The Lockdown Gang - Just chatting ⭐️

Missedout I hate housework too. I can always find something more interesting to do.
Your comment about plants standing up reminds me that when tiny, my son told his grandad that his “fowlies (flowers) had fainted” (his daffodils had drooped over). Made us laugh and we have never forgotten it.
Talking of narrow boats, how is your hand now?
Hope you are able to relax on your trip and enjoy it. I think we all need to learn how to live again and get out but I agree it takes some adjusting to.
I hope your antibody results are good and you get to see family soon.
Triumph Heralds were obviously very popular. We loved ours.
The Dude is doing well. Thank you for mentioning him.
Nfk lovely to hear from you. What a lovely trip. We have been there too. Dorset is a favourite place for us to visit.
I would love to see the sea again. DH is suggesting a trip to the coast in a couple of weeks which we are really looking forward to. I hope your boat is nice and dry on the inside. We used to have boats sometimes they got musty inside from the cold winter. One year the cover got damaged and we had a paddling pool inside when we finally got it back in the water.
Grammaretto that’s an idea for my new yoga mat. Instead of my exercises I can just lay on it and dream of Lulworth Cove. ?
How lovely your children have invited you to go on holiday with them. Whether or not you take up the invitation, it’s nice to be asked. Had you had any thoughts about going away?
Jan it’s lovely on the water when the sun is shining but as you say, not so much when raining. I have fond (!) memories of being dressed up in rain gear and standing outside the boat covers going through the locks whilst DH and sons stayed inside in the dry. At least on our area of the Thames the locks are powered so don’t have to be operated manually.
Like you, we are looking forward to spreading our wings a bit soon. Over the next few weeks I have hair appointment (first in 12 months) dentist (first since 2017 ?) optician (18 months). Also, hopefully a meet up with DHs brother and SIL. 2 good friends and later on a meal with our sons and their families.
Seems strange to have so much in the diary after so many blank pages.
Yorkshire sounds lovely. I bet you can’t wait. Take some pictures for us so we can enjoy the scenery with you ?
Time to get the washing on. Back later. Have a good day all.

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Hi. Missedout Envy your narrowboat although the locks look really hard work to me! Also think it’s possibly the sort of holiday you enjoy as long as the weather is good! Not sure about that sort of holiday in the pouring rain! We’ve done a few river cruises and have loved them but have been lucky and had glorious sunshine. A friend of mine did one in Italy on my recommendation and the river flooded with trees sailing down the river and they had to finish the trip by coach! Ooops!
Nfk it’s the wind that’s ruining the weather in our county isn’t it? We’ve had lovely sunshine and have sat outside at cafes with friends for coffee but at times it’s been soooo cold.
We are off to Yorkshire in just under 4 weeks time. As the pubs open inside on May 17 we will be eating in several! We have both had 2 jabs and will stick to whatever the rules will be. Covid has already taken around 18 months of our lives and we’re not prepared to spend whatever time we have left hiding. Maybe we’re being foolhardy but we don’t think so and in fact my GP has several times warned me that in my case being shut in and isolated is not good for my mental health. I went through a very bad patch last year and now need medication and the help of my wonderful GP to keep going.
So upwards and onwards folk! Stick to the rules get your jabs and live! Here endeth the first lesson!

NfkD that's so lovely to hear your cheerful self.
You have painted such a nice picture of your travels. I shall lie back on my yoga mat this morning and imagine I am with you. Maybe not the boat though as I would be seasick. Not the wind either. Ah well - just wait and see what happens.

Both DD and DS3 have invited me to join them on their family holidays in June and July. I am really touched but slightly anxious all the same. I always had DH before to be my constant friend cushion any blows and see the funny side of family upsets fights.

Good luck to Missedout too. You must promise us you will be very careful this time when negotiating locks and avoid accidents!

