The Lockdown Gang - Keep Calm and Carry On

Good morning gangsters, I am sitting comfortably (thank you Doodle) but without any feline company. Two of the cats are hiding in the garden. We are having a new boiler fitted and the house is in uproar.
Missy our 16.5 year old, self opinionated cat, is in her usual spot, snoozing and paying no attention to the chaos.

Grammaretto, did you have a decent night? So nice that letters are continuing to arrive that value and remember your DH. Your lunch with friends sounds just the thing ... to lift your spirits a little.
Panache, how are you both today. Is it sunny ... might you manage a stroll today? Or was today a medical appointment?
Thinking of you both. ?
Doodle so glad you are able to visit your DH today. I hope that goes well. It will be a relief to see him. Try to find some time to relax and recharge your own batteries, too. Worrying about a loved one (as everyone on this thread knows) can be exhausting.
Nfkdumpling it would be nice to see photos of your Yule Solstice green decorations. Glad your wrist is becoming more comfortable.
Cherry I hope you had a decent night. We saw an interesting item on C4 news the other day about the conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn. Astronomers have monitored the data and extrapolated that there is likely to have been a similar conjunction around the time identified as the birth of Christ.
Bradfordlass another picture which did indeed make me smile?.

Have a good day all. Hoping Missedout is well, too. ?

Bradfordlass just having you with us makes us smile. ?You always put a brighter spin on the day.
Thank you for your kind thoughts.
DH phoned at 3. 30 am as he couldn’t remember the name of the antibiotic that upset his stomach so much. He had another attack of the rigours and they wanted to give him IV antibiotics. Poor man did sound rough. He phoned back about 7.00 and sounded much better thank goodness.
I am pottering around and not doing much. Spending a lot of time texting or on phone calls. So many kind people been in touch. Neighbours here are so good.
Hope little Gubbins slept last night.
That yarn bowl looks like a good idea.
Love the laid back chimp ?
Hope all the poorly gangsters have a better day today. Take care all

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202012/medium-145066-yarn-bowl.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202012/medium-841763-chimp.jpg

Poor, poor Mr. Doodle he's part of our gang so of course we're thinking about him. Please give him our love.

With any luck, when they kick him out he's allowed home, it will be with a supply of the stronger medications which will dull the worst of the pain.
I don't wonder he's vomiting, morphine does that to you
I'd guess the activity and bubble blowing are all to prevent blood clots.
Please feel better soon MrD

And dear Doodle whilst this will obviously put another burden on your shoulders (one I know you'll bear willingly) be kind to yourself as well as your beloved and in between the physio/activity try to rest.

I'm including a picture of a Yarn Bowl because: a) I think it's a brilliant idea and: b) it occurs to me Grammaretto could make them to sell to her Yarn Group - and elsewhere.

I usually abhor cutesy pictures but at the moment it seems so many of us are struggling to find joy amid the pain, so I'm breaking my rule in the hope this makes someone smile - just for a moment - and feel better.

Nfk thank you. Yes it was quite a spectacular fall.
Glad your wrist is getting better but the pain now seems to be moving elsewhere. It’s not gout is it? I know you usually get gout in the big toe but you can have it in other places too.
Whatever the reason I hope the pain improves soon. Perhaps you could brew up a witch’s potion to take the pain away.
Cherry thank you. I have been told that I can go and see DH tomorrow at 2pm. He is more comfortable now with the morphine but has been sick a few times which I think may be a reaction to all the drugs he’s had on a near empty stomach.
I hope you sleep well too.
Sleep tight gang .

Ah, yes Grammaretto, the Christmas star ⭐, sometimes called the star of Bethlehem - even though it's a conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn . My WP has an app on his phone that alerted him to it a couple of weeks ago, he's always been interested in astronomy. We've been tracking the planets coming closer and closer toward each other.
Sorry to hear that your cornice lady had to put her visit off, as long as the roof's fixed though ...
I'm pleased that you had a good day today, I hope the letters you received brought comfort and it's lovely to hear that you had a lovely time with a couple of friends ?

Nflk , so it's you that is the witch amongst us after all.
I remember our gang trying to work out which one/s of us were. The truth is out now ?
I wouldn't know whether it's rheumatics you are suffering but it doesn't sound nice. I have a persistent trapped nerve (left shoulder) and suffer with de Quavains in my left hand that affects my wrist and lower arm. If your pain is neuropathic then I empathise ?

I hope Mr D has a comfortable night Doode, the morphine should help. I hope you can relax a little now and have a decent night's sleep yourself.

Night all ?

Oh my goodness Doodle, your man doesn't do things by halves does he! Six broken ribs! Poor man. I hope they can sort his pain control quickly so he can come home.

I'm sure Mamissimo that you are a very efficient and capable nurse and Mr M really appreciates your ministrations. Deep inside. He just doesn't know he does.

