The Lockdown Gang - Carry on Regardless.

cherry thanks for popping in to let us know how you are.
Keep safe and hope you get your bounce back soon. ?
Sleep well all the gangsters.

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Doodle Yes, that building has special significance. There are marae in many districts as they are the spiritual homes and community centres; often with medical and social care facilities; for the local Maori tribes.

That one is for Ngati Whatua, one of the tribes in Auckland.
It’s a traditional design but a fairly new building as it (and other marae) have been targets for racist arsonists. Orakei was burned down.

Please don’t apologise for ‘rambling on Doodle’, it was a lovely anecdote - more please.

Grammaretto Even if I felt perfectly well, spending time away from my own bed and being unable to potter and live my familiar life at home would make me feel dismal.
Your poor DH; I hope he comes home soon.

Advert for Mamissimo Organic, lovingly hand-picked artisan beans. Ideal for gourmet gastro-pub or market-garden stall

Failing that: homesteadandchill.com/easy-pickled-fava-beans
Great Christmas gifts

An old friend brought his new quadcopter drone to show me.
I can see the fun and potential uses but when it hovered inches away from my face with its buzzzing flashing, it was quite intimidating, just like something from Dan Dare

Cherry a picture to help you get your inner-Tigger back.

It's been bitterly cold but sunny today, so I did "the dirty deed" and pruned my roses right back.
I hate doing this, it feels so cruel but it results in more blossoms. A good dose of liquid bio feed fertiliser made me feel a whole lot better - next time I'll put it on the roses.

I noticed the Willow tree is in bud and then, what joy! A golden Freesia! Can Spring be far away?

Made a spiced fruit loaf for my homecare lady - who didn't turn up.
She's sick again, poor soul. The bread will come in handy to take to waiata for our shared lunch on Thursday.

And that's me off duty for the time being.
One last patrol of the corridors and I see Jeeves has set up the hot chocolate and breakfast bar. Maybe I should have left the spiced fruit loaf?

Have a good day everyone.

Ooooh, Bradford, your picture of Orakei Marae. I've been there! It has a tranquil feel to it and a stunning location even in a drizzle! Its a long while ago when we did our round the world retirement trip and we visited at the end of a seven weeks campervan trip around NZ. We had originally only intended to fly to NZ but it worked out cheaper to get a Round the World plane ticket and things sort of took off! We persuaded ourselves that our three month jaunt wasn't really much more expensive than the original six weeks in NZ!

Just looked back to see Marydolls photos on yesterdays Good Morning thread. What a cake!! And what a fantastic day too!

Off shortly to take DGDog back to his home. He's a lovely dog and we're going to miss him. We're taking the campervan so we have our own loo and hope for a distanced lunch with DD1 and family in their garden before we come home. I haven't heard from them since they were in the Chunnel so I'm assuming DSiL will have been to the supermarket by the time we get there! It may be a very light lunch!

A quick splash and dash (as they say in the world of motor sport) from me this morning. I overslept this morning on a day that I shouldn’t. DH has an appointment with the nurse for another dressing change (hopefully the last) and we are expecting a Waitrose delivery. Hope everyone is ok. I will be back later to catch up properly. ?

Making an appearance at long last..... before I am lost forever!
Thankfully after reading the last pages of our old thread I managed to find my way here..........and it is such a pleasure seeing most of our little gang still in action.

Life has been so turbulent with both of us alternatively and then together hitting the deck with some nasty issues.
Whilst (touch wood quickly!) I am in fair health at this moment, my dear man has had a really rough time,an x ray and scan again may hopefully give us a clearer picture of which,and how many bones are fractured.
For most of the time he continues in the spirit of "Never give up",and long may that continue.

Our shielding is nearing its end (16th) and we have both had our farewell letters,although are very fortunate in having close supervision still by both our Mac Millen nurse and our Home Hospice nurse...both caring for me too, so that I can continue caring for my dear man.

Our county has being virtually overwhelmed with tourists,truly inundated and sadly,most not heeding any of our rules.The locals are actually in hiding,only going out in the mid of night so that they do not meet or mix with them.

Lovely catching up with your latest,ever uplifting messages which never fail but bring a smile to my lips.
Wishing you all every blessing and a safe passage forward,go carefully, as sadly this darn virus is holding on far too tightly still.
I demand its departure.........NOW!!