Morning All. We've been away in the Camperbubble. Four nights at Brockenhurst and then three in Dorset near Wareham. It should have been four nights near Wareham but it was sooooo windy we gave up on the idea of our planned day bird watching and headed back home. We walked up and over the mountain between Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door on Saturday so I was blistered of foot and we were both stiff, unaccustomed as we are to walking up mountains. Sitting in the sun wasn't an option with the cold wind so we came home. Wall to wall sunshine the whole time though and so much warmer than Norfolk we were so very lucky. It was wonderful to just be somewhere else!

I've just spent the last half hour or so catching up on all the chat - I came straight to the Lockdown thread instead of getting side-tracked by others. (Always a mistake!) And now DH has appeared and announced that he's ready -we're now off to take all the seating, bedding and 'stuff' back to our little boat. Apparently she's back in the water and ready to go. So I'll pop back later. Promise!

Hello Lobstars, I'm just checking in again because I haven't posted lately. I read your posts every day but have really very little of interest to tell you.

DH and I tackled the housework last week. I think you all know by now just how much I hate doing it. However, I couldn't stand the dust anymore. Jan, I'm so envious of you and your cleaner. When the family were teenagers and I was working, we had a cleaner for years. I never cleaned around beforehand but the DC were under threat of serious harm if they left dirty clothes around (or just dropped them near or on the laundry bin instead of inside it). Now I can't find a cleaner. I just don't know where to start.

Our gardener is really good though. We have a new bed with a clever selection of plants. They have all survived the trauma of being planted out and are already standing up.

DH and I will be on the narrowboat again soon. I have mixed feelings. The last 2 trips out have not been uneventful and I have lost confidence. We will be away for longer than usual and meal planning/shopping is a headache if we are to continue to keep away from shops and pubs.

We have had a single outing recently, a short run in the vintage car to an outdoor cafe, meeting up with a few others. It was very pleasant but I suddenly felt very tired - it was all too much. I need some practice!

Apart from Easter Sunday, I have only seen the family on video or spoken to them by phone since. I feel a bit despondent. I should get my Covid test kit soon (it will tell me if I have any antibodies, and if I have, how good my response is). I will get results by the end of this week.

I hope Panache manages some peaceful moments with her DH.

Mamissimo, I have my fingers crossed for your DD2.

My first car was a Triumph Herald too.

Cherry, I hope your neighbour gets more help. I wish you were my kind neighbour. We hardly see anyone here. I only recently found out that our neighbour on the opposite side of the road died a couple of weeks ago. We used to wave to one another on 'clap for the NHS' Thursdays and promised ourselves a street party when this is all over.

My food delivery on Saturday was two cream eclairs short of a full set! I sulked for ages.

As ever Doodle, thank you for supporting us all so well. Please give my regards to 'The Dude'.

As long as it was a surprise and not a shock! Mamissimo. You seem very capable so will have managed well I imagine.

Sorry about the disappointing clothes shopping Doodle but pleased about the eclairs.

Grammaretto I have twins ? it was a bit of a surprise.....

Grammaretto I had a bad reaction from the first jab. Not much from the second. DH fine both times. We had the AZ. Our jabber (or jagger as you would say) told me we were unlikely to get a reaction with the second one so I’m hoping you will be ok.
It is just coming up to dusk here and it is so quiet I can hear the birds having their nighttime chat out the window. They’ve obviously had a full on day as they have a lot to chat about.
Jeeves is on hand with hot toddy. Hope the zoom goes well.

Grammaretto sorry. Yes I did mean lovely and not overly! Should read things properly before I post!
The nurse told me exactly the same but I didn’t have any reaction either time. Sure you’ll be fine

Hello again Lobstars,
I must have saved a fortune not sitting in cafes drinking coffee and eating cake. I suppose we are allowed to now.
The jab was OK except the nurse told me I was likely to get a bad reaction this time since I didn't the first time. I hope she's wrong but I wish she had not suggested it. I can imagine I feel awful and made it an excuse to call off a zoom meeting tonight. thankfully Chocolate is the cure I think. Not paracetamol & water anyway.

