The Lockdown Gang - Carry on Regardless.

Hello gangsters,

I was also with you cruising Doodle . What a picture you paint.

Mamissimo you too have had a very full life so far. Sorry to hear that you had health problems all the while.

Cheery you should not wear a mask!!

My arms are fine today despite the vaccines yesterday but I have had to cancel the flu jab because the appointment clashes with hospital oncology app. I know, I should keep a diary but I don't have one this year. I put some things into my phone to remind me but not that.

I am a quandary about the weekend and keep worrying which is odd for me but maybe better than fretting about DH.

I am glad you are getting a few things organised by your landlords BL

I thought I had sent this hours ago but got distracted.

Hello - it's interesting that so many of you are getting your flu jabs. My pharmacist tells me that I have to wait till next month for mine because I need the other type.....this has happened once or twice in the past when the main vaccination wasnt suitable for my profile.

Doodle your question about whether I have a medical or scientific background made me smile. I have landed several interesting commissions because I seem to be able to write medical information for patients and others. I wrote/edited some of the NHS patient information leaflets on skin conditions.

When I was 16 I was very late with some homework and I had to write a science based essay for a competition by the next morning or have a detention. I knocked off a piece and won the competition which was judged by A professor from Oxford, a TV producer and the editor of the New Scientist.

The essay was published, the BBC made a film of it, featuring myself. It was well received and I worked on Tomorrow's World with Raymond Baxter etc whilst studying for my A levels. This didn't go too well - I had an offer from Oxford but I was too busy with the glamorous stuff to do well in my A levels. My teacher parents were furious! From all of this I learned that I can write science but not do science.....so I still do. I'm a communicator first and foremost. I gave up the tv work because I was a bit of a one trick pony who couldn't sing or dance.......I still do freelance medical communication work occasionally but I'm basically retired.

And that's more than enough about my ancient history ?

I read somewhere on the wonder web that most people today have less than ten recipes stored in their heads.....I reckon we've got thousands between us. I didn't have domestic science lessons and my mother didn't teach me so I must have absorbed my cookery by watching. How did you all learn?

Right, now I'm back to tomato sauce making!

Panache I hope you enjoy your trip to the garden centre. A pleasant way to spend a few hours I would think.
I hope all the news from the GP doesn’t mean more operations or spells in hospital. How nice that Helen, the lady from the hospice, has phoned you and is obviously interested in your welfare.
I hope the new residents encourage the owners to buck up their ideas and the autumn menu delivers a much higher standard of food than that of recent times,
We agree, Boris’s big changes weren’t as bad as we feared but time will tell if it’s enough.
Sleep well both of you ?

Grammaretto and Bradfordlass i wish you and all the gangsters had been cruising with me. We had such a good time and the tea was really nice.
Glad you haven’t had any bad effects from your jab. We are having ours this weekend and hoping it goes ok. We have one every year.
How is MrG doing, has his appetite improved at all?
Mamissimo always knew you were a special lady. Now you need a special flu jab.
Thank you for telling us more about how you got into TV. I remember Tomorrow’s World very well.
Being a communicator is a good thing. I have know a few people who were very clever in their field but totally unable to teach or train others or pass on their knowledge.
I’ve never been very good at cooking. I can handle basic stuff but not much else. We have a bit of a laugh about it in the family. Both my sons can cook but I have presented the odd few disasters at our family meals. My DIL still creases up with laughter every Christmas when she remembers how I set fire to our Christmas pudding one year by putting it in the microwave for 30 minutes instead of 3 ?. Or the time I exploded a bowl of peas by putting it on the hot plate by accident.
Let’s just say you won’t be seeing me on Bake off any time soon. ?
Time for coffee and a couple of pieces of chocolate I think

Panache another wonderful image of you on skates brandishing a spray bottle as you whirl around your groceries!

I do hope your tests prove benign. How lovely that Shalom take care of you.
I recently heard that the Agatha Christie books haven't been translated into Welsh. Such a shame.

The Sallies were not here to check on me but the property and they provide a list of things they don't want to see, including cobwebs...which I can't see .
Fortunately, the lassie who manages all this locally (orders come from Wellington 650 miles away) is lovely and very sympathetic. I explained my limitations and that the agency who provides home care, won't allow the ladies to do much, not even clean skirting boards and certainly nothing higher than an arm can reach to dust.

In 11 years here, I've never climbed up to get to the tops of cupboards and those in the kitchen plus above the stove are greasy.
I pushed the point it's their property and should be kept in good condition. As they wash the outside regularly, I'm hoping I'll get at least the kitchen thoroughly seen to .

Let us know about the food. I do hope it's improved. It strikes me what they need is not a chef but a good, plain cook who knows how to make cheap ingredients tasty and nutritious, as most housewives did in the old days.

Mamissimo Tomorrows World used to be one of my favourite programmes and along with The Krypton Factor, the only TV which tempted me away from books.

