The Lockdown Gang - Carry on Regardless.

How long do your potted mushroom stalks keep in their jar Mamissimo? It sounds a really good idea.

You’ve been a busy lot today.
NFK oh sounds as though your DH had the same experience as me when I went home from a party in a Ship. Not quite sure where it was when my Mum opened the door but she insisted she couldn’t see it
Panache dare one ask if the food has improved at all?
Hope you had a nice walk this afternoon. We had sun but it was very windy.
Mamissimo oops. Hope it didn’t take too long to clean your kitchen. It might have looked a bit like mine did when I cut my finger. ?
NFK in view of Mamissimo’s experience with the food processor, why not just drink the gin and forget the soup ?
Cherry so glad you had a good night. Don’t worry about missing the morning, your body obviously needed a rest.
I think your WP is aptly named as he obviously takes good care of you.
Yes I was silly. I shall go and sit on the norty step for a while. I would be the first to tell myself off. Those plasters are difficult to get out of you are calm but a nightmare when flustered. I think I will take Bradforlass’ advice and have some opened in a box ready.
DH and I had our flu vac Saturday and to date no ill effects. Hope your jab goes well.
Ah Dragonfly you have missed out if you don’t know much about Jeeves, he is far more than our butler. He had an unfortunate incident in early summer which resulted in him having to bare his buttocks for a while (something to do with helter skelters and splinters ?). He is as dab hand at making hot chocolate for us at night and he usually does the night shift with Bradfordlass who keeps him under control.
He does like to be helpful so if you have any chores please tell him. He is used to taking orders from women ?
Mamissimo you are norty, don’t you go giving Dragonfly ideas about magic mushrooms. Talking of magic mushrooms, I wonder how Grammaretto got on at potfest. ?

Half time during the footie and just checking for posts... how on earth did mushroom pie end up as mushroom our? ?. That's a good idea to pot them Mamissimo I'm bearing that in mind for when I have some special ones ?.

The mushroom stalks last a month or so as long as the butter seal is intact and you keep them in the fridge. I use those little mustard jars and such like for them. It's not really much of a faff and they do add extra mushroominess. I hate food waste and I think mushrooms have lots of selenium which is good for us and our Immune systems.

Still no sign of a result from DS Covid test - he's not very good at maintaining his spirits when shut up alone. I face time him from the sitting room occasionally. We are being soooo careful not to share air or surfaces with him. Hopefully we will hear tomorrow. The suspense is awful!

Sleep tight everyone

Everything crossed for you and your son Mamissimo . Hope you manage to get some sleep.
Hope your side is winning Cherry and hope you have a good night too. ?

Woo hooooo, we won!! 4 nil to the cockney boys ?. I'm a very happy fan tonight.

Fortunately we do have toilet roll BradfordLass. I couldn't contemplate using ? ears ?. Just before the first lockdown we bought a huge pack of cheap toilet rolls in one supermarket as it was all they had left, fortunately we haven't had to use them... yet.

Nflk another casualty of a sharp object! It seems that whilst sharp objects, like knives come with safety warnings plasters don't come with any warning that you may bleed to death - okay, maybe that's a bit of hyperbole but they could make the packaging easier to use ?.

I think there a gremlin, perhaps green with pointy ears that steals the posts Mamissimo or am I believing in some wacky conspiracy theory ?. Damned annoying when it happens.
Thanks for the link to that article it was very interesting and I agree with much of it. One of he issues I have is with the way the system works. There is a distinct issue that runs through the system , a confusion between what constitutes as a ciriculum and what constitutes as a course prospectus. They are often taken to be the same thing when they are not. The emphasis and focus always ends up on teaching the course when the fundaments of education are contained in the cirriculum. Education has become removed from what a cirriculum means. The term is used as interchangeable with course prospectus. As a consequence pupils (I don't use the term students as to me that is further and higher education to me) are taught courses. Courses are content. Curricular are the skill sets to be developed during the course of study. When I taught my access course I designed both the curriculum, which then had to be approved by the Wales Education Committee, and the course that had to be approved by the university. Teaching by course prospectus had been going on far far too long, it is the skill set that is the key.
The tomato soup recipe is interesting Mamissimo but unfortunately I can't partake in the vodka, I wonder what it would taste like without it ?

