The Lockdown Gang - Carry on Regardless.

Welcome home Mamissimo! I hope you're all snug and comfortable.

Perhaps a hot chocolate and a hotwater bottle for you tonight Cherry? Even if you get too hot and chuck it out cuddling a fleecy covered hotty is very sleep inducing. I do hope you have a better night tonight and it isn't tooo windy where you live.

Are you very bruised grammaretto? Perhaps Jeeves could bring some witch hazel ointment with him. I hear it's very soothing on bruises.

We had an interesting trip into Norwich this morning in rain and strengthening winds. We seem to have spent a lot of money in a short time with surprisingly little to show for it. And, I can't get the hang of this mask on, mask off business, but if I don't take it off for some fresh air outside I feel I'm being smothered. And to think that less than a year ago there was talk of banning face coverings in public places as France had! At least we managed to leave the centre as it was starting to get crowded and the cars were queuing for the car parks. It was quite pleasant before all these people started turning up!

cherry read on the GM thread that you had a really bad night last night. Hope you get some rest now and a better night tonight. We miss our Tigger ? ?
grammaretto not you too ?. I am going to have to get Jeeves to bubble wrap all the gangsters to keep them safe. Glad to hear you’re not badly hurt.

Great news Mamissimo now remember you may be home but you need to rest a lot.
I hope we don't have to send Jeeves to stand guard bring you flowers and chocolates
And Cherry so sorry you had a bad night.

I was rushing to get to my yoga this morning (from hall to sitting room), and tripped on the hall rug and fell . I swore loudly. I don't think there's any damage done maybe a bruise or two. It must be awful when you fall a lot. I hope you have thick carpets.

How did your dentist trip go Panache in this diabolical weather?

I haven't spoken to Dsis yet. Too cowardly.
See you later.

Mamissimo, that's what I call fantastic news!! ❤️

I haven't caught up, dratted seizures yesterday ? and bad night last night. Just looked in to see if there as any news re. Mamissimo and there it is ?

I hope I will catch up with you all later ?

panache I was just heading out of GN to read the paper when my eyes caught sigh of your name so I’m back in to catch up with you.
Hope the dental appointments go well. Yes please take care it is very windy and wet underfoot.
I am another who loves Escape to the Country. I love looking at the houses and seeing the landscape of different areas.
Hope you and all your teeth get home safely. ?

Whey! great news *Mamissimo" ....now all you have to do is KEEP OUT OF MISCHIEF!!!

Just blowing in to say a windy good morning from a very moody Wales!
If we manage our dental appointment we shall need anchors to keep us grounded although thankfully there is virtually no walking involved.

Thinking of you Mamissimo and blowing a welsh cwtch your way,just you get back on your feet, get fully recovered...... and soon.

It is very true Grammaretto there are such uplifts and jollyness amongst you gangsters it is the best tonic ever,I have a gut feeling you, and certainly our Doodle, could well do with a few spoonfuls, whilst I think I may have overstepped the mark...........downing the whole bottle!

Norfolk is a county I have only enjoyed on programmes such as "Escape to the country",loving all the properties and their settings so I will stay away from this discussion.
Sounds though as your roads are in much the same state of disrepair as ours are here Nfkd

Your lockdown extension should keep you out of further mischief then Bradfordlass!!!

I am off to batten down the hatches before we take to the air waves!!
Stay safe my gangster friends

mamissimo that’s great news and thank you for taking the time to let us know. Hope you aren’t in too much discomfort. Get home safely and Jeeves is at your beck and call.?
bradfordlass with the kind of weather we had yesterday I could have done with at least two hats. Rain and sun. I think 3 might be a bit excessive. ?. Like your jumper by the way.
Sorry your lockdown is set to go on. Hope you and your family keep safe.
Grammaretto you would think the school had the sense to have someone outside to look after the children especially the new ones. That’s really bad. Even if parents weren’t allowed in, the Dad could have stayed close by. If your DD could see the child was upset then so could his father if he’d stayed. Poor little lad.
It is pouring here and gloomy. Neither DH nor I had a good night although we did take it in turns to get up and wander about. DH took his last antibiotic this morning so will probably have a bad night again tonight but then hopefully things will improve. Might be a full on housework day today if the weather doesn’t get better. ?

Morning! All successful and being discharged NOW! ?

