Three months down, nine months to go in the year 2023.

Welcome to the month of April. Let's hope it brings good things for all of us!

White Rabbits!!!

Well? What is everyone doing today? (And this month for that matter?)

Today I have plenty of shopping to do.

Later this month, my dad will have his birthday on Easter Sunday; and on the 18th we’re leaving for our vacation trip to the Grand Canyon. Should be lots of fun.

My Mother's birthday is this Tuesday and lately she's been feeling down cause of her leg problems so hopefully a nice card will cheer her up.

My Mother's birthday is this Tuesday and lately she's been feeling down cause of her leg problems so hopefully a nice card will cheer her up.

I hope so too. Wishing her the best. :)

I hope so too. Wishing her the best. :)

Thanks. :)

Today I have plenty of shopping to do.


And I got all of it done successfully. This included buying party supplies at Party City (yes, there’s still such a store in my area), as well as paying for an order of food for my dad’s birthday next week. (We’re going to have to pick it up next Saturday and refrigerate it overnight because the place will be closed Sunday in honor of Easter.)

Just popping in to say all is fine with me and my family, but over the last few days and the next few days things have been quite busy. I will be back online when I can.

Just popping in to say all is fine with me and my family, but over the last few days and the next few days things have been quite busy. I will be back online when I can.

Glad to hear things are fine with you. O0

Glad to hear things are fine with you. O0
Slight change of plans, today I will be at home...

James is on his way home from Scotland where his girlfriend lives. She was directing a stage show, so he went to see that.

Dai and I are in the Lake District for the Easter weekend. The plan was a bit of orienteering training this afternoon, shower and then a nice meal out. Potter around the house doing bits and bobs to freshen things up as this house is on the market tomorrow. Saturday, Sunday and Monday should be orienteering on some lovely Lake District terrain.

Except after driving north for three hours or so the car broke down about a mile from the house. The clutch has gone. Of course it happened just before 6 pm so all the garages are closed. We got a recovery vehicle to bring us to the house and tomorrow we hit the phones trying to find someone that can repair it.

Slight change of plans, today I will be at home...

Splendid!

As for me, I got home several minutes later than usual because I had to stop for groceries on the way home from work.

James is on his way home from Scotland where his girlfriend lives. She was directing a stage show, so he went to see that.

Dai and I are in the Lake District for the Easter weekend. The plan was a bit of orienteering training this afternoon, shower and then a nice meal out. Potter around the house doing bits and bobs to freshen things up as this house is on the market tomorrow. Saturday, Sunday and Monday should be orienteering on some lovely Lake District terrain.

Except after driving north for three hours or so the car broke down about a mile from the house. The clutch has gone. Of course it happened just before 6 pm so all the garages are closed. We got a recovery vehicle to bring us to the house and tomorrow we hit the phones trying to find someone that can repair it.


Bummer.  Sounds like you drive a standard trans car? 

Bummer.  Sounds like you drive a standard trans car?


Manual cars (stick shifts) are the standard in the U.K.

We still haven’t found anyone to fix the car yet. Today was a public holiday so lots of businesses are closed. Some might be open tomorrow so we will try again if we get chance.

We have arranged a lift with someone for tomorrow morning. Waiting to speak to a friend about the rest of the weekend and getting home.

Later this month, my dad will have his birthday on Easter Sunday

And tomorrow we're gonna start celebrating! This will include cleaning up the house so that it'll be ready for Sunday.

Manual cars (stick shifts) are the standard in the U.K.

We still haven’t found anyone to fix the car yet. Today was a public holiday so lots of businesses are closed. Some might be open tomorrow so we will try again if we get chance.

We have arranged a lift with someone for tomorrow morning. Waiting to speak to a friend about the rest of the weekend and getting home.


That's interesting.  I've always driven manuals by preference, but it has become almost impossible to get them.  I'm talking Hondas, Toyotas, Subarus etc.  I wonder what's  going on.
Anyway, hope you get your problem resolved for not to many pounds 

Started celebrating my dad’s birthday by taking him out for a meal today. Tomorrow is his actual birthday; we plan to have a nice celebration tomorrow at home (inviting some people over). This will be his first-ever Easter Sunday birthday. (The last time April 9th was Easter Sunday, the year was 1950, but that was three years before he was born.)

Started celebrating my dad’s birthday by taking him out for a meal today. Tomorrow is his actual birthday; we plan to have a nice celebration tomorrow at home (inviting some people over). This will be his first-ever Easter Sunday birthday. (The last time April 9th was Easter Sunday, the year was 1950, but that was three years before he was born.)
Happy birthday to your father!

