The Lockdown Gang - Carry on Regardless.

Morning gangsters ?

I know I've disappeared down the rabbit ? hole for the last couple of day ? - dratted intermittent internet! It's probably the result of storms ?, our tv picture has been disturbed and on times the radio has sounded as if aliens have taken over the airwaves ?

I haven't even been able to read any of the gangsters posts yet.
I've got my ? crossed that there are no dratted internet issues today.
I hope to return later as I'm well behind this morning, then I can tell you all about the sudden extreme weight loss I had yesterday ?

Hope you're all okay as I have been thinking of you all.

Yes amazing photos bradfordlass . Glad you’re not feeling too bad. Hope you feel better soon. Jeeves is outside your door ready with hot drinks ?

No nfk I’m a southerner ?. I feel very sorry for those where there is flooding. The mess and loss of belongings or businesses is awful. We haven’t had much rain until last night.
It was a magnificent storm. What surprised me was that we had so much lightening but although the thunder was grumbling in the background and there were a couple of big bangs, there wasn’t as much thunder as I’d expect from so much lightening.

Now look here cherry I like rabbits ? ?. Peter Rabbit and the flopsy bunnies were my childhood favourites. I know your are a kindly soul but a big Tigger ? bouncing around their warrens is likely to frighten them out of their wits,
Best you stay here with us and leave the bunnies to their rabbit holes (they weren’t to keen on Alice falling down their rabbit hole either ?)
Glad you are back in touch with the world. It probably is the weather. Look forward to hearing about your weight loss. How did you manage that ?
Hope everyone had a good day.

Hello!
I've been wiped out by my delayed treatment and I seem to have lost a couple of days. I've slept a huge amount!
Doodle I love a good storm and envy you your spectacular show. We've had a spot or two of rain but no lightening or thunder.

Many years ago we sailing from the Solent to Amsterdam and got caught in a spectacular storm off Dungeness. It was windy but the rain flattened the sea and it was eerie.....and then the thunder and lightening started. Every flash lit up the Dungeness power station and the big shipping in the channel. I've never felt so small - or so vulnerable.

Today is what we used to call Plastic Mac weather....remember those fetching garments? My DM used to make me keep one in my school bag all summer. The other kids used to make a dash for it but as we lived a fair distance from the school she was always at the gate waiting to walk home with me....in a matching plastic garment. If I close my eyes I can smell it....

Sainsbury's will be along shortly do I'm off to clean the inside of the fridge and find that end of the cucumber that we managed to overlook....yuk!

Oh, gosh, Mamissimo when I read you could smell those plastic macs - I got a strong wiff too!

Nice to see you back and with it again!

Unbelievable! I had every intention of coming back around lunchtime but something or someone has been intent on thwarting it, hopefully there will be no more hiccups! There was one small van outside this morning cand it seemed like t'net was fine - but no! Then one big van arrived, then another. Outside, men were faffing about. They left and there were still issues ?. Then later, a little while ago another big van turned up - gone in five minutes. T'net seems okay now, ? it'll continue.
Safe to say I still haven't caught up properly.

It's a horrible feeling being wiped out Mamissimo. What is they say about sleep and healing, you obviously needed it and it seems that you are better for it ?

I saw the report Auckland BradfordLass and another this morning about an increase in cases since. You must be immensely worried about your son and family knowing that people in the same street have the virus. I will say this though, I hardly see many of my neighbours and only once have I ever "bumped" into one couple in a supermarket and I've lived where I do for over 18 years. I think that generally we either don't shop in the same places. It could well be the case for your son.
The surgery would contact you surely if there was a chance that you might have been exposed to the virus. You probably do have a winter "chill", I hope that's all it is.

Good to see you posting Panache and keeping us updated. I'm pleased to hear that Mr P is out of hospital ?

Oh the wonder of thunderstorms. We've had two here. The first one we had was quite peculiar, there were continuous flashes which seemed to alternative between one small, one large, one small, one large - you get the picture. It went on for hours, there was very little in the way of thunder and there was no rain! It was after the lightning ⚡ (and thunder) that the heavens opened ?.
I love a good thunderstorm, is that odd ??

