The Lockdown Gang - Keep Calm and Carry On

Aha, so sea food veg does exist. We had a take away sea food salad and it came sitting on a bed of samphire, which I love. There was other green stuff in there - I wonder if it was seaweed!

Love the idea of taking a glass of sherry to aid the Christmas Card writing. It's my afternoon task - but I may just go for a walk instead!

farcical ! Where did that come from? Its lightly padded and plaited fabric very 1980's and ok, pretty farcical by modern standards ?

Good morning!

I had a deliciously sinful day with the DGC yesterday while their parents house viewed and did a super quick trip to the shops for some Christmas presents....and they managed a spot of lunch. It did DD the power of good to have some time as a couple with DSiL.

The house has provided much food for thought......I think it's shed light on where they want to live and what they really need from their next home so it won't be that house. The bedrooms were numerous but too small and with no scope for a dedicated play room the house would have been overrun with plastic tat Childrens' paraphernalia.

They do, however, want to move into the village nearby. Other DD is not happy because the move will make her the only one of the tree ADC not in pop in distance and so the eggshell path to family contentment takes another twist!

Sea vegetables are yummy.......a mix of samphire, seaweeds and some other random green crunchy stuff. Mine was lightly sautéed, dressed with a tasty seasoned crumb, lovingly enrobed with a Beurre Blanc and snuggled under a duvet of Sea Bass. I did as I was told and enjoyed. ?

Today I should have been wreath making with both DDs at Wakehurst but we are one Tier 3 and two Tier 2 and one shielding is being careful as little Mattie Hancock admonished in his latest email. Front door will go unadorned this year unless I dig out the stuffed farcical one I made thirty years ago.

I managed to get the address labels printed for the Christmas cards yesterday - an annual hellish job - so this afternoon I will drink Sherry and write the cards......enthusiastically at first with all our names and a little greeting, then just signed.....and the last few with just a exclamation mark. Yes really, there are people out there who know me as !

Today I will try to be good....but not too much. Hope you all manage the same.

Just read you have puppy company today Grammaretto. I have a friend with a cocker spaniel and he's bought her an all in one body suit (in bright pink). Only her head and paws are exposed, and it means she can be all spaniel-ish and jump in mud to her hearts content and they only have her ears to deal with. No muddy dog to hose down. The suit washes through and dries much, much easier than a pooch!

Mamissimo, have you sinned? Childcare is permitted if within a bubble, but I'm confused as to what constitutes a bubble as childcare bubbles seem to be different to single person bubbles. If you did, I hope you had a wonderful time. What did you DD think of the house? Is it all systems go?

I'd assumed sea vegetables are when you look in the cupboard and see what vegetables are in there!

Much as I love it, I can't eat curry anymore unless it's homemade as I developed a garlic intolerance which slowly crept up on me around the time when I would have been menopausal, had I not have had a hysterectomy. Its very inconvenient.

I love the sound of your bored beans and avocado Bradford. Much better than sea cucumber!

Those wedges sound like just the ticket Cherry. Given the variety of cot sides etc it's obvious a lot of people have problems with falling out of bed. It'll mean you won't need an air bed beside you to bounce your fall. Perhaps next time the OT visit you should put a brightly coloured beach lilo next to the bed to emphasise your need for something. I saw one this summer with a pink flamingo head which would get her/his attention!

I hope the steroids are starting to have an effect Panache. Are you noticing any difference yet? And no side effects I hope although an increase in appetite may help - is there a new 'chef' yet?

DH was up a lot last night, I think he may need to cut the carbs, as his diabetes is showing! The trouble is I shall be making bread today and a new cheese shop and deli has opened in town.

I hope you're not feeling too anti-climaxed today Grammaretto. I know you're made of stern stuff, but be gentle with yourself today. xx

Morning gang,

I am going to have to learn to cook for one. I am scared I may end up like my DM who had symptoms of scurvy from vitamin C deficiency....
Not that my G&Ts lack lemon.
The other family with the new puppy are coming out today for a walk. He's a low slung pooch so may have to be carried over the serious mud on our local walkways.
I did a little online shopping for presents yesterday including some bare-rooted roses for DD's new garden.
I liked a friend's garden bunch so much, I asked her what they were and have ordered those varieties. It's wonderful to have roses flowering in December in Scotland with a sweet fragrance. One is Winchester Cathedral, another the Pilgrim.

I wonder what the day has in store for the gang. I hope some good things.

Nfk thank you so much for the note about Balancing Act, I listened to some of it today whilst sorting out my Christmas shopping list. It's excellent isn't it?
His delivery is a lot like Allan Bennett's, with whom he works.

Doodle I hope the people who own that kitchen were deeply grateful for all your hard dreamwork!

