 really large loudspeakers and a very comfortable chair. That's his main hobby - listening, collecting and cataloguing classical music. I think he has something like 5000 vinyls and cds. We're probably a pretty odd family :S
Trying out my new duvet tonight :)
I am not disappointed in my new duvet :) I also sleeping on top of my old duvet which I'm using as a breaker between the mattress and the bed sheet. Just because :)
It was Freya's birthday last weekend. She had a Frozen themed party - they had Anna & Elsa come and play games with the children.
I keep having to resist the urge to continually turn my question block light on and off :)
Have I bragged to you yet about finally being able to touch my toes after months of slight exercise? It's about the only thing I've achieved this year :)
I don't think my parents trust me to look after myself when they're not here. I've been made a massive batch of spaghetti bolognese to last me the weekend :S
Slightly concerned my skincare issues may be developing into full blown acne! I'm going to blame it on stress, to make it seem like there's actually stuff going on in my life :)
Whenever I feel down, I just look at No-Face and he cheers me up :)
Funny, I shake my dead Gelfling :)
I think I'd be a much more boring person if I'd never met you! I mean, I am very boring, but I've found a ton of fun things I enjoy, because of you :)
We had our monthly film quiz tonight. They've been doing it online since lockdown, which is okay with me as I can make cups of tea and take naps between rounds :)
Dex... you haven't started turning into one of the Tetley Tea gang have you?
I am feeling very middle aged these days :) Although I was probably exaggerating when I said I took naps - it was more like lying on my bed off-camera and occasionally sticking my arm in the air to show I was paying attention... I'm such a team player :)
At the moment, I've been drinking Ridgways tea although I think the only place that sells it in Shetland is a place called Scoop Wholefoods so I usually have to make a special trip. My life is so interesting :)
"...it was more like lying on my bed off-camera and occasionally sticking my arm in the air to show I was paying attention..."
I'm cackling.
Just reading September :)
Y'know, I still can't wave at people when I drive, because I always swerve the car in the direction I'm waving. I can't help it!
I bought some Kinder Buenos for the weekend :)
2, 10, 11 - eyes, fingers, toes. I always forget how much I like the first Addams Family film, mainly because it's not quite as good as Values. A very productive Saturday :)
I haven't actually watching a new film in months, possibly over a year!
I saw the black and white cat today. In the back garden. I hadn't seen her in ages :)
Freya's been learning how to put her plate in the sink after eating. However, when she doesn't like her food, she'll just get up from the table and dump it in the bin, then put the plate in the sink :)
I swear to the gods, that kid is an evil mastermind.
Nay, a goddess.
I mean, she's got the name for it.
And I bet people give her little offerings all the time.
Her temple's a blanket fort, isn't it?
It's just as well she doesn't live up here. I'd spoil her rotten!
I still feel like hiding in a blanket fort sometimes :)
Did you end up getting her something Ghibli for her birthday?
I feel like she'd be a Totoro kinda girl.
I think everyone with a working brain wants to hide from the world inside a blanket fort. At least sometimes.
The sisterlings and I used to build epic blanket forts.
Sometimes we'd use duvets for extra insulation, and take our hoard of pilfered junk food inside to gorge like hungry dragons.
At least that's how I remember it.
My memory bank is not to be trusted =/
I just bought her some books. She loves her books :) She's such a smart cookie, she's probably a better reader than me. She can already read something and then recite it without looking :)
But we'll have to get her onto Ghibli soon. Totoro is definitely where we'll be starting :)
Do you remember what books you enjoyed reading when you were small?
I was looking at blanket forts the other night after you mentioned them and I just knew you and your sisters would have made ones that were probably like something out of a dream. I doubt you would have settled for anything less than epic :)
Ugh, I have to work the whole weekend. I think I'll re-watch the first 6 seasons of American Dad to get me through it :)
A weekend of work? That sucks, Dexterous.
I think you should throw in something sugary and possibly baked to cushion the boredom.
American Dad will only get you so far!
What books did you get her?
Is she a Fantasy girl?
If you say yes, I may have to deem her the perfect human.
I don't actually remember reading or being read to when I was little.
I know there must have been some Roald Dahl, definitely The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and I had this Sesame Street sound book that had buttons at the side. I can't remember what the sounds were but I know I loved it.
Other than that... no idea.
And I didn't start reading like a fiend until my early 20s. A switch just sorta flipped and I essentially did nothing else but draw and read. I liked the reading better. If I'd known it was the thing I loved the most, I'd probably have studied English so I could do Glasgow's MLitt in Fantasy.
But I really hate Academia, so I'd probably have run for the hills once I got my BA. Who even knows if I'd stuck out another year for the honours. I certainly didn't with Fine Art =/
...
That got a little depressing. Ignore me. I'm just a little rattled by "the future" lately and my complete lack of experience! 0_0
Do you have any childhood books that stick out in your memory?
I never feel qualified to be reassuring about the future. I mean, what the fuck do I know? :) All I can say is that I seem to get through life okay without much effort (constant bad mood notwithstanding). Besides, you're way more intelligent and imaginative than I'll ever be and I just think, that at some point in the future, it's all going to come together for you and you'll find something that makes you truly happy and do something amazing with it.