Doodle Masks are required everywhere, so I wore mine as I'm definitely within breathing distance of others in the water and changing rooms.

I don't understand the new UK rules about pubs closing at 10pm. Surely if someone's infectious, they are at 6-9pm too and can be spreading it around all evening?

I'm about to be picked up for swimming again but I really don't feel like it and would rather just go back to bed - but I won't. I trust I'll feel better after I've been in the water a while. It's one of those days when, without any justification at all, I feel about 100.

Hi gang, I've had a lively couple of days. On Monday, DH and I met up with our DS in Weymouth. We had fabulous weather, the water in the bay was a deep turquoise, there was no crowding and we saw no litter. Although anxious on the way there, I soon relaxed. We paddled in the sea, walked in the sunshine, had fish and chips sitting on a wall and generally behaved like tourists, which, of course, we were (although were socially distanced from our DS).

From Weymouth, we went on to Portland Bill and carried on the tourist theme by having an ice cream near one of the lighthouses. I was sad to see our DS drive away but we all enjoyed the day and it was good to see that he was relaxed and at ease with himself.

Yesterday also was busy with a couple of 'car friends' visiting DH in the garden/garage. I made cake and coffee, sandwiches with home-made bread (breadmaker) and left them to it while I visited a friend. My friend is a lady that I have supported in the past with her computer and iPad. She is older than me and a widow. She'd asked me round for a cuppa and a natter, outside in her garden. We were so busy talking that I was there for 4 hours. I don't have many friends so this was a lovely experience.

Today, our fallen apple tree was finally removed, we will wait until next year and probably replace it, although in a slightly different part of the garden.

DH and I also have our flu jabs booked for Saturday. We will have to walk to the doctors', they will be using a marquee in the car park, so no parking available.

Panache, it sounds as if you are getting help and things are getting better for you. It's good that you were able to talk freely to us all.

DH and I have also been burgled. It was the loss of sentimental items that upset us most (jewellery that could be melted down). We were lucky, although the brick through a double glazed window did some damage when it hit our fridge door, and they stole some really bizarre items, they turned stuff out of cupboards and drawers but didn't 'deface' anything. Insurers were helpful and paid out readily. Whenever I go to local markets, I still keep looking for the ring that my dear aunt gave me for my 21st birthday. I know the ring would have been destroyed.

Bradfordlass, you have had an interesting life, and I can relate to Doodle's list too. I don't have a bucket list. I'm not much of a traveller and am currently a bit limited by needing daily injections, I don't much fancy travelling with all the little bottles, they need controlled temperatures too. I guess we could cruise but not at the moment.

I do have a science/maths/engineering background though.

DH bought some jeans online this week. They are a bit long so, rather than send them back, I will shorten them even though I don't like sewing (sadly by hand, I don't have a sewing machine). I also promised myself I would dust our bedroom today. Well, I decided to start with my injection, then tack up the jeans (dusting still waits). It says a lot for my priorities that I actually prefer to start by sticking a needle in myself before tackling the jeans and then the dusting!

I hope everyone stays as well as they can.

Bradfordlass I hope you get some help from the SA. It’s hardly your fault the home care people aren’t allowed to help cleaning. Let’s hope the SA come and clean the kitchen.
I’d forgotten about the Krypton Factor. I used to enjoy that too.
Please be careful swimming in your mask. We don’t want you coming to any harm. Perhaps you need a scuba diving type of mask with a snorkel ? . Hope you enjoyed your swim and it has rejuvenated you. ?
Missedout sounds as though you had a great time with your DS at Weymouth.
Oh paddle in the sea, fish and chips and ice cream.! I am so envious. The best part must have been seeing your son happier.
Your afternoon natterr with your friend must have been a nice time for you both.
I had no idea you need daily injections. Self administering must be difficult but very brave of you.
Hope you are pleased with the new jeans when you’ve shortened them.
I used to be a standard size when younger but somewhere along the line I have shrunk by at least an inch and a half in height (and increased a lot in girth) . That inch and a half now means that I have to shorten all my trousers . I find it really annoying.
I once bought a pair of floaty evening trousers from a M&S sale. They were drastically reduced presumable because they were extra long and would only fit someone very tall.
There was a large band of lacy material at the bottom which had been appliquéd on. I unpicked it all then cut a about 18 inches off the bottom of the trousers and then sewed the appliquéd lace back on. Took me a few hours but I bought them for £5 instead of £65 so I thought it was worth it. ?
Sleep well all ?

Good morning gangsters, I hope we all had a decent night’s sleep. I am sitting comfortably (thank you Doodle) and I have my coffee.

