The Lockdown Gang - Keep Calm and Carry On

Hello fellow gangsters.

We have not had snow here but it is very dark and threatening.

I am now going into complete lockdown until the vaccine appears. I feel we have come so far to throw it all away now. It does mean that there will be no meeting up with family for the foreseeable future but so be it. I find with my DS although I love them all dearly we are always on the back foot as the in-laws get first pickings and do as they want. Of course they are also much younger than us.
I regret that my DD doesn't have children but her choice of course.

Pleased to hear Mr Doodle is improving. I am experienced in catheters as my Dad had one for years. His kept coming out though often at 11pm. I have been known to drive him to the hospital in the middle of the night to have it put back in.

I hope you all have a restful day today, Cherry, Panache, Bradfordlass (your letter made me cry!), Nortsat, Missedout, Mamissimo and of course the wonderful Doodle. Hope I haven't missed anyone out!!

Good morning gangstas I hope we are all winding down after Christmas. Ours was very nice, quite busy with cooking and family Zoom catch ups.
Doodle so glad to hear the Dude is making progress. Being at home and eating decent food makes all the difference. Being able to have a decent cup of tea or coffee, when you fancy one, is one of the small pleasures of home.
And you have conquered the mysteries of the night bag ... ever resourceful.
Bradfordlass what a fabulous young woman your DGD is, it sounds like you have done a great job of being a perfect role model. How wonderful that she is old enough and wise enough to see that and to want to tell you.
Cherry glad you had a nice time and hope you’ve had some fun with your art set.
Grammaretto how lovely that your DS was able to get all the home movies restored and you were able to view them.
I can understand your relief that Christmas is over. I heard Joe Biden talking about the ‘firsts’ after a loss - the first Christmas, the first birthday, the first Spring... and it’s true, they are painful, bittersweet milestones.
Your Quaker meeting on Zoom sounds like a restorative experience.
My partner and I are atheists, but we once went to a Quaker wedding, which was a lovely day. People spoke about the couple if they wanted to and at the end of the ceremony, all the guests signed the marriage certificate. The certificate was later framed and the couple hung it in their bedroom.
Mamissimo, relaxing with a jigsaw sounds like a lovely way to pass some time. I googled The Bayeaux Tapas Tree by Simon Drew, what a clever idea, but you are right about the many shades of beige.
Have you been to the museum in Bayeaux and seen the tapestry? It one of my favourite museums. www.bayeuxmuseum.com/en/the-bayeux-tapestry/
I will look forward to seeing the photograph of the finished jigsaw.
Nfkdumpling your roast goose lunch sounds delicious. When you think what big muscular birds geese are, I can imagine dark, strong tasting meat. Does it taste ‘gamey’?
Panache I was so pleased to read that your Christmas lunch was acceptable. Is MrP not able to get comfortable? I hope you both have a restful and pleasant day.
Fanny hope you had a lovely Christmas and that your DH is making good progress to recovery, benefitting from your ‘feeding up’.
Missedout did you have a pleasant Christmas? I do hope so.

I am off to make some soup with the turkey carcass. I have the two legs in the freezer and plan something more straight forward for supper tonight.
I have our three cats next to me, fast asleep, as I write. I think they are exhausted from eating all the extra scraps and treats that they have begged for, over Christmas. Each cat is perfecting his/her own version of sitting up on two legs begging for turkey ... and of course they know I find that impossible to resist and always give them something...

Have a pleasant and easy day lobster gangsters. ?

Oh Bradfordlass that’s enough to bring a tear to anyone’s eye. What lovely words and sentiment. I’d keep that somewhere close and whenever you have a bit of a low day, read it again and remind yourself what a good job you have made of being a grandma. ?
Grammaretto I love falling asleep in the armchair. That initial struggle to keep your eyes open and then just letting yourself drift off. I too fell asleep this afternoon but I was reading the paper. I spent a happy few hours this morning watching people out walking by the river. The children with their new bikes and scooters. The ladies with their new winter coats or bobble hats. It was quite sunny here and people were making the most of it.
MrD is getting better with his walking frame. We may still be left with some paint on the skirtings by the time he can manage without it ?
I hope you managed to get your milk gin. Wouldn’t want you to be going without ?
Panachehope you are getting on ok.
Take care all of you .

