The Lockdown Gang - on parole!

I’m off to bed myself shortly. Just doing my nightly check round. As you say mamissimo we have bradfordlass on night duty so we are in safe hands.
Hope the panaches have a restful night. You too cherry and marydoll
I used to hang cherries from my ears when I was young too ?
What are you going to do with all your cherries mamissimo?
I agree with you. I think lots of people don’t even think about the virus anymore. It is getting more and more difficult to keep apart from people on our walks.
Hope all the pizzas go well and your DH enjoys his birthday.
missedout we have had that problem with our credit card on one of our Sainsbury’s orders too. I had to phone them in the end because we got locked in to the account and couldn’t do anything. Not happened since thank goodness.
I wonder if your driver was a bit slipshod and perhaps the missing goods are still in the van. I must say all the delivery men we have had from Sainsbury’s and Waitrose have been extremely pleasant and helpful. No complaints at all.
That’s a good idea about your cycling. Very good exercise and well done you for trying it.
Yes I like hearing others stories too. I have learnt a lot on this thread.
Sleep well all ?

Mornin' all.
Just signing out of the night shift. Eight of the clock and all's well - almost.

Good news about MrP being cared for by MacMillan nurses. I wonder if Douglas knew, all those years ago, just what a lifeline it would become?

Yes, Grammaretto steal owt you like of the minty ideas.
I confess I've never been a fan or horseradish so never experimented but this woman has:
www.meghantelpner.com/blog/109-things-to-do-with-horseradish

I certainly have been in earthquakes Doodle - the first one shook all my miniature bottles and plates off the Delph rack but didn't scare me.
The second was quite funny. I was in an earthquake simulator in Rotorua, watching a documentary but when the contrived shaking stopped, our seats were still tipping about. Only when I got outside did I realise a real earthquake was in progress

Mamissimo you have just jogged my memory with your cherries story. Last summer I hulled some, packed them in a jar and filled it with brandy. They're probably ready now.
Wonderful on ice cream.

As I was patrolling the corridors here with me candle in the early hours, I received a message from my son: was it too short notice to pop over and spend the day here?

So I was up betimes and making Butter Chicken and turmeric rice with broccoli and another of my sugar-free concoctions: sauteed bananas in s/f maple syrup with blueberries.

Predictably, when the lad arrived he said, 'Ooh, are you going to make that into a crumble?' So I did - that bit is not sugar free however.

I'd also made up a pamper package for my DIL and spent some of the night covering a box with pretty wrapping paper.
The goodies were nestled and wrapped in a silver, sparkly net. It looked lovely. I should have taken a photo.

I'd bought an adorable elephant wheat bag, just right for cuddling and didn't want to part with it but my conscience got the better of me, so after a warm hug, it went into the box with the dark chocolates and lavender tissues and sesame bars.

Ah well, time I signed off and handed over to Grammaretto whom I'm sure will be wielding her spurtle.

Have a brilliant day everyone.

Hellobradfordlass thank you for doing the night shift ?
Your earthquake story made me laugh, however, I doubt the real thing is much fun.
If you want any help eating your cherries in brandy please send them this way ?
How nice to have a visit from your son and what a lovely meal you made for him. I would find that elephant hard to part with too. He’s so cuddly, your DIL will love it and her special box of goodies too.
Sleep well and we’ll catch up later. ?

Sorry gang might not be in much today. Been a bit of an upsetting morning. My son has been made redundant. He wasn’t expecting it and it has come as a bit of a shock. Be back to check on you all later.

I slept well, thank you Doodle ?

So very sorry to hear that your DS has been made redundant. I'm not surprised it was a shock but I fear there will be many more people in for the same shock. No consolation for him or anyone else in the family I know. I can't remember, whether that's my guppy brain or whether you haven't said, what he does for a living. Some jobs and industries will be hit hard and struggle to rebound, others will recover well from this bl..dy virus. I hope the sector he works in recovers well and he finds another post quickly ??

I didn't post yesterday after a lovely, if not exhausting, day with my friend. We went for an grueling long walk in the woods a few miles away. She is infinitely a bit fitter than me and her idea of a stroll is my idea of a march ? We started out at 11:45am and I didn't get back home until 5:30pm. Okay, okay , we didn't spend the whole time marching walking but ..
By the time my me and my WP had dinner I was ready to go to bed really but it was only 7:30pm! I didn't go, if the 8yr old twins next door happily bouncing away on their trampoline until 9pm (which they were) there was no way I was going to give in ?

Please don't hang me on your ears Mamissimo and Doodle, I will end up all ?
I'm envious to tell you the truth Mamissimo ? I haven't had decent cherries so far this year, I'll have to nip into the village to get what I call decent cherries. At least I won't have to enter the shop to get them ?

