The Lockdown Gang - Indomitable Lobstars ?⭐️

Good morning ?
I'm all of a bustle and hustle today.....
I have decided to keep the frozen leg of lamb in my reticule get up the ladder myself to shame Mr M into activity in the porch. He will be so excited to stand there criticising offer handy tips that it will be the work of moments to get him to say "for heavens sake give it here". ?

Then I can go and play in the greenhouse.....

I've already chased the electrician for his quote (!) and read The Times so it's one of those apron on and broom in hand days.

Holding you all in my thoughts

Missedout more than welcome as always. Good to hear from you.
Congratulations on your anniversary. So you met at a dance. I expect MrDoubt whirled you off your feet.
I met DH at my first job, he joined a couple of weeks after me.
Such young things ?
Sorry your walk overtired you. Hope you feel better soon.
Hope your ologist is able to set your mind at ease regarding your blood tests and COVID.
Don’t lose heart. Things are improving. I hope you get to meet up with all your DGC soon.
Hope your son and his family are happy in their new home. It always takes a while to settle in. Yes it’s a shame we can’t help out at the moment.
I hope you have a good night’s sleep tonight and feel better tomorrow. Take care and lovely to hear from you.
Kaimoana like you I found the piglets captivated my attention. I became quite concerned for a little spotty one that seemed to be at the bottom of the litter during the feeding frenzy. I kept looking to see if he came out ok ?
Oh that’s a shame about your leak. Hope it’s all fixed now.
Sorry about your cough. Honey and lemon? Or do you have a better remedy? Take care.
Oh just seem little Oscar. Lovely photo. I bet he never thought that in his later years he would be cooed over by an old lady on gransnet ?
Grammaretto I expect your daffs were quite pleased to be picked and ‘rained on’ to get rid of the dust.
Well that’s something to look forward to. A nice week in Scotland with your DD and family. Hopefully that should be a safe bet.
Mamisiimo I like your subtle plan. Hope it worked ?
Sounds like you’ve got one of those full of energy days.
I meanwhile have been painting. I am determined to finish the drafted thing just to prove it looks nothing like the original photo. I don’t really want to waste more time in it as I want to get in with my sewing but I will get it done. I can’t make any sense of it at all at the moment.
Hope Cherry is ok and you and MrP Panache
I am going to watch the new episode of Line of Duty. It doesn’t have very good reviews but I have enjoyed the previous series so intend to give it a go.
Take care all

Evening Indomitables ?

Doodle and Grammaretto it's really nice that I made both of you chuckle, always happy to oblige where I can ?

Yes Doodle it was my team who played yesterday and what a match it was.

We came out of the blocks flying and it wasn't until about 12 minutes in that our opponents had a touch on the ball in their attacking third of the pitch. We got the ball back from them pretty quickly and broke forward and one of our attacking players struck the ball as clean as a whistle into the back of the net ?. A minute and a half later our striker was fouled just outside of the box and we were awarded a free kick. The kick was taken quickly, crossed to another of our attackers and he kicked the ball .... straight through the goalkeeper's legs and we were 2 nil up with less than 20 minutes of the match played ?. Play continues and the opposition couldn't get a foot on the ball, it was all us, attack after attack. Just after the hour mark we had a (another) corner and an opportunity to put the ball into the box, the ball came in, our midfielder rose ... And nodded the ball into the back of the net, 3 nil ?. As the first half wore on our players sat back a little. Our opponents started to finally have a bit of possession of the ball. One attack came quickly, our defender was in front of the ball as their attackers took a strike toward goal. The ball was heading wide! No, no no, it bounced up off our defender's foot and went into the back of the net. Drat! Half time 3: 1.
Second half. Our opponents started off much better and we're seeing a lot of the ball ?. Wait a minute, wait a minute, we have the ball back and are breaking forward. As one of our players lays the ball off to one of our attackers he is taken down. Our attacker surges forward and only had the goalie to beat. The referee blows his whistle and stops the play to bring play back to award a free kick, to us! He could have played advantage. Play is brought back and the opportunity to score is gone. play continues and we're on the attack ... foul! Our player is taken down by an opposition player and as he falls he accidentally takes the other player down with him. Two players down. The referee shows our player a yellow card and awards our opponents a free kick. Our players are baffled. The kick is taken quickly, our defenders only just get set in the box ... the ball comes in ... goal ?. Our own player, not ready, heads the ball into the net ?. Drat and double drat!! Play continues and we have the ball again. The ball is crossed into the penalty box and our striker, at full stretch, gets his foot on the incoming ball ... it hits the post! The attacks keep coming. Our opponents have the ball and one of their attackers is on the run ... ? ... 3:3. Play continues, attacks continue. Full time. We drew ?

