The Lockdown Gang - Carry on Regardless.

A little malfunction I think............although I only wanted to add my best wishes for your SAFE and pleasant day my lovcely gangster chums.
The sun is breaking through so we hopefully will spend our afternoon out of doors.

I'm back again to answer a neglected question.

Each stay at the Common Cold Unit was 3 weeks long.

The first week they tested and assessed you to make sure you hadn't brought cold germs with you.
The next 8-10 days were treatment/experiments and the final days making sure you were well enough to leave. I never showed any symptoms but some volunteers became quite ill.

We were paid, I think it was 7/6 a day but as we were accommodated 'with all found' that was a bonus.

Transport chitties had been sent out to us, so it was pretty much a free holiday with pocket money to take home.

It was my only means of having a restful holiday as I was bringing up my boys on what meagre work I could get; usually temporary arts jobs with Truro or Bodmin City Council; cleaning at night and weekends and hotel receptionist in the summer season. None of this, even added together provided much of a wage, just very basic living expenses but we managed - and thrived.

I wouldn't mind doing something similar now but hospitals don't want old ladies with health problems, although in my view, that's the very demographic they should look at. They could learn such a lot!

Nortsat This is Okarito. Population 30.

Sorry this is so long

Doodle I hope your seaside trip went well. It's always good to breathe in that ocean air.
A limit of 6? Your family will have to visit in relays There aren't 6 people in our whole family.

Panache I am so angry with the management of your complex, they should be held to account.
As Doodle says, you both need proper nutrition.
Can you negotiate to withold the 'food money' you pay them and arrange something better via Meals on Wheels, Salvation Army, Red Cross?
If I were you, I'd drop a line to Grey Power and let them know what's going on.
I'm not joking when I say this is elder abuse and a reason to make a fuss.

Mamissimo they're not telling you the truth. Sir Tom didn't march round his garden so your beloved daughter could be denied dignity and rights. No one relies on snail mail and if there's something amiss with computers then they should get an IT person in. Tout de suite!

Grammaretto Your poor, poor husband, I could weep for him, I really could. I hope things get better soon.
Maybe your DGD would like a special photo session - family or solo portrait?

Nortsat mch.govt.nz/nz-identity-heritage/flags/national-m%C4%81ori-flag

Some of it is typical government twaddle - especially respecting the original NZ flag. John Key tried to abolish it shortly afterwards!

The symbolism of the colours, although semi-accurate on this page is more informally seen as: Red - the earth, the physical realm and blood shed.
White: spiritual realm, hope, eternity through the unfolding koru and very occasionally the white culture. Black is what we all came from: nothingness 'te kore' and the earth but is also seen by some Maori as their colour.

It caused a lot of anti-Maori racism at first but with government backing it was flown in defiance and now it's accepted - and not just at special occasions.

Bone People I was in UK when it came out and a NZ friend sent it to me.
There are several reasons why it was not fallen upon with great joy.
Many publishers turned it down because they didn't understand it. Therefore the general public, used to much-easier-to-read books didn't either. This was elite, literary fiction, not Agatha Christie.

It's graphically violent; in those days not what most laid-back Kiwis thought of as entertainment.

It's about Maori who, in 1985 were pretty much disregarded as a people, let alone a worthy subject for a prize-winning book which sought to explain the effects of colonisation and repression of their race.

Add to that, Keri Hulme (the Kerewin Holmes character in the book) wouldn't go on tour or do book signings or indeed act like the standard novelist eager to promote her work.
She was a recluse, uncomfortable in company; not an easy person to interview.
So all in all, she and her book were beyond most people's comprehension.
Despite all that and as we've grown up in a literary sense and as more fine Maori writers have been published, The Bone People has been given classic status - and Keri Hulme has gone back to her remote home outside Okarito. www.okarito.net

The therapeutic value of water is much under-rated. It was absolute, total bliss in the pool today.
I began with water-walking, thinking I'd ease myself into it after such a long time.
My crook left knee began complaining immediately, so I ignored it.
Two laps told me faffing about WW wasn't going to be enough. I need to work hard.