My football team won earlier ? ? ? and as long as we get something out of our next game we should be alright to go again next season. I know none of you here are football fans but if you like sport of any kind you root for who you want to win.

Hope your DH has a wonderful birthday Grammaretto ???

I'm not ignoring the rest of you, Missedout, BradfordLass, Marydoll and Panache and anyone else who turns up - off to have a very late lunch and a bit of gardening, back later ?

Hi cherry thank you for your concern. He is an accountant. I am hoping he finds a new job soon. He and his family have had enough trouble for a lifetime.
Glad you had a nice time with your friend. My goodness that was a walk and a half, you must be exhausted.
No I won’t hang you on my ears cherry ?
Glad your football team won. That must have been good news for you. We all like it when our team wins.
grammaretto I too hope your DH enjoyed his party and you had a good day. Hopefully the weather was as good as it is here.
Take care all.

So sorry to read your worrying news Doodle - I’m a firm believer that there is usually an unforeseen benefit when these blows strike....a different kind of company, better hours, better work life balance.....but none of that will help tonight.

You can trust us all to behave so leave the keys on the hall table for tonight ?

Are you sure I can trust you all to behave mamissimo? ?
I might just leave bradfordlass in charge tonight.
Thinking of the panaches and Marydoll
Sleep tight all.

Ah yes I do remember you mentioning what your son does for a living Doodle, it is me being a guppy ? He'll be fine I'm sure, he should find another opportunity quite quickly and Mamissimo may well be right too.

Ah, BradfordLass, you're a goldmine of useful information ? My mother, and now consequently me too, used to do that with onions ? I also use a mint concentrate for braised leeks and saute but not caramelise onions in mint sauce for potato Anna. Mint and rosemary roast potatoes are good too.

I don't use a lot of horseradish Grammaretto but I do use a little to add zing to mayonnaise for burgers and have been known to add a little to homemade burgers, meatballs or meatloaf.

Peculiar things earthquakes. It wasn't a big one but (two years ago?) there was an earthquake here in Gower. We were sitting watching TV, nice and relaxed when something seemed to "hit" the wall behind us with a whack, there was a small ripple backward and then a "wave" that ran under the house. The epicentre was about 4 miles away from where we live. It was an interesting experience.
Your second earthquake experience was certainly a strange one BradfordLass , funny ? - I guess ?

I hope your homecare girl is alright now and like Doodle I ? the elephant. Perhaps you should treat yourself ?

Missedout I think it's (and you) fantastic that you are going to do your cycling proficiency ? you've obviously found something you are quite enjoying during lockdown. They will certainly help you, both in skill and confidence ?

Panache I'm sorry you feel that you are out of step with the mood on this thread, it's perfectly understandable that you are not feeling cheery. We Care here, we care ?. Don't be afraid to "talk" to us - you are important, one of the gang. It's less cheery without you.

Hope you are okay Marydoll

Night all ?

Hello everyone!
Gutted to hear of the job loss Doodle though he will be in demand I imagine, so will find another job soon. Fingers crossed.

All 4 of our families had someone out of a job just before Christmas and luckily miraculously by the Lockdown in March they had all found jobs and had started work.
DD had to move house as well because they are in a rural job and have a tied house. That was tough.
We even bought a minikitchen to turn part of our house into a self contained flat so in an emergency they could live with us. The minikitchen has never been used.

The birthday party went well. DH's parents are such troopers. Grandpa nearly fell on his way back to the street but he had had a few drinks by then. It didn't rain!!
Meanwhile the DGC climbed trees and raced around and were visibly growing.
That is a seriously long walk Cherry
Well done!
Better retire to my cell . It has been a long day.
Can I leave the washing up till tomorrow?

I might just leave bradfordlass in charge tonight Blimey, Doodle, you're taking a chance!

I saw the back end of someone climbing out of a window about 15 mins ago, presumably for night-time jollifications. So who is it wears a pink dressing gown and fluffy slippers eh?

Sunny and cold here again but dry enough for the last of the laundry loads to be completed and hung out.

Cherry I'm not at all sporty, except for swimming (doing not watching) but my younger son played in the NZ National American Football Team, so I watch Superbowl online and quite enjoy it.

Have been listening to BBC plays on podcast and in so many, the directors seem to insist on actors talking whilst eating or drinking noisily, it's utterly revolting.

Ah well, better do another round of the luxury cells. I've left that window open so the 'escapee' can just climb back in.

It wasnae me Bradfordlass unless I was sleepwalking which I occasionally did as a young teenager.
A girl in my bedroom/dorm when I was at boarding school frequently walked about in her sleep and had to be hauled back from an upstairs window.
Once she sat on my bed and urgently begged me to come with her (to see the maths teacher!) but I soon woke up enough to realise it was her, it was the middle of the night and she had her pyjamas beneath her clothes so I, and others who had woken, gently persuaded her to take her jacket off and climb back into bed.
I wonder where she is now? perhaps on gransnet

I hope the day goes well and better than expected for all of you.