Good wishes to your DD, Mamissimo.
Maybe Jan was right to say overly when she meant lovely. An overly pregnancy will mean twins.
I always thought I wanted twins.

I have been on a journey down memory lane looking at old photos. Trying to find a nice portrait of DH which I have been asked for. He didn't pose for photos and most of the ones I have come across are him making faces at the DGC.

I learned to drive in a Triumph Herald. It could turn on a sixpence. I never understood a 3 point turn because it always turned in one.
Very cold today unless I have the fever I was warned about.
May need a hot toddy Jeeves.

dragonfly, I’m with Dexter, offer me a piece of cheese and I’d do anything ?
Kaimoana I do the same. I put post it notes on the front door so I can’t forget anything.
Ooh I think your yoga teacher better find another name for her exercise ?. I agree with you about both housework and sea air.
I was interested today to hear the Dean say he and Fletcher were starting a new wild flower walled garden. Every Monday the service will be held in the garden so we can see how it is coming along. I look forward to that.
Grammaretto hope your second jag went well and you are back home safely.
Mamissimo my DH resembles a building site some nights too. My you’ve got a busy week planned.
I often think about your DD and wonder how she’s getting on. I don’t like to ask as it’s such a personal thing but I’m pleased to hear things are proceeding. I will certainly remember her in my prayers. Hope all goes well for them.
Jan DH and I are bruisers too ?. Neither of us can remember what we’ve done to cause such bruising.
A nice chat with friends over a glass of wine sounds lovely.
How funny, we too had a Triumph Herald 13/60 bought in 1969. Lovely police car blue with white bumpers. We thought it was so flash. ?
Been to M&S today to take back most of the clothes I bought online. DH thinks it was just an excuse to go and buy some chocolate eclairs. M&S make the best ones I have tasted. ?
DH said he was feeling a bit discombobulated today. He is fine health wise but forgot his mask when we went out. Considering the variety of powerful medication he takes on a daily basis, I’m surprised he can think straight at all.
panache thinks of you and hoping things are ok.
You too Cherry.

Morning! You do all make me laugh especially Doodle and Kiamoana*. Mamissimo your poor DD2 and possibly your SiL who must be suffering too but hopefully at the end of the treatment there will be a ,overly baby.
Cherry hope you’re getting some peaceful nights - and days. You sound accident prone like me. I’m always bumping into things and producing enormous bruises! Trouble is I an never remember how I did them!
Off to meet up with some friends this afternoon. There will be a lot of chat and leg pulling plus of course the odd glass of wine!
DH has started playing bowls again which I’m pleased about. Apparently there are all sorts of Covid rules now and I for one will be pleased when May17 gets here and things go hopefully back to normal. Have sat outside at various tea rooms having coffee with friends and although it’s been lovely and sunny the wind on our coast has been so cold. Think it’s even worse today.
Doodle remember seeing an old Triumph Herald floating down Oulton Broad. Looks so funny. A Triump Herald was the first car we had so many many years ago!
Well better start doing something. Am I the only person who doesn’t clean before the cleaner?! She will be head on Weds and love it went everything is neat and tidy and smelling fresh! Doesn’t last long though!
Have a good day All

Good morning ?
Awake early because Mr M was making sounds like a building site and thought I'd check to see what we've got on this week. For so long there's been nothing on that it's a bit of a shock to find every day has something pencilled in. I'm a great pencil in-er because I'm chaotically organised.

So this week we have a trip to the charity shop again, a medical appointment, a walk at the beach with friends, a short play date with our DGD which with travel takes a whole afternoon, Mr M needs to get his sharps bin changed, the electricity meter needs reading, my sister turns 60 and her card needs sorting urgently, and I need to do the laundry, the food order.......and plant THE BEANS.