Dear panache how lovely to hear from you. If you have read through the posts you will know how much we have all been thinking of you both.
Glad you are doing well now but it sounds as though you and poor MrP have been through some tough times. Is he home with you or in hospital? Hope the scan and X-ray results are good. He certainly is a man trying to keep going. I expect both of you are doing so for each other. Good the nursing teams are around to lend a hand.
Yes DH is out of shielding now but we are carrying on much the same.
It is so lovely to hear from you. Please pass on my best wishes to MrP and take care of yourselves.

cherry hope you are feeling better today. bradfordlass has sent you a lovely Pooh picture. I love the Tigger song. I used to sing it all the time to my children when the were young ( they used to bounce around a lot ?)
grammaretto how is MrG getting on. Any sign of him coming home soon?
We have just had our Sainsbury’s delivery (I know I said Waitrose earlier - I got confused ?‍♂️) . Our lift is currently out of order for 3 days so we had to carry the shopping up to our flat. Fortunately it wasn’t a big order.
DH is back from the surgery and his arm is now healed enough to go without a dressing ( it looks disgusting but I think that could be the iodine) .
I have at last booked a trip to the hairdresser. Next week. This hot weather has finally got me to the point when my frizzy mane hanging down my back is making me irritable and it has to go. ?

I have just realised that a post I wrote to bradfordlass and nfk this morning has completely disappeared. Sorry.
I was commenting on the loss of such beautiful buildings bradfordlass such a shame they have been destroyed. Places like that, especially when they provide services for the community should be treasured.

You want another story, Ok but it’s a long one.
When we were on a family holiday one year , we rented a house by the sea. It was on a steep road with a low stone wall between the garden and the footpath down to the beach. One morning at breakfast my SIL got a piece of toast stuck in her throat and was choking. She was out in the garden on her hands and knees and my brother was banging her on the back in an effort to dislodge the toast (pre the Heimlich manoeuvre)
Toast finally dislodged, dear SIL was lying there crying with relief when we all became aware of a small crowd of bystanders the other side of the wall, peering over the top at this dreadful scene of wife beating! One said loudly to the others. what disgusting behaviour and off they went. It became one of our family “do you remember when” stories for years after. ?
Is your home lady the same person as your home girl who is expecting? Sorry she’s poorly. I bet the spiced fruit loaf is welcome.

Seems funny you saying you are so cold when I’m here with my fan on melting. ?

nfk how lovely to have done a world trip. My BIL had ideas of doing the same on their retirement but COVID 19 has postponed any planning for now.
My friend has a camper van too. They travel round this country and France in it. Very useful for a handy loo and for long journeys apart from actually visiting places.
Hope you have a good lunch. I expect you will miss DGDog. They are good company aren’t they. ?

Hi everyone! It's good to see you again Panache I hope other of our group are still lurking somewhere.
Maybe it's just too hot.
I'm still hanging in there. DH may come home tomorrow despite not being back to normal. I left messages on various answerphones and a consultant phoned me just now to explain DH's situation. It wasn't good news but he agreed that home is best.

Your wife beating story is very funny Doodle but why didn't anyone try to rescue her!! Why just stand and watch.
I hope Mr Doodle is more comfortable and MrP too.
I'm just tired. Emotional energy all used up.
Off to pour myself a G&T

grammaretto I do hope MrG comes home soon. No place like it. Hope he will make a better recovery when he’s back with you.
DH’s arm is much better thank you. Lots of scabs but the skin underneath seems to have healed quite well.
I too hope MrP is feeling better.
Hope everyone has a good sleep tonight.

Panache! so good to see you; thanks for finding the energy to post. Hope you both climb back up to much better health.

Doodle My Monday lady, Karen, is the one who is sick; the Friday lady, Shanae, is the pregnant one. She's doing fine and has gone from despair at a poorly-timed situation, to really looking forward to baby.

She replaced the Friday lady, Kathy, who got cancer and had to have a year off and then was compromised yet again by Covid. I doubt I'll get her back as a support worker.

I LOVE the story of 'wife beating' but unsurprised by no intervention.
When my son worked with the police, he saw several incidents of real wife beating and screaming and people just walked by.
Jesus knew a thing or two about people when he spoke about the priest and the Levite.

