Insignificant Things That Make You Happy.

[Noggin]

This morning I left the revision class to go to the prefecture to see if they could help but they said no.

Well, miracles happen - on top of the plan that worked, yesterday I got an email from the prefecture that had attached, not only a copy of the RIR (which I had from the day before) but also the RII (The RII is a bit more detailed and lists the points you have left - turns out I currently have 11, but should get the 12th one back soon )

Haven't passed on the RII (school only wanted the RIR), but it's handy to have

Through situations out of my control and some choices, I was never able to have kids, and subsequently grandkids.

But I've always had a special bond with my only nephew.
Today his daughter was born and I'm beaming like a loon. And a few little tears..

I can nearly imagine what it feels like to have kids and grandkids.

Don't be so harsh on yourself, we're not magicians or superbeings us parents, all we did was stick ourselves inside

By having that bond you're already an equal to the parents, i'd even argue better than a fair few based upon society today.

Take your win and run with it...

@Yorick What he says up there ^^^

My non biological Dad has been as much a Dad to me as my bio one was. In a different way, but he's been there all my life and he's awesome. Some humans shouldn't be parents. Some people should have been parents.

The really special people are the ones that choose to have a family type relationship with a child when they don't have to. Step parents (not the ones out of stories that are horrible, the good ones!) and friends/family that step into an aunt/uncle type role when it's not expected but it IS appreciated

My biggest regret in life is not having kids (and not being in a position to foster them - yet!). BUT my god daughter insisted that I was at her wedding because she considers me her Auntie as much as just her Mum's best mate. I've always been around, albeit at a distance, but she's always known I was there for her if she wanted to talk to someone other than her mum. On the flip side - back a while when she was having some issues, I was able to say stuff to her in a slightly more 'straight' way than her mum could. Not harsh (and cleared with Mum first!) but just straight to the point with love. (the other awesome thing about the wedding was that she wanted my step dad there too - she doesn't have any grandparents and he's been her 'Grandpa' since she met him when she was about 13. )


Hopefully my niece and nephew will always remember that I'm here and they can call/turn up if they need me.


The fact that you have that bond with your nephew will, I'm sure, mean LOADS to him too. And you can be a granduncle to his daughter. She'll love that and so will your nephew.

Enjoy your new granduncle status - celebrate and remember to buy stupid stuff for her and break some (not really bad) rules that her parents can't do with her! (kids love that!!)

[Ian]

Haslet and Chine. Riding 160 miles in the pouring rain to fetch it from Sutton on Sea only goes to show how nice Bennett's Haslet and Chine is. Om nom nom

[Felix]

My non biological Dad has been as much a Dad to me as my bio one was. In a different way, but he's been there all my life and he's awesome.

I get that from the step daughter. Not that she tells me but she tells her mum who cant keep a secret Her real dad is not that far away but works awkward shift. As she had not long had her first kid (7 Month) I hate the fact her real dad does not visit much as i think i am turning into grandad faster than her dad should be.

[gremlin]

I believe it was it Shakespeare who once wrote...

To be a father you just need to spaff your seed up some bird. To be a proper dad takes years of commitment, making things better, unconditional loving, quiet counsel, giving hugs, listening and just being there.

if you've done all the latter, but not necessarily the former, then you're the dad and worthy of carrying the moniker proudly.

[Mr. Dazzle]

if you've done all the latter, but not necessarily the former, then you're the dad and worthy of carrying the moniker proudly.

Not without cracking a few shit jokes you're not!

[gremlin]

if you've done all the latter, but not necessarily the former, then you're the dad and worthy of carrying the moniker proudly.

Not without cracking a few shit jokes you're not!

And if you can chuck in some embarrassingly dancing at family weddings, you've smashed it.

[Noggin]

Well I've had two awesome conversations today.

I got home and rushed to a mates cafe as I knew he wouldn't be open tomorrow evening. Chatted with a few peeps but mostly with his girlfriend. She remembers me from when I had to try to talk to her about parking (she's the manager) and neither of us spoke the other language!! LOL A few weeks ago we were in a group chatting over drinks one evening and she complemented me back then on how good my french is now. Tonight she said that I had improved even more since starting the course! Major happies.


But the absolute bestest is that my Aunt has just phoned me. It would have been my BDad's birthday today and I feel like there is only one other person in the world that remembers him with me, and it's my Aunt. She always gets in contact on this day and she did. We just chatted for about an hour about all sorts of things and it was great. Only a little bit of remembering but we both know that's why we were having the conversation, so it's all good. I do so love my non bio family!! My Aunt (ex to my mum's brother) my SDad and my SBrother are three of the most amazing family I have - and none are blood relatives!! You really do sometimes have to choose your family!!

