The Lockdown Gang - not setting foot outside!

Marydoll , I think shielding is now till mid/end June, my grandsons wedding should be next weekend, now next year, so we couldn’t go anyway, neither could his parents, daughter in law also shielded, like us since mid March. Another grandchild’s wedding in September now 2022. Seem a long time. Haven’t seen any of them for over three months.

I couldn't have put it better Cherry although our FM Nicola did mention us shielded ones in her speech of 14th May.
They have realised it is not sustainable to keep us all in forever. We will be too depressed. The help we are offered is a help line and delivery of medications and food.

In her speech yesterday, we aren't mentioned at all.

We have been locked in again. This time with 3 sets of jubilee clips securely fastening the gate shut.
I phoned the council and tried to explain how it is our entrance they have closed off. The girl said someone would phone me back. They haven't.
Glory be! It certainly is not dull round here.
My second annoyance is a Hermes delivery which hasn't arrived. It has been with the local courier since Monday. Maybe they couldn't get through our gate!
Our house has stood here for 200 years and hasn't moved but I guess with the grass growing in the path it does look a bit empty. I used to joke that we are being buried alive but it isn't funny anymore.

Well done on your contribution to the epilepsy guide Cherry I hope we get to read it sometime

That later is now ?.
My friend missed her blood test appointment, it was for yesterday but she thought it was this morning ?. She's got to wait another week. It's a relatively routine one so I think I've managed to allay her fears.

I'm missing my friendly Bangladeshi take away more than fish and chips dragonfly but either would be lovely ?. I'm not too bad a knocking up a curry but it's a faff to do any particular dish properly. My neice1 and nephew1 (her brother) are dab hands, taught by my wonderful late brother who worked all over North Africa and the Middle East.
Yes dragonfly, my interview is being recorded - in writing. I will have a "transcript" sent to me in a couple of weeks time for my approval (probably longer considering the length of the interview ?). My "history" will then be written up properly and included in an anthology to be published by the Welsh epilepsy charity. Fame or infamy ?. It will, eventually, be available to purchase from the charity.

It's all getting a bit tedious now stuck in stir now inmates, for all of us. I'm keeping relatively cheerful but it's getting a little harder now. I think largely due to the fact that during lockdown others have always had freedoms we haven't had (even if it has only been shopping for essentials) and are now having more when us lot are firmly stuck behind our prison gates. The 23rd June is starting to look a long way off and I fear our incarceration won't end there. Not at all like me to sound down and I'm not really but I am irritated. We hardly get a mention, some will probably not realise that we will still be locked in. Hope is being given to the many and we are left in limbo. Being cynical, I wonder why that is. Perhaps, as I remember one politician once said, we are less viable economic units.

I've got a message that's just this moment come from a friend that I need to respond to so I'd better do that. Back later ..

Doodle I love fish and chips - send some my way please.

I am not sending any clothes to the charity shop as I am finding a lot of summer clothes that I found tight last year now fit me. Some advantages of chemo I suppose - I have lost a stone and as I was slim anyway cannot afford to lose any more.

Mamissimo I think that must be the case for many people.
My DiL's mum has a compromised immune system & was already keeping fairly isolated so if the DGC were off school sick only granddad could come and care for them and now he is waiting for an operation so they are both in the shielded group. Luckily DDiL is working from home and DS finishes work about 3pm so they manage but DDiL is very worried about her DPs.

Glad you enjoyed your moment of freedom Megs

are you in detention Doodle?

Morning my fellow detainees ?.
It is hard this being locked down. I had a chat with a friend on the phone yesterday and she was saying that we could meet up for a chat somewhere now the restrictions are lifting. She was surprised when I told her I wouldn’t be doing that until the shielded people are allowed out and that might not be before a vaccine is available. She was very shocked. I don’t think she realised some of us have different rules to follow. I think DH will start going for walks now in remote places where we don’t have to cross paths with anyone.
megs glad you enjoyed your trip out.
dragonfly DH has an appointment with his consultant but that will be by phone. Hope your appointment with the oncologist goes well. Do you have to meet in person or can that be by phone too?
grammaretto so glad to hear your daughters dog is a bit better. Make the most of the sunshine. I too heard about charity shops thinking they will be inundated and I immediately thought of Marydoll and her cupboard clear outs ?
missedout it’s hard isn’t it when we have to give up plans and meet-ups because of this virus. If it had an end date I would cope better it’s just the not knowing how long we will be like this that’s hard to cope with. Sorry you are having a wobble at the moment. I think we all have had times when it’s got the better of us. We are all here with you - unfortunately ?.
mamissimo I think walking in isolated places should be fine now. I can well understand why you want to keep yourself safe. So fish and chips needs to be on the menu. Well it is Friday so I will see what I can do. ?

