The Lockdown Gang - Just chatting ⭐️

Panache dear, there are times to control the emotions and times to let them drive you and convince others you're serious. This latter is often needed with the medical profession, as you have found.

I had a friend with severe acne. She was stoically accepting in the surgery and desperate tearful when telling me how she felt.
I advised her to go back to the GP and cry about it. Not manipulation, not fakery, just honest emotion - and it got her referred to a specialist.

So good for you Panache, warrior queen

Cherry the boy wonder was not the precocious little monster I'd assumed but an ordinary, shy little boy whose spoken English is excellent but his vocabulary and grasp of grammar less so. He often comes to lessons (10am in Korea) disheveled and yawning and seems to have little to no support at home.

Mammisimo Like everyone here, I'll be sending my positivest vibes toward your DD. It's not an easy treatment and so very much depends on its success. Hugs, hugs and cwtches to you all.

It seems the earth has wrapped itself in cloud; it is damp and dull here too but still warm enough to have all the doors-windows open, even all night.

Grammaretto I'm sending you a red, floppy cap.

Gubbins is on her way - fingers crossed she's not a Grizzlebones today

Evening all. Been a bit warmer here today.
Nice walk and an ice cream too ?
Phone call from number 1 son. Seems our DGD May at last be able to take her driving test soon. She’s had 3 test dates cancelled due to lockdown.
Kaimoana I know by now that you had a lovely Mother’s Day coz I’ve seen the photos. Lovely smiley Gubbins is getting to be a little girl now,
The boy wonder sounds a nice lad, the way you describe him. Obviously trying hard. He is lucky to have you helping him.
Hope everyone had a good day. I will be back later to see if we have any callers, ?

Evening all. Hope you’ve had a good day.
On the subject of exercise routines I thought I’d post a link to the best aerobic class ever.
You may well have watched it before as it’s Victoria Wood. Hope you enjoy it ?

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObOkhXGu7oY

Oh I did enjoy the aerobics thank you Doodle and thanks Victoria wasn't she a trooper. Brilliant.

I haven't done a lot this weekend apart from planting out my peas. There were so many I didn't have enough earth. I may have to give the left overs away.

All fingers Xed for Mamissimo's DD

Thanks for the tea Jeeves it's called Dragonfly Tea (I only just noticed) and has a motto. Be happy for this moment

Hello folks from a showery and blustery Wales.

Am sitting pretty awaiting to have a second call from the Hospital when the medics will decide whether my dearest can come home again......perhaps even today?
Of course that is what we both want ultimately, although tinged with much fear............as you well know,he does seem to get into every possable "pickle" when here at home!!!

Furthermore in my rushing in to visit him,it has caused my legs and spine som e real damage,although
I have rested an d yes,rested for the last two days.

Very envious of those super hairstyles,could you come and do wonders for me please?!!!

Enjoy the week when hope run s high regarding making future holiday/family plans,some hugging and the rest...............but do take great care

Good Afternoon

I've been dropping by and luring of late but somehow have been too busy to post. Trying desperately to get on top of the garden - although I still can't bed too well with my poor sore buttock. And Best Beloved has decided to agree with me that we need to have a clear out and sort out of what is where. Its not often we are both of a mind to have a clear out. The pile of stuff for the charity shop is growing apace.

Reading Panaches description of the assault on the hospital reminds me of when I started work as a receptionist with a housing association many years ago. The only advise I was given was to beware of sweet little old ladies. And the sweeter they looked the more dangerous they were! Take care of yourself Panache.

I have made a note of the Zumba link and may try it, but right now I shall just go and enjoy Victoria Wood. What did we do with our time before UTube.