Surely now no LobStar wants a match report ever again ?

I do cherry . I couldn’t sit and watch a game but I’m on the edge of my seat with your commentary. I really thought it was going to be an unexciting match as our team (I’ve adopted it and I don’t even know who they are) were 3 up at one point. The second half was gripping. I was quite worn out by the time the whistle blew ?
You deserve a lovely hot chocolate. Jeeves is on the way ?

Good evening indomitables,

I am drinking my hot choccie..
You did make me chuckle Cherry and then the match report we was robbed!
Yes well.... 3 all draw sounds OK but it ought to have been 3 nil to you.
My DGD plays footie for a team but not at the moment. It's all stopped because of covid. She will be missing it. We got the match reports.

I had many admin type things to do today but achieved none of them. I did do some family history though. One of my ancestors ran away from an angry butcher to whom he was apprenticed . He walked 100 miles to London and joined the Navy. He was 15. It was 1844. He eventually settled in NZ
I was writing all this on a genealogy forum in reply to someone asking about emigration and the gt grandchild of the angry butcher has written to me with his side of the story!

I am glad you found time to paint and to watch that TV programme. Doodle. I watched it but didn't know what was going on . It looked too violent. I enjoyed the red nose day spoof though.

www.facebook.com/comicrelief/videos/319844179077992

Did you get your trees planted Mamissimo?

Good morning ?

cherry I am ashamed awkwardly confessing that football is banned in this house....we don't watch it or talk about it other than to blame it for a lot of what goes wrong in the world moan that as a minority sport it gets far too much coverage. More people are actively sailing than playing football every weekend!

We do watch the big strong boys with thighs of steel rugby occasionally and the men of our family have all played that. Mr M's school didn't have a football team at all...they played Rugby, Cricket and Fives, which is related to Squash. I guess that has coloured his sporting interests......I love horses, but not racing, and sailing but only to do it myself. Those days are gone but I think I'll teach the DGC ?

Grammaretto I did prepare the holes for the trees....and I went up the ladder and started prepping the spider house porch ceiling. It's very high and lined with ancient tongue and groove boards which have little shrinkage gaps that I'm having to fill. My plan did not work....Mr M watched me for about five minutes and then grunted and shuffled off for a snooze. I must have been doing it right.....drat!

So today I will do more filling in of gaps!

Throwing my hat in the door - so sorry I have not been around but there has been so much going on here recently.
I just wanted to touch base with my lovely friends.

I am sorry I have not been able to read all the threads but Mamissimo made me chuckle as usual.

As some of you know my Mum died on Saturday and I was fortunate to be able to spend her last days with her up at the home. The carers were magnificent and cared for my mum like their own. My mum was 100 years old.
Despite being a tiny slip of a thing she was in the Fire Brigade in the Blitz in London before going into the army where she was an ambulance driver. There she met my dad and the rest is history.

I hope you are all okay and will try to keep popping in.

Wot-ho

So sorry to read that you've lost your mum Dragonfly. It sounds like she had a fantastic life.