I hope you both managed to enjoy today's sun Panache and I hope your Sunday lunch was good too and that generally the food is much improved ?

Drat, posted too soon...

Hope Potfest went well Grammaretto and that you've had a good weekend ?. I hope Mr G is feeling okay and eating better too ?

Mamissimo, hopefully the result will come tomorrow, start of the week and all that and hopefully a great start to it too ☺️

Night all, sleep tight ?

Hello again everyone. Sorry so many posts are being stolen. They may pop up in a parallel dimension and be useful there.

I am home from Potfest. It was really nice: A beautiful Autumn day and some great displays. It was also a chance to catch up with old friends but I was sad to learn of deaths and illnesses.

I was also lonely driving up by myself without being able to properly share the experience.
Afterwards I drove to a cafe/farmshop in the middle of nowhere for lunch and met DD and her family. It is daft that we cannot meet in our own homes but yet this was far more dangerous and crowded.

Meanwhile DS visited DH which was unexpected but important.

I have probably missed a lot of what's been going on here but tomorrow I will have a good read.
I giggled at the gasmask symbol. I always see the clinking wine glasses as a pair of bloomers ....sorry!
?

Fingers Xed for a good outcome Mamissimo
and Panache I dearly hope the food is getting better.
.Great to see Dragonfly with us again .
(((Hugs all round)))
Time for bed. No chocolate again

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202009/medium-492634-police-pin.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202009/medium-746424-huia.jpg

I too was hoping for an optimistic foodie report from Panache.
Doodle How's your bloody finger?
Nfk Years ago when our library let us borrow artworks, I took out a beautiful print of curtains billowing like that.
Now I have my own
Hope your Bottom is okay.

Mamisimo I hope those results are through.
Do you know about author/teacher John Marsden and his school system?
www.candlebark.info
And about the man himself: www.johnmarsden.com.au
I first came across his fictional Tomorrow Series of books about 10 years ago and they are gripping and spookily precient.

Cherry I'm glad you too are no panicker, there doesn't seem to be many of us about. It helped me most in 1985 when a drunken gang member held a knife to my throat.

dragonfly Jeeves will do absolutely anything including making Vodka Gazpacho if you get him in the right mood.

Grammaretto I'm so glad Potfest went well. Were you exhibiting? I forget, sorry if you've told us.
Having mentioned Virtual Reality, I'm going to discuss it more fully with my son who is (calloo callay!!) coming to spend the day here on Wednesday.
All I need (I think) is a smartphone and a Playstation. That's the cheapest; high-end stuff is beyond my means but my son will set it all up, if I go ahead.
Exploring this page gives you a wee glimpse
arvr.google.com/vr
but nothing can show you - it has to be experienced. Lots of places do it so you can have a go before you decide.
www.vroomglasgow.co.uk

You may guess I'm utterly seduced
Oh my, I'll never view those clinking wine glasses again without seeing bloomers. They used to be called Directoire knickers didn't they? And for some reason, certain men used get really turned on by them. Better not tell Jeeves.

The replacement homecare lady was friendly and happy to take me shopping.
My regular girl rang me with a very sad tale which I can't divulge but makes me want to weep for her.
She lurches from one disaster to another and always severe ones, not the piddling little problems I encounter in life.

29th September is the day we commemorate the police officers and personnel who have died in the line of duty. This is the pin I'll be wearing. It's a stylised Huia feather.
The Huia was a sacred bird to Maori but is now extinct; last confirmed sighting 1907.
Habitat removal and hunting for taxidermy and feathers killed it.

Hi Gangsters,
I've had a quick skim through but seem to have missed the original stories of a bloody finger, poor Doodle
A mushroom feast? Dragonfly and a starving Cherry?

I have made the porridge and put the buckets out. Just waiting for MrG to emerge. He has to have bloods taken this morning.
He ate his dinner last night but I don't think he had eaten much while I was out.

So sad about your Home Care girl Bradfordlass . That's rotten. Some people get all the luck as the saying goes.