Hello gangsters,
You do cheer me.
Thanks for doing the night shift BL
The road sign amused me and the multiple hats.
I tried to find the sign which took me in circles but discovered I was in fact in Suffolk having crossed the county border. There are fords and tiny bridges. I am very fond of East Anglia. I even discovered that my 3xgt grandparents were married in 1790 in the 12th century, round tower church at Hales.
DD was blaming the school yesterday rather than the parents when the wee boy was upset. She thinks someone should be in the playground with the children as due to covid, parents aren't allowed.
I hope today is better. I hope Mamissimo is better.

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202008/medium-449758-sign.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202008/medium-98852-me-in-hat.jpg

How nice to have you back NfkDumpling but I know why those furriners get lost.
See that sign, on the left of your photo?
Any deviation from the straight and narrow and they're utterly flummoxed

I could slap that father who left his wee son alone in the playground. Fie upon him!

It seems we're all suffering torrential rain; it's blowing down my road in a great, grey curtain at the moment.

Sometimes I hear it coming up the valley, sounding like a train and getting ever nearer. Then it'll hit the house and we're enveloped in the torrent.
Unlike most, I do not like the sound of rain on the roof.

Speaking of hats: I don't wear them except for fun.
In this pic I'm wearing three

Thinking of Mammissimo; Grammaretto & DH Doodle & DH*; *Panache & DH and all the others in pain for one reason or another. Sending love and hoping all will be calm for you soon

Our lockdown has been extended; Auckland is a no-go zone until the end of the month.
Nine new cases: "The fact that one of the cases appears to have caught the disease on the bus and another at church is especially troublesome"

Still no test results for me. Maybe they think I've already carked it?

nfk I could get lost going between my armchair and the front door. I have no sense of direction at all. I inherited this problem from my lovely mum and I have passed it on to one of my sons. Can’t read maps either. As for your straight roads in Norfolk I would probably end up going in the wrong direction. ?
Nice little shopping trip with your DD and DGD. Girls I find are often happy to choose their own presents. ?
grammaretto glad to hear Great grandpa has survived the doctor’s visit.
Yes a bit of a problem with your sister. You don’t want to take any chances with your DH. Good luck with explaining tactfully ?
Hope mamissimo is ok and the op went well.
Went for a walk today. Out for an hour 30 minutes hot sun,
15 minutes heavy rain and 15 minutes of a combination of both. Came home hot wet and steamy.
Hope everyone is ok. Sleep well.

The government is now starting to realise that Norfolk exists Grammaretto and we are getting some money to spend on some roads which is making life a lot easier for visitors and you're less likely these days to end up in a farmyard - or a ditch! Our lack of bridges makes life interesting in my bit of the county with so many rivers.

Dear NfkD I am afraid I must disagree about your straight flat roads being easy. I may not be the best map reader in the world can get lost on a sixpence but after a while the roads all look alike.
Gt GPa was checked out and it seems he is in robust health. Heart and lungs fine. Maybe a bit anaemic so he had a blood test.
My DSis wants to come and stay. Any other time I'd love to see her but not now.
How do I gently explain that we can only cope with visitors for about half an hour? I think I'll leave it until tomorrow or I may end up giving her a lecture about the pandemic.
(She being the same DS who has just returned from 3 weeks in France)
Its a bit like your situation Panache and we are happy to be shielding still.

Talking of hats . You describe them well. I have to wear woollie hats here in Scotland but when I tried to buy a sunhat I was disappointed to find my head is too big for the High St. I had to get one in a specialist outdoor shop where they had different sizes.
Why anyone thinks heads are all the same is daft. Our feet are different so why not our heads.

I hope Mamissimo got on well today.

Found it!

I haven't managed to pop in for several days - I just don't know where the time has evaporated too. We have spent a bit of time on the boat - but not happily pootling up the river, Best Beloved decided that it was time to do a bit of varnishing, so I've been cleaning the end he's not at. If you see what I mean.

And I took DD2 and DGD2 shopping, which is a girlie treat for all of us, in order to buy said DGD her birthday present. She's very, very picky so its a lot easier for her to choose Stuff. We went in so many shops and came home with assorted Stuff I would never have thought of buying.

Its taken me ages to read all your doings and goings on and catch up. I am wondering about this business of people getting lost in Norfolk. How? Our roads are all so straight and logical!! I'll try and find a picture of our Norfolk dual carriageway, although we do have a few proper ones now - even a continuous one all the way to London!

Love all the hats BradfordLass. I've just got a booklet of knitted Christmas tree decorations to use up my left over wool. I must start or I shan't get any done!