Ah, yes ... the extreme weight loss Doodle ?. Well, yesterday I weighed myself. I weighed myself this morning. I used the same scales. I joked this morning (morning thread) that I've lost half a stone in 24 hours but that's not exactly true but I have lost weight. I'm absolutely convinced I know why ... yesterday I had my haircut! You may have waited 23 weeks, and that is a long time, to have your haircut but because of operations and radiotherapy etc mine hadn't been cut for a year ?. Can you make a rug out of 3lbs of hair ?? I kid you not! Now I've got another appointment for 8weeks time ☺️. Enjoy having yours cut on Monday Doodle, I certainly enjoyed it. I was nervous going in but the place was pristine and there was a reassuring certificate on the wall indicating the premises had been inspected for the virus and ticked as clear. I had my hair cut by my regular hairdresser who wore full PPE (I find those visors a bit weird). I felt quite relaxed and came out with a fantastic haircut and unexpected weight loss to boot ?

Oh yes mamissimo I remember the plastic mac very well. It could get quite hot inside one of those,
Hope you are sleeping well and recovering from your treatment. Hope your delivery was ok.
We had Waitrose yesterday and I am so pleased they delivered 2 boxes of chocolates that I ordered. They are for my DIL’s and as I can’t get to the shops I was hoping they would deliver them .
cherry glad you’re back again, more internet trouble I see.
The storm you describe sounds just like the one here. Never seen anything like it before.
3lbs of hair ? really. That’s incredible. I didn’t know you hadn’t had yours cut for a year. I doubt mine will weigh anything like that. I’m really looking forward to having mine cut.

I did something really silly yesterday. I have a steam generator iron which I have had for 18 months. It has a de-calcing device which needs cleaning every so often. Halfway through my ironing yesterday, one of the indicator lights stated flashing. I turned the iron off and performed the required de-calcing as usual and turned the iron back on again. Light started flashing again, Re set it again. Same result. I did it about 6 times and still it wouldn’t work. Decided to leave it overnight and try again today.
Turned the iron on again this morning and the red light started flashing straight away. I phoned the support line number and got though to a very nice lady and explained that I had de-calced the iron but I still had a red light flashing. The lady on the phone wanted to know the model number, then the serial number and where I purchased it. Then she asked exactly what had happened and I explained it all to her. She asked me to take the de calc device out and put it back again. No change. Then she asked me to turn the iron off for a few minutes and try again. Still the same thing. The red light was still flashing. It’s no good I said. I’ve tried everything and the red light still keeps flashing. Excuse me madam, she said, I don’t wish to be rude but you have filled the iron with water haven’t you.........gulp....

Whoops ? Doodle. We've all done something like that! It's inherently embarrassing at the time, especially when the call handler on the other end of the line points out your error and it's such an obvious easily done mistake. When I was living in a flat years ago I had one of those pay as you go electricity meters. I'd bought a card to "top up" the electricity. A couple of days later the electric went off so I phoned the supplier adamant something was horribly wrong.... the card was still in my purse {blush].

It may have rained for a lot of the day here but it it is incredibly humid. I think I'll have a nice cooling shower before bed and one of Jeeves' delicious chocolate milkshakes ?

Night night gang-sters ?

I think it was Doodle who wondered, some time back, why we no longer had as many public loos. I know the answer.

In 2011, the Conservative government cut local government budgets by 20% and they had to put rubbish collection/street lighting etc before what was deemed non-essential public toilets.
Info courtes of the BBC Discovery series

I was supposed to host my grandson this weekend whilst my DiL took my son away for a wicked restful break. Sadly, because of the 12 day extension to lockdown, it's all had to be cancelled.

