The Lockdown Gang - on parole!

Ha Ha runner beans Doodle it took me a while...
I am not making anymore school cardigans but I have finished this one at last.

DH keeps losing his facemasks how? so I will make some more of those.

Ah yes the gaberdine mac. I stroked the arm of my brand new one along a freshly painted fence so it had a white stripe for what seemed ever!

My friend who has lost her DB came to lunch. She is very brave and already thinking just of his DW, DC and how to break the news to old friends who don't yet know.

I do resent this virus as it isn't showing signs of going away.
Stay safe everyone. Have a nice evening.
Jeeves has brought me a G&T to stop me grumbling. You have trained him well. It's just how I like it.

Morning gangsters.
cherry Grayson Perry’s art club is on All 4 if you wanted to watch it.
Like bradfordlass I too think Jeeves might have read your post last night. He has been frantically polishing and dusting today and says he’s preparing special cocktails for us all tonight (alcoholic and non) ? ? ?
mamissimo glad you’re feeling better. No wonder your gallstones have been playing up . Hope things improve more when you finally stop taking them.
How sensible you are to think of keeping your dog apart from the children, for both their sakes. Children often love to stroke and play with dogs but the young ones often don’t realise if they are being rough.
bradfordlass sorry your GD couldn’t make it but gives you something to look forward to next weekend.
Good suggestion about the council. Anywhere that plants trees is good in my mind. I love them. I have a huge poplar opposite where I sit to have my breakfast. I watch it every morning swaying in the breeze and judge which direction the wind is blowing and how strong it is by the way it moves.
I must say I quite like small marinas. I love watching the boats. Not so much the big ocean going yachts but the smaller sailing ones. How close to the sea are you? Your first photo, is that the floating one? It seems a shame that it’s been built in such a lovely bay.
Thank you for doing the night shift. Even though Jeeves has bucked his ideas up I think he needs supervising.?
Hi mamissimo I’m not sure I would be so keen to eat al fresco if it meant I had to be in jail ?
Hope your new garden can carry on the good work with all the groups you mentioned.
Oh dear, you’d better keep knitting if you DGD needs more cardigans.
I had 3 gym slips at infant school. A green one, a mauve one and a blue one. Worn in rotation. I’d forgotten all about that till you mentioned it ?
mamissimo yes the gabardine rain coat. I had a felt winter hat and a straw one for the summer. Startright shoes and summer sandals. ? what memories.

bradfordlass you missed a quip today. I was thinking you’d spot it but you didn’t mention it so I will do it instead,

mamissimo that must have been hard work with those beans. Did it take you long to catch them? ?

Grammaretto ...gabardine double breasted and belted rain coat, felt hat, pinafore dress with box pleats, shirt and tie, cardigan buttoned up, drawers with a pocket in the leg, fawn knee socks because they didn't show the dirt in the winter, short white socks in the summer...and brown Startright shoes. Ah the freedom of childhood ?

Morning gang, Trust you all slept well-ish? al fresco Thanks for doing the night shift Bradfordlass
Do you still have a Yorkshire accent or could you be taken for a native now? very nosey moi Sorry you didn't see your DGD this time.

It is funny the way borrowed sayings, such as al fresco can have quite different meanings in their own language.

In Danish, the word for speed is fart. What "fun" when we first took our 3 DC to see their uncle in Copenhagen. The boys were also fascinated by the topless bathers....

Thanks for commiserating about the loss of our wonderful garden. We belong to a charity which runs various projects in the town and we have received many gifts and much help. The fruit trees were donated by the RBS through their charitable wing. Each year workers could have a day to help with a project and groups of up to 30 would come and make paths, plant trees, build raised beds and so on. They always said that they loved it too - such a nice change from the office. Team building and all that.
We hope that we won't lose the links we've made with other groups (mental health, disabled adults, schools and even prisons) when we make our move.

We briefly saw the DGD yesterday. I think DD hoped I would have the cardi finished! Apparently DGD will need a clean top everyday because of the covid.

I wore my one and only school gymslip everyday for a term as it had to be dry cleaned. We wore petticoats which could be washed... you'll be pleased to know. Imagine that! or don't

It's not raining so I could do some gardening today.
I hope it's a nice restful week for all of the gang and their DPs.

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202008/medium-542905-marina.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202008/medium-719522-west-harbour.jpg

Hope all our poorly gang-sters are feeling a bit better today.

My evening shift began with a bit of a scary shock.

I was patroling the corridors when I heard unearthly sounds coming from the kitchen.
It was Jeeves, repentant, anguished and anxious he was going to get the push. I gave him hot chocolate and a hug and he's promised to get all the soggy crisps from the hot tub (where he'd left them after his dip), clean and refill it.