Despite your excellent commentary Cherry, I just can't get enthusiastic about football. I do like a spot of rugby though although the cameras have made it a much slower game whilst they debate as to whether the ball is touching the ground under that pile of hunky bodies and who broke which rule last.

I've realised that most of the hobbies I've enjoyed are sitting down ones. Rowing, riding, sailing, painting. I do like gardening - especially sitting afterwards with a drink and something to nibble to admire our handiwork! Even birdwatching is best sitting in a hide.

I've been feeling a bit weird lately and have come to the conclusion its down to doing nothing. Stagnating. I've just sort of stopped. Sunday I just couldn't think straight and forgot what I was doing before I was doing it. I now realise I'd been getting worse during the week. Very concerning. But - yesterday I had an appointment with a local chiropractor. And just having that to aim at brought time back into focus and meant I actually achieved other stuff during the day. So, I'm meeting DGS from school tomorrow and I've phoned a friend at we're meeting for coffee in the park on Thursday. I feel better and more focused already!

(((Hugs))) and supporting vibes for Panache as always. Look after yourself.

I feel as though a great weight has been lifted from my shoulders. I have given up on my painting ?
I have given it my best shot but DH and I are both agreed it looks nothing like it was supposed to. Rather than waste more hours on something that will go in the back of the cupboard, I have put it away which means I am free to start sewing again.?
Grammaretto you did make me laugh. What a lovely thing to have found out about an ancestor. I can visualise the young man running down the road being chased by a rather portly butcher waving a cleaver in his hand with a string of sausages round his neck.
I was not over impressed with Line of Duty last night either. Quite confusing.
Loved your clip from Red Nose Day ?
Mamissimo we don’t watch any sport only Formula 1 racing.
My mum used to like the Rugby though.
I hope you’re being careful on that ladder, we don’t want an injured Lobstar on our hands. Hope you get your trees planted soon.
Hello Dragonfly lovely of you to pop in. I did leave my condolences on the GM thread but just want to say again I’m sorry about your mum but so glad you had the chance to be with her at the end. 100 is no mean feat, glad she was well looked after.
Your mum sounded quite a character.
It will be lovely to hear from you whenever you can pop in. Hope you are feeling ok in yourself. Take care.
Well what an exciting day, a visit from Nfk too. ?
Ah so now we know why you like the Rugby. All those testosterone filled young men with the big thighs ?
I lose track of the days too. Nothing to do and nothing planned, one just rolls on into another. Glad you’ve got some things to look forward to. I bet your DGS will be pleased to see you. Hope you enjoy your coffee with your friend.
Panache we are still thinking of you and hoping things are pain free and more comfortable for MrP x

For goodness sake - I’ve just written a long epistle and it’s vanished! Grrrr!
Doodle sorry you’ve given up on your painting. I went to watercolours classes once but I was useless. Loved the classes but unfortunately I had no talent at all and you definitely need some. It just can’t be learnt - well I couldn’t!
Cherry love your football stories. I enjoy watching a game but what I can’t stand is cricket. DH is cricket mad but I don’t understand any of it. Just like watching paint dry and it goes on for hours! Also England are dreadful at the moment but still DH watches!
Nfk sorry you’ve been feeling weird but I know what you mean. Think it’s just the way we are living at the moment and it’s not helped by Chris Whitby saying we can expect another panademic. Although Boris promises ou freedom very soon I do wonder.
Grammaretto I’m always intending to do my family tree but somehow never get round to it. Pleased to hear you’re going on holiday. Think staycations are all we will get this year. We’ve booked a week at the Norfolk Broads at the end of May. It’s only about 65 miles away but we do love it there. Also we’ve a week in Yorkshire in July. The Yorkshire Dales are my favourite place and we don’t mind the 300 mile journey. Every time we go I wonder is it will be the last time!! Not that I’m a pessimist - much!!
Dragonfly I lost my mum when she was 52 so know how you feel.
If Panache is reading this I’m sending my love along with the rest of you lovely people

I don't like footie but I do love these commentaries from Cherry, real edge-of-the-seat stuff. Pity you had a blind biased ref

The idea of you being up a high ladder Mamissimo made me quake a bit. Maybe MrM is getting wise to you and that was come-uppance? Trouble is, it could have been 'fall-downance'.

