The Lockdown Gang - on parole!

Weather decidedly grey and yet life continues,all be it with some difficulty,each propping up the other.My dear man is a little better again,I am on new medication....again.

Lovely hearing of your outdoor "adventures" taken,stepping back into a semblance of normality.

Sending blessings to you all,may your lives remain on the sunny side up,one thing remains for sure.......our hope.

Keep safe.

Just had a quick read through and sending (((hugs))) and vibes of courage to all of you who’re going through the most horrendous time health wise. You all chat on seemingly happily and then let slip about something really dire in your life - like chemotherapy. I think you’re all wonderful and I marvel at how you cope.

Missedout I think you could well have had the virus at the end of last year. There was a couple of threads about then with folk having all the symptoms, but of course it hadn’t been named then. Has your sense of smell come back even better than before? Mine has.

Afternoon grammaretto. Bit late today so going to have brunch. I must get round to tidying up too.
I have all my painting things at one end of the dining room table and my sewing machine and fabric at the other. I usually (pre lockdown) tidy everything away every evening but knowing that no one is allowed in has made me sloppy in my habits.
The long walk yesterday did us both good I think. We were certainly tired last night.
That would be a nice thing to look forward to, a trip to the Botanic Gardens. How are your DHs feet doing now? Still very painful by the sound of it.
Yes I hope spirits are lifted a bit too. mamissimo hope you are feeling a bit better.
My thoughts also with the panaches and marydoll hoping they have a better day today.
Will be back later to catch up and see what news bradfordlass has for us and anyone else who pops in for a visit. ?
Thinking of you all. Hope you have a pleasant day.

Hi everyone or as they say in the Doric
Whit like?

I'm exhausted before the day has properly begun. Mostly tidying up from the night before. You'd have thought we'd been having a party! Glasses and cups left, ironing board and all the sewing gear from yesterdays' efforts.
I have to clear the room for the yoga class on zoom . (someone might see inside) forwarding letters (the folk who moved out in Feb are still getting mail) checking the overblown garden. I never seem to get as far as sorting upstairs. Loading the washing machine.
I do miss my delivery girl but perhaps she'll come for a chat one day.
We were sent tickets to the pre-public opening of the Botanic gardens today so we will try to go to that. We can always leave if DH's feet are too sore.
The instructions are very strict: masks and hand sanitiser, distancing. It will be a nice treat.

I hope you all feel a lot better today. I blame it on the weather. I haven't listened to the briefings for a long time. Just carrying on, carrying on...

grammaretto yes it was nice to get out. The house at Cliveden is actually a classy hotel and restaurant now but is closed anyway. As there was no one in there we had a good look through the windows. Cliveden is high up on a hill and the views from the house are amazing. There were lots of cars in the car park but we didn’t really meet that many people.
Sounds as though your potters were busy ?
mamissimo you do sound a bit down tonight. Yes DH used to listen to the briefings too. I think the relaxing of the rules was bound to make a difference. People being allowed to mix in different ways. It was horrific to think of lockdown at the beginning now the thought of coming out of it is just as worrying. Hope you sleep tonight and feel a bit better tomorrow.
bradfordlass you look as cheerful as you sound in your posts.? Such a shame you can’t read your text. You sound like someone who doesn’t take advantage of their children so I’m sure your son would be happy to help you rather than have you struggle and not ask,
I love Maggie Smith I think she’s a great actress. Hope you enjoy your book.
panache I hope you and MrP are ok.
Take care all and sleep well.

Doodle You can make kumerahou into a tea and drink it, or use it as a poultice, which would have also been good for my heel. Unfortunately, not being able to walk at the moment, I'll be doing neither.

All the instructions for activating the VO system are on my computer but Microsoft, in their wisdom, stopped the facility which allows bold, text.
My limit for text is 12-16pt, after that I lose sight of it, literally. So bold is great, if you can get it.

I've downloaded a specail program that will bold some text and there again, instructions in tiny text ! But it doesn't apply to the inner workings of Win 10.

I wonder what genius thought printing pale blue ink on white paper? Someone whose eyesight is 20/20 and lacks imagination!

The Critical Thinking course has just begun on www.futurelearn.com I can cut and past some of it into Word and bold it but if I could hear it, I could spare my eyes a bit.
That Maori means 'love to all'

Grammaretto My son would be only too willing to work on the computer, I know that - I'm reluctant to ask.

dragonfly Here's a picture of a cheerful egg it took over a year for my hair to grow even two inches!
I think it was shocked

How lovely that description of the garden Doodle, I used to have a gorgeous Clematis in the rural house.

Very cold and wet today so I'm going to go all extravagant and put the heater on. Then I'll sit and knit and listen to a book about Maggie Smith.
I like a quiet day.

Today has been basically boring! I made some scones, hoovered, did the weeding and fiffled about with a fish recipe. I am missing the afternoon briefing - I think it gave a ‘coming together’ to the crisis and now I somehow don’t feel included in whats going on. We’re not all in it together anymore and it seems like everyone’s forgetting why we have to take care. I find this more worrying than lockdown.

Sorry - a low day today. Will do better tomorrow!