If I could start again, I don't think I would have gone to university. I would have stayed home, found a job, maybe studied at the local college, and found a place of my own. It's hard to explain but there's a part of me that feels like I'm still paying for what going to university did to me... Now I'm the one being depressing :)
I'll just talk about Freya because she always cheers me up :) To be honest, my mum and cousin chose most of the books... I don't think I could stand the thought of choosing and buying her something that she didn't love. Maybe I'll have more courage at Christmas :) But apparently she likes scary stories! Another funny thing about Freya is that she loves baddies. My cousin says that in all the Disney films she watches, her favourite characters are always the villains - she thinks Ursula is the best!
The original Winnie The Pooh books were my favourites when I was growing up and I still love them :) I actually don't think I owned any Roald Dahl books but I always used to borrow them from the school library :)
First of all, thanks, mister.
Your unwavering faith in me is both mystifying and comforting :)
Second of all:
"...there's a part of me that feels like I'm still paying for what going to university did to me..."
Holy fuck. YES. That is exactly how it feels.
Like you're being punished for not fitting a societal stereotype that everyone else seem to naturally subscribe to.
...
It sucks -_-
There should really be some majestic wizarding school we could attend instead of this life nonsense.
I want a fucking patronus, Dexterous!
Winnie the Pooh is so lovely. It always will be.
I was always a big fan of Piglet, which is weird because he's so optimistic and I'm such a pessimist =/
Or, no, more like an optimist with pessimistic tendencies...
What animal would be your patronus?
Maybe we could just live in the hundred acre wood, occasionally visit each other and go for walks :)
I think the Lilliputty I know, if you went to university, you would just do things your way and not care about fitting in.
So much of my time in the mornings and evenings is spent trying to get rid of this acne, and I'm not even sure it's getting any better :S
For some reason, Easier Said by Sunflower Bean is my go to song at the moment.
Ah buddy, I feel your pain.
The problem with acne or breakouts of any kind is it's so hard to pinpoint what's causing it.
Is it dairy? Is it cosmetic? Is it hormones? Stress? Sugar? Medication? Punishment from the fucking gods?!
There should really be a little computer on your arm that analyses your body for you and tells you how to fix it.
But. Alas.
The only solution, from my experience, is trial and error.
A face wash might help - never did for me, I'm allergic to everything - but it might exacerbate the problem.
Moisturiser's really helped my skin overall but it's doesn't solve the problem completely. But it might for you!
This is the problem, y'see?
The only advice I can offer with certainty is that using anything harsh is not going to do your skin any favours.
Stripping your face of its natural oils is just going to make it produce more oil to compensate and then it'll block your pores.
The best advice I ever read was to treat moisture with moisture. It's how I treat my hair, as well.
What you been using to treat the acne so far?
I've fairly fucking knowledgable about products and whatnot, after years of research, so might be able to help.
Thanks, Lilliputty :) I've been using CeraVe SA Smoothing Cream in the mornings and nights, and also this weird drying lotion on the worst spots. It sometimes seems like it's working in parts but then I get an outbreak somewhere else. So I'm not sure if covering my skin in salicylic acid has been the best thing for it!
I'm just glad you can't see me because it's really awful :S
I won't say it's probably not as bad as you think becauseeeee so many people said that to me when my breakouts were at their worst and it made me feel crazy.
So fuck that.
I'm just sorry you're experiencing this at all. Going from clear skin to acne almost instantly is fucking traumatic.
I would say that CeraVe SA Smoothing Cream is not something I would recommend.
I know it says it's moisturising but nothing with salicylic acid in it is going to soothe your skin.
For some people it's liquid gold but for most it's just going to dry your skin out and cause more breakouts.
Is it making your skin red? Or itchy? Or burn at all? Because if anything causes these reactions, stop using it.
Immediately.
That's how we get rashes and chemical burns, my friend.
You want your skin calm, so it can start healing and balancing.
So, instead, I would suggest, if you still want to use SA or the drying lotion, use them to spot treat. Not over the entire face. And only on the worst cases. Use the aloe vera gel on the small stuff.
Also, get a moisturiser. The one I suggested a while ago is the best I've found but Em's been using CeraVe's moisturiser and she quite likes it.
Again, it depends on skin type.
But I figure the more soothing the better. Harsh chemicals are not for the sensitive and acne-prone.
Do you use a cleanser?
I don't. I wash my face with rolled oats.
...
Sounds bonkers, I know, but oats are one of the most soothing things you can use for your skin.
It's why Aveeno use it for babies. Colloidal oatmeal is finely ground oats and it's actual magic.
I'm cheap, though, and I just put a small pile of oats in my hand, splash it with warm water, squish it up with my finger to get the oat milk out and them use the milk on my face.
It's actually really nice.
Plus, you can use the oats for some exfoliation but personally, I don't enjoy the feeling.
Anyway, then I rinse - warm water, not hot, definitely not cold! - and use a hot, damp microfibre cloth to remove anything that's left over on my face.
THEN we moisturise and spot treat.
It took me an age to figure this shit out and I'm still looking for holy grail products to get rid of my pigmentation (I pigment so fucking easily! And I don't even pick at my breakouts! Which you shouldn't either, by the way. Don't spread the germs around, mister. Plus, you'll get scarring and no one wants that), but that's what I'd recommend before your try anything harsher.