So I moved lanes and swam, barrelling (now there's a good word for a portly matron) through the water, arms flailing, legs flapping behind - and managed a full hour of vibrant, wonderful exercise - in a mask
What fun !

I just popped back to finish reading the last few posts and saw Panaches description of those meals. That's deplorable! There must be someone to fire a Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells missive at. They sound worse than the meals my grandfather used to have brought round by his local meals on wheels. He gave them to the dog. He said he only had them so there was someone calling round to check he was still alive! Eventually the cooks changed and the dog had to share.

Mamissimo can your DD maybe pay for the tests? I've known someone have the same thing happen to her only a year or so ago when there was no Covid excuse.

And I'm so relieved Mr G is feeling more comfortable, well, relieved too.

And have a lovely trip the the sea side Doodle. Whatever the weather sea watching always soothes the soul.

Panache I am very disappointed to hear of the poor quality of the food you are being served. When you are housebound for much of the time, mealtimes can be a treat to look forward to. I am not surprised you have complained. How about other residents, I am sure they are none too happy either. You and your DH need suitable food for building up strength. I hope something can be done.
I do believe Cherry is ok. I think she may be hiding in embarrassment. I gather from the GM thread that our Cherry has been seen out ..... without the appropriate footwear ?. I will say no more ?
Panache I have lilac framed glasses. I love them. My favourite pair so far.
Mamissimo I trust the service stations are open otherwise I may well be running for your door with my legs crossed (no mean feat in itself ) . We are heading for Mudeford. We love it there.
I too would be infuriated at the hospital’s requirements for updated tests on your DD. Have they never heard of email. It’s impossible to believe they have to resort to letter writing. Could your DD ask her GP if they can do anything to expedite it. Keep Jeeves as long as you like (although I’m not sure him singing sea shanties would calm me ?)
Ah, there you go again Grammaretto triggering another memory. Not the Lavender hill gang but the Lavender hill mob. What a film that was.
Oh your poor DH Grammaretto I had fluid retention once. It was awful. Glad the situation has been relieved somewhat.
What a shame about your DGD not being in the school photo. Other opportunities will arise but this one is a disappointment. What are you knitting? (Sorry if you’ve already told me ) . I am quilting and painting at the same table. Hope I don’t get confused ?
Nortsat did you just get up late or were you otherwise occupied at breakfast ?
Thank you. We are looking forward to our trip tomorrow. Weather doesn’t promise too much but for a glimpse of the sea I don’t mind. Early to bed for us tonight as neither of us are early risers but tomorrow we will have to make the effort.
I have packed a COVID bag of masks hand gel, plastic gloves, tissues and antiseptic wipes to go in the car with us. Lunch is made so apart from trips to the ? we should be ok.
Hope you enjoy your chicken and baked potato and a good dose of Antiques Roadshow.
Sleep well all. Jeeves is in charge in my absence ( just joking ?)

Good afternoon gangsters, hoping all is well with everyone. I am sitting comfortably with coffee (thank you Doodle).

Panache, it sounded as though the breakfast club and the afternoon tea club were going to be a good idea. How very disappointing for you both that the standards are poor. Particularly as your dear man probably needs something tasty and interesting to tempt him to eat.
On a different subject, we will look forward to hearing more about your new frames.

Bradfordlass, I am ashamed I have never seen (or perhaps not noticed) the Maori Tino Rangatiratanga flag. What do the colours and the shape signify? It’s so interesting to hear about Maori culture from you. I read The Bone People by Keri Hulme, which won the Booker Prize in the 80’s. A colleague from New Zealand subsequently told me that it wasn’t well received in NZ. Thus my awareness and knowledge is woeful.

Doodle sorry to hear your family meal is cancelled. However, your trip to the coast sounds v nice. Do tell us more tomorrow and have a lovely time.

Cherry, if you’re reading ... I hope all is well.
Mammissimo, I can really feel yours (and your DH’s) wrath and frustration at the situation with you DD and the IVF treatment. You picture of MrD in a straight jacket to avoid father-rage is indeed a vivid one. Three months for tests and all communication via snail mail, is a dreadful set of circumstances for her (and all of you) to contend with. ?

