The Lockdown Gang - Indomitable Lobstars ?⭐️

Hallo every one - I am just throwing my hat in the door. So sorry I haven't been around but had one thing after another. I managed to catch up on the GM's and now wanted to pop in and see you all.

Pleased to see Panache posting although not with good news. I am sending her hugs, love and strength.

This is only a short visit as my 100 year old mother is failing and I am spending all my time at her bedside.

I hope you are all okay.
As they say in the Kitchen TOYA!

Hello lovely Lob Stars!

I know it's serious Kaimoana but you do make me laugh. The line dancing in cowboy gear would make me walk off the nearest cliff too.
I am missing the yarn group although at least now we can visit in each-others' gardens one at a time which is better than nothing. Yesterday, I sat in my df's garden in the sunshine and listened to the amorous frogs in her pond.

I hear from DS that NZ won the America's Cup so Auckland harbour will be covered in sailing boats.

If that souffle is indicative of your cooking skills Doodle may I come to tea please?
Wishing you well in your battle with the developers clan Mamissimo
I never thought of painting my toe nails Jan. I just hide mine. But that could be a thing to do. ....
The new girl hasn't begun her pottery yet but I am sure she will give it a go.

How is Cherry today? Sending love and strength to the Panaches

I've just nipped back to ask a serious question.

If the co-ordinator of our branch of Communicare were open to suggestions - what tasks could I do when there?

And a n-s-s-Q.
How do you fry air?

Communicare When I first joined, I was also a volunteer helping the majority who have various intellectual handicaps.
After a year, I suggested various improvements: singalongs, picnics in the park; party games, visits to the Winter Gardens and much more.
The co-ordinator who's very sweet but in a rut,is happy for clients to cut pictures from old magazines and stick them in scrapbooks, play Bingo, bocce and Scrabble.

I'm beating my head against a brick wall trying to change anything; she even refused to let me tidy the craft gear into separate boxes. Control freak? Maybe.

Kaumatua-Kuia Before Covid we met to play ukulele and sing, then they introduced 30 mins of exercise at the beginning of one session and craft (flax weaving, taniko etc) to the other.
All good, despite my not being able to do any of it.
Then came Covid 19.

Our monthly admin meeting, the one I attended yesterday is very different. Agenda, discussion, decisions and lunch.

It was decided we'd have singing (including learning new songs), line dancing and chair Zumba once a week from now.

I'm not enthusiastic about any of that except singing. I love singing but music in any other form is a real trial to me.

Before C-19 someone put together a song book (I could just about see it in those days) of the most maudlin C&W songs imaginable. Everyone loved them and they were dirged ad nauseum every week to the point where I had to leave the room (seriously).
I stopped going for a while because with that and and the Yee har! line dancing, I feared for my sanity.

They are lovely people, really they are but there's something about cowboy hats, fringed jackets and songs about faithful, deceased dogs and unfaithful lovers which makes me want to walk off the nearest cliff.

So there you go - I either tolerate all that or I stay home.
C-19 has made the latter very much easier.

Doodle the soufflé looks divine.
I was able to watch the fowl and Ducky this morning I was sure she'd 'baptise' him again.

Mamissimo As I understand it, Ikea trades in wooden products and as you're taking a horse box, I wondered if, inspired by the Trojans, you intended to bring the exploitative developer to his knees with enraged wasps?

Ooh Doodle I could just eat that souffle now ?, it looks fabulous. I've already been naughty once this week, don't encourage me ?.

Kaimoana, I love your picture of our Mamissimo ?
It's a bit of a "poor show" that Communicate don't seem to have considered and catered for people with sensory impairments, especially sight problems. Have you ever raised this issue with them? I can't imagine you haven't.
Your Kaumatua-kuia group sounds a much more enjoyable experience ?

I agree with you Mamissimo, gently does it with these people and then if they're not careful they won't know what's hit them ?
You taking your horsebox to Ikea to collect your DS' furniture put a smile on my face. An old friend of ours used to use his horsebox to help people move house and he took it to festivals to sleep in ?

I think Kaimoana has perfectly expressed the sentiments of all of us Panache. I'm pleased you are getting the help and support for Mr P that you have both long needed but it's completely understandable that you feel low. I hope something can be done to get back on top of *Mr P's pain again. I wish I could wave your own away. A bundle of cwtches are heading your way ?

You can certainly join the wonky toe club Jan, though (no offence) I wish I wasn't in it. I don't have thickened toenails thank goodness, I know they can be a bit of a 'mare to deal with. My WP has psoriasis and it's got under his thickened toenails ?. It eats away at his nails ?.
We used to have an air fryer, it was a pain to clean. We don't have it anymore ☺️

Doodle you sound more and more like my double. I too have two nails on my little toe but fortunately only on the one foot. The nail on my other little toe is fine but the toe is flat ?
Hope your voice recovers by tomorrow but I'm sure the hoarseness was worth it, it's good to talk and good to catch up with people you haven't spoke to in a while ?