Morning gangsters, hope you all had a decent night’s sleep. I woke at 4.00 am and my partner was also awake, so he made us a hot drink. I fortunately fell back to sleep, though he didn’t.
I am now sitting comfortably (thank you Doodle) and I have my coffee.
I had a bit of a rough day yesterday, hence posting here every other day seems to be what I can manage at the moment.
Cherry hope you had a peaceful night.
Bradfordlass it seems the right thing to have a designated day to commemorate people lost in the line of duty. Tragically, only a couple of days ago a police officer was shot in a Custody Centre in South London.
My nephew is a Sergeant in the police in the north of England. He has recently been sent to unexplained deaths, where Covid was suspected, with only a paper mask and plastic gloves for protection.
I think the Huia feather is a potent symbol. (Thank you for the photograph).
Grammaretto the Potfest sounds lovely and the bonus of a nice family lunch.
Cherry, hope you had a restful night.
Mammissimo any news on the test results? You poor things, you must be sick of waiting. There’s a terrible irony in there somewhere, if you have to FaceTime your DS from the living room. Fingers crossed ?? that you get some news today.
Nfkdumpling how lovely to have a significant crop on your walnut tree, even if you are sharing them with the squirrels. Do you harvest them? How do you use them up.
Glad your DGS enjoyed his birthday.
Doodle what a great story about your sewing teacher at school.
Dragonfly ... a glut of mushrooms... I like the sound of Mammissimo’s suggestion for potted mushrooms. That would be a nice way of using up the ones that are lurking at the back of the fridge, even if you didn’t have a glut.
Panache did you get out for a walk in the sunshine yesterday? Hope so.
I am bidding on something in an online auction, so will scoot off and watch what happens. If I am successful I will let you know tomorrow. Have a lovely day, all ?

Cherry good news about the win. I’m not a footie fan so I don’t even know who’s playing but I’m glad your side won,
I read that article too Cherry. In my days at school (a long long time ago) a not so bright pupil (me) still managed to read and write and develop other skill sets which meant that I had a decent jobs from leaving school until I retired.
Grammaretto I wonder what a parallel universe would think of you going to potfest. ?
Glad you enjoyed yourself. . Is any of it online that we could look at? Did you get any ideas?
Nice to take the opportunity to meet up with your family for lunch. Good you son went to be with MrG I bet that cheered him up.
Well now you’ve made me splutter my coffee. Saying you see a pair of bloomers with the ? symbol. I have never thought that before but now you’ve mentioned it I can see exactly what you mean ? I cut my finger on my rotary cutter through my own carelessness I’m afraid.
Bradfordlass my layers of plaster are going down now. I think my finger is well on the mend thank you.
I would be interested to know how you get on with your virtual reality kit.
No one has ever held a knife at my throat but I was threatened (if that’s the right word) by a man wielding a scalpel once. Not sure if it was himself or me he intend to cut.
Good your new homecare lady is nice and will take you shopping. Sorry to hear some disaster has befallen your other lady. Hope your pregnant home girl is getting on ok.
Did you read the recent news about one of our policeman being shot by a man in the police station?. The policeman was from NZ and of Maori background. Such a dreadful thing to happen. His poor family.
Nortsat sorry you are not feeling too well. We are always pleased to see you whenever you can make it.
Hope your nephew keeps safe.
Ooh I hope you get your auction item. I have never done anything like that. I wonder what it is ?
Mamissimo I really hope those results come through today. Is your son feeling any better?
Hope everyone has a good day.

A rather grey, damp monday morning here in our little corner of Wales, though please believe me, I wish you all a very warm and uplifting good morning.

Indeed yes yesterday`s stroll ,after my dear man has had his after dinner snooze proved better than expected,it was so beautifully warm in the sunshine we sat on one of the seats and were there for quite some time,truly relishing this lovely day.
As per usual our chats with passers by.........distances well maintained.........was as per ever these days,all about food!
Has anyone had a Sunday roast of ham with brown gravy?
Added were some carrots and totally washed out cabbage,whilst the potatoes were surely from a packet?
Not in the least appetising.........to the eye or to the tummy.
Sweet was a cobblers with stewed apple..........passable.
So for those that requested an update,this week has had one or two decent meals,the rest best left forgotten.

