The Lockdown Gang - Indomitable Lobstars ?⭐️

.... where was I, ah I know.

I'm sorry to hear about your friend Kaimoana. She has a keen look about her as if not a lot got past her if you know what I mean. Am I right? I hope someone did say prayers,as she wanted, for her at her bedside and went with peace ?️.

Grammaretto I meant to ask yesterday how your MiL was after her fall, sorry brain fog got in the way. I see that she joined the family zoom quiz and is quite bruised. I empathise with her there and hope her bruises heal quickly and the fall hasn't hit her confidence. I can well imagine that you want to go and see her, I wish you could too. I'm sure it would do you both the power of good.
There was wild weather here in Wales for us Welshies (love it ?) but we were quite fortunate in this part of the Gower as the worst of the bad weather was in the night on Friday into Saturday.

Oh Mamissimo you do make me ?, herding cats indeed. It can be so frustrating when someone has the organisation methods of scattered cushions. If I drank alcohol I think I'd be driven to drink too, perhaps in my case I'd just hide in the shed (where's the hand on head emoji when you want it)
I hope your treatment goes well tomorrow.

Thank you Panache, don't worry about me I'm a Tigger, I'll bounce back ?
Losing her strength was the most difficult thing for my sister (in law) when she was I'll with pancreatic cancer, I can imagine that a once strong and robust man would find that aspect so hard. I'm glad that you have help so that you can just concentrate on each other, cwtch up together and be. Cwtches from me x

Hiya and good afternoon Indomitables.

I've been watching my footie team play and what a nerve wracking match it was! It was always going to be nervy as it was a derby match. We scored very early on which was brilliant but sooo much time left for our opponents to come back ?. They kept coming at us too but it was still 1 nil at half time, phew. We scored very early again in the second half and my pulse dropped a bit ?. They only went and scored didn't they! They kept coming at us, and at us and at us. They threw everything at us, they sacrificed defenders and put all their attackers on the pitch. Time and again, over and over they pushed and my heart was in my mouth ?. Time was running out, time ran out! We won ?. A very entertaining match, which is exactly what I needed today as I was awake until 4am and wakened by my neighbour at 6:30am. Bored you all now, right ?. Sorry,I just had to share my joy?.

I love the poster you've shared with us Kaimoana. A friend of mine who likes sending quotes sent me the part of that which starts with "you are stronger" and finishes with "than you think" ?. And Doodle I love the fact that you did a sampler of Winnie the Pooh and Tigger for your DGD ?.
I'm so impressed with the talent and creativity of the gangsters, Grammaretto's planter, your hat *Kaimoana and the fact that you've made samplers for all three of your grandchildren Doodle. I'd love to see your aran tunic Kaimoana, especially since I am in awe of anyone who can knit. I'm useless, my mother and sister (in law) both tried to reach me to no avail. In my defence they were both right-handers trying to teach a cach handed left handers ?

Back shortly...

kaimoana I am even more impressed with your hat now I know you made it yourself. What a talented lady you are.
Sorry to hear your friend Mata has died. I hope her passing was peaceful and someone was with her.
Grammaretto I made a cross stitch sampler for all three grandchildren. The first two were ok but by the time number 3 came along my eyesight wasn’t as good. I had to abandon my first attempt as I could not see the different colours of the threads. I had to do one with more colour contrast to see properly. Glad your MIL was well enough to do your zoom quiz.
Mamissimo your thoughts on your son’s move reminded me of when our son moved a few years ago. They wanted to save money so decided they would move themselves by hiring a van. They arranged for two men to move their beds and sofa but did the rest themselves. DIL had a very bad back and was walking with a stick so son had to do all the carrying. . DH and I went to help a bit. When we arrived at their place and saw the size of van our son had hired we just looked at each other and sighed. It was just a small van .......a very small van. Fortunately they were not moving far as he did 17 trips from one place to the other and it took all day and well into the night. We live and learn as they say ?
I think drinking gin and staying out of it is a good way to go.
Funny how we all thought we looked so good in our teenage fashions ?
Hope all goes well for your treatment tomorrow.
Panache hope you and MrP are comfortable and he is not in pain. Have a contented day together. x
cherry hope you had a good night too.
We are going for a walk then I will be painting again. I am ignoring the bit I made a mess of and hoping that when I’ve painted round it, it will be less obvious..... well maybe ?
Have a good day all.