It must have been great to get out Doodle. I presume you didn't go in the house? I love the sound of the orange and purple border. So vibrant.

The potters pottered. One finished some plates and the other made some quite large garden pots.

The weather was dreadful. It's so cold here. It's the first day of the school holidays - no wonder!

I managed to finish the facemask. A kind friend brought round an unopened pack of elastic.
Now an early night. Is the cocoa ready?

Just had a Sainsbury’s delivery. Made a mistake with the order and I ordered a bag of mandarin oranges (I already have two) and two boxes of grapes (I already have three). I have just peeled the oranges and split them in halves and taken all the grapes off and washed and dried them and the whole lot has gone in the freezer. I have never frozen fruit before. Have no idea how it will work. Just have to wait and see.

Thanks grammaretto, we had a lovely time at Cliveden this afternoon but it was very windy. They had not planted the main gardens presumably because they weren’t having any visitors. They did however have a wonderful display along one of the walks. A variety of burnt orange, orange, red and yellow planting and deep purple clematis. It was wonderful.
Do you get to see what your potters are making?
Sorry about your delivery girls friend. That’s sad she did not find out till it was too late but at least it was a peaceful passing.
Hope everyone is ok.

I hope you are enjoying your outing Doodle
I'm happy that there are no coronovirus deaths in Scotland yet again.

Well done BradfordLass on making your own bandages.
I think you are entitled to ask your DS to help with the technical stuff. I am sure he won't mind. I sympathise over the tiny text too. Another thing I find ironic is if you try to phone BT, there is no phone number and it all has to be done on-line or email.

DH used to make poultices for family sores or boils. I haven't made him one for his feet! I cut his nails. or did I? It may have been a dream.
As soon as the chiropodist opens again, that's a job for them. They have the right tools .

I am still in the process of making his mum a facemask. The pattern on the fabric looks strangely like the coronovirus.

I went on a slightly longer walk today and landed in the mud but at least it was soft mud.
Potters are in my studio today. One at a time and I'm not with them but it's good that pots are being made.

Did I tell you that my friend (the delivery girl) lost her friend a few days ago. She had cancer and had been avoiding going to the doctor - but when she finally was admitted to hospital it was much too late and she died peacefully at the hospice. She had no family but a few good friends.

Hi dragonfly. Yes I am another, like your DH, who is constantly asking DH if he’s ok. It’s hope really I think. Hoping our loved one will say yes I’m fine or no problem because none of us wants our loved ones to suffer.
Now I’m probably going to add to it by saying hope you are ok dragonfly ? Is your hair growing back now, after the chemo? Hope you have a good day.

Good morning everyone.

Panache I am sorry you are feeling so low. I agree it is hard to see a loved one suffering especially when you cannot help.
My DH will ask me if I am okay about 10 times a day which drives me mad but I quite understand.

Sorry to hear about your sore foot Bradfordlass. I hope it gets better soon and you can resume your walks. It is lovely your DS takes a day off work to be with you. Both mine are far too far away for a day trip.

I probably chose the best time to lose my hair. It is still only about half an inch all over but still a little longer than DH's whose hair I chopped last week.

Greetings to everyone - I haven't had time to catch up on all the news.

Morning all.
Blustery and chilly here today. Looks like we need to wrap up when we go to our NT visit this afternoon.
Hope everyone had a good night.

Is that a Maori greeting.? Whatever, it’s a nice one. ?

missedout I cut my hair too. With a pair of scissors, which went quite well and then I decided to thin it out a bit with my thinning scissors. So I cut a bit here....and I cut a bit there...the I straightened up the first bit...and matched it on the other side...no point in me going to the hairdressers till it’s grown enough to need cutting again ?
grammaretto glad you had a good day even though you missed seeing the family. I love your description of your tea. Are you sure it wouldn’t be better with a leaf or two of lettuce in it ? ?
bradfordlass do you apply the kumerahou to your skin or drink it?
Your heel sounds painful. DH has a small slit in the underside of his foot. I have put a plaster on it but it keeps coming off. I think I’ll attack it with a roll of cling film now you’ve mentioned it. ?
Can you download the manuals for your voice operated systems onto a device that you can enlarge the print on? I know what you mean about small print. Pale coloured print is the same. I wonder what genius thought printing pale blue ink on white paper was a good idea for the instructions of my new vacuum.
I admire your choice of reading matter. Critical and Logical thinking. Is it an online course?
Thank you for your positive vibes meditation for all the gang. Hope it will help. Good luck with your shopping. I am off to bed now. Bit late really but just wanted to check up on the gang.
Sleep tight all ? ?

I'm going to have a 15 minute session of meditation to send good, strong, positive vibrations to all my companions in this luxurious lockdown facility.

What do you do with kumerahou? Is it another herbal tea?

Yes but it's also a cleanser. I am trying to clear my skin of the dreadful effects of that dratted pharmaceutical.

In addition, my hospital walks have been halted in their tracks as my right heel is cracked and very sore...again.

I have made a Heath Robinson 'bandage' and you'd laugh if you saw me doing this.

