The Lockdown Gang - Carry on Regardless.

Apologies for being awol but it seems sadly my own time is getting more and more limited so please know you will be in my thoughts anyway when unable to actively join with you.

So sad Doodle hearing you have been.........."up to your pretty little neck" with further issues relating to your dear Mr D.
I totally understand and feel so much for you,it is very difficult coping with all these unexpected extras, especially when you already are fully aware of your dear man`s frail health.
It demands such effort and is utterly draining.
However once again you have both overcome and determined to make further use of your caravan break.
I sincerely hope you will both have some peace to enjoy whatever time left.

Hopefully Mr G is feeling somewhat less painful Grammaretto I am another that can vouch for the crippling pain of renal colic.

Keep getting yourself b ack to good health Bradfordlass.......good to know it does nothing to take away your sense of humour!!

Love hearing of your shopping sprees gals,nothing quite like it to uplift the mood!!
My long line cream woollen gilet and copper coloured cardie arrived last week..........the gilet ellicited an immediate great remark from my man,whilst one look at the Cardie and it is on its way back!
Whilst I also recieved a super but simple velvet sweater in a damson shade by by favourite designer .....that is a keeper!

Hope the haircut helped to uplift you Norstat as you seem to be still not feeling very well.
I had mine on friday and this time the lady wore her full PPE.......and my hair is back manageable again,such a boon.

Making a determined effort to keep in touch although I realise I overdone my "spot" by venting in full measure about our difficulty in getting a GP appointment for my very poorly man.
So sorry but I was........and am..demented.
Quite frankly I am totally incensed by the way they treated us,then on arriving at the Surgery.......at great effort may I add.......it is finding the Practise main Doctor after all.
Yes my dearest recieved a most thorough MOT which was most appreciated, but on the later arrival of our Palliative Care Nurse she simply broke it gently that all his debilitating complaints,plus putting on 1 stone 8pounds in 9 months..... is again all contributed to either his disease or its treatment.
We have reached a stalemate and the only treatment could be radiotherapy..........a journey of some 70 miles each way......and he is not in a fit state to travel day in,day out.
So there has been much contemplating.
His appetite is vanishing,fatigue growing,pains increasing.......and with my health worsening too,we truly feel like a hamster going round and round that same old wheel.

I totally agree with you Cherry and Dragonfly having confidence in your Doctor is imperitive.
We have been so very well cared for by our Gp`s and NHS in the past,they have saved my life at least twice..... so it has been a real shock to the system meeting with such a brick wall since moving and having to change Surgeries. ................whilst of course the onset of covid has added to the difficulties.

Please know you are all in my thoughts but I have to cut it shorter than I would like..............have yourselves a pleasant........and safe..Sunday.
The weather remains great but next week we are in for a marked change it seems.

