The Lockdown Gang - Just chatting ⭐️

Missedout those are beautiful photos. It looks so pretty and peaceful. I hope you’ve relaxed a bit now and are buoying your trip. Hope the return journey is without incident. ?

Well there’s a strange autocorrect. It should say enjoying your trip but I suppose buoying is an appropriate word in watery sense. ?

savouring the hope.. what a beautiful phrase Mammisimo. I shall be too.

May come back later xxx

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Hello again my lovley LobStar Gang

Today I bought myself a Laminator.
To have an A4 picture laminated at a print shop cost $3.50 but I bought a machine and 50 pouches for $28.
Not only is this good value for me but I can also laminate the art work done by friends at Communicare.

I'm going to make some placemats for 'The Wedding of the Year' and probably for my DGS and Gubbins.

The colouring in I do occasionally can be laminated and then sold (placemats) on the Communicare trading table for their funds.

I also have a very old (28+years, Japanese style screen which, having been lent to friends, has come back with several panels --stoved in--damaged.

I planned to repair them with favourite pictures, originally using stiff card but now I can laminate and cut to size.
Not only a repair but a gallery

I shall start with Islamic art.

Doodle I don't think I'll ever be able to look at raspberry syrup on my ice cream in the same way and I now have two very distinct pictures of you in my mind.

One is swanning around the dancfloor in silky elegance with your DH whilst cruising and the other is peering at your sewing with taped up glasses Love them both. xxx

Grammaretto Do you hoard kilns? I still think there has to be a way of utilising all that heat. Hanging the wet laundry above the outlet perhaps?

Cherry I think I shall be as relieved as you when the total reorganisation of your home is finally accomplished. I don't know how you put up with such a lengthy upheaval. It will all be worth it in the end 'Palace Cheery' will be a grand dwelling.

Jan16 I wish you and your DH well with the treatment and driving.
By the time it's over, you'll be able to do that journey with your eyes closed - but please don't try

Welcome Megs36 good to see you, hope you stay with us

And dragonfly too - have a good trip to Brighton and a lovely time with your family. Your little grand-daughter will be overjoyed to see you 'in real life' again.

ixion please don't think of yourself as an intruder, I'm sure you are just as gripped by Cherry's exciting match commentaries as we all are.

Missedout where were these beautiful photos taken - so peaceful. If you give permission, I may even add one to my screen.

It's been beautifully sunny today and although we did have a smatttering of rain, the was for forecast thunderstorms which never came by.

Although it was 19 degrees today, it goes down to 10 or less at night and I'm not looking forward to the cold and wet which may force me to close my front door at night. Just 13 days to the start of winter.

Karen and I collected Autumn leave today which I'll have yet another go at preserving.

Happy Birthday *Dean Robert Willis*; whom I beat into the world by 3 months.

Wishing everyone an upbeat day - thinking, as always of the Panaches and now with infinite hope of Mamissimo's DD.

Good morning ?
Mr M must be feeling tense because he is painting in DS old bedroom.....the roller is being used with some vim and vigour. He always is at his most productive when his womenfolk are emotional. he can also shut the door and keep us all out.

Some time ago I bought the DGDs a Tonie box. They are a very clever gadget that reads stories to small people and which they can operate easily. Anyone can record a reading which is easily uploaded to the box, so Gramps and Grammy (?) read them stories and tell them tales of our youth every week. Today I will be recording "Aliens love Pants" and DD will send us a video of them listening. My favourite toy!

French bean germination is the best I've ever had so I'm going to freecycle a few dozen. The Goosberries are doing amazingly too......I think gooseberries deserve to come back into fashion. I love them?..

I'm sending Cherrys sandwiches to all who can use them just blow the gritty bits from the builders off. ?

I love gooseberries too Mamissimo but do wish my bush didn't have such spiky branches!