Nfk. Gosh you have been busy! And sorry you’re still not comfortable after your accident. Maybe you shouldn’t be bending? Is in windy in your part of Norfolk? Dreadful here. Lovely sunny day but that wind keeps it cool.
Great news about your man Panache. Do hope he is home although it must be hard work for you. Try and rest as much as you can - not easy I know.
Doodle loved Victoria Wood she was so funny. Went to see her on stage several years ago. Great show.
Kaimoana pleased you had a good day with Gubbins. Photos?
Busy few days coming up. Friend round for coffee tomorrow and must also write several birthday cards. Theo cat has to have his annual vaccination on Wednesday before going to the Cattery while we go to Yorkshire then Thursday our first trip to Norwich for DH to have his mask made before he starts radiotherapy.
So everyone - freedom from Monday! Have already booked a meal with friends at a local pub for Monday evening! Really looking forward to being able to meet friends for coffee without freezing outside!!

Glad you enjoyed Victoria Wood. Grammaretto I think she was wonderful. Her sketches always made me laugh.
So you have plentiful peas. I love peas. Have them most days.
Panache have you had any news yet? I do hope MrP comes home soon. I know that’s where you both want him to be.
I am sorry you’ve hurt yourself. So difficult for you, not well yourself but doing all you can to look after your DH.
Hope you are feeling a bit better now.
Nfk lovely to hear from you. Sorry I’ve just had this mental picture of you lying face down on the garden as you try to get on top of it ?
What a lovely phrase Best Beloved. Nice that you both agreed to have a turnout at the same time. I think the charity shops will be inundated. We’ve got stuff to go too.
Hope your poorly nether regions improve soon.
My mind seems to be a bit naughty today. I’m reading innuendo in all the posts. I’ve just read Jans post about not bending over and it being windy .
Sorry I’ll be on my best behaviour from now on.
Yes Victoria Wood was such a talented lady. I wasn’t a fan of Dinner Ladies when it first came out but last year I watched the repeats on catch-up and loved it. So clever with words on observations on people.
Nice to have friends round. Hope Theo doesn’t mind going to the chattery. I hope you have a lovely time in Yorkshire and with your friends on Monday. Nice to get out again.
Cherry hope the kitchen is going well.

Hello Lob-stars!
I wonder if MrP is home now.
I expect you are tired after that huge emotional trip to the hospital. Panache Bad luck to still be sore.
NfkD sore too.
What Lobstars we are.
I am currently OK and don't exert myself too much. I kneaded a load of clay this morning and that was it for the day!
How lovely to meet friends again Jan.
My df told me about her first trip to a pub outside. All the other customers were staring at their phones to order their meals but she just called out to the waiter and asked for a paper menu. She asked if they could bring her fish and chips and a glass of beer. It was brought almost instantly while the app people were still examining their phones. Then they followed her lead and asked for her menu!!

See you later dear friends xx

This is the River Wharf near Beckermonds (Yorkshire ) and it's here I learned to swim, with Dad holding up my chin, when I was six.
Been a swimmer ever since and am about to leave for the pool now.
Beckermonds, like many names in the North, is a Norse word.

Grammaretto I’m with your friend, I much prefer a proper menu to looking at a phone.
Mind you I have to be careful. I once went to a restaurant and whilst looking at the (rather large) menu I accidentally set it alight by holding it over a candle. That was bad enough but 2 months later I did the same thing.......in the same restaurant. They have smaller menus now
Been to the dentist today. Went to the front door and told go round the back. Had to wash my hands in a sink outside then sanitise them (having just washed them). Had to stand on the doormat like a naughty child whilst I had my temperature taken. Then I had to fill out a form, sanitise hands again (because I held the pen) then told which chair to sit in. All very professional. A lovely new dentist. Very nice and gentle with tiny hands (a boon with a dentist when they fiddle around inside your mouth)
Seems I need a new crown (not surprised) but nothing else, which is good as I haven’t been since 2017
I’m going shopping tomorrow! I’m so excited.
I need some new sandals and whilst I will buy clothes online, shoes I have to try on. We are going to Windsor as they have a Hotter shop there and I find their shoes comfortable. They’ve also got a big Marks so who knows what I might pick up.?
Kaimoana what a beautiful photo and such a lovely place to grow up. Hope you enjoy your swim. Have a good day.