We are having chicken and a baked potato for supper, so an easy evening. We watched PMQs and the news at lunchtime and I don’t think I can bear to watch another news bulletin this evening. Perhaps we’ll watch Antiques Road Trip instead.

Have a pleasant evening all - though if I have calculated it correctly it’s the early hours of the morning in NZ for BL, so hopefully she’s blissfully asleep. ?

Wot ho everyone!

I've just spent three quarters of an hour just skimming your posts to catch up a bit! You've all been very busy and I'll have to go back and catch up on the stories a bit more.

We've been away again. Absent. AWOL. In our camperbubble. Longleat this time. The camp site next to the zoo, but it's not just for Caravan Club members and we certainly noticed the difference with people wandering between the vans and not being quite as aware of others. I think mainly because there's an awful lot of people new to camping and caravaning and they don't realise how much more you need to respect peoples spaces. Apart from that it all went pretty well. We didn't take advantage of being able to walk into the zoo as people on Trip Advisor said it was very crowded, but we did do the safari in our van (bypassing the monkey enclosure!) which was great. We also went to Stonehenge and Old Sarum. Both are English Heritage and there was no problem at all at either place. All very organised and distanced! I'm not sure we would have risked it without having our own loo and food with us. It makes such a difference and I'm so very pleased we invested in it last year. Even DH, who was a confirmed caravaner is now singing it's praises.

I couldn't post anything on GN as my phone died! I got a nice new Samsung the week before we went and all was well, until I put it down on the first night away. And it died. Completely. And the site wi-fi was so unbelievably slow, dial up would have been quicker! So, today I drove over to BT/EE and of course, the girl in there asked if I'd tried to re-boot it. Um, no. So now I know how to do it! If your phone dies for no apparent reason you hold down the on/off button and the volume button together until the phone restarts! Simples!

Hello Lavender hair mob!

I do like it BL it looks wonderful.
I am so so sorry and furious about the hospital too Mamissimo How unhelpful and stress inducing for your DD.
Thanks for asking after MrG. The only good thing has been the sunshine today.
He duly had his catheter out yesterday but what followed was a night from hell.
No sleep at all so today, after a series of phone calls, I took him to the GP who decided he would need a catheter in again. The district nurse (who we call the catheter nurse) came and fitted it ouch and immediately produced a litre of urine. I realise this is too much information but good to know the doctor was quite correct and he was suffering from retention.

I am sorry the food you are served is not nice Panache is there anything you can do about that?


I hope you enjoy the day by the seaside Doodle I am sure you will.
The story of the cold clinic is fascinating Bradfordlass How long did you stay?

I am longing to get back to a normal kind of life, whatever that is. I decided to miss a U3A walk last week because the fun part is travelling together to interesting places but now, with covid, we have to get ourselves there and bring our own food and walk 10 miles over the hills with no cafe at the end. I'd rather walk from home. And we had to book because it's first come, first served . Only 4 households at a time.

DGD missed her P1 school photo by being taken for the covid test and it was in the local paper today without her. The disappointments keep coming.

I hope you have all had a nice day. Carry on quilting Doodle I want to get back to my knitting.

Good morning...I'm hoping Mr & Mrs Grammaretto had a better night.

Are you popping in for coffee and to spend a penny Doodle? We're on the way to the south coast as long as you're going to the bit just south of us. If you're coming I'll bake a cake get a bag of tomatoes ready....

Had a good haircut yesterday and finally got rid of the lockdown dangles. Last time I went they told me I'd regret having all the growth chopped off...this time I stood my ground!

I'm fuming with the hospital my DD has to use for her fertility treatment....(it's the one facing a huge inquiry about unnecessary deaths in babies). They rang her yesterday at work (she's a teacher) and with no preamble told her that due to Covid all her test results are eight months out of date and she'll have to have them all again. The tests take 3 months because they don't have an electronic communication system with the local GPs. Each test request is sent by letter which takes 2 weeks......in this day and age it's fury inducing! I made some enquiries about the possibility of having the tests done privately but apparently if we do that she has to give up her NHS IVF rounds.

