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Thomas168.
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June 6, 2026 at 11:30 am #458413
anitaParticipant* destroyed due to an accident involving 🍷 and my 🐕
June 12, 2026 at 3:41 pm #458558
AlessaParticipantHi Tommy
That’s so cool! Your daughter is studying to be a teacher. I’m sure she’s going to have a great time with it. Wow she’s completed community college and is moving onto the next college. Amazing! I love how much of a proud dad you are. 😄
A disagreement about who does more work? It sounds like you both do a lot and are very tired. I think that’s why such disagreements come about, at least in my experience. Aww I can tell how much you love your wife letting her “win” the disagreement. 🩵
You are right, relationships are not always smooth sailing. I learned to see disagreements as an imperfect attempt to connect. We can’t be perfect all the time. I hope things are going better now? 🩵
My son is starting to get a bit chattier. So that’s nice. 🙂 Fire trucks and tractors on the brain. 🚒 🚜 🧠 😂 He’s doing really well with counting and his abcs. Now it’s summer he’s not getting ill as much which is great. And your tip about washing hands as soon as you get in the house really did help.
We visited a nursery recently. His back up nursery start date is November. His other nursery delayed his start date until August. The back up nursery has a quiet room, so I’m happy for him to go to either. He’s pretty noise sensitive. I just didn’t want him to be tortured going to a nursery which is loud and doesn’t have any options for dealing with it. It would be a shame for him to have to wear ear defenders all the time.
Best wishes to you and your family, as always! 🩵
June 13, 2026 at 10:32 am #458571
Thomas168ParticipantHello Alessa,
Counting and ABCs? Wonderful!! My fear was when my daughter had to learn the multiplication table. I remember how tough it was for me. Well, my wife took on that task and she was proficient before I knew it. When my daughter was learning how to ride a bike, it was my wife who had the patience and perseverance to teach her to do it. Yeah, falling down and getting hurt a bit was part of the lesson. But, when my wife insisted she learn. It got done. Me, I always thought it might take longer or she might not learn at all. She still hasn’t learned to tie her shoes laces because I always bought the strap on shoes or ones with stretch straps or Velcro. I did not do her any good by doing that. Somethings just have to push thru. It can be a lot of work.
Anyway, happy to hear you got nursery lined up. It should give you a little time for whatever else you need to do during the day. I still remember my first day. 4 years old, I cried when my mom left me alone at school. But after the first day, it got a lot easier. Hope all goes well. Take good care of yourself and the family.
Tommy
July 8, 2026 at 9:13 am #459298
AlessaParticipantHi Tommy
Lovely to read from you as always! Sorry I’ve been too long replying. It’s been busy here, both in my life and on TB. I was trying to do a rotation of one message per person for a while. I recently gave up on that. So I’m not sure what the plan is now. It’s nice to see this place so active though. I agree, it’s like having good neighbours. 🩵
How are you and your family keeping? Any plans for summer? 🩵
It sounds like your daughter surpassed expectations in every way! I think you both did a great job raising her. What are some of your favourite memories of her growing up? 😄 🩵
I’m not worried about multiplication, I managed to teach my brother when I was a kid. More complex maths one day… now that is waaaaay over my head. 😂
I can understand the concern with bikes. I’ve had some rough falls with those myself. I have a condition that makes me clumsy with that kind of thing and I figured he might have it too. So, I started him early on balance bikes. The things they think of these days. He’s just got his first bike with training wheels recently. He can pedal backwards, but not forwards yet. No doubt he’ll start soon.
It’s crazy how fast they grow up! He can do more songs now. Wheels on the bus, five little monkeys, the clean up song, rain go away. 🩵
Oh and I’ve got something you might find funny. He said his first proper cuss. He says “Oh 💩” when he does a poo sometimes. 😂
July 11, 2026 at 11:44 am #459386
Thomas168ParticipantWent to a friends house to play Mah Jong. Afterwards, went out side to the car and saw someone had hit the car in the left rear quarter panel. I expected it was a hit and run. But, there was a police accident report on the windshield. If it were just up to me, I would have only liability which is cheaper than having collision on top of the liability. Anyway, collision paid for the damages. The other party took full blame of the accident (since the car was parked and no one was inside). The insurance adjuster was very nice and really understood what it would take to repair the car. So, I got a good estimate. I have decided to repair the damage myself. So, the money covers the 1 brake light assembly (damaged in accident) replacement along with 2 new headlight assembly (not damaged in accident) and the Bondo and primer and color paint and gloss coat. Just waiting for Amazon to deliver the parts and paints. I have pushed out the dent. Bondo on the surface and sanded it down. Will prime and wait for the paint to come. Won’t look like new but will look better. Ten year old car. Recently had a state inspection done on it. Needed new tires, front sway bar links and rear brake rotors and pads. (Bought online which was way cheaper than brick and mortar stores) All for less than the repair estimate. Which made me happy. Insurance paid me the estimate already. If I did not have collision then would have to wait for the other party’s insurance to pay for the damages. That is if they pay. I have seen my brother in law get into an accident and get no money for damages. Insurance just refused to pay. After that accident, my wife insisted we get collision insurance. Glad we did. We also pay for road side assistance which I have used about three times already for tows.
July 13, 2026 at 5:37 pm #459425
Thomas168ParticipantOnce a Zen master held up an exquisite tea cup. He showed a good amount of admiration for it. But, he said, “To me, this cup is already broken. I enjoy using it every day and washing it and looking at it. But when it will fall and shatter on the floor someday, I won’t get upset. I will just say, ‘Of course.’
“The understanding is that everything in life is temporary. People, feelings, and objects don’t last forever. Instead of fearing what you will lose someday or what you love will die, enjoy it fully right now. When it does goes away, you can really accept it peacefully.
July 15, 2026 at 5:34 am #459443
AlessaParticipantHi Tommy
Oh wow, a nice bit of good luck for you! That’s your karma for taking care of that tree. 😉 Thank goodness you’re a whizz kid at just about everything. 😄
I love the share about the cup. My only thought is that not everything is as easy to let go as a broken tea cup. 🩵
Oh random question for you. Any advice for installing a dishwasher? 🙏
July 16, 2026 at 8:17 pm #459481
Thomas168ParticipantYeah, being human, it isn’t easy to let go of people and things we love.
But, it is the attachment that causes our suffering. Still, it doesn’t mean we don’t mourn the one dear to us.Oh random question for you. Any advice for installing a dishwasher? 🙏
The answer to that is a full manual on how to install a dishwasher. But mainly to shut off the water and electric before install. Also to lay down cardboard to protect the floors. I don’t know how the UK sells their dishwashers. Here in the states, the unit is sold without an electric plug which is sold separately. Most stores require you to buy a new one (instead of reusing the old one) when you request the store to set up the dishwasher (for a fee). Dishwasher needs to be level for proper drainage. Hopefully the hoses have rubber seals which don’t require Teflon tape to prevent water leaks. Otherwise, use Teflon tape. Sorry, not much else. I find the tricky part is with pushing in the dishwasher into place as all the hoses and wiring is still in the way.
Do you have any experience with electrical or plumbing?
July 16, 2026 at 8:21 pm #459482
Thomas168ParticipantOh, forgot to mention that we require GFCI protection circuits on dishwashers and most major appliances that use water.
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