Alas, my grand-daughter and bf didn't make it, life intervened, as it does, but she's hoping to be here next weekend.

Grammaretto I wonder if the new garden might benefit from being a Community Trust or charity?
In NZ, that makes them not just eligible to apply for grants but elevates them in the public mind, for donations and 'Buy/Donate a Tree' schemes.

The Council, if they are still in charge of Parks & Gardens in Scotland, could also help with gifts of plants and trees. Just a thought anyway.

Thanks for the Peter Blake clip; I had no idea he was buried in England.
His daughter, now married, lives on Waiheke Island where you may have heard, some residents went to the Environmental Court to get the futuristic marina and floating car park stopped or revised. Not a hope with so many pro-marina millionaires living there.

Cherry almost every ocean-side suburb has its own marina; that was just one of those in the City of Sails. The one nearest to my home, West Harbour, is pictured here.

I was amused to learn that the Italians, if they use the term al fresco, mean something quite different from the English usage of 'in the open air'. Apparently in Italy al fresco means in jail

A very busy week ahead for me but I'm happy to carry on with the night shift.

Good evening ? I've had a much better day today, thank goodness! It appears that my strong antibiotics are to blame for the increase in gallstone activity because they affect my liver. Only three more to take and I've finished the blighters.

Im really pleased that your garden may be reincarnated Grammaretto it's such a shame when new brooms sweep too hard too fast!

We got the stair gate out of the loft this morning so that when the grandchildren come we can give the old dog some space....well that's the theory. She's fine with us but I'd never forgive myself if anything untoward occurred.

We froze 2 kg of running beans today and gave away another kilo. What's the betting that if I plant half as many next year the crop will diminish and we won't have enough.

Have good sleeps

I meant to watch the Grayson Perry art club Doodle but I didn't. I did see a documentary (can't remember what channel) on his life and work a short while ago which was fascinating. He came across so humble and self effacing and witty and kind.

Maybe you will be, as Doodle says better off long term by having a council owned plot of land for your community garden. It's such a shame that all the effort and hard work you have put in goes unappreciated by these idiots people.

Personally I think Jeeves has become nothing but useless, all he wants to do is have fun and he can't even do that right ? I think that if by majority decision you request a replacement I will set to it right away ?. There were other potentials on interview ... or perhaps someone else should hire a better replacement as I seem to have messed up when I chose him ?

Off to get something liquid, hot and chocolatey to drink now methinks. Night all ?

Oh thanks for reminding me grammaretto. I want to watch that too.
Shame about your plot of land and the trees but sounds as though the council place might be somewhere better long term.
Hope the button band is going better now.
Don’t worry about Jeeves. He’s hiding in the pantry in the pretence of cleaning the silver, I just think he’s keeping out of the way in case he’s required to do some work. ?
Enjoy your hot soup...I’ve got the fan on here ??

Good evening gangsters. I am picturing you relaxing in your loungers with a glass of wine in hand. We do alright in here, thanks Guv!
I will have my G&T with posh ice (I drop a borage flower into the ice tray).
DH cooked a lovely soup for lunch and there's plenty left so I think we'll finish it for supper. I know you with your heat wave will gasp at the idea of hot soup but in the Scottish climate I think it's necessary.

Your photo of the marina in Auckland Bradfordlass reminded me of our visit there more than 10 years ago now, Was it really? My DS and his team made a film about your sailor hero Sir Peter Blake which plays at the maritime museum.Here is a clip:
www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2020/05/12/video-life-and-times-of-sir-peter-blake/

I admire Brian Blessed but don't know if he'd make a good dinner guest with that voice!!

I enjoyed Grayson Perry's art club too. Wasn't it lovely. So appreciative of everyone's efforts. The best kind of teacher.

That reminds me I had to find a video online to show me how to make buttonholes (I have to relearn each time I do them) and eventually I found one which wasn't too annoying. The internet is amazing.

I agree Cherry the goings on at the estate are not thought out at all well. It's a case of the new generation taking over and the son is wanting to make his mark. They had plenty of barbecues and "rough runner" challenges in recent years and we never thought our lease was secure. However we are negotiating to take over another piece of land which is more accessible, if not half as beautiful, and we hope to be growing there by the Spring.. We think we will leave the trees as they have been there quite a while and we will start again. The new garden is on Council land so we aren't quite as likely to be evicted. We will be sharing it with a Forest Kindergarten so that's exciting.

I am so glad MrDoodle is feeling better.
I hope those not on here today are coping too.

I want to watch a Suitable Boy tonight and I do not want to be distracted by a semi-naked Jeeves. Did you hear?