Grammaretto If you read this; ignore my emails for now, it'll all wait. I hope your DH comes home soon where he'll feel so much better with you there.

Nfk Gosh, you visited Orakei They have quite the tourist business going these days.
Schools go to learn about Maori culture (so few New Zealanders have ever been onto a marae or know anything about the indigenous people) and overseas visitors too, though not at the moment.
That helps to keep the social services going.
Most big, urban marae now have some form of revenue earning venture as it's necessary for upkeep.

Woke this morning to low. grey cloud and persistent cold rain but also a joyful dawn chorus from blackbird, thrush, chaffinch, tui and many more lovely birds.

Hope everyone has a hopeful day.

Oh BradfordLass I love ? the picture you have posted for me. Thank you for putting a smile on my face ?.
It's quite true - Tiggers don't like ?, unless it's an ingredient used to cook ?.
Can I ask you a personal question ?? Has the bio fertiliser made you grow any taller because if it has I think I'd give it a go ?

I don't much like those drone things. A few years back (3 or so) there was a massive, and I mean massive, drone hovering just above the roof of our house outside our bedroom. It woke me around 3am and it stayed, hardly moving, until gone 5am. It was a bit freaky ?. I didn't like it one bit.

Panache I'm pleased that you've popped in to update us on how you both are despite what you are both going through. Us lot here care about you, both of you. I hope Mr P's scan and x-ray expose much less than suspected. Please update us. I'm glad that you personally are fairing better at the moment and that you are being cared for so that you can care for your man. Please look after yourself.

Ah Nflk your DGdog had to go back ?. Sometimes it's hard to part with a pet you have been charged with looking after, a pet feels "borrowed" to live with you rather than homed whilst the "owners" are away. It's easy to become attached if the pet is adorable. Your DGdog will never forget your loving hospitality. I hope you did have a lunch and a bit of time with your DS1 before you returned home.

Grammaretto I'm sure your DH will be happy to come home if he is able to tomorrow. I'm sorry the news isn't good but at home he will be much more comfortable and you will be together.

My word Doodle to think that people thought there was wife beating going on and condemned it verbally, as if it was grubby rather than abusive it appears to me, but stood by and did nothing. I can see why it is be of "those" stories.

I'm absolutely wiped out now ?. The additional meds take their toll. I should ? feel much improved tomorrow.
Night all ?

Panache! Good to hear from you ?

I'm unfortunately hors de combat again but I'm finally having my overdue drug treatment tomorrow so I should begin to pick up in a few days. The heat has totally exhausted me - I have very few sweat glands (part of my exhaustive surgeries) so I tend to overheat a bit. I'm also covered in a spotty splurgy rash so I think they'll want to give me the once over. Attractive I'm not at the moment. No ? with Jeeves for me tonight!

Doodle we live in the South Downs National Park near Gilbert Whites house. Have a google - he's interesting. Jane Austen's house is also nearby.

We had bean surprise for dinner tonight.....the surprise was that it was beans again and we all fancied something different!

I'm off for a cool shower...
Take care everyone

Sage capsules are good for anyone getting too hot - for any reason: weather, hot flushes and more.
Make sage tea too. It really work. I like it iced.

Morning all.
DH and I got up at 7 this morning (unheard of for us) and went for a walk before the heat of the day. It was still about 28 degrees outside. Lovely still water no breeze and not many people about.

I think having told the tale of my brother and my choking SIL, I really ought to add that my dear brother was in fact the most gentlemanly of gentlemen. He was someone who would sit and listen to people without interrupting. He had a wonderful dry sense of humour and was charming to everyone and a good storyteller. (like our own bradfordlass) He and my SIL lived a very happy life together well into their 80s.

Thanks for explaining about your home helpers bradfordlass I didn’t realise you had more than one, I am so pleased your young Shanae is now looking forward to her baby.
cherry if you still haven’t found your tiger tail I could venture into your under stairs cupboard again to look for it. I could wear my face mask to protect me from the cobwebs ?
I think Tigger sounds just like you, when you are not feeling poorly. Hope the meds help and you’re back to your bouncy self soon.
mamissimo good to hear from you. Hope your treatment goes ahead as planned tomorrow without any holdups. Actually I have a spotty splurgy rash too ?. Round my midriff. I think mine is heat related.
Thank you for letting us know where about you are. I will look it up. It sounds lovely.
Ooh bean surprise. Perhaps you should write a cook book. 101 things to do with an excess of running beans ?
Thinking of all the gangsters. Keep safe all

Hello again gangsters,
I collected him this morning.! I tried a different route with fewer road bumps and got lost but I still arrived far too early as it took a while to extricate him and we seem to have brought much of the hospital home with us.
He'll be missing the meals (truly) but at least he can sleep in his own bed.

