The Lockdown Gang - on parole!

Just to let my fellow inmates know that my son FaceTimed DH and me today. We had such long talk and my oldest DGD even allowed her Dad to show her on the screen and talk to us. The three of them will be joining us (and my youngest AC) for a BBQ in our garden in a couple of weeks time. I am so much happier. I feel as if I have all my 'ducks in a row' again.

I haven't done so well with my food order this week. I can't get regular, weekly supermarket deliveries so the local farm shop fills in on alternate weeks. I asked for two lamb steaks for tonight (recipe is for minted lamb with cous cous). The steaks were equivalent to half a boned leg of lamb. The trouble is I didn't check if the lamb has already been frozen. I cooked it anyway. I think I have already said my DH has hollow legs and could eat for England. There is none left.

For some unaccountable reason, I also ordered some braising steak. I'd forgotten that we already have two frozen casseroles, each for 2 people, in the freezer. I'm cooking the braising steak in the slow cooker at the moment. Once 'released', I will go and see the Northern branch of the family, taking with me frozen casserole for 6 people!

It has been wet here today, but I can hear a series of high-powered cars racing through our village. They meet near here and run speed trials around our twisty roads having 'lookouts' at both ends. The police seem powerless. I guess the pubs here are heaving too but I have no plans to find out.

I hope MaryDoll is recovering, glad Dreamkeeper and her DH are still battling against the odds, and that Doodle has found Cherry's Tigger tail (although it sounds a bit manky). It's not like BradfordLass to miss updating us about what's going on either. Stay well all, and again, thank you Doodle, you were right - all I had to do was talk on the phone.

missedout I am so pleased for you. I know that sense of relief when a worry works out ok. Hope your garden party goes well.
It’s not easy getting deliveries is it. You never quite know what you’re going to end up with ?
Those road racers sound dangerous. I can’t understand why the police can’t stop them.
Missing mamissimo and bradfordlass hope they’re both ok.
Sleep well all ?

Missedout I'm so glad it worked out "in the wash* with your son ?. Print is not always the best way is it. I'm pleased for you and that Doodle was right.
Now that, come Monday, the 5mile radius restriction in Wales will be lifted and then I will be able to see my neice1 who live 11 miles away, outdoors of course. It won't be for a couple of weeks though because she's back teaching every day for the next 2 weeks. I'm not sure it will be allowed but I am hoping that I will also get the opportunity to see my nephew1 and the three boys (also outdoors) around then, maybe all of us together. In Wales there are still instructions to only meet up with one other family unit outdoors if you are shielding, at least I think that's the case. The letter isn't completely clear on that ?.
It seems like you've done what my WP calls my trick, buying meat you've already got in the freezer ?. He often teases me about it, nicely I must add. He also teases me when I buy lamb ?, whatever the cut is, if I've already got any lamb (even if it's a different cut) in the freezer. He teases that I've got a lamb obsession ?. I think it's a Welsh/English thing (our respective nationalities) ?. He loves lamb.
Sorry to hear that your day has been tarnished by what I call "boy racers". There have been complaints about the fact that the main road in our village has been used by "boys" on motorbikes doing wheelies and other "tricks". These people are meant to be adults, some of them are not that young either by all accounts, but they behave like school boys in the playground. Reckless, selfish, endangering and contemptuous behaviour. Gosh, I've got that one off my chest haven't I.
Missedout, I think Doodle had a cheek really, dust and cobwebs indeed. She was casting aspersions on the state I keep my under stairs cupboard in, where she went looking for my tail ? (Only Joking).

Time I was getting that delectable hot chocolate methinks. I'll just summon my butler.
Night all, sleep well ?

Xrossed posts Doodle. Goodnight ?

A late night post just to say Goodnight, dear friends. I haven't forgotten you all.
Grammaretto, roses are my favourite flowers. Especially red ones.?

I'm not posting much, annoying side effects and I have no energy and cannot concentrate at all. Lack of sleep isn't helping either.

If things don't improve by Monday, I shall seek advice from the hospital.

Good night all and hang on in there.

Another late night. What excitement around here. I am very pleased for Missedout . It will be great to get back to a semblance of normality.

We had a good quiz tonight I wasn't last and my lovely nephew joined in. He is such a nice man. There were fireworks in the background. It was for 4th July.

Our own DC were all there too . I will miss this contact if we decide to stop.
A man in the house Doodle ! but it will be so good to get the plumbing sorted.
I find that things like that weigh heavy when we are stuck indoors most of the time, although I have no inclination to decorate or even clean the place. I would much rather be outdoors.
Lovely to see you popping in Marydoll have a good night and it will be much better tomorrow..