What a wonderful letter from DGD Bradfordlass such an endorsement of everything you are and do but best to know how much you are loved.

I got a message from our 5yr old on a chalkboard. yoo are the best grany . from ..... with love.

I fell asleep watching Pride and Prejudice this afternoon. It was lovely. the film and the sleep

Thanks to DH's collecting ways I have most Hitchcock films on DVD Cherry if you want to borrow any?

I hope you and the barbeque survived the storms Mamissimo?

I also hope you can see your family soon Dragonfly

Yes Doodle I joined the Quakers as a 16yr old and have always liked the silence. There's a lot of noise afterwards! Today we had breakout groups so 4 of us chatted afterwards.

I am really glad MrDood is happier and getting better?

How are the Panaches?

I had to rush out tonight before the shops closed just to buy some milk gin It was very cold and icy. Take extra care Lobsters and I will too.

My goodness Doodle you do get faced with some strange problems but you obviously coped like an expert. Glad you are winding down; you have all the time in the world now.

Grammaretto the Quaker meeting sounds very peaceful. I have attended only one with a Quaker friend. I think its something you grow into but it certainly shows that being quiet and listening, has great value.

My grand-daughter (the 27 year old, not Gubbins) gave me a card which I couldn't read but yesterday a visitor did and brought tears to my eyes.

To my Wildly Crazy, hilarious and wonderful Grandma ? you have taught me to be gentle with bugs, to be eccentric and bold, to imagine beyond my wildest dreams, to conserve water, to appreciate nature, to be fierce and unapologetically myself, all through your example - and what a grand job you do! I am forever grateful that I have such a marvellous and free spirited woman to guide me and teach me about the wonders of the world xxx never stop being you! I love love love you so much

That's a better gift than anything you can buy in posh shops

Evening all. DH has been better today. He is improving being home I think. Food more to his liking and he feels more settled.
Cherry glad you have had a relaxing time. I often think the fun of watching a favourite programme is that you can nod off during it ?
Ooh new art set. Is that paints, drawing materials or some other kind? Sounds exciting.
Bradfordlass you sound as though you have had a good and relaxing day. I like Maeve Binchey too.
dragonfly I’m sorry you didn’t get to spend precious time with your son and family. I hope you get to see them soon.
Mamissimo it sounds like you are battling the worst of the winds. As Grammaretto says, tie yourself down. We don’t want any flying lobster gangsters taking off in pursuit of a BBQ.?
grammaretto your meeting sounds calming. The quiet companionship of others. Have you been a Quaker all your life (if you don’t mind me asking)?
Thank you for asking MrD is improving.
I have fallen asleep in the armchair twice today. I think I am beginning to unwind after the last 10 days.

Since DH has come home we have had some entertaining moments. The hospital decided at the last minute to send DH home with a catheter in situ rather than take it out in case there were problems over the Christmas holiday.
First night home, the night bag was duly attached by DH and all was well till around 3 am when I gave DH his meds and he casually remarked that the bag probably needed emptying.
No problem I thought , bucket at hand. How do you open the valve I asked. No idea says DH. There seemed to be no way of doing it. I poked it and prodded it, tuned it this way and that , to no avail. So picture me sitting on the floor in near darkness so as not to wake DH up too much, iPad in hand looking up on the internet how to empty a night bag. When it came to it, it was easy as pie and if it had been daylight I may have grasped it earlier but trying to do it in the dark wasn’t a good idea. We are both learning a new way of life at the moment.