Mr M has been in a straight jacket since yesterday morning to prevent a father rage incident after hearing her news so I have borrowed Jeeves to sooth him with sea shanties. Not sure it's working.

The cleaners about to come so I'd better run round and tidy up.....

A misty morning but having read of Doodle`s sunshine yesterday, I live in the hope it may be our turn later today!

Good Morning dear gangsters.

What a lady of diverse knowledge you are Bradfordlass.
I think your hint about halting the misting up of a wearer`s specs... whilst wearing a mask.... is one well worthy of putting in headlines,thank you,you have made a convert in me for sure.
It is quite disabling when hobbling with a walking stick and suddenly you cannot see through this mist.

Whilst I read your account of meals served at the Common Cold Research Unit whilst you were takinbg part...........it bears very much resemblance to what we are being served up of late.
It is utterly disgusting.
Cold,overcooked,congealed to the containers, whilst if the portions get any less they will not be worthy of serving.
It is disgraceful,after all we pay well for this.
For instance yesterday I had a small container with what looked a hopeful serving of chips...........when I served it up on a plate............I found chips only on top,peas and sweetcorn underneath...........now rolling in every direction but the plate!
My dear man`s serving would not be adequate for a child.
Most meals now end up in the bin........
Yes,yes,yes,we have complained loud and clear.
One chef has already walked,the other has handed in his notice to leave..............both saying that there have been big changes in the quality since cheaper suppliers have been brought in.
Disgusting indeed.
Now they are opening up a Breakfast and Afternoon tea Club..............Bah humbug I say!!!!

You need not be so modest Doodle because mastering the art of quilting surely is extra special,talking such very fine needlework,a good eye,patience and perseverance.
Housework is just plain mundane....... and cannot be considered in a similar category.
You are one true artist...........and I bet your Flat is pretty up to standard too!
I totally agree about this opening up in our Establishment,but sadly it seems always to come with such a lot of questions.
So many elderly and infirm here, so of course these extras can be such an uplift...............yet they hardly ever are what they should be.

Our day for heading back to the Optician`s to choose frames for our Specs,two for me,one pair for my man.
I know what I would like...........large,round with lilac coloured frames for the main pair..............however I doubt very much I will find exactly that.
However we "wait and see!"

Still feeling extremely tired and we have come to the conclusion it is probably due to the fact my dear man is exceptionally restless during the night.......and I am a light sleeper.
The answer would be twin beds, and although we have said no up to now,perhaps it is something we need to reconsider.
Sleep and rest is much needed for us all,and we are both flagging!!

A missing Cherry does raise a few eye brows whilst of course hopeful that each one of our gang remains in good spirits,coming along soon to regale us with some delectable tales!!

Have a good and peaceful day,Stay Safe...........and smile ........whether brandishing a full set of teeth or not!!

Thanks Bradfordlass for the tip. I do wear glasses and have noticed the fogging up.
Ooh dusky lavender. Very nice. Yes a bit of pale green in the longer hair. Looks good though.
There is no end to the unusual things you’ve experienced is there ?. A volunteer guinea pig in a cold research unit. It sounded ok until I got to the bit about the food being awful. We’re there others in the hut with you? How long was each session? The bread, fruit and cheese sounds much better.
Interesting to hear this is where the coronavirus was first found.
We are being told today there is a ban on more than 6 meeting together. That means our family meal will be cancelled again. There have been a lot more cases recently so I can understand the caution.
I love your little hippo. That’s a thoughtful gift, shame it wasn’t used. Glad you are finding your course useful.

DH and I are going on a day trip tomorrow to the sea . Yippee.
South coast beckons so up early and away. I may not post till late at night so you can go wild and party ?

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202009/medium-24449-maori-flag.png https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202009/medium-208226-phair1.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202009/medium-243144-hippo-moneybox.jpg

If you wear glasses and they fog up when you wear a mask, just fold a tissue into a narrow band so it fits across the top of your nose. Put on the mask and - no fogging.