I brought in loads of greenery today and decorated the house. I feel a need to celebrate the Yule solstice this year - perhaps its that coming together of Jupiter and Saturn bringing out the witch in me.

I'm wondering if my painful wrist is rheumatics. What my beloved MiL called The Screws. The swelling is going down now and my fingers are nearly normal size - but my elbow and my thumb joint are really painful too now! At least I know it's not a fracture or similar. Peripatetic pain! I've started taking turmeric. Compared with the problems with DH's innards and all the health obstacles you all have to fight I really nothing to complain about.

Fanny thanks for the tip. DH is on morphine now so hope that will help.
Panache I was wondering how you got on at the hospital yesterday. Thank you for the kind thoughts and the .
Hope you’ve had a more relaxing day today after yesterday.
Thank you Dragonfly he is finding it a bit easier now bu they want him to move about as tomorrow they want him up and about ?
Mamissimo not sure about visiting. I did ask but got a very garbled reply from someone who could no more understand me than I him. It ended up with him saying ask husband to do it. I have passed that message to DH I’m the hope he gets further than me. Are you feeling any better today?
Nortstat I think I remember seeing on the GM thread yesterday or today that you haven’t been feeling great recently, I hope you feel better soon and thank you for your kind thoughts.
Cherry thank you for the cwtches. Yes in retrospect it would have been better if he’d gone to hospital the first night. At least he is there now and has the exciting task of blowing bubbles into a bottle of water! This will apparently help his breathing.
Grammaretto thank you. I will pass on all the kind messages. He asks every day how the gangsters are getting on.
Unfortunately, I think I may be too tired tonight to look for stars.
Looks like you will be without your cornice for a while to come. Still good she didn’t just come anyway.
How lovely to have some nice letters about your DH.
Glad you enjoyed your lunch out.

Thank you everyone for your kindness. It means a lot

I've never broken a rib but it sounds terrible, especially when there is no plaster cast and nobody can even see that you are in agony. Poor MrD. Send him my warmest wishes for a fast recovery Doodle

I love your pottery Mamissimo! I said I would make a casket for the ashes and it may be something like that. that's a compliment by the way Good and solid to last for 1000 years.
Talking of which:
I have been told on good authority that there is to be a phenomenon in the south west skies on the Solstice which hasn't happened for c800 years. Appearing like an incredibly bright star think the 3 wise men? which will light up the sky.
www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2020/12/see-rare-great-conjunction-of-jupiter-saturn-on-winter-solstice/

My cornice lady called off as a previous client has tested positive. It really is never ending this virus.

I've had a nice day today. More letters of appreciation for DH arrived and I had lunch out in a hotel with a couple of lovely friends. Isn't it funny . We aren't allowed inside each other's houses but we can sit and eat together in a restaurant.

I loved your treat too BL

Oh heck Doodle, I'm so sorry to hear that Mr D has 6 broken ribs. They really should have x-rayed him in the first place! No wonder he's in such a lot of pain, I hope they've managed to make him more comfortable. I'm sending you handfuls of gentle cwtches x
I hope you will be allowed to visit Doodle ?
Please look after yourself too ?

Grammaretto, I think you might have hit on a title for the next chapter of the gang's thread. A bit early for me to think of it ? but maybe you should name it.
When my mother died on 13th December 18 years ago her funeral was on the winter solstice, the last day that funerals were taking place that year. Given that, I'm not surprised that your FiL's won't be until next year.
I hope you had a better night last night.

When will the results of the bone scans be Panache? I hope the results come back better than you expect ?

How's your patient Mamissimo ?? Your cellulitis is easing I hope. Cats! Even if they understand that there are "rules" and certain places shouldn't be explored for their pleasure ... these "rules" just don't apply to them as far as they are concerned, do they ?. No, no, no, they are kings or queens and do just what they will!

Thanks for the treat BradfordLass, it's pure delight ?

Very quick message Doodle to say how sorry I am to hear about MrD’s fall and his broken ribs.
Oh bless him.

Thinking of you both and sending all good wishes.
Try not to worry, he’s in safe hands.

Bradfordlass your picture of the delightful child and the laughing camel is the nicest thing I’ve seen today. Kia ora.

Oh Doodle, 6 ribs broken. I was in agony with just one cracked. Poor Mr Doodle and poor you having to see someone you love in so much pain.

I hate to criticise the NHS but there have been several examples on here of painful conditions being missed and patients being sent home, still suffering, then having to be re-admitted for further investigations. This seems a short-sighted policy and must be costing the NHS more to administer.

Will you be able to visit Doodle?

Panache they have a courier service so all may not be lost! ?????

Panache I went online and checked but Cardiff is the closest shop to you. I'm not sure whether they do a National delivery or whether it comes from the shop. The home page has a facility to enter your postcode and it will tell you whether they can deliver

www.cookfood.net/

I do hope they can. It's proper food.....?