Your Tikka Masala sounds yum. It's ages since I had an Indian meal; perhaps I could arrange a takeaway? Trouble is, all meals come with rice, which I don't eat.
When you become entranced with interesting things on Sounds Doodle please remember to lift that iron

Cheery your speed visit from the OT, especially when she wanted to take photos, sounds as if she wants proof you're still alive! How odd that she dashed off but said she'd complete the task by phone. Was she running late and had to whizz off to another client?

My son sent me a mini-video of him bathing Gubbins and it made me cry because he was too.
Having his own daughter, at long last, is so overwhelming and he loves her so much. No wonder, she's a dear wee thing.

I sorted out exactly what I intend serving on whichever day the family come over for Christmas.
Then I put together the shopping lists for the ingredients. The very last minute stuff will be purchased on 21st as that's the last day I'll have a homecare lady (and transport) until 8th January.

I envy people who can just get into a car and drive where and when they want. It's a pain in the neck being trapped in the house, miles away from any shop.

I considered delivery but the dates are all booked up for Xmas and New Year and the charges come to a quarter of what I spend on food for a week, so that's out.
I just have to be a good forward planner, so that's what I've been doing today.

Hope everyone has a good day, with no dramas, traumas or disasters.

Here's an idea for your Bored Beans Mamissimo
Mash the beans with a fork. Mash the flesh of an avocado with a fork and add to the bored beans, add good squirt lemon juice, some crumbled feta and mint. Mix well. Season with black pepper. Serve on toasted ciabatta bread. From a NZ cookery website.

Grammaretto sounds like you had quiet time with your family today. A new puppy is usually guaranteed to bring a smile to the lips they are quite cute.
It will seem strange for you when your son goes back to NZ. I expect it will be hard for him too even though he’s going home to his family.
I hope you sleep well tonight and have another soft day
tomorrow .
Cherry I wonder if my dream was somehow related to watching 2 back to back episodes of the new series of Upstairs Downstairs. I had obviously taken on the role of scullery maid. ?
I am not a curry person so mild is good for me. We enjoyed our curry. It remains to be seen whether it upsets DHs digestion tonight. He is often up anyway so it’s hard to tell really.
My goodness that was a quick OT visit. Did you have time to fix your hair and put on your pearls for the photo shoot. ?
Glad your headache has gone but so sorry your team lost. They have had a good run so far. As you say, next time...
Panache, Cherry is so right in all she said. Hope the steroids have brought some improvement in MrP
Sleep tight and mind the bugs don’t bite ?

Hello Grammaretto, you sneaked in there just before me. Glad to know you had a softish day. Of course you'll miss your son and as much as he's missing his own family, of course, I'm sure he'll miss you too when he goes back to New Zealand. It's good that you've got pleasant options for Christmas ☺️. I hope you have another soft day tomorrow, a gentle cwtch goodnight from me.

Seems I'm not the only one intrigued by Mamissimo's sea vegetables. I think they do tend to be things like samphire and forms of seaweed like kombu and nori BradfordLass. Perhaps Mamissimo can enlighten us further ...

Mamissimo I think if you are asking to be absolved of a sin it shouldn't really matter if the request is in hindsight or not ?. After all, how can you ask for forgiveness for a sin when you don't know if you've sinned? I think that therefore it should cover any pre knowledge too ? I hope the viewing went well and you enjoyed your time with your DGC .

Panache I think I speak for all of us here when I say we send our love to you too. Doesn't sound like there any any early side effects for Mr P from the steroids, I hope that continues. You're clearly worn down at the moment, I hope that you are both getting some rest and relaxation x

I don't like the look of the sea cucumber either Doodle, yuck, yuck and more yuck! I saw a report about their popularity BradfordLass. Like a lot of species on this planet it will be decimated by mankind's greed.

That is a weird dream Doodle. I'm not one to read anything into dreams but .... I don't know what I'd make of that if I did ?
I love a good ruby but I'd rather a pathia or dopiaza than a masala dish. My WP likes milder curry dishes, he suffers with indigestion otherwise. I like a bit of a kick but not something that is all kick and no flavour though.
Yes the headache's gone and the OT visit came and went in the blink of an eye ?. She's going to ring on Monday to discuss things through, which I thought she was going to do today but no. She just came and took photos!

Boo hoo, boo hoo, my team lost today ?. Can't win them all I guess. We'll hit back next time, we'd better! ?

On that note I'll say night night all, sleep peacefully gangsters.

Good evening gang,

I have managed to have a softish day today (thanks NfkD)
The families left after lunch and after a wet walk with the puppy. I have a choice of invitations/suggestions for Christmas, which is nice.
The puppy made at least 2 new friends in the short time we were out, with suggestions for raincoats and what sounded like bathrobes for dogs!

