The Lockdown Gang - Carry on Regardless.

Oh golly.....what a 24 hours in the gang! I started reading to catch up and my chin dropped lower and lower. Bradfordlass has the words exactly right to express the care that draws us together. I'm not religious in any sense but I think of you all each night wish all good things.

Doodle I'm glad Mr Doodle has got his robotics. Cellulitis makes you a bit meh and is best fixed quickly. I get it spectacularly because my internal workings have been rearranged a few too many times. I think I have kinks in my plumbing!

Grammaretto - a huge a gentle hug. Your news is an utter sadness and needs time to process. ?

Missedout my DH is a qualified yacht master (ocean) and he always felt that there needed to be some sort of certification for inland waterways as well. There's no other transport type that allows any old plonker to sally forth on a public highway without a license. I hope the rest of your trip is less eventful!

Do be careful on the helter skelter today - you never know what at the bottom. Safe landings.

Good morning gangsters, it’s raining here in east London. I am sitting with my three cats and catching up with everyone’s posts.

Granmaretto, sending you good thoughts ? as you process the news you received from your DH’s consultant.
Panache best wishes to you ?
Another really beautiful carving Bradfordlass, the names and stories make them even more special.

I mentioned our three cats - we only meant to have two. The third one turned up in our garden about a year ago. He kept staring in the kitchen and crying. We couldn’t get near him, he just hissed and ran away. We fed him every day and built a garden shelter for him. It took 6 months to get him to come into the house. Then we were able to take him to the vet and have him neutered and chipped. He then had about three months of significant ill health.

He is now a much happier and more confident cat. We named him Oliver (after Oliver Twist, because at meal times he always wants ‘some more’) and he is finally settling into his home.

Just had to join in and say how very much I feel for you Grammaretto and of course your dear husband hearing those not so pleasant words.
You will remember how completely "off the rails" I went a little while ago because of fearing each new day for my dear one`s deteriorating health,it knocks one sideways until you realise that every today is well worth fighting for,making the most of .............and of course always hoping
Indeed you are amid a host of understanding,caring friends.Perhaps like me you will need those moments or days to readjust,but believe me there is no better place to be than amidst your friends...............when the time is right for you.
Thinking and hoping for you both,may there be sunshine instead of dark clouds up ahead.

Warm welsh cwtches to you all,please stay safe every day.

mamissimo you too have summed up this bond we have with each other. Possibly the only good thing to come out of lockdown.
DH started his robotics (?) early this morning having had his first good night’s sleep for a while. His ankle, although red and inflamed doesn’t seem to be causing too much trouble at the moment. I hope you are well on the mend too.
nortsat how kind of you to adopt Oliver. He was obviously looking for a little love and attention. He certainly looks the picture of contentment in the photo.
panache another kind and caring post. I think we all felt for grammaretto and MrG last night. As you say, it takes time to process things. We will be here for each other, as much as we can.
Have a peaceful day all.
missedout hope your DH is feeling better today. Jeeves can stay till you’ve moored up tonight then please send him home. We can’t have him getting ideas about joining the navy ?

Popping in for a mutter.....another 3 kilos of bloody lovely running beans prepared, blanched and frozen and all beds changed and resultant laundry done. Jeeves last seen pulling on a striped Breton and jaunty cap......

(((group hugs))) to Gramaretto and Panache. Life is a sod and so unfair.

What a shock and adventure for you missedout. I do hope Mr M recovers soon. I expect that, like the Broads, the canals attract groups of younger people and it can be scary sometimes watching them weaving up the river oblivious to the perils. In hot weather they just stop their boats and jump in - not realising they can't easily climb out again - or how cold the water can be. They don't worry about mooring or dropping a mud weight. Just drift. We carry a hook on ladder as well as the life belt, just in case one of us makes a slip up. My awareness of dangers seems to be going into overload as I get older!

I'm trying to imagine what Mr Doodles robotics involve. Can we have a video please?

Ah nfk you will have to ask mamissimo about robotics as she was the one who first mentioned it ? but if you really want a photo, here he is. Handsome chap isn’t he. Got a bit rusty with old age but not too bad.