Grammaretto You description of your run-away ancestor and the butcher sounds exactly like something from a fairy tale! Like Doodle I could see the chase, sausages, cleaver and all.
I much enjoyed the video link you sent and forwarded it to my son - it's just his cuppa tea. Thankyou

dragonfly your Mum's wartime history sounds remarkably like my mother's. Wonderful that you were together at the end.

Oh Doodle what a shame the wretched painting didn't come right. You could gesso over the canvas and start again one day. Is anyone else in your family artistic?

All these references to the many sports (NZ is sport mad) and poor programmes, makes me glad for the 10,000th time I've never had a television. It just seems to get worse.

Nfk I hope you get rid of you 'weird feeling' it must be most unsettling. Have a lovely time with your dgs and friend.

My emergency hospital appointment this morning was cancelled at 7am. Poor Dr Squirrel is sick.
They will call me with a new date and time.....September probably.

The mornings are definitely colder as we move towards Autumn but the sunshine soon warms things up.

I have 100 new freesia bulbs and potting mix, ready for April planting and I even ordered a new computer desk for the new computer (delivered this week, I hope).
I've been exceedingly prodigal with my tuition fees, so it'll be 'bread and scrape' for the next month

I wrote that so glibly but there have been dreadful days (years in fact) when poverty made that true for me and the boys, as it was and still is for many.
We came through it though and succeeded and it will never be like that for us again.
It's hard to express how grateful I am for that.

I bought 'The boy, the mole, the fox and the horse' audio CD as an 'Easter Egg' for my dgs and listened to it in tears; Charlie's production is very moving indeed.
I recommend it for any age - have a tissue handy.

Thinking ever and anon about Panace, Nortsat, and Missedout and indeed all those, missing and present, who need our extra love in these sad times.

Hello Indomitable LobStars Lockdown Gangsters ?

Kaimoana I love the picture of a resized Oscar and the frog. Not only did the photo make me smile your words did too. I'm sure he's resized since that photo was taken ?
Sorry to hear that your hospital appointment was cancelled. I can understand non urgent appointments being cancelled but surely no emergency appointment should be. It's disgraceful. Okay, the Dr is off sick but where's the contingency for when that happens? I hope that they reschedule your appointment asap, they can't expect you to wait months surely.
Your purchases sound nice, I hope you don't feel guilty because you have struggled financially in your life! Nothing wrong with having a nice new desk for the nice new computer and the freesias will be glorious in time ?

Your confession gave me the giggles Mamissimo. Football a minority sport ?, surely not - it's "played" by millions of seated individuals nearly every day of the week. You must know that every footie fan "kicks every ball played", ticks off his teammates for doing silly things with the ball and when they're not doing that they also referee the matches ?. You're right of course that fewer people play the game than sail every weekend, it's just a more popular spectator sport.

dragonfly there's absolutely no need to apologise for not being around but thank you for posting now as we, I'm sure I speak for everyone here, feel more reassured that you are holding up, as best you can right now, if you post. You say your mum was a slip of a thing but she was clearly a brave, determined lady with a keen sense of purpose during one of the most difficult times the UK has ever faced. One heck of a woman I'd say.

Aha, so your DGD plays football Grammaretto ?. I bet she does miss it. I would have loved to have played but girls weren't allowed to when I was in school and as for out of school clubs, well they didn't exist. I used to play "street" football and because I was small and fast and distinctly left footed I always played on the left wing ?. Wow, what a nugget of information you have found out about your ancestry. I too have visions of a young man (boy really) legging it to get away from a cleaver wielding butcher! I'm intrigued but I won't ask about the butcher's side of the story.