I laid a long strip of Clingfilm on the floor, squirted a dollop of antiseptic ointment on it, plonked my heel in that, then wrapped my foot. It looks like Cinderella's glass slipper

Then my sock on top keeps it all in place. I'm very lucky that I am still able to get to my feet.

Like Mamissimo I'm learning my limitations. What I could see to do 12 or even 6 months ago, is not possible now and I have to accept it.

Yesterday I tried to work out how to activate all the voice-operated facilities on my computer but....how ironic is this?.....so many of the instructions are written in very small text!
Why on earth can't you press a button and have someone talk you through it?

So it will have to wait until my son comes over but I do hate to spring computer problems on him when he's (usually) had time off work to spend a day with me. We like to just chat, laugh and erat good food.

I may try again, as I've just started an 8 week free course on Critical and Logical Thinking and there's a lot of reading involved if I want to get full value from it.

Chilly but sunny here today and taxi is coming soon but only to help me pick up a few essential groceries.
Not sure I'll feel like fossicking about in the bush until my heel feels better.

Arohanui ki a koutou katoa - love to all

Thanks for the insight into the Archbishop's wisdom Doodle
What fascinating lives you all lead.
Once we were over the disappointment of not seeing the family, the rest of the day was fine.
I went for a walk. I am so unused to walking so unfit that I cut it short, determined to build up to a respectable distance.

I was also relieved to discover that the piece I was writing struggling with for a community project grant application, is not required after all.

Gallstone pain must be awful Mamissimo. I don't suppose you'll have heard any more about when normal hospital service will be resumed?

We are drinking "snore and peace" tea tonight. It is mainly chamomile, lemon balm and lavender with fennel. no mention of lettuce

I hope you sleep tonight.

Doodle, I had a pretty nasty bug last year but it started in early November, too early for Covid-19. I had all the right symptoms though, dreadful cough, chest infection, raised temperature, awful exhaustion, total loss of sense of smell and most taste. However my sense of smell deserted me earlier last year too. I understand that SARS has been in the population for a while although not so infectious. However, with my weird immune system, I could have just been fighting a cold. It lasted about 10 weeks. I couldn't believe it when my sense of smell came back. Most people just didn't understand what a loss it was.

Grammaretto and Doodle, I don't see cutting my hair as brave, more foolhardy! My hair is fine and straight and was a pixie cut. However, it has turned into some sort of gnome look. I had to do something. Cutting hair using a mirror is so difficult. I spent a lot of my time trying to cut air. The scissors and the hair wouldn't line up. Oh well, it's done now and I have a hair appointment with my hairdresser on 3rd August.

Today has been quite boring, it's been wet here. I promise myself I will do better and be more active tomorrow. Good night. I hope you all get some rest.

mamissimo we love those little treats don’t we. Sorry the eclair upset you and caused a bad night.
Hope you sleep better tonight. ?

I think it’s a day for hugs all round as we all stoically try to make the best of the day. My dratted gall stones gave me the night from hell last night and I’ve phlumphed around all day today. It was a stupidly self triggered incident....I treated myself to a chocolate cream Eclair because I hadn’t had a cake for so long.....I forgot what cream does to me.....won’t make that mistake again!

This week I’m going to try to be more cleverer.

Sleep tight

panache I can only imagine how I would feel in your shoes. I am so sorry MrP finds his treatment so debilitating. I wish I could wave a magic wand and give your strength to cope with this but I can’t. All I can say is we lockdown gang are here if you want to talk and I think you will find all our little gang would do what they could to support you. I hope you and your DH have a peaceful pain free night. x
missedout and grammaretto kind thoughts.
grammaretto the service from Canterbury cathedral is still being mainly filmed outside of the Cathedral as it is not open for proper services till next week
I have never come across the Dean before lockdown but came upon one of his morning services (filmed in the deanery garden) by accident. I have been watching daily ever since. I find him a most charming character. Full of interesting facts. He has knowledge of arts, poetry, history all sorts and has a voice and manner of presenting things which is a bit like a history lesson. I just love to listen to him.

Today has been windy here and dark. Not been out today but must do so tomorrow because DHs ankles are swollen and red and I think the walking, along with the compression socks, helps.
Hope you all have a good day and sleep well ?

Oh dear Panache I do wish I could help you.

DH has a wonderful consultant who is always positive and lifts his spirits so not seeing him as well as the side effects and the whole Lockdown is depressing and the wild weather doesn't help.

His mum was all dressed up and ready to come too. I just thought that for them to sit in the garden wet and cold would not be fun.
I think I'll go for a walk and leave him in peace.

I wonder what the service from Canterbury Cathedral was like Doodle?

Dreamkeeper, I have no words, I can't give you comfort, but I am thinking about you and your dear man.

Thinking of you and good reading of your continued humour.
Mine has completely dried up of late as these panic attacks are taking over.

Sadly my dear man has this chemo for one of his cancers only,has had it for over a year, and this is for life,whilst there is nothing on offer for the secondary bone cancer which is now throughout his system.This the reason I am falling apart as time is fast running out.............and I have none of the little of the coping strengths I had last year.
I feel so empty.

A mainly sunny day punctuated with greyness.