The Lockdown Gang - not setting foot outside!

My thoughts and prayer to all those on this thread, so bravely trying to be cheerful through the challenges of ill health. You're an inspiration

Dreamkeeper I feel the same way and I think it's a little like the way a prisoner feels when discharged from jail. They call it 'institutionalised' when they are so used to being confined but I think we're getting a bit that way too - are we 'over-domesticated' ??

There's no prospect of my leaving the house this month.

Under normal circumstances I don't go anywhere without an escort as a result of poor eyesight (which has become noticeably worse during lockdown, possibly because I'm spending more time online) so my freedoms were already severely curtailed but now, the support workers who would normally pop by, can't.

But I'm not too bothered. I feel safe here.

Doodle I prefer dark chocolate too and I melted some Guylian sugar-free last night and stirred it into the cocoa as a special treat.

Did anyone hear the laughing babies on Woman's Hour?
If not, it really will cheer you up.

Here's the podcast. Go to 24.26 to start.
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000hq1h

PS: I don't agree with tickling, my little son, far from laughing, hated it.

bradfordlass you’re up early. It must be difficult for you with poor eyesight. Have you been this way for a while or is it something that is getting worse? What a shame this lockdown means your support workers cannot come. Are you able to manage at home without them?
Hope everyone has a good day

Is panache your former name dreamkeeper? Or are you a hardened crim with a string of aliases? I think we should be told.


Not sure how to feel about the end of lockdown. I will miss having my boxes delivered by the lovely volunteers if they have to go back to their real jobs but that is just me being selfish. I think things will be very gradual - dipping toes in the water -but all our DGC are desperate to get back to school or nursery and their DP are walking the walls with them.
There was a storm last night and such heavy rain which was needed and now it's sunny. The good weather makes such a difference.

Bradfordlass you are an inspiration, as always.

I shall be around tonight for my hot chocolate though there's a highly competitive family zoom quiz first.

I am concerned about them lifting lockdown too but I don’t think I’ll be joining in for sometime....once they have a treatment or vaccine will be soon enough for me! I want to see my family desperately but I want to be able to see them for a long time - not just once!

I’m so glad that they’re starting fertility treatment again. My DD2 had hers postponed last month and she was so upset. I think it will be a little while but she has hope again.

I can’t for the life of me see how they are going to persuade people onto the tube and the buses in the rush hour.....it is going to take a lot of clever thinking to make us all feel confident enough to go back out.

The sun is shining so I shall spend the afternoon surprising weeds who think I haven’t seen them and then we will bbq some steak for dinner. Never before has food been the highlight of the day in the same way.

I’ll be ready for cocoa and lights out by midnight please.

grammaretto I’m sorry it’s my fault. I have known dreamkeeper for a long time under her previous name panache and it is hard for me to use her other name as it’s how I think of her and her DH. I don’t think she’s a criminal ? just someone who had to change her username. On the other hand, she could be a criminal, after all we are in prison so what would you expect. Just keep an eye on the cutlery to see if any goes missing ?. Hope you get on well in the family quiz ?

mamissimo I think we will be in for the duration too. We may well have to wait for a vaccine. I expect there will be quite a few longing to get back to whatever passes as normality these days. Enjoy your afternoon gardening.?. Wish we could join you for dinner!

BradfordLass, I don't know about you but I really don't like not being able to go out without an escort (in normal times). The reasons I can't are not the same as yours but safety is the issue for both of us of course. My problem is obviously the fact I have epilepsy but it's not just a problem of falling down anywhere. Believe it or not, with one type of seizure I have (I have 4 different types - often three types rolled into one) I can carry on walking but I can't see, hear or speak and don't respond to touch. I used to go out on my own but as you can imagine I got into a few scrapes ?. There are other things I can do during these seizures too, one of which is very shocking but I won't go into that ??.

I'm actually looking forward to prison release but worry about the length of time us shielding folk may have to stay in stir in comparison to others. If us lot have to wait for a vaccine before we can be released then we may be in prison a long time as I think the optimism of it being ready by September is pie in the sky! And normally I'm a glass half full (at least) kinda gal.

Doodle I guessed as much. You wouldn't be a very good criminal I am sorry to say
Better stick to making hot choc.

Mamissimo good news for your DD! When you are be back in circulation you could be celebrating a new arrival.

Cherry I think we in the UK (our decision makers) are keeping a keen eye on what other countries do before any rules are relaxed but I hope the DC get back to seeing their pals soon.
Apart from missing the family, I am lucky to have outside space and plenty to keep me entertained, so far. I worry about DH but he has had a better day today.