I don't like the sound of that feeling a bit weird Nfk. It sounds like something you can't put your finger on, except for not really being able to think straight and know what you were doing. Have you spoken to your GP, do you have problems with your blood pressure maybe? If it keeps happening please please speak to your Dr.

It's sooooo frustrating when you lose a long post Jan, I really can't abide the gn gremlins! I empathise 100% about cricket. My WP loves it and I can't stand it barely tolerate it. I do understand it but it doesn't make it easier to enjoy ?. Not quite the same game but I loved playing rounders in school but oh I think that's ? to watch too ?

Good for you Doodle, the painting is meant to be enjoyable and if it's not then I'm with you on binning it!
Now for something you do enjoy I say - get the sewing out ?. What I want to know though is what are you going to sew first?

Hello Lobstars,
Great to see NfkD posting again.
I don't watch much sport but if it comes on, I sometimes get drawn in.
My DM was very keen. She boasted was proud of the fact that she was there to witness Don Bradman's famous 1937 innings against England.
She knew the entire winning England line up of the 1966 world cup.

I've just sat through a committee meeting on zoom which dragged on for 2 hours.... Now that is boring. Give me cricket any day.

Your mum sounds a feisty lady Dragonfly who had a very rich and full life.

I love looking at the lives of my ancestors Jan I have a subscription to Ancestry if you want any look ups? A week on the Broads sounds an excellent choice for a holiday and Yorkshire of course.

100 freesia bulbs! Kaimoana they will smell divine.
What a nice idea for a present for your DGS.

I have just ordered a lot of bee related things for DGD who will be 6 on Easter Sunday. I hope she likes them. She ought to There's a bee hotel, a chart with all the bees to identify and a T-shirt with bees on it.

Sorry in a way that you have abandoned the painting Doodle but if your heart is not in it, you have to put it down. Back to your sewing. Is it something new?
I'm still knitting this outsize jumper for my df. I must do some more or it will be Summer before it's finished. I do it while watching not very exciting TV .
Grand Designs is good to knit by.

Here's to happier days everyone.

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202103/medium-753096-img-1259.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202103/medium-258135-img-1257.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202103/medium-539723-img-1258.jpg

Cherry Uncle Google tells me your minority sport is far and away the most popular world wide (spectator and players) at 4 billion.
Bearing in mind most children kick a ball around, that doesn't surprise me. My dgd used to play at school.

I certainly don't feel guilty that I now have money (albeit only a basic state pension) but I did when I had to constantly say to my little boys, 'Sorry darling, we can't afford it.' when they wanted popular toys or new clothing.

They never, ever moaned or rolled their eyes, just accepted it, which somehow made me feel worse.
They look back on their childhoods as very happy and secure. Whereas I was doing the duck thing: paddling dementedly beneath the water to keep us all balanced and afloat

The picture of Oscar and the frog was taken only a few days ago so he hasn't grown much but I bet the frog has!

dragonfly Here's my mother at the back, although she was also a driver, wearing her tin hat at a jaunty angle.

She always was a smart lass, as you can see from the snooty engagement photo. Note her Royal Artillery brooch - they couldn't afford a ring so Dad lost his cap badge. I understand this was a popular way of getting engaged.

I hope I get a hospital appointment soon; I'm sick of daily visits from the phlebotomist (though he's lovely and it doesn't hurt a bit).
My doc had to dash down yet again with a glass ampule we both had trouble breaking.
Ye gods, I'm falling apart

Hello Lobstars,

I love those photos of your mum Kaimoana. and your dad .
I thought I would share the photo I have of the runaway apprentice when he was an old man. He lived until he was almost 90 in 1914 and had over 100 descendants even then! So there will be cousins all over NZ

I found a beautiful will online . Runaway's granny, so my 4 x gt g.
She wrote, or more likely dictated:

I hereby bequeath to my daughter Ann my Marsellas petticoat & Mother's ring.

To Esther my best sheet. To Martha my red shawl and ring to Ann P. J my silk stockings and French white ribbon.

