Oh, Panache I keep typing words and then deleting them as I can't find the right ones. 
I was once treated to a posh holiday in the Cotwolds by (some of you may remember him) my Dutch lover.
We walked into the room, it had a glorious view, and as he was saying, 'Where's the bed?'
I was grasping a tasselled rope and asking, 'What's this for?'
Whoosh! Down came the bed and to my shock, almost flattened the poor guy.
When he recovered 2 whiskeys later he said, 'I'm not paying these prices for a damned camp bed!'
And off we went to an old country pub with low ceilings, sloping floors, lots of atmosphere, fine food .....and an oak 4-poster. 
Kaimoana that made me laugh. Being knocked out by a bed wouldn’t have been the best start to a romantic holiday.
I have had a message from our dear Cherry this morning and unfortunately things are a bit difficult for her at the moment so she won’t be posting. I have assured her that whether she posts or not, like all our lockdown gang, she will be in our thoughts and hearts.
Take care all.
Love to Cherry and the Panaches. Really hoping things improve for them.
We have once again been to Norwich for DH treatment but as we weren’t due there till 4 we decided to go further afield towards the Norfolk Broads for lunch. Decided to go to a waterside pub we had been to before. Great - except as we weren’t quite sure which way to go DH put the Satnav on. All great until DH like so many men decides he knows better than the Satnav. Result? We spend ages wandering round pretty Norfolk one track roads! However it was lovely sitting by the river and the food wasn’t bad either!
Kaimoana you are so funny and really give me a giggle! Hope all Lobstars ok and sorry for the long boring post
For goodness sake! Know I’m tired but didn’t mean to send the same photo 3 times! Should have been this one with the Swan family!
It's not boring at all Jan. I love Norfolk - I was at art college in Norwich - and those photos couldn't be lovelier. Country English pubs are the best.
I am sorry to hear you are not great Cherry 
I hope it's a temporary setback.
Such a lovely sunny day today. My DF birthday. He would have been 109. He hardly made it past 40.
Not sunny in NZ. I was sent photos of torrential rain by DS.
That was a rather unfortunate run in with a bed Kaimoana and glad you found the four poster.
There's a bed at nearby Traquair supposedly slept in by Mary Q of Scots. It is very short. Seemingly our ancestors slept sitting up!
Sending love to the Panaches
Oh dear, Doodle, I watched the same film with the same results too 
but a couple of glasses of wine helped. 
Jan16 What is it about some men and maps, or nowadays GPS?
My husband once got us lost for ages in a vast housing estate and wouldn't listen to directions.
Ever afterwards if he suggested 'a little run out' one of us would say, 'that's nice which housing estate are we visiting this time?'
Grammaretto I first heard that ancestors slept sitting up when I visited Bolling Hall (see pics) as a schoolgirl. I thought it was a joke.
York Museum has exhibits of clothing which show even the wealthy, well fed were much smaller than today's strapping folk. I still don't know the truth.
Yes indeed, Queen's Birthday was traditionally wet. Ironic really when it was decided to change the date to summer so people had better weather to celebrate. Didn't the monarchy know it's winter down here?
Nevertheless, I was able to celebrate at a local cafe, where all the staff wore tiaras (even the bearded boys) and a special Queen's Morning Tea was being promoted.
Blueberry muffin, cinnamon scone, Lemon Curd, cream and a hot drink.
It was yummy too. (see pic). The cafe has an overhanging canopy so we sat outside.
Mamissimo you live in an art-house film
As always, my fondest thoughts go to Panache and Cherry, who deserve better days very soon.
I love your stories hilarious life Mamissimo
Either your hair will remain long or your windscreen shattered - which is worse?
I believe the sleeping upright was to do with fear of dying in their sleep, so not much has changed Doodle
I picked a small bunch of lily-of- the- valley, other things and a couple of Welsh poppies for Panache and for Cherry
Nfk I’ve never had reflexology though know others who swear by it. Do you feel it does you good?
I laughed at you running round cleaning up as your DD was coming. It’s usually the other way round. Mums checking up on their daughters. ?
Mamissimo, we can always rely on you for a good laugh.
Oh dear the seagull should know nothing comes between Honey beagle and her chips. ?
Kaimoana. I used to love Tales of the Unexpected when I was young but many of them frightened the life out of me. ?
