The Lockdown Gang - on parole!

grammaretto that is a beautiful rose. My father was a fan of roses. We had so many in our garden when I was a child.
What a lovely delicate shade. ?
cherry I’m a bit worried about someone being in the house but it has to be done.
Yes bradfordlass has gone walk about in the bush and taken mamissimo with her by the looks of things. Hope they are both ok.
Back to tuck you all in later.

What a fantastic rose Grammaretto ?.

What's happened to BradfordLass ? I hope you're okay young lady.

Panache, great to see you posting ? Pleased to hear you are digging in. That's my attitude, hard though it can be and let's face it you have it hard but never give up the fight. Oh, did you see the documentary focusing on Pembrokeshire last night? We watched it and really enjoyed it, made me long for a visit again. With any luck and ?we may be able to do it next year ?.
I think it's quite odd ?that the dining room is open, visitors are allowed willy nilly and the guest wing is open where you live! I would have thought that many residents are indeed shielding and in Wales that is not lifted until August 16th. Do they realise that? Seems a tad (or more) irresponsible to me. I'd speak to the manager about it.

Doodle, I have no idea where the sun has gone either but it's definitely not under the stairs ?. It had better return next week or I will be cursing.
I'm envious ? in one way that you're having a stranger in your house on Tuesday Doodle. I'm so fed up of having a broken upstairs toilet. On the other hand it will be a bit scary, though I'm sure it will be perfectly safe. I don't want to be stuck in the house on Tuesday either. One thing I will say is that it'll make it easier to clean everything down afterward ?

Catch up with you all later ?

It has stopped raining long enough to plant the rose.

grammaretto morning to you too. ?
Ah yes hula hooping, I thought it sounded wrong when I wrote it. ?. My DGD is a whizz at it too. I think it may be something to do with being young ....and having a waist. She seems to be able to keep it going with only the slightest movement whilst I make the most ungainly poses in attempt to keep it from landing on my toes.
Your experience with the buggy reminded me of a similar incident with out younger DGD. It seemed so simple when her mum gave a demonstration ?
It’s not good your DH won’t mention his feet when he sees the consultant. Is there a reason (other than being a man! ) that he won’t mention it? Shame you can’t go with him.
panache glad you are with us. Good to hear the fight is still in you. Keep going.
No the weather isn’t helping much at the moment is it. Where did all the lockdown sunshine go. Blazing away all day when we weren’t allowed out and now we have a bit of relaxation of the rules it’s all wet and grey.
Yes I think your right about the shielding. Only those who have really been shielding and are aware of the reasons why are able to understand why we are afraid of getting close to the masses. Even in the short time we have been out walking we have noticed that fewer and fewer people are making an effort to avoid us or acknowledge the effort we go to to avoid them.
We are sticking to the 2m apart as hard as we can. Family gatherings will continue to be in the garden.

Next Tuesday we will be having someone in our flat for the first time since lockdown began. I am not too happy about it but we have to get someone in to look at getting our kitchen sink sorted. You may remember early in lockdown that the underside of our main sink started leaking and has remained unusable ever since. The connecting between the waste pipe and the sink has dropped down a bit and we can’t fix it. Living in a flat I am scared of a water leak going through downstairs ceiling so we have decided we can’t wait any longer. The chap who is coming said he will be wearing a mask and have sanitisers etc. DH will be in the bedroom with the windows open and I will have a good clean and wipe over everything after.
Hope all my lockdown friends keep safe and have a relaxing day. Hope cherry had a good night without problem.
Back later ?

So good to read your varied stories,enjoying the humour,commiserating with the lows,and generally feeling safe within your company.

Wet,grey and miserable outside,whilst our moods are not a million miles away,although holding on for dear life,digging in and fighting back with all our might!