Hello all. Thank you for your kind thoughts. I have read them out to DH and he is grateful for your good wishes. We both slept well last night.
We are packing up to go home. I have had enough of this ‘holiday’. We had a beautiful long walk on the beach a couple of days ago which we both enjoyed but I think the relaxing break has not been quite what we had in mind and we are going home.
dragonfly some consultants/doctors go the extra mile don’t they. It’s nice to have confidence in your doctor when you have a serious illness.
Bradfordlass you have still retained your lovely sense of humour I see ?. Glad you are on the mend now and eating a bit. . Being on standby for when the baby comes you will need to be fit. ? It’s a shame you can’t enjoy books due to your eyesight problem. Thank goodness we do have audio books these days.
cherry lovely surprise visit from your niece and DH. That must have lifted the spirits. Your mention of jeggins reminds me of the first time I heard the word when my DGD had a pair. She is so slender and the the legs so tight I wondered how she could get them on (or off to go to the loo) ?
Mamissimo so you have been on a shopping spree too. I like the sound of your purchases. I too am planning a bit of online shopping but in view of my recent panicked packing of a hospital bag for DH I am looking for a bag organiser. One of those things with pockets for phones and iPads and keys etc. Yesterday, at the hospital I kept checking I had DHs wallet and my purse and the car keys and caravan keys and the parking ticket and mask and hand wipes and tissues and a bottle of water and some biscuits in my bag. I seemed to spend all my time rummaging through my bag looking for something.
Our local NT place has courses for wreath making too. I have often fancied having a go. Hope you both enjoy it.
Interesting comment about changing the bath. Fortunately when we moved into our flat we had the bath taken out of our en suite and replaced with a walk-in shower. 9 weeks after we moved in DH was in hospital with TIAs and had to have urgent surgery on his artery. We decided with the possibility of further stroke a walk in shower would be a good idea.
Grammaretto glad your DH has his plumbing back again and is feeling a bit better. Things do take a while to return to normal so lots of rest as you say. Has his appetite improved at all? Hope your quiz went well.
Nortsat sorry you have been feeling poorly again. Hope your haircut goes well. Mine is due next week. Is your clock set up and working yet. I would love to see a picture if that is ok.
Missedout you’ve been shopping too ??. What fun.
Hope your hand is improving. Glad you are having it checked again. Have a nice day with your family.
Panache my admiration for you has grown over the last few days. Whilst I am physically fit myself I found ‘taking charge’ and looking after DH whilst away from home and not being able to go to hospital with him has left me quite drained. How you cope with looking after MrP with all your own health issues to deal with is beyond me. I am glad MrP has been properly assessed at last but it still doesn’t sound as though you are getting much help. I can’t imagine how difficult it must be for you coping on your own without family to turn to for help. Sorry for all the stress you are going through, you are certainly not bad people. Hope you both have a peaceful day today.
nfk hope your sleepover with your DGS went well. Have your fish recovered from their ordeal yet?
Sorry if I have missed anyone out. Hope all tails are firmly attached and adorning beautiful ?. Take care all and hope my next post will be from the comfort of our own home,?

So sorry to hear about your DH Doodle when I turned over the page. I hope the antibiotics are working. Not the holiday you planned!

Great that you are eating a little Bradfordlass hope you are back to normal soon.

I do not know the pain of kidney stones Grammaretto but when my son had pancreatitis I wasn’t allowed near him as the pain was so bad. Such a helpless feeling.

I hope the haircut went well Nortsat. I am wondering what to do with mine now that I finally have some!

Cherry how lovely to buy new clothes - it must have felt like things were almost normal. Pleased your ribbon is tied with a double bow.

So pleased your DH got released from his hospital appointment. I was a thallium reduced to tears once after I had been there 8 hours and I left before all the results were in.

Bradfordlass as a good Yorkshire girl myself I can appreciate you are happy with the care your friend is getting.

I hope your hand feels better soon Missedout and your DH continues to improve Doodle.

Panache I am shocked at the way you are being treated, or not, by your doctors. We are lucky with ours and I am able to speak to the duty doctor at any time. I do think it is so rude of them not to keep to appointments. I would definitely write a complaint.

I realised after I had spoken to my consultant on Thursday that I had not thanked her for all she had done. These doctors make me so nervous. I rang back and left a message with the nurse but also wrote her a letter. Apparently I will see her in the summer of 2022 as they alternate with oncology.

Grammaretto Just for you

www.facebook.com/watch/?v=392662078561259

Oh, Doodle I'm so very sorry to hear your DH had a relapse, let's hope the new meds kick in quickly. Lots of rest for you both is my prescription.

I envy your soft knit claret dress Cherry and the green cord skirt, they both sound lovely. As does Mamissimo's blue pinafore.

What a nice niece surprise and you sound to have had the right weather for the gathering too.
May I please have the recipe for your Christmas syrup?

Retail therapy is an oxymoron.

Grammarretto Baby is due 18th November but prem labour could be a factor.
As I'd promised to taxi to the hospital to pick up DGS if this happened, I was hoping I didn't get a call whilst I was sick.
Some people pay a fortune for a detox programme such as I've just been through but I doubt a taxi driver would appreciate being part of it.

It seems there was a landslide for Jacinda. Poor old Clarke went on record as hoping for some quiet family life. Can't see that happening for a while.
Very glad to hear your DH is making progress, albeit not as speedily as he might like. Slow and steady is the thing.

Missedout it sounds as if your poor hand was mashed more severely than I'd thought. I'm told it's the tendons which heal the slowest. It's at times like these when you need all the little treats you can get to lift the spirits, so if you enjoy the hair-dressers, do it eh?