Also, if you're self-conscious, which I imagine you are because acne sucks balls, find a mineral makeup brand (I use Lily Lolo) and cover it up if it'll make you feel better.
Makeup isn't just for women.
You don't have to feel like shit just because you're a guy.
...
Okay, I'm stepping off my soap box.
Ask me for advice about this shit anytime you want, dearest.
Because trust me, I know how much it sucks.
I wish I had asked for your advice 4 weeks ago, maybe I would have nipped it in the bud by now. And thank you much Lilliputty for taking the time to write all this out! I love how even the smallest routines, you seem to take a lot of care over and you actually make it sound interesting! I'd get the oat milk just to see what it's like :)
You must have really nice skin - I'm surprised you don't brag about it more :) You've obviously put so much effort into figuring all this stuff out over the years, I actually feel a little bit guilty about being given this knowledge without having earned it :S
Although I have now made a list of things I need to get based on what you've told me :) I think my problem is that I suck at trial and error! I just want a magic fix :)
Life seemed so much simpler before all this :) I just keep worrying, what if it never goes back to normal! Having decent skin was pretty much all I had going for me :)
"I just keep worrying, what if it never goes back to normal! Having decent skin was pretty much all I had going for me :)"
Obviously I can't agree with this because y'know, it's stupid and I like more than just your face, you idiot.
And other people do too.
But!
I absolutely understand. I felt pretty much the same when my skin starting turning to shit.
I'd had clear skin all my life and then I took the contraceptive pill, promptly stopped taking it after a few months because the side effects are bonkers, and then bam! Breakout city.
It was fucking devastating and years later I'm still not 100% clear. Getting there, but that little bitch called the menstrual cycle fucks me over every month. You're very luck that you don't have that to deal with, my friend.
But yeah, I get it, you totally take for granted how thoughtless and easy it is when you have clear skin.
I used to just roll out of bed and get going, now it takes me a ridiculous amount of time to get ready 0_0
It will get better though. I promise you.
You might never be clear, however. I won't lie about that, it wouldn't be fair. This could be hormonal and that takes a stupid amount of knowledge about the body that most people don't have and the beauty industry won't give out because then they can't make money off of our pain.
It's all rather sucky and there are a ton of people out there who will help but, shit, truth time, I've read so much and tried so many things and I'm still breaking out and I get pigment scars from the breakouts and most days it makes me want to curl up in a ball and hide.
Hence the makeup. It's the only way I can face people.
Body dysmorphia, it's delightful :)
That's my experience, though. You might just be having a weird skin shit-fit. They happen. It will probably go away fairly quickly.
But I don't know. If it gets really bad, you can see a doctor and they'll maybe refer you to a dermatologist. Maybe. GPs are seriously fucking lazy and do the minimum to help in my experience. My doctor gave me a roll on acne stick. ROLL ON. The germs. Oh dear god, the germs! And I was young and scared and really uninformed so I put it on my face! 0_0
...
Guess what happened?
Total moisture loss. Even more breakouts. Angry red skin.
Doctors are idiots. Don't listen to them.
And don't let them put you on Accutane unless it's 100% necessary, that shit is scary. They put you on suicide watch while you're on it =/
...
Getting waaaay ahead of myself.
Try what I've suggested. Wait a couple of weeks, and see what happens. This stuff unfortunately takes time.
Even if it doesn't stop the breakouts entirely, the softer acne care technique will in the long run slow everything down and give your skin more balance.
Oh, and another thing. Change your pillowcases at least every two days. I flip mine every two days and then replace. 2 nights each side.
There's a ton of bacteria all over those squishy things and that isn't helping anyone.
Ooft. I'm sleepy now. Teaching is tiring.
Ps. Don't feel bad about getting this advice for free, I'm happy to impart and would have killed for someone to do the same for me.
Just don't go getting magical skin now I've told you my secrets. I will hunt you.
I don't deserve you :) How do you store so much information? Your brain must just be better than mine :) I wish I could tell you something worthwhile in exchange...
I actually don't know much about anything :S I guess that's why I talk about mundane stuff all the time :) I mean, I am spending all my time working, sleeping and re-watching - it's probably not doing much for my personal development :) You seem like you're always learning and discovering.
Including weekends, I've had 2 days off since June, and apparently it shows. I'm supposed to be on leave the end of next week but I might cancel it because someone else has been signed off and I really don't want to leave the other person I work with on her own. I don't think her mental health is any better than mine at the moment and we've both just been trying to get through it together.
You... are an exceptionally decent human being.
Not everyone would give up their free time as willingly as that.
I may have the knowledge, my friend, but you've got the heart.
So much heart it makes me a little pukey :)
...
Sorry. But you know I can't be entirely nice to you.
That also makes me a little pukey :D
I forgot to mention, skin-wise, with the spot treatment? Let whatever you've put on dry and then put a little moisturiser over the top. Gently, so you don't remove any of the underlying product.
Since I started doing that, the healing rate has really increased.
Y'know, I almost always feel overwhelmed by how much I consume. I don't give myself enough time to really process anything before moving on to the next thing. But I have to move on to the next thing. It's compulsive. And aggravating. I really wish I could just re-read a fucking book without having a meltdown about it.
But my brain won't let me.