We didn't have sea vegetables for tea.
What are they like?

I will miss my DS when he leaves and I don't know how I could have managed these last few weeks without him but in another way I'm not sure if 2 miserable people are the best company for each other. He is missing his own family so much.

I am glad to hear that the steroids are working Panache
Your dream sounds extremely tiring Doodle
I hope your headache has gone now Cherry

Evening all. Been a sunny but cold day here today.
DH and I had chicken tikka Marsala (Waitrose) for dinner tonight. It was delicious but I think the smell will linger for ages ?
Put up a few more decorations but not as much as usual.
Been playing with my sewing this afternoon.
I had a really weird dream last night. I was in someone’s kitchen and I had to clean a load of pots and pans, which I did, then I had to clean lots of shelves. Each shelf was full of tiny ornaments that had to be lifted, cleaned under and then replaced in the same spot. It took forever, by the time I woke up I was exhausted.?
What is that lovely smell......oh it must be Cherry washed, curled and blown dry ?.
Hope the visit with the OT went well. Is your headache any better?
Glad to hear our Tigger still has her tail firmly attached ??
Panache how lovely of you to pop in. Good to hear the steroids are doing ok. Keep safe both of you.
Oh Bradfordlass I don’t think I’d like to eat that. It looks like a furry caterpillar. I think I’ll stick to peas and cauliflower ?

Searching for Mamissimo's sea vegetables (I didn't dare put duckballs into Google in case the Vice Squad descended on me) I found this reference: sea cucumber. (pictured)

The Asian market is eating them to extinction

Can't say I fancy it meself but I do like nori, those very thin, slightly salty sheets of seaweed sold as snacks in my local Korean supermarket.

Am thinking of you so very much Grammaretto trusting all went well as you said your final goodbyes yesterday.

So far so good with the steroids,I am eagle eyed and watching out for any issues.

Sending love to you all,just feeling totally shattered.

I had a more expensive shower ? than I usually do this morning ... I washed my hair and then absentmindedly put my shampoo on the body "mop" I wash with ?. I'll say something though, my skin feels lovely and soft so perhaps I'll use the conditioner as well the next time ?

Thanks for the link BradfordLass I haven't seen those wedges before. I've seen the padded cot sides before and asked whether they'd be suitable but because they still go over metal (or wooden frames) I've been told they wouldn't be suitable ?. I'll speak to my support worker from the epilepsy charity and see what she thinks. If she thinks they would help I know she'd write a letter of support for them to my GP and then... surely he can't say no and I can go ahead with them ?

Ironically I've got an OT coming in about 20 minutes to discuss what, if anything, may be of help for me in the kitchen. I've got another bad headache so that'll be fun ?. I'm okay though.

Nflk that's a perfect way to express the day we all hope Grammaretto will have today. Yes, have a soft day today Grammaretto . It will be difficult when your son leaves to go back to New Zealand on Monday, we will be here for you to help in any little way we can x

Despite the headache Doodle my tail hasn't fallen off ?

Missedout how long had you been on the daily injections? I must admit I had never thought about all the paraphernalia required if you go on holiday. I can see the new regime will be of great benefit.
I too find our daily walk takes quite a lot out of my day. By the time we get dressed to go out in the cold then take it all off again when we come back then coffee and biscuit to warm up and recover from the exercise. Phew I’m too exhausted to do anything ?
Hope you get your alter ego sorted out. Cheek ?
Bradfordlass I had no idea you were a quilter too. I bet your quilts were well made.
I am still a beginner but keep getting sidetracked to other sewing things. Still getting good use out of my new sewing machine and it keeps me busy in lockdown even if most of it gets thrown away or used as testing scraps. ?
Grammaretto what an amazing thing that thunderclap snowstorm must have been. An unusual phenomenon to mark the day.
It sounds as though many turned out to wish your DH a fond farewell despite the snow and cold. A well though of man for sure.
So is it Monday your son is returning to NZ? That will be hard for you too. We will be here to do what we can to help.
Nfk hope you are doing ok.
Nortsat another coffee? A lazy morning, and why not. ?
As DH ordered a large tub of cream, we do not have enough scones to finish it all so I will be making another batch tomorrow. This time I will make more dough and hopefully they will turn out a bit more like ‘real scones’. I will certainly put some aside for you ?
I too listen to the BBC iPlayer on Sounds. Usually when I’m ironing. The trouble is if I get too interested, I forget about the ironing and just stand there listening ?
Mamissimo ssh I won’t tell. How lovely. I bet you can’t wait to see them. Hope the viewing goes well and it works out for them.
Nfk you seem to have hit the mark with your soft day. From me too Grammaretto
Panache how are the steroids helping.
Cherry are you still bouncy today?
Have a soft and peaceful day all,

Is it allowed to ask for forgiveness before you sin? ....or is that knowingly doing wrong and saying s*d it? This morning DD is viewing the house 2 fields away and is posting my DGC through the letterbox here so that they can view and cogitate in peace. We are tier 2 so indoor visits are proscribed. S*d it...I shall sin. Yippee ! ?