Jan I meant a shiny oven not a shiny dinner ?

Kaimoana shame your Communicare isn’t caring enough to come up with something for those with sight problems to do.
Glad your other group was more enjoyable. What is the basis of your Kaumatua kuia group?
Yes I think that’s a fair picture of Mamissimo. A mother protecting her son against the property developers. They should be quaking in their boots. ?
Happy St Patrick’s day to you too.
Hi Mamaissimo hope all that work on your son’S home gets done soon. I hadn’t ever thought how useful a horse box would be but now I can see several advantages.
Dear Panache you are on a path all of us fear to tread but know that one day it will happen. I am glad your support continues and hope they can help reduce the pain again by other measures.
Thank you for posting to let us know how you are. You are constantly in our thoughts. Much love x
Hi Jan I have read about air fryers but don’t have one. To be honest, with just the two of us I tend to avoid gadgets that need cleaning (just plain lazy ).
I bought a fancy juicer when it was the fashion. This wonderful machine could get juice out of anything, carrots, any fruit or veg and all in about 20 seconds. What I didn’t realise was that it would take about half an hour to take apart and clean after every use. Needless to say it has been at the back of a cupboard for many years.
I gave up on cleaning my oven years ago. I used to have mine cleaned too but now my pyromaniac ovens clean themselves.
Toes are funny things aren’t they. I have two toenails on each of my smallest toes. Causes me no end of trouble as the outside ones, which are very tiny, catch on things.
DH once had to have his toes operated on when he had a problem with his foot. I won’t tell you what they did to his toes because the x rays looked like something out of a horror movie but it did work and he walks better now.
Enjoy your dinner. I bet you give it a quick wipe after to make sure it’s still nice and shiny ?
Kaimoana a lovely post to Panache and so true.
Cherry hope you are ok today.
I’ve had a very busy day doing nothing.
I have a few relatives and friends I phone every week and some that I haven’t spoken to for a while. I spent all afternoon on the phone today and I am hoarse. Nice to catch up though.
I made a cheese soufflé again tonight. My best ever I think. I used my new kitchen gadget to whip up the egg whites and am happy with the results . I may even post a picture?

Dear Panache, I seem to be the first to read your sad-grateful post.
'Even keel' is a blessing at the moment and of course, thank goodness you now have support to ease the pain for your beloved.
Not so simple to ease your own, dear friend, and several of us here know what you're going through and wish we could help and spare you the anguish.

You and MrP are in our thoughts at all times, never doubt that and though we may joke here, it's how we support one another in challenging times.
It does not, in any way, mean we care less about what's happening for you, or that we've forgotten the sadness affecting so many of our Indomitable team.

We hold you and MrP in our hearts and minds so you can be sure that any moment of the day (and night, as I'm here when others sleep ), you are only a thought away from us who send our love and strength.

Good evening All. Actually it’s a miserable evening here. It’s been dull and drizzly all day and now it’s dark and drizzly.
Can I join the Wonky Toes club please?! The only reason I paint my nails is that it covers up my disgusting nails. Why do your nails turn thick and horrible as you get older? Yuk!
So sorry Cherry to hear you’ve been poorly again. Hope you’re feeling better today.
Oh dear Panache I’m not surprised you are feeling so low. Just take comfort that your beloved is still at home where you can be with him and have some time together. Hope you have got plenty of support from friends.
Has anyone on here got an Air fryer? Both my daughters have one and apparently they are the best thing since sliced bread! I’m very tempted but also worried it might just end up in a cupboard hardly used!
Kaimoana I’m very impressed at how busy you are. I find it difficult to get motivated to do anything much. Even had someone to clean my oven yesterday but it looks amazing. Trouble is I don’t want to use it and spoil its beauty!
Mammissimo like the sound of DHs birthday party. Not too sure he would too pleased if we all turned up - can you imagine the noise?! Love the sound of all your snowdrops.
Well better go and cook some dinner. Hope my oven stays clean!!

So the magnificent few contin ue to make this thread an uplifting one, and I come along to offer my warm welsh greeting.
After some very glorious summery warm days we have a rather grey day today.