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202007/medium-421419-roses.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202007/medium-253154-hat.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202007/medium-74080-pukeko.jpg

Missedout Yipee! I am SO glad you're feeling happier. Good old FaceTime.

I am full of admiration for so many of my brave cell mates, constantly battling adversity and yet not giving up. It's natural that challenges and burdens get us down but as Dream said, we can come here and have a wee blether talk to friends and suddenly it all seems hopeful again.
Here are roses for you all.

My first son had a Silver Cross pram and I was trundling it - and the groceries - up the steep hill where we lived and got to a kerb.
As I tipped the pram up to get the wheels onto the pavement, the baby (well wrapped for winter) seemed to leap out and roll into the road. He didn't even wake up.

I have the sun here but it's jolly cold, frost on the lawn this morning so I've thrown seeds out for the birds.

It won't be long before the ducklings are hatching and I'll be putting oats out for them. I can hear Pukeko too, always a bad sign; they prey on ducklings.

I've got me woolly hat on today. This isn't so much Yorkshire stinginess frugality as the fact that there's not much gas in the heater. I was supposed to get it filled on Friday but was too busy enjoying myself with baby vests and wet wipes

Cherry my trick too. I just ordered a packet of cornflour only to find I'd already bought 2 on previous occasions. Complete mind-blank {grin]

Missedout Tell your local police force that New Zealand banned 'boy racers' on public roads after negotiating with them to use spaces to show off safely.

Here's a precient article from 2018 for those interested in such things. Quite long but very interesting.

www.noted.co.nz/health/health-health/spanish-flu-pandemic-1918-are-we-prepared-for-next

So very pleased to hear your BBQ is going ahead Missedout. Hopefully the sun will shine and it won’t be as windy as it is here today.

DH does the shopping here and often forgets he’s bought something and buys another - and another. He then claims they were on special offer so is stocking up! And then there’s the mystery lumps of meat which get taken out of the freezer when the labels have fallen off. So ordering an extra lot of braising steak seems perfectly normal to me.

Look after yourself Marydoll and do call the doctors on Monday.

'Morning cellmates. Not a good night here so we will have to have a nap later. Imagine it's still early morning and I'm planning my next nap! DH has a sore eye so I've been depressing myself googling symptoms....

Thanks for the roses BradfordLass they are lovely.
I have a bit of a thing about oldfashioned roses and though most are short lived, I much prefer them to the modern ones. In the days before the internet, we used to pore over the beautiful catalogue from Scotts of Merriott (Somerset) with its line drawings, and order bare-root cuttings from them during the winter. That company has long closed.

I read the article about pandemics. The shocking nature of the 1918 'flu.
My grandfather was at the races in Christchurch with his brother-in-law, Jock. Jock dropped down dead with the flu. He and gt aunt Annie had only recently married. GF also caught the flu but survived.

I’m doing the walk of shame and slinking in through the cat flap. I was here all along really but my post on Friday vanished into the ether and I was so excited to be seeing my girls together that I didn’t notice. Mea culpa!

To celebrate their birthday my very clever SiL had made a computerised monopoly game for us all to play. We had to send him fifteen multiple choice questions about ourselves and to move forwards you had to get a question about a member of the family right. The properties were all the houses we’d ever lived in. Great fun and some surprising things learned!

We were meant to be having a socially distanced bbq in the garden but the weather was c**p so we opened the bifold doors to the kitchen and put a gazebo over the patio and were all able to be out of the wet. Several bottles of fizz were consumed and I slept all the way home. I’m a bit fuzzy round the edges this morning but I have smiles in my heart.

Marydoll get thee to a physician - side effects that make you yuk need recording and noting! Don’t be stoical - be sensible!

It’s windy here again today and it’s making the cat stupidly skittish. He’s charging in and out, tearing through the house and bopping the dog before charging out again. He will snooze well later!

Roast chicken for supper and a lazy day today. I fully intend to crack on with my challenging lists of jobs this week....shorten trousers, paint the front door, order new glass for the greenhouse door - darned wind- and get the beagle’s rear ended sorted! All in all a week to test me but I’m sure I’ll find something more interesting to do ?

Leave the cat flap open pleeeaaasssse,I am determined to pay a visit to my stoical friends.

`Morning to you all,at least the skies are mainly blue and the golden orb is trying its best,however extremely windy,no strolls for sure or we may well be blown away!