I love NfK's phrase 'soft day' - a rounded day of no hard edges, knocks or bumps sounds perfect to me and exactly what I wish Grammaretto too.

Now I must away and ready myself for glorious sinning!

Good morning gangsters, I am sitting comfortably (thank you Doodle) and my partner is bring me another coffee.
I wrote a long post yesterday and then accidentally deleted it. I think if you’re not well and not concentrating fully, then all sorts of small things go wrong.

Grammaretto, so pleased to hear that things went well yesterday, I was thinking of you and watching the weather forecasts for Scotland. Thank goodness the technology worked and your family in NZ managed to see the service.
I hope you have a decent day today.
Panache how are you and your dear one today? Have you noticed any change as a result of the steroids? Whilst you were struggling to get hold of steroids I was so tempted to send you some of mine, if Prednisilone were prescribed. I have a sizeable stack. I realise that wouldn’t be possible but I was sorely tempted.
I hope you both have a pleasant day today.
Mamissimo your lunch date sounds lovely. It feels like such a long time since we went out to a nice restaurant for lunch. Duck, sea bass and sticky toffee pudding ... sound like perfect choices. I am not surprised you snoozed in the car on the way home. Lunch out always makes us snoozy, I think it’s the alcohol at lunch time scenario ?
NfkDumpling coffee with friends in this sitting room sounds like the perfect thing to lift the spirits. We are meant to be going for a ‘soup and hot toddy’ lunch to friends this week, but I can’t see how we will manage to sit in their garden for any length of time. My friend has a compromised immune system and has shielded very, very carefully but I am beginning to doubt I will cope sitting in her garden for long.
Cherry your Mary Elizabeth Frye piece brought tears to my eyes. Glad to hear you’re less tired and have begun some Christmas shopping.
Missedout glad to hear about your monthly injections and the subsequent increased freedom ... that’s good.
Bradfordlass I hope all is well with you and that Baby Gubbins continues to thrive. I enjoyed reading about stand pie, I have never heard of it before nor stand pie and pickles on Christmas morning. What a lovely tradition.
I was brought up in the north east and my mother was a very good, traditional cook. Her father was a butcher and her mother used to bake meat pies for his shops, every Friday morning. However, no stand pie in County Durham ...

Doodle you have done it now ... with your talk of scones with jam and cream. I am happy to have the wonky ones ... please leave a couple in the cake tin for my partner and me and get Jeeves to pass them over.

I have been listening to Nicholas Hytner on BBC R4extra reading from his book Balancing Acts: Behind the Scenes at the National Theatre. He talks of the plays he mounted and the actors and playwrights, and we had been to a number of the performances he discusses.
It’s well worth catching on the BBC iplayer in the Sounds section.

Well it’s light and bright here now, so I think it’s time for a walk to the park. Have a pleasant day all.

Crossed posts Grammaretto. Glad all went well. Moind how yew do go on.

I had the same thought about the thunder snow Bradflord! Your last post confirmed the impression I had, and it's lovely that you could be there. I hope Grammaretto will have a soft day today. A day to relax and reflect.

I can understand about the cot sides Cherry, they are Very Hard and its easy to get tangled in them! It looks like you'll just have to put a beach lilo on the floor. They're narrow and you'd just bounce Tiggerish onto the carpet. I love that poem, I know it's popular at funerals now, but that's because its so good.

So pleased it went well in the end Grammaretto. Good to hear from you and you know we are here for you whenever you want hugs and [ flowers]

What a day it was yesterday!
I woke about 4am by lightning and such a loud thunderclap that I thought another ceiling must have fallen in. My room in the attic has no curtains and there was a stranhge light. It was about 4 inches of snow!
I lay awake fretting about how the hearse would get through and so on.
However, it was fine. Everything worked out. The weather was awful. Snow turned to heavy rain yet lots of people lined the route froze to death
The tension turned to humour again.
I watched DC and DGC shovelling snow and the happiest puppy.

Afterwards, the few of us who could, came back to ours and shared food and memories.
The streaming must have worked and MiL, and DiL in NZ managed to watch it.
Thanks for all your support so far

I think I'll need it when I get back from the airport on Monday.

Is it a coincidence that Edinburgh experienced a rare, explosive, phenomenon?
"The loudest thunder we've ever heard and the brightest lightning" as snow also fell.

Thundersnow accompanied a very special person, recently farewelled as he journeyed onwards, still a mover and shaker.
Haere tonu MrG haere tonu.