At least we here all seem to be following the same thoughts and talking similar language!
Only yesterday we had a long conversation with our Manager here,it was an education hearing what she has to deal with.... between the residents here and their families.,many a distance away
So few have grasped the whole picture even now,as for shielding, they must think that is totally alien and most certainly not involving us.
At the rate of their requests to return to "normal" (now that the country is?????)I ask you.
Obviously still very many just have no concept of what is going on out there in the big wide world.
All the residents are of an age and vulnerability that each one could almost be in the shielding category...........yet now they think it right to simply open wide the doors again,let visitors flow,mix and party,have the dining room in action and all the rest,including opening up the guest wings.
We despair.
Thank goodness I can "sound off" some here and I know I am amidst friends whom truly understand and feel much the same.

Sending blessings to you all,keep looking forward and do keep safe.

Good morning gang!

I think it's hulahooping Doodle but hulaing will do. 10yr old DGD is a champion. Honestly she/they sent us a video which went on and on and on.

We also had those big bouncy prams. (A different one borrowed each time) and when DS3 was fed, changed, tired and still crying I would put him in the pram and wheel it to the bottom of the garden so I couldn't hear the screams and watch while the bouncing gradually subsided. I'd make myself a cup of tea in perfect peace.
Nowadays their cars get bigger and bigger and when the carseats are in, there is no space for an extra passenger.

As for those impossible to fold buggies. We took DGC to a National Trust property and when it came to folding the buggy I looked around anxiously for a young family to help. A man - not much younger than us - offered to have a go. Halfway through he admitted he had a degree in engineering and this thing would not defeat him. It didn't and we squeezed it into our tiny boot.

As for SHIELDING : either other people haven't a clue or they (like our AC) watch us like hawks incase we break the rules. We do break the rules a bit for our own sanity sake. Scotland has slightly different rules anyway and it is hard keeping up.
DH has an appointment at the hospital with his consultant in a couple of weeks which has to be a good thing. I'm not supposed to accompany him though which is not good as he won't admit to the sore feet but at least they will hear the cough.

nfk nice for you to have a chat with a friend and feel normal again.
Well I wasn’t going to say anything cherry but it was dusty. Didn’t encounter any spiders though ?
grammaretto hope you sleep well and your troubles, whatever they are, get resolved soon.
missedout I often send my sons what’s app or text messages and sometimes they don’t get them, sometimes they read them and forget to reply and sometimes they just forget. I know they are busy and have lots on their minds. Why don’t you try again. Does the invitation have to be a set day or could you make it flexible in date or time. I hope you get to meet up with them soon.
I watched Unforgotten too. I enjoyed it. That reminds me, I must get hulaing again (is that a word ?)

Hope you all have a good nights sleep ? keep safe. ?

I'm so grateful to you all for your kind comments. You've really made me feel a lot better.

Doodle, you are right about me using WhatsApp with the invitation to my son and his family to a BBQ. I suppose I want the invitation to sound casual. He is perceptive, I don't want him to hear my disappointment over the phone if they have other plans.

I also agree about the loss of use of prams, although regulations for carrying children in cars make it almost impossible for prams to be transported without the use of a small trailer behind. I used to take my DGD out for a walk in the buggy, she inevitably fell asleep but had to be woken up and taken out of her buggy when we got to her home, they live upstairs in a town house. I used to take her father (when a baby) out in his pram most days and wheel him into the back garden to carry on sleeping if it was dry, or into the hall if wet. He was always close by and slept soundly.

Thank you too BradfordLass for the flapjack recipe. The proportions of ingredients are slightly different to the ones I used and the cooking time quite a bit longer. I will try again next week and report back. It must be enjoyable to go with your homecare girl to buy little things for her baby. I've never had that with my DILs. I hope your foot improves.