Hope all the gangsters lobsters had a good day. Sleep well all

Help Mamissimo ! Tie yourself to something stable before you venture out but perhaps not the stable itself

For a change it's quite still here. I have turned down the offer of a walk with a different friend but it's just postponed until tomorrow.
I am going to Quaker meeting on zoom. I find that very uplifting. It may sound absurd, 40 or 50 people sitting in silence (with occasional ministry from anyone who wants to speak) but I always feel better for it and as it's on zoom and we are all muted, there is no compunction to sit through the whole hour or to be visible. I take a cup of tea and a book to glance at.

I so agree Dragonfly about the DGC getting far too much. More than ever this year. DD was pulling out duplicate books and toys for regifting and having to ration the unwrappings. And of course the other DGP went OTT......

It sounds as if MrD is doing well and so happy to be back in your tender care Doodle

Hugs for you all, dear lobstergangsters.

Oh heck! I need to put my galoshes on and go out to bring home the BBQ which has travelled the length of the lawn over night....and which was passed enroute by a bistro dining set travelling in the opposite direction. The mast of Mr M's windsurfer has come loose from its housing and is waving about like a beagle's tail behind the shed and the short step ladder is blocking the back door......

It's like one of those 'can you spot five things wrong' health and safety posters out there...

I'll be back

Good morning fellow lobsters.

Pleased to hear you are home safely Grammaretto. How lovely to have the old videos.

I hope the Panaches meal lived up to expectations. I hope something can be done for the pain.

I am sure Mr Doodle will improve rapidly under your care Doodle.

Mammissimo as usual you made me smile.

Face time was a bit disappointing yesterday under the watchful eye of the in-laws and the DGC being over excited. I do think they have too much but hey hoe I keep my mouth firmly shut. My DS rang me later and my DiL sent me a lovely message so all was not lost. I expect we will see them again one day!

So back to lockdown for the next few months I suppose.

Everyone seems to have made the best of Christmas. Mine was made wonderful when I heard Doodle had sprung MrD from prison hospital.
After that, nothing else mattered.

I imagined Nfk whose goose was cooked, Cherry chilling out; Mamissimo serving bean roast with bean sauce and creamed beans as MrM brought out a triumphant flaming bean pudding.

And Fanny tempting her DH to tasty morsels as Panache and MrP tucked into their unaccustomed feast.

Glad everyone's Zoom connections worked.

Quiet Boxing Day for me. Rain was forecast - and arrived.
Ate the last of the left-overs, mainly salad and a bit of peppered salmon. Did some laundry.
Life doesn't get much more exciting than this!

Made a Korean New Year card for Hanna. They have 2 NY celebrations: 1st Jan (Gregorian) and 12th Feb (lunar). Will buy a fruit basket, a traditional gift, tomorrow.

Wrote a book review for Bill Bryson's 'The Body' which is interesting but full of inaccuracies.
As a journalist he clearly subscribe to the, "never let the truth get in the way of a good story" maxim.

And now, at almost 9pm I'm finally going to settle down with a Maeve Binchy - always good value and an easy read.

Wishing you all a peaceful and contented day.

Xed again Doodle.

I'm pleased there was Grammaretto ?. Grant may have been, understandably, sad but it does appear that she also had that bit of family comfort I was hoping she would. What a wonderful find your DS3 made and having the film restored, very precious.

Such was the loveliness yesterday that after dinner my WP fell asleep and missed virtually all North by Northwest, the only thing he had wanted to watch on TV ?. I enjoyed it, again though. To say it was a chillaxing day is an understatement - but thoroughly enjoyed ?

Mamissimo, you've done it again, made me laugh and conjured up (for me) a famous line from a famous film "self preservation society" from the Italian job - ^covid liberation", not sure it fits or where my head has gone ?
That jigsaw does sound a challenge, more challenging than one I got for Christmas which is completely floral in shades of pink and blue. I won't start it yet.

Glad your Christmas zoom worked well dragonfly and that it was a bit like sitting in the same room ?

Whilst maybe not a quite fabulous Christmas dinner I wished for you ?it sounds like an infinite improvement Panache. Sorry to hear Mr P cannot stretch out, I didn't realise that.