I truly envy you ability to stick with things.
Grass is always greener, right?
Barf barf barf :D
But there are just so many books! And you never know when you're going to find the next one you love :) For me, it does just mean I run out of things to share with you. But I don't feel too bad since you obviously don't need help finding things :)
Anyway, here's some awkward dancing from a horror sequel. I was watching a video on these the other day. Clearly spending my spare time well :)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocgj9tewHso
What you said the other day about trying to calm my skin down, that made so much sense in my head! I think that's what I'm going to focus on trying to do.
Crispin Glover really is the most delightful creature.
I've never seen any of the Friday the 13th movies.
I don't know why; you'd think they were right up my creepy alley but nah, Jason's never graced my screen.
Am I missing anything?
Is my 80s horror repertoire lacking a hocked masked freak?
I swear I'll shut up about skin stuff after I ask this very important question:
Are you wearing a mask a lot?
Because a whole new term has been coined for mask related acne.
...
MaskNe.
Clever, huh? -_-
Oh, I've never seen them :) One of the channels I sometimes watch on youtube posted a video about the sequels and I ended up watching it for some reason. Apparently 4 & 6 are the best ones from the franchise, 4 being the archetypal Jason film and 6 being the best made and sort of a proto Scream in terms of not taking itself too seriously. So if you do watch one of them... that's what I do, recommend crap I've never seen :)
I will always listen (and count myself lucky) if you have something to tell me about skincare! No, I don't wear a mask. But more importantly, did you ask me about wearing a mask just so you could make the maskne pun? Because, if so, all I can say is 'ugh, why do you say things to make me like you so much' :D
Wait, won't I be confused if I don't watch the prequels?
How will I know why Jason's so murdery?!
Although, we never really find out that shit with 80s horror movies, do we?
Was there ever a backstory for Freddy Kreuger?
...
This is going to hurt my brain, I can feel it 0_0
I don't think Jason is the killer in the first film (or the fifth for that matter), and doesn't even get his hockey mask until the third. But I wouldn't go looking too hard for backstory in this franchise - I think the appeal is its dumb bluntness :)
I think I've only seen the first Nightmare on Elm Street. All I remember about Freddy's backstory is that he was a child murderer so the parents all got together and burned him. The appeal of slasher films to me usually is that you can imagine them happening in your own street so a supernatural slasher film doesn't really do it for me. And the kills were a bit too wacky.
I talk like I've seen a million slasher films - I really haven't :) Halloween, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, the Scream films of course, and I remember being very creeped out by the original Black Christmas :)
Actually, coming across random horror movies late at night is another thing I miss :)
Freya: 'I would really like some pie' :)
Day off tomorrow. And I'll have the house to myself. I mean, I'll probably end up working the weekend but still... :)
I actually think my skincare is starting to turn a corner!
There's a 4k release of the original 'Dawn of the Dead' available for pre-order (released in November). It's pretty expensive though because it contains several different cuts of the film. But I really want it...
Oh well, the start of 3 months of dark evenings :)
I just realised, when you asked me if I wear a mask a lot, I thought you meant for my skin - like a beauty mask. I'm such an idiot!
Yeah, I do wear a mask but usually only when I'm out shopping, but it's now a rule at the office that you need to wear one unless you're working at your desk. I'm still working from home most days though.
I just had the best doughnut. Really, I think I was just in the mood :)
It's only been about 3 months but I think I'm starting to really like my chromebook :)
Why is Freya announcing, very politely may I add, that she'd like pie so fucking adorable?
What sorcery is this?
I swear you have a kawaii siren for a niece. She just lures you in with her cuteness and then you're completely fucked 0_0
...
Do I sound jealous?
I'm a tad jealous.
Do you think she'd dress as a dinosaur? Y'know, just because it's a Wednesday? Because that might tip me over the edge.
"It's only been about 3 months but I think I'm starting to really like my chromebook :)"
I think this the most you thing you've ever said.
I don't know why.
It just is.
Well, she does love dinosaurs. Dinosaurs and pastry :) And she really is the politest girl in the world! I haven't yet found out what she's dressing up as for Halloween.
It does take me an awful long time to make up my mind about things :)
I hope you enjoy lots of sweets and horror movies this weekend :)
Anytime I see new flavoured pretzels in the supermarket, I have to buy them!
Happy Halloween, Fungus!
How much sugar have you consumed so far? Inhuman amounts? I figured as much. You animal.
Tell me of these flavoured pretzels you speak of. I know only of chocolate...
Happy Halloween, Maggot!
Well, I have been eating Buenos and drinking cold lattes. Although that could just be because it's a Saturday night :)
They were strawberry cheesecake pretzels. And I bought some peanut butter ones a few weeks ago :)
That pretzel scene from Mallrats...
My sibling turned 40 today. Terrifying.
Huh, for some reason I thought he was only a couple of years older than you.
Happy birthday! ... I don't know you brother's name.
That's fucking terrible.
I am not a good friend 0_0
Did you have cake? Tell me there was cake.
Strawberry. Cheesecake. Pretzels.
*Googles intensely*
Flipz? Are they Flipz? Why did I never know this flavour existed?!
Holy shit.