Quite frankly looking out onto the beautiful blue skies and seeing other residents happily "taking in the air" has been difficult to deal with, since of course at this point in time I am unable to leave our flat.
Life continues,at the moment it is on an even keel,but each time I think things maybe settling for a period, there are those little dramas.
Sadly,although together we have very little talking time for my dearest sleeps for the greater part of day and night.
However that seering pain is again creeping in,and so obviously another stage has arrived.
I am very low in spirit,and yet so thankful that we now have help which eases my burden,but of course the payback is it gives me more clarity of mind.
I can see where we are going and every step is one too far,but we cannot do anything about it.

Sending love to each an d every one,ever hopeful that your lives are on the upward trend.

Gently gently catchee monkey.....when it comes to property developers.....?

The head honcho has asked DS for one quote--he's obviously not a Gran-- to get all the remedial work done. I'm honestly surprised that he hasn't negotiated a silence clause......yet....because he has other properties being built in the area who haven't been signed off yet and our plan is alert building control to the fraudulent electrical certification as soon as the work is done. We don't want anyone else to have these issues.

Today we are doing a drive through click and collect at IKEA to get DS's furniture......in the old horse box. ?

M&M crisis Management - no challenge too challenging!

Hugs to all.....

Lá Fhéile Pádraig sona duit

Happy St.Patrick's Day

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202103/medium-281827-club.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202103/medium-506513-mamissimo.jpg

Cherry sorry you're tired and weary. Hope you'll soon feel better.
I have problems getting onto any website because my computer is ancient. That's why I've finally agreed to change the whole system (still having nightmares about the cost).

What do I do at Communicare you ask, Doodle?
I sit for three and a half hours listening to the other clients playing Scrabble, cards, bowls or doing crafts.
Then we have lunch, I listen to 3 Bingo games - and am finally driven home about 1:15.

In order to do the mindless mindfulness colouring in, I need the special conditions of home, not a vast draughty drinking club which is where we meet.
Imagine the picture above with no decorations or cloths; the tables have to be cleaned of booze spillage before we begin.

My kaumatua-kuia group today was a little more cheerful; first time we've met since November last year. It was good to see everyone.

I found this picture of Mamissimo - maybe the individuals around her are the employees of the cowboy who thought he could get away with putting families lives at risk.
Or maybe this is a pre-class action gathering and Mamisimo is promising to tear the developer limb from limb them their day in Court.
Either way, my money's on our Mamissimo.

Kaimoana your son must be very pleased to have a new car especially if he was worried about how safe the other one was. He has a precious cargo to carry.
How was Communicare today, what did you get up to?
Grammaretto I agree to break two toes would be careless but I was only responsible for one ?
How nice to have a new member for the pottery club. Will she join so you think?
May we see a photo of your pots when finished please?
Thanks for letting us know dragonfly is still posting. Good news.
Oh cherry not another one. Hope you are feeling ok.
I haven’t had any problems on GN so far. I use my iPad to post and it all seems to be fine for me. Sorry you are having troubles.
Perhaps we should have a wonky toe competition.
DH is watching the Crown on Netflix. This apparently involves sitting with headphones on, head bent down and gently vibrating. I could be forgiven for thinking he’s nodded off ?

Not particularly Tsarina of cheerfulness at the moment, dratted seizure a couple of hours ago ?. Quite tired now ?. Short message today.
I wanted to ask a question, is it just me or is anyone else having problems getting onto the gn site and when they do have trouble posting? It seems to be fine one minute but then plays up and can be like it for hours then it's fine again. Most frustrating.

Mamissimo, go get 'em, that company deserves the book thrown at them! Kaimoana is right, there are probably many others with the same issues and the developer should be paying for checks on all the properties. They should be putting these dangerous faults right and paying compensation.

There's three of us (or more ?) of us in the wonky feet/toes parade then Kaimoana and Doodle. I'm the fortunate one though I think since, unlike both of you, pain is not really an issue.

Grammaretto, is the new "girl" who popped round joining you pottery club then? Sounds like you had a nice cuppa together but you didn't say if she's joining ?

Off to get a cuppa myself now before I "sink" ?

Hello Lobstars,

You can come out of your jar now.
Your poor sore toe Doodle that must have been very painful. To break one toe is misfortune but to break two looks like carelessness. in my best Lady Bracknell voice

Oh yea Mamissimo !! I hope the DS house faults are rectified PDQ. If not, it sounds as though you have more powers up your sleeves, though I am sure you would rather be planting snowdrops.

Our snowdrops are looking lovely though they have lost the tree they were under so the scene looks barren.

A new "girl" wants to join the pottery club. She cycled down on the off-chance of finding me home as I hadn't seen any of her messages and we had a cup of tea in the sunshine and I tried and failed to get the spray-gun to work. I was going to spray glaze onto the pot for Love and Peace Kaimoana. The finished one was for Loving Memories, given to me by the potters association.