To Elizabeth M my best shawl. To Martha and William's wife the rest of my clothes and linen

£10 for Esther my daughter. £10 for Richard G & the remainder to be divided equally between the rest of my family. To Elizabeth J a white dimity petticoat & black silk neckerchief - to Caroline M a worked frill.

Which reminds me I must call the solicitor about my will. Who should I bequeath my best sheet to?

Morning all. Waiting for the gasman to come.
Our boiler suddenly stopped working yesterday. After 7 attempts to contact British Gas by phone I was spitting feathers by the time I managed to get through to a real person instead of a machine. At one point in exasperation I said oh for goodness sake (or words to that effect) whereupon the automated female said I’m sorry I didn’t understand that then offered me an appointment at the end of April. Only by pretending to be a new customer did I finally get a human to talk to.
We have been without hot water and heating all night as it seems we need a new pump. It’s not been too bad at least it’s not as cold as it has been.
Kaimoana I am the least talented person in my family. My eldest son is very clever making things, drawing and woodwork etc. My younger good at painting and my dear brother was a sculptor, wood carver, sketcher and took up watercolours quite successfully at the age of 75.
My only skill is in quilting and that is only due to perseverance and being skilled in the art of unpicking ? is your doctors name really Squirrel (I never know with you)? Sorry your appointment was cancelled. It should be re booked soon. Hope you are keeping ok.
I bet you’re excited about your new computer and desk. Hope it all works well for you. You obviously did a wonderful job with your sons if they remember a happy childhood. Money is always helpful but not everything in life.
Lovely to see the old photos. How smart everyone always looked.
Jan I hate losing posts. I took someone’s advice and highlight mine and copy as I go along so I can paste it back if I lose it. That trick works really well unless you accidentally hit the return or back arrow key by mistake and delete it all, which is what I did yesterday ?
I like the sound of your booked holidays. Where about do you go in Yorkshire if you don’t mind me asking? DH and I are thinking of planning a trip somewhere if we are allowed to travel a bit.
Hello chirpy Cherry. When’s our next match??
I agree with you, it’s lovely to hear from all our lobstars whether they post frequently or not. Just like to check now and again that people are getting on ok.
I am pleased to have binned the painting. I did enjoy the last one, it looks good and is hanging in our hall but this one seemed to bear no relation to the picture it was supposed to be at all.
I have so many things to sew I’m not sure where to start (you should see my box of 90% finished items ?
I will probably do a sumptuous stitching picture (which is what they are called) just because I have a new foot for my machine to try out. Following that I want to do something with some Kaffe Fassett material (which I haven’t bought yet) I find his colours amazing. Very talented chap, knits, paints, designs his own yarn and fabric, makes quilts and sells lots of books.
How is your non art coming on. What are you doing now?
Grammaretto I hope your zoom meeting wasn’t as heated as that council one that was shown recently where all the members started shouting at each other. I doubt it was if you found it boring.
How nice for you DGD to have an interest in bees. My youngest was interested in owls. If she is allowed chocolate, I see there is a beehive chocolate egg for sale from Aldi (picture attached)
Hope your knitting is coming along, it’s about the only craft (and crotchetiness) you can do watching the TV.
Oh I loved that will. How detailed and beautiful. All things that had real or sentimental value.
We’re you going to add a photo of the runaway?

Oops I hope you are not crotchety when you are doing your knitting or watching TV ?

Grammaretto That Will is lovely, I can just imagine her dictating that and maybe saying, 'but I don't intend to go just yet!'

Yes Doodle lovely David Squirrel is real (see picture) and trained in Sheffield. I must remember to ask him (on 31st, my new appointment) if he's a Yorkshireman
www.medtechcore.org.nz/2019/04/01/using-ai-and-technology-to-help-manage-eye-patients/

So that's where you get all your (denied but you don't fool us) talent from. It's a family trait. I look forward very much to seeing the sumptuous stitching.