Cherry....It was our Manager herself that told us how difficult people were being,both some residents and then their outside families,demanding that the whole establishment needs to be returned to normal..............because everything is now fine and dandy !!!!!!!!!
If only this was so!!!
Of course they are only selfishly thinking of themselves,forgetting that a certain amount of very vulnerable people reside here,and in fact those that are clamouring for "normality" are the very ones whom have flouted rules throughout,caring nothing for others.
We shall continue taking maximum care,but it makes for an unpleasant atmosphere when many have this "Could not care less" attitude.
Enough said.

Still lying low but beginning to poke noses over the parapet!

Sending best wishes to you and as ever a big thank you for your humour,and those special drinks Doodle,our life line indeed.

My goodness you lot have been busy.
Sorry I missed your posts last night cherry and marydoll.
chery good you will be able to see some of your family soon. These shielding letters seem to continue to be confusing. As usual, we will continue to do what we feel is necessary to keep safe.
Shopping during lockdown is difficult when you have to rely on others to pick and deliver your shopping for you. You never quite know what you’re going to end up with.
Hope your Tiger tail is back in place now and that you’ve dusted it all off. ?
marydoll, we understand about not posting just nice to hear how you’re doing whenever you can pop in.
So sorry your treatment doesn’t seem to have helped much so far and that you are still feeling poorly. I think a phone call to the hospital would be in order to see if anything can be done to help with the side effects. Do you know if the treatment is working at all and have you started your injections?
We are thinking of you take care. ? (sorry on closer inspection I think that is a tulip not a rose ?)
grammaretto a more successful quiz night for you and a chance to catch up with your nephew. Sounds like fun.
Yes I’m not happy about having someone in but it will have to be done.
bradfordlass we missed you ?. Those roses are gorgeous, thank you. Oh my goodness your story about you son falling out of his pram I could just picture it. Good job he was so well wrapped up ?
Could we have a picture of your ducklings when they hatch. I love them, they are so tiny and fluffy. Whatever is a Pukeko, is it a bird? I hope it doesn’t catch your ducklings.
Little baby vests are so sweet. It brings back how small they are at birth.?
nfk hope you are getting on ok. Your meals must be something like ours. Never quite know what it is that comes out of the freezer. ?
mamissimo there you are ?, we all know what those missing posts are like.
That personal monopoly game sounds fun. Your SIL must have put some effort into that. Good you had a lovely time with your girls despite the weather . What a lovely expression “smiles in your heart”
We are having a lazy day too (mainly because we got up late) .
Having brunch in an effort to catch up.
Lots of jobs for me this week too. Got to tidy up and get ready for the plumber chap on Tuesday. Rather do that than deal with the beagles rear end though?
panache how are you both? Lovely to hear from you too.
Sorry some of the other residents aren’t being responsible. It’s always the way though. Some people only care about themselves. You would think living in a complex like yours they would have more sense. Keep yourselves safe please.
We are off to brave the winds now and try our afternoon walk before rushing back for steak and chips and a bottle of Rioja.?

Just a very quick visit before the match kicks off. I won't say any more... no jinxing.

Marydoll, I would love to be able to say that you don't need to contact the hospital but I think you should. Sending you ? and ❤️.

Thanks for the wonderful bouquet BradfordLass ?

Nflk, I hope whatever you found in the freezer for today is suitably yummy ?

Sorry you had a bad night Grammaretto, I hope you've managed to have a good catnap ?

Ah, I see Panache, selfish people have pushed for it to happen. Why the management can't say no to them I don't know but I guess it's not straightforward for them. Hardly condusive for everyone else, you and your DH, included.
The weather here is also wild today, not hospitable for outdoors at all. Batten down the hatches and have a couple of cwtches with your DH if you can ?

Ah! There you are Mamissimo ? Glad you had a lovely time with your birthday girls. The monopoly game sounds very clever and very enjoyable too. Hope the fuzzy head clears or has, I'm sure the time spent obtaining it was worth it ?

Enjoy your walk Doodle, even though it is blustery out there. Wrap up a bit and mind you and your DH don't take off into the air. Enjoy your steak and Rioja ?

Catch up laters ?

Ah Mamissimo I am so glad the birthday girls got to see their mum xx
That game sounds very clever.
Unlike you people who always have well stocked larders/freezers, mine is empty when required and today we had a surprise visit from DD and all the family. DH rustled some soup together and I picked a lettuce. It was great and we hugged the wee ones who scampered all over the house remembering where the toys are. I still don't know the rules but since they hadn't been in contact with anybody and neither have we, it seemed safe.