Mamissimo Lysistrata didn't need spikes on her boots . Let DH pull down the soggy bean mountain.

I'm off to make a 3 course brunch:
1 tbs spoon raw oats
5 tbs boiled milk
2 acidiphilus bifidus capsules
Accompanied by a cheeky but unpretentious little Buckwheat Tea.

Cheers to all

Sorry to hear that about Mr D Doodle. I hope the stronger antibiotics work. Hope you both have a lovely peaceful sleep.

Aww, that's nice... a comfy sit down ?

It's been one of those days, but a nice one ?. I had just got out of the shower this morning and the phone rang, my niece1 and her husband were only a mile away and asked if we had time free for them to pop by. Of course we did! We had a nice time together chatting outside, fortunately it's been lovely and sunny here today. After they had gone I got stuck into some much needed housework my WP is great but he doesn't really do the shower room, sinks and the like . Before I knew it it was mid afternoon and I hadn't done the other "job" I planned to do - stewing apples and poaching about another 5 kilos of pears and making my Christmassy syrup. By the time I'd done that, the time
was unbelievable and I thought we'd better make something to eat. I'm sure it didn't take as long to do things when I was younger!?

BradfordLass I too was wondering whether the artist who did that portrait may have been Magritte. He did do a painting where he 'replaced' a head for a lightbulb but unfortunately it's not the painting I was thinking of. I resorted to "Mr Google" but couldn't find it ?. I'll have to dig out my books, I think a picture of the painting is in one of them. If, in the meantime, anyone else has any ideas of who the artist might be please put me out of my misery let me know.
According to what I've read it sounds like the election in New Zealand is a landslide. Much easier than a coalition I think ?. Unlike you I am interested in politics but have never been a member of a political party. I'm more interested in issues than party politics I think.
When I was reading about you walking home book in hand I was thinking that now we see people walking down the street transfixed by their phones. A lot different I think.
I'm pleased that you were able to eat breakfast, a positive sign you are on the mend, I hope ?

Pleased to hear that Mr G has improved a bit ?. I don't think I can say that my experience when I had kidney stones was a similar one but the renal colic I had was horrible, as was an infected stent, which was fortunately discovered before I developed sepsis.
I know that you take it in turns (so to speak) to set your zoom quizzes, do you have any forewarning of the topic (not the questions) so you can revise? ?. Religion is a hard one for many people I think. We're much more a civic society than we used to be. I did study theology at university but I can't say I remember everything I learnt ?. I do know the answers, I think, to the three you've listed - christ means Messiah, chosen son, so that's why he's called christ, if the next question means why ? it's because Mecca was the birthplace of Mohammed and the last one has something to do with the covenant between god and Abraham. Like I said I don't remember everything so if I'm wrong ? ?

I hope you are happy with your haircut Nortsat ?
In my defence (hmph ?) my retail therapy wasn't all in one go - but visit by visit to the shops since release from the penintentiary ?. That's why I need to be locked up again I think because since release resistance has been futile ?.

Looks like I've started something though... I love tunics and jeggings (or leggings) Missedout. I like the sound of your retail therapy buys. Similarly Mamissimo I love the sound of your therapeutic buys, nothing quite like cord and woolen tights and I'd rather a pair of boots than any other type of footwear (even in summer) ?

Your hand sounds like it's still pretty bad Missedout ? I'm glad you've been able to get the dressings and bandages online, there's never a very good selection on the high street I find.
As for bothering about your appearance - do it for yourself is the answer to that one I think.

Mamissimo that's a useful bit of information about the VAT free scheme. There is also the disabled facility adaptations grant in England and Wales (a different but similar scheme runs in Scotland). It is means tested though and local authorities have their own criteria for means testing but often it's similar to the means testing for pensioner benefits. An application and assessment of need (by an OT usually) has to be carried out to assess eligibility. Depending on means a tapering threshold could be the case meaning some grant monies would be allocated and the applicant has to cover the cost of the rest.
I won't comment on Mr M's shortlived productivity ?. Oops perhaps I just have - she says departing ?

I echo your last words Mamissimo ?

Thinking of you Doodle - these things always seem worse when you're away from home. Restorative sleep is needed!