Guess what I'm requesting from the shops on Friday 0____0
*your
Yeah, they are Flipz :) They were brand new and on offer so of course I had to buy them :)
I've probably never told you his name before... his name's Richard. He's much nicer than me, loves computer games and manga, and his room is a tip - he seems to have everything in there, which does come in handy. Also survived travelling to Japan on his own. Twice. Something which would probably be beyond me.
It will probably shock you to know that we didn't really do much for his birthday :) We did have a take-away, but no cake. He's not really a cake person :S
What time does it start to get dark in Blair at the moment?
He's not really a cake person :S
...
This sentence does not compute.
How is this possible?
How are you even related... ? 0_0
And how the hell is he nicer? Is he a Care Bear or something?!
...
YOU'RE SO NICE.
I'm so confused.
It gets dark here at about... uh... 5ish?
I'm really not sure. I'm such a dope, I haven't been paying that much attention =/
I know. You hear stories about people who don't like sweet things but you never think it'll be one of your own family :)
Okay, I won't pretend I'm a horrible person because you wouldn't believe me. Anyway, so long as still like me a little, that makes me think I must be an okay person because I know you'd tell me if I was being an asshole :)
I think I pay too much attention to the weather. I was wanting to brag about how much darker it is up north but it sounds like it's pretty much the same :)
Also, just to give you my regular skincare update, I completely stopped with the SA after talking with you, and anything that I think might be harsh on my skin. I've actually started using manuka honey and it really does seem to be helping. I was going to look for the oats but I honestly felt really bad about ripping off your skincare routine so I did some research on other natural products I could use instead. Although I'm still using the aloe vera you recommended, every night :)
I was going to look for the oats but I honestly felt really bad about ripping off your skincare routine
...
Dex.
That's bananas.
Like, seriously, straight up bananas 0_0
But I'll give you props for Manuka honey. Been down that road myself. Very messy. Very sticky. But all that anti-bacterial goodness? Super soothing.
Not for me, though. I kept getting it in my mouth. Honey is not people food. Nuh-uh. Dissssgusting.
Is it helping though?
Or, better question, is it getting any worse? Because truly, you won't see positive results for at least a month or two, unless you're really lucky.
I'm crossing my fingers that you're lucky!
I'm gonna give your brother a pass because you say he's nice and he likes manga. Two plus points in the awesome people column.
But it's still weird 0_0
Maybe he's a changeling?
Maybe you're a changeling!
I know, I'm insane :)
Thanks Lilliputty, that does make me feel a little more optimistic, if you think it'll take a couple of months to have much effect. I guess I just need to stick with it and not get too disheartened :) I definitely don't think it's getting any worse so maybe it is helping.
Are all your family cake people? I imagine they must be since you're all such good bakers.
Weekend! I can't wait to sleep in :)
Everyone in my family loves cake.
You're outlawed if you don't.
Where we differ is in the types of cake we like.
Me, though? There's only two - I know of - that I will not eat:
Victoria Sandwich
Devil's Food Cake
VS, because I just don't get it =/ It's so bland and whipped cream is demented.
DFC, because it's just, excuse my blasphemy, too fucking chocolatey.
I know, I know, what kinda freak am I?
The kinda freak that'll pass on DFC, but happily put their entire face in her sister's homemade version of Bruce Bogtrotter's Chocolate Cake.
It's obscene. She puts coffee in it. It barely stays together because it's so gloopy and delicious.
If I could ship you a piece, I would. I think it might give you the ultimate sugar high 0_0
I always regret asking you about cake because I get so fucking jealous :) I want gloopy book inspired coffee chocolate cake!
I love how you refuse to eat VS because it's too bland - you've clearly had a life full of exciting cakes :)
What does Charlie eat? I just picture him demanding the freshest of fish :)
Sooooo it'd be real shitty of me to tell you it's Sarah's birthday tomorrow and we're having a Chocolate Malt cake?
The icing tastes exactly like Maltesers.
Which I know because I hovered over the icing bowl while Em was doing the finishing touches and promptly plunged a spoon into the remainders.
Multiple times.
Cake is awesome.
...
Too mean?
Strangely, Charlie-bear doesn't like fish.
He's crazy about roast chicken and gravy, though.
Oh, and butter.
Today he licked a cling-film covered bowl full of the stuff (it was warming up for the icing).
It was adorable. He looked so sad when it didn't taste of anything and promptly ran away.
Little weirdo.
I think the best cake I've ever had is something I'll never get again.
My dad had an Italian patient (the wife of my primary school lollipop man, actually), Mrs Caruso, real nice lady.
As a thank you to my dad for looking after her so well, she made him a Chocolate Amaretti Cake.
Which I promptly stuffed down my throat because heaven should be ingested when heaven is presented to mere mortals.
Ughhhhhh I need to find a good recipe for it because damn. Damn, damn, damn.
What was your best cake ever?
Incredibly shitty, I used to spend my childhood imagining what extract of malt tasted like... but I must know everything about your adventures in cake! All the gruesome details. The gruesome, delicious details :)
I'm going to have to give some serious thought to my best cake ever. I feel like after talking to you, my life seems to have been bereft of amazing cakes - such a sad life :) But I'm sure the best cake if still to come :) Maybe a Chocolate Amaretti Cake. Because looking it up, I just know that I need this in my life! Unfortunately, nice people don't tend to send in thank you cakes to HR :)
Charlie stories make me happy, probably because he so clearly loves his home :)
Happy birthday to Sarah!
