turps

If anyone ever wants to make podfic of any of my stories you have blanket permission to do so. The exception being any co-writes, in which case you'll have to ask the permission of the other writer.

All my stories are uploaded at A03.

If anyone ever wants to friend me, feel free. I always enjoy meeting/reading new people but at the same time, it doesn't bother me if people read and don't comment at all, or even comment very occasionally. All are welcome.

I read in lots of fandoms but the main ones right now are The Musketeers and MCU, though that's 99% winterhawk.

I also still love bandom and popslash and had a brief intense fling with Downton Abbey, so often dip into those fandoms when the urge hits.

I'm very much an OTC person, and my past and present loves include Tom Paris, Blair Sandburg, Brennan Mulwray, Chris Kirkpatrick, Mikey Way, Aramis, Clint Barton.

I have a long-lasting and deep love for h/c, but read pretty much anything.

I still write on occasion, nowhere near as prolific as in my bandom days, but sometimes I feel the need to scratch the writing itch.

Mostly I post about real-life things, my family, my cats, walks to the beach and the cinema. Along with my husband, I have an Odeon Unlimited card so we got to the cinema a lot.

I'm a carer for my husband who has AMC. He has a full-time job but I help him a lot in the house and do a load of surveys, product tests etc for extra money. They're all boring, tedious and often pay pennies, but I've found as long as you slog through a certain amount a day it all adds up.

I have one son who went away to uni and never came back. He still lives relatively close, though, so I still see and chat to him often.

I had a gastric bypass a few years ago and lost a load of weight. I don't really talk about it on here now, but it's something that changed my life and something I'll never regret.

I very rarely friends lock posts, usually only photos of people and mainly just keep plodding on through my life the best that I can.

There's no need to comment if you want to friend me, but if you want to, go for it.

Kayleigh and Lucy have been teaching Bodhi what to do if Kayleigh has another seizure and Bodhi's with her alone.

Knowing that I was rather concerned to get a video call from Kayleigh's phone that hung up, then, seconds later a voice note with a lot of silence at first, followed by Bodhi saying 'I hope you can hear me Auntie Terri, I want you to play with me please'

So on one hand, it's good to know B knows how to get in touch with me if needed, but I think she needs to work on her definition of needed because man, talk about heart in the mouth moments.

It was a craft fair yesterday, and I wish I could say it went well profit wise, but sadly not. But,we made the table money and enough to get some wax melts from the stall that was directly in my line of sight, so really, how was I supposed to resist?

Now I need to make tea, then it's bath book and Strictly result show time. I was in Lush earlier as it's Kayleigh's birthday tomorrow so I was getting her some goodies, and they gave two freebie pots of body scub and a face mask. I'm going to have the smoothest skin and smell delicious

And just because ( the kittens )

You may remember I was wondering if Rosie would be there for class on Wednesday, well, she wasn't. ( cut for length )

Yesterday I took Bodhi to school again, but as James had a day of annual leave in, we didn't have to walk there. Which actually caused more stress as we didn't realise the main road that leads to the school turn off is closed atm, so we had to drive to the next town to do a huge circular detour to get there.

I dropped B off at 8:30 then had an hour to waste before Yoga class, so we went to the nearby Starbucks and had my first hot pumpkin spice latte of the season. Drank that and James dropped me off before going home while I went to class.

I don't know if a downward dog is the same as a dog stretch, but the instructor said we were doing the former last week, and the second this week, except with an added stretched up leg. Then with the help of blocks and bricks for height, most of the class balanced on one arm and one leg, while I remained on both arms and contemplated my life choices.

I did enjoy the class, and went for the coffee meet up afterwards before James picked me up and we headed to Durham and the cinema to watch The Heart of a Beast, and omg, that film ( cut for huge spoilers, and talk about dog injury )

It's another craft fair tomorrow, also Pauline's birthday so we'll be calling in at hers after. It's the fair in aid of Consett Cats and the one held in the vets so I'm not expecting big sales. But, as long as we get some money to help the cats, that's all that matters.