Good afternoon Queen Doodle and subjects; what’s the new crown going to look like ma’am?

Oh my, a pyromaniac in a restaurant – what a pity they didn’t learn from the first conflagration.

I wish I had grown up in The Dale Doodle it wasn’t for lack of begging my parents to move from the mucky back street in industrial Bradford.
Years later I learned that despite their professed love of the country, they preferred the city.

Like Jan16 the Dales were a happy place for me but seen only a few times a year, if I was lucky.

It wasn’t until I was 35 and finally the Captain of my Soul, that I was able to move out to a rural area with my sons.

Unfortunately, I now live in a charmless suburb but I’m learning to be grateful for the past and not fret too much about the present it doesn’t always work

Sent a cutesy posy to my grand-daughter, 28 in a few days. A flower arrangement in a cup. She’ll love it.

Jan16 I don’t post pictures of Mila on social media but if you want to see her, PM me with your email and I can shoot one through.

Hope MrP is home soon.

Wishing everyone a Happy Wednesday. not in a cup.

Doodle I am surprised you were allowed back after setting starting 2 fires!
I reached across a candle and scorched my best sweater once. I am always wary of candles at table.

What a pretty posy Kaikmoana
You learned to swim in the Yorkshire dales. I learned to swim in Kaikoura, NZ where my DGM lived and in the tiny pool at the school. Every school had to have a pool and swimming lessons were compulsory in my day due to the high number of drownings. At one time death by drowning was known as the New Zealand disease.
At least 3 of my relatives/ancestors lost their lives like that. One rather recently. Not sure if being able to swim helped much!

The pool here is open again but I am in no hurry to get back to it.

Hair, teeth and now shoe shopping in Windsor dear Doodle you are coming out!

Good morning ?
I know you're all on the edge of your seats waiting for veg news but first the big news....my DD2 is officially a chicken! They harvested 13 eggs yesterday and she is gently recovering. She'd never had a cannula before and says that she didn't like it. I know she didn't enjoy the whole process yesterday. She will receive daily egg reports until Saturday when, all being well, they will implant one.

I am conflicted by the whole process because I can see the strain and tension it causes. I think it increases the hope and the yearning and that worries me.....but if it was me I'm sure I'd be trying it too.

I spent the day with her identical twin who was anxious-ed out. Their bond is incredibly strong and although they live an hour apart and rarely shop together they still turn up for Sunday lunch wearing identical tops.

Mr M managed to accidentally pierce a can of beer on a screw yesterday.....in the study....and was so surprised by the force of the squirting beer that the dropped the can into......the fireplace...but instead it hit the edge of the grate...bounced onto the hearth....span at bit.....The cleaner is coming this morning to wash the walls.....the shutters.... . Fergal cat has washed himself but smells a bit funny. ?

I'm hoping for a calm day today...and one for you all too.

Mamissimo
I shall be thinking of your DD and family today.

We never do things easily,that is for sure!!!

My dear man was pencilled in for hom e yesterday then later today,then much later it was confirmed that today would be the red letter day.
However over many months I have been suffering from some ghastly bouts of toothache,yesterday being a shocker.
So I desperately grabbed what seemed an opportunity and made an emergency dental appointment,then kindly asking a neighbour could they take me.
So we set off first thing and here I am a few hours later minus a wisdom tooth and booked in for another extraction opposite.............both had been fine prior to Covid judging by the x rays.............yet a year later in a shocking state.

It has been further confirmed that my dearest will be returning home this afternoon.

Of course I shall have to be overly careful with the lifting etc...........but hopefully today will be a good one!

A calm and peaceful day for you all.

Mamissimo...........fin gers and all things well crossed ,may all be well for your dear family.
Love always.