Here's some gruesome cake details for you:
IT WAS DELICIOUS.
:D
Sorry, had to be done. But it's the truth.
Malty and chocolatey and moist and didn't make me feel ill.
And I'm going to eat more after I've finished this message.
...
Proceed in hating my guts, my good sir.
I think the only reason I've tried various forms of cake is because the sisterlings enjoy baking, and Sarah went through a phase a few years ago where she baked like every week.
It was epic.
I'll never forgive myself for missing out on her Guinness Chocolate Cake, though.
I wasn't eating sugar for a reason I can't actually remember. It was hell. 1000% do not recommend.
And I missed out on boozy chocolate cake 0_0
Such a foolish life error.
You know I secretly love it :D I just assumed you were getting cakes made for you every week so I've learned to live with my jealousy :)
In my head, your family spend their days making all these magical things :)
I thought of maybe cutting down on sugar to see if it would help with my skincare issues, and then I thought 'nah' :) Do you think if we ever live near each other, we could have boozy dessert film nights?
Do you think if we ever live near each other, we could have boozy dessert film nights?
You stupid boy.
That'd be every night.
And any respective partners would just have to deal with our weird traditions!
That's why I did it! I totally forgot. No sugar was supposed to magically clear my skin up.
...
Didn't work. And I was a horrendous bitch most of the time.
Apparently depriving my body makes me monstrous =/
I found this recipe for Nutella Brownies a few weeks ago and I can't stop thinking about it:
https://thymeandjoy.com/3-ingredient-nutella-brownies/
It's so fricking easy. I think I have to do it. The world wants me to 0_0
If anything, I'm taking on more sugar! I've been trying out a sugar scrub every few days :S
This is going to make me sound really stupid but I had no idea Kinder Buenos, Nutella and Ferrero Rocher were all made by the same company!
You have to make those brownies! The world and me wants you to do it :)
Important question. Are you more of a cake brownie or squidgy brownie kind of person?
I can't believe some people are putting up Christmas decorations already!
I'm such a grump :)
Y'know what, I felt the same way the first time I spied twinkly lights out in the open but then I kinda thought... this year is the fucking worst, let there be twinkly lights!
Full disclosure, I've lowkey been trying to convince the motherling to let us put them up early. She loves our Christmas decorations and she's been so sad since gramps died. I think they'd make her smile. But alas, no twinkly lights yet.
I'll win, though.
I'm very persuasive.
...
Okay, I'm bossy. Very, very bossy 0_0
This is going to make me sound really stupid but I had no idea Kinder Buenos, Nutella and Ferrero Rocher were all made by the same company!
I didn't either! Until I watched Claire Saffitz make Ferrero Rocher earlier in the year and my mind was fucking blown!
I think they make it differently for Buenos, though. It's way fluffier. Less cloying.
If Nutella tasted more like it does inside a Bueno, I'd like it way more.
Tesco's Nutella's pretty good. Nuttier. Which I prefer.
Oh, and I'm a fudgey brownie kinda girl.
The squidgier the better.
If I wanted cake, I'd eat cake =/
You?
Ps. Watch out for harsh facial scrubs, they have the potential to irritate and cause micro-cuts on the skin. But if it's not having any adverse effect, keep doing it. Exfoliation is a must to get rid of those pore-clogging dead skin cells.
Skin's so weird.
And gross.
But freckles exist, so that's something...
I like that you're bossy :)
I feel terrible for being such a grump about Christmas lights. You're right, this year has been the worst. I hope your mum is doing okay.
Besides, I bet your Christmas decorations are the best, so it would be impossible for me to be grumpy about them :)
Claire Saffitz making Ferrero Rocher - I'm going to have to watch that right now! I actually haven't had Nutella in so long. Toast with Nutella was a staple of growing up. It was what I used to have when I got home from primary school :) I'm going to have to try Tesco's one though.
You've pretty much summed up my feelings on brownies :)
Thanks for the the advice re the scrubs. I keep wishing I had asked for your advice on skincare ages ago. To be honest, I'm not sure if the sugar scrub is working - it's probably just turning me into a walking dessert :)
A walking dessert?
Now you're just asking for hummingbirds to lick your face.
Ughhhh, now I want Nutella on toast.
How could you mention such a wondrous foodstuff.
You're a monster!
A MONSTER, I TELL YOU!
...
I have bread and Nutella, I don't know why I'm being so dramatic 0_0
I have neither of those things, so really you're the monster :)
I reckon if I was a bird, I'd be a hummingbird :)
I think I'm going to drink coffee and stay up late to watch films :S
That... sounds like it's not going to end well.
What are you now? A sleep-deprived, jitter-monster?
What movies did you choose?
I watched Voltron and Dawson's Creek =/
I watched The Thing and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. I fell asleep during the 2nd film but was woken up by all the screaming!
Nothing wrong with re-watching the shows you grew up with. It's one of my favourite things to do :) Is Voltron any good?
Y'know, I'm not a fan of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, but I do respect its greatness.
Too real, though.
I like my scares with a healthy dose of fantasy so can I walk around my house in the dark without wetting myself at ever irregular shadow 0_0
Speaking of horror. Watch A Quiet Place.