I can well imagine this waiting for the test results must feel like forever Mamissimo,thing is you all have to simply be on your guard in all aspects of your daily life, and it is not something we live around day by day.
Hopefully today will be THE day and one where you can take a good,long breathe..........and move forward.
Your DS must be going slightly "round the bend"waiting and waiting yet some more.No fun at all.

After hearing of the fiasco over the opening of those plasters for your cut finger Doodle, I think I will learn from this episode and follow your example of opening up a few of them......placing them in the most readily accesable spot................because we have all found ourselves coming short when needing that plaster........pronto!
We live and learn for sure.
Knowing how scatter brained I am nowadays, I guess when that urgent need arrives, I will have long forgotten the place I put them in for safe keeping!!!

We both are getting quite "hooked" on these online auctions too Norstat,they really get those pulses racing,were you successful in your purchase by the way?

It is worrying when our menfolk seemingly have little appetite Grammaretto, My man only yesterday stated how he has never ever left food on his plate before..........I can vouch for that over 50+ years......but nowadays there is a worrying amount of food left over.
It makes me guilty too,knowing the famine that others suffer.
Glad to hear that porridge remains on the menu,at least that gives the inner man a good base!

Yet again an interesting few facts Bradfordlass and I was particularly taken with the story of the Huia feather,complete with picture.
Indeed a very poignant remembrance day,one in which we can all share.

So Cherry am I correct in assuming your area is under this new Lockdown rule or have you just escaped?
Certainly wings have been firmly clipped for a large number of our welsh population,however there seems a tremendous unrest about it all,non of the almost instant compliance that met the initial National lockdown.
Whilst we continue to take ultra care,sadly others are letting us down.
I wonder if your snooping neighbours will be doing their bit??!!
Hope you are back on form,but please,go carefully.

I think I will skip all chat about these magic mushrooms NFKD......I would not be safe with any knowledge regarding them!!

Seems right having you back with us Dragonfly and of course learning all about our Jeeves is a must,he has become a much needed helping hand attending to all our wants and woes!

Hoping you enjoyed a peaceful weekend Missedout

Having had a better night of sleep,completed my "heavy workload" of ironing already,with just a visit later to our Optician`s to collect our new Specs, I thought it time I spent some time with each one of my gangster mates.

I can but hope the day and week will be kind to each one,keep extra vigilant and lets carry on being a friend to one another.......it makes for such a better way of life.

We're free! He's got man flu his negative test result!

Hurrah indeed Mamissimo
I feel sure you could do a special dance on the ceiling after your own personal mini lockdown!!!!
Your son must feel as if he is being left out of prison!!!!
Could not be more pleased for you all........................time for a small celebration perhaps??

What a relief Mamissimo !!
I wasn't exhibiting at Potfest. I had my open studios here at the same time but as I share my space now, we exhibited together so someone, not a potter, heroically, offered to hold the fort while the rest of us went in separate cars.

I never fail to be amazed at things like this where the quality of craftsmanship is exquisite but the things I most admire are the simple shapes and beautiful forms and earthy natural colours. Others go for different things altogether.(which is just as well)

I have had a few requests and I sold quite a few things at the weekend so I feel motivated to keep on making.

It was lovely to see the little family. The newly 3 yr old was given a huge icecream in a cone and said "it's cold!" when she bit into it.
They were asking for Grandpa though so I hope we can see them eventually. We cannot meet in each-other's houses and he can't leave the house so what do you do?
People have been so kind to them since the fire. Some new friends have brought round lots of tools.

I must get out for a walk. My walking pal has gone away for 6 weeks and she is the one who gets me out. I have no will power at all.

I wonder what the auction buy was Nortsat

I have only done a tiny bit of Ebay and gumtree trading. Nothing spectacular. I once bought several summer dresses to take out to NZ in November and sold them again when I got home. I think I broke even!
We used to enjoy the Lane Sales when we lived in Edinburgh. After the main auction, the things that were unsold were sold off at bargain prices in the back lane behind the Auction house. I bought carpets and chairs complete with moths and woodworm what an idiot for pennies!

www.scotsmagazine.com/articles/z-secret-edinburgh-lane-sales/

Great news Mamissimo!

