Good Morning Wednesday

Good morning everyone from Birmingham, where it is grey and rainy. I did a mad thing yesterday. I went to my local M&S food hall, and there was the tiny flowering cherry that has been in the corner of the store for the past three weeks or so. It looked so brave, flowering there in its dark corner, its soil completely dry, that I bought it and brought it home. It was quite expensive, but I couldn’t resist. It is now on my balcony, just by the big glass doors, and I can see it now, like a little promise of hope.

Good morning everyone from Malaga where it’s misty. The Mediterranean has blended into the sky and everywhere is a pale blue wash. It’s Day 4 out of 15 for the lockdown here. I looked out of the front door at 8:55am (an hour ago here) and the SuperSol across the road (our larder in normal times) was just unrolling the shutter doors .... to a queue of two! No silly behaviour here it seems. That’s heartening.

I’m rationing what food we have to save going over unnecessarily. We will have a gourmet meal tonight of Heinz tomato soup and sardines on toast (the last 4 slices in the fridge)! Fortunately we have white pepper too ...
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Marydoll I can feel your anxiety from here. Oh bless you I can only send you a virtual hug and try to reassure you that you are in safe hands with your doctor. You are classed as vulnerable like so many on here but I can understand that having the fact confirmed has put the wind up you. Totally normal response I imagine and my heart goes out to you - worrying about the wedding and seeing your granddaughter (who is the same age as our little cutie).

Hi to you Whitewave it’s lovely to have you join us on here I hope your holiday in the sea air does you both the world of good! ?

Hope Wednesday is kind to us all. Keep safe everyone. x

X posts DoraMarr what a sweet story. It made me fill up actually. I must be a tad emotional (like most of us) these days.

Morning All from a warm and sunny.....and silent... France. I shall get lots done today because I’m . Angry because you’re all being so brave, stoic, sensible, accepting - when it does seem that so many still in the UK are happy fiddling while Rome burns! Apart from some being more vulnerable due to pre-existing health problems, and no one wanting to take extra risks, why should the 70 plus-ers be singled out to be shut off from normal life when so many others seem to care very little and sneer at “ a bit of flu’” (whilst simultaneously stripping bare the supermarket shelves! ) How is isolating a much valued and sensible group in society going to help that group? All retired living with limitation, worry and being separated from their families - because the Health Service will be overwhelmed. Hasn’t it always been overwhelmed? I’m not suggesting anyone throws caution to the winds and is really irresponsible - but I can’t see any fairness in these new guidelines. Certainly not whilst the population is only being advised or requested to re-think their normal routines. Whilst there remain places for groups to gather : pubs, cafés, restaurants, bars, clubs, pools, gyms, etc., there will be those who have no interest in taking care, or social distancing....and this Virus will continue to wreak havoc and change society. Here, we’re locked in - all of us, no fear or favour, for the next 2 weeks. We need to produce a signed form if we are outside our homes - even to walk the dog (very close to home). Our employers must sign if we cannot work from home, but woe betide us if we are not travelling just to work. The British Govt should know that a vague response to self distancing will never work . Ask people, and it’s generally the older generation who will be more compliant. Tell people, and it’s the only way that everyone will fall in line - especially, as here, with 100,000 Police and on the spot fines. The PM needs to crack down before people I love are going to be shut away indefinitely. I’m very sad and out of sorts (you can tell ?) but at least here I feel it’s fair and it’s happening to all of us. I am much more sad about Grans who are trying to make the best of something as their plans are falling apart ! Rant over. Sorry and wishing everyone the best Wednesday and better health to all those struggling or alone. ? Hugs.

DoraMarr I think we all need that sign of hope! Xxx

I suppose Grandmafrench the government here is trying to separate the older & vulnerable away from what you could term ‘the cute carriers’ - grandchildren who are not likely to have any symptoms but could pass it on to seniors.

Like so many of us I have awoken with no sense of purpose and must work out what to do each day to provide some structure and modest achievement. Of course, I have DH’s eye drops four times a day but that is hardly sufficient, and I can’t bear to make the necessary domestic tasks an end in themselves. As this “new normal” settles down perhaps I will be a bit more energised - it’s not like me not to have a plan.