Panache further to your Tuesday afternoon post, I am certain that having a safe place to share your feelings, worries and anxieties, is the first step to finding solutions. You have shown enough trust in the people here, to do that.
Supporting your dear one so lovingly takes up any reserve of emotional energy. Thus it takes a little while to rebuild those reserves, to deal with the other challenges you are facing. It sounds like a sensible safety valve to me.
I do hope that you get some progress on your own health issues soon. It seems to be recognised now, that the NHS can’t grind to a halt for everything except CV19. ?
Cherry, your afternoon tea sounds delightful, sitting on the top deck of the boat, must have been lovely... and the sun shone ?
Golly, Mammissimo, a fascinating life. It would be lovely to hear more about any of your life milestones, if you feel comfortable sharing ... I think “When I was working on Tomorrow’s World with Raymond Baxter ...” is something of a show stopper ...
Lunch in the sunshine at Brasserie Blanc also sounds lovely. We are not far from the Brasserie Blanc at Tower Bridge and we always enjoy eating there. That Pistachio Soufflé with the chocolate ice cream on their dessert menu is always worth leaving space for.
Bradfordlass, further to your 6 month inspection, I am surprised to hear that you are not running a marijuana farm. I don’t know what a ‘tinny house’ is, I think I can guess and I doubt you’re running one of those.
Doodle, do tell us more about your quilting idea. It was so interesting to see your Bargello quilt, earlier this month. I had never heard of the technique and Googled it. So we are waiting to hear what your new idea will be ...
Missedout, I would love to hear more about your science/engineering/maths background. Those subjects are something of a closed door to me ... so I find women with those skills very interesting.
We once went to hear Dr Maggie Aderin Pocock, the astronomer speaking and she talked about how in the past, the sciences were often considered a no go area for girls.
Weymouth ... sunshine ... fish and chips ... family time ... what a great combination.

Well, let’s see what the day brings, gangsters. I think my partner and I are shielding in everything but name. I can’t raise much enthusiasm for going out ...

Top o` the mornig,one that ranges from blue skies and cool sunshine (if there is such a thing!!) and hail stones that rattle against our windows the very next minute!

Which leads me nicely into our little trip out yesterday.
Sadly 2 different Garden Centres failed to provide us with medium sized plants..........yes plenty 5' high or higher,plenty little ones ,anything else was fit for the compost heap !!
I did proudly bring home a bright red cyclamen which adorns our kitchen windowcill!!
Always taking advantage of any trips outside our establishment,we then chose to take a walk down "Higgon`s Well".........a delightful circular walk taking you along the winding Cleddau river and back through parkland offering green lawns and mature trees,a real sanctuary,plus a well as you may have gathered from the name of the venue............we were really enjoying the peace,with only one other couple in the vicinity.
Then came the rains!!!
It must have been such a laugh watching us both trying desperately to break into something resemblig a run!!!
Remembering that we both have to use wheelchairs from time to time,so this was hilarious,two rather bedraggled oldies arrived back in the car.............quickly switching on the heat!!
It certainly gave us each an unwanted shampoo!

Today,dated the 14th September we have all recieved letters telling us the new stricter regulations here that should have come into being at that date.................no visitors to our flats,mask wearing a must now at all times outside our flats,and so on...................still no warden to oversee and this visiting by every Tom,Dick and Harry has worried us for a while.....................why oh! why are the powers that be so slow and then so lax????
We are hopefully looking forward to sampling the new Autumn menu............fingers firmly crossed...........but yes we need someoe whom can cook nutricious meals cheaply........and then there will be no complaints.

Having had a whole month of prodding ,rather like a dog with a bone........refusing to let go! I have made firm ground with my GP at long last.
I have to have another lung scan as the Radiographer has stated there is certainly "something" there..........very worrying,
Whilst still awaiting to hear from Dermatology though there now has been an upturn of events to one of my "lumps"......it is leaking.
So I am back on the case!
However with my priority being my dear man,it really is a full time occupation...... simply keeping up with all these various medical events.

Thank you for your message of such understanding Norstat,you have nailed it in one!
Carry on semi shielding.........there are worse things to follow.

I know that us gals here are all very much in the same boat (sadly not the one enjoyed by our Doodle and her beloved!!) and it seems Grammaretto you really are up against it at the moment,you truly sound as though you could do with some sanctuary time.
Believe me I understand and feel for you.
Of course like everything "It too will pass"..........but at this moment, this is never what you want to hear.

Whilst although you too have your own Medical history Mamissimo you too have dabbled in a whole string of other interests and I hope this continues................amidst all your gardening of course!
Are there things that you have not yet accomplished?

I certainly share one interest with you Doodle............I am no great cook either...........far too many cookery programmes on TV and they really are not my scene!
I read your story about purchasing expensive trousers from M& S at a reduced price because of their extra lengh,yet you successfully shortened them,although obviously the bottoms were not straightforward simple hemming.
I have and I do shorten garments (if I have to!) but quite frankly, my sewing ranks very much in the same category as my baking/cooking!

So very much going on in your life Bradfordlass there is no way I can ever keep up to date,but do continue to educate us please!!

You present us with such a lovely picture of your visit to the coast Missed out,it always has my pulses racing thinking about that turqouise sea!Having visited both Weymouth and Portland Bill I was really interested.
The saying "A change is as good as a rest" is so very truthful don`t you think?