Grammaretto I do hope your DH is recovering from his day-long hospital tests. It must be utterly exhausting for him.

Nortsat you made me laugh.
I'd recommend that anyone reading Nicky's books have Italian ingredients to hand as the way she describes the food is very tempting. All her fictional stories are based on personal experience and you can tell.

I am related to a Pellegrino family by marriage as my Uncle Jackson married Olivia Pellegrino.
It was a beautiful wedding, complete with little painted dishes of sugared almonds tied up in lacy net.

Doodle I'm learning a lot on the course, it's going to be very useful.

I'm often get asked to make specific coloured hats, particularly in Maori colours: red, black and white, as these are hard to get in shops. (see Maori tinorangatiratanga flag)

Here's my whirlygig hair - is there still some green in among the lilac....sorry Dusky Lavender?
I'll never be as glamorous as Panache but I do have 99% of my own teeth

Having meals brought to the door of the flat sounds such luxury.
Last time I enjoyed that service, with deliveries by people in full PPE, I was at the Common Cold Research Unit in Harnham Down, as a volunteer medical guinea pig.

The unit closed in 1989 but I had 3 wonderful holidays there, shut away from the world, just me, a typewriter and lots of paper. Bliss.

Volunteers were allowed to take a friend to be isolated with but I didn't want that.

It was there the human Corona virus was first isolated and named by Scottish pioneering virologist June Almeida, and later, David Tyrrell, in the 60's.

I may have tested that. One never knew what strain one was being given, sometimes it would be a placebo.

The gowned and masked staff would visit and put germs up my nose, or give me a drug....then monitor the results.
I also had to keep a symptoms diary but I never got a cold of any kind. And rarely do even now.

The food was appalling. I once remember having a pasty delivered and the thick pastry was stuffed full of white rice and just 3 (three) peas. I know this because I cut it open, hoping for a little meat. Nothing.

Fortunately we had galley kitchens in our huts (converted army barracks) and could order a choice of breads, cheese and fruit. So I had artisan wholemeal bread, butter, beautifully strong, mature Cheddar cheeses, bananas and apples.
Perfeck.

I once had a friend who constantly complained she had no money, despite a good income.
I suggested she keep loose change and, as she collected Hippotamuses, made this moneybox in my cack-handed way in a local public pottery - which had a dodgy kiln which seemed to ruin everything it didn't explode.

I loved it when it came out but it was a gift so I passed it on. It was never used.

Hope everyone has a restful day

Panacheit has been really hot here today. I will send some sunshine your way. Thank you for your kind words about my quilt. I can assure you it’s the only thing I have patience with. For some reason I find it satisfying to get it right and will unpick as many times as I have to in order for it to work. Oh that I were the same with housework ?. That will do is very much the order of the day in things I have not really got any interest in ?
I like the sound of the opening up of various areas in your residence. As long as it is done properly and carefully it should give you greater freedom and the ability to socialise a little with other residents. The Lockdown must have been particularly hard for those on their own. Hope the new dining arrangements allow for a little conversation for those who need it. Hope you enjoyed your lunch, ?

`Morning all gangsters,sadly a rather murky morning here but having had such warm glorious sunshine on Sunday I haven`t the nerve to complain!!!

Such uplifting posts,something for us all to get our teeth stuck into!!!

Yes teeth........or lack of,a very much of the moment discussion.Whilst my dear man has long suffered with gum issues,losing teeth one after the other,for all my many medical problems I still have most of my own "gnashers" so something to feel pleased about.
I too have a fear of needing dentures,though took to breast prothesis as though natural!!
What odd bods we are!

Doodle you never fail to amaze me in your quiet dignified manner,now this quilting,a real work of art taking such time and patience,but oh! so rewarding.I can imagine your work to be of the highest quality.
Not only am I pretty poor at crafts I haven`t the much needed patience!

I know very well the inner joy and deep satisfaction of designing one`s own garden,especially borne out of years of passed experiences,and your posts exude such a passion Mamissimo,which of course is very much in the past with me.
I note your man is a "Grand Designs" fan,another programme we both used to watch without missing,but then it got very "far fetched" in some of the designs so we lost our keen interest.