I went to York museum years ago with my dear SIL. We had a lovely time but got completely lost and wandered round for ages before we found our way out.
Those muffins and scones look delicious.
Grrr Mamissmo ? why do companies do that. What happened in the end, hair or windscreen?
Jan feel free to mention what you like on here. Hospital trips or whatever. I expect it takes a lot out of your day, it’s quite a journey. Ah your DH argues with the sat nav too ?
Hope you had a nice meet up with your friends first.
Grammaretto those are lovely flowers. Are the yellow ones the Welsh Poppies? I’ve not seen those before. Very pretty.
I can’t sleep sitting up, I just slide down the bed till I’m so uncomfortable that I wake up. I’m a side sleeper but in the morning I love a good stretch on my back.
We went for lunch with friends today for the first time in 15 months. Lovely to catch up but now I’ve got a sore throat from talking too much
Panache Cherry much love x
I loved York Museum Doodle and in 1979 took a party of Vietnamese refugee there.
When we came to the mock-up of a 18th-19th century carpenter's workshop, Xai Phun said, 'This is exactly like my own workshop in Vietnam.'
Another man told me he had chosen England as his 'place of refuge' because it was an island and thus he could follow his trade as a fisherman.
In Vietnam, he'd had a small skiff from which he threw a net.
He knew nothing about - and never in his wildest dreams could imagined - the huge commercial trawlers of the UK.
Today's mental health seminar was interesting. Setting boundaries; how to say "no" effectively; building self-esteem and understanding the psychology of why we blame ourselves unnecessarily.
I now need brain food so will make myself fish in parsely sauce for tea.
Hoping everyone is feeling better.
Hello Doodle - what a very moving response from dear Panache. It's probably the worst thing she's ever gone through and my heart aches for them both.
No, it wasn't a counselling session and there were 6 of us. The maximum is 10 but there are only 8 regulars and I'm not one of them.
It was just talking, in general, about self-esteem, what it is, how it's affected by negativity and so on. Not specific to any person there, just generally swapping ideas. Useful.
As usual we ended with food and the vegan facilitator brough freeze-dried pea pods. Do you have them in UK?
They were absolutely delicious and are now on my next shopping list.
harvestsnaps.com
By contrast......
After todays' waiata (singing) kai was also served and I tried brawn. - remember that?
To tell the truth, I couldn't quite see what I was picking up from the buffet but everyone seemed to be jostling enthusiastically to get a piece.
My Mum used to make potted brawn and it was lovely spread on her fresh bread, so lulled into a false sense of security by the name…decided to try.
But Maori brawn is very different.
Should you have the urge to make some: it’s pork, 1/4 meat, a few chopped but semi-raw onions and the rest is big lumps of unsalted pork fat in jelly.
Sounds yummy eh? 
I’ll stick to the freeze-dried pea pods.
Hope you survive the picture
On route to waiata, the sun came up as a fiery golden wash which woke the sky and gilded the still-wet trees. Truly beautiful.
Even back in the days when I ate meat I couldn't face brawn, potted hough a Scottish picnic food made from beef shin and boiled head or anything vaguely resembling tripe or offal.
My jaunt yesterday ended at a food festival in a very windy Edinburgh open space. I chose a vegan flatbread stuffed with tasty roasted veg, with the emphasis on stuffed. It looked like a work of art but the contents were dripping out the bottom as I was trying nibble it from the top. I resorted to picking it out with my fingers and embarrassing my friend who had wisely chosen something more elegant. I needed a bib
The rest of the day was very enjoyable - strolling around the botanics, a gallery and shop.
Your day sounds most interesting altogether Kaimoana. Do we celebrate the Queen's birthday?
I am glad you remembered MrM Mamissimo what a relief and just in time. . Are you pleased with the haircut?
As for the tale of the night camera! I won't bother. I thought you just hung it up outside and could sit inside watching your garden as if on tele. Like on Springwatch.
Today's job is to find and buy paint for the flat. The painter will do the work next week but he rides a motorbike and can't carry paint. First the chiropractor.
I tried reflexology years ago but I was being used for practice for someone learning. I don't think she still does it but I could ask. I think the best bit for me about alternative therapies is having time to talk and have someone work on your ailments who believes in what they are doing and you don't have to wait months for an NHS physio appointment.
I hope you don't still suffer from anxiety attacks Doodle?
Thanks for sharing the lovely letter from Panache
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