Brilliant news Mamissimo, what a relief ! ?. No more ? for your DS or anxiety for you all.

It sounds like you had a great time at Potfest Grammaretto and a pretty successful (I'm not surprised, having caught a glimpse of your work when you posted a photo) outcome for you by opening up your studio ?. Your time was clearly made more special by the fact that you were able to meet up with your DD and family ?. I love your anecdote about your little DG and the ice cream ?. I could feel your sadness though as you told us about travelling up alone and your DGs asking for their grandpa. I wish I had answers, truly I do. I'm pleased that at least your DS was able to visit MrG and it's good to know he ate well, at least when you returned home.

Aha, snap(ish) BradfordLass, I too have had a sharp object held to my throat - not a knife but a broken milk bottle. It wasn't by a gang member though but a man under section of the mental health act for multiple murder. I won't go into detail but he was a notorious nuisance in the unit.
I know a teeny bit about John Marsden. He's had quite an interesting life all told, including time in a psychiatric hospital before settling into a life of alternative teaching and writing. I haven't read your links yet but will do so later.
I love your broach and what it acts as a symbol for.
I hope that whatever your homecare girl is going through that she comes out the other side in a much better place.

Nortsat sorry to hear that you and your DH had a bad night and that you have been feeling rough. As you know I've had a few difficult days and these are quite a regular occurrence for me, I empathise I really do. Sending you some ?

That's exactly it Doodle. There is and has been a conception of what constitutes a bright child and what doesn't. The emphasis had been on academic "achievements" or rather should I say being knowledgable about stuff. It is something that to be honest angers me. You achieved by developing a set of skills you could apply, adapt, develop and modify.

Yes Panache my little part of the world is indeed in lockdown. As of an hour or so ago though 2/3s of people in Wales are in lockdown. Opening up was always going to result in more infection if you ask me. Whether people are trying to maintain distance or not if there are more people in an environment there will be less unoccupied space.

I had my flu jab today and for the first time in years there is no swelling at all on my arm ?. Even better than that thanks to Amazon our car is back on the road, and we've managed to get most of the essentials we needed ?. My WP ordered a portable jump starter, which arrived very swiftly indeed. Now we will be able to get the car to the garage for its service and MOT on Thursday ☺️

Panache your afternoon sit outside sounds pleasant, I wonder if talk of the meals has penetrated to the chef yet. One or two passable meals I suppose could be an improvement but something nutritious and tasty every day would be my requirement.
We ventured into town today for the first time since lockdown. DH wanted to visit the bank. That’s pretty much all we did. We were quite surprised to find that several shops have been demolished and new flats have been built instead. There are two more huge developments of flats also being built. I wonder where all the people are coming from to fill them.
New specs. That exciting. Hope you like them.
Hope you have a restful evening.
Mamissimo hurrah!! That’s such good news. I bet you’re relieved .
Grammaretto glad you enjoyed potfest and made some sales of your own pottery at your studio. A successful weekend.
I bet the highlight was seeing your family though. Shame Grandpa wasn’t able to join you. Do you face time with them or zoom?
DH likes to walk every day. I must admit I would happily sit at home and sew or paint but it does him good to walk so we go out most days.
I haven’t ever bought anything from eBay or anything similar but both my DILs do.
Cherry you are back in full lockdown again. A large part of Wales is. I had hoped when we started our third lockdown thread that we would be working towards easing of restrictions but it is not to be.
That’s a frightening story about the chap with the broken bottle. . We’re you working in the unit when it happened?
Glad you don’t seem to have had any bad effects from your flu jab.
Dragonfly nice you’re still with us. Please ask Jeeves for anything you like. His cookings not up to much but he’s pretty good at drinks.
I hope all the gangsters have a peaceful night and sleep well ?

Nortsat I wish you weren't having such a rough time, it must be so miserable for you.
It's scandalous that your police relative was sent into such a situation - why couldn't he have full SOCO protection?