I know exactly what you mean......and feel.......on witnessing the flowering of your jasmine down one side of your garden Norstat........these are areas that well and truly carry us through any rough periods.
Years gone by we both loved visiting Antique Fairs,and our home slowly reflected that, as we found various little treasures.So now we enjoy "Bargain Hunt" although despair at some of the rubbish bought and monies squandered!!
Again The Antique Show on a Sunday we watch avidly.
So I will think of you this lunch time as we sit and watch!!

Another artist in our midst is our Grammaretto with your pottery making,will you be using that picture depicting the Red Admiral on your buddlea ????(I need to go back to school re my spelling!)Certainly lovely colouring and a picture of nature again at its best.
Am also rather a dunce on Captain Pugwash!

Although our areas are sadly getting increasing number of the dreadful virus,all be it more usually in the younger population,our Establishment seems to have a mind of its own.
Yesterday we were issued with a long list of new instructions.
The main TV Sitting room,the Computor Room,the Games Room and Seminar area have all been under lock and key,all now re opened.
We can now use both Dining room /sitting room,and in fact from next month lunch will again be served there,taking 2 sittings as only 2 per table allowed.
Those vulnerable or shielders can still have lunch brought to their Flat door.
A Breakfast Club is open between 8.30am and 10am with a varied menu and again Afternoon teas served at 3.30p.
Sounds good but I think we need to see and witness it all in action first
Great idea and most welcome for those all alone,housebound without visitors and so on...........a step in the right direction.

Time I stepped in the opposite direction as Lunch will shortly be arriving!!
A day of rest is in order as my man certainly needs a period of peace to recuperate.It seems these walks have been just a little demanding.

Have yourselves a good day doing all those things you most enjoy.Keep smiling and and above all else.........Keep Safe!

Morning all. Up a bit earlier today as DH has to go and collect the car from the garage. The handbrake broke.
While he is out I will crack on with the cleaning.
Very grey and overcast today.

Bradfordlass I love olives. Haven’t had one for ages. Sounds as though you enjoyed the book.
A knitting commission for a pink beanie. Nice to have people ask for your work. I hope you get the hair colour you want.
Hope your course is going well.
Grammaretto I wouldn’t like a plate either. DH has a tooth which he thinks needs to come out and the dentist has mentioned a plate. DH is not at all keen.
Hope MrG’s hospital appointment goes well.
Your pottery class sounds as though they are making a variety of things. Are they students or just anyone who wants to have a go at making something?
Nortsat thank you for the comments about my quilt. No not clever really, just a dab hand at unpicking stitches with my seam ripper ?. I enjoyed making that one but it really was hard work. I will try something easier next time.
Another who wants olives. I will have to send Jeeves to Italy to bring some back for us.
Have a good day all.