We are both happy but shattered now!

I am sorry panache your fellow residents are making things awkward for you and DH. I wish I knew the answer.
Sending ((hugs))
Maybe when the weather improves they will all go out and leave you in peace.

cherry It wasn’t as windy as we thought out, so we had a good walk. Enjoyed our dinner and both of us have been having a nap in the armchairs as we have had such an exhausting day ?
grammaretto that sounds a fun day with the family. I bet the little ones were thrilled to see you. Soup and lettuce an interesting combination. Sounds like a full on day and after the recent quiet I am not surprised you’re worn out.
Hope everyone else is ok and had a good day.

Today has been interesting......my beloved HotBin went a bit cold and developed a whiff.....so I’ve had to empty the compost out to dry it a little. Dear DH didn’t realise that you have to add shredded paper with grass cuttings and we went anaerobic.....apparently! So tomorrow it’s off to get some wood chip from the garden centre, a marathon on the paper shredder and then reload.

We also shifted a pile of paving that we’re going to recycle to someone else....hopefully. I think I told you that we had the estate remodelled over last winter and we’re still clearing up! It’s time to book another dump trip so at least I know I’ll get an outing this week ?

Grammaretto I too have hugged a grandchild or 2 because they’ve been out of circulation for weeks. Their lovely mum didn’t even take them to Sainsbury’s with her so that they were ‘clean’ for Granny. That first hug. Since February was priceless!

I seem to have successfully avoided every job on my list today so it wasn’t wasted. I need to get big stuff done this month because it’s now just a month till the gall bladder goes and I’ll have to be careful for a bit.

I’ve earned marshmallows on my chocolate tonight please....shall I send Jeeves along to collect it?

The food doesn't matter when your heart is filled Grammaretto. What a lovely surprise you had,
seeing your family, hugging your family and seeing childhood liveliness in its exuberant glory - an absolute joy ?

Mamissimo, only send Jeeves if you think Jeeves is up to the task ?.
Sounds like you had an interesting day, even if part of it was dealing with a bit of whiffiness. Hope you get it sorted tomorrow.
On a much more enjoyable experience, I'm very pleased to hear that you have too seen and hugged your grandchildren ?.

Doodle, glad that it wasn't too windy after all. It does sound like you walked yourselves out though, or could it have been the Rioja that made you both have an afternoon snooze ? ?

We watched the match, it was a draw ?. Apart from that we had a nice chilli for dinner, I dabbles with my non artistic artwork and we did a bit of gardening. Well I say we and gardening, my WP did most of it I just did some deadheading and tidying up ?

Just finished my hot chocolate so it's lights out for me. Night all ?

Panache You may like to tell the Management and people in your complex that when the authorities in Spain, Texas and California gave way to people's self-centered demands, they had a HUGE surge in Corona cases and are now back to radical restrictions.
Do these "me me me" people accept they've caused deaths?

I certainly see the logic in socialising when both parties have been isolated and Covid free but not when you're potentially bringing an insidious infection back to others.

Doodle Do you remember Silver Cross prams had a well beneath the base and mattress? It was into this I'd loaded the shopping. Thus when I tipped the pram, everything rolled towards me and catapulted the babe, as if from a trebuchet

Not much happening in my neck of the woods. It's wet and cold, a typical July.

Doodle Here, to gladden your heart is a photo of last year's ducklings.
They don't usually come so close but their Mum passed on the message I was safe as I'd hand fed her the year before.
Hence my grandson was able to get up close and do the same.

Good morning ?
I’m loving the silver cross pram memories....I had the twin version in navy blue. My parents bought it for me and Mum told me that I simply had to have one because I’d need to push them to the end of the garden to sleep if I was going to stay sane.....how right she was! ?

We had to build a shed to house it because it was wider than my front door ?

My girls were early and tiny - 3lb 10 and 5lb and it was some times before I was confident to pop them outside in it. I had the white Broderie Anglais sun canopy and I loved it.

The pram had a huge tray underneath for shopping and pop up bits at the ends to prop them up when they were a bit bigger.

In those days it was perfectly acceptable to leave the pram and babies in the charge of the ladies on the cigarette counter at the supermarket and swan off to do my shopping- they tannoy’d me if the girls woke up! There were no trollies equipped for two children in those days!

They even travelled in the car in the body of the pram which was held in place with carrycot restraining straps...we popped it into the boot of our largish hatchback. (That bit makes me shudder now!)