Hi all. Sorry not to have been around today. DH was poorly again last night and after a couple of 111 calls he ended up back in hospital today. Had a thorough check up and they have discharged him again on stronger antibiotics. We have 9nky just got back to the caravan and I am just getting us something to eat before we fall into bed.
Will hopefully catch up tomorrow. I hope you are all ok. Sleep well gangsters. ?

I blame you lot for the navy blue corduroy pinafore dress I unexpectedly bought yesterday.....and the woolly tights....and we won't mention the boots! Thank you for the inspiration and motivation ?

Mr M's productivity was short lived, grrrrr. I will have to put spikes on my boots to get the job done. I need just 2 tiny bits of wood sorted and then I can do the rest.

I booked a wreath making class for my daughters and myself as a treat in early December at Wakehurst. The classes are limited to six but we bought insurance to cover the cost just in case the restrictions change.

We were going to dismantle the bean mountain this morning but it's damping and I don't fancy wrangling armfuls of soggy bean vine into the chopper so it will have to wait.

We are planning to get rid of the bath too because it's not safe for us anymore. I've been researching the VAT free scheme and if you're thinking of ditching the bath or putting grab rails in to look it up - you self certify if you have a chronic or other condition (the list is comprehensive) and then you can have all the work done VAT free - materials, labour the lot, including re-tiling.

So pleased to hear that in general there has been gentle improvements for all of us and long may it continue ?

Hello Gangsters,

I am so glad you are on the mend Bradfordlass we need you in top form. Not very long until DGD is due?

Mamissimo's walk with her DGS is something to treasure
. and Missedout's too.

Little people and the things they say. DB's DGS (my gt nephew) saw a photo of DB at his Mick Jagger stage. - there was a resemblance and said "Papa, why did you cut off all your hair?"

DH is definitely a bit improved today. He is impatient and wants instant results but a friend who has been through something similar said it took him months to feel really back in control. There are more appointments coming up so we just take a day at a time and try to squeeze some niceness out along the way.

Quiz tonight on zoom. DSis is setting it this time.
Last week there were some really hard Qs about religion. which we ought to have known but did not.
Why is Christ called Christ?
What takes pilgrims to Mecca?
Why do baby boys get circumcised? and so on.

Without google, most of us were stumped.

I am so glad you eventually saw the proper doctor Panache
We also find that GP practices employ Border Guards disguised as receptionists to keep you from getting appointments.
Have a lovely day everyone. See you later.

Good morning gangsters, I have been quiet for a couple of days, not feeling great. I feel much better this morning, I have my coffee and I am sitting comfortably (thank you Doodle).
Bradfordlass, what a grim time you have been having, so pleased to hear you managed a small breakfast.
I am sill smiling at the thought of you in an electric blanket sandwich the other day - one under and one over - sounds very snug.
Panache how are you both? I hope today is a better day. As you say, you’ve had an unsettling couple of weeks. You must be relieved that your dear one has had a thorough assessment, though I understand what you say about options.
Cherry, I hope you had a restful night and your Tigger tail is close at hand, if not actually affixed to your rear by the pretty ribbon... Though catching up with your purchase of the new boots and pyjamas and the tights ... and the soft knit claret coloured dress and the dark green cord skirt ... I’d say you’re on pretty good form.
Good morning Missedout. A tunic, jeggings and underwear is a nice little package of treats. Sounds lovely.
Grammaretto, how is MrG this morning? I like to think of you walking around the Botanic Gardens with your son, whilst your DH is being treated. It’s a truism that being with nature is restorative.
Nfkdumpling I sympathise with your bath related issues ... I only shower now. Getting out of the bath is an undignified and splashy affair for me. Last year we stayed in an old hotel, and our room had a large bath. I thought it would be lovely to relax in a bubbly bath, but it took me an age to clamber out. I was nearly forced to ask my partner to haul me out, but somehow my dignity wouldn’t let me.

I am finally having my hair cut today, in our hallway with the hairdresser in full ppe. So I had better stir myself. Have a lovely day gangsters.

Mamisimo that first sentence was enchanting and a beautiful start to my morning too - thank you for your poetry
And the 'pretty duck' from your own pretty chicken was delightful.