What a kind and caring lot you really are and thank you to one and all for all your messages,this support truly is such a great help.

We are hardly aware of the weather these days.
Nights and days seem to run into one,both remain difficult as my dear man simply loses all his strength,and this he is finding hardest to accept and re -adjust to.

However we are so grateful for the support and help offered,it makes you see humanity at its best,we feel so very humble.

Dear Cherry loving thoughts wing their way to you,and to any of you feeling "under the weather" please think on and know............tomorrow will be better.......as our Sir / Capt Tom Moore often said.

Good morning!
We are busy organising DS as he moves.....and it's like herding cats! Why are the young so darned casual about organising things? Mr M likes a plan and to stick to it so he and DS are locking horns at every opportunity. I'm drinking gin and keeping out of it!

It's treatment day for me again tomorrow so today I will dither about do mundane and essential tasks. ? if I do the mundane today I can enjoy the weather in the garden this week....it's going to be sunny and warm so I will 'do' the frontalong the drive and chat to the ramblers as they promenade.

I never had a Cossack hat but I did have split knee loons.....remember them? My poor DM used to despair at having to gently launder cheesecloth smocks which shrank as soon as you let them see water....I used to buy my clothes from the small ads in the back of 'Sounds' and NME. I think I looked cool but my ADC seem to disagree! ?

Thinking of the Panaches and all of you!

I hope your dear friend wasn't alone and prayers were said at her bedside Kaimoana

It was nice to see the faces at the quiz on zoom last night, especially DMiL who has had a fall this week. Her face looks a bit bruised.
I wish I could just go and see her but I can't yet.

My thoughts turn to the Panaches and I hope you are getting all you need now. I saw scenes of wild weather in west Wales and wondered about you Welshies. cwtch

Another day of not doing much but keeping out of mischief.
How's everyone else?

My very dear old friend Mata, who had asked for karakia (prayers) at her hospital bedside, has died.
Her funeral is on Wednesday. I don't know if anyone did rush to the hospital as soon as we left Level 3 - I hope so.

Yes, Doodle I did make all the hats myself and the cloak.

I love the Winnie the Pooh poster too. Thank you Kaimoana
The full length maroon coat and the furry Cossack hat. The Dr Zhivago boots.
I had a black woollen cloak with a high collar, and long boots. When we were young and gorgeous.
What a lovely thing to make a cross stitch sampler for your DGD Doodle

So sorry you had another seizure last night Cherry. Let's hope tonight is better.
I snoozed in the day so may not get to sleep tonight .
I shall try.

grammaretto glad to hear your quizzes are still continuing.
Keeps your thinking cap on. I bet your DGC keep you on your toes with their questions.
Cherry I’m sorry, not more seizures. Hope you didn’t fall or hurt yourself. One of the other threads on GN was about cushions. I think we ought to tie some round your middle to protect you if you fall.
Sleep well tonight. A peaceful one I hope.
Kaimoana did you make your hat yourself? I ask because of your response to Cherry ?
A full length maroon coat sounds lovely. In my teens I had a long, purple Cossack style coat with black fur trimmed hood and black toggles. I wore it with long black boots and a mini skirt underneath. I loved that outfit. I always loved wearing long skirts too when those were in fashion. I like the swooshing sensation when you walk.
That’s a lovely Winnie the Pooh quote.
I made a cross stitch sampler for my DGD when she was born. It was Winnie the Pooh and Tigger on a swing. It had her name and date of birth on it too. I’d forgotten all about that.
Hope everyone has a good night. ?

Grammaretto Yes, the neck strap if for my glasses. The ones which correct astigmatism. My pounamu, a simple drop pendant, is on a silver chain and I wear it most days.

That pot is beautiful; reminds me of those Victorian jardinier which used to hold aspidistra.

I'll try again Cherry. Given that you've been diagnosed with epilepsy, I'm assuming that's accurate. So you have epilepsy. Agreed.