I don't know a single person in my family who even liked the arts (or reading), let alone practised any.
Mum did a little craftwork in her 70's when she was in the Cancer Society but that's about it.

However, both my sons are humorous writers (the elder particularly) and both reasonably good at drawing but don't bother to use it now in adulthood.

I have a sketch series done by my younger son when he was 8, of a motorbike.
Each sketch is taken from a different angle including from above - but we knew no one with a bike so it was all imagination/observation but very detailed and totally accurate.
He used to devise very interesting board games too, played with his friends. And his cartoons were hilarious.

My grand-daughter (child of my elder son) is exceptionally talented as some of you know and she has carried that on as she's become older.

I am a bag of aching bones today, not helped by colder mornings, currently 13 degrees.

My computer was delivered yesterday and the desk; both popped just inside the door by the courier so that I can't close it...but to be fair, I probably wouldn't anyway, aches or not.

When my student arrives tonight I may ask her to help me shift them.

Meanwhile, my mission today (should I decide to accept it) is to devise my monthly supermarket order.

On Monday, proving my bank account hasn't self-destructed, my homecare lady and I will take The Road to the Aisles to collect it and I shall be poorer but well fed

Love to all xxxx

Evening LobStars.

Aha Kaimoana, for some reason, I don't know why, but I thought you said the picture of Oscar and the frog was from last year! I've just gone back and reread band see that you wrote that it was recently. Obviously, I'd slept since I read your post ?
I'm glad you don't feel guilty making your purchases, you shouldn't. It was a struggle financially for my mother bringing us up, especially after my father died. I guess you could say we were poor but I had good shoes on my feet, a warm coat in winter, good food in my stomach and there were always books. I didn't miss what I didn't have, my childhood was a good one and I always knew my mother loved me. Later in her life when she had more money she didn't know how to spend it if you know what I mean and she did feel guilty buying anything for herself. She'd spend on the home, feed all and sundry and treat her DGCs but purchases for herself were alien to her.
What wonderful photographs you have of your mum and dad. They really do tell a story, unlike a lot of today's selfies.
It can't be nice, even if it doesn't hurt, having daily visits from the phlebotomist, if I was religious I'd pray that you get your rescheduled hospital appointment soon but I'm not so I'll ? instead. In the meantime I'm sending you a "Cherry special" cwtch.

Grammaretto my WP would have loved to see Bradman's 1937 innings live. I know that if money were no object the one thing he'd do if I could bear it is follow the England cricket team around the world for a year, especially an Ashes year.
Wow, what an interesting will. It's funny to us these days I think to see people bequeath a best sheet to a named recipient. I didn't think about my best sheet or duvet cover when I amended my will a couple of weeks ago. Eek, perhaps I should ring my solicitor ?

I hope your boiler is working again Doodle ?. One January a number of years ago our boiler broke down and we were left without it for around three weeks. A complete nightmare! Appointments were made and cancelled (not by us) and one engineer came out and fixed it but he hadn't. We had to get someone, on a promise it wouldn't be the same man, to come out again. The second engineer didn't have the part he needed when he came and his diary was full so he couldn't return! He transfered the information over to another engineer, who couldn't come out for three days. It got fixed, eventually ?.

Back shortly ...

Doodle you norty girl, why have you got so many sewing projects 90% complete ?. Let us know how you get on with your new foot! Gosh, that sounds like a strange thing to say ? ?.
I'm not really getting far with my non art at the moment Doodle, my current project is developing very sloooowly ?.
"Our" ? next match isn't for a while as there's a break for international matches at the moment. As I'm typing this Belgium are playing Wales and surprise surprise Wales are losing ?. Still more than 30 minutes of the match left though Wales have got no chance of winning this.
The Easter egg looks yummy. I can't believe it's almost Easter!