Grammaretto such welcome news about your DH. I understand kidney stones can be dire.
Yes, it's Election Day and this year I applied for a postal vote. I do my duty to the women who fought hard for our enfranchisement but usually I have little interest in politics.

Spas are usually plumbed in and if I could afford the ongoing heating costs (which on basic super, is impossible) I'd sacrifice a lot to have one. They are wonderful for easing arthritis.

I'd choose the portable kind so my son could use it after I've popped me clogs. I doubt the fish would survive the purification tablets!

Doodle one of the saddest things about having AMD was being forced to give up books. You can't snuggle down and lose yourself quite as much with an audio book.
Books have been my life and I remember our local butcher; a lovely man whom I called Uncle John; 'reporting' me to my Mum because he saw me walking home from school reading and not even looking up when I crossed a road.

In those days of course, there were far fewer cars on the road so my argument was, 'But I use my eyes for reading and it's my ears I need to listen for cars and there were none coming.' Sounded perfectly logical to me.

Cherry Glad you're sounding a little more sparky today.
I'm sorry I have no idea but it sounds like a surrealist, not Dali's style, Magritte maybe?

Both my sons were good artists, as is my grand-daughter but the boys have never used it except to amuse themselves and Mama. Which is good enough.

The Dreaded Lurgy has left the building I'm glad to say and I had a small bowl of ricies and 1/4 banana for breakfast.

Here's to a very perky, peaceful day for all

I've been a naughty girl too. I've bought tunic, jeggings, tee-shirt and a couple of 'comfort' bras online. Also some dressings and bandages for my hand. It's weird, I can just get what I want (although getting the right sort of bandage, similar to that provided by A&E, took some research). I have a hair appointment next week. I don't know why I'm bothering about my appearance. I can't do much else I suppose. I have another food delivery from the farm shop arranged for tomorrow.

I can't touch type just now but I am able to tap this out using my middle finger on the iPad. When I started Pilates (also stopped for the time being) I was asked what my reasons for taking the class were. My answer was to be able to get down on the floor and back up again reasonably gracefully. I'm putting this into practice these days (perhaps not the graceful part).

Doodle, I read out to DH about how you had to get poor Mr Doodle on the floor. DH asked if I would be able to do the same to him. I told him that I didn't think I could do it with one hand but to remind me to try when I'm better! I'm pretty grouchy at the moment. (DH is at least 5 stones heavier than me.)

Thinking of Mamissimo and the pretty duck, the last time we saw my younger DGD, we were out walking and DGD spotted a little bird. I told her it was a wagtail and pointed out how its tail bobbed up and down. Apparently DGD surprised her little friend's mum by telling her about wagtails when they saw one. I felt so pleased to hear that something I had said to DGD had been taken on board.

We have been asked to Sunday lunch with our DS, DIL and older DGD this weekend. DGD is at school but we see her so rarely, I would never turn down an invitation to visit, Covid numbers are still quite low both here and where DS lives.

BradfordLass, I hope you are beginning to recover.

Have good nights everyone.

Hello gang.

I've been a norty girl again - I bought myself something else today . It was only a pair of tights though. Remember I was saying that one thing (okay, okay I've bought more than that) I wanted to add to my wardrobe was a pair of green tights. I found a pair ☺️. I think I'm kitted out for this autumn/winter now, as long as I don't ladder the tights ?

I tried out a new recipe today, well... not exactly new, more a case of a heavily tinkered old one I haven't used for years. A bit of variety and all that I often ask my WP what he'd like to eat and he says food. It turned out quite well too. Now... will I ask him what he'd like to eat tomorrow ...,.

Grammaretto I'm pleased for Mr G ,and you, that there is one less medical issue for him to contend with. I'm also really happy that you had unexpected time with your DS and family, it is often these simple pleasures help lift us so much. You sound more cheerful and that makes me ?.

Doodle I had a sharp intake of breath reading about what you had to do to follow the emergency instructions to help Mr D. It seems like you found that superhuman strength that it is often claimed that people find in these situations. Under the circumstances the niggle or two he is experiencing is negligible isn't it. What about you? You didn't injure yourself did you? You haven't said so I hope you haven't.