Afternoon (just) to you too cherry . I’m on our balcony enjoying a glass of white in the sunshine and catching up on GN.
I’ve had a lazy day too. Sunday service online from Canterbury Cathedral. A nice walk by the river watching all the boats going through the lock and all the people on them sunbathing and enjoying theirselves.
I think your niece sounds lovely. She may well be bouncy but it’s lovely to be with people who have the joy of life in them.
My mother left school very young as she had to look after the other children in the family after her mother died when she was 8 My father left school later and went to work in the coal mines.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder as they say. So your ants and feather picture sounds fine to me. Did you ever watch Grayson Perry’s art club on BBC? He was interested in so many different things.
Thank you, DH is feeling better now he has stopped the antibiotics. He is normally one who will persevere with things but this particular one made him feel so ill.
We are having steak and chips tonight. Our Sunday treat. Plus some cheese and biscuits with a bottle of red.
Hope all the gangsters are ok . Thinking of you all.
Please don’t walk behind Jeeves in the corridors....he’s easily embarrassed ?

Just popping back to say I hope that you are bumping along more smoothly today Panache, Marydoll and dragonfly ???

Afternoon gang ?

I've has a quiet lazy day so far. The only thing I've done is watch a bit of the snooker, exchange a few texts and get the lamb casserole in the slow cooker ?

Yes Grammaretto my niece is most definitely a live wire. She is lovely to be around but after seeing her me and my WP often feel exhausted, even though it has only been her bouncing around ?. I think she thrives on a lot of nervous energy. Her in-laws often just sit back and inwardly quietly titter (in a nice way) at her enthusiastic ways.
What is being done to your group and community garden has got me thinking. Does that young "advisor" not realise what an asset the group and garden is and the potential it has to be even more so? If ever there was a time for these estates to embrace what you have done and nurture it it is now. What you have there is ecology in action, environmentally dynamic. Can he not see that this is eco-friendly set up that could be promoted as a positive? How short sighted. He could take a co-operative, mutually beneficial approach to this. Methinks he has his eyes firmly on the £ sign of holiday let's more than anything else.

That's one fantastic marina BradfordLass, puts the one in the Bay here to shame.
Sounds like you're having an eventful weekend, full of lovely surprise, I hope your DGD and her "beau" do make their visit.
I love the camping photo by the way ?

Mamissimo, I hope you are feeling better today. Sounds like you may have overdone it yesterday. I perfectly understand you taking full advantage to see your DD and DGDs on the way home though, who wouldn't.
Dogs can get very jealous when little ones come along, I've seen it. It could be a case of that.

No wonder you didn't get the chance to drop in Nflk. Enjoy the time spent with your DGD2 ?

Doodle my father left school at 12 years old! My mother was 14 when she left school. The Education Act after World War II was a fantastic piece of legislation that gave so many so much better opportunities.
You asked what my last non art piece was - well, I espied a feather in the garden and already had close up photos of ants so I incorporated both into a picture. Bizarre? Well maybe a little . Art? No ?
I hope Mr Doodle is getting on better without the antibiotics. Sometimes they do have side effects. I've chosen, on occasion, to end the treatment early because of side effects and on all but one occasion has that meant the original problem wasn't treated effectively ?
I hope you managed to find a quieter place for your walk today ?

Off to check the casserole ?

grammaretto well you did fine in the quiz. That’s good.
I would be terrible. My memory is awful. I couldn’t remember the first line of a book I read yesterday. ?
Actually, as I was typing that, one suddenly came to mind from my schooldays. The word “Hole” and The History of Mr Polly. I think that’s right. Wow, I’m a genius ?
I think you could leave school at 14 too. Now it’s 18 and a struggle for many who don’t enjoy it.
bradfordlass how lovely to have a surprise visit from your son and have a chance for a long catchup. I hope your GD and her BF make it over to you today. Nice to have them visit.

Ah. Your third thing. ? I think Brian Blessed is a bit like marmite. I agree he is remarkable both as an actor and in the things he has done and achieved. He’s a bit loud for me but nice for you to get enjoyment out of the broadcast. ?

So That’s what Jeeves was up to with my scissors. I expect he will be serving the hot chocolate by walking backwards out of the room ?
nfk busy with your DGD. What could be better ? I hope you all (including the dog) have a fun time together ?

Another hot day here by the looks of it. Not a good night for DH but hopefully he will feel better now he’s stopped the antibiotics. Walking was difficult yesterday, so many people about. We spent a lot of our walk turning with our backs to people as they strolled past in groups oblivious to the need for any kind of distancing. Think we’ll try and find a quiet spot for our walk today.