I had a bit of a scare and thought I'd lost my engagement ring last night. I've worn it on a necklace for years now, and last night woke up to find the chain had snapped and my ring was nowhere to be seen. I knew it had to be in the house somewhere as I'd seen it before going to bed, but couldn't actually feel it anywhere in bed.

It was about four am when I made the discovery, so it was really dark but I didn't want to put on a light and wake James, so did some patting down of the bed and pillows, but nothing. Unable to settle, I eventually got up and thankfully, found my ring at the foot of the bed. Well, I say found it, I stepped on it, but the end result was the same.

Today I went to the actual yoga class, and I enjoyed it. ( cut for details )

Sadly, aqua fit was cancelled yesterday after the instructor called in sick. But, today I did go to strength yoga.

Unexpectedly Kayleigh asked last night if I could take Bodhi to school, which was fine, the class I was booked into started at 9:30 giving me nearly an hour between dropping Bodes off and getting to the location. Which, was easily done via a slow walk and then fifteen minutes sitting in the sunshine wasting some time.

I enjoyed the class and the people in it were welcoming. ( talk about class )

This morning I found out the first movie channel has changed to a Christmas 24/7 movie channel. Now, I can say it's far too early, and it is, it's still August for goodness sake. But, I'm sure no one is surprised when i say I also had that channel on for background watching.

It's nearly the end of the month so it was time to go pay our bill at the craft shop. The way it works is you pay £40 a month to rent the shelves and any sales come off that amount. James has never made a full 40 yet, but this month he got really close. You do sometimes think is it worth it, but I think it is, it allows him to craft and establish himself and the run up to Christmas may hopefully, bring more sales.

While we were there we restocked and put some older items on sale, so fingers crossed for September.

I found a bag of shallots that had gone black and mushy in the vegetable rack, which explains why we've had a fruit fly infestation. I've just bought some fruit fly traps, so hopefully that helps as the home made ones weren't really cutting it.

I can't believe it's already a week since we saw Burlesque at the theatre. I enjoyed the show, I haven't seen the film it's based on so went in unspoiled, but that didn't matter. It was fun and the cast were visibly ecstatic at the end, for what was the final show in Sunderland. I don't blame them for being so happy after two long sets of cancellations in the three weeks they were supposed to be running, and quite a few of the principal cast having to brought in last minute after the original cast was badly affected by illness.

You may remember I was worried about parking due to a festival that has closed the roads around the theatre, well, the roads were closed but by going early we managed to get the last parking spot. It's not an official spot, but it's in an area used by many drivers about a few minutes walk from the theatre and the restaurant where we had a reservation. Of course, by going so early we were really early for both eating and the show, so ended up wandering the town and just wasting time for a while. Though, that did mean I had time to linger over a Starbucks cloud matcha frappachino, a drink I could easily become addicted to.

The only thing about parking where we did, normally, when we park outside the restaurant I take home my leftover pizza, this time it didn't make sense to do so. I missed driving home in the dark, talking about the show and eating a cold slice. But, we've started a tradition of trying a cocktail when going to a show, and look at the adorable glasses they came in. Now I want some retro pineapple glasses for at home, no idea what I'd drink in them but they're fun.

Other things that happened last week, a trip to Beamish where I got to learn about the differences between suffragettes and suffragists and take part in a votes for women rally. Went to the cinema to see Spa Weekend, which was exactly what I expected, silly fun. And as Rosie is still off, two visits to the big gym.

The Beamish thing was interesting. I've been going there for years now but it's only this year they've had staff and volunteers acting as the characters they're dressed as. For example, in the pit village there have always been people dressed to reflect the time and area, and they'd be doing things like baking using the range or making clippy mats. But they'd always answer questions as themselves. Whereas, last time I was down in the village they had a scene going on where someone dressed as a rent man was trying to get rent money from a pit wife who was protesting she had no money to give.

I do like this new direction and hope they continue to do the scenes every now and then.

It was Bodhi's fifth birthday yesterday, so happy birthday to her!