Panache never ever think we must be bad people. I'm so sorry to hear that there doesn't appear to be an offer of alternatives for Mr P but I'm pleased that he's had a thorough examination and that there is more clarity for you both. Never ever give up the fight, what would Dylan Thomas say! And I say, plagiarising - "you need to fight for your right to party". Life may not be a picnic, there may not be any parties but it doesn't mean you have to stop fighting for your right to them.
I hope you got your hair done!

BradfordLass surely that's a thimble not a spa ?. Love your story about your son's understanding of light-headedness when he was about 8 years old. I'm trying to remember who the artist of that portrait of a man with a lightbulb in his head is ?. You'll probably enlighten me ?.
Good to know you are at least taking the fluids on board! Cup-a-soups may be worth a try...
I would have done the same and sent your homecare girl away, you wouldn't forgive yourself if she became ill would you. I hope her acid reflux clears up.

I just love that pretty duck Mamissimo ?. When my nephew was little we were enjoying a day out at the lido,, the area around there is frequented by Oystercatchers. My nephew asked what birds they were and when my SiL told him he looked at her quizzically and said "they don't have any arms". Sweet things to remember.
I hope you virtually made an appearance today on your test drive.

You've possibly right about online shopping Nflk, if anything it could even be worse - a click and it's done ?. I'm usually a good girl online though. What is it at the moment with the promotion of leisurewear everywhere? It seems to have become a 'thing' that people suddenly "must have" leisurewear. Nothing wrong with leisurewear, I'm not dissing it, it's just become the latest 'in' thing.
I hope you enjoy having your DGS for a sleepover ?

A quickie visit from me this day .........though like others I viewed your opening comments with some trepidation Grammaretto........however further reading rev ealed your other half was again allowed home ,it certainly sounds as though it was a long day.
These types of days are so draining too.
Hope that today is a better one and that you too enjoy these glorious autumn mornings,nippy perhaps,but delightful and so welcome.

It is good hearing that Mr D has coped with all the excitement of all that has happened on arrival at your caravan for a break Doodle.........it certainly has not gone to plan,but hopefully you both can make up for time lost.
If your weather is similar to ours you will both be smiling broadly!

That is a pretty bow on your tails Cherry and Dragonfly
Fingers well crossed for you Bradfordlass here`s hoping you are improving slowly and soon will be wagging your own pretty tail!

Indeed yes this is a very strange Practise we now have folks,after no phone call from all our requests on Wednesday,we tried another GP yesterday having been previously told she was on duty,at 8.40 am we were informed she was fully booked..... so nothing doing.
My dear man was offered an appointment with a junior and with needs desperate he had to accept.
Within an hour a Medical Student phoned requesting to know all the problems plus a multitude of questions apertaining to his health.
He was then asked if he could attend this morning.
To his great amazement on attending,he was not met by the junior but head of practise,the very man we had all been trying to get hold off all of wednesday.
Fair enough he was given over half a hour plus a very thorough examination,although sadly there is very little on offer,we now have more insight into these various issues that is causing him so much trouble............and stress.
We canot understand what on earth is going on...............but simply very pleased that he has been properly assessed.
Quite frankly we really are losing all fighting power.
It seems we are doomed to all these extra stresses...........we must be bad people!!

With a very eventful few days behind us I have my hair do this afternoon,am extremely hopeful that all the safety measures are in place this time.
If I don`t have my hair cut soon, I shall be begging for one of those pretty tail bows!!

Enjoy the day........and stay safe.

Everyone is sounding a bit more chirpy today I'm glad to hear.
I had to have a proper look at the spa idea Bradfordlass but wonder how it is filled? It could always become a home for Nfk's fish if they ever become stranded.

Although I only have a bath infrequently - I do love a good hot soak.. DH had one last night. The night was still a long one but at least his personal waterworks are functioning again. It's onwards and upwards. with small setbacks but the whole kidney stone episode was something he could have done without.
I did enjoy my unexpected time with our DS and his family. He had omitted to tell his DW that there would be 2 extra for lunch but we agreed (she and I) that it was sometimes easier that way. She's a fulltime mum and that's a rare thing nowadays. even writing that sounds a bit patronising and it's not meant to be at all

OOh ouch! Doodle I am picturing you in fear, in the caravan with DH insensible, dragging him to the floor. You are a marvel.
I hope he is up and about now?