I did a quick stalk on facebook and find my sleepwalking room-mate is or was a hospital doctor, had her ruby wedding in Africa, looks really fab and is a gran. So it's a good thing we saved her from an early death!

Morning all. Thank you all for your kind wishes and support.
An earthquake in Gower cherry, I bet that was a strange experience for you.
What a kind post to panache. I echo all you say. ?
grammaretto how is your DD coping with the move now, have things improved at all?
Glad your party was a success. Sounds as though you all had a good time.
bradfordlass an escapee, surely not. Who would want to leave our 5* penitentiary? ?
I’ve never been a sleepwalker as far as I know grammaretto.
Good job you saved your friend. Sounds as though she has a good life.
Still thinking of the panaches and Marydoll
Off to wash my hair soon. The longer it is the more time it takes to do ?

Gooooood afternoon ?

Cricket Grammaretto, that must have been a big worry for all the family and what a time of year too. I'm glad they all found new jobs quite quickly ?
Like Doodle says I hope your DD's move went well and they are happy in their new home. We lived in a tied property many years ago but it was only for 18 months and we always knew it was temporary.

Umh ? my tablet has suddenly decided to go pearshape and I need a magnifying glass to type .... back when it's rectified ?

Ah, that's better ? Not a difficult glitch to sort out after all ?

Wonderful to have 4 generations together on your DH'S birthday Grammaretto ?, sounds like it was a good birthday. Drinks or no drinks I'm glad grandpa didn't actually fall.

Doodle and Grammaretto, my day with my friend was definitely not all spent walking. We sat and chatting (a distance apart) for about 20 minutes before we even got started ?. It was punctuated by a long stop when we came to a stall set up in a more open part of the wood which has seating nearby. We also stopped for an even longer time for lunch where there is a division in the woods. A couple of miles can be drawn out for a long time when with a friend ? Sorry if my post yesterday was misleading but I was still exhausted by it all ?

Wow Grammaretto, pleased you found your sleepwalking friend after all these years. Sounds like you saved her to have a good life ?. Like you and your friend I used to sleepwalk when I was younger, from childhood into puberty where it stopped. My mother rescued me one night when I had walked crown stairs and proceeded to unlock the front door to walk out into the street ? Apparently, though still asleep, I responded hen she asked me where I was going - "out" was apparently my answer. It's a strange phenomenon.

It wasn't me climbing out of the window either BradfordLass, although I can still walk during a seizure ?. I don't have a pink dressing gown though. I'm wondering where Nflk and dragonfly have got to so maybe ..? I hope wherever they are they are alright.

Yes Doodle it was very strange to experience an earthquake here. It did make the news and was all over social media at the time. We did feel the house shift a bit and the wall (behind the sofa) seemed to "push" forward and we were also "pushed" forward on the sofa. It was startling but not scary, just incredibly surprising. The UK does have quite a few earthquakes but they are so small they go completely unnoticed. The one in Gower was a large one for the UK but I can't recall what it registered on the Richter scale. I'm sure it can be googled.

I know what you mean by hair taking longer to wash, I have a sort of dread washing mine these days. Hairdressers open in Wales tomorrow (most later in the week) and I am soooo tempted ? but I know I shouldn't. I've got a GP telephone appointment on Tuesday (asthma) I'm tempted to query whether I may be safe to get out and about more ? it's ridiculous to think that I want to do that just so I can justify going to get my hair cut ?

cherry still sounds like quite a walk.
We haven’t been for a walk today but been catching up on paperwork. I have been washing the horses mane (well it’s mine but there is so much of it ?) Sat on the balcony this evening. It was lovely warm and tranquil. Really nice.
I have downloaded a pattern for a face mask and intend to make some for us both. I think we will be required to wear them when we start going out more so I thought I’d prepare.
Going to try phoning the GP tomorrow about DHs feet. They are ok and the cream I am using seems to be having an effect but there are still bright red patches appearing that I want checked out. Wonder what the response will be.
Not me climbing out of windows either. Fast asleep in bed I think ?
Hope everyone is ok.

Thanks you lot for being so caring of one another.
I wonder what you all got up to today?
We took the rest of the birthday cake round to my friend, the delivery girl, and had tea and cake in their beautiful garden.
We were very relieved when our DC were settled again. But we are never complacent. One son had been made redundant over a year before and was lucky to find something when he did. He loves his new job.
DD has been finding it a struggle but her eldest will start school in August and they will make friends.
You never stop worrying about them.
Looking forward to hot chocolate
Are you on duty tonight Doodle?