I haven't seen the lad (except briefly when we met at a restaurant for his 11th birthday in May), since Christmas and I miss him dreadfully.
I sent him some sugar-free, gluten-free Fudge Crumbs and he rang me to say thankyou and that they're 'Awesome!
His voice is breaking

This extension means no way of getting food supplies, via the supermarket anyway, before the end of September and maybe even beyond.

As they've also stopped my support workers coming, I'm not at all sure what will happen once I run out of the few tins and packets on the shelf.
Will cross that bridge when we come to it - and hope it doesn't hide a Troll!

Oh dear BL I hadn't realised you would be so affected by the lockdown. Is there an emergency number to call for help?

Nice to see the new slimline Cherry
Doodle's iron story made me smile reminded me of just this week driving home from the hospital, a dashboard light came on and an alarm. I found a place to safely stop. Turned off the engine, thinking of all the breakdowns we've ever had and there have been many.
I took a deep breath and found the manual before I called the AA
I had only left the handbrake on!!
I hope you sweltering ones are cooler now after some welcome rain.
I am still waking up in the middle of the night for several hours. Luckily DH has moved into the spare room though he too is having troubled nights.
I was bothered by the GN popup yesterday . Choosing our cookie options indeed. Whenever I'm met with something like that I panic and assume I'm signing my life away.

Grammaretto After trying and failing to find anyone who would come out to test me, I tried to ring the 0800Helpine as you suggest.
"You are 72nd in the queue," said the recorded voice.
I won't record what my voice said.

Glad your DH is sleeping but sorry you aren't. Can you listen to the World Service or a CD whilst you lie wakeful?

The good news is: I've just had a Covid test. For this I have to thank Waipareira who sent a nurse out to me.
I had no idea it would be so uncomfortable; gave me a terrible headache but that only lasted 10 mins.

To get tested, I made a wee bit of a fuss online as I can't expect my Homecare ladies to return when Lockdown is over, if there's any risk at all I'm positive.

The other sad news is that due to The Locusts taking every scrap from supermarkets, despite the limits, there are no 'left-overs' which might normally go to Food Banks which help poor people.

Cherry when I had a years worth of hair shaved off, I doubt it would weight 3 ounces ! Dandelion-clock hair and not much of it.

One more last patrol with Jeeves, then I'm going back to my knitting

I am glad to hear you've had a test BL but hope you have enough food to last.
I listen to world service, read a bit, come on here and join in the threads with my two penn'orth of advice opinion
What are you knitting?

cherry good job I’m not the only one ?
It is very overcast here but as you say, muggy. How’s our Tigger doing today?
bradfordlass How are you feeling today? Any better? Good job you’ve had the test so at least you know if it is the virus or not.
Thank you for the information about the loos. I bet who ever thought they were non essential was a young person without bladder issues ?
So sorry this lockdown has caused you to miss a visit with your DGS. I bet he is disappointed too. Is there any news on how long it might go on for ? They must surely set up some support for food deliveries.
Your Troll picture reminded me of the many holidays we have had in Norway. They love their trolls there. They have troll mountains and paths and Troll folklore. Almost every shop we have visited in Norway sells trolls.
Hope your son and family are ok and keeping safe.
grammaretto another who leaves the handbrake on.
Yes I was annoyed by the pop up too. It took many people by surprise I think. I just went through and turned all the options to grey ( which GNHQ have now confirmed is off) and submitted that. You can check it again if you like. I gather it’s in privacy settings at the bottom of the page.
I can’t sleep when it’s too hot either. Talking to my son the other day, he said he and his wife have been taking the dog for a walk at 4am Because they can’t sleep and it’s cooler for the dog.
Hope everyone has a pleasant day.

No internet this morning, grrr ? but fine now - what's all that about?

Tigger's fine today Doodle ? thanks, hope you and Mr D are okay too on this very very wet day, at least it is here.

Grammaretto thanks for the description of me as slimline it's just the tonic I need (where's the groan emoji when you need it) ?