I hope Mamissimo is getting her treatment now.
The sun has come out for the first time today.
It isn't hot here though.

DGD starts school tomorrow. She is excited and nervous and so is her DM

Hope you don't mind ...

? The wonderful thing about Tiggers ......
Their tops are made out of rubber
Their bottoms care made out of springs! ......
I - I - I'm the only ..
Ouch! ?

Sorry ?

Hope you are okay today BradfordLass, not like your message to be short and sweet. We all look forward to your interesting posts. Not to say today's wasn't interesting. I didn't know that about sage, thanks for the tip ?

Mamissimo I hope your treatment goes well today ? ?

Gosh Doodle gong on previous information that's positively the middle of the night for you isn't it ?
Your brother sounds like he was a lovely man and wonderful human being. He sounds much like my very much missed brother. He would sit and listen to others for hours, always had interesting stories to tell, he always put others at ease in situations and I can't remember a single person who met him that had anything but warm feelings about him.
As you can see I've found my Tigger tail so there's no need for you to go a hunting into the furthest reaches of my under stairs cupboard and subsequently requiring a hose down as the only way to remove the cobwebs, dust and debris ?. Very very kind of you to offer ?
No comment on your midriff and heat - it's an occupational hazard for me too ?

I'm pleased that Mr Grammaretto is home. I hope he is comfortable and doing well.
Ah the trials and excitement of starting school. Your DGD will be fine, it'll probably be harder for her DM.

Hello Lockdown Gang, I had forgotten that the ‘shielders’ meet up here. I have been grumbling about my continued shielding on Mick’s Good Morning thread for days. Now I will pop back here and see how the Lockdown gang has been coping.

Good to see Cherry here and with her Tiggers tail on...

A close family member recently had her first baby, but she’s in Oz and none of us can travel there. She was really unwell during her pregnancy but she and her new son are doing well now.
We received lovely photos and films this morning. The baby has grown hugely already.

Stay cool in the heat, gang ?

Evening all.
Phew another scorcher. It’s so draining.
grammaretto glad Mr G is home. Probably the best place for him as long as you can cope with his needs. Hope he is feeling ok.
So your little one is going to school. Hope she has a lovely time and settles well, ?

Come on cherry if you’ve found your Tiger tail then we should celebrate with the whole rhyme please, it’s so good.

The wonderful thing about Tiggers
Is Tiggers are wonderful things
Their tops are made out of rubber
Their bottoms are made out of springs
They’re bouncy bouncy bouncy bouncy
Fun fun fun fun fun
But the most wonderful thing about Tiggers is
cherry’s the only one.? (or words to that effect)

I think that little rhyme sums you up completely cherry ?
mamissimo I too hope you had your treatment today and all is well.
Yes cherry 7 am is the middle of the night for us but was certainly the best time to go out. It has been so hot all day.
Ah you too were blessed with a lovely brother. We were lucky weren’t we.
Hello Nortsat yes we are still here. Plodding on regardless,
Good news about the new baby in the family. How are you keeping? Are you still keeping yourself apart from others?
Hope the missing gangsters are keeping safe and well. Take care all.
Jeeves has iced tea, cocktails, and all sorts of drinks including the hot chocolate for you tonight. He says he’ll give you whatever you fancy ?

Evening all.....treatment safely administered so I will have a big sleep tonight. GP has put me on a monster course of robotics for the spotty leg because it's cellulitis ...again! I've got to get over this to be in good shape for the op week after next.

Grammaretto hope he's glad to be home....my DH has taken to repeatedly saying "Ouff, it's hot today" and "it's too hot to eat much.....have we got anymore crisps/nuts/fresh bread/ dessert?" Do we know who is looking after the leg of lamb?

And now I'm pooped. Sleep tight everyone, especially everyone battling their bodies!

mamissimo glad you are home safely.
Good gracious a monster course of robotics. Will you be able to knock down walls and have X-ray vision. I better warn Jeeves not to mess with you. ?