Nfk at least the squirrels are benefitting from the walnuts. That's what I tell myself when the birds get to my figs before I do

Cherry I'm no soccer fan but the brother of my grand-daughter is good - even got a scholarship to a US college to play for them.
The broken bottle thing sounds scary and Doodle - a scalpel! but I guess when you work with distressed persons, such incidents are inevitable.
Thank you so much for the good wishes for my homecare lady. She's a gem and so kind-hearted, but her situation won't change. It's long-standing, ongoing and severe and the only change will be in her abilty to cope with it, which seems to have left her at the moment.
I'm so glad your car was fixed Cherry. It is truly limiting to be stuck with no way of getting anywhere.

Doodle I hadn't heard about Matiu Ratana. He's from a large and well-known family here and only 2 months from retirement. He'd been with the Met for 30 years.

Panache - so much for your "chef". I hope you're able to supplement your diet in some way, even if it's only with high-protein drinks but it annoys me that you have to.
Your weather is enviable - it's still wild and quite cold here (13º with winds from Antarctica - brrr).

Mamissimo Great news - Yay! Never has man flu been so welcome.

Grammaretto I got a bit excited when you talked about coming to NZ in November - then I read it properly; you were reminiscing. I'm glad you sold some pots though.
I'm sure grandpa was missing them just as much. "It's cold!" bless her.

I'm off to warm myself up with porridge, then plan tomorrow's breakfast menu for my son.

Eggs Benedict on a bagel with salmon? And a freshly baked croissant with home-made lemon curd to follow?
Whatd'ya reckon?
Have a good day everyone

I'm pleased to hear that you can stop holding your breath, Mamissimo.

On Saturday, I received a cheque as a refund for an overpayment for gas when I closed the account on my mother's house after she died nearly 8 years ago. Interest for the intervening years had also been added. The letter was addressed to me at my home address, the cheque made out to my mother! I have spent about 90 minutes today waiting for agents to assist using the online 'Chat' facility only to be told I have to phone them! If I actually manage to get the refund, I will probably have spent the equivalent in phone bills while waiting for someone at a call centre to get around to answering me.

Panache, it doesn't sound as if you have a 'Cordon Bleu' chef! I hope the new cook gets better with time. It sounds as if your cook has little ability in meal planning, such a waste when clients aren't tempted to eat. However, I had a pleasant weekend and my DS came to Sunday lunch, thank you for thinking of me. I wish you and your DH could join us for lunch, although I am a plain cook, I'm sure I could rustle up something to tickle your taste buds!

Cherry, usually the flu vaccination causes me to have a sore, red lump on my arm. This week, it didn't happen and I thought I'd actually managed to have a symptom free vaccination. However, my arm is stiff and sore, waking me when I turn over in the night. I'm glad my Pilates instructor mutes us while running the zoom class!

Grammaretto, I'm pleased you met up with your DD and family. I couldn't manage that with my 'Northern branch', but I think I may suggest that we could meet my other DIL and family outside somewhere. They are only an hour away, there must be a way DH and I can meet them. I never had any feedback about the green-toed fairy and the chicken though so am at a loss what else I can try to be close to DGD and her mum and dad.

Doodle, I'm amazed by how simple it is to sell things on a local Facebook group. A good photo and honest description seems to be enough. I've bought a few things too.

BradfordLass, two of my ACs are heavily into technology. Some time ago they gave me demonstrations of virtual reality, walking around dinosaurs was one experience, flying dizzily around was another. It was amazing but unsettling.

I notice that some of you are still losing posts somewhere. I know I have mentioned this before but if you use an iPad, it is worth considering typing out your post in the 'Notes' app then copying and pasting them into GN. You won't lose them and you can move back and forwards to read different posts in a thread to comment about without worrying about losing what you have written (because you haven't written anything on the GN site). I'm only trying to be helpful, I've lost posts too in the past.

Thinking of you all and wishing you well.

Hi Gangster folks,

It sounds like all of us could produce more nutritious food for the Panaches than they are currently enjoying enduring
Though with a DH who used to be known as greedy, hardly eating a thing and visibly shrinking despite my best tempting efforts, it could be harder than we imagine.