Sounds like you had quite a good Christmas day Nfk ?. I'm glad you enjoyed the goose, I've only had goose the once, yes the meat is quite dark, I didn't enjoy it but I was the only one who didn't ?

I hope you and importantly Mr D are okay Doodle now that he his home x

Hope the rest of the lobster gangsters has a decent Christmas day, even if it wasn't exactly the one you would have wished.

I'm off to play with my new art set - not that it's likely to improve my non artistic artwork ?

Hello lobsters.
Thank you for your kind wishes Fanny, Bradordlass and Cherry
Nfk good to hear you had a good time and caught up with your family on FaceTime. I don’t think I’ve ever had goose but I’m glad you enjoyed it despite its risqué presentation ?
dragonfly Glady you enjoyed yourself. We had our first zoom today too. It was lovely to see the family.
Mamissimo the Dude is too fragile to wallop with a leg of lamb. At the moment I think I could knock him over with a feather. He is quite a good patient. Not complaining but I have to slow down a bit. He can’t be rushed . He has been much better today. Last night he looked very frail and old but today he seems a bit more robust.
Good to see you’re planning ahead for an end of COVID celebration., I think there’ll be a few of those when the time comes.
Your jigsaw sounds fun. Hope you do better with that than I am with my painting at the moment.
Grammaretto glad you’re home safely. Hope you enjoyed your time with the family. I expect Granny was a bit sad but I’m sure if anything could lift your spirits a bit it would be your DGC. Quiz sounds good.
What a lovely surprise to have your old videos restored and ready to watch at Christmas. I am glad you had some happy memories to share.

DH and I were both exhausted by yesterday’s shenanigans in trying to get him home. A quiet day turned into Face time and zoom with our sons and a couple of others before we settled down for a light Christmas dinner.
DH is looking better already. Much more with it tonight. It still takes an age to walk from the lounge to the bathroom and back (I had thought of taking a packed lunch with us ?) but we can manage.
We have had two huge hampers from our sons so no need to buy any food for a while.
A quiet evening I think and early bed.
Hope all the lobsters had a good Boxing Day.
I think I ought to do a quick tasting session on some of the chocolates we’ve been given before I retire though.
Sleep well all and take care x

Hello Lobsters,

I'm home again and I am just relieved that we got through it.
"Granny is sad" was a refrain.
The DGC are a delight and I've been given pictures and messages galore and several jars of gardener's hand cream... but I think a lot of us will have been missing our usual family gatherings.

We had a good quiz on zoom last night with 19 "bubbles" taking part and lots of silly questions and red wine.

The update of the home movies has been a highlight and I had to commentate on our wedding. These were the films we thought were lost for ever but DS3 went straight to our attic while here for his Dad, and magically found them, took them personally to Newcastle on Tyne where there's a small company who clean and restore old film and had them all available, online by Christmas.

Great News Mr D was let out to be with you yesterday Doodle

So yes Cherry there was certainly some loveliness along the way

I hope there was for all of you?

Doodle what joy for you to have The Dude home and in your care and control. I have arranged for Jeeves to bring you the frozen leg of lamb just in case you need it, but I fervently hope that The Dude has learned that as he's being served nursed by a Lobsta Gangsta he needs to be the perfect patient. ?

DS has just popped into work to get a heavily reduced spare turkey to pop into the freezer for our COVID Liberation Family Lunch that we will have one day. It's the next big family event on the calendar!

It's Jigsaw and Cocktail day here finished off by the annual Turkey, Gammon, stuffing, pigs in blankets, quality street green ones leftovers pie. Then it's Christmas ✅

My jigsaw will be challenging....it's The Bayeux Tapas Tree by Simon Drew. I love ❤️ Simon Drew but this 1000 pieces is largely beige....fifty shades of beige. I will post a photo when it's done to prove we did it!

Peaceful days everyone.