Good evening all Lobstars,
I am very tired tonight. Why do I stay up late.
I was going to find a photo of old mr and mrs runaway.
Thanks for the easter egg Doodle and picture of the dashing Dr Squirrel Kaimoana
My NZ family have a Dr Love.
I'll toddle off to bed now. Bye all.

Wish me luck.....I'm off to start a thread......? if I don't come back please look after Mr M! ....and the compost....

Hello from a lovely sunny Norfolk but we still have our cold wind.
Kaimoana what great photos. I’ve got some old ones somewhere and must get them out. My Grandfathers family lived in an enormous house about 30 miles away. I can remember going there once and playing in the garden but can also remember the panic when two old ladies all dressed in black with an equally elderly man came walking down our drive! I have no idea why it was such a momentous happening but can still hear my grandmother saying “it’s Jack Alice and Emma” and who were my grandfathers sisters and brother! When they all died it was discovered that they had been selling antiques to people who came to the door and probably getting a pittance for them. More grumbling from the grandparents!
Kaimoana hope you soon get your appt that was cancelled. We have Sammy Squirrel here but he’s not a doctor! He’s an expert in hanging upside down and eating all the bird seeds in the feeder!
Doodle we always stay in the Yorkshire Dales somewhere around the Leyburn/ West Burton area. We go self catering as we don’t like being confined to an hotel room. Also enjoy visiting local hostelries for our evening meals and a glass or two of wine!
Hope your boiler is now sorted Doodle it’s horrible to be without heating.
I’m very impressed by all your craftwork Lobsters. I used to knit a lot when the girls were small and make a lot of their clothes but don’t think they would appreciate it now!
Hope everyone has a good day. Nice to hear from Dragonfly and my neighbour Nfk!. Hope the Panaches are getting lots of help and comfort. So sad

Hello fellow lobsters, I’ve found a daytime slot for posting. I had my laptop out to pay some bills so am able to touch type this. (Note, I always type my posts into the ‘Notes’ App on my Apple devices. Using Notes means I can switch back and forwards between the GN posts and my Notes without fear of losing anything. When I’ve finished this I will copy and paste it into the Lobstars’ thread.)

Grammaretto, your comment regarding my last post about me being a Swallows and Amazon type made me laugh. The boat is shared and we only get 4 weeks a year on it. We’d love to spend more time on it but shares are quite expensive. I am quite ‘boaty’ while aboard but not most of the time. Also, despite my best efforts to stay fit and go walking (actually DH has to almost shame me into going walking), I’m really a lazy so-and-so. I consider myself to be ‘efficient’ because I work out the best way of doing things with the least effort to myself.

Since my last (rather doleful) post I have been cheered up by the most recent conversation with my ‘ologist’. My blood test results are better than expected - but, hey, my underlying condition is ‘atypical’ so they are not really sure without carrying out some intrusive and painful tests so it’s still up to me to quantify my risk.

DH took me walking again this morning. I eyed the walking pole he fished out from the back of the porch with some trepidation and rightly so - “I just want to explore a bit of that steep path that goes off our hill walk”, he said. It was a very long climb up but the really steep path down looked dreadful and we turned back the way that we had come. DH said that we should perhaps try going up the steepest bit first next time (yeah - right!). It wasn’t a particularly pretty walk, lots of trees and tree roots, stone but not wooded - very quiet and no views. The buzzard overhead seemed to make the most noise (apart from me complaining).

My next mission is to turn up the bottom of my new jeans. I hate doing it - I’m sure that sizes have changed for a taller population. I always wore regular length trousers in the past but these ‘regular’ M&S jeans are definitely too long. It’s at times like these that I wish I hadn’t got rid of my old, treadle Singer sewing machine. Hand sewn jean hems just don’t look right to me.

Cherry, keep going with your enthusiasms - it’s lovely to read.

Doodle, well done for letting go of your painting.

It’s time for me to go - we have a delivery due soon (substitution = 1 cucumber for another cucumber - well I can live with that).

Gentle thoughts to the frailer Lobsters in the Gang.