Hope all the poorly gangsters are getting some rest and building up strength. Have a good day all

I really like Brian Blessed too - but I'm not sure if I could manage a whole day with him Bradford!

I've realised I didn't get a chance to drop in at all yesterday, not even for a peep, as we've got DGD2 staying with us for a couple of nights and she's really excited as she only gets to come about once a year. And - we've got DGDog (her cousin's dog) staying so she's getting a dog fix at the same time. (I do realise that's really why she wants to be here). I'm not at all sure she should be staying, we worked out last week that it should be fine - they changed the rules too late! We don't do regular grandchild sitting, only holiday cover and August gets a bit manic. It's been a lot, lot quieter this year!

So good to read that several of us have had a lovely time with family. It perks one up and helps us bear the restrictons.

Mamissimo I've only recently read that dogs suffer from dementia and other neurological illnesses called Canine Cognitive Dysfunction CCD. I suppose it makes sense, as we do too.
The fruit trees will look gorgeous when they blossom.

Grammaretto I'm sure the RHS will give good advice. Some fruit trees can be moved at any time if treated gently, but usually, colder weather is best - but if this latest despicable act, reminiscent of the Highland Clearances, has a deadline (why does EVERYTHING have to be about money?), you're just going to have to take your chances.

I had three lovely things happen for me this weekend. First, my son came over unexpectedly and we had a good lunch and the usual interesting chat.

Then my grand-daughter, now living in Auckland, but 25 km away, asked if I'd be home as she and the bf would like to visit today. I hope that happens, she's such a joy.

Finally (and this won't seem special to most people) one of my favourite actors, Brian Blessed, who is LOUD, over the top, larger than life, adores animals and runs a sanctuary; had a whole two hours on Radio 4 Extra, as they looked at his life.

He is even more amazing than I'd believed.
Climbed Everest 3 times in his late 50's; sings opera beautifully; has trained with the Russians to visit the Space Station and now, in his 80's refuses to take it easy.

If I could spend a day with anyone (other than my son) it would be him. Not everyone's cup of tea but certainly mine.

I know why Jeeves is keeping out of the way. I caught a glimpse of him in his new 'rehabilitation breeks''. He seems to have cut circles from the back, to air his sore cheeks. Drama queen.

I am tired just reading about your day Mamissimo and I really hope you can get some relief from those nasty stones soon. I think wise Doodle is right about the dog being affected by the heat but probably best to ask a vet too.
Thanks for the advice about the trees. An excellent suggestion.

Doodle these DGC grow so fast. Our eldest will be 14 next week. I can remember when you could leave school at that age. Can't I? I hope she doesn't but she's not keen to go back.
Your niece sounds a live wire Cherry I'm sure she is good fun. The tonic you needed?

We were about middling in the quiz. It was a good one. Lots of literary questions. The first lines of famous books.
It has got late. I'm off to bed. I haven't seen Jeeves. Where is he?

grammaretto it’s a shame the tenants are being evicted. This new broom sweeps clean business isn’t always for the best.
Hope you find somewhere near for your plants and trees.
That’s so sweet your DD marrying her childhood sweetheart as it were. Nice to have a visit with your DGD. Good the cardi fits. They grow up so quickly don’t they. Our oldest is having driving lessons. Where did the time go? ?
Good luck with the zoom quiz. Hope you do well.
mamissimo nice to have a visit with your other daughter on the way home. Shame it was cut short by the dog upsetting your little DGD and those gallstones playing up again.
Hope your dog is ok. Perhaps it was just a hot day and the weather was getting to her. Some dogs aren’t keen on young children but are fine with older ones.
Well of course we all know you are special and unique. Following on from your description of yourself I’m not sure if you need a surgeon or a top notch plumber. Hope you get that gallbladder sorted soon.
Glad you’re home safely. Nice to visit but no place like home when you are feeling below par. Sleep well.
cherry it’s so nice to hear you full of beans as it were.
Sounds like you had a really good day and your niece enjoyed herself.
Sleep well yourself. Jeeves is around somewhere but he is hiding from bradfordlass in case she makes him do some work ?

and breathe ?

What a day it's been, we both had a lovely time ?. My niece has more energy than a power station ?. She bounces around like a five year old, it's almost exhausting to watch ?. Goodness knows how her husband keeps up as he is infinitely more laid back. I'll sleep like a log tonight I know that much, I'm almost falling to sleep now.

I will have to catch up with you all tomorrow I think but before I do retire for the night .... I want to wish you all a comfortable night as I know that each one of us here has our own problematic health issues here or/and have husbands/partners that do.
❤️
Sleep well gang-sters?