Oh Doodle poor Mr Doodle. It must be rotten being in such pain. I do hope they can control it. Broken ribs can take a while to mend and we are not getting any younger!

Love the picture Bradfordlass.

Dear Doodle I wrote a very quick message yesterday on hearing of your dear man`s fall but it seems to have gone amok,mind you I was rather uptight as we were back and forth twice to Hospital for this bone scan.
I was truly stunned and felt so much for you both,my goodness only a little while ago you were in deep trouble before.............but at least for now he is certainly in the best place.
Breaking ribs is painful to say the least but patience,pain relief and some more tender loving care will work wonders!!
Thinking very much of you both,take special care yourself too,these shocks take their toll.
Sending some to at least brighten your day.

Mamissimo......I would appreciate hearing more about this firm and food that you mentioned a while ago,though because we seem to be living at the end of the world we do find deliveries an issue.

We are both feeling the strain today.............but home sweet home should be "just the ticket" and cure !!!

Love to you all.

Gosh Doodle that's a lot!
DH has had numerous broken ribs over the years. He was hospitalised and given a morphine drip.
Poor sod thought that he was fine until the morphine was stopped.
You have to wrap a towel around you to support yourself when you cough.
Hope that he has a quick recovery x

DH has broken 6 ribs ! They will keep him in for a couple of days to get his pain under control and they want to make sure he doesn’t get a chest infection as he is not able to breathe properly with the pain.
Thank you all for your kind wishes and thank you for the cwtches and hugs (I am a bit Welsh too Grammaretto. Both my parents were Welsh ?)
I hope the ceiling people turn up on time. The lunch with your yarn group sounds a nice idea. That’s quite a wait for your FILs funeral but as you say, it’s the time of year.
Thank you Marydoll.
Mamissimo I think Mr Mo is being well looked after despite what he says. ?
Oh naughty Fergal but he is very good looking.
Ooh what interesting pots. ?
Love the picture Bradfordlass

Today's little treat to cheer everyone.

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202012/medium-140701-5e610058-4f85-4a97-8d4a-85e50f5f4d54.jpeg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202012/medium-830670-aab3452d-b627-434c-bb3a-855e0ef471c8.jpeg

Mr M sends his regards to Mr Dood and hopes his wife is a better carer than his! Personally I send calm and strength to all who are suffering on either side of the fence. I blame it all on brexit darker nights.

This morning Fergal cat has climbed the Amaryllis - very successfully until it fell over - the pieces are now in a vase. He then thought he'd like to be part of the nativity. Picture attached.

Grammaretto the other picture is for your delectation....two vintage slab pots c.1972 made by me for my DM's Christmas present. Her face was a picture......a picture of surprise and horror ? she asked me in a strange strangled voice whether I thought they should be on display with her collection of Leach......? I replied that it would be nice but I understood that the Leach might look a bit shabby next to them. My DF left the room with tears in his eyes. Poor Mum!

Kind and careful days everyone.

Sending you gentle hugs Doodle. Your DH is in good hands. ?

So much sorrow and sadness here.

Doodle how dreadful but sensible too. Let's hope it's not serious. Poor MrDood.
Sending you cwtches (I am 2% Welsh)

I wonder if you know anything more.

Reading through all the posts from yesterday, I worry we may have to change the gang's name soon to something including battered. What a gang we are!!

I am expecting the ceiling people back today. At least the repairs to the leaking roof will have had plenty of testing time.
I have been invited out to a Christmas lunch at a local hotel with the yarn group.

It looks like the next funeral will not be until January. MiL isn't pleased about that but I believe it is quite usual around Christmas time. She may be vaccinated by then.

Oh dear Doodle, even more of a worry when you have a DH who doesn't usually complain. I do hope x-rays find the reason for him being in such agony, but damaged ribs always are a lot more painful than any other bone bits so fingers crossed it's nothing serious and the hospital can give him stronger pain killers.

Doodle
I hope that DH is home with you soon, I'm sure that he will be, they don't hang around at the moment.

Doodle that's a shock for both of you. I hope it's something minor.
At our age, pain can be quite severe even when the injury is not.
I don't suppose you'll have a good day without your darling but try to get some rest if you can. Much love to you xxx

Cherry good to see you are ok. Quite a lot has happened in the gang in the last few days.
I’m afraid DH has just been taken off to hospital. The pain in his back was so great that even with the maximum dose of painkillers he couldn’t move without being in agony. I phoned 111 and the GP said there wasn’t anything they could give him in a home setting so he has gone to hospital for x rays and for them to check him over. Again tonight another fantastic ambulance crew. Kind thorough and gentle.
missedout sounds as though you know what he’s going through.
Bradfordlass you always come up with some ingenious ideas. I think it’s his back rather than front that needs the ice pack but I can’t try it out now. I can visualise him heading to the loo with a frozen chicken strapped to his back ?
Hope everyone sleeps well. Take care all