Yes BradfordLass absolutely spot on the UK government did do that. I saw a report yesterday that I found completely astonishing. Now there are plans to provide trowels along routes of major highways so that people can dig their own toilets and cover them up afterwards ???. Apparently they have noticed that there are is a significant decrease in the number of places where people can stop and find a toilet during their journeys.
Sorry that the lockdown has meant that your anticipated visit of your DGS has been cancelled ?.
I am so glad that you managed to get a covid test, I'm sure it'll come back negative but I have my ? anyway.
Like Grammaretto I too am worried about your ability to get food in during this lockdown and I'm very concerned that you are not having visits from your homecare girls. Someone will ring you every day won't they? I hope so. Please take care .
Your hair has grown back okay now though hasn't it, I remember the photo of your coloured hair ?.

It was odd this morning when I woke up. My hair was all over the place and it made me chuckle ? ?. I was pleased! ?. I know that sounds odd but apart from being wavy before I had it cut it just hung like the shabbiest curtains you could have ever seen ?.

Grammaretto it's a real "pig" having broken nights is sleep , hardly sleeping is it?
I try to go to sleep at the same time ever night as that is, apparently, meant to help. It doesn't.
I hope it eases off for you and quality sleep returns.

I've never been to Norway Doodle, Switzerland yes but Norway no. Switzerland was fantastic, horsedrawn carriages in the snow, fantastic lavish breakfasts, wonderful seafood and scenery to die for.
Gosh! Taking a dog for a walk at 4am ?. Completely understandable though, if you can't sleep and obviously dogs need walking, it's probably a brilliant idea ?

cherry I glad you and your Tigger are fine. DH’s arm is almost back to normal now which is good.
We have had no rain yet. Which is slightly annoying as I had to water the hanging baskets ?. It is completely overcast but still muggy.
We had planned to visit one of our sons today and one tomorrow but both are busy today so we will have to fit them both in tomorrow. Not a problem as they live close to each other and us. I have bought some outdoor solar lights. One for us and one for each of them, which I want to take over,
cherry I have been to Switzerland many times too (I love mountains). We went to places around Interlaken. It is a lovely place. Norway is lovely too particularly cruising the coastline.
I too am so sorry for bradfordlass being back in lockdown. In some ways it’s like Marydoll who has been locked up again because of her treatment.
I’m afraid I’m a little tipsy. We have been for a long walk and came back to sit on our balcony, DH has given me a glass of cool white wine and as I was thirsty....I drank it .
I haven’t even got started on the dinner yet ?

Bradfordlass I think I should send running beans to you by airmail! But I guess your borders are blocked to non min of ag food?

I have a Covid test booked for next Saturday. I have to achieve a negative result 2 days before my op and then isolate completely until I have it. I know a lot of people in this country don't like the test but I think we need to do as much testing as we possibly can - then some services can run more safely.

Today my littlest DGD celebrated her first birthday by walking unaided..... and eating green cake. I was very very pleased to witness both! I won't see them again now until after the op.

I'm away for an early night because I'm still not right.. and it's sensible to listen to my body rather than fight it all the time. I'll book some Tigger lesssons from Cherry in a couple of weeks!

Sleep tight everyone.

mamissimo thank you for such a lovely picture to cheer us all up. Your little DGD is so sweet. The cake was obviously a success ?
Walking already.... she will be trying to catch those running beans soon.
Perhaps we could fit your beans with tiny snorkels and they could swim over to bradfordlass.
I’m for an early night too. Hope you sleep well mamissimo you need to be fighting fit for your op.
Jeeves said he is sleeping on the mat outside your door Bradfordlass in case you need anything in the night. I think he means a hot drink ??

Doodle, what would Miss Marydoll say ?! Skool may be on hollyday but .... drinking alkolol before 6pm and it wasent even wifh food ?. What's a girl meant to do after a long walk but have a drink of something if it's handed to her ?.
You can get one of those dripper thingy's (can't remember what they're called) for hanging baskets. Having said that, I'm not a fan as the ones I've seen are hard to hide and spoil the look of what should be a gorgeous display. We don't have any hanging baskets but we would have as many as we could if we lived in a flat. We do have a ceramic planter containing alpines which is secured on the wall above our house number though.