My mamissimo you’ve been busy today. I have done the kitchen and one bathroom, trying to rake up the energy for the other before starting dinner.
Perhaps you could contact some local vegetarian group and ask them if they’d like to come to dinner. Bean soup for starters. Bean loaf with bean croquettes and a side order of bean mash. And for dessert, bean flan with bean ice cream. ?

Reading back on my post yesterday I see how it could easily have come across .... grumblings going on, interruptions galore and got to go ? ?.
Wasn't quite like that though.

The young woman I've been helping (or trying to) is still in one heck of a situation. She has a support worker but the support is limited, casual and geared towards self help. She needs much more than that but I'm pretty powerless to do more than I've done. It's a frustration and a worry and I don't think she is any further forward, in fact I think she's in a bit of a sinking spiral.
Anyway, that was the reason for all the interruptions of yesterday ?.

I'm with you Mamissimo, BradfordLass has expressed exactly how we all feel in this group for each other. I know that I channel a cheery disposition and I am a glass half full kind of person (at least) a lot of the time but I appreciate the care we have for one another amongst our little gang. I've never met any of you yet I feel warmth and I care.
When I took a little time out to absorb the fact that a side effect of treatment had gifted me another condition to contend with the first "place" I headed to was this thread refuge.
Nflk, you have taken the words out of my mouth - (((group hugs))) indeed for Panache and Grammaretto. I only wish I could do it for real.

In this world of ours sometimes I feel very small. I feel powerless and I feel exasperated. I know the world is beautiful and life is a wonderful thing. Yet the world; of nature can be cruel to the wonder that is life. Fine, it's impossible by the very definition to have utopia, there is no such thing as ideal but there should be mercy. I know I'm fortunate, I'm still alive when I've succeeded my morbidity so my life has so much meaning for that; hence my glass is often half full. I've been the recipient of mercy there. Why me and not others, everyone should be the recipients of mercy. I want you all and your partners/husbands and loved ones to be recipients too ?

I still have my Tigger tail ?

My glass is definitely half full Cherry and I can't believe how blessed I am. I'm still here and so is my DH. Some of my family have problems I'd rather they didn't, but we're troshin on ok.

I fear my glass becomes half empty though if I have to give up my HRT for any reason!

Doodle we call them robotics because when the trunk of my body was re-imagined by the clever medical people I became --a patchwork cat--a bionic woman. My DS reckons bionic people take robotics....?

Oops sorry cherry I put 2 and 2 together and made it an urgent trip to the ??. Glad you are ok. ?
That is very kind of you to try and help someone. There are many people out there who struggle to get the help they need. So many in need and not much in the way of resources.
Odd isn’t it how a group of strangers come together on a thread and develop a strong bond of caring for one another. I agree Bradfordlass has a way with words that sums up our feelings. (((Group hug))) from me too. I consider myself lucky to be part of such a fabulous bunch of gangsters. My DH asks me every day, how are the gang doing is everyone ok.
I’m glad you still have your Tigger tail. Let’s hope it stays firmly attached. ?
I too am very lucky. Like you nfk my family has troubles I wish they didn’t but I have hope they’ll come through.
I’m going out now to see if I can sort out Jeeves. He enjoyed his time with missedout so much he wanted to buy a boat. I have persuaded him to sit in the hot tub with a toy yacht and work out his fantasies of being a Captain in there. If you see him just say hello Sailor, to keep him happy ?

Ah mamissimo I see. Funnily enough, my DHs previous GP refers to him as the bionic man so it is appropriate that he takes robotics too. ?

I have visions of all these DHs painted gold or silver or black with a top hat, like those robot type people in the high street.

nfk with my DHs essential tremor he couldn’t stand still for a second ?

You wouldn't be able to paint him gold very easily then!

Mamissimo your DH has a heartwarming sense of humour; in today's money you ? lady are priceless?

Your conclusion gave be a lovely giggle Doodle so I should thank you really ?. I'd have reached the same conclusion reading the post I sent ?
As for your robot I was going to say that he looks a pleasant handsome chap but if that's Mr Doodle I'd better not be saying that, I don't want you to think.... I mean I'd never.... not that he's.... I ... Oh dear I think I'll shut up!? ?