On that note I think it time I took my leave,much more fun letting you all take "the stage" as you all seem to have lead such full and interesting lives.......it all makes good reading.
No strolls thus far,lunch first and then we may contemplate "taking in the air!"
Have a peaceful day,hopefully no great hic cups on the way,and whatever else..............do keep safe.

Hello Gangsters!,

Doodle DH wishes to know where the river cruise was. He says that way he can imagine it even better. He loves maps- so much so that his latest book ordered online is a 3mile to the inch book of road maps of the British Isles, though the Western and Northern Isles are omitted (perhaps because in 1940s there were no motor cars there)

Good for you to tackle taking up those trousers Missedout
Good luck with it. It reminds me I still haven't returned the "darning" I did for an acquaintance. She'll know to get professional help next time

How lovely the paddle in the sea with your DS must have been. Something to relish for a long time.

Now we have no visiting helpers and I have to do all the cooking myself I do find it a chore rather than a pleasure. I have a cake in the oven right now as I think it may coax MrG's appetite. Some of the ingredients were well past their sell by date!

The plasterer came yesterday but just to tell me that he could see rot (wet or dry, possibly both) and we would have to get that treated before he could do any plaster work.

It sometime seems as though everything happens at once.

I am going to potfest but we can't share a car and I'm also opening my pottery for our local open studios festival. We have had police permission! I hope that is good enough. there'll be lots of sanitiser sloshing about and masks.
I have my contactless payment thingy so what can possibly go wrong!

Mamissimo your career does sound very glamourous! . One DS works in the less glamourous end of the film industry. Important but not in front of the camera.

Wot ho All

I posted last evening, I know I did, but I can't remember at all what I said. I thought I hit the Post Message just as Best Beloved yelled through that dinner was served but I obviously didn't. (I love having a DH who cooks, I just need to borrow Jeeves once a week to sort out the housework.)

Reading all your past life experiences, you seem to be a clever lot... working on Tomorrow's World takes some beating! I have such respect for anyone who understands science stuff. I failed the eleven plus by a whisker and went to a nice new secondary modern school - where girls didn't do maths or science. We did Human Biology and Business Arithmetic to make us good nurses or secretaries. My too late ambition to be an architect was a non-starter! I joined the ranks of the also-rans doing boring stuff in offices. But, my life would have been so very different if I had boarded at the grammar school. And its been a pretty good life really. A few wrong (or more likely, careless) answers in a test aged eleven and my destiny changed completely. Had I got it right and gone off to board at the grammar school, I'd never have met my DH and seven lovely wonderful humans wouldn't be. Makes you think!

I've always had a bucket list and have found that when one "I'd really like to ..." gets ticked off the top of the list, another gets added to the bottom! And its been a very long list so I'm not grumbling! Haven't managed to see a jaguar in the wild - but that was a recent addition!

Your expedition to the seaside sounds lovely Missedout . What is it about women and paddling? We just need to get our feet in that lovely water. Men don't seem to have the same inclination.

Bradfordlass I feel sure swimming in a mask is dangerous - as you nearly found out. Do you have to? We're not swimming at all at present as, although apparently its very safe in the chlorinated water and you have to go to the pool in your cossie, you still have to use the changing rooms afterwards and neither of us feel happy about that.

Cherry we ventured into Norwich yesterday as I felt the need for new shoes and I noticed quite a few people, mostly of a certain age, were wearing clear face shields. My hairdresser wears one and says he forgets its there - so much so he spilled his coffee when the cup hit the mask on its way to his mouth. I think I may get one if wearing a face covering is compulsory in more areas as I have trouble breathing if I have to go upstairs in a mask or scarf.

I do hope Panache that your lumps and scan are sorted satisfactorily in double time. Its a worry, but hopefully a worry about nothing serious.

My last load of washing is ready to hang out so I'd best get off my posterior. I'd said out loud that I'd annoy a bit of soil this afternoon too. The rain has brought the weeds up.