Kaimoana that’s a good idea to make some table mats with your colouring.
Perhaps you should make one for Gubbins with a photo of you and her together so she gets used to seeing you every day ?. I’m sorry I’ve missed something. Who is getting married?
Shame about your screen being damaged. It looks nice but some pictures in the panels would be a good idea.
With regard to you picturing me, the one with the taped up glasses is probably ok but the swanning around the dance floor unfortunately isn’t. DH and I aren’t much in to ‘dressing up’ we prefer to be comfortable. They only have two ‘posh nights’ on our cruises and for those we do try our best. No dancing though. Both of us have two left feet. I have always liked long dresses/skirts and used to wear them a lot in my youth. Nowadays I live in trousers but I do on occasions like to make the effort and swish about a bit.
Autum leaves....we haven’t had our summer yet ?
I think the Dean has had his haircut. He looked very smart today. Some of the trees and flowers in the garden are beautiful. Such a lovely setting.
Mamissimo we are all hoping for good news so I can understand MrM trying to keep himself busy.
I have never heard of a Tonie box. It sounds a brilliant idea.
How nice for your DGC to be able to listen to your stories even when you aren’t with them. I can still remember reading my DGC Wide awake Jake and a book about Baked Beans ?
I love goosgogs too. Haven’t had any for ages.
Oh you make me laugh so much with your sandwiches with builders dust on ?
We’ve been making a card for our DGD today for her last day at school. We’ve found some photos of her in her infants school and put them into a moonpig card for her.
DH and I are very excited, we are going out to eat tomorrow. DH has booked a table in the restaurant down the road. First meal I haven’t cooked for ages.
Hello Dragonfly I bet you are missing Dexter. Hope everything else is ok.
How’s today been Cherry.
Panache thinking of you both always. x

Cherry's been better Doodle but also been worse. Been foggy headed all day, still am. One of those days without being one of those days. Hopefully I'll be fine tomorrow and my Tigger tail will be swooshing about and I will be bouncing.
Until then, take care LobStar gangStars. Don't go telling the world about the gritty stuff it's golddust on the sandwiches everyone will want some ? Sending you all some with your favourite fillings x

Cherry you’ve had a lot going on recently, not surprised you’re feeling a bit foggy. DH has days sometimes when he says he feels discombobulated.
Thank you for the gold dust sandwiches. ?. Hope you feel better tomorrow.

We met a little friend on our walk today.

Sorry this is a better photo

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Doodle and DH on their first cruise...long before taped-up spectacles were necessary.

The neatly trimmed Dean on his birthday in his spectacular garden.

Beneath Aotearoa-New Zealand, scientists have discovered rocks much older than had been supposed, proving we are part of a continent.

www.stuff.co.nz/science/125163813/is-zealandia-a-genuine-continent-billionyearold-rocks-are-more-proof-it-is

I am convinved the narration is by a robot.

Have fun everyone.

Hello lovely lobstar peeps,

I have just had an evening with the young man - son of df who was possibly going to stay here. He isn't, but it was lovely to chat with him and to watch him devour my cooking including stewed rhubarb which I was picking as he arrived. I am very fond of gooseberries too.

The plumber turned up today too to fit the new shower. I wasn't expecting him.

I enjoyed the bluebell walk . It was incredibly beautiful.
The Tonie box sounds a great idea Mamissimo

I didn't think I hoarded kilns, Kaimoana but it sometimes seems as though I do. I think I have 7! The studio is gently warmed by the kiln. You have been busy lately.
I think we have all been quite busy.
I hope the Panaches are all right and all the gang.

I am tired again. Early night for me and hot chocolate.(thanks Jeeves)

Morning. We had a lovely meal out yesterday evening with some friends to a really nice pub/restaurant. So many people there but all socially distanced of course. Was a snatch of normality and fingers crossed that it lasts. Also my exercise class reopened yesterday so I had a very good day.
Now back to reality as I have a funeral to attend later. One of my younger friends Dad. She is devastated so I’m really not looking forward to it. Plus don’t think her mum will be able to attend as she is incapacitated and can’t leave the house. Don’t really believe in funerals and I shall be putting it in my will that I don’t want one. I’m not at all religious but that’s just my opinion!
Cherry Hope you’re feeling better today bless you. Hope your Tigger tale is wagging!
Doodle We like cruises - well DH likes them more than I do! We have one booked in September but I’m hoping it won’t happen. Depends really on the restrictions whilst on board but we will see.
Kaimoana Thanks for your good wishes for DH and no think I will give doing the journey with my eyes closed a miss!
Really warm here today but cloudy. While we were in the pub yesterday whic was around 15 miles away the rain absolutely hammered down. Got home and we’d not had a drop!

It does feel a bit different here - or does it?
Glad you enjoyed your meal out Jan. Good to meet with old friends.
I went on a bus yesterday for the first time in a year which was a small adventure.
The virus is still around unfortunately and one school is closed and another, a high school has some cases.

I must be very odd because I quite like funerals but only if it's someone who has lived a long and fulfilled life. MiL has left full instructions for hers. The music, the venue but also never to appear mean with the food and drink and she has even specified fillings for the sandwiches (and the best bread!)