Good Evening! We're home but another stupid day. We called in at other DDs on the way home for a clean pee and lunch with the DGDs. M25 was like a car park so the little ones were having their nap when we arrived. Had a simple Sandwich lunch. Baby was brought down.....daft dog barked, startled Baby who became inconsolable...and the blasted gallstones decided to rearrange themselves for the hell of it....so we came home.

I have a horrid feeling that our beagle is becoming less predictable and a bit grumpy. I may need to get her checked over because she's always been a gentle creature.

Sainsbugs have just delivered the weekly articulated lorry load and I'm done in! I think we may talk to the hospital on Monday because three attacks in four days is too much....but I don't hold out much hope because I need a whole list cleared since I'm not made like so called normal people - I have a very bespoke body with unique plumbing and couture skin. ?

Grammaretto you may be able to move the trees once they are dormant? If any of your group are members of the RHS get them to ring the advice line and discuss the technicalities with them. They can tell you how to best do it. I think I would be tempted to tell the local press about them hijacking your garden too! I hate that kind of thing.

We're planning a quiet day tomorrow ......a day of freezing beans.

It's good to be safely home, sleep tight.

I am very sorry you are struggling and MrP is so unwell Panache

Doodle how very dare you suggest that we danced naked around the fruit trees! Funnily enough though we once had a request from a group of Naturists to hold their AGM there. We told them there were too many stinging nettles.

No it's the same old story, at least here in Scotland. A big estate, not making enough money, employ a dynamic young advisor. He casts around to make improvements and sees what other estates are up to and decides they can turn the garden into a money making venture, with restaurant and farm shop and at the same time evict tenants from their homes to turn them into holiday lets.... They are all being fraitfully decent about it but it does feel wrong.
We just want to rescue some of what has been invested in the garden before it's cleared completely and we hope to find a new patch of ground to make into a garden.

We did have tea with our DCD and yes our DD married the boy almost next door. They first met at kindergarten. DGD tried on the nearly finished cardi and it fits although not for too long if she grows and they have a habit of doing that.

Zoom quiz tonight.
I am glad that priority supermarket slots are not affected. I am too cynical.

grammaretto I think Jeeves would be too embarrassed to have a cushion stuffed down his trousers. I think letting the air get to it would help.......just don’t anyone go near the rear terrace where Jeeves is ....recuperating ?
Glad the knitting has been rescued. Is it on track for being finished in time?
Why do you have to leave your community garden? Have you been misbehaving and dancing naked round the fruit trees? ?
Have a nice time with your DGC. Do you live near the other GP?
DH is officially out of shielding today and to celebrate we are .....continuing to keep ourselves to ourselves. I think we still get priority delivery slots. Hope so anyway as we don’t want to go into supermarkets. We never did have the food parcels.
The gangster’s thread will continue for as long as folk want to post on it. In or out of lockdown ?.
Keep safe all ?

panache I am so sorry dear MrP is not doing too well and is in more pain. It is hard to watch those we love suffer. Is there any more that can be done? Are the MacMillan nurses still involved even though you are home?
It is good you are feeling better but I do hope MrP improves soon. A gentle hug for both of you.
We all have our troubles but we are here for each other. You are among some kind people here who care for you. Never be afraid to post how you are feeling. x

Sending love to you Panache xxx

I am feeling decidedly sorry for our poor Jeeves and his botty. If those remedies are half as good as they claim he will be better soon but I think a permanent cushion attached to his backside will be best....but then maybe it needs air.

Another Knitting goddess was summoned and has put me right she was very kind and said it wasn't as bad as I had thought

How exciting to have fruit trees to look forward to Mamissimo !!

Our group are being evicted from our community garden which we have enjoyed slaved in for 7 years and the fruit trees are getting quite big. Should we try to transfer them to the new garden, if one ever materialises, or are they best left in situ?

How did it get to be this hour already?
I've been invited round to the other GPs to see our DGC at 4 pm. Gosh it's complicated this grandparent thing. They are at the beach today.

Good luck to everyone coming out of shielding today or soon which just means you're on your own now without recourse to Government food parcels and priority delivery slots

I hope we will continue to chat vent on here

Reading over your posts and in between the jocularity there are those moments when everything is just not right
Rather than add to the latter I will simply say my dear man has well and truly "hit the buffers",over the past several days he has been in much more pain and hitting pain relief very heavily.
We can but live in hope,but it is certainly extremely worrying.
I seem to be sailing along on all cylinders right now.......thank goodness.
Sending love and blessings to each one of you,enjoy the sunshine but take your new found freedom from shielding with the caution I know you will.