I wouldn't ever say, 'you are an epileptic', as they do in hospitals. That has always annoyed the hell out of me. It's so damned insulting to reduce someone to a health issue.
'He's the cardio-pulmonary in bed 3'
But that's my best, honest shot as I didn't really know what you were trying to elicit from us. Duh.

Nfk & Cherry If I could see to embroider these days, I'd gladly make you a hat. I didn't start making them until I was diagnose; it was a great spur to get on with all the "one day" things I'd meant to do.

Missedout Haha! I am by no means that productive all the time, would that I were.

Doodle Your jumper sounds lovely but the long arms sound like the one I call "my gorilla suit". It's a sort of dark purple bouclé; the arms come down to my knees

I have a gorgeous Aran-style tunic; a pattern I brought from the UK and finally, after about 20 years, had knit up. I'll send a photo one day.

And your Russian Cossack hat reminds me of one I made from rabbit fur my mother gave me.
It was so cosy and warm in the icy Yorkshire winters.
I always wore it with a full-length maroon cloak.
I so much regretted leaving that garment but the Waitakere climate doesn't merit it.
I loved the feeling of swishing around like the Sandeman Port man

As always, sending love and peaceful thoughts to The Panaches ♥ ♥ and everyone who needs a soft cwtch.

Evening gang ?

It's been one of those days again ?. Another dratted ? seizure in the night ?. Posted on GN this morning but haven't been able to get on to post since and I've had another seizure, thankfully a small one. Cursed ??

I'll keep this brief I think before something else goes wrong ??
I'm pleased to see that you are feeling a bit brighter Missedout. I hope it continues for you.
I have hat envy Kaimoana ?. It really is very pretty.
Your planter looks great Grammaretto, can I put my order in for one please?
It sounds like not only are you reclaiming your house Mamissimo but definitely your drinks cabinet by clearing out the "clutter" that never gets drunk ?
Nfk I don't mind the dentist I just don't like losing teeth. I have a dental appointment next week for a deep clean, shall I describe what my dentist will do (only joking ?).
I love cable knits Doodle, I was wearing a dark grey long length sleeveless cable knit tunic (on top of a long sleeve top) yesterday. It's nice and loose and all the better for it. Snuggly ?. I'm sure your lilac sweater is snuggly too. I like your innovative way of keeping your rain hat on, why don't manufacturers think of these things? Simply because they're not Doodle that's why! Ingenious idea ?

Thinking of all the rest of the gang, especially Panache and Mr P ❤️

Back tomorrow hopefully ?
Nos dda

I too am thinking of the Panache family.
I've had my G&T and my supper. Thanks Jeeves. But I haven't lit the fire. Perhaps I should. The ash tray has got stuck and I'm unable to dislodge it to empty the ashes. So many small jobs I can't manage by myself.
I love your key solution Doodle that's so simple.
Family quiz soon so I had better think up a question or 2.

Missedout you certainly sound as though you are feeling better. Optimism for the future too.
I find chunky and warm sweaters are better a little on the large side so you don’t get too hot wearing them. I have a huge lilac coloured cable knit jumper that I bought thinking it would fit me but it’s sleeves are very long. DH likes me wearing it so I just roll up the sleeves and go with it.?
I never used to wear hats (they certainly don’t suit me) but have acquired a few over the years.
I agree Missedout it’s difficult to get ones that fit all occasions. I have a rain hat which I’ve sewn loops in so that if the wind is blowing I staple it to my head with hair grips. ?
My sun hat has an elasticated rim to keep it on and a wide brim to keep the sun out. My favourite is a grey fur (fake) band without a top that makes me look a bit Russian I think.
I hope your son enjoys his new home too. That’s quite a lot for him and his wife to arrange during lockdown. Do they live far away from you?
Is Blickling Hall the place where you meet up with other vintage/old car enthusiasts? I have a feeling, last time you went, you got stuck somewhere not able to turn round because you don’t have a reverse gear?
Kaimoana I like your hat. Try a low slung ponytail, that’s how I get my hats on.
Grammaretto since DH had his accident and I had to start taking responsibility for house and car keys when going out, I bought two neck straps. One for the house keys and one for the car keys. They hang on the back of the door so I just grab the appropriate one and hang it round my neck as I go out hopefully, that way I don’t forget to take them with me. The house one is red.
Sorry you didn’t sleep last night. Hopefully the pain will have worn off by tonight.
I like the planter. It looks quite big to me. Is that the one you have made for the rose you were given?
Nfk I’m not a big fan of the dentist either.
What’s the weather like with you now, has the snow gone?
Have you had any more visitors? I’m glad we live where we do, I can sit looking out the window and watching people going past with their dogs, children walking sticks, scooters. It’s great being two floors up. ?
Panache I hope you and MrP are having a peaceful day x

You're brilliant Grammaretto. That is a lovely, lovely pot. What will be planted in it?