Oh I say Kaimoana I quite like the sound of Queen Doodle. ? what do you think of my crown?
I don’t think you would describe where we live as rural or countryside but it is certainly not city living. I couldn’t tolerate that. We like our peace and quiet too much.
What a lovely posy I’m sure your DGD will love it.
Grammaretto I’m surprised they let me back too. On the other hand they told me I was not the first person to set light to the menus so perhaps they’ve learnt their lesson now. Big menus and small tables don’t mix. ?
Seems I am not the only one who sets fire to thinks.
Unfortunately, Grammaretto I didn’t do much coming out today. It was a bit of a sad day. Windsor has always been a place with a large shopping area and very up market shops alongside things like M&S and a department store Daniels. We have not been there for over a year due to lockdown and we so saddened to see that large numbers of the shops had closed including my beloved Hotter shoe shop. The town was mostly empty of people and shops. The castle of course looks as lovely as ever and I expect when things open up more tourists will be back. Whether or not the shops recover remains to be seen. End result no shopping. I didn’t buy anything ....not even a cream bun for tea, that shop had shut too ?
Mamissimo wow, 13 eggs that’s wonderful. I do hope your DD is ok and recovers soon. I can understand it is a worrying and stressful time. I do hope the outcome is positive.
I expect her twin is anxious too.
What a shame we don’t have a video of MrM and his squirting can of beer. Sounds like something out of a comedy sketch. ?. Did Fergal sleep well after licking up all that beer?
Panache I’m glad you managed to get that tooth dealt with. The last thing you need now is toothache, I’m glad your friend was able to take you and you got in at short notice,
I hope by now MrP is home and settled and you both have a comfortable night. Take care much love x
Cherry hope things are going well in the kitchen. I hope the stress isn’t proving too much for you.

Good evening Gang,
The Hotter shop has closed in Edinburgh too Doodle. The shoes I bought online and returned were from their website.
Lots of shops have closed down and offices. My niece works, or used to, in one of those London office towers and she says its a ghost city. What will happen?
I'm sorry you didn't get your cream bun!
Panache I hope the toothache has gone or will have when the next tooth is out. You must not need wisdom anymore. You are wise enough. I hope MrP is safely home with you now.
Cherry I want to know what
the new kitchen is like? Are you using it now?
The egg harvest sounds absolutely incredible Mamissimo that these things are possible. It's wonderful.
My fingers are still tightly crossed for her.
I have advertised my spare beans and pea seedlings on the local fb garden group and someone wants them.
I'm also giving away a church pew to the carbon challenge centre where they will use it for seating firewood

Good night everyone. I couldn't wait any longer for Jeeves' chocolate. Where is the man!

Grammaretto I have taken the plunge tonight and ordered 2 pairs of Hotter shoes online. I had wanted to try them on but if there are no shops I guess online will have to do. I have bought many pairs from them in the past so hopefully these will fit.
I think Jeeves has gone to help Cherry clear up. He should be back tomorrow.
Sleep well all.

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202105/medium-994476-kathy-and-baby.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202105/medium-116631-flower-mat.jpg

Mammissimo Your DD has been on my heart and mind all day.

Doodle what a lovely, happy Queen you are

Hoping MrP is home. If so, Panache will be more than happy, despite the toothache.

My friend Kathy, a cancer treatment survivor is coming for lunch tomorrow so I’ve just taken a chicken from the oven (it was dead). Here you see her with first grand-child, Chiara, whose birth did much to save her life.

We’ll have avocado salad and baguettes with that chook and stewed pears to follow - if we have room .

Communicare was boring today but I did some colouring in. Even that’s difficult now.
It might make a good place mat if I can get it laminated.

I’ve been meaning to tell you. When I was in Tauranga, I discovered I have slightly stronger ties to Cymru hardd than supposed.

My grand-daughter’s step-father, a lovely man with no trace of a Welsh accent, was telling us his very unusual surname, has, for generations been spelled with a double Ll at the beginning and his family goes back to 10th century nobility and Bleddyn Ap Maenarch.

He’s very keen on genealogy so I’m sure he’s got it right.
He didn’t ask me to curtsey when he walked in.