She gave her own DM a wonderful sendoff having baked in advance her best recipes. Everyone came back to the house and it was a proper wake.
I must go and feed that animal. and myself
See you later.

Kaimoana nice thought but Laurel and Hardy would be more appropriate ?
The Deanery garden is magnificent isn’t it. So many trees. It’s beautiful.
Grammaretto what a shame the young man isn’t staying with you but nice you enjoyed an evening together.
That bluebelle wood looks lovely. I so like bluebells.
7 kilns! Are they all different kinds? I remember one Grayson Perry had in his studio. Bigger than our fridge freezer.
Jan nice to have a meal out again. Sorry you have a funeral to attend. Sounds as though your friend might need your support. I have heard of others recently who don’t want a funeral. Like Grammaretto I like a funeral for those who have lived a good life.
DH and I like cruising but only on small ships with older people. We are not into the dressing up but but like the idea of visiting different places without having to fly. We love going to Norway. Some of the fjords are so beautiful and peaceful.....the food is good too ?
Well we’ve been out! For a meal. Been to one of our local places for the first time since last September. Lovely table for two overlooking the river. Really nice meal which we both enjoyed so much and a rambling walk home.
Coffee and a brandy now and I will be asleep soon ?
Panache and Cherry hope you are ok.

Meant to ask if any of you have watched the Joy of paining with Bob Ross on BBC4 iPlayer. I have taken to watching one at night before I go to bed. So calming and relaxing and such talent. They are old programmes, I believe he made over 400 before he died. Such a gentle chap.

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Hello Lobstars, I thought I'd post a couple of photos showing the grimmer side of canal life. The first looks like a scene from a horror movie, power is provided to Coventry from here. There are massive pylons radiating out from it, marching across the land like an alien invasion. The second photo was taken looking back after we had gone under the M6.

Yesterday, we approached some moorings that could be accessed from a road through a small village. As we drew closer a police transit van drew up and stopped. The policewoman driver jumped out and opened the passenger door and helped her passenger out. He was carefully clutching a flexible yellow gardening trug. Together they gently set the trug down and discharged (from custody?) Mrs Duck and her large family of fluffy brown ducklings on to the tow path.

The policewoman waved and smiled at us as we went past but we couldn't hang about to see if the ducks took to water!

Thinking if my fellow Lobstars tonight. Stay as well as you can.

I have watched the joy of painting Doodle but only a few. I didn't know he had made 400 programmes.
That meal overlooking the river would have been a lovely treat, even better for having to wait so long.
Great to see you both dancing on your ship. You look rather like Ginger Rogers and DH like Fred Astaire.

Some people are naturally good dancers. I am not one of them though I love dancing (used to) 6yr old DGD is still doing her Highland Dancing. She loves it.

I have never been on a cruise though we did get the ferry from Bergen to Newcastle once which went along the Fjords. Another time we crossed the Baltic from Travemünde to Trelleborg on a hot summer's day and I was 6 weeks on a ship when I arrived from NZ in the late 1950s .

I fed the cat. She followed me out to the garden and almost sidled up to me before remembering she didn't like humans and ran off.
I hope all our gang members in the convalescent wing are doing alright.
You are all in my thoughts.

Interesting photos again Missedout as you say not always beautiful on the canals. What a lovely story about the ducklings. I hope they all made it back to water.
Hope you continue to enjoy your trip.
Grammaretto I never learnt to dance. I would have liked to but I have no sense of rhythm. In my younger years I could do the twist but that was as close as I got to dancing ?
DH and I were totally opposed to cruising. Not our thing at all. We always said the only one we would consider was a trip to Norway to see the fjords. We decided to go for my retirement treat. We loved it so much we have been going when we can ever since.
It’s early days with the cat. I expect she will get used to you. After all, she’s relying on you for food so she ought to be nice, ?

Jan16 Sounds as if social lfe is slowly but surely getting back to normal down your way. Lubbly Jubbly as DelBoy used to say

I've given my son the choice when it comes to funerals. I don't care a fig but for some people it's essential closure. So if he feels like that, he can see me off in style.
If not, then Wastecare can pick me up from the kerb in my diamond encrusted black binbag next time they come round

Ooh, just had a thought. I think there's a weight limit on the rubbish you can leave out, so maybe I'll have to rethink that; don't want to do the Kaikohi Paru a nasty mischief.

Grammaretto One forgets, living down here, despite our masks and social distanacing, that Covid is still wickedly active.
In our day, it was the nuclear threat which haunted teenage lives, now it's this infernal bug.