Good afternoon all. How is everyone today?
Nortsat I was me who had the afternoon tea, not Cherry, although she would have been welcome to join us ( not sure about sharing my scones though ??)
That was a nice post to Panache sums up our thoughts well I think.
So you are a London girl then. Must be an exciting place to live. How could you tease me with tales of Pistachio soufflé and chocolate ice cream. ?. I love pistachios.
Ah my new quilt idea will be a secret for the moment. It’s something I will share with you all if it works out. If it doesn’t I’ll still tell you about it. I’m not very good at design, I’m very enthusiastic but sometimes the wonderful ideas in my head don’t work out in practice. I will say it involves a thing call couching which I have never done before also making some fabric lacy stuff using soluble paper. Please do not be at all surprised if the finished item ends up looking like a gloopy mess .....and then ends up in the bin ?
I too like to hear what the other gangsters have done/achieved. You are all a very interesting bunch ?
Panache you sound bright and breezy today.
What an outing you had yesterday. Your lovely description of the early part of your walk enticed me with tales of winding rivers and green grass but then a few giggles over your description of the mad dash back to the car in the rain. Hope you didn’t get too wet. ?
I’m glad you feel you are getting somewhere with the GP but your scan is a bit worrying, also the leaking lump. Hope things turn out ok. You are trying so hard to look after yourself and dear MrP , you don’t need additional worries.
I hope the afternoon stays dry for you “taking the air”. I visualise MrP looking a little like Mr Darcy and you with a frilly parasol strolling in the grounds. ?
Fingers crossed for the autumn menu. Hoping for a considerable improvement.
Grammaretto please tell Mr G we went from Taplow, through Bray lock on the way towards Windsor and back. I will post some pictures later when I get back from our walk if MrG would like to see them.
That’s bad news about the wet/dry rot. Hope it’s not too difficult to get fixed.
Oh I want to come to pot fest too (I have an urge to say ‘cool man’ for some reason and having your studio open too. That sounds like fun. Tell us a bit more.
NFK. What ho to you to ?
Oh that’s so annoying when your post goes missing. Happens to me a lot.
I did get through to grammar school by the skin of my teeth and a very good maths teacher. I cannot honestly say it was the best time of my life. I had a constant struggle to keep up ?. Since leaving school I have always been in admin of some kind. I love working with computers and spreadsheets, always have. Like you I am happy with my lot and what a lovely lot they are too. ?
Talking of which DH is wanting to be taken for his afternoon walk so I’ll go and fetch his lead and off we go ?

Panache I think our posts crossed and I have only just read yours.
Considering everything you and MrP are going through, you still sound remarkably cheerful. You are still managing your walks too and enjoying life's small pleasures which is how it should be.
I like your posts so please keep going when you feel like it.

I saw the geese flying over today as they arrive for winter (in sunny Scotland!!) they've probably come from the arctic.
I can't do a list of achievements or a bucket list. When DH first had his diagnosis back in 2016 we did a few things we had been putting off, if that counts and spent rather than saving.

I felt enormous pressure to pass my 11 plus because in those days, late 1950s, the comprehensive schools really weren't, and DM (a widow who had overcome many obstacles to get to where she was) insisted none of us was going to work as a shop assistant or in a factory. But once there, I wasn't very happy (or clever) the only thing I enjoyed was art. Again DM said I'd better marry a rich man because I would never be anything but a starving artist... Now architecture, that would be OK but you needed maths.....
I do hope young people today get better career advice than we did.
Readers, I didn't marry a rich man nor was I a starving artist. I married a lovely man and trained as a potter. We had 4 DC who have interesting lives and seem happy. They are all parents of the next generation. I still do some teaching and make a few pots but I have many other interests too.

NfkDumpling, my DH is always the first to roll up his trouser legs and paddle! To complete the picture, he thinks it hilarious to put a knotted (on each corner) hanky on his head. He does it to wind me up. Sometimes I let him get on with it and look ridiculous. It disappears quite quickly!

Norstat, why do I have a technical background? For a start, I had a solitary childhood and spent all my weekends and school holidays staying with my paternal grandparents (I had a severely brain damaged sibling but physically strong and challenging), my harassed parents were unable to give me much attention. My grandparents were good to me and treated me like a small person. My grandfather was an electrical engineer and used to work on little 'projects' at home, I'd sit with him. He also had a car and used to take me with him when he could. It didn't take long for him to teach me how to read maps and navigate. In my room, on my own, I would read anything I could get my hands on. I helped my grandmother (a keen gambler, horses, dogs) with domestic chores too but she was always happy to let me 'help' Grandad. They had time for me.

I passed my 11+ and went to an all girls grammar school. I had a good, broad education including maths and science. There was no bias (I don't remember any), I did 'O' levels then chose Chemistry, Physics (teacher came in from the boys' school) and Zoology at 'A' level. From there, I did a sandwich course in Applied Chemistry. I think the sandwich course was amazing, alternating 6 months in college and 6 months in industry, earning a wage. I had a taste of many disciplines but my last employer recognised my engineering and analytical abilities and fostered them, offering me a job when I qualified, paying for further professional qualifications.

I moved around in several jobs before I married but confounded most expectations of a young lady by just being hard working. I was also very careful never to play the 'girly' card. I met a bit of prejudice but called it out for what it was. I remember an apology from a new manager who retracted his request for me to leave (he thought that I had been appointed by his predecessor because of my 'attractions') after I delivered a large and important project on time and in budget. I left anyway.

I picked up my career again when my children were old enough, although managed a few part time jobs while they were young. I took a bursary and trained to be a Maths teacher (secondary school). I was blown away by the mathematics, so excited by the beauty of numbers but getting a permanent job as an older (more expensive) teacher proved beyond me.