I would imagine Cherry, that since you have been diagnosed as having epilepsy, if you have epileptic seizures, you are in fact epileptic in the modern accepted sense of the word.

I'd love a hat like that Kaimoana. I don't suit hats but can just about get away with one if I still have plenty of hair showing. I've been looking for a felt beret or one that I can crochet/knit but they're hard to find.

Paragraphs mentioning dentists seem to be featuring at the moment, but, although I'm sending all sympathies and wishes for successful treatments, I am studiously avoiding reading these scripts as I have an absolute fear of all things dental. Blessings to you all!

And especial thoughts to Panache who I do hope is coping ok.

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202102/medium-232691-planter.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202102/medium-969489-doorstep-planter.jpg

4th and final attempt to post a pic of the planter. It is very shy.
It looked so big until I put it on the doorstep. What happened!
The other big pot is still waiting to be glazed and fired. A day at a time....

Morning Lobstars!.

Hi Kaimoana. I think you and I are wearing matching neck straps! Mine is to hold my specs. Yours maybe supporting or rather sporting an amulet of some kind - perhaps a greenstone?

Having had an almost sleep free night after the tooth trauma, I am pleased to read that at last you Missedout are on an even keel. It sounds like you and I had matching dental experiences.
I hope you all managed more sleep than I did.

I wear a hat every day, (handmade Harris tweed beret with pompom) though DD has just sent me a headband she has crocheted and is making me a neck cowl?.
I have almost finished the small cardigan I have been knitting - just buttons to sew on and ends to sew in. Well done on yours MO. What's your next project?

I will post a photo of the planter later.

Speaking of hats... I'm not a fan and this is the only style I ever wear regularly and then only in winter.
Various embroidered pill-boxes.
Now I have a ponytail I can't see this working.

Hello lobstars, I'm back on a more or less even keel again. Thank you for your responses to my recent post, they helped me to feel that I wasn't behaving badly, just reacting to circumstances.

I thought I'd been fairly productive and busy over the last couple of days but that was until I read Kaimoana's post.
As Doodle says, please can I have have some of what you are on too?

I have managed to finish knitting my jumper. I finally sewed up the seams and tried it on. It's lovely and warm, very 'chunky' and colourful but somehow doesn't match up to the picture on the pattern. I've lost quite a lot of weight since I started knitting it in 2019. Perhaps it is a size too large. Oh well, most of my activities require warmth rather than glamour!

It was interesting to look at the 'hats' website. I have two of the hats shown. I must have at least a dozen hats although I don't like wearing them. However, being a passenger in an open car, and driving and handling narrowboat in all weathers has meant a long search for suitable headgear. I started off with a whole series of hats but rain hats lead to drips down the back of the neck, high winds mean tying them down, lack of a peak means sun in the eyes but the peak means greater wind resistance, easier to blow away. I have now resorted to a peaked cap (that has a clip to attach it to my clothing) together with a waterproof jacket with a hood that can be tied down over the cap or left off if it is dry. I also have a collection of sun hats too, oh and beanies, bobble hats lined with fur....

Grammaretto, I sympathise with you after your visit to the dentist. I came away from the dentist feeling dazed and upset after she took one of my molars out when I expected a filling. Luckily, my dentist is just 5 minutes walk from my house. I don't like the gap but it doesn't really show. I just have to be careful, especially with peanuts which seem to be just the right size to get wedged in. I'm glad your fired pot is OK.