Sending particular sympathetic thoughts to Marydoll and family, Dragonfly and all of you with real problems.

Good morning Michael, Annie and all.
I am stripping the bed and doing some washing later, so hope it stays dry for a couple of hours at least.
I did have my hair trimmed yesterday. So I hope I don't get ranted at!
I was the only one in the salon, apart from the owner and one assistant. I do hope they survive, she has had to let one girl go on extended leave.
Our DIL delivered a jigsaw and our new Robot cleaner yesterday afternoon, and stood on the doorstep . Robbie, is now setup and ready to go again after his trial run.
I should make a plan of sorts for each day, but find that I start something that morphs into something completely different.
DH was due to have a Dr's appointment tomorrow, but this is now to be a telephone conversation. When? Don't know.
Will we be able to go into the surgeries for routine injections? I will get DH to ask tomorrow, if he remembers.
DoraMarr, I hope your little flowering cherry survives with lots of TLC.. Last year I bought a very sad looking Peace Lily from Waitrose, and it is thriving, which is a miracle for me, as I am not good with house plants.
{{{hugs}}} or should that be {{{elbow bumps}}} to Gilly, Marydoll, Urmston, and all who are down in the dumps.

By the way, can someone please tell me what TOYA means.

Good morning everyone. Wet miserable day in North Lincolnshire.
Trying to keep spirits up very hard though for us OCD suffers.

AuntieFlo. Thinking Of You All xx

Thinking of you all - Auntieflo

Morning everyone from a grey & wet Gower.
Welcome Rosalyn but come come now, it was lovely here on Monday. Sending you to brighten your day.
Oopsadaisy and others It's a bigger not sleeping, same here, ? & to keep us all going.
Grandmafrench neither my WP ( wonderful partner for those who don't know) or me are over 70 but have pre-existing health conditions that 'fit' with advice to also isolate and have both been told to do so from Monday coming at the latest
My thought and warm wishes to all who are having much needed medical treatments thrown up in the air, are in lockdown outside the UK and Marydoll ( both because of your Drs advice and your DD' wedding plans) for you all.
Phone calls to make today, last kitchen to clean, hairdresser's and FaceTime with someone close who really needs it right now.
Be kind to yourselves everyone in these very surreal times ❤️

Hi all from North Costa Blanca. I can see down to the coast today, couldn't see across the road yesterday! I have printed boarding cards off for a Friday morning flight in the hope that it departs. Other plans in place if not. Supermarkets are open and fairly well stocked. Customers are met at the door with plastic gloves and not allowed to stockpile anything. The rule is only 1 person in a car should you find a reason to go out. Strange times indeed. Marydoll so sorry about the wedding. I was looking forward to hearing about it also. I'm thinking about starting a diary/journal of this time in our lives. Our little grandsons might read it in later years. They will be too young to remember what's going on now, although the 4 year old is asking more questions about it. Keep safe everyone (((. ))) virtual hugs - safe distance!

Auntieflo I think TOYA was started by someone on soops thread. It stands for ‘thinking of you all’.

GrannySomerset not wishing to make you redundant but my 87y old stepfather did his own eye drops quite easily after his cataract operation before Christmas. The nurse just told him to gently pull down the cheek below the eye to make a half moon pouch and just put a drop into it. He said it was easy!

Pantglas, is Mick your FIL? ? Do take care Mick, but I do admire your spirit! I have had a series of lectures from two of my DC already, but it's lovely that they care so I'll forgive them. (I'm sure they're enjoying the reversal of tables!). Blue skies and sunshine on the Angus coast, though cloudier than it was earlier. I can bear anything so long as the day starts bright and sunny. I have to go down to the hall tonight, and tomorrow morning, in case anyone turns up for what we intended anyway to be the last tai chi classes. Events have overtaken our decision of course but that perhaps won't have registered with everyone. The average age of members of my classes is 67, so there are a good few under 70 who are not locked away! Then let lockdown begin. Many bouquets of flowers ? as usual to those with troubles and ill health and loads of virtual hugs. Stay safe everyone x

Just to share a giggle.
In our tiny apartment we are both sat on the balcony reading.