So, on the conversation above. . . if you make someone feel as if they are important, if you care enough to be there (my Aunt and my SBrother were the only family that made any effort to keep in touch with me in the rehab place when I was so isolated due to surgery and covid!), if you love them because they are important to you - you ARE family. Dad, brother, aunt, Grandpa whatever. If you're there for someone and they think of you as family - you are! Blood really does NOT make family!!


Anyway, I started the day remembering my BDad and being a bit emotional. This evening I'm just appreciating the people that chose to actually be my family (And that my French has improved enough that some friends can now correct me a bit and I can remember it!!)

[Taipan]

I guess its not insignificant, but I got sent to the rapid access angina clinic who checked me out and said all good but with the caveat that i wasn't off the hook until I had a transthoracic echocardiogram, which I did. Got the all clear though the post today! I shall celebrate with a bottle of Cognac and a cigar!

[Skub]

Being adopted by viziting kat,who saved me from the ravages of vicious shoelaces.

[demographic]

Masses of red squirrels where I'm currently working so I see them most days.
The odd stoat as well.

[Jody]

Last weekend was my birthday so I went to visit some friends at one of, if not the largest campsite in France.

The hospitality shown to me by friends old and new was heartwarming.

I just need this week to recover!

[KungFooBob]

Leaving a task to the very last minute, discovering a software issue that prevents you completing the task, ringing the helpdesk, they admit the software doesn't do it, but it's not a problem because the deadline for the task has been pushed back to March next year.

Yay!

Not that we ship much to NI, but the deadline for the Windsor Framework has changed from the 30th September to the 31st March next year!

[Taipan]

Walking past a meeting room and a member of one the senior management teams was walking out. I said Hi and she replied, Wish I was, followed buy a, whoops and then a wink. Not a joke i expected to hear from her that's for sure but it made me laugh!

[cheb]

That a plumbing problem was a very easy fix. Mostly because the sale of the house completes tomorrow.

[cheb]

I've just received an email from the contractors who are booked to do some landscaping round the house telling me their digger will arrive at mine soon.

It's probably their 16T 360 that I found in the garden this morning.

[Horse]

Walking past a meeting room and a member of one the senior management teams was walking out. I said Hi and she replied, Wish I was, followed buy a, whoops and then a wink. Not a joke i expected to hear from her that's for sure but it made me laugh!

A rather well-spoken lady was talking on the Monday morning company Teams rah-rah call.

Quite surprised a few people by using the description "and the money shot ... "



I have no idea whether she knew ...

[Skub]

Walking past a meeting room and a member of one the senior management teams was walking out. I said Hi and she replied, Wish I was, followed buy a, whoops and then a wink. Not a joke i expected to hear from her that's for sure but it made me laugh!

A rather well-spoken lady was talking on the Monday morning company Teams rah-rah call.

Quite surprised a few people by using the description "and the money shot ... "



I have no idea whether she knew ...

Some folk are like that,they take it as it comes.

[DefTrap]

My S-I-L wandered into my office and left a warm home-made pastie on my desk.

Om-nom-nomer, cheeky mid afternoon treat!

[Yorick]

We're outside our local bar and smiling at a group of Canarians.
All about 70 and come down once or twice a week and have a great time.
They order big jugs of beer to share (to save a few pesetas)
Then the picnics come out. Tables covered in bocadillos and tapas

Only 9 tonight, but often a few more.

Lovely old folk and enjoy chatting to them

The fact they come here shows that the tourists in this area are all happy and friendly. And it's the cheapest bar in town

20240926_210801.jpg (1.84 MiB) Viewed 603 times

[Yorick]

We're outside our local bar and smiling at a group of Canarians.
All about 70 and come down once or twice a week and have a great time.
They order big jugs of beer to share (to save a few pesetas)
Then the picnics come out. Tables covered in bocadillos and tapas

Only 9 tonight, but often a few more.

Lovely old folk and enjoy chatting to them

The fact they come here shows that the tourists in this area are all happy and friendly. And it's the cheapest bar in town

20240926_210801.jpg

We just has best laugh for ages

One of the local Lucky Lucky men (Billy from Barnsley) left his handbag 'stall' about 20' away and sat next to us.
Gave Elvis some treats and put handbag and MK logo on table.
Pulled out the Superglue and stuck badge back on.
He laughed "Genuine fake"

We looked over and saw him sell it 30 seconds later to a happy punter