Good morning, so good to hear Mr Doodle is home.
Panache lovely that your meal was acceptable.
I have never had goose Nfk it sounds lovely.
I am pleased everyone had a good Christmas. Zoom worked really well but I think that is because there were just 4 of us. It was like sitting down in the same room.
We are Face timing the DGC today as they open our presents.

Morning All

What a lovely Christmas present Doodle. The best. Not perfect as Mr D is obviously still suffering, but home with you and in his own bed so he'll be happier and that means an awful lot when you're not well. I hope you both managed to get a reasonable nights sleep.

Brilliant to read that your Christmas dinner was acceptable Panache? You both really deserved something nice. Hopefully this means better meals for the future too.

Aren't Zoom and FaceTime etc wonderful? DD1 and family FaceTimed from Buckinghamshire mid afternoon and it was lovely to see them and chat, if only briefly. The DGC now seem to accept it as a perfectly normal way to meet up. I'm not sure whether to be pleased or sad at that, but it's tons better than not seeing each other at all. I love the thought of Zoom meals, but I fear my lot would never be organised enough to co-ordinate it. Especially for Christmas Dinner!

The goose was delicious! I've never had it before and, I don't know why, hadn't expected the meat to be as dark. Not nearly as much breast meat but plenty for four adults and a seven year old who eats more than an adult. The butcher advised perfectly. DS hadn't tied the legs together though and it came to the table in a position of gay abandon! (Oh, am I allowed to use that expression nowadays?).

We came home at tea time calling in on DD2 along the way to exchange presents. We weren't going to go inside but in the end did stand in their hallway as it was so bloomin' cold out. No idea if we broke any rules. A quiet recovery day today. I don't want any breakfast. Still too replete. I may start on the Harry Potter jigsaw DH bought me. Another lockdown 1000 piece one.

Brilliant news that your big present is safely ensconced at home Doodle ?
Hope he, and you, gets some real rest now. Send him my best wishes x

Whooppeee! Christmas miracles do happen. Wonderful news. Love to you both. xxxx

Oh Doodle that's great news
I know exactly how that is.
I'm still feeding up mine...
Sleep well x

Just a quick visit from me tonight.
DH is home. Finally picked him up at 5.30.
He doesn’t look much like my DH. He has a 10 day beard and is bent and weary. I am hoping some better food and some tlc will make an improvement.
We are both exhausted but he sends his good wishes to you all and his thanks for asking after him.
I hope you all had a happy and enjoyable day and I will catch up with you all tomorrow.
Take care and sleep well. X

Happy Christmas everyone!
We've had a lovely day which began with a FaceTime call with DG1......singing Happy Bithday as she saw the presents under the tree ? she's only 2 and her eyes were like saucers. Magic!

Sending hugs and chocolate....

Just to wish you all a lovely Christmas day.
I do hope that your DH is home soon Doodle

Christmas day greetings to you one and all

Sun shining here in Wales and it is as still as a mouse within!!!
Everyone relaxing after a very acceptable Christmas lunch (which was £15 to outsiders *Bradfordlass)

My dear one cannot stretch out Doodle hence his recliner and bed are redundant,he seems to be up walking in his pain mainly,however we are making the most of this Christmas have no fear!
Thinking very much of you both Doodle and hope with all my heart for a speedy reunion again.

Sending meaningful uplifting thoughts for each one of you,keep safe and do enjoy!

Happy Christmas gang ?

It's been nice and chilled here in Cherry Cove, so far ..
Just unwrapped our pressies ?

I hope each of you have a day of peace with some loveliness along the way.

Hope Santa delivers you your big present Doodle, enjoy your zoom dragonfly, hope your Christmas day was lovely BradfordLass, hope your freezer contents are not ruined Marydoll, hope you are feeling better Missedout, hope you have some comfort with your family today Grammaretto, hope you have a fabulous Christmas dinner Panache, hope no feet are under you Mamissimo, hope you enjoy the goose Nfk, hope you've got a good bottle of sherry Nortsat.

Christmas cwtches for all of you x ?