It's so good. I don't think I breathed the entire time.
Plus, Emily Blunt and John Krasinski goodness.
I'm not sure if Voltron's any good because I keep falling asleep during the important parts! >_<
So frustrating.
I'm the worst for jump scares. They get me every time and I hate myself for it :S
Do you think we are at that stage now where we keep falling asleep while watching tv? :) To be honest, I've always been pretty bad at that. Is that a stupid thing to miss, falling asleep and waking up to the dvd menu that's been playing for hours :)
Well, I do completely trust your judgement when it comes to films! Is A Quiet Place a supernatural horror?
Do you have a scariest horror movie?
I went ahead and bought that Dawn of the Dead boxset :S
Hah! I knew you'd cave.
I hadn't realised it until now but you're kind of a horror nerd, aren't you?
The horror movie that freaked me out the most was a French abomination called Switchblade Romance. A friend in high school told me not to watch it because it was so fucking horrible, so of course I watched it immediately -_-
Big mistake. Huge.
I should've known better. There aren't any monsters in it, except for the human kind.
...
Bleurgh! Now I'm getting flashbacks!
What's your favourite horror?
A Quiet Place is for sure supernatural horror. But not overtly. It's monster horror. Like zombies but not.
It's so measured and tense, though. Every scare feels precise but organic. It blew me away and I'm desperate for the sequel. Desperate.
I think I'm gonna catch up on the horror I've been meaning to watch, like Hereditary and The Babadook.
...
I may need a virtual hug when I'm done 0_0
I wish I knew enough about anything to be called a nerd :)
Dawn of the Dead came in the post today. I'm so excited, mainly because I hardly get anything through the post these days :)
Does sci-fi horror count? Because then I'd go with Alien and The Thing. Hardly original choices, I know :S I don't know which horror film I find the scariest, although Switchblade Romance sounds like exactly the kind of thing that would traumitise me - I really don't cope well with that kind of violence. Also, even though I love it, I find the zombies in Return of the Living Dead absolutely terrifying - they're so fast and impossible to stop :)
I'm going to have to watch A Quiet Place, aren't I? We could have a horror night with our booze filled desserts - maybe we'd cope better being half drunk on pudding and not being alone :)
Being uncool with you is one of my very favourite things :)
Although, I foresee a flaw in your logic ointment.
...
I can't eat while watching horror =/
Not even the tamest of horrors.
I tried to watch The Walking Dead while eating a yoghurt once and I just couldn't do it.
So squishy. Like undead goop 0_0
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Fast zombies are the worst! My first experience with them was in 28 Days Later and I may love that movie but holy shit, fuck the person who decided to put living corpses on hyperdrive.
Not cool. Not cool one tiny bit!
I'm still waiting for the third movie in that series, though.
Danny Boyle's always teasing us with "maybe"s. Evil man <_<
Ps. Alien is awesome. Aliens is be better. Get away from her, bitch.
Classic.
Maybe we should just eat the desserts before the film. Or after. Or both. Basically anytime we're not watching films :)
Fortunately, the zombies in Dawn of the Dead are very slow :) If it was a zombie apocalypse, instead of a shopping mall, we could maybe barricade ourselves in a massive library so you could read all the books. Not sure what we'd do for food though. You'd maybe send me out on night raids... I am so uncool :)
I used to be so into the Alien films when I was growing up, when I was about 10 or 11. I remember being super excited for Alien Resurrection :S Aliens was my favourite at that age, but Alien is now one of my very favourite films of all time, right up there with the first 3 Indiana Jones films and Jurassic Park. Actually, I have a ton of favourite films - I'll list them one day :)
I forgot to say, it snowed here yesterday, for the first time this winter.
70+ gusts here today. Actually, looking on the met office it got up to 81 mph at 6am. I can here the trees hitting against the roof.
Weather, weather, weather... :)
Asian horror films are something that I haven't really seen much of. I remember when I used to spend my days wandering around HMV in Edinburgh, I kept looking at the 'Asia Extreme' section, but I never bought anything - usually because I had no money :)
Ugh, my parents are talking about getting more work done to the house.
I don't know if it's too ridiculous to go to bed at 10pm... I'm so tired!
My bedroom is actually pretty nice in winter for once. I've got decent heating and a new(ish) duvet :)
I hope you've convinced your family to put the Christmas decoration up.
Parents are going away to Sandness until Wednesday. Might finally be able to watch Dawn of the Dead in the living room :)
My cousin (Freya's mum) turned 39 today. How is everyone getting so old?!
You bite your tongue, Dexterous Fungus Epistolean! 39 is not old <_<
Especially as it's not that far away from us.
Definitely not old.
The epitome of youth, actually.
...
I can trick my brain into just about anything if I want it to believe it badly enough.
Neat trick, huh?
Did Freya do anything adorable for her mum? I bet she did, the little goblin 0_0
Trolling HMV's foreign cinema section is one of the true great pastimes. Although, FOPP had a better selection.
Does FOPP even still exist?
I miss Borders.
It was perfect. Food. Books. Movies. Places to sit.