Good morning gangsters, hope everyone had a decent nights sleep. I have got my coffee and am sitting comfortably (thank you doodle).
Doodle thank you also for sharing the intricacies of the Bargello quilt. It’s really beautiful and obviously requires considerable skill to make. I looked Bargello quilts up on the internet and watched a demonstration on YouTube. It was fascinating. Yours is just as beautiful as the demonstration example. How clever you are.
Bradford the action to save the trees is gaining some ground. I appreciate that it’s very difficult in the face of developers and their £millions. However, awareness is being raised and that must help ...
Mammissimo, it must be lovely developing your garden from scratch after being a gardener for so many years. You can think of all the mistakes your experience will help you avoid and can use all your knowledge to good advantage. I can imagine many happy hours of thinking and planning, as you bring this garden to life.
Cherry I am a bit late catching up, but I hadn’t heard about the train derailment and oil spill. What a catastrophe. How can a train with such a toxic cargo just come off the rails? It’s dreadful.
Panache, it’s sad you didn’t see your daffodils at your previous house last year, but it’s a nice thought that they will return and give the new owners a lovely Spring surprise.
We have winter flowering jasmine down one side of our garden and it looks glorious when it’s in bloom. It never fails to give me a lift on dark cold days.
Your visit to Broad Haven sounds lovely. (By the way, I am with your man, because I love Bargain Hunt and my partner watches it with me, though it’s not his first choice ...).
Grammaretto what a lovely photo of the red admiral (?) on your buddleja (sp?). Our garden is a bit overgrown in places and yesterday our pyracantha (which has gone bananas this year) was full of wasps, bees and flies and the birds were watching all the activity with great interest.
I’d very much enjoy hearing more about your pottery and the visiting potters.
However, you may feel it’s a bit too ‘identifying’ on a public site. There have been some peculiar threads recently and Marydoll reminded us on the Good Morning thread, that we need to remember this is all public.
It seems not every poster has friendly interest and kindliness as their key motivators.
Missedout sorry to hear about your tooth.
I understand your feelings about false teeth. My mother had all her teeth taken out when she was about 25. She had gum disease, which of course is easily treatable these days. It seems unimaginable to me for a young woman to loose all her teeth at 25.
Bradfordlass, I am not even reading Nicky Pellegrino, it’s 10.00am and now I want fresh pasta? and olives and fresh tomatoes ? !!

Have a good day, gangsters ?

Hello gangsters,

Teeth! Arghh. That's what happened to me. I lost 3 teeth last year and the dentist was so matter-of-fact about it. Admittedly it was nice to have no pain but although I was given a plate, I can't bear it preferring to have gaps which I pretend to myself no-one notices.

DH's granny had all hers out before she was 30 to save expense later.

There are worse things about growing older - but not many.

I delivered DH to his all day appointment and will probably fetch him later. It's door to door on the bus but we don't use the bus now - hospital advice. Such a shame.

I knew nothing of that racy stuff about Captain Pugwash. I am vhery dim about things like that.
Innuendo passes me by.
I remember being offered sugar lumps at college in the 1960s, for £1 each.
That's expensive and I don't take sugar thanks. Ages later I was told it was LSD being peddled.

The class have been very busy making all kinds of objects. Small houses, plant pots, a structure with castellations, various thrown pots which they'll finish today. Some arrive with photos from Pinterest to help their creative juices to flow. What usually works is if I suggest something - they definitely don't want to do that and remember what it was. One was working in porcelain so that will be interesting.

Mamissimo I am relieved to hear the Pugwash slurs were manufactured. I was all set to look it up because I honestly couldn't believe the BBC would let such things pass.

Missedout I went through the same 'mourning process' when I lost a tooth last year. Logical really, when you think our teeth have been with us from the first few months of life and served us well for decades. Why would we not be upset when part of our youth and life is extracted?

I've just finished Nicky Pellegrino's, 'A Dream of Italy' which, of course makes me want pasta and olives and fresh tomatoes.
I shall have to wait for these last, as they are currently $12 a kilo (£6). I ate my tiny last one with garlic cheese and half a Lebanese cucumber.

Although born in the UK, she's a Kiwi now and lives in Auckland but when I'm reading her books, I live in Italy.

I hope to be able to pick up my hair colour today and get more wool (actually acrylic but both make me itchy so I can't wear my own hats) as I've had a request to make a pink beanie.

I should be doing the laundry instead of sitting here, so I will bid you all adieu, ka kite, adios and ciao.... before my homecare lady gets here and catches me shirking.

Well I didn’t know any of that Mamissimo . I have heard that story about Seaman Staines so many times. Perhaps it was all an urban legend as you say. Oh well Missedout’s DH will be please to know it’s not true...or is it? I’m confused now ?
I was going to ask how you make your DH vibrate but I think I will drop that line of questioning
Ah yes. We have had trouble with the vampires in the past. Once waited over 3 hours for the pleasure of being leeched.
You must be worn out after such a full on day. Oh you are so mean. I absolutely love those Tunnocks Caramel biscuits. I want one too ?
Missedout yes it seems Captain Pugwash was innocent. I have heard the tale of the names so many times it even comes up in facts in Google. There’s me thinking I was too innocent to notice at the time. ?
Sorry you lost a tooth. If you’d brought it home, you could have put it under your pillow and Jeeves would have left you a sixpence for it. He likes to think he’s a fairy on occasions ?
Hot chocolate at the ready for all.
Thinking of all the gangsters. Hope you all have a good night ?