Grammaretto, I can't say I blame you for hiding from the dentist. I've been refilling part of one of my teeth for 12 weeks now. I'm eating on the 'wrong' side of my mouth these days and my gums are sore. It's taking me ages to eat a meal. DH has hollow legs so often finishes off what I can't be bothered to eat. Although I've put on a couple of pounds during lockdown, it would have been a lot worse if I hadn't had a dodgy tooth. Good or bad? Not sure

Cherry, you're right about how being shielded somehow alters how we are perceived. I've tried to play down my condition, but suddenly, it's as if someone has stuck a 'Fragile' label on my forehead. As you say, people try to show they care but it's open to interpretation. I had a lecture from one of my AC recently (about the dangers of tooth decay) - he wouldn't have got away with that in the past, but to be fair, I would have seen a dentist. I sincerely hope you find your Tigger tail very soon. (I've just seen that Doodle has found it.)

I use my exercise bike most days (I'm working my way through the 'Unforgotten' series on Netflix while cycling - I'm enjoying that) and was back on my bicycle in the garden today, I really must move the bird bath! I also hula hooped in the garden but then the heavens opened.

The weather is going to have a massive effect on social distancing tomorrow. I live in an area dependent on tourism. Needless to say I will be staying close to home.

I wonder what you all think about wearing an 'I am shielding' symbol (there was a news item on BBC news this morning - two children wearing tee shirts with a blue 'shield' printed on them)?

Good night all, and thank you 'Guv', a nice hot cocoa with the little something extra that you apply so skilfully will be much appreciated.

Sending hugs to you all . I wrote a long slightly moany post but it vanished when I accidentally leant on the space bar.
Hot choc already drunk. Time for beddy byes.
Night Night.

Aha! That's where it's got to Doodle, I hope the dust hasn't got into your lungs ?. As for the cobwebs, so long as you didn't disturb the spiders .... ? I hope you've managed to put your feet up after such a spirits venture into the jungle and all for me ?. You are a love.

My mother was diagnosed with tinnitus for years and nothing was done to help. Eons later she was sent for full tests etc and they discovered it wasn't tinnitus at all but vertigo. She never had a problem with heights ?.

Panache, Marydoll and dragonfly we are thinking of you all ? ? ?

I took a walk into town today to post a card for DGD’s birthday and bumped into a friend (Not literally!). Standing outside and chatting just as we normally would felt so good and standing at the approved distance actually felt normal. I did it without thinking! It’s surprising how small things can buck you up.

Hope you are feeling a bit better today cherry.
You need to be wrapped it cotton wool. Your WP I think is aptly named. He must be very adept at rescuing you.

No cherry I am not a tooth grinder but you are right in that being a common reason for jaw and face pain. My dentist checked that out and said she couldn’t see any signs of it.
I think in my case it’s connected to my tinnitus. It’s a bit like the chicken and the egg, I don’t know which causes the problems. Does my face and jaw ache because my tinnitus is bad or is my tinnitus bad because my jaw and face ache. I think it’s something to do with tension in my neck.

Hope the panaches are ok and marydoll.

Take care all

Phew cherry I’m exhausted and covered in dust and cobwebs but I’ve found it! You’ll never guess where it was. It was attached to a tiger.

nfk seems like you’ve got windy weather there. At least you’ve got your washing dry.
I think your right. We knew what was going on in lockdown. The rules were much the same for all. Now everything is different and not sure anyone knows what’s what anymore.

Hello lovely peoples, I'm still hunting for my Tigger tail but despite searching through most of the house I still haven't found it, it's probably under the stairs ?. It had better not be as that'll be an arduous hunt as it's a jungle in there ?.

Grammaretto, it was not a night or three this time ?. I had most of my seizures in the daytime this time round. My poor beleigered WP had to come to my rescue in some peculiar places in the house. This time round he had to attend to me when I fell in the doorway into the kitchen and then again when I fell in the space between our dining table and the radiator (not a big gap but the best we can have). I seem to have a knack of falling in the most impossible places imaginable, the narrowest gaps and the most awkward spaces for a man 6ft 4 tall with chronic pain syndrome to get to me. It seems like cruelty personified. It's alright for me as I'm unconscious!