Are the rules very different where you live Missedout?
I don't think we broke any rules by meeting DD at a cafe though with the small people any cafe is stressful and we should have picnicked somewhere really. Cheaper and more fun.

I must attempt to sell things on facebook local. I have given things away but you have to remember to be in when they come.
We have a hospital consultation later today. It is always a worry. What will the medics say or do. Will we want to hear?
Some people like to know the precise details of their condition deterioration but others, like us, do not.
It would be great to come out to NZ in November BL . Twice we have and it was wonderful. The other time was in May when we were picking grapefruit off the trees for our breakfast at Tongariro National Park.

Glad you managed to get the flu jab Cherry
I must make appointments for ours (they were booked for today but I had to cancel due to the hospital clash)
There was no vaccine left at the surgery yesterday!

Because of the lockdown, cases of flu are right down I hear. A good side effect?

See you all later.

Grammaretto sending thoughts to you. Your post brought to mind my very dear friend who died of Motor Neurone Disease a few years ago. He was 49 and his sons were contemporaries of our DC. The diagnosis was swift and brutal and he decided that he wanted to live his best life....in other words, to carry on as normal. He wanted to go to work, eat a roast, watch his boys play for their teams.....everyone around him decided differently.

People just wanted to give him their idea of the best time possible. The current college principal arranged for him to accompany him to China, his small football club bought him a balloon flight, someone threw a party with a band in a local hall....awful! It felt like a wake and he was there. It made him unutterably sad. He just wanted to live, not have treats forced on him.

His wife understandably wanted to wrap him in cotton wool. He told me that he just wanted to carry on until he couldn't. He couldn't bare the sad faces and forced jollity. It made me think long and hard and I think I would rather not know the details too.....some level of acceptance brings far more peace and space for important thoughts than fighting against the enemy. ?

DS cheered up immensely when his partner came over Covid test was negative. He made such a swift recovery that he's gone back to work today. It really was man ? and we are worn out from all that extreme wiping and carting food up and downstairs. ?

Today I am going to deliver bags of tomatoes to the neighbours while they're out....then they can't protest too much!

Have good days....

Good morning gangsters, hoping everyone had a good nights rest. I am sitting comfortably (thank you Doodle) and have just finished my coffee.
Panache do tell us more about your on line auction finds.
Phew Mammissimo what great news. I thought there was something terribly poignant yesterday that you were WhatsApp-ing with your son, from the living room. So pleased for you all.
Grammaretto, how lovely that your Open Studio was such a success. Congratulations. ?? So pleased to hear that the family are pulling themselves together after the dreadful fire.
Cherry you must be relieved that your car is now fit enough to travel to its MOT. I think when you are managing a disability or a long term condition, it’s vital to know the car is there and could get you to A&E quickly, if needed.
Bradfordlass the planned breakfast for your son sounds ridiculously gorgeous. You had me at the Eggs Benedict ... then you put home baked croissant and lemon curd on the menu ... mmmm mmmmh. And all planned with love, which is the best ingredient.
Missedout, good luck pursuing your refund. Perhaps you should spend the ensuing money on a treat for yourself ...
Doodle, that was a bit of a conversation stopper ‘I was threatened once by a man holding a scalpel ...” I think we need to know more ...

The On-line Auction - this was a live auction hosted by Charles Hanson (Bargain Hunt fans will know who I mean), with some really interesting lots ... Silver cutlery and teapots etc, watches, antique furniture and pictures. We registered with the Auction House and left an absentee bid, then we watched the auction, live on line.
We bid on a Baccarat Glass clock and we won it (someone in Korea was also bidding). My partner is buying it for me, for my birthday. It’s a modern piece, but I like Baccarat glass and have a couple of pieces of their jewellery.

We had a lovely holiday in Nancy in Alsace, a couple of years ago, where they have a magnificent museum, with a basement gallery full of fabulous glassware. They have really wonderful Baccarat, Daum and Lalique pieces dating from the Art Nouveau to the present. My partner bought me a lovely ring from the Baccarat showroom there.
So I am looking forward to receiving my Baccarat clock.

Have a good day, all. ?