Grammaretto, I think you're right about the "powers that be" (as I put it) are watching like Hawks to see how things pan out in other countries.
We, like you and your DH, are lucky to have outdoor space and fortunately my WP loves gardening too. Good to hear your DH has had a better day today.
It's odd Grammaretto, I have actually had a prison escape recently but am, more than at any time during this lockdown, now feeling like I need to get out and especially I'd love to walk along the coast. Maybe it's the case that because I did actually experience a different environment I feel this way? I'm not moaning, I'm just fantasising about a visit to the fantastic Italian ice cream parlour? ? !

cherry your post quite shocked me. What a lot you have to put up with. I have never heard of epilepsy having such various effects. I realise it is a very serious condition but you seem to be badly affected. How frightening for you. I am so sorry. You have amazing optimism and I admire you for your stamina. I hope you are feeling better now. Hope you have a good night tonight. Special hot chocolate for you. Sleep well.
gramaretto hope you had a good day.
We had a lovely surprise visit from my son and DGD with some cake. They left it on the pavement for me to collect but it was lovely to see them.

cherry
I could fantasise about a seaside icecream parlour. There's a wonderful one at Stonehaven where we used to go BC (before Covid19)

How lovely Doodle to get that visit.
We saw and spoke to all of ours on the gallery view, zoom tonight. which was pretty good too.
Hot choc and bed now.
Night Night xx

Thanks for the extra special hot chocolate gov'nr Doodle. Sleep well ? everyone ?

Doodle don't you worry about me, Sweetie, I'm coping but thanks

I was told 10+ years ago that I'd lose my sight but if I had regular injections in my eyes it could slow it down. I did and it has and I can't tell you how grateful I am for that.

Cherry Sometimes, withholding information is good Now I can imagine you in Waitrose with those large pink, feathery fans, doing an elaborate nuddy dance to entertain shoppers - and having no memory of it afterwards

panace/dream I'd quite like you to be the kind of criminal who can hack into bank accounts so you can access Warren Buffet's and transfer a couple of million to mine. Heehee.

Today it's been chucking it down from early morning and I saw a Thrush having a lovely bath in the fast-flow beneath my window. Gladdened my heart.

Bradfordlass what a tonic your post is to wake up to.

DS in Wellington tells us the fantails and other native birds are back in the city centre. This is partly due to the campaign to get rid of the rats but also a side benefit of the lockdown. I was sent this "bedtime story" .

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nw5KQMXDiM4#action=share

When DH was growing up adults talked about before the war when some things seemed better (particularly chocolate vending machines in railway stations!!)

bradfordlass I love the way your mind works ?
I often spend time watching birds out of the window. We had an amazing sight of two vivid green parakeets on the trees in the garden yesterday. It was difficult to keep track of them because the tree foliage was almost the same colour as the birds but it was lovely to see them. We also had a glorious 10 minutes watching a pair of red kites high in the sky just wafting around on the breeze. Have a good day.
grammaretto how are you today. I have a busy day ahead making a birthday card for a friend. As I can’t go out and buy one I thought I’d do an appliqué one. Proving more difficult than I thought ?

Hallo everyone. I too had to escape the lock down to take Dexter to the doggy hospital. Fortunately the handover was done outside at arm's length. I think the operation went well but last night he managed to damage his eye again by rubbing it on a plant pot. He managed that with his cone on. It looks really sore now but we sent pictures to the vet and he prescribed antibiotics which meant another trip to the hospital. We now have more pills put into his food than he has dinner!
I would love it if my DD could somehow find a way to come and get him.

I have received two food parcels from the government despite me telling them I didn't need them. I donated them to the nearest food bank who were very grateful.

I now seem to be on all the supermarkets vulnerable list so easily get deliveries.

I had better go back to watching the dog as we have to be alert at all times at the moment in case he gets up to any new tricks.

I’m just popping in to share a photo of my youngest GD that I received today.....she’s only 8 months old and it made me laugh out loud.....the quantity of mud on that baby gro is epic! Hope it gives you a smile too ?

Mamissimo that pic is just too gorgeous! Another tonic.
DD is potty training her youngest during lockdown and she is proving a little minx.

Sorry that Dexter is still in pain . Poor soul. DDs dog seems depressed since they moved house a few weeks ago and lies about turning her head away.