I looked across at Himself who was staring out to sea. I said ‘are you okay? Are you getting cabin fever?’ and he said ‘not at all, the trolley dolly is gorgeous’!

It works every time ....
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mancgirl, I was trying to remember who the third gransnetter in Spain was, to send you my best wishes, but my brain is mince, as we say here in Glasgow.?.

Safe jorney home if you manage to get on your flight!

Good morning to all from wet South Wales. I picked up 2 cans of sardines this morning in Lidl as there were hardly any on shelf. Just went down for milk, butter and yogurt. When I got home I realised I am almost a hoarder as counting them up I saw there were 12 in pantry ( I normally have about six as I get through three a week).

I was thinking this morning, of when Sky at the height of Brexit boredom said they were having a news channel with no B word. I wonder if they will eventually do this with the Corona word!

Thinking of all with worries and illnesses.

Good morning. Snow flurries here so not out in the garden but thank goodness as spring advances we may be able to get outside and chat/shout across fences. Stripping down an old table out of the garage today then will decide whether to oiled or paint it. Best wishes to all.

grandmafrench don’t be angry. There are reasons:
over 70s, even healthy over 70s, are more likely to be severely ill or die of covid-19. If just one section of the population remains disease free that frees up health care staff for the rest.
Most over 70s are retired, so self-isolating won’t have an effect on work or the economy- and we need the economy to be as strong as possible to support the NHS and social care, amongst other things: the services heavily used by the over 70s compared with the rest of the population.
We need a healthy workforce to support the most vulnerable. That includes health care workers of course, but also those involved in manufacturing, essential services like water, electricity and transport.
So the Government isn’t picking on over 70s, just doing the best they can to defeat this virus and get our lives back to normal.
I’m not a fan of this government nor this Prime Minister, but I do think they are doing their very best in an unprecedented situation.

Good morning Mick and the GM team.
We went to Tesco at 6.00am for a small top up shop, to collect items that we didn’t get in our home delivery.
Well, we were in the checkout queue for an hour, which was difficult for me, with my disability.
The guy behind us was ‘working from Tesco’ rather than ‘working from home’ and he did a shed load of emails, during the queueing.

We saw one woman successfully buy 48 (yes 48) tins of tomatoes and another person who tried to buy 36 tins of sardines(!) but was only allowed to buy 12 tins.
Another shopper offered us 2 packs of toilet rolls, as she could only buy 2 packs, but we don’t currently need any so we declined.
I added pain au chocolate to the trolley and we had those with a pot of coffee, as soon as we got home ... phew ...

Good thoughts to all in Sick Bay and isolation today and to those facing challenges. Have the best day you can, all. ?

Auntieflo my DD calls me Attila the Mum of houseplants, so you can't be worse than that!

Good Morning All x
A dull grey start to the day after the past few lovely bright sunny ones----but we can't have everything

Just read the Mail about wedding cancellations, how sad who'd 'a thought it ? So sorry for Marydoll and all the hard work she put in. Everything is out of people's hands, I don't like it.

Solo otra vez will be the signature tune for the foreseeable future---just to cheer us up

I don't quite know what I'll be up to today, so many things that I need to be doing but my mind is all over the place at the moment presently thinking will I be " allowed " to go to Asda next week and if there'll be anything left when I get there. I'll have to pull myself together.

I'm not used to being controlled, but needs must.

No sign of the GGC's dad's funeral yet, no information, though I realise with an inquest it can take longer to arrange though until then it doesn't feel final.

I've just fished some CD's out of the cupboard and at the moment have Westlife and " swinging songs " which is a good set of songs. Everywhere's so quiet and eerie so I thought I'd break the silence----instead of the news !

Hoping everyone's not feeling too down at this early stage and also able to avoid this virus. Thinking of all here xx

Hi EV! ?
great choice of songs there.

Meanwhile I get this W mail from my Gym. I cannot believe that places that are already awash with peoples germs are staying open. This has made me so cross that I can go here and jump in the steam room or on the chest press straight after someone with the virus and yet I can’t go to my local for a pint. I am furious at getting this e mail can you tell?