UK - Only had one kid come and had lots of treats. My own kids went out and got quite a haul, but most people had left bowls out so they didn’t knock on many doors (they know only to go to decorated houses).

For the last few years, there seem to be more people decorating and putting treats out than there are kids going out. Plus our weather has been shit.

They are consumables so you can just say you used the up if anyone asks.

As a person who is difficult to buy for (not because I want special things but because I don’t really want anything), candles are ideal as I either like them and use them, or can say I did. Much better that something I am expected to wear or constantly display in my home.

That doesn’t sound right but I don’t know enough about stars to dispute it.

As in cook pass babtridge

This is the first thing I thought od when I saw this thread. Great show.

I haven’t finished this one yet, do we’ll see.

I’m guessing you mean the first trilogy (apologies if I’m mistaken), as the First Law universe continues for 6 more books after that (plus a collection of short stories). After the Last Argument of Kings, there are 3 “stand alone” novels, which are the strongest, in my opinion, and then a second trilogy, which is excellent.

I believe there are more books planned for that universe, but The Devils is separate. The others I haven’t read as they’re Young Adult, so they probably have cheerier endings.

Were you to read on, you’d probably find some joy for characters you like, but I think unhappy endings outweigh the happy ones. Of course, I could be mistaken and you’ve read all 9, because the ending of the last can definitely be described as devastating too!

The Devils by Joe Abercrombie. It’s set in a fantasy medieval Europe. Unfortunately, its not long out and is the first of a series, so I’ll have to wait for the rest.

I have this on audiobook and it’s brilliant.

Not sure if this has been said already, but win + m collapses all open windows.

Raises hand tentatively…

Although I do feel I’m learning stuff from being on here.

I have a little fold-out rack with (I think) 24 individual clips on that hold socks and other small items. It can then be attached to the washing line, taking up a lot less space than hanging things along the length of it.

It was £3.99 and it makes putting the washing out so much easier. I much prefer to line dry things outside than using the dryer when I can.

The Winds of Winter being released. Surely its coming any day now…

But for real, the youngest is going to school in September so I will have an extra day off in the week with no work and no kids.

Watched Titanic at the cinema when it came out. I was still very tearful at school the next day and my friends were mocking me about being sad at how the romance ended (no spoilers!) But really it was thinking about how all those people lost their lives and it really happened. That mom and the kids in steerage…

Yup, all the time. To give an example, yesterday I watched DC League of Super Pets with my child and cried quite a lot at one bit (if you’ve seen it, you probably know which bit). It’s a solid movie overall too - great voice cast.

It’s not unusual for me to cry when reading or listening to the news.

I’m 41 too, but a woman.

I accidentally used a clothes washing pod once, and it made the clean dishes taste so awful that they all had yo go straight back in the dishwasher. Then again, I have to hand-wash any plastics, as just one wash in the machine taints them for me. It’s why I’ve switched to mostly glass food storage.

He does love sitting on laundry, but this was a mountain and very vulnerable to avalanche.

I recently cleared mine off and the cat was so grateful for his new seat.

My kid’s school do a trip to Harry Potter World. I think it will be next year for him. I really don’t want to give my money to that vile woman, but I also don’t want him missing out. Looks like it’s time to start petitioning the school to go somewhere else.

I know people think they are being really helpful when they make suggestions, but I wish they would take a step back and ask first.

I have lived with chronic fatigue for 18 years, and pain longer than that. My hair loss started over 20 years ago, and I can’t conceive of what it’s like to not wake several times a night, or to feel refreshed in the morning. Whatever they’re going to say, I’ve likely tried it, or researched it, or it’s obvious pseudo science that doesn’t merit research.

It would be one thing if people had knowledge or expertise, but every time it’s something they’ve seen on Facebook, or something they think helped them with a very minor short-term issue.

Sometimes I’m more forgiving because people don’t know my story, but when they know this has been almost my entire adult life, and they tell me to buy a supplement or look into grounding mats (seriously), it really annoys me.

This isn’t about health professionals looking at my case and running tests or trying new treatments. It’s the people who see me at breaking point and ask if I’ve tried a pillow spray.

Yep. There is an expectation from others that you have to constantly “perform” disability in order for it to be valid.

I can’t just not do things; they need doing. Sometimes those things are incredibly active, but I know I’ll pay for those later with a migraine or something else incapacitating. People don’t see that, or the calculations I have to make, they just see the active part.

Also, no amount of rest leads to recovery or feeling replenished, so it doesn’t make sense to me to neglect activity just to lie there in pain anyway.