Wishing you all a happy and hopeful day

All this Royalty! I 'm not sure if I am allowed in the room.
I watched a TV prog about the Queen's cousins and it seems 1 in 10 of the population are distant cuz of the Queen.
Not me though. Highly unlikely as I have no English in my DNA and only 2% Welsh .... except there's all that Scots, Irish and German...

Your friend looks very happy in the picture. Kaimoana
I like your colouring too. Would it work as a place mat?
Maybe I should try that to test colour combinations for the curtains.
I am to have my eyes tested this morning.
Have a good day/night everyone.

Good morning ?

When is summer coming please? My beans are slow to germinate in the greenhouse and Mr M is getting anxious ......he's fed up with peas! When I get to the other place and meet up with his lovely mum I am going to give her a big piece of my mind for not making him eat his greens....and his aubergines, his squashes, celery, cauliflower....his broccoli, coriander, figs .......

DDs egg report was eggsalent yesterday with eight out of the 13 being successfully developed into blastocysts. She will get a report every day until Sat when they are planning to implant the best one. The rest will be frozen and we will then become even more anxious ?

Mr M spoke with his Consultant yesterday to try to find out when his gall bladder will be removed. He is thinking of going private as he can't eat cheese we can't plan trips or eat out much until it's done. He says he doesn't want to waste another year without freedom and I get that.

Today I will finish the prep for painting DS' old bedroom and then painting can commence.....I've decided to buy a velvet office chair in shell pink so that boys won't want to use my sewing room!

Wishing you all some pinkness in your day ?

Mamissimo I’d like a pink day today thank you. Pink was my DGDs favourite colour when she was little. When she was about 3 she wouldn’t wear anything unless it was pink. I had a lovely photo of her going to preschool with pink shoes pink tights pink dress pink coat and a pink backpack. All topped with pale blonde hair and a big smile. ?
Good news about your DDs eggs. Praying for a successful outcome for her.
Hope MrM can get seen soon for his gall bladder. DH feels the same. So much time lost in lockdown.
P.S. same DGD also has a pink velvet chair in her bedroom ?
Kaimoana hope you have a lovely day with Kathy tomorrow. How old is her grandchild now? I can understand why she helped her recovery.
Another lovely lunch planned. Sounds good to me.
We are having chicken tonight .......again. Due to DHs tum not being the best in the world we tend to have plain chicken quite a lot, he has his with beans and carrots I have mine with steamed Kale, broccoli, cauliflower rice and wild rice (in bags from Waitrose) The highlight is our potatoes cut in slices and baked in the oven without oil. Grapes to follow and a piece of dark chocolate with coffee.
Your colouring in looks nice I think it would make a good placemat.
Ah another with a Welsh connection. Cherry will have us all converted before long ?
Grammaretto no need to curtsy, you’re one of us ?
I spent ages online last night and ordered two pairs of sandals from Hotter. One a walking pair with 3 sets of adjustable Velcro straps which hopefully will mean they fit and a pair of what I hope may pass as ‘evening’ sandals (posh) if and when we ever go cruising again. I like a flat shoe on board as I’m a bit tottery on heels anyway without the motion of the sea added in.
Hope your optician appointment goes well. I am going next week as I need new glasses.
Hope MrP is safely home.
Cherry I read on the GM thread you are waiting for your kitchen floor to be laid. Hope it’s finished soon. Bet you can’t wait.
Dragonfly hope you and Dexter are ok.
Have a good day all

Just popped in for a quick read.
Oh dear, I fear MrM is going to be disappointed and Mamissimo may need a peg for her nose if this website is accurate
www.healthline.com/health/gallbladder-removal-diet#foods-to-avoid

Wish I could get wide shoes here Doodle.
I have feet like a flatfish (did you know they had feet? [smile) due to walking about in bare feet for 5 decades.

See you all later and I too am thinking of our missing ones, Mamissimo's DD and MrPxxx