Let's say I do not feel like going out today, I am feeling rough with it and wish to be stay safe.

Started celebrating my dad’s birthday by taking him out for a meal today. Tomorrow is his actual birthday; we plan to have a nice celebration tomorrow at home (inviting some people over). This will be his first-ever Easter Sunday birthday. (The last time April 9th was Easter Sunday, the year was 1950, but that was three years before he was born.)

Happy Birthday to your Father.

Happy birthday to your father!

Thank you Philip!
We are looking forward to a great celebration today.

Happy Birthday to your dad, and many more

Started celebrating my dad’s birthday by taking him out for a meal today. Tomorrow is his actual birthday; we plan to have a nice celebration tomorrow at home (inviting some people over). This will be his first-ever Easter Sunday birthday. (The last time April 9th was Easter Sunday, the year was 1950, but that was three years before he was born.)


Happy Birthday, to your dad.


In 2018 was the first time my birthday fell on Easter and Passover, and of course April Fool's Day-but that last is every year.  ;)


Cat

I was orienteering a long time today, it was a difficult area.

We got home about 7 this evening. James and my mother in law were just finishing their meal. Dai and I cooked something quick for the two of us.

Just before sitting down to dinner I went into the utility room for something and spotted that the freezer door was wide open. Everything had melted.

Hey, I just realised that the Easter emoticons weren’t turned on today. http://www.inthe00s.com/Smileys/easter/shocked.gif

Hey, I just realised that the Easter emoticons weren’t turned on today. http://www.inthe00s.com/Smileys/easter/shocked.gif



Oops. :-[


Cat

Oh well http://www.inthe00s.com/Smileys/easter/undecided.gif

Anyway I had a very nice day. So did my dad. We made it a very special day for him. http://www.inthe00s.com/Smileys/easter/smiley.gif Our guests enjoyed the celebration as well.

Oh well http://www.inthe00s.com/Smileys/easter/undecided.gif

Anyway I had a very nice day. So did my dad. We made it a very special day for him. http://www.inthe00s.com/Smileys/easter/smiley.gif Our guests enjoyed the celebration as well.

Where did you take him for dinner?

Oh well http://www.inthe00s.com/Smileys/easter/undecided.gif

Anyway I had a very nice day. So did my dad. We made it a very special day for him. http://www.inthe00s.com/Smileys/easter/smiley.gif Our guests enjoyed the celebration as well.
Splendid news to hear

Where did you take him for dinner?

To an Italian eatery in Westlake Village; this was on Saturday at noon.

So, this week I think I've been feeling some "pre-vacation stress". This is due in part to the fact that I have lots of tasks to do before then (including my middle-of-the-month duties for the end of this week), as well as showing my coworker how to perform my tasks so that they'll get done while I'm away. She is catching on fairly well, which is good.
I also have to plan my packing lists at home.

Things went a little easier today; I still have more work to do tomorrow. And then over the weekend I need to make sure that my clothes are all washed so I can decide which ones to bring on the trip.

Yesterday and today, I have prepared a packing list for my trip, and have laid out a few things that I know I'm going to pack.

Tomorrow night my suitcase and shoulder bag must both be packed up.

I'm now all packed, and ready to leave in the morning!

I'm now all packed, and ready to leave in the morning!

Have a good time. :)

I'm now all packed, and ready to leave in the morning!
Please take good care

Please take good care

Thanks!! We need to be on the road by 5:00 am, which is only 15 minutes away.

Thanks!! We need to be on the road by 5:00 am, which is only 15 minutes away.
If you get a chance to read this, there is usually free wi-fi at the airport departure lounge.

Back to work yesterday. It always takes a couple of days to get back into the swing of it.

Yesterday morning was spent looking at some new student management software. We had to go to all the training sessions, but only a very small percentage was relevant to us. It was about half way through the training before I actually got the software to work on my iPad.

Last week I managed to arrange for our car to be transported to a garage for them to look at the clutch. It broke down on the Thursday before Easter. When it was collected a week later apparently the clutch was working again. The garage spent a couple of days looking at why it had failed, contacted me today to say it was fixed. Dai went to collect the car, and the clutch failed again more or less as he drove it away! So now the more expensive part needs to be replaced apparently.  ::)

If you get a chance to read this, there is usually free wi-fi at the airport departure lounge.

And there was at LAX this morning!