Cherry that is true retail therapy IMO. I only wish I was tempted by anything. My favourite shoeshop is too far away to get to at present as I would normally get on the bus but we are supposed to avoid public transport.

Your election this weekend Bradfordlass . We hear all about it from #2 DS. I think he hopes for a coalition with the Greens again but Jacinda is so popular Labour may win outright.

I hope you enjoy the Times app Mamissimo
Your correspondence is a darned sight more exciting than mine.
Here I have to decide which huge quote to accept for the roof/ceiling and do I want to sign up for another year of National Trust membership when there isn't anywhere open.

Look after yourselves today gang and thanks for being here.

Mamissimo good morning to you too,
The pretty duck made me smile. Hope you had a lovely time with your DGDs.
We have The Times online paper. I hope you enjoy your zoom meeting even if they can’t see you. ?
How is MrM getting on with the porch?

nfk like you, I find books addictive. I read a lot on the iPad since our library was closed but I find a real book much more satisfying.
I see you’re still managing to shop by going online ?. Amazing the things you find you need once you’ve seen them online.
One of my recent purchases was a Shark hand held vacuum cleaner. It’s brilliant. It stays plugged in so it’s ready for action and so light to use ( I have problems with my wrists and find our big cleaner quite heavy). I use it to pick up all my hair that seems to be falling out everywhere, bits of yarn from my sewing, dropped oats from breakfast and........spiders. It does them no harm (I don’t kill them ) just sucks them in to a plastic chamber which I then take outside and open and off they run. I love it. ?
Yes I too have a problem getting out of the bath. We need to get some hand grips sorted.
Hope you have a lovely time with your DGS. A sleepover sounds fun.
Bradfordlass your homecare girl must have been worried if she’d never heard of acid reflux. Hope she is getting on ok.
How are you feeling today? I’m glad you are drinking lots but hope you are able to eat something soon. Your sons drawing of light headed made me laugh.
I thought that picture was of a coffee mug until I had a closer look.?. A bit tight for comfort. Hope you are on the mend soon.
Grammaretto hope you and MrG have recovered from the hospital trip yesterday.
Hope all the gangsters are ok. Take care all.

Good morning!
One of those beautiful misty dawns this morning made all the better by a roe deer gently grazing in the field. Honey was cross because I wouldn't let her out straightaway to do her business but She would have chased it.

DGDs came to lunch yesterday and on our walk we were able to see cows, sheep, horses, chickens and what the eldest described as 'pretty duck' .....it was a pheasant ?

I am test driving a new App for The Times at the moment and this afternoon we have a zoom call. Now I'm legendary for only showing the top of my head with my camera so this should be a more virtual meeting than they're expecting. The App by the way is largely awful but I think they will probably roll it out in an effort to make the news more accessible. It's given me some giggles this week though because they're introducing readers' comments and The Times readers offer a pithy wit and wisdom alongside outrage.

I am sending you all some of my spare sunshine today and hope that you all have gently pleasant days with fruitful outcomes....I know, it's a big wish!

I've just turned my homecare lady away.
She collected my supermarket order on her way here but there's no way I'm letting a pregnant lady near my contagious self, so she popped everything in the garage and we had a little chat - at a distance - about heartburn and acid reflux which has scared her because she had no idea what it was or how to deal with it. She does now.
Ah, the blissful innocence of youth

Doodle I am drinking lots, so no worries there. I have just dined like a Queen on two frozen blueberries and a raspberry...but I fear the consequences
There's no danger of a hearty lass like me fading away.

Oh dear, your story of having to pull your DH to the floor is heartbreaking - what you must have gone through, you poor love. Thank goodness its over.

Nfk After the first 3 days when the fever abated I've not felt ill, just weak and light-headed.
My elder son once drew a series of cartoons about sayings; he'd be about 8 at the time; and 'light-headed' was illustrated by lady resembling his mother with a light bulb on her head.

The solution to your bath dilemma is to save like mad and buy a spa for your retirement.
I house-sat for a friend and a nightly soak (in the open air) was absolute, unadulterated bliss.