We went up to see her mid morning and she was a very excited little girl with all her new swag. Her main present from the mams was a big trampoline but she also got a fun wigwam style tent for her bedroom and various other toys and craft stuff. Our presents went over well too, which was great.

Instead of a party she went with her bestie from school to a trampoline place and McDonalds for food. Kayleigh posted a video of them hopped up on fun and sugar afterwards and Bodes looked so happy, and high pitched. I'm glad I only heard the screeching via a screen *g*

It was a busy day yesterday as apart from that visit I had a doctor appointment at 8:40 to see if I could change meds for my stupid essential tremor which isn't improving at all on the new meds.( cut for health stuff )

After leaving the doctor's surgery for the second time we headed to see our crafter friend who had another three boxes of wooden stuff to give to James, which he was thrilled with.

Then in the afternoon we went to visit Corey for a while. He's doing well and is about to change jobs again. He hasn't been getting enough hours at the pub he's working at now, so asked at his old place and they offered him a job on the spot. They did want him to go back as General Manager again, but it would have meant the person doing that role atm would have had to be moved and Corey didn't want to be stepping on toes, so he's going in as assistant manager, which seems fair enough to me.

Other than that, it was the monthly maker's market craft fair Saturday gone and it went nicely. We had a home made pet treat stall next to us so I thought I'd treat the cats. Anyone who has had cats will know how this will be going as they looked at those treats like I'd given them poison. So, Kayleigh's cats got them, and apparently enjoyed them. I hadn't intended buying anything else but another new trader came for a chat and had a wax melt and candle stall, which was tempting enough, but, the brand was focussed on a cat, Not only that, the cat was there in a special pushchair, and come on, I'm not made of stone. Going to meet the cat of course led to a sale.

Today I'm waiting in for the parcel courier to pick up the mistakenly sent dog food. This is the 6th day they've said they're coming and each time, despite sending a time period, nothing. And we've got a ring doorbell so I know who knocks on the door, so they can't say they've tried to pick up and we haven't been in.

Then I need to walk to the chemist and pick up my new meds because for some reason, I was prescribed two sets of meds, the new stuff and enough of the old to last the weaning off period, but each type was sent to a different chemist, and make it make sense!

The weekly email has arrived for the weight management programme, and no classes at all next week for our location. That makes three weeks, and a suspicion this is going to be like the beginning of the year all over again.

Murphy has to eat special urinary dry food now to stop his bladder stones. Because it's prescription stuff we have to buy it online, and the latest delivery came yesterday. Except, when I opened the box it was actually urinary food for small dogs. Now, I know Murphy is the size of a small dog, but I suspect eating the food wouldn't be good for him. James phoned the company this morning and they said someone is calling sometime today to arrange the correct stuff to be sent. They'd better not expect us to pay to return the dog food, either.

It was new leg day for James on Wednesday and you can see pictures behind ( here )

I went to see Spider Man Brand New Day yesterday and enjoyed it. It's not my favourite Spidey film but I was still glad I went to see it. Though, actually getting there took some doing. At first we had tickets for Thursday morning, then James realised he was double booked with an online course that would take all morning. So, we re arranged to yesterday morning. Then, Thursday evening Kayleigh asked if we could Bodhisit for a couple of hours the next morning, and fine, tickets were pushed to Saturday morning.

Then, half an hour before we were going to go Bodhisit Lucy messaged to say she wasn't going to the interview she'd booked in so we weren't needed. This was at 9:30. The showing we'd changed the night before was at 10:15. So, a quick online check for availability and the tickets were changed yet again, and we headed for Durham, which is thankfully, not that far away.

Today we're going out for a meal with Kayleigh, Bodhi and Lucy and her family to celebrate her birthday. That should be good, and it'll be nice to see Lucy's mam and a few of her sibs again.

Talking of birthdays, my brother turned 50 Wednesday gone, so happy birthday to Chris. I saw him on the Tuesday as he was celebrating by taking some time off work and going for a solo fishing and camping trip. Which isn't my thing but is totally his so I hope he enjoyed it.

