Funktious

Funktious, 5 months ago to books

Lazy New Year's Day = first book read of 2024!

I've been looking forward to this one and wasn't disappointed. It wasn't quite a five star read, but a solid four star bath read. Uplifting story, lovely characters, and of course, a fantastically snarky octopus who is the best part of the whole book; I loved him.

If only we all had smart, snarky octopi to solve our problems.

#books #bookstodon #BookReviews

Funktious, 2 months ago to random

It's the Manchester marathon this weekend and although P is no longer running it (shin splints) we're still going to cheer on another friend and meet some of P's uni friends.

Except that, because this is being organised by two guys, there is no actual plan in place, I have no idea when we're leaving, when we're coming back or what we're going to do while we're there. I do know the AirBnB exists, at least.

I am frankly being remarkably chill about this, and should get a certificate of patience.

Funktious, 11 months ago to random

This whole Meta / Threads thing has got me thinking about different communities. I'm on Instagram and I like it, but I have a lot more RL followers there, and family*, so I post differently. Not sure I want them seeing what I might post on Threads!

(* I was so annoyed when my sister created an Insta account for my mum so she could follow me without asking me. I love my mum and she likes seeing my photos, so fine, but it is a chilling effect, knowing your mum sees everything you post!)

Funktious, 9 months ago to random

No, no; it's not stressful at all when your entire team receives a meeting invite from a VP, with no details in the invite and a HR Director included. Not stressful at all! Perfectly normal!

Funktious, 1 month ago to Scotland

We have been so, so lucky with the weather this week.

#Islay #Scotland

Small waves crash on a sunny, sandy beach
A sunny, sandy beach with large green hills and cliffs rising beyond
A sunny, sandy beach with bright green grass on the dunes behind

Funktious, 1 month ago to random

It might rain this afternoon, which means I need to mow a lawn this morning, which means I need to put the new lawnmower together and WHY did I become an adult? It’s all very exhausting.

Funktious, 7 months ago to random

I had to get Up and Out this morning to a Physio appointment, and I am therefore now exhausted and done for the day. I have treated myself to the good hot chocolate and cinnamon whirl from a local cafe, at least.

Funktious, 1 month ago to random

I have been to the seaside...

A Swan looks for food on the tide line of a beach
Wild garlic, trees and the sea
Culzean Castle on a cliff above the sea

Funktious, 6 months ago to random

Presenting at a South African User Group Meeting tomorrow and I think I have spent more time double, triple and quadruple checking the time difference and when I need to join than I have on my actual slide deck.

Funktious, 4 months ago to random

I hope the arsehole that stole a great big heavy box of our doorstep enjoys the large amount of cat food they found it.

I really hope they tore it into with great excitement, imagining multiple games consoles, only to find 12 boxes of fish flavoured renal care cat food.

Absolute bastards.

Funktious, 8 months ago to books

Torrential and interminable rain has inspired a re-read of the end of Nine Tailors by Dorothy L Sayers; a really evocative description of a winter fenland flood. The mystery is a good one too, but it’s the landscape and the flood and the bells that I always go back for.

#books #bookstodon #amreading

Funktious, 7 months ago to books

A heartbreaking and frustrating read.

Heartbreaking for what the author and his family experienced (TW for cancer) but frustrating because despite how obviously, deeply personal and presumably cathartic the book is, it just keeps you at arms length with the sheer volume of miscellany. I was really interested in the landscape history, the literature and his family story, but it was very difficult to follow the threads connecting it all together.

#books #bookstodon

Funktious, 5 months ago to random

Can any #bird, #birdwatching folks in the UK recommend a pair of compact binoculars? I’m considering these as my other pair are also RSPB and have been fine, but I really don’t know what else might be out there for a similar price https://shopping.rspb.org.uk/binoculars-scopes/birdwatching-binoculars/compact-binoculars/rspb-avocet-compact-8-x-25-binoculars.html

Funktious, 3 months ago to random

Baking. Trying, as always, to resist just stopping at this point and eating it with a spoon.

Funktious, 18 days ago to random

Can anyone recommend a good pair of women’s walking trousers for warm weather? I normally live in my Craghopper Kiwis and while they were okay today (18ish C) they were just too warm last weekend (23C). Not cropped, because ticks. Ideally need to come in short lengths and go up to a size 18, and available in the UK. TIA for any suggestions!

#walking

Funktious, 3 months ago to random

#SilentSunday

Funktious, 2 months ago to random

Pulled a muscle in my shoulder / neck reaching for an escaping mini egg. Story of my life.

Funktious, 10 months ago to books

This is a phenomenal wee book about a house by a lake in Germany and the characters that stay in it over half a century. Barely any of the characters are named and each chapter is from a different POV and follows a different structure.

It's a tough read in places, one chapter had me in tears, and the structure can be a challenge but I absolutely loved it. An incredible look at how important a single place can be to so many different people, and the memory of a landscape.

#books #bookstodon

Funktious, 6 months ago to random

Have felt very down today, so lets try #3GoodThings

1. It's Friday! Weather looks terrible here tomorrow so we're considering a trip further afield to clear some cobwebs
2. Spotted a potential job and applied in under a day.
3. Thanksgiving means next week should be nice and quiet 🫰

Funktious, 2 months ago to random

Work continues to be a torture that I desperately want to quit and get away from, but alas I am the sort of neurotic, anxious, middle aged mortgage slave who has The Fear, so obviously I have done the sensible thing of buying a load of lottery tickets instead.

If you all could refrain from playing tonight, that would definitely help, cheers.

Funktious, 1 month ago to Bloomscrolling

whispers don't look too excited in case you scare it off, but I think spring might be here. But shhhhhhh! Don't startle it!

#bloomscrolling

Funktious, 7 months ago to random

Both halves of the morning, frost and sun.

Funktious, 7 months ago to random

Just watched a squirrel climb to the very top of a tree with an entire rich tea biscuit in its mouth, as if showing off to everyone that truly it is the greatest squirrel in Glasgow today.

Funktious, 1 month ago to Bloomscrolling

Carpets of bluebells all over Islay right now #bloomscrolling

A path through Bluebell woods
Bluebells against a stone wall

Funktious, 8 months ago to diy

Extremely boring household toot: is it reasonably straightforward to replace a freezer door seal, or am I better off trying to find someone to do it for us?

#diy #RepairNotReplace