Seriously, I hope you sleep well tonight and that cellulitis is dealt with soon.
Take care all

Only me ... ?

Hello Nortsat, yes we're still here. Just like you, some of us are still shielding and if not are carrying on more or less locked down - sheltering you might say.
Aww, receiving photos and especially films of new additions to the family are priceless ?. Travelling to Australia in the best of times is a big journey to undertake but now ... well, ^impossible. It's so tricky. That's where modern technology comes into it's own, not quite the same but pretty good. During lockdown and still ongoing I've been receiving regular films etc of my great nephews, they are a great pleasure ?

Doodle, it's (still hot) been scorchio here today too. It was 21° when I woke up but reached 33° indoors most of the day. It's 10pm and my thermometer says 28°. Cool shower before bedtime methinks.
Thanks for saying the Tigger song sums me up ?. I think the ending does especially:
I - I - I'm the only
Ouch! ?
and that's without the seizures ?.
I've got absolutely no spacial awareness and Tigger about then .. bang knocked myself again. I'm only glad I'm prohibited (medically) from driving!
I think either end of the day is the best time to go out when it's hot but the morning has one advantage over the night.
Yes we were both blessed to have wonderful brothers Doodle ?. I miss him such a lot but in the words of Tennyson who wrote about the friend he loved like a brother "^it is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all^" .

Thanks for making sure that Jeeves has a variety of cold beverages tonight, I think I'll ask for a chocolate milkshake tonight ?. Tomorrow, if the weather is as hot as it was today he'd better have the jacuzzi going ?

Hope the rest of the gang are okay tonight, especially Mamissimo and Grammaretto's DH.
Still thinking of the Panaches and dragonfly.

Good night all ?

My goodness, Jeeves is on dangerous ground saying things like that!

Well, my dear gangsters, Auckland is back to Level 3 and the rest of NZ to Level 2 as a precaution. So I'm in total Lockdown again.

One family member in South Auckland has tested positive and 3 others may be. They have all been going to work and school, so a lot of frantic tracing going on even as we speak.

The scary thing is, unlike all the other Corona cases here, they have no connections with anyone from overseas. At least as far as is known at the moment.

This new Level is for 3 days initially (but I have a feeling it'll be extended) and of course the supermarkets are absolutely crammed with frantic people to an extent that many have simply closed their doors as they can't cope with the volume, anger and frustration.

My daughter-in-law rang at 7am to ask if I wanted anything delivered before the 12 noon deadline today but I have a few tins and dried milk in store so I'll be fine.
All I shall lack, if it continues after the weekend, is fresh vegetables.

Takeaways are allowed and although I don't usually eat that sort of thing (except sushi and fish occasionally) we have a local lady who does hangi from home and I've ordered a meal from her. That's my anti-Covid treat to myself.

I wish my DiL would stay home safe and just look after herself and the baby.
After so many years waiting for her, this wee soul is extra precious to us all.

Doodle what a lovely brother. He sounds just wonderful. Listening really is an art; it's usually about 17 seconds into a conversation before an interruption - even less if you're in a Radio 4 discussion. All those egos. Infuriating.

Nortsat Snuggle up with a hot chocolate or an iced stawberry parfait courtesy of Jeeves' fair hands, but don't let him rummage in your under-stairs cupboard

Cherry another tip is honey if you burn yourself. Running the burn under cold water is fine but smearing a burn with honey prevents blisters. There's an interesting story on how that was discovered.
They use honey, burn dressings in some hospitals now.

Wouldn't it be marvellous if something like the powerful Manuka 15 honey was as effective on Covid as it is with stomach ulcers and bacteria?

Goodnight and God bless to you all.

We are having a big thunderstorm and now very heavy rain. The sky has been lighting up every few seconds for ages.
It wasn't even hot. I hope we don't get flooding.
DGD is very anxious about tomorrow. She's hardly seen other children for months (apart from her little sister) and she's horrified that it's not just one day!

I heard about your new lockdown Bradfordlass that's a shame. I hope it's soon over.

So glad you had your treatment Mamissimo

Nice to see you Nortsat
DH is asleep so that's good.

I think your DB had a lovely sister Doodle

Soothing tea for me thanks.
Good night!