Missedout I hope your DH is recovering. What a awful, scary incident. It must have been a heck of a shock so I hope you both have recovered from that too.
I agree with Mamissimo, there should be some sort of license or proficiency certificate for sailing on inland waterways.

Oliver is one big snuggly cat Nortsat, obviously well at home now. That was a lovely thing you did for what was clearly a distressed stray.

BradfordLass you are a very clever artist. Those bone carving are magnificent. You send to be able to turn your hand to all the arts and crafts, with great skill and florish. You remind me in that way of my fabulous dearly missed SiL.

Grammaretto, I'm thinking of you and your DH, I hope you and your DH are coping okay with your news ?
Thinking of you and your DH tonight too ?

dragonfly, I don't know if you're reading but I'm still thinking of you too ?

Night all, sleep well ?

Missedout I forgot to say how impressed I was with your DHs heroics, that was amazing of him and so brave. What a pity he had to suffer an even more painful muscle pain for his good deed. I hope he's feeling better.
Have you read, 'Narrow Dog to Carcassone"? It was Terry Darlington's first book and quite hilarious.

Mamissimo I've been blanching carrots! Not grown by me but part of the food box.

Doodle how very sweet of your DH to ask about the gang, he's a blessing, isn't he? I'm so glad he was able to have a good night's sleep.

Panache good to see you posting and I totally agree - every day is precious, in sickness or health, for all of us.

I've tried to remember that since I was young and that, I think, is one of the reasons lockdown is irritating for many: it can seem like so much time wasted when we're shut in and unable to contribute in the ways we'd like.
But no time is ever wasted really because we can still think and send those vital 'good vibrations' to one another

NfkDumpling That's pretty much how my son & family acquired their cat. She'd been abandoned when neighbours moved house. She's well settled with them now but by no means cuddlesome. She'll not go to anyone but my son but then all animals seem to detect he understand them. He once stopped a runaway and very frightened horse just by standing in the road and talking softly as it careered towards him.

Cherry you talked about feeling small in the world.
It's not so.
Years ago, I was stargazing, flat on my back on the lawn with a son at either side and marvelling.
Some people, confronted by that vast, heavenly theatre may have felt small but we were thinking How amazing and wonderful that we are part of all this and have our place here just as the stars do
Cherry you are as important as the stars.

Wishing everyone a good night's restful sleep and a brighter day tomorrow.

Hello wonderful gangsters,
Such profound posts to read this morning.
Your support has left me floating somewhere.
The wind and sun have replaced the rain here so a brand new day.

DH has been helping a young friend to find student accommodation. This is one of our 200 helpers who we became close to. He returned on numerous occasions and is now doing a PhD.
DH would much rather be busy being helpful than being nursed just as well as I have limited skills in that department

A walk for me today and now the Wi-Fi is working, tackling of letters, bills and all that.
A present arrived on our doorstep yesterday of a smart TV. It is from our son and means we have no excuse can now watch all the films he tells us about.

cherry you and your Tigger can’t have my DH, he’s all mine ?. Mind you I think you are perfectly sorted with your dear man. ?
Hope you had a good night and no bouncing ?
bradfordlass I am indeed blessed with a very kind man. I think, because he’s the shielded one, he likes to know how you all are. In fact missedout my DH reminded me that when we had a boat I fell off in the marina. I wasn’t in danger of drowning but I was freezing. He managed to reach over the side and haul me up by the belt on my trousers. That was in the days when he was strong and healthy. I had a very damp journey home ?
bradforlass you have just said the same thing my DH said yesterday. He feels time is passing him by with this lockdown.
Your son sounds as though he has a very gentle manner and a way with animals.
grammaretto we have all been thinking about you and MrG . Good to hear your DH is keeping himself busy and even with his own worries is kind enough to be helping others.
Glad your wi-if is up and running. That’s kind of your son to buy you a new TV. A thoughtful gift I think.
Take care all. Hope you have a good day.
We are in a rush. Got up late and then realised we have a Waitrose delivery soon and I need to make some space in the freezer.

