Parafox

Socks, Thorntons x 2 and a Boeing 737-800 flight sim experience.

I shouldn't but...

We always do

We had a blocked toilet a few years ago and that looks very similar to the sight that greeted us upon opening the lid. I'm sure it's delicious. Happy Christmas.

Or getting them out of bed at 7am to hoover their own room.

For a number of reasons, not least the MH of our eldest adopted daughter which has caused severe issues and conflicts over the years, I have come to be very stressed and anxious as Christmas approaches. I once quipped that the police have spent more Christmas days with us than with their own families because we have had to call them on many occasions over Christmas due to her erratic and often violent actions, including against herself. Last year and again this year the relationship is at such a low that we didn't, and won't again, see her over Christmas. We feel sad that this is the case and that she's alone, but it's the safest for us. The situation really gets us down and causes tension. Interesting to read @SpacedX post with regard to him being adopted and the relationship with his parents. We have often wondered about attachments with adopters and adoptees. She's now 31 and over the years it has become clear that she has attachment issues and increasing signs of mental ill health and depression and has been sectioned 3 times, twice in secure MH units. The crisis usually being around Christmas and the birthdays of her own two children who both were adopted when they were infants. So her MH understandably declines significantly at this time but the knock on effect makes Christmas one of the most difficult occasions of the year for us. I guess what I'm saying is that if you dislike Christmas it can be for a variety of reasons and there's no need to feel you should fake it and pretend it's a jolly time. Of course people who don't enjoy Christmas will feel pressured into going along with it. I have learnt to accept that I can get very down and grumpy at Christmas and, over time, Mrs P has come to understand and no longer gets on my case to "join in". Anyway. I hope it's the best festive period it can be for all you good, kind, frivolous, clever, whimsical, witty, insightful argumentative (on the matchday thread) FT peeps

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Humblebrag

And that's why I said "ambient items that don't need refrigerating".

Worse for me is ambient items that don't need refrigerating being put in the fridge. Bread. Eggs. Cat food. Tomato and other sauces. WHY???? If you buy something from an ordinary shelf in the supermarket, it doesn't need to go in the fridge. Unless it's alcohol.

You can't do 50mph until you have passed the 50 sign. Many drivers see the 50 and start to accelerate whilst still in a 40 limit. I'm surprised there isn't a speed camera between the two signs to catch people out.

As is the case for all emergency services, A&E depts, and many others. I don't understand your point here, sorry.

Are you trying to tell us something?

I need to find maple cream liqueur.

So who is eating my mince pie and swigging a shot of single malt?

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Recently I have been trying harder to recycle correctly. It's a bit of a minefield for consumers. (Effectively everyone). Glass, plastic (not hard), cardboard etc. All the things we are already pretty much recycling already. Then I looked more at the packaging, in particular food packaging from things like ready packed salad, fruit and vegetables. Also crisps and other snacks. Almost all of these I assumed could be recycled in our blue bin. But I found this symbol which I wasn't aware of before. Now it seems I need a 5th bin to go alongside our general waste, recycling, garden waste, and compostable food waste bins to accommodate stuff that has to go to a "large" supermarket. Surely it can be easier. I feel there's too much onus on the individual to recycle correctly which creates an adverse response of just "bung it in the bin" because that's the easy option, particularly for the elderly, housebound and the lazy.

There have been lots of posts about driving and travelling gripes, I thought we could have a special place to bellyache about the travel experiences. Today and for the umpteenth time I had a conflict with a driver who failed to indicate her intentions while negotiating a roundabout meaning I was halfway out when she came round to take the exit after mine. I assumed that, because she was positioned in such a way and was not indicating her intention, that she was going straight on, i.e. taking the exit before mine. I was driving an artic and once commited it.s not easy to abort when 20 feet of truck is already across the road. She she had to brake and was honking like a demented woman and throwing the usual hand gestures as if it was my fault. It only take a bit of thought and consideration and application of decent driving standards.