I basically wanted to live there =/
Apparently FOPP does still exist. We should plan a trip once all this madness is over - and if we change into completely different people who would actually go anywhere :)
I did go to the one in Edinburgh, although not very often. I remember it was somewhere in New Town, behind Princes Street. That's what I like about cities, exploring all the hidden streets. And I hardly ever went to Borders. I think when we used to go to Liverpool for Christmas, there was this shopping village called Cheshire Oaks that had a Borders.
Actually, I'm so happy you mentioned this. I haven't thought about Cheshire Oaks in ages, and I had the vaguest memory of an aquarium being somewhere nearby. So I looked it up and I was remembering correctly - Blue Planet Aquarium located right next to Cheshire Oaks :)
P.s. Freya is a little goblin :)
I got given homemade marshmallows today :)
I've caught 3 mice in 2 days! Trapped them with peanut butter in a cage so I don't have to kill them. I just have to take them down to the loch and set them free. Although I'm slightly suspicious that it's the just same mouse following me home each time!
I just... that wasn't the message I was expecting!
But I liked it!
And happy to know you're a humane mouse trapper, even if it is Basil the Great Mouse Detective following you home each time :)
The only mice I tend to see are dead ones =/
Charlie's quite the murderer and he likes to show his kills. It's like Pet Sematary outside mine and Em's windows 0_0
We did catch one a couple of years ago, though. Also with peanut butter. It had the prettiest little face; I hope Charlie didn't eat it =/
If I was a mouse, you could totally catch me with peanut butter.
I'd use a Reese's Peanut Buttercup on you :)
If it was a mouse detective, it wasn't smart enough not to fall for the same trap 3 nights in a row. This is where I'm at, proud of outsmarting a mouse :) The last time, I drove it all the way across town and there was nothing in the cage the next morning - I'm almost convinced now that it was the same mouse!
I just imagine Charlie sitting there, expecting the mice to be brought to him for his entertainment :)
I think our house is slowly falling apart :S
Apparently I have 5 weeks annual leave still to take this year...
My skin is really starting to get better. I'm still just using the manuka honey and aloe vera but everything is a little clearer each day :)
Apparently Shetland is one of the warmer places in the country at the moment :)
I haven't done any Christmas shopping :S
Film quiz tonight (online). This will be the first time in about 2 months I haven't spoken to non-work people or non-family members.
Hah! That's nothing. I don't remember the last time I even spoke to a delivery person 0_0
Get any good quiz questions? Dazzle anyone with any random knowledge?
Do you watch Only Connect? On BBC2?
The fam and I love it (except my dad but that's because he sucks at it :D ), and normally I'm terrible at answering anything (logic puzzles are not forte) but I got so many questions right this week and, well, I gotta say, I'm embarrassingly proud 0_0
I get this way when I answer things correctly on University Challenge, as well =/
Ps. SO glad your skin's clearing up, bud. Simple's always better for ye olde face.
We can count messaging on here as being social :)
University Challenge used to make me feel dumb. Only Connect would probably do the same. I know nothing worthwhile :) I'm not surprised that you do well. You're one of the smartest people I know!
We won the film quiz by a half point :D And one of the answers was the title of a Korean film I had behind me on my piano. That's the only kind of knowledge I store :)
I did have a small breakout of spots but I'm blaming it on something I got really stressed about at the weekend :)
Which Korean movie?
And technically, did you cheat? I'm saying no, because no one prove anything. That's how the law of pub quizzing works, right?
Ah, stress breakouts. Joyous things. As if you're not stressed enough without to physically showing on your fucking body.
...
Physiology is both amazing and idiotic at the same time 0_0
It was Memories of Murder. And no, I didn't cheat - where's the fun in that :) But I would never do well on my own. I have too many gaps in my film knowledge. I do pretty well with old films - for some reason, I can remember boring details from films I maybe watched once when I was growing up, but can scarcely remember what I did yesterday!
I reckon you could win a film quiz all on you own :)
I think I'm going to spend the weekend watching films, eating kit kats, and drinking tea.
Are your family very knowledgeable about different things - do you all have your specialist subjects that you know a lot about?
My mum has bought Freya a unicorn costume for Christmas. She likes pretending to be a unicorn :)
Nooooooooo. This isn't fair. Even just the idea of Freyacorn is too much to bear 0_0
Like, I kinda want photography evidence, but I also think my brain will squee itself into a coma =/
How do you stand having a relative that fucking cute?
HOW?!
It's really difficult :) When I say unicorn costume, it is just a white tutu (she loves ballet), a pair of wings, and a unicorn headband.
Apparently, whenever the postman brings a parcel, she asks 'it is for me?' :)
Sorry Lilliputty, I've really sucked at present buying this year. I've bought one thing and it's not even that exciting :S
Apparently, whenever the postman brings a parcel, she asks 'it is for me?' :)
FUNGUS! You must STOP 0_0
That girl, she's gonna run the world, unicorn costume and all.
I have also sucked miserably at gifts this year. There's one thing on its way to you and I'm contemplating another but ugh, I dunno, shopping for other people is hard, man.
Saying that, though, whatever you've got me will be great. I have no doubt. And if it's not, I'll just never tell you :D
You should stop contemplating, I'm always ridiculously happy getting anything from you :)
We actually put some lights up the other day.
I avoided the online office Christmas party tonight - the idea of it filled me with dread :S
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