Mamissimo your DGD is gorgeous. I had to scrutinise that green cake, have you used up a lot of your running beans now ?.
It's always wonderful to see the little ones walking all on their ownsome ?. On a first birthday is particularly special I think. It's such a lovely milestone .... and then before you know it they are running around creating havoc ?.
You've had an eventful day and you are right to listen to your body if you are still not feeling too good. I hope you sleep well tonight.
I've got my ? that you won't need any Tigger lessons from me in a couple of weeks but that your very own Tigger tail grows strong. All us gangsters want that for you ?

Well I ought to summon Jeeves I think because it's that time of night for a delicious hot chocolate ?.

Good night gang ?

Sssh cherry don’t tell marydoll I only had a sip, honest ?
We take it in turns here to water the baskets so it not a particularly onerous task.
Lots to do tomorrow so better get off to bed, I must admit I get very sleepy these days.
Have a good night all.

I love the idea of a TipsyDoodle

Grammaretto I knit hats, scarves and slippers of all sizes but when I run out of wool, I'll have to twiddel me thumbs.

Mamissimo What a gorgeous girl she is, I can't wait for my wee girl to appear.
My 27 year old grand-daughter just contacted me on Facebook: 'Whatever you need Grandma, I'm only a message away.'
In fact she's 30km away and I wouldn't ask her to do a 60km round trip just for a few fresh vegies, bless her.

I'm very unlikely to starve as I have several things in my favour, one of which is being brought up in a poor Bradford family with an inventive cook for a Mum.

That hangi meal you saw contains a selection of root vegetables, cabbage, a chicken drumstick and hunk of pork. All that went straight into the freezer and will make several meals: stews, soups & curry.

I'm normally on a self-imposed low carb diet, even on these bitterly cold days of winter because I feel livelier without carbs but I shan't hesitate to make dumplings to go with the stew; have rice with the curry etc. If I absolutely have to.

I ate the seafood chowder from the hangi but the steam pud is still in the freezer.
That too will make a couple of meals with custard....and I have dried milk powder in the pantry.

In addition, during the first big lockdown, Waipareira sent me a food box which contained pasta, rice and potatoes - which I put aside to take to a foodbank.

I didn't get the chance so they're sitting in the garage too. Spuds are still fine as it's been pretty cold in there

And finally, my one carb indulgence is porridge. I absolutely LOVE porridge and still have 2 kilo of oats in the pantry. I eat it salted with a tiny splash of sugar-free maple syrup and a wee bit of milk. Heaven.

Today I'm going to add a mashed banana and make
2-ingredient, sugar-free oat biscuits.
kirbiecravings.com/2-ingredient-banana-oatmeal-cookies

No Cherry no one rings me every day, especially not the agency who employs my Homecare!

What I find more saddening is that I rent a house from the Salvation Army in an Independent Living Complex of 14 homes.
During this entire Covid situation, not one call, not one offer of help in any way.

The girl next door, who's a carer for her elderly father, said she'd shop for me during the previous lockdown and brought milk. I may ask her again if I need to.

It's been the Maori owned Waipareira who've looked after this old white woman.

Hope everyone has a great day!

I'm very tired tonight. After such a poor sleep. Our son and his family are staying so it has been busy.
We hadn't seen them for a year.
Your DGD is adorable Mamissimo
I wonder too if beans were in the cake.
Goodnight everyone.

There were no running beans in that cake! Just enough sugar and fat to give us all palpitations! The birthday girl was insistent on the weird darker end of the cake spectrum so green, blue and indigo for her!

Yesterday we gave party bags of beans and carrots to all our AC ! You know your children are grown up when they manage to be pleased with a gift of veg ? Eldest DD asked hopefully anxiously whether that was the last such gift. I was delighted to be able to reassure her that the tomatoes are about to come online....and the beetroot!

Today I shall iron....I always try to leave everything in ship shape order before a hospital visit because it won't get done again until I'm well recovered.