Remember how I was saying 9-1-1 Nashville wasn't grabbing me? Well, guess who only has two episodes left to watch...

The show is like an over dramatic soap opera, and I kind of love it a lot now. I may have also checked out fic, and on the m/m side of things found quite a lot of crossovers with the main show. Though that's not that surprising when the three main male characters are a dad and his two sons, sons who, of course, didn't know about each other until the start of the show. There were also quite a few fics shipping the half brothers, and hey, I can get behind that. They're both very pretty even if Blue is the most ridiculous guy to walk the earth at times. He's an ex exotic dancer with mama issues who is endearingly too trusting and too impulsive, my kind of tv guy. However, I still don't think he looks like he's 20 or 21

In the last week I've also watched all ofAnn Droid which at six half hour episodes didn't take that long. I thought it would be funny, and it was, but it was also very touching and sad at times. Still, I recommend.

A new series of Ted Lasso starts very soon and despite the lack of Jamie I'm looking forward to it. I was reading online that Phil Dunster had been seen on set in his Jamie get up, blond tips, shaved eyebrow etc. I don't know it that's true but I hope it is and he'll be appearing even if for a small scene. I mean, I don't need any new canon to support my idea that Jamie, Roy and Keeley live together in threesome happiness, but it would be nice to see him again.

Briefly, Rosie was off all week so I went to the big gym again instead. I was supposed to be having a one to one with her this coming Wednesday but got a text cancelling the appointment, so I won't be surprised if class is cancelled again, too. I also went to the doctor again to ask about increasing my meds for my tremor as they're not working that well, especially on my right hand. So he doubled the dose of the morning and lunch time doses.

I'm still doing physio on my stupid rotator cuff but no improvement yet. I know I need to be patient, but I do not approve of this my body falling apart on me malarkey.

I went to my musculoskeletal appointment yesterday and the guy there said it's not my tricep that's acting up, but my rotator cuff. Which is what I self diagnosed in the first place after having that issue before.

So, he gave my three exercises to do three times a week and then another appointment in six weeks time when I'll be given harder exercises to do, as long as there is an improvement. If not, they'll consider a steroid injection.

Rosie had cancelled class yesterday as she has a virus, so as James was off we went to the big gym at Sunderland. I do wish my small gym had the hydro massage beds, but they don't, so the big gym it is.

From there it was to my appointment, then off to some Bodhisitting as it was Lucy's birthday and the mam's were off to have a meal and then onto the cinema.

On Wednesday gone I had an opticians appointment as you may remember that last year the optician said I had narrow channels in my eyes which is a risk for glaucoma, so put me on annual tests. Well, the guy I saw this year disagreed, and I'm back to two year appointments. My prescription hasn't changed so no new readers needed, but he did say I could benefit from glasses for when I'm on the computer as I have it set back enough the readers don't help. It was only when we were about to leave the room he said I couldn't actually get them via the NHS as computer glasses are classed as needed for recreation. And as the cheapest pair started at £50, I said I'd pass. But do have my script so will probably buy some cheapies myself.

We went to see The Odyssey and I enjoyed it, especially as the screen was completely full, which I think always makes for a nice atmosphere. I didn't realise that it was so long though, at nearly three hours I had to take a speedy bathroom break and was sure I was about to miss the end. One spoiler about a dog ( behind here )

We saw that at Durham Odeon and hadn't realised it was the brass band festival that weekend, so got to wander Durham in the sunshine listening to various bands play modern songs, which was excellent. Highlight being a band on Framwellgate bridge playing a brass version of Spice Up Your Life which had the audience clapping and dancing along.

I was going to post the post I had in drafts from before Megan had to be pts, but figured it was a little late. So a quick recap from that, went to Bodhi's sports day, Bodhisat all day one day and went to the farm with her where I got to groom a donkey, and Bodes had fun, too. Met up with my SiL and her partner for a meal as it would have been my MiL's birthday. Went to the limb centre with James and he's getting new leg with a pop art graffiti style cover, did a craft fair that went well. And there you go, one long post condensed into a paragraph *g*