So pleased the little dog is feeling better Grammaretto. Sick animals can be such a worry as they cannot tell you what is wrong.

Cherry was your interview recorded and will it be available anywhere. I should think it would be very interesting. I admire you for being able to talk about it.
My DD's best friend at school suddenly developed epilepsy. My DD found it hard when she had an attack as while she was trying to help her people would just step over her. Hers was cured, however, as they found the cause which was external and sorted that out.

Missedout you are certainly NOT the only one. I am curious about your username though. Was it invented for this thread?

Marydoll Ha Ha. I wasn't directing that at you but rather I was thinking of the volunteers in Oxfam one of whom never ever thanks you for donations and groans as she says "put it there!".
If ever someone was in the wrong job.

Little doggy is much better today
and the sun is shining. Coffee time here.

Morning everyone. I’m laying low as my DH has the bit between his teeth and is cleaning the washing line.....

My shielding time is in theory nearly up but - and it’s a big but....it’s not really because my risk hasn’t gone away. I am going to live very carefully indeed but I am going to Taste some gentle freedom.

Trips in the car with a change of scene but no contact with anyone seem fine, meeting my adult children in quiet forestry places with social distancing also seem fine. I live in the middle of nowhere so I’m isolated anyway so I may walk the hound occasionally but there is no way I’m going shopping!

I’ve had years of illness and it’s ironic that after more than 50 years of life constricting illness medical science has produced a treatment that keeps me well and able to live with all freedoms and then along comes Covid and my life saving drug puts me in jail.

It’s going to be a long haul before I would be able to minimise my risk of infection in an urban setting but baby steps keep me sane.

It’s compiling the Sainsbugs order for me this morning - why do DH and DS always remind me of something they want/need/fancy at the moment I’ve just paid?
Tomorrow morning I will have the joys of the surprise substitutions ?

Doodle is there a room service option? I would very much like some fish and chips with curry sauce instead of a cocktail. Haven’t had a good chip for yonks.......

I'm having a couple of bad days at the moment. Shielding didn't seem too bad until I see the rest of the country is starting to move on.

I need to get a grip. It helps to read on here that I'm not the only one. Thank you Gang.

Oh dear Grammaretto, I have ten bags!! Of course they are full of designer clothing, the charity shop surely won't refuse them. .

My neighbour can't take her eyes off them in my garage. She is always having car boot sales and has offered to take them off my hands!!!

Dragonfly, I too was managing OK with lockdown, but now I hear of people meeting family nd friends and the fact I'm going nowhere, is leaving me feeling a bit down. Sheilding and all it's implications, is horrible.
I am glad to see familes with their loved ones again, but sad that I will be here for some time to come.

I really need to see my rheumatologist, but they say it's too risky for me to visit athe hospital.
On the GM thread, someone's neighbour, who is shielding, has Covid, apparently picked up from a medical source. How awful for the poor woman.

Anyway, I'm off out into the garden to supervise Mr Grumpy! Have the best day you can.

Morning cell mates! I hope you had reasonably good nights and no hangovers.

When I saw Doodle's thread title I had to join you . All the other ones had talk of walks and drives and seeing family. I hate feeling jealous but I couldn't help myself. I even told someone off!

A gorgeous day here already but the traffic noise has got louder.

I hear the charity shops are getting worried that there will be too many donations when they reopen.

So glad the interview went well Cherry

Me too Megs very ?. I have been fine while everyone was locked down but now people are beginning to escape it makes it harder.
I have an appointment with my oncologist on 22nd June so hopefully things will be better then.

Thanks Doodle I think Dexter is happy to be home - his owners certainly are although he won’t get as much attention as they are working from home.

Hope you get out for your walk today * Dreamkeeper* and everyone is well. Have a good day.

Glad you enjoyed it, Megs. I'm extremely jealous! It must have done you the world of good to have company other than your husband.

I couldn't consider that until my shielding period is over and that's not until 23rd June and I have a feeling it's going to be extended. The last time I was anywhere was 13th March, it seems a lifetime away.

My husband got the car out this afternoon , first time in 11 weeks, just round the corner! We visited a friend and sat in her garden, felt quite apprehensive almost guilty. Havent even had a walk out in that time either.