Missedout, and Grammaretto I do think lockdown and especially shielding affects us in peculiar ways and similarly how others, especially loved ones, behave toward us. My neice1, who has been teaching the children of key workers and distancing with colleagues throughout lockdown was telling me how, being that things have relaxed a bit, she cried when a friend paid a visit to her garden. She then proceeded to tell me all about it and forthcoming plans for more of the same etc. I'm shielding until August 16th! I haven't had anyone, other than my WP, in the garden. I reminded her and felt her responses were a bit blaze and felt quite hurt. Reflecting on it afterward when I was feeling less emotional I realised that what she was actually trying to do was bring comfort to my feelings, emphasise how it was important to her that I stay safe and provide positivity for the time when my shielding will end. It's so easy to misinterpret, which is what I had done at first.

Mamissimo, what a nasty mean-spirited sourpuss of a neighbour you have. I'm glad you stood up to such spitefulness. You obviously have her something to think about or else she wouldn't have accused you of being impolite to a "really vulnerable" elderly person. What you said obviously made her feel small , a feeling I hope she remembers.

Your poor foot BradfordLass! I'm glad that your homecare girl has been able to dress it properly for you. I hope it heals well now. She sounds like a lovely girl, to have you with her getting baby clothes for her imminent joy. As for family members doing the same thing these days I think it's a case that they know grandparents and other family members are likely to buy gifts of this nature and they like the surprise.

You are so right Doodle, these buggies are easier for parents but there's nothing like a real pram.
Do you grind your teeth or even chomp away in your sleep Doodle as that might explain your jaw, face and even neck pain. I should know, I do it. I even had an operation on my jaw because of it. I wear a gumshield at night which helps a lot, not perfect but hey ho.

I hope you are not too weepy and lethargic Nflk. In fact I don't like the idea of you feeling that way at all. C'mon, have a ((hug)) from me ?

Panache if you are reading or if I've missed your post, cwtch from me ?

Its come over very breezy here in Norfolk and my sheets on the line are horizontal - they’ve only been out half and hour and I think they’re dry already.

Thanks for the recipe Bradford Lass, my flapjacks usually turn out like Missedout’s. Either they fall to pieces or they’re as hard as iron.

It seems that coming out of lockdown, especially shielding, is having an unsettling effect on a lot of people. And weepy lethargy seems to be a common symptom. As if our bodies can’t cope with the overload after weeks of doing not a lot and seeing no one. Nothing is where it was or like it was - and the rules keep changing which doesn’t help. What is the new normal? Any ideas?

grammaretto I’m sure you are right. This lockdown has got us all in a dither. Hope all the family problems sort themselves out peaceably soon.
So you’re in hiding from the dentist. Don’t worry we wont give you away. Not exactly something to look forward to unless the pain is really bad.
Hope you’ve found a nice spot in the garden for your rose. Look forward to seeing the photo. ?

Oh dear Missedout I know how you must be feeling. At least I think I do. My DC are all acting "a bit funny" at the moment. eg: when I let slip we had been to the Botanics.
I think it must be to do with our mental health being affected.

I am jealous that the other DGP are going now to see the wee ones. Not really jealous but wistful more like. They are 10 years younger than us and have no health problems. These are their only DGC so far so I am happy for them honest

The Dentist receptionist just phoned me. It was to arrange an appointment to have the tooth with the abscess, extracted. I'm afraid I chickened out and told her it would need to wait till after we finish shielding. DH was a bit surprised since I have been moaning about my sore tooth for long enough

Mamissimo your encounter with the dreadful woman has made be laugh - sorry!
I am glad you will see your DDs before long. How exciting!!

Your postcode link only works in England - at least for me.

I have been trying to upload photos from phone to laptop to create more space but alas I can't seem to do it. Another reason why I miss not having the young ones around.