What a day it's been! I'm worn out ?. It's not that I've been dashing about or even bouncing ?, it's more of a case that I have been bounced from pillar to post by circumlocution agents. Bureaucracy ? argghhhh! It's ridiculous, more ridiculous than I've ever known. I feel that I should be an expert in croquet after today but... no such luck. I've been trying so hard to help someone out but I'm starting to think it's a case that because I have there's a distinct lack of responsibility by services "on the other side". It has often been said that people don't get help until they reach crisis but currently even that has gone out of the window! There's complete complaisance and a lack of mercy out there, beyond immorality in my book. Duty of care, don't make me laugh.

Thanks BradfordLass, the trouble is when I look up at the moment and see those stars I know they are light years away, the light has taken so long to get here that what I see shining there is a past state. It echoes the frustration I feel re. services that were once responsive are as faint and distant and in the past as those stars.

Grammaretto I think you have a very special man as your husband. All he is going through and still helping others. Keeping busy rather than being nursed sounds a bit like a man I know very well ☺️. I hope he doesn't overdo things, I know a man who does ?.
What a lovely present from your son ?. Strangely, my WP has spent some time today sorting out (hanging, syncing etc) a smart TV he bought on Tuesday.

Yes Doodle I am perfectly sorted ?.
It may have been a good while ago but still, falling of a boat - eek. I bet it was bloody cold! Pulling someone out of the water by their belt, not easy - Mr D must have been very strong ?
Hope you didn't miss your Waitrose delivery ?

Hope our missing gang members are alright.
I'll be back tomorrow ?

A riveting day! I emptied the HotBin and sorted my compost, tied up the tomatoes in advance of tomorrow's high winds, did the food order .....and froze 3kg of beans. If there is a god she will take the beans up in a vortex and deposit them in the garden of someone who needs them.

Your comment about film recommendations made me smile Grammaretto. I was nonplussed one Christmas to unwrap a boxed set of Luther DVDs. Now I'm a Jane Austen kind of girl....but DS, then aged about 20, was jolly excited to have given me the gift of his favourite TV detective series. " We can have a great weekend binge watching it" he said. "I missed a few episodes and I'd like to catch up. I think you'll love it". ...It's still unopened in the cupboard because neither of us has had two whole days to wastededicate to watching it. I'm thinking of giving him the latest "Little Women" With Meryl Streep in for Christmas this year on the basis that I draggedtreated his dear Papa to a tour around Orchard House in New England last year and he was sadly unable to experience it himself ?

We've just watched the programme about Aspreys.....I told Mr M which handbag I liked best.....fingers crossed ?

Sleep tight everyone

cherry not wishing to go into details as it’s about my DGS but your first paragraph sums up exactly the sort of trouble his family has had in getting help for him. Makes you mad doesn’t it. Here you are trying to help someone and keep being met by brick walls. I can feel your frustration.
Yes I thought you were happy with your WP. Lucky aren’t we.
Waitrose delivery went well. All goods washed and put away. Nice walk this afternoon but lots of people were out because it was a nice day after rain yesterday. It must take DH and I twice as long as usual to do our walks with all the hiding in bushes we keep doing.
mamissimo you certainly know how to live it up. ?
Wot not more beans ?. You have certainly had a bumper crop this year.
Your comment about your DS made me laugh. I wonder what he would think if you gave him Little Women. ?
I wonder if Mr M will pick up on the handbag hint. ?
Thinking of you all gangsters. Sleep well.
Jeeves is back on duty tonight but since his seagoing experience (well canal but you know what I mean) he is distributing rum tonight. ?

Hello gangsters,
I've nothing much to report except that DH had a better night. The nurse called while I was out for my walk and helped him.
Emptying the hotbin Mamissimo !! Life doesn't get much better...
I demonstrated to an impressed audience how heavy with worms the lid of our plastic compost bin gets. She, the gardener, never rated those bins before.
Cucumbers are excellent but the tomatoes are few and green still. Garden girl says I should have pruned them and fed them. As for the grape vine: it is all leaf and no grapes. Plenty of snails....

The scary stories of falling overboard are the stuff of nightmares. I am very glad DH pulled you to safety Doodle I bet he is too
I like the idea of boats but more a punt on the river than out at sea. We came from NZ by ship and for 3 days I couldn't leave my bed for sickness. After that I was fine but crossing the Tasman sea .....
Enough of my meanderings. More of yours please.