But I didn’t use it for very long. We were in there to have breakfast while we waited to board our plane.

So our flight from L.A. to Phoenix was a little over an hour long. After we landed, we went to pick up our rental car (which was prepaid); found a place to have lunch. And then we went north on I-17 and decided to stop briefly in Sedona to see a small chapel on the hill. (I took several pictures of the area.) Then we continued on towards Williams. So now we’re resting in our hotel suite as we prepare for our journey to the Grand Canyon tomorrow.

I'm now all packed, and ready to leave in the morning!


A little late but safe travels and have a GREAT time.



Cat

A little late but safe travels and have a GREAT time.



Cat

Thanks. We are enjoying it. I am especially excited to see places I’d never been to before.

Today we saw more of the Grand Canyon, in the area east of the Village. I took plenty of pictures, mostly with my smartphone. I also did plenty of walking around in the area.

Then at 3pm it was time for us to board the train back to Williams, where we are staying another night at the GC Railway Hotel.

Today: drove from Williams to Prescott, visited a family member (a cousin of my mom’s) and his wife, who moved there (from San Clemente, CA) in fall 2021. They took us out to dinner. Now we are resting in our hotel room.

Flew home this afternoon. (Our flight from Phoenix to LAX was a little over an hour long.) Stopped for dinner on the way home; now we’re ready to get some rest. I must say, this was quite an enjoyable vacation trip; it was much needed for me. I had not taken a true vacation since 2019, and after working so much over the last couple of years, I needed some time away.

Flew home this afternoon. (Our flight from Phoenix to LAX was a little over an hour long.) Stopped for dinner on the way home; now we’re ready to get some rest. I must say, this was quite an enjoyable vacation trip; it was much needed for me. I had not taken a true vacation since 2019, and after working so much over the last couple of years, I needed some time away.

Flew home this afternoon. (Our flight from Phoenix to LAX was a little over an hour long.) Stopped for dinner on the way home; now we’re ready to get some rest. I must say, this was quite an enjoyable vacation trip; it was much needed for me. I had not taken a true vacation since 2019, and after working so much over the last couple of years, I needed some time away.
Gee it's great to be back home again.

Flew home this afternoon. (Our flight from Phoenix to LAX was a little over an hour long.) Stopped for dinner on the way home; now we’re ready to get some rest. I must say, this was quite an enjoyable vacation trip; it was much needed for me. I had not taken a true vacation since 2019, and after working so much over the last couple of years, I needed some time away.

Glad you had a good time. :)

Gee it's great to be back home again.

Coincidentally, when we got back in our car (where it was parked in the structure), we turned on the SiriusXM radio and heard “Back Home Again” by John Denver on the 70s On 7 channel!

Coincidentally, when we got back in our car (where it was parked in the structure), we turned on the SiriusXM radio and heard “Back Home Again” by John Denver on the 70s On 7 channel!


Synchronicity:
The simultaneous occurrence of events which appear significantly related but have no discernible causal connection.
-Oxford Languages Dictionary

"This amazing phenomenon is called synchronicity. It’s defined as a meaningful coincidence—an event on the outside that speaks to something on the inside—as opposed to just a random occurrence. If it means something to us, it automatically becomes something deeper."
-Dr. Mark Hyman
https://drhyman.com/blog/2020/02/11/coincidence-or-synchronicity/

Coincidentally, when we got back in our car (where it was parked in the structure), we turned on the SiriusXM radio and heard “Back Home Again” by John Denver on the 70s On 7 channel!
O0


Synchronicity:
The simultaneous occurrence of events which appear significantly related but have no discernible causal connection.
-Oxford Languages Dictionary

"This amazing phenomenon is called synchronicity. It’s defined as a meaningful coincidence—an event on the outside that speaks to something on the inside—as opposed to just a random occurrence. If it means something to us, it automatically becomes something deeper."
-Dr. Mark Hyman
https://drhyman.com/blog/2020/02/11/coincidence-or-synchronicity/
I have noticed that as I got older coincidences occur more often.

O0
I have noticed that as I got older coincidences occur more often.


You mean "coincidences". I have noticed the same thing. Perhaps as a person gets closer to their ultimate destiny the ONENESS of LIFE reveals itself more and more. Just a theory.

Flew home this afternoon. (Our flight from Phoenix to LAX was a little over an hour long.) Stopped for dinner on the way home; now we’re ready to get some rest. I must say, this was quite an enjoyable vacation trip; it was much needed for me. I had not taken a true vacation since 2019, and after working so much over the last couple of years, I needed some time away.