We are going to plant the rose today so I will post a photo of it in situ.

Thanks for the flapjack recipe BradfordLass but I shouldn't really with my bad tooth.

I love reading about your goings on. Please keep them coming.
Guv Doodle is always so reassuring too.

missedout for many of us, family worries are more important than anything else. It is possible, knowing that you are shielding that your son and family assumed they would not be able to see you. I think your lethargy is probably due to you feeling down about your situation with your son. When we are a bit miserable it’s hard to have enthusiasm for anything. As you say, this seems to be a situation quite common on GN. How did you ask about the BBQ, was it by text or email? My son often doesn’t reply to texts. Have you tried phoning them and saying you would love to see them? Shame your other family live so far away. Could you make some plans to visit them? Well done for keeping going with the bike. ? Hope your spirits lift soon.
bradfordlass I love flapjacks. I will give your recipe a go. I like the thought of adding sultanas and the orange or lemon zest...and the chocolate chips ?
Good job your foot has a proper dressing on. It must have been very painful. Let’s hope it gets better now.
How nice for your homegirl to have someone to share her excitement with.
We never went out shopping with our families for baby things either. Didn’t stop me looking though ?. Peoples ideas change over the years. Our DGC had new modern buggies and car seat things. How I wanted them to have a lovely big bouncy pram. Whenever my DGC had problems sleeping when they were babies I used to think if their parents had a proper pram they could rock them to sleep. Can’t do that in a modern buggy. Ah well, I had my turn. Times move on ?
Eating veg is good for you but mousakka with lamb mince, lovely ?
I either usually sleep really well all night, which is what I do mostly or, I go through phases when I have neck or face and jaw pain which means I can’t sleep laying down so I sit in our recliner chair and doze on and off. Not so relaxing.
Hope you all have a good day.

Brava *Mamisimo! The daft old bat. This lockdown is making people resentful.

I posted that map URL here quite some time ago but even if you live in a sparce area, it still doesn't guarantee you won't meet someone who has Corona

Yorkshire Flapjacks
175g/6oz butter
175g/6oz golden syrup
175g/6oz muscovado or soft brown sugar
350g/12oz porridge oats

Optional extras include sultanas, lemon or orange zest, chocolate chips, ginger, glace cherries or whatever your heart desires.

Melt butter, syrup & sugar, add oats, spice and fruit. Bake 30-40 mins in medium oven.

My homecare girl helped me put a proper dressing on my bleeding foot today (that's not swearing, just a description ) and I was able to walk on it at last.

She's going for her 2nd scan and quite excited now. We looked in the Charity Shops at baby clothes and bought a few new items there.

It makes me sad that I'm not included on such jaunts for "our" own baby but I expected as much, so am trying not to be a witch about it.

Made moussaka when I got home as aubergines are quite cheap at the moment.
Usually I just slice, spread with garlic butter and grill but I had some lamb mince in the freezer and I know I don't get enough protein when my diet is 99% vegetables.

Three people in 2 weeks have said, 'Gosh, you've lost weight, is it by accident or design?'

It is never by design and not really by accident to tell the truth, it just seems to have happened. It won't last my genes will make sure of that!

Heard on a BBC doco today that "natural sleep" as experienced by early man was 4 hours, then wake up and either get up and work a bit and go back after
an hour and sleep another 4....or just stay in bed.

That's my pattern, quite definitely; obviously the 2% Neanderthal in me; but I usually listen to an audio CD and soon sleep again.

I thought I'd say hello and let you know I'm still following your posts.

However, I am struggling with a sort of lethargy. My DH spends such a lot of time in the garage and is as happy as a pig in muck (so to speak). I cba to do anything at the moment.

I'm sad that one of my adult sons, his wife and my 5 year old granddaughter (who live less than an hour away) have made no move or plans to see us. I have no idea what has gone wrong. Before lockdown, things were not right, we had the occasional phonecall but now, nothing. I've asked them if they fancied a BBQ in our garden in a couple of weeks time but they haven't answered.