Finally, I took a temporary role to enter data into a data base for a high-tech company. Fascinated, I took OU classes (when they were affordable) in data bases, following that up with studying the technology, learning on the job. The recent maths degree and OU computer programming courses were so useful. I was at the forefront of technology for 15 years and left as a principal consultant in my mid 60's - still confounding young engineers who initially wondered why a very much older woman was attending their technical meetings in an advisory capacity.

So why am I technical? I think the answer is that no-one stopped me or influenced me otherwise. I've enjoyed the ride!

Am I an engineer or a scientist? I understand that the difference is that engineers don't like surprises!

I don't have many friends but have a lovely DH and family. I still miss my job but the long distance travel was really too much when my health started to cause problems.

I wish I could help my DGC to make the best of all their abilities. My eldest DGD has already come home from school saying that girls don't play with Lego (she is really good with it at home). I can only encourage.

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202009/medium-475082-f98d766c-41fa-4adf-8a2b-ce0d3b79f761.jpeg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202009/medium-784044-302b65ee-4a8f-404d-ba3f-7476fffcc104.jpeg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202009/medium-108934-20b8d441-7f92-4248-8dd2-8e1c3ff9a9c5.jpeg

Grammaretto sounds like your school days were much like mine. However we both went on to better and happier days.
Here are the photos I promised for MrG
Taplow and Bray lock.

Missedout my dad used to wear a knotted hanky on his head on the beach. It was the done thing in those days ?
He had trousers with braces and also used to roll them up. He didn’t do much paddling but loved poking around in rock pools.
What a very interesting life story. Thank you so much for sharing with us. It sounds as though your grandparents were very loving and enjoyed having you around. Life must have been very difficult for you and your parents.
Your phrase ‘so excited by the beauty of numbers’ reminds me so much of my DH. He thinks in numbers rather than words.
You seem to have had a very rich life and fulfilled your ambitions.
We are all so different but have come together in this group of gangsters and find friendship. ?

Good evening! It's a tad chilly here tonight but as soon as the heating clicks on it's too hot. I feel like a fickle toddler as I am constantly fiddling with the switch. Drives Mr M nuts but he decided that he didn't want to learn how to control the system when we had it put in last year. Until then we had coal and wood fired central heating because there's no gas here and the oil lorries wouldn't come up the lane to our house. It makes us fall about laughing when people choose a house on the basis of it having a wood burning stove.

Reading Panache's post gave me plenty to think about today, particularly the question of what can't I do.....the biggest thing is I can't ride a bike. Never had the need or opportunity but it's a skill I am envious of. I'm rubbish at all sport except sailing for some reason but I think it's because DM didn't believe in PE for girls and used my health issues to get me out of it.

I also have no sense of rhythm in a dance context...but I do have two left feet! I can't catch a ball reliably, or kick one. I can't climb over gates or jump over things. I think when God made me she gave me good brain capacity to make up for a distinctly faulty body!

We have decided that we need to take a trip to Ikea soon because we have used up nearly all our stash of their excellent resealable food bags. The kids are back at school, the parents are busy and it's quiet there if you avoid mealtimes. So who needs candles? Serviettes? Photo frames? We can manage some furniture if we take the big car so give me your lists.....

I planted some dwarf hydrangeas today and lots of white peonies - soon be spring!

I learn such a lot when I read these threads. I follow up and look at most things mentioned, such as Potfest, glass sculpture and Bray Lock.

So as a result of Panache's wonderful story I now know about St. Isfael, 6th century Welsh saint who may also have been a Breton prince; places such as Fortune's Frolic (what a fantastic name) and Higgon's Well.

I found this delightful and interesting little film on YouTube.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zcS5sxN1yY

So thanks Panache; your walk and even the rainy dash to the car brought a few moments of wonder to mine

Doodle My swim enervated rather than energised me.
I was in the water at 8:45, sheer stubbornness kept me swimming for an hour and I was home at 11am and fell straight into my bed, blessing my good fortune that I was free to do so. Retirement has many benefits .

I leave my front door open so I was awoken at 1:30 by someone calling my name. A welcome friend who is going to give me some tomato plants.

Missedout I sometimes think time is the greatest gift of all. That your grandparents had time for you has shaped your whole life for good.
I recently read about a grandfather who took his wee GS fishing and sat, in companionable silence on the bank for almost 2 hours before the little lad started telling him about being bullied at school.
In his home the parents were constantly busy, the TV was on (mostly unwatched, just background) from morning until night, there was no peace, no quiet, no time for the boy to screw his courage to the sticking place and tell them what he was going through.

Sadly, that's typical of many homes and I wonder what problems we're storing up just for the sake of not having time for our younger ones.

Your story was incredibly interesting Missedout and I was glad to hear on Radio 4 just the other day, that many girls now choose the sciences and engineering. You were a pioneer and a role model, good for you.