Mamissimo, my DS is moving to a larger house soon, he is also moving his frail in-laws into his old house just a short distance away. He has a young family, a business to run and my DIL works too. All in lockdown. Normally we would have been there, we would have hired a house and made ourselves useful, worked hard and had a lot of fun but not this time. At least they are all healthy and we will actually be able to stay with them as soon as we are let out. I can see lots of family occasions coming up in the future, I just need to be patient.

I made a mistake with an online (Cook) shop yesterday, I thought I had bagged a suddenly released delivery slot, only to find it was 'click and collect'! It was quite pleasant to drive to the shop and I was able to park right outside. The shop was empty and pickup very quick. At least I have plenty of interesting meals on hand when I can't be bothered I'm too tired to prepare them.

We are starting to think we may be able to take the old cars to a campsite in Norfolk again this year, albeit later than usual. I hope we go to Blickling Hall again. Are our Norfolk GNs all OK?

I'm beginning to notice that the dust is building up again in the house. I suppose I will have to do something about rearranging it.

Oh dear, Panache I'm glad you have such good friends.

I hope the lobstars all have a peaceful night.

I’m not too hot on logical thinking of any kind Cherry so I may have misunderstood your question. For what it’s worth I would say no. I would say you have epilepsy.
I go along with Mamissimo and Grammaretto’s response.
Funny you should mention Pooh though. I received a different kind of Pooh stick in the post today. Seems testing time has come round again. ?
I’ve had teeth out from both sides, top and bottom. I only have teeth in the middle. Have to remember not to smile too broadly ?
Mamissimo I thought for a minute you were saying that your DH made a cocktail of all the different drinks he could find. I was wondering if he was still standing ?. I have never heard of banana liqueur.
Glad your son has the keys. Nice they can take their time moving in.
Grammaretto I would take it easy for a while. Usually when you have a tooth out they ask someone else to drive you home so it’s not surprising you feel a little bit poorly.
I’m glad all the potters were pleased. My painting is coming on. It will be what it is. At least it gives me something to do in lockdown.
Are we going to see your planter .......please.
Panache I hope you and MrP have a peaceful night.
Sleep well all . I too am off to look at Kaimoana’s link.

Yes I agree with Mamissimo Cherry whatever she says.
I don't really like labels. I know they can be useful but people tend to get stuck with them.
The potters unpacked the kiln and were pleased with the results. However like doodle and her painting, we are never totally satisfied. The next one will be better or at least different.
I am still feeling a bit rubbish after the extraction. I hate having teeth out and the dentist seems to love removing them. It was rotten though and MiL tells me that bad things come from bad teeth or words to that effect.
She wants three men in a boat for her birthday so I had better search the bookshelves for a copy.

Are you going to be sad when DS leaves Mamissimo? . He and his DP aren't moving far are they? It is a big event.
You could get drunk on all those liqueurs.
The dentist said no alcohol it was on the info sheet and I have been very dutiful and not had any.

I'll now have a look at the link you sent Kaimoana I'm another one who can never do anything in the middle of the night
Sleep tight Lobstars.

Well the keys were successfully transferred to DS today so we can begin to reclaim our house. He and his partner haven't got a day off together till next Saturday so that will be moving day. Today Mr M went through the booze cupboard and cleared out all the peculiar stuff made him up the beginnings of a cocktail collection. We found four different sloe gins made by various relatives, three bottles of triple Sec, and a banana liqueuryuk that he might find interesting. Does anyone drink liqueurs any more?

Your friends sound like treasures Panache as they support you both. Bless them.

We have nothing planned for the weekend ? except some light housework avoidance and filing dodging. I must find a box set....

No cherry - surely epileptic describes the type of event, not the person! The word differentiates one type of event from another. But common usage is less clear......like diabetic, asthmatic.....it's shorthand English!

Here's an interesting time-waster site if anyone is bored.

www.window-swap.com

WindowSwap is a quarantine project by Sonali Ranjit and Vaishnav Balasubramaniam that lets you use your browser to watch a video of a window and its unique view from different locations across the globe

Enjoy!

You don't get away that easy *Kaimoana ? Shall I rephrase my question ?
Brain scans and telemetry have revealed I have epilepsy. So the question is as before, am I epileptic?

Goodness me Cherry, without up-to-date brain scans, and a full explanation of same, I wouldn't dare even hazard a guess.

Oh, Panache.....