I know I'm not the only one experiencing this sadness, I guess I have too much time on my hands so feel sorry for myself at the moment. I have a lovely relationship with another of my AC and family but they are 200 miles away. You've all heard this before, it's a recurrent theme on GN. It's preying on my mind.

I'm sorry to have been gloomy. I read about what some of you are going through, your pain, illnesses and your worries about loved ones. Although shielding, I'm not in pain, my treatment keeps me reasonably well and I am quite fit, I have much to be thankful for.

I have been using the exercise bike daily but need to get back on my (real) bike. I almost managed a figure of 8 on the lawn the last time I used it. I'm afraid the cast iron bird bath will have to be moved. Let's hope the pigeons and blackbirds find its new hiding place quickly. Otherwise they will be crashing to the ground.

Thank you, 'Guv' for giving us the opportunity to talk. I think I'd better stick to cocoa tonight, gin makes me maudlin.

P.S. I made some flapjacks yesterday but ended up sprinkling them on ice cream for pudding. I really squashed them down firmly in the tin before putting them in the oven and left them to get cold overnight. But they just didn't set. Has anyone a foolproof recipe?

mamissimo ? what an awful confrontation. I’m glad you stood your ground. What a cheek.
Glad the bloods went ok. It’s always a big time when you have to change GP especially if you have one you are comfortable with,
Ah the dogs bottom. Oh dear. Thanks but I’ll let you deal with that.?

Good evening everyone....what a bunch of tough old birds we are! I had a standoff with a battle axe in the lane who was cross that I got supermarket deliveries and she was unable to....the red mist descended and I offered her the opportunity to share my various ailments and endless surgical interventions. She declined and told me that I would probably get Alzheimer’s next because I’d already forgotten how to be polite to the really vulnerable elderly like her. My gob was truly smacked!

The blood letting passed smoothly this morning but I learned that my lovely GP has retired during lockdown. I dread having to break in another one, especially as my main consultant is missing in action at the moment.

My lovely twin DD are 37 at the weekend and I’m going to be a big sinner and see them both together. It will be very wonderful....and damp! The weather forecast isn’t playing the right game. I don’t know how they managed to get to that age when I haven’t aged a bit!

I stumbled upon this govt map a few days ago and found it fascinating - you type in your postcode and you can see the Covid position in your exact area.

www.inyourarea.co.uk/news/ons-map-shows-coronavirus-deaths-in-your-postcode/

I hope you find it reassuring!

I didn’t get to weed the drive so it stays on my list....to which I need to add getting the dog’s bottom sorted!

Sleep tight, and thank your lucky stars that you aren’t sharing a sofa with an elderly beagle ?

grammaretto please reassure your DD that her little one will be fine. In my youth, polio was the thing that kept us out of school and away from our friends. It will pass. I am sure when the lockdown eases and schools and playgroups hopefully start in September that life will start getting back to normal for the children.
I know what you mean about looking after others. Out on our walks I have been shoving DH into hedges, standing in front of him with arms outstretched to keep people away from him. Washing everything in sight to keep the germs away, dealing with all the rubbish and post so he doesn’t touch anything. Opening doors for him, not letting him touch anything outside our apartment. Washing all the groceries and deliveries. But I would do it all again 100 times over to keep him safe. I expect you would too ?
I may join you in a G&T . Cheers ?

Great to see you posting again Cherry despite a very bad night or two or three?

DD has been noticeably affected by the lockdown. She says that the littlest of her DC has not seen another child for over 100 days. which is one tenth of her life.

Panache good luck with the tests. I'm with you Doodle these people are made of stern stuff.
On the other hand, we who are allegedly fine, are so affected by their illnesses it isn't easy for us so we need to look after ourselves.

Just G&T for me tonight. And a hot chocolate later.