I’m still as proud of my gorgeous girls and today they’re 37! I’d do it all again in a shot!

....and now I’d better do some stuff!

mammisimo you had a busy day yesterday. Hope you got your marshmallows ok. Jeeves should be at your beck and call but he did ask me to point out that sorting out the beagles bottom isn’t in his remit ?. Moving those paving slabs sounds like a tough job. Be careful you don’t hurt yourself or do anything that would affect you having the longed for op.
All these lovely hugs. Nothing quite like it is there.
cherry sounds as though you had a pleasant day yesterday.
It may well have been the Rioja that brought on the snooze. I have no excuse but DH often has disturbed nights and some of his meds have a sedative side effect so he is often tired during the day. Hope you slept well.
bradfordlass yes I remember the well in the bottom of the pram. Knowing that your baby suffered no harm allows me to have a good giggle at you description of the little one being catapulted out. ?
I agree with you about the danger or this virus returning if people abuse the rules and in complex like panache’s you would hope the management would override the selfish in order to protect its residents.
Thank you for the photo it’s really sweet. You must have been favourite with their mum as they are always protective of the young. They are so tiny and fluffy. Hope your new arrivals when they come are safe away from predators.
Hope everyone has a good day. ?

Hello again mamissimo you crept in while I was typing my post. ?
Yes those Silver Cross prams were the best weren’t they. With the big wheels. Very good for rocking babies to sleep.
Oooh I had a white Broderie Anglais canopy too. Oh yes I remember, now you mention it, the prop up bit at the back to sit them up later. I had a white pram set. A pillow with a frill round it and a little matching cover that went on top of the blanket. Funny how one memory triggers off others isn’t it.
We had a smaller pram too (one bought by each set of doting grandparents) which we used to put in the back of the car. Not so safety conscious then as we are now.
Yes must do some work. I have Sainsbury’s coming at 1pm today so washing the shopping will keep me busy for a while.
Back later ?

Wow Mamissimo the idea of twins was always lovely but I am sure the reality was really hard work.
I knew someone once who had twin girls and when the girls were about 7 she wanted another baby, and expected it would be so much easier with a singleton. She had twin boys!

DD is very much younger than her brothers and when she was about 3 or 4 I asked her if she would like a brother or a sister. (I must have been feeling broody that day) she answered with "I want a twin" so that was that.

The way we carried our DC about in cars or in prams unrestrained doesn't bear thinking about. However when ours had accidents it was always something you couldn't have prevented or predicted. Luckily nothing too serious.

One big pram we had was always a bit tippy. not a silver cross and we had a seat up front for the toddler. Once his weight unbalanced the thing (while I was buying fruit at a stall) and before it could be reached, he had tipped forward with no harm done and the baby had shot out and was caught by a passer by. who told me I should put an iron in the footwell under the mattress. I think the picture shows the kind of deep pram she meant.

I love the ducklings Bradfordlass

grammaretto children often come up with the answer you’re not expecting. One little boy I know when asked if he wanted the baby his mum was expecting to be a boy or a girl said he’d rather have a train set. Not quite sure how his mum might manage that ?
What is it with the lockdown gang an catapulting babies ?. At least they all were ok. My big pram story was that when my son was a baby I was pushing him to the local supermarket. To get there I had to walk down a short steep slope to the main road. It was raining and the pavement was covered in leaves and I slipped on the wet leaves and the pram started running away with me. I daren’t let go or the pram would have gone into the main road so I hung on tight to the handle and ended up flat on my face with the pram tipped up in front of me. Fortunately I had the rain cover on the pram, so instead of my little one being catapulted out he just slid gracefully down inside the pram so he was completely hidden by the covers all squashed up at the end. He didn’t seem perturbed but I had grazed knees and knuckles.?

Doodle that story of the runaway pram is not good worst nightmare but thank goodness you, and DS, survived with a few grazes.
It does sound as though we were rather careless parents..
My own DM confessed to letting me fall from her bed, twice when I was a baby which may explain my stupidity
I always changed the DC on the floor. I thought those changing tables that some people had, looked like an accident waiting to happen.

I have been weeding. Unfortunately I think I have managed to weed, in error, the rest of the pumpkins and parsnips I had transplanted last week which had survived the slugs and birds. Oh dear.

Indoors to do some housework. What can possibly go wrong?

I have a zoom committee meeting tonight. I can't call off can I and plead too long a journey.
I will definitely deserve marshmallows if you have left any..
I hope Marydoll managed to get through to a doctor for advice today.