I hope Mamissimo is back safely on the ward and coming to and all went well.

Hello lovely gangsters.
Hope mamissimo’s op is going well and she will soon be on the mend.
grammaretto I hope great grandpa G is not too stubborn and is appreciative of your help. Must be a difficult mission for you.
I cannot believe what you wrote about your DD finding a poor little lad on his own first day at school. What is the matter with some parents.
Just catching up on your later post I gather the Doctor is coming to see great grandpa at home. That is probably a good thing. Hope hospital isn’t required but if it is, you are doing your best for him. Glad Jeeves is making himself useful. bradfordlass has taught him well. ?
That cuckoo is a very pretty bird bradfordlass
Don’t know much about insurance brokers to be honest. My cousins husband in Canada was one as is his son. My sons have both used one and been pleased with their help.
Not surprised you are doing the lockdown diaries again. You have a lovely way with words and a knowledge of such a variety of things. Hope you enjoy it.
You granddaughter to be sounds a lively little one ?.
Hello panache. Still windy where you are then. Hope the dental appointments go well. Wise to keep to yourselves for the time being I think. Though you must be tempted by the thought of a meal from your dining room. Do you still get meals delivered to your room ?
Thank you all so much for your kind and thoughtful messages. ?

So very good finding you back in your rightful position guv Doodle,indeed it has brightened my day.
I know full well about these issues that go up and down......finding when it involves my dear man I too am like the proverbial yo yo!!
Things do tend to find a way through these mires we all experience some time or another, so here`s wishing you a clear pathway very soon.

Whilst Mamissimo again thinking of you and sending my best..........come back to us mega soon.
I shall keep some of the delicious cake for you (not!) for it is vanishing at an alarming rate

If anyone could master Lockdown Diaries then yes I nominate you Bradford Lass........and we would all become members reading them!

If ever I need to be incognito I only need to wear a hat Cherry......when I have done so (only in the event of an old fashioned welsh funeral) no one knew me...........heaven!

Hope the GP visit turns out O.K Grammaretto..if it ain`t one thing its another it seems.

Tomorrow`s weather forecast denotes wet and windy,truly foul........and not quite what we need for our Dental appointment,but since we have not had one throughout this year (cancelled in April) we have to show willing.

This establishment is springing back to life,we are having fire alarm tests and front door seal test today,how exciting!
Plans are afoot to refigure our Dining room to accomodate diners,two per table (usually allowing 6) and all tables are at least 2 metres apart.However we ,and other shielded folk are not even thinking of leaving the comparitive safety of our flat.
In fact we two remain complete hermits!

Wishing you all a peaceful day and please do keep safe.

Thanks for the picture of your cuckoo BradfordLass I had never considered that there were cuckoos in your part of the world at all and have googled them. They winter in the Solomon Islands apparently and Summer in NZ. Not a bad life especially since they don't bring up their own chicks.

I hope you enjoy writing the diaries again. You are such a good writer. As is our DGS who has been writing constantly. He has written a piece about sport at school from the point of view of someone who is not good at sport. He, our DGS was known as the union rep at nursery! He's still only 8.

I can't see how you could have caught the virus but fingers Xed anyway.

Mamissimo will be getting her op I hope. Thinking of her.

I don't have to take gt grandpa to the doctor as the doctor has finally been persuaded to do a home visit,
Trouble is if the doc decides GGPa must go to hospital he will see this as a betrayal.

DD was horrified at the school gates today to see a tiny boy crying in the playground. His dad had dropped him off and the school was still closed. It was his first day. Where's the care?

It's tipping down with rain here so any plans for getting DH out for a gentle walk are off I'm not as brave as Doodle or Panache

Thanks for leaving Jeeves with me. He may be the distraction I need. I can always give him the darning to finish.

Grammaretto Jeeves is only too happy to rush to your side; I'd just asked him to clean the cooker.
He's bringing hugs and a large bunch of
In September, we'll host a migrant bird - the Shining Cuckoo, I've just learned to recognise its call but I fear for the Grey Warblers where it will lay its eggs.

Cherry I have exactly the same feeling about hats and umbrellas. No use for either.

The chap who took my LPG tank to be filled was my insurance broker and always got me brilliant deals because he knew them all and could negotiate.
His fees came from the companies, not me. Is it the same in the UK?

Panache Please may I have some of your cherry coconut cake? Glad you're feeling up to little treats, you both deserve them.

Doodle Your family crisis may have let you come back for a while but it must be such a hard time for you all. You are in our thoughts and we all send lots and lots of love.