Mamissimo When I lived in the farm cottage, my dear landlord decided he'd put in a wood burner.
It was a tiny, though modern house, so we needed something quite small, not one of the more usual massive glass-fronted things.
We were talking to a neighbour who had recently fitted a wood-burner at her place.
She was a stout lady, 'stately as a galleon' as Joyce Grenfell used to sing.
"What you need," she said, "is a pot-belly, like mine."

And so we got a Jotul as per the picture and I delighted my sons by showing them how to toast bread, held on a long toasting fork against the flames. A pan of vegetables bubbled merrily on top.
My younger son used to say, ''it's like camping in the living room."

I've just heard my regular homecare lady is away for 2 weeks. Not sure why, holiday or health problems.
They'll send a replacement but it's someone I don't know and I'll feel ill-at-ease.
Pull yourself together, woman!!

Hello Lovely Gangsters,

I've just watched the film about Higgon's Well. How interesting. Thanks Panache and BradfordLass as you say. we learn so much on here.
We have a holy well running through our garden (the very same which is causing problems for the people in the new houses as the developers didn't take it into account)
We had the water tested years ago and it was found to have a certain amount of not very nice bacteria in it which meant it wasn't potable. However, we do drink it sometimes. We boil it first. Like Higgon's it keeps running and looks clear and good.
We think that the church next door
was built beside the holy well . The ruins of the original 16th century church still stand in the graveyard. I think our predecessors stopped using the water because it was too near to, or flowed through, the graveyard.

Thanks very much for the photos from the river cruise Doodle I would love to have been with you, as would MrG. Some day soon he will be fit enough for something like that.

Mothers have a lot to answer for Mamissimo! No PE for girls... Oh dear I'm one too.
One of our boys was always wanting to try things (judo, Boy's Brigade, golf, piano etc) but as soon as he'd been for a while and we'd forked out the money for the kit, he gave it up. Infuriating.

I hope your temporary Home Care help turns out to be fine BL. Fingers crossed.

Oh crikey! My DS who lives with us and is a key worker has been coughing in the night. He has a temperature. The nearest test is the Isle of Wight! We are now on day 1 of isolating. Now that the thing is possibly here I feel calm.......in a roll up my sleeves and get cleaning kind of way.

Oh gosh Mamissimo that's a bit, well, scary! I hope your DS can isolate away from you although its probably a bit of a bolting horse/stable door situation. Hopefully its just a cold cough and not The Cough. I know what you mean about the get cleaning calm. I'm the same.

What lovely photos Doodle. You can't beat being on the water on a lovely day.

Mamissimo We've had many scare stories here with exactly the same symptoms and it's been 'normal' flu. I do hope it is for your DS too.
Covid thickens the blood making a patient more prone to clotting so if you're into alternate remedies, look for things which will help and do absolutely no harm if it's not (unless he's on meds which already do that).

www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322384

Grammaretto how about investigating Google Virtual Reality for your DH?
I've tried it, as my son had a demo disk and it's truly a new world. You can travel anywhere without leaving your chair and what you see and the sensations are no different from being there. It's not too expensive to set up and all available online.
.

Morning all.
Mamissimo I’m with you on the heating. Chilly first thing, then too hot, then cold. We’ve never had a wood burner but I do remember the old back boiler fire in my parents house (Potterton has just come to mind) and we used to open the door and toast crumpets using a long brass fork. ?
I also used to dry my thick mop of hair by the fire in the days before we had a hairdryer.
I can’t ride a bike either. Sport is a complete no, no, and as for dancing, I am completely hopeless. I can hula hoop, up to 100 turns without it dropping it but it’s not very elegant to watch
Have fun if you go to Ikea.
Bradfordlass thank you for the YouTube link. What a delightful little story. I love ruins and old stone walls covered in moss. Beautiful place Wales.
Your story about the Grandad and little boy made me think about all those parents these days you see with a phone glued to their ears. Pushing a buggy or walking with a toddler and instead of talking to the little ones they are busy chatting on the phone. Makes me cross
I love Joyce Grenfell and your comment about her made me look up this clip. She was wonderful ?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=clOdyzP9fcw
Sorry you’ll be without your regular home are lady for a couple of weeks. Hope the replacement is one you can get on with.
Grammaretto well I keep saying this thread is full of coincidences. You have a holy well too.
Shame it’s not pure enough to bottle. Is there much remaining of the 16th century church? I love ruins (except the one I look at in the mirror every morning ?)
Mamissimo oh goodness, I do hope your son is ok and that it doesn’t get passed onto you. The Isle of Wight is not a suitable place for a testing. How on Earth are you supposed to get there without going by ferry. Glad you are keeping calm. It may well just be a cold as the weather has turned chilly recently. Let’s hope that’s all it is. Please take care of yourselves and let us know how your son is.
Take care all.

I am still in the land of the living (room) ?. I haven't had any seizures, I have just been feeling absolutely wiped out. I'm in awe of all of you managing to get on and do the things you have been doing and keep posting! In the last couple of days all I've done is finish sorting out the bedroom (finally ?) and cook. The rest of the time has been spend doing sweet fanny adams doing very little.