Mamissimo, I'm glad you cleared up the 'Pugwash' issue. It was awful to think that something so innocently enjoyed was not so innocent after all.

I went to the dentist but my tooth (molar) was too bad to be crowned and couldn't be saved. After going through my options, my dentist extracted the tooth. I'm surprised how upset I am at the loss of the tooth. The dentist mentioned the possibility of a small denture. I must admit I thought of all my elderly relatives with their pink/orange dentures from when I was young and shuddered. I know I will feel better tomorrow.

I'm going to take some paracetamol and go to bed soon. I'll be back!

Oops - half of that was a quote and my ^ didn't work! Sorry.

You are naughty and misled gangsters....? The author of Capt. Pugwash was a deeply religious man and was very upset indeed by the naughtiness of 'comedians' who spoilt Pugwash for many.....
^ An absolute classic urban legend, which claims that the animated BBC series Captain Pugwash (1958 to 1967), featured several rude character names, including Master Bates, Seaman Staines and Roger the Cabin Boy. And that Pugwash itself was Australian slang for oral sex. Tee-hee.

Actually, the real show featured the characters Master Mate, Tom the Cabin Boy and the pirates Barnabas and Willy. OK, that last one is a bit funny.

Creator John Ryan actually won settlements from several newspapers which claimed the show had such smutty names, and the BBC had even taken it off the air because of the rumours.

Comedy duo Victor Lewis-Smith and Paul Sparks have claimed credit for starting the rumours, while the naughty names have also been attributed to a Richard Digance sketch.^

I am a very passionate Pugwash supporter who also plants her bulbs with the help of --a vibrating mole deterrent--her DH! ?

Today has been busy - we began with a trip to the dump, timed to lead smoothly to a blood test appointment, itself timed to lead to picking up my sister in law and going to lunch at my nephew's pub. Went well until the vampire was running an hour and a half late....we eventually got lunch at 3.00!

On the return trip we agreed to go to Sainsbugs to get a few heavy items which in English means the whole darned shop...and we finally arrived home at 7!

Mr M is now a little tetchy and watching Grand Designs. Dog is sulking because her dinner was late. AC have all rung because they got no reply earlier and were worried. Me? I'm fine because I've just found a single Tunnocks Caramel biscuit and I'm eating it secretly in another room.

The weather this week looks promising so I may firm up my resolve to get bulb planting and I will use the appropriate tool!

Sleep tight

Panache what a shame your blog is not as you left it and the pictures have been deleted. I would have liked to have read it too.
I’m not sure we’ll be getting much in the way of florals. Our management are a bit stingy too. We have new plants but most of them are green. Hoping we can encourage them to put in a bit more colour. We have some keen gardeners among other owners so hoping they will help.
Your afternoon out sounds nice. How pleasant to find a seat away from the crowds to relax and enjoy your surroundings. Yes please do rest before the return to the optician. It quite wore you out last time. Enjoy Bargain hunt ?
Grammaretto what did your potters make? Do they come often? Are they let loose or do you teach? Sorry, lots of questions but it is quite interesting.
I hope all goes well with the hospital appointment tomorrow.
Hope you both sleep well tonight. Jeeves will be round with the hot chocolate so that anyone who wants an early night can get a good sleep.

Panache I can imagine the beautiful scene.
Yesterday was gorgeous here too. Today on the other hand has been blustery and rainy.

I have just bought a cordless lawn mower online and will have to collect it on Thursday. I asked on here for recommendations so I am hoping it is good. The most important thing is light weight and ease of starting. Our big petrol mower is a monster.

I had my small group of potters for their annual fix much to DC's disapproval all masked up. They were very productive.

DH can hardly wait for his hospital appt tomorrow.

I'm off for a brisk walk in a wee while.
See you later.