Yes grammaretto how true. The worrying never stops but that’s because we love them ?
Well I’ve got the kitchen ready and the hot chocolate so Jeeves can sort you all out whenever your ready.
I may have an early night tonight. Please note bradfordlass I do not have a pink dressing gown and am not planning a midnight excursion anywhere so if you see anyone, it’s not me.
Hope all the gang are ok. Sleep well all ?

Hope you manage to get hold of the GP about your DH's feet tomorrow Doodle, still sounds a bit worrying. The asthma nurse made a telephone appointment for me a week ago so I hope he doesnt have to wait like I have ?

Ah, that's nice of you Grammaretto, sounds like you get on well with your delivery girl ?

Haven't done a lot today except some laundry, my non art, cooking and eating and watching the footie. No team did my team any favours today ? #miffed ?

Seems like more than one inmate may have climbed out of the window, missing a few at roll call ...

Night all ?

I’ve lost one of my slippers somewhere- is there a lost property box in the facility?

Pizza night went well and they came back for Sunday lunch today. I’m all cooked out! We pulled our first carrots and they were lovely. I always forget how scrummy they are when cooked five minutes after leaving the ground.

Tomorrow it’s mask on and off to the picture framers. I bought a wonderful lithograph last week and will worry about it until I get it protected. I’ve been buying odd pieces by Anita Klein, the antipodean artist, for about 20 years now. Her black and white pictures have narrated our family journey to perfection. If I every have to go into a home those pictures are to come with me.

I don’t know if any of you have ever taught but Missedout’s cycling proficiency course reminded me of the Record of Achievement that pupils had to build to present to Admissions Tutors and prospective employers. When I was with OFSTED we realised that for many people their cycling certificate and swimming badges meant an enormous amount to them. I can’t do either so I’m in awe of anyone who masters it.

Sending thoughts to The Ps and Marydoll and may everyone sleep tight.

Calling in the wee small hours simply just letting you know that I continue to be extremely unwell,life is such a struggle and foremost is my need to get at least much better so that I am able to care for my dear man.
He is so worried and totally lost without me,I had refused to go into Hospital and only by the kindness of those amazing kind Nurses I went,but nothing has changed and I am refusing to return at this point.
Hence I really feel too low to write,I simply haven`t the energy if I am honest.
Concentrating on trying to pick myself up and my one and only thoughts have to be with my man.

Thank you for your interest and kindness,much appreciated and sincerely wishing each one of you nothing but the very best every day.
Stay safe.

Panache ❤️

I haven't been AWOL, just feeling a bit deflated. I haven't had much contact with family today but the few messages I've seen indicate that others are getting out, eating/drinking out and seeing family. I try not to seem needy, but when I hear from my cousin that his granddaughter has been staying for the weekend and his grandson will be back sometime this evening, well, if I'm honest, I'm envious.

DH has spent most of today in the garage so I have been on my own. It's my own fault, I could have gone for a walk, used my exercise bike, done some weeding, cleaned the grout but couldn't be bothered. All I've done really is cook another blooming Sunday roast. I'm my own worst enemy. Tomorrow is another day.

However, yesterday I was sent a video of my 5 year old DGD trying her new bike. In return, I sent a video (taken by DH) of me riding mine. My DIL reported that DGD said, "Wow, she did it!" I didn't know that my DIL had even told my DGD about my attempts at riding so felt inordinately pleased that I am doing this. I haven't really enjoyed the process, I am nervous the whole time I'm riding, I don't want to break bones. However, I have a strong, stubborn streak (that's not quite how DH says it ) and don't think I will give up now.

I dip into GN during the day, and am sorry to read about Doodle's AS losing his job. Like others have said, there will be other, hopefully better opportunities but seeing and hearing the defeat in their voices breaks our hearts. My youngest has some problems and is stressed because next week he has to retake an exam that he failed by just one mark. I don't know how he would cope with failing again, so try not to think about it.

I'm glad Mamissimo has owned up to a missing slipper but think it unlikely that Prince Charming will come knocking on the door, you never know though.

I'm thinking of the Panaches and MaryDoll, and wishing you all a good night's sleep.

Oh, Panache you are having such a bad time but you really need to look aftery our own health in order to be capable of looking after your dear man. Sending love and good wishes to you both.

And now Missedout is having a sad day as well, despite or maybe because of the sweet video of the wee girl on her bike.

I quite understand the envy when you hear others are seeing their grand-children. I'd hoped my grandson might come over for a day or two during these school holidays (haven't seen him since that brief time in May) but apparently not.

Bought this dear little blouse for my grand-daughter; it was irresistable.

It's been a beautifully warm 22 degrees on my deck today, so I sat outside with a cuppa and admired my roses which flower all winter.

Better do another patrol and make sure all our inmates are safely tucked up.

Hope you all have a lovely day and that things look a little brighter for our poor, sad friends here.