The built-in seats make it easy for even a portly matron like me (and I haven't been a size 18 since I was that age) to get out and a handrail can assist.
If I could have one luxury it would be a spa bath.

Although I fear I might get stuck in this $120 one and have to have it peeled off me !

That's exactly how the fish looked Bradford! I do hope you're feeling better today and not seeing rats.

I'm not sure that on-line shopping is much less tempting Cherry, it's just too easy shopping while watching tv. At the moment DH is watching a wildlife programme with cheetahs circling a wildebeest calf - so I was browsing SeaSalt to avoid seeing the inevitable. Yesterday I ordered a shelving unit to stand in the car port for overwintering tender-ish plants. (I don't have a greenhouse.) Last week a couple of recipe books and 'jogging' (ha ha) trousers. I've managed all this time without so-called leisure wear, why do I need it now? And today it was more books. I don't need books, we're only a couple of hundred yards from the Library. Oh, and thank you so much for the flowers, its so nice to get flowers - it never occurs to any of my family to buy them, least of all DH who can't see the point in cut flowers. And the non-fattening birthday cake was much appreciated too.

It's a relief to hear your arm is better Panache but the treatment (or lack of) from your doctors is disgraceful, but GPs do seem to have rather gone to pot of late. Our doctor it seems, can be only be contacted by email. The phone has an horrendously long message telling you to dial 999 in an emergency, or 111, or what to do if you think you have Covid, etc, etc - and then cuts off. And the surgery door is locked with admittance only by appointment. How you get one without internet access is a mystery.

I have much admiration for those of you who can manage to kneel in the bath to get out. How on earth you can do it with a poorly paw Missedout is amazing. Our bath is definitely for under size 18 and I'm size 17 + and its getting snug. Too snug to drown in that's for sure! I can still manage - just, but showers are getting to be the norm. Not being able to wallow in a hot bubble bath is one thing I'm going to miss when I get old!!

Tomorrow we're having DGS for a sleepover while we still can. We're in a low infection area, but numbers are rising depressingly fast in Norwich so I feel we may be restricted before too much longer. It doesn't help when three students who were supposed to be isolating with symptoms had a party for around 100 in their off campus flat.

The News is on now. I shall watch to see how much more depressing the world is getting. I can't help myself. No wonder we're not sleeping well!

bradfordlass you do indeed sound quite poorly. I know when you are feeling that bad it’s difficult to eat but I’m worried that you may become dehydrated with all the visits to the porcelain. I hope you can face some food soon as you will need something to sustain you.
DH is fine I think, apart from the fact that he has a bad back ache and pain in his left arm and side. He has been quite puzzled as to why that would be until I explained to him that the person on the end of the 999 call said I had to lay him on his back on the floor. He is no light weight and I could only get him from the chair to the floor by pulling his legs and his arm. He landed on the floor with a bit of a bump which probably explains the sore posterior too of course he had no recollection of that.
cherry I love your reason for going back to shopping deliveries. You carry on the way you’ve been going and you’ll need a new wardrobe.
Sleep well all.

Cherry Just what I needed, a good laff. Thankyou.

Grammaretto those ominous words 'It's not going well'
Botanical Gardens are always a joy so it was good that you two had a lovely, peaceful walk there. I'm hoping for better news, and good care, for you both.

Doodle how are you and your dear husband? I wish you happy and a full recovery from The Ordeal In The Caravan'.
From past experience of you, I'm sure you've now found a lighter side to smile at, grim though the reality was.

Missedout I keep thinking of your injured hand; is it any better? It must be hard for you to even keep us posted when only one hand is free.

Sorry Panache I included that info because it said the name meant "reckless heroism" which, in my opinion both you and your DH have exhibited over the past years. "Reckless" in the sense of persevering despite difficulties.

Excellent news dragonfly, hope all goes smoothly

Yes, I too am looking forward to seeing Nortsat's clock, it sounds so beautiful.

Mamissimo I trust MrM's tools are still working well? When creativity strikes, it doesn't look at the clock

To tell the truth Doodle I'm not much better and weak as a kitten. This is a very bad bout of viral gastro-enteritis but I bless the fact I can just stay at home.
Definitely saves on the food budget when you can't eat anything