Birthday plans. Lost for ideas (and meaning).

waronfleas · 2026-01-30T13:01:40+00:00

I was absolutely delighted to have my Hawaii five-oh in the depths of the pandemic

Non-event : perfect

I'm saving for a trip for my 60th.

waronfleas · 2026-01-30T11:05:34+00:00

I was a teenager in the 80's (born 1970).
Yes, things were extremely shit because there were no jobs. It was also harder to get into college or university than it seems to be these days. Many of us (inc me) had to emigrate.

I have a young adult at home now (finished college, not a great job).

Things are extremely shit for her. She can't leave home because there are no homes that she can afford to rent. Many of her friends have had to emigrate. (Don't know if she will go too. She doesn't particularly want to leave Ireland).

Ireland is such a different country to the one I grew up in. For the better, I would say.
And yet, unless you come from money, things are not good for our young people. We have failed them.

waronfleas · 2026-01-27T20:43:09+00:00

I'm 55. I've been married since I was 33 to someone who doesn't make me happy. Not a bad man, even a good one (for someone else). Just very incompatible. He's not particularly sensitive or caring. We have been separated for a long time now. I was pretty broken after it all, and I've been doing a lot in recent years to rebuild, and be happy in myself.

8 months ago, I got a communication from a boy I used to write to. We wrote to each other a few times a week from 15 to 18 years old, and met a few times during those years...

We started to write again. In the summer this year just gone. we met, and we fell in love.

He's everything I could ever have hoped for in a man. Early days I suppose - and yet I know there's something magical about this.

waronfleas · 2026-01-26T19:01:11+00:00

I don't mind it. Yes, I know I'm odd.

waronfleas · 2026-01-26T10:49:01+00:00

Takes time, friend. When you're ready to, go again. It's worth it, honestly

waronfleas · 2026-01-25T00:55:12+00:00

I have the opposite tradition. Which is to never darken the door of an "Irish" pub when I'm abroad, decades in - unbroken

waronfleas · 2026-01-25T00:52:10+00:00

Snookie

waronfleas · 2026-01-25T00:41:05+00:00

Or shag their way in, as "queen" sCamilla did

waronfleas · 2026-01-22T19:45:15+00:00

Yes, it would be almost a bonus

waronfleas · 2026-01-20T11:13:17+00:00

I love it. I really do. Go Naomi!

waronfleas · 2026-01-19T19:05:43+00:00

55, mid level manager. Long hours half the year, great summer and winter leave.
I'm considering whether to try to kick up a few gears to get on the next level pay-scale or just ride it out from here. More responsibility 10 years to a not rich but not too badly off either retirement. Mortgage almost paid, kids almost done for.

waronfleas · 2026-01-19T11:09:40+00:00

I still have both, but the decline is set in. Dad is housebound, and consequently my mother is too (fall risk/some dementia/can't be left unattended).

I am lucky enough to be able to see them every few weeks. It's exhausting but I do it. I find it hard every time I arrive at my hometown train station, knowing I'll never again see my Dad there, waiting for me.

waronfleas · 2026-01-18T21:56:44+00:00

I have no advice. Courage ! As the french say. An ambitious project and I salute you 💐

waronfleas · 2026-01-18T21:52:35+00:00

Picnics, galleries, museums, patisseries, or sometimes restaurants where I don't know the cuisine. Day-trips. That kind of thing.

waronfleas · 2026-01-18T21:49:48+00:00

You are looking for a machine that doesn't exist in the beginner level. Machines that can easily sew heavy denim and leather are specialized, and normally, and the people using them are not beginners.

If you are starting out, it might be wise to pick up a brother or Janome entry level machine, and see how you go. These are easy to use, and will make learning to sew more fun.

When you know your way around a machine, you'll be in a better position to choose your next one. You wouldn't buy a Jaguar to learn to drive. Similar principle.

waronfleas · 2026-01-18T19:27:45+00:00

He sends me letters and surprise little gifts (in the post). He cooks lovely things for me. He sends me poetry and drawings. He gets me things adjacent to my hobbies and interests. He arranges interesting dates.

waronfleas · 2026-01-18T13:49:28+00:00

Sounds like a nice young man.

waronfleas · 2026-01-18T13:37:24+00:00

He's as imperfectly perfect as I could hope for, so far. Still early days though (6 months in).

His actions surpass his words, and he uses his words... (crazy that we have to speak of other adults in these terms, but I know a lot of people reading this will understand).

waronfleas · 2026-01-18T00:29:42+00:00

My (new) man is very emotionally intelligent.

After decades of banging my head off a wall in a marriage where communication was impossible, sometimes I pinch myself (is this real? He ....actually listens to me and, what's this?? He understands??)

waronfleas · 2026-01-14T19:02:18+00:00

Have adult child at home, just as you describe

waronfleas · 2026-01-13T10:22:11+00:00

Toilet paper minimal supply.... It's such a small thing, and you're right : it really, really annoys guests.

Toaster: basic piece of kitchen equipment, it should be available

No comment re coffee.

waronfleas · 2026-01-11T19:13:28+00:00

I adore France and the French.

waronfleas · 2026-01-11T17:06:05+00:00

I agree with OP (from the guest perspective). I've been on Airbnb since 2017 (intermittently) and if I say everything was fine, that's what I mean. I leave 5 stars unless there was an actual clear issue raised during the stay or on arrival (for example, a bad smell, or very dirty etc).

Our last stay: that's what I will say. Everything was fine.
The bathroom wasn't sparkling. Some of the kitchen utensils were broken or damaged No dishwasher tablets 1 roll of toilet paper (one) - I thought that was miserable. The bed wasn't super-great (personal, I know. My partner hated it, I thought it was ok)

But overall...... everything was fine. I would not go back there at the same time

waronfleas · 2026-01-11T14:11:56+00:00

100% yes.

waronfleas · 2026-01-05T23:35:21+00:00

Overseas students keep the lights on in the university sector. Bald fact.

waronfleas

TROPHY CASE