When my son rang and we had a wee catch-up, he said the baby is very active inded, jumping and kicking a lot.

He brought tears to my eyes when he said, 'But if I talk to her, she settles down.'
He has a deep and comforting voice, is always calm and caring so this doesn't surprise me.

I've had a quiet day: torrential rain a lot of the time but it sunnied up in the afternoon so I got some towels and pillowcases dry (Gosh, how do I stand the excitement?) .

I also had a request from Australia to start up the Lockdown Diaries (shows how bored they must be over there!), so I worked on that as well.

No test results yet but I'm not worried - if I'd been positive I think they would have got back to me pdq.

Wishing every one of you a lovely, peaceful day.

Hope it all goes well tomorrow for Mamissimo and for Doodle sending hugs to you both.
I know there is light at the end of the tunnel. If no light, you aren't at the end.
I have been for a nice walk at dusk with a friend who recognises birdsong and we heard a buzzard and another bird that she didn't recognise.

MrG is worried about his dad so tomorrow I will take Gt Grandpa G to the doctor, if he'll let me. Maybe Jeeves could come along to help
Good night everyone.

Dear gangsters. It seems I can’t keep away from you after all. ?. As this is a public forum I can’t tell you my problem but I would if I could. Yesterday, I thought something was going to happen which would prevent me posting for a while. It didn’t happen, so here I am. To mix my metaphors, we are not out of the woods by any means but there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
I hope you are all ok. I am extremely tired tonight. Didn’t sleep much last night so very dozy today. I hope you are all ok and will catch up again tomorrow. Sleep well all ?

Argh... should read hat (not hate ?) !!

Good to see you were able to post Doodle, you are such a caring soul to do so - thinking of others even in your own adversity.

BradfordLass lovely hate, if I wore hats I'd like the claret and blue one ?. Unfortunately I hate wearing anything on my head. I've been forced persuaded to try hats on by various people and I always get the comment that I look good in a hat, I do think they suit me, but I can't bear the feel. The weather has to be unbearably atrocious for me to put my coat good up. I even dislike umbrellas.
What a stunning tree, I don't think ? I've seen one before. Shame that it died. I think our tree is alright, it has big strong roots but the fury with which it was waving about looked like a desperate cry for help.
I too love a crumble, apart from a raspberry cheese cake it's my favourite dessert. I just thought it would be a bit of a change to make a pie ☺️. Orange juice in the crumble sounds lovely. I like to put sultanas or raisins in an apple crumble, orange juice would work well I think, I'll give that a try next time I make one.

Talking of sweet treats, coconut and cherry cake Panache, ooh lovely. Me and my WP love both. Enjoy it, bon appetit ☺️.
Pleased to hear that Mr P is currently feeling pretty good, I hope it continues for as long as possible ?.

You sound a bit perkier today Grammaretto. Seeing and spending time with your DS, DD and the DGCs was obviously a boost ?. Children (most) always seem to be tuned into nature and tend to love a bit of gardening or is it the mucky soil and mud they love ?. I hope they enjoyed the fruits of their "labour" too.
Glad the trousers haven't gone to waste.

Great news Mamissimo, your covid test is clear and now it's full steam ahead for tomorrow ?
My brother used to wear those robes too, I think all those years working in the Middle East, including the UAE, and Africa had an influence there.
Oh, the joys of insurance renewals. Luckily ours is unchanged from last year. I wouldn't mind getting that our insurance quotes will be higher this year though but they won't get away with that.
We will all, me included, be thinking of you tomorrow, wishing you well and a successful operation.

Til laters ?

Dear gangsters. Thank you all so much for your kind thoughts. I had a bit of a shock last night which has knocked me back a bit. I thought I wouldn’t be able to post for a few days but as the situation has changed slightly, here I am. I had to come in to wish mamissimo all the best for her op tomorrow. Hope everything goes well and you have a good recovery.
Sorry the test was so painful but good that it was negative as you expected. Nice of your DD to book a treat for you at Christmas. Something to look forward to.
cherry your pie sounds good hope you enjoyed it.
missedout glad you’re home safely and had a good time.
bradfordlass apple crumble is one of my favourites too. Those hats look lovely and cosy.
grammaretto hope you and MrG are ok. Glad you havd a lovely time yesterday.
panache hope you enjoy your cake. Look after yourselves.
Sorry such a short post. I am not myself today.
Thank you all so much for caring.
Keep safe and have a good day.