I'm popping in now after reading about your son Mamissimo. I hope that he has nothing more than a chill because of the change in the weather or early dose of seasonal 'flu. I hope that whatever it is he has not and does not pass it on to you. Pretty ridiculous that he'll have to go to the Isle of Wight to get a covid test. As a key worker he should be a priority for a test though. Will he be able to go there though? I have my ? firmly crossed for him, you and your DH. Getting stuck into the cleaning/disinfecting may be quite therapeutic and take your mind off the matter whilst destroying any and every germ known to man.

Back later today, hopefully .... off to pick up a few provisions as our little area is threatened with lockdown, although ? it won't happen it's best to be prepared.

I bring a morning/afternoon of sunshine from Wales,although I rather think it may very well be nippy!
I have been kept SOOOOO busy flicking a duster and the like...... so am actually perspiring again!
However we shall need coats for our stroll later I suspect.

Hello dear gangsters and indeed you are turning out to be my greatest educator and I am learning things every day.

Reading of your various exploits and achievements does seem to leave me somewhat in the lurch.

Had it not been for one certain gentleman,ma Captain Morris the later headmaster to my small country primary school I realise I might have truly missed out on any higher ............and decent education.
As a child of 6 and again at 11 I suffered rheumatic fever and therefore lost a full 2 years of schooling.
The dear elderly lady whom brought me up,a dear welsh soul with a heart of gold but rather naive,preferring to wrap me upin cotton wool at home to sending me to even a Grammer school back then.
It was Captain Morris whom had always championed me for my academic abilities (though again I too was banned from most sports including PE........therefore have grown up not liking them.....sadly.
He called on us persoally on several occasions trying to get permission for me to do my 11 plus exams,knowing I would the pass anbd attend a mixed Grammer school at nearby St Davids,
The answer was always no ......various excuses every time.
He continued saying now it was a must and so yes I sat the exam,passed and then was stopped from attending this new Grammer school.................on the grounds it was mixed!!!!!
I the market town some 13 miles away was a girls High School,and it was Captain Morris whom worked miracles and got me into that school............despite the long travels daily within weeks I was well recieved by the Head mistress.and for all the next year exams always came within the top 3 .............I shudder now thinking how near I was to losing out altogether.
My life has been one of differences within every chapter.

I did nothing outstanding as I recieved absolutely no encouragement.
Yet this later half of my life managed to make my mark in many areas, always in the area of reaching out to uplift those in need.........from the one to first instigate the Pembrokeshire Cancer Support Groups,now we have one in every small town.
Both of us served on several Hospital Commitees detemined to bring improved services for all with life limiting illnesses into our much our needy beleagured county
Whilst of course, the biggest achievement that took years of planning,hard graft in designing it all plus all the fund raising required before getting it up and running was our Cancer Care Centre,then thereafter working there, improving and encouraging others for some 20 years
Lastly following another difficult path, fighting such red tape but we actually delivered on bringing the first,all be it small Hospice into our County................that was actually more a fund raising work on my behalf,though time consuming.
So at least although I have no scientific roots or great academic accolades to my name,I am more than satisfied and extremely proud of my work in the field of caring.
Just one regret.
I started in my mid 40`s..................just imagine what might have bee had I started this work in my 20`s!!
Although of course I had been a nurse since my early 20`s.

Loved hearing of your Holy Well there within your own garden Grammaretto...........and the Church...........you certainly have a whole font of History there around you.
It must be a specuially historic area.
It would seem that Churches and wells nearby seem to have been the thing back all those years,I feel sure one of you ladies will know the story behind them.

We seem to be getting so deeply engrossed in each other`s works that we are getting our sources mixed up......Sadly Bradfordlass I did not tell the story of St Isfael........I rather think that may well have been one of Cherry`s tales...........
Mind you there are so many Churches,Saints,Castles and the like in Wales.....always a tale to be told!!

Whilst yesterday I was commiserating with you Doodle because I canot cook very well,and neither do I like craft work.......but yes ......I can ride a bike!!!!
It was my one main mode of transport when living o a remote small farm as a youngster (I later progressed to a scooter,and my word!!! I had truly "arrived"!!!)
Loved your pictures of Taplow and Bray Lock...........stunning and you are so fortunate to have these deligtful places to visit,I am sure these out days bring a glow to Mr D`s cheeks!!

Whilst Mamissimo feeling for you and your new unwanted dilemna today,hopefully your DS can have his test and he is free of the virus,but of course with your state of health, having this virus in such close proximity is the last thing you need.
Indeed isolation it has to be,and from us all fingers tightly crossed for you all.
How on earth is he expected to travel "safely" to the Isle of Wight????
Some of these rules truly make no sense at all.

The more I try not to take over here the longer my posts get!!
Anyway I think we need to don our coats and get some fresh air,so please dear gals all do take care and a special bunch of Mamissimo