When we were fully locked down life was so beautifully simple. I didn't need to clean up for the cleaner, we didn't need to go to the garage, the charity shop or the beach....I ordered everything on line and we were surprisingly content!

I was struck anew how powerful hormones are yesterday......DD2 has completed stage one of the IVF....tablets for ten days, two days off and today she will have a period. I spoke to her yesterday at 10 am to see if she was ok and she was her normal sunny self.....I needed to check something with her at 5.pm. She snarled "Yes?" when she answered the phone. I asked my question about whether she needed me to dog sit at all in the next few weeks and my head was bitten off, closely followed by DSiL's head for not anticipating every which and whim, her dogs for needing a walk, her sister's for being on a self catering weekend break, the government for something or other......and the local Co-Op for not having any basil........?

This week she starts the egg production injections......and we will wear hard hats and body armour when we speak to her. Please ask your gods to be kind to her and us! .

Love to Panache and Mr P and all bods

Hello Gang,
Lovely to hear from some of you. I trust the others are too busy to write apart from Panache who doesn't need to at present.
Note to Cherry:
Reasons why I avoid housework:
I could hit my head and be out for the count and no-one would find me.
If I climbed a ladder I could fall off. If I lifted something heavy I could damage my back. The list goes on.

I'll check in when I get back from the hospital (2nd jag)
I believe shops and cafes are opening again today in Scotland so I had better leave extra time to get through the traffic.

Dear Doodle your posts are perfect to read when one wishes to start the day cheerfully smiling. You are marvellous

I would certainly forget a mantra - and have - so I rely on big notes and Blu-tak.

Karen sometimes pops a bit of shopping in my fridge, “Don’t let me forget.” She’ll say. Some hopes, we don’t have a working memory between us. So up goes a note on the security door. Can’t leave the house without seeing it!


Before lockdown, I used to go to Fat Yoga, unsurprisingly run by a very thin, young lass who once told us to get on our hands and knees as we were going to do some Downward Dogging – collapse of stout parties. (except me who didn't know why everyone was hysterical)

♬ Driving down the river ♪ ♫on a Sunday afternoon ♩

Dragonfly Yes indeed, BBQs are very popular on Anzac Day, very much a family day; young people in their thousands attend the services.

26th January is Australia Day, 30th January is Auckland Anniversary Day and of course my birthday - so plenty of causes to get together.

Glad to see you posting and hope things are a little smoother for you. You’ve ben on my mind

Oh Cherry another bump to plague you. Please be careful.
I am extraordinarily impressed by your determination; as if you didn’t have enough to contend with healthwise, you go into battle for someone else – and stick to it until you get results. Most people would have given up long ago. As Doodle says, Tiggers are wonderful things….

I know what you mean about expecting the body to react as it always has up to now I’m just the same.

Like Doodle I was hoping for treasure in the box.

Mamissimo is quiet at the moment, I miss her erudite posts. Hope all is well.

And our absent Gangstars – take care, wherever you are and drop by for some of Jeeves’ special hot chocolate whenever you can. Thinking of you all.

A very busy, domestic weekend for me and I loathe housework, always have - and this is my least favourite job.
Took down the mosquito screen from my bedroom window and washed off the bush debris of the previous 9 months. (what an exciting life I lead )
Window stays mostly closed now until September-ish when summer begins again.

The screen is old so has to be duct-taped in place and that stuff looked like fly paper – yuk, glad of my disposable gloves.

Still temperate enough to sleep with my front door open though can’t do without my fresh air.

And sea air. There is something about standing by the sea and inhaling all that loveliness, that seems to imbue the whole body with happiness.

Love to all ♥ ♥ ♥

Hi Doodle yes we have Dexter, he is so stubborn. Have just had to tempt him with cheese to get him in!
What an interesting river you have!

Hope your neighbour is quiet tonight Cherry and your head is not still suffering.