Glad you had a great time. Getting away is always nice but I always find that coming home again is even nicer.


Cat

You mean "coincidences". I have noticed the same thing. Perhaps as a person gets closer to their ultimate destiny the ONENESS of LIFE reveals itself more and more. Just a theory.
This could be a new topic in it's own right...

This could be a new topic in it's own right...



http://www.inthe00s.com/index.php?topic=61876.0

http://www.inthe00s.com/index.php?topic=2550.0


Cat

http://www.inthe00s.com/index.php?topic=61876.0

Cat
Thank you, I though I had started a topic on that subject.

Glad you had a great time. Getting away is always nice but I always find that coming home again is even nicer.


Cat

I definitely agree.

Glad you had a great time. Getting away is always nice but I always find that coming home again is even nicer.


Cat

Most definitely.

...and yesterday, as expected, I had plenty of work to catch up on. And today I almost got caught up with it. My boss and coworker did some of my tasks while I was away last week, but keep in mind that they have duties of their own to do.

Did you take any photos?  I hope you'll post some

Hey all! It’s almost May already. :o

Did you take any photos?  I hope you'll post some

I did. Mostly with my smartphone. I just backed them up onto my PictureKeeper device this evening, so when I have the opportunity, I'll select at least one and post it for all to see.

Hey all! It’s almost May already. :o

Nice to see you!! I hope you're well. :)

Hey all! It’s almost May already. :o

I know, it's almost half a year gone by.  :o

Dai came back home last Friday in the car that now has a brand new working clutch. He also picked up a hacking cough.  ::)

I went away on a school trip on Sunday morning till Monday evening. The students were doing a practice expedition and we had to be on hand with the minibus. Four members of staff went. We had a good time walking, drinking tea and we camped overnight.

I was tired on Tuesday, from having two busy days and then being kept awake by Dai’s hacking cough. Tuesday and Wednesday night I slept in the spare room. Might do that tonight as well.

Dai came back home last Friday in the car that now has a brand new working clutch. He also picked up a hacking cough.  ::)

I went away on a school trip on Sunday morning till Monday evening. The students were doing a practice expedition and we had to be on hand with the minibus. Four members of staff went. We had a good time walking, drinking tea and we camped overnight.

I was tired on Tuesday, from having two busy days and then being kept awake by Dai’s hacking cough. Tuesday and Wednesday night I slept in the spare room. Might do that tonight as well.


Carlos has had one since right after Thanksgiving in Nov. He is having problems getting to see a specialist. He was able to get an appointment for one in Sept. Went to a different hospital and was able to get an appointment sooner-in July.  ::)  Meanwhile, his regular doctor is TRYING but this is way beyond his field of study.

And yeah, he has kept me up at night, too. But, I don't have to get up in the morning but still am tired.



Cat

I know, it's almost half a year gone by.  :o

More like one-third of the year. But it’ll be a half before ya know it! Time always flies by.

Anyways, it was a busy (but good) day at work for me. I was able to get caught up with all my tasks this week; it was especially helpful since today was the last weekday of the month (always a busy time). Now I can unwind over the weekend.

Today I fly over to Germany. I've been wanting to go back for 31 years, and it's finally happening!

Today I fly over to Germany. I've been wanting to go back for 31 years, and it's finally happening!

Congrats. I hope you enjoy.

Today I fly over to Germany. I've been wanting to go back for 31 years, and it's finally happening!


Safe travels.

Are you going to visit with Elor?


Cat

Today I fly over to Germany. I've been wanting to go back for 31 years, and it's finally happening!

Enjoy your trip.

Today I fly over to Germany. I've been wanting to go back for 31 years, and it's finally happening!

Fun! I’d love to go there as a large amount of my ancestors are from there.

Taking it easy at home today after spending the week catching up with my work and finishing up the end-of-month necessities.

And now we bid adieu to the month of April...

The May thread will be started shortly...

I have been weirdly more tired than usual this past few days. Was ready for a nap at lunchtime on Friday - shame I was in work at the time. On Saturday we went to the supermarket and then to a cafe for lunch. Came home and fell asleep.

Yesterday Dai and I went orienteering. My legs felt sluggish - I couldn’t get going even on the paths.

Hopefully things will be better today

Came home yesterday from a long-awaited (relatively speaking) weekend in Ohio.  Saw the grandkids.  Given the tough times I've been going through lately, it really lifted my spirits.  So glad we got to go!