That's a very fine looking new car for the Gubbins family.
Happy Paddy's Day. everyone.
I spotted Dragonfly on another thread recently.

Magnificent Mamissimo ! I was cheering as I read your post.
No, he certainly didn't know what he was taking on but how many more of his homes are putting families at risk? He should be paying for every single one to be checked, just in case the residents were not as wise or feisty as you.
Doesn't the local Council have an obligation to do this before it's all "signed off" for sale?

When I posted the picture of the car yesterday it was from the web so I thought I'd bore you with the one DS bought, so new it doesn't even have number plates yet

No Doodle I haven't had time to visit the Dean today - have only just walked in the door, having been at Communicare where everyone seemed to be wearing something green to commemorate St. Patrick's Day .
Which I'd forgotten and was in blue - duh.

I nearly always do Ctrl-A then Ctrl-S if I'm likely to be interrupted mid-message - which happens often.
Or I write it in Word first ....but not everyone has w/p on tablets and iPads do they?

Grammaretto I've been meaning to ask, is the pot you made for the "Love and Peace" - or the other rose?

I'm off to wash my windows....

Love to all - as Doodle says, you may not be here but you are certainly not forgotten.

Ok Mamissimo I’ll organise a Tardis type machine to bring us all over. Better start cooking ?

Doodle it would be totally stupendous! I'd even dig the compost out from my fingernails put lippy on for that ?

Mamissimo can you imagine poor MrM’s face if a big brown paper parcel was delivered for him and out we all popped .....surprise ?????

It's Mr M's birthday on Saturday. I've ordered a lobster....which one of you is coming? ?

Oh I almost forgot. I found this for sale. Not sure I like being kept in a jar though ?

Ah Mamissimo sneaking past me again ?
Wow 14 issues. That is bad. Hope they get it all sorted out soon. I didn’t know (or have forgotten) that you worked for the Beeb. How interesting. I assume the developer didn’t know what he was taking on when he sold a house to your son. Good for you. They shouldn’t be allowed to get away with it.
Sounds as though you have had an energetic gardening day. The snowdrops will look lovely next year blooming in the right places.
I see we are going to have a potato glut next. Passive potatoes, petulant potatoes, pondering potatoes.....what do you call yours?
Take care all. Anyone seen the lesser spotted Dragonfly around recently?
Hope all the gangsters are ok. You too Nortstat maybe out of sight but not out of mind ?

Tzarina Cherry I have very long toes and a bent big toe on one foot as a chum (!) from school dropped a shot put ball on it, a bent middle toe in the other foot which I broke somehow many years ago and healed permanently bent in the middle. I find sandals a bit painful because the bent toe doesn’t fit anywhere.
Kaimoana glad the chap that’s caused you a problem is being dealt with. I have done some painting something similar to what you are suggesting. Also marble painting with the children and oil paints on waxed paper. You fold the paper in half, open it up splodge artistically apply some oil paints on the fold and then fold again and squish the paint out with your fingers to make a flower or butterfly pattern. Kept my lot amused for ages.
Bet it was lovely to see your son and his new car. Hope that means more visits from little Gubbins.
Have you watched the Dean in his garden today with Ducky.?
Grammaretto sorry you lost your post.
Marydoll came up with a good idea on the GM thread about doing Select all and copy every now and then. Then if something goes wrong all you have to do is paste it back again.
Good the electric chair has gone to a new home.
Nice to have your friend visit. Sad times for both of you this year.
We went for a drive to charge the car battery and then a short walk after. It was quite cold by then and we were glad to get in.
I made turkey burgers tonight for the first time. I had some turkey breast strips in the freezer and minced them up with breadcrumbs and egg and some herbs. They were quite good even if I say so myself (just as well as we have some left for tomorrow ?)

Good evening ?

I've been chasing my tail.......

We had the i dependant report back on DS electrics.....it had 14 safety issues to be put right! b***ards! The developer is now in receipt of my the letter I sent to DS and his partner to sign telling exactly what is now required from him. I've left him no room for negotiation and svaided threatening him. ?

My journalistic ducks are in a nice row because since leaving the Beeb I've written the odd piece or two for some papers and had a slot on local radio. DS says I'm Machiavellian but I'm just your avaerge Mum defending her boy's interests. The developer doesn't need to know about my ducks unless he fails to carry out my instructions within the next seven days. ?

Mr M and I have been buy with snowdrops.....when the garden works began a year ago we managed to rescue a few hundred snowdrops into large crates. They're now in peak green condition so today we had to divide all the clumps, remove weeds and plant in the new lawn. We're broken!

Tomorrow I shall start potting up the dahlias and potato bags.

Sending best thoughts to all who are missing - and all who aren't ?