You naughty student Doodle, cocktails in the classroom ? ?.
The rest of us are either drinking ours in the Argy Bargy or in here ?.
The nibbles were really good by the way ?

Off to my cell now inmates, catch up with you all tomorrow ?

Oops look like I’m in trouble at school tomorrow ?

Hello dragonfly how are you doing? Hope Dexter is getting on fine now he’s home.
bradfordlass I really like your knitting. It’s so colourful. Do they go to local children?
I love your list. I had such a giggle. Please can I put in an order for tomorrow? I would like some chicken dump truckwith a portion of Eggs of an oven and a helping of not a problem and on the side some Friday. ?
grammaretto I’m glad the dog is a bit better.
Dixon of Dock Green I believe cherry with him standing under the blue lamp (although I think it was filmed in black and white ?)
Glad your interview went well. I certainly think a drink is in order. Coming right up. Cheers ?

You are for it tomorrow, Doodle. The whole debacle was captured on the school CCTV. ?

Sleep well all! Apart from me, I never do! ?

Well I feel an idiot. I posted earlier saying it was going to be cocktails night in the Lock up on the terrace and I had got you all comfy chairs and some delicious nibbles. I was going to have a Paloma cocktail wish is tequila and grapefruit with lime. I was very surprised just now when I went onto Marydolls daily quiz to see I had actually posted all that on the quiz thread instead of this one. That got them all confused including me ?

Evening all (what was that programme ?).
Glad Mr D's hospital appointment was quick and we'll organised Doodle ?.

Naughty, wonderfully naughty Mamissimo! An orchestrated prison escape no less. What a brilliant and we'll executed master plan by your DH. Deliciously sneaky that your twin daughters were in on it. I'm very happy that you had a wonderful time ?

I hope your plot to see your daughter comes to fruition Grammaretto and you manage to wangle a day release or forgoing that a prison break ?.

You're a girl after my own heart Dreamkeeper ?. Good on you for managing to have a word with the guy in charge onsite ?. Glad you've got a bit of "give" from him.
Sorry to hear Mr Dream is suffering in this heat. Have you got a foot bath? I really recommend one for a bit of cooling comfort. If he doesn't want wet feet maybe one of those ice packs Doodle mentioned would be good. I always feel cooler full stop if my feet are nicely cool.
Yes guilty as charged for naming the bar the Lock Up ?. I told Doodle and early lockdown gang members about the fact that there used to be a pub very close to the nearest prison called the Lock Up and suggested we could have a lock in ?.

My "interview" was good, went on quite a bit longer than I was told it would take ?. It's for that anthology I spoke about a few weeks ago. I was told it would only take about 45 minutes to go through the pre-prepared questions but it took about 2 hours. I wonder why ? ?. Could it have anything to do with the long "list" of incidents I had to relate? Not exactly a short story ?.

Okay, I think it's time for me to be naughty (after that experience) this evening and order a drink from the bar (it's virtual so I think I can get away with it). Can I have a Jackie Collins please.

Beautiful knitting Bradfordlass I am in awe! You can;t see well but you can still turn out all these.
Beanie for baby?
The dog seems to be better, at least improving.

Ice cold chocolate drink tonight.

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202005/medium-576912-knitting.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202005/medium-829325-menutweaked.jpg

Some ups and down in our Lockdup today. Happy for those who managed to escape, albeit it temporarily.

Grammaretto Neither eye nor skill up to baby clothes I'm afraid.
I re-kindled my very basic knitting skills when first diagnose, as I can do it eyes closed.

Thus it's only hats, bedsocks, bags and scarves. They go to the Waipareira food bank. I knit an item each day, so was lost when I ran out of wool a few weeks into isolation.

Dream Hurray for your garden venture! Well done.
The baby is my long, long-awaited grand-daughter, due to be born in mid November I'm told.

Alas, Doodle "broc" means this lazy old boot couldn't be bothered to write "broccoli". sorry.

Every now and then, if I want a smile, I go to Engrish.com and knowing this, my son sent me this menu.

Hope you can read the rather odd translations.

Pleased the hospital visit went well Doodle and you got back safely.

I hope Mr Dream is not suffering too much from his chemo.

Pleased that Kathy is doing well Bradfordlass I followed her journey and knew just how she was feeling.

So sorry to hear about your DD’s dog Gramaretto poorly animals are such a worry. I hope your DH’s feet are better.

I would keep an eye on your neighbour Cherry. I hope you have an event less night.

It seems we are going to be shielded for quite sometime. I feel envious that my friends can drink coffee together in their gardens.