I used to watch the Bob Ross videos on YouTube and picked up lots of tips.

Hoping Cherry is soon bouncing about and hoping for good news from Panache as well.

I don't usually have any difficulty swallowing capsules but today I did.
I've had a Fish Oil capsure stuck sideways in my throat for the past few hours. I'm fairly sure the thing itself has dissolved - but it doesn't feel like it.

I'm going to have a big bowl of porridge for lunch - it won't withstand that.

Just going through the list of our lovely missing GangStars and hoping you are all soldering on as best you can.

Still savouring hope

Hello good morning or G'day as we say in NZ gang,
Even with the pylons Missedout I would love to be drifting/chugging along the canal.
Maybe next year..
The bridge over the canal reminds me of Nicholas Crane's book "Two Degrees West" where he walks the length of England in a direct line just to see what and who's there from a different perspective from the usual.
www.goodreads.com/book/show/1352462.Two_Degrees_West

It seems my own holiday is fast approaching The first week in June begins the last weekend in May so plans are being settled.
I like that we are soldering on Kaimoana. It reminds me of my stained glass making days but also when DD had a nasty encounter with a soldering iron and accidentally burned her lip.

I have an appointment to choose spectacle frames today. I must try to make a hair appointment too. This mop is no joke.

How are all the lovely people today? Cherry? Panache? Dragonfly? and all the rest

Good morning ?
I have heard a rumour that the forthcoming bank holiday weekend is going to sunny and bbq-able....which is good job because I feel the urge to let Mr M practice his cremation skills to let Mr M cook. I'm urging him to enter Masterchef next year because they even singe lettuce on there ?

DD2 is still PUPO and seems to be coping well with the uncertainty. She lives right beside the sea and goes for a long walk there daily with her dogs. The rest of us are liked coiled springs.....

Mr M rather fancies a night or two at a glamorous eaterie in Oxfordshire that we love to visit. I went online to book last night and found that the room we usually have has gone up in price by 20%. They seemed to have a lot of availability which is jolly unusual.......?

I'm going to spend today painting woodwork with Mr M - he does the picture rails and window because he can do ladders....and I crawl round the room because I can get up from kneeling.....it's a perfect marriage of decrepitude ?

Thinking of the missing.....

Good morning Lobsters.

I am recovering this morning from my Pilates yesterday that I was roped into. I shall take DH for a morning walk though (instead of Dexter)!

Oh Mamissimo I must have missed something - PUPO? I hope your DD is okay.

Jan I too hate funerals and said my goodbyes to my parents before they died. I gave them direct cremation which is what they too would have wanted. I hope it goes well today and at least the sun is shining.

So nice to hear of people going out for meals again. Just a little bit of normality is good. I can't wait to drive first to London to stay with DD and then on to Brighton to stay with DS and DGC next week. Most of them have had at least one jab - only my DiL is too young so far. We also have a few rapid flow tests in house as you cannot be too careful.

I hope Cherry is feeling less fuggy and more Tiggery and the Panaches are coping.
Have a great day every one.

Kaimoana DH has a pile of tablets to take every day and occasionally one gets stuck in his throat. A slice of dry bread usually works to shift it. Don’t let me loose with a soldering iron. I’d be lethal.
Grammaretto which holiday is the one you are going on in June? I bet you are looking forward to it.
Is there no end to your talent. Stained glass windows too.
My DIL’s BIL (?) has his own workshop and works on stained glass windows and mosaics. Very talented chap.
Mamissimo I hope it’s a nice weekend. My son has a new BBQ, only used it once so far I think. He does all the cooking usually so hopefully will not cremate the sausages and steaks.
Nice for your DD to live by the sea. Calming I would imagine.
Fingers crossed all is going well.
We like Oxfordshire too. Lovely place to visit. When are you going?
Our painting days are over now. DHs tremor means paint would go everywhere and my wrists aren’t strong enough to hold the brush for any length of time which are our excuses to get someone in when needed.?
dragonfly I hope MrD is a good boy out on his walkies. Does he get a treat when you get home if he behaves ?
Hope your visits to family go well next week. I bet you can’t wait to see them.

Well after the delight of a meal out yesterday, I am off to the dentist this afternoon for crown preparation (you were right Kaimoana I am very regal ?)
Not looking forward to it but have ordered some cakes from the local bakery to have after.
Cherry Panache hope things are ok for you both.
Have a good day all