I have just run in from fierce rain after going out to water the plants. Hey Ho. I shall listen to GQT and get some tips.

Well good news here. I ordered plants and potting compost this morning from the local garden centre and they delivered this afternoon!!

dragonfly46 that's good news. When I read that I went on our local garden centre website and found that they are accepting orders which is good but I am not finding the order form easy at all.
What I really want are a few grow bags for tomatoes and cucumbers but it seems an expensive way to buy them. However I shall persevere....

BradfordLass, I give you a standing ovation for that ???. There is one teeny weeny problem - the nearest Waitrose is more than 45 miles away ? I lie, that's not the only problem - I don't exactly have the body for it ? ?.
You're lucky to have such exotic visitors Doodle. The most exotic bird we've had visit us this week (well - that I saw anyway) was a rook. A rare visitor to our garden. I love to see the birds and my WP spoils them rotten. Of course we can't have a cat as it would be terrified when I have a seizure and might even attack me and it costs far too much to have an epilepsy support dog (the cost of training). Our garden does seem to attract a lot of the neighbours' cats though and there is one very naughty young tabby that likes to lay in wait to attack the birds. Sometimes successfully ?
What an absolutely beautiful GD you have Mamissimo. When I was little (not 8 months old but about 2yrs old) I loved playing in the mud more than playing with my toys! Not so keen now though.

Speaking from the confines of my cell Grammaretto let me say that anything that Doodle tells you about my past will be a great fabrication!!!!
Actually I was quite a contributor to GN for quite a period of time and then I have faced a series of downward turns ending up with an emergency life/death `op and in ICU for weeks on end, whilst my dear man was fighting his battle with terminal cancer.
Making one mad dash on hearing his diagnoses (and poor prognoses) I managed to sell up and move us out of a 4 bed property standing in an acre of grounds into this 2 bed flat in an extra caring Sheltered accomodation.......all in the space of 6 weeks.Of course all this happened before my incarceration!!!!
As for dear Doodle she has always been such a kind caring person and of course knows me better by my preffered and former name of Panache.
However I had a lot of trouble in rejoining GN on my return from Hospital hence the new name!!
Simple when you know!!!

I have to share with you Bradfordlass as I too have suffered very much from vision problems since my long period in hospital.I was diagnosed with MD ( dry) 2 years ago.I now face periods when one eye,sometimes both go totally blank and all I see is a halo of light around the perimeter.Very frightening indeed.Of course I well know the prospects but I am just hoping and praying for a longer period of respite before the inevitable.
Sorry though on the fact of criminal activity such as you describe,I haven`t yet reached that depth of criminal action...........but I always add this rider.......I never say never!!

We both here are among those of you that know these shielding days will not be over for a very long time from now,and quite frankly,the longer the better as the mere thought has me cringing in real fear.

I might havce known that you too have suffered with your health Cherry hence your caring for others,as the saying goes "It takes one to know one"I love the way you share it with your sense of humour and how true it is "Laughter does make the world go round"

Hopefully the arrival of those bedding plants will help you to fret less about Dexter Dragonfly

Thanks for the tonic Mammisimo

Looking forward to my night time hot chocolate ......hint,hint DoodleNight all.
Take care my lovely inmates all.

Welcome back to the forum Dream it sounds as if you had such a difficult time recently, and now ‘the plague’ hits the UK!
Sometimes life is a bit much.☹️

I find we are eating very well just now as I have so much time for planning and cooking meals ( just eating a bit too well though!) Made an apricot bread and butter pudding today for afters, it has to stop.

Hello Dreamkeeper and welcome back.

lemongrove that has given me a great idea for my next dessert, thank you ?. It's becoming a bit of a nuisance not being able to get flour! I seem to be able to get eggs but not flour. I get why it's the case but it's inconvenient, I have a very adaptable eggless cake recipe but of course need flour grrr.
From what I've been able to glean Dreamkeeper, I think I'd sort of got the "brief" of your back story but it's a shame, for you, that you couldn't keep your original user name. À keeper of dreams has a good vibe though.

Dreamkeeper, I think my attitude towards life and others comes from a combination of 3 things. I've lost most of my family and 3 of them died far far too young. I learnt at an early age that love is the point of life. I sort of "inherited" the eagerness to help others from my mother and yes, my and my WP's own medical problems and more particularly my own "journey" with the medical profession. It has been quite a journey too but I can explain that another time.
I'm off to watch Killing Eve now, can I have an early hot chocolate please? ?