I didn't receive a single phone call from an agency/GP/local authority during lockdown. I'm vulnerable to Covid but not in any other respect so I was fine with that - but it worried me hugely that people with multiple vulnerabilities were being left out of sight. We still can't get it right that community begins from the bottom up not the top down if we're going to beat adversity.

Irons hot so off I trot....happy Sunday everyone

Morning all from a sober Doodle ?
That’s a lovely message from your DGD bradfordlass.
You seem to have got your food supplies sorted out which is good. That hangi seemed to provide you with a lot of lovely food. I can’t believe the Salvation Army haven’t checked up on you. That’s not good. The Waipareira seem to be more caring. Is this the elders group or some sort of Maori council?
Don’t forget to leave some of your biscuits in the kitchen for us ?
grammaretto how lovely to have a family visit. That should cheer your DH up. A year is a long time. You must be thrilled to see them again. Try not to overdo it though. ?
Mamissimo that is some amazing cake. All those colours.
Party bags of beans, now that’s a good idea. I know what you mean about having the place ship shape before you go into hospital. Just don’t do too much. You’ve got to keep well.
Got a busy day today so I’d better get on with it.
Take care all.

WoW that's a pretty amazing rainbow ? cake Mamissimo ?. You do know I was only joking about the running beans in the cake, don't you.
It's fascinating how some children are drawn to certain colours and others to completely different colours. I remember reading a report years ago about child development and colour and that children under two years old tend to be drawn more towards primary colours and drawn to secondary colours as they develop ?. I don't know how scientific the report was but of it's accurate it suggests that your DGD is quite developed for her age.
I received three phone calls during shielding time, all in the early stages. No follow ups. It's a very poor show that in some areas vulnerable people didn't receive any. I think every person shielding was meant to receive at least one call earlier on and subsequent calls if requested. You should definately been called.
Ironing - I don't do ironing ?. I do have a valid excuse though - it's not a safe activity for me because I'm a "burns risk". I have sustained serious (almost full thickness) burns in the past, though not due to ironing. It has been recommended that I don't do it. Suits me ?.
I perfectly understand the need and desire to do all these, including the ironing, chores before going into hospital though - it makes sense so that you can recuperate and relax as you need to do when you come home.

BradfordLass you have put my mind at rest. I'm glad that you do have food to keep you going, even if some of it is not your chosen diet.
I think it's an incredibly poor show from the Salvation Army; salvation - hardly ?! The Waipareira sound much more considerate and caring.
I also think the homecare agency need a kick up the proverbial!
Promise that you'll ask the kind girl next door to get you the odd provision if you need to, I'm sure that she will understand and be obliging.

Grammaretto, I hope you care enjoying or have enjoyed your raspberry picking xand are having a lovely, lovely day ?

So Missus Doodle a busy day ... do tell! By the way I'm glad Mr Doodle has recovered well now ?

I'm off now because the lamb won't cook itself ?.

Hello again everyone and thanks Cherry .
That cake is a triumph Masmissimo !! Seeing as it's my birthday today, may I share it please?
I really couldn't be bothered to make myself one.
I saw all the DC and DGC today. 6 in reality and 5 virtually and that doesn't include the partners. I was brought champagne and lots of smelly stuff. They were sent away with jars of honey and herbs for their new herb garden. (definitely grown ups now)
DH is happier but we are both happy to be doing nothing now that they've left.
I may have to leave the raspberry walk until tomorrow.

I wonder too what people who have no support are supposed to do. The Salvation Army indeed!! I wonder if they have sold their souls along the way or just oblivious to the fact that they have a responsibility to the housing complex.
Although I think if you do phone the semi-emergency numbers such as 101, a helpful robot voice steers you towards further assistance.
Certainly our GP told me not to hesitate to call 999 for an ambulance.

I only iron as-and-when so lo-and-behold this very day I trotted down with nothing on, set up the ironing board and prepared to iron my one-and-only blouse which requires ironing, when a video call came in from DS in NZ!
I managed to explain......