Sleep tight everyone, I am off to read my book!

Grammaretto the item DH bought cost over £60. It was a small type of USB. The parcel from Amazon was intact but the package inside looked tampered with.
My new mat is very thick but I was amazed how long it is. I have never seen a yoga mat before but this is well over 7’ long.
Hope your second vaccination goes well.
Hello Dragonfly have you got Dexter yet?
Cherry my neighbour diagonally opposite to us lives the other side of the building. Whatever passes one of us on the river passes the other a minute or so later. We often text each other and say look out somethings coming.
It is an interesting place to live. We saw a gorilla swimming past once. I assume there was a man inside ?
Oh your poor head.

The wonderful thing about Tiggers
is Tiggers are wonderful things
their tops are made out of rubber
...........but that doesn’t mean you should drop shower seats on them ?

You’ve had a busy day so I hope your neighbour settles down and you have a quiet night.
I was hoping your hidden box contained some lost treasure ?
Sleep well all and Panache I hope you do too.

That's a real shame Kaimoana. Transport issue I'm guessing ?. Like Doodle said perhaps you can or have managed to find something online and join(ed) in that way.
Grammaretto, neither jumping or bouncing, I was Tiggering ?. Just my usual not paying attention, being clumsy, doing things (or trying to) at the speed my mind works and my body doesn't ?. I banged my head earlier today too ?. I was cleaning the shower and the shower seat fell down and hit me on my head ?. Only me turns away shaking head !
I think Doodle's verse is a good little rhyme that could do the job of a mantra Grammaretto.
Sounds like the yoga mat will be fine Doodle. You're not having much luck with trousers though are you, that's another pair you have to send back isn't it. So annoying! More annoying - how on earth can a sealed package be empty ?. Disgraceful. Glad it's sorted now.
Weird things keep happening on that bit of river by you, an unmanned boat escapes and makes its way down the river and now cars are driving down the river ?. Interesting place you live ?

The ivy is hacked pruned. Hurrah! I didn't finish it though my WP did. Between us we have filled four garden waste bags with the stuff ?. Between us we've uncovered a small box we'd forgotten we had ?. It was full of weeds ?. Now we've got a space where we can plant something else ?. It's a semi shaded spot now rather than virtual darkness. Any ideas Mamissimo?
My neighbour has been quiet for a the last couple of days, thank goodness but ... we can hear her starting to rant again this evening ?. At least now I have the crisis number and the number of that nurse (if she's on duty). We'll see whether she settles again or not .... One thing's for sure, I'm not sitting on my hands even if all the services out there are trying to!

Kaimoana my SiL always has a barbecue for Anzac Day. He also has one at the end of January is that Australia Day?

Thank you very much for my mantra Doodle. I am reciting it already.
How extraordinary to watch cars sailing down the river. It must never be dull for you both.

I'm glad Amazon made good the order. My DS bought a gadget on line which didn't work. The company kept making suggestions for how to get it to work. Eventually, DS wrote to them just saying. Please send a replacement which works. They did.

I am getting excited about my 2nd vaccine tomorrow.

I very much hope that the Panaches are at last getting some proper support and understanding.

Kaimoana shame you couldn’t get to the service. Can you pick up anything on your computer?
Grammaretto my new mat has arrived, it is very thick and should protect my spine. New trousers arrived but not a successful purchase. DH ordered a gadget online from Amazon. It arrived in a sealed package but the box inside was empty. It was a costly small special type of usb. Fortunately Amazon have sent another today and that is fine.
Last night while sitting in my chair I saw a car sail down stream on the river. I had scarcely spluttered Is that a car to DH befor another came followed by another and about 4 more. Obviously amphibious craft but real cars with wheels. It never ceases to amaze me the things I see from my chair. ?
Oh your poor little Oak trees will have the shivers.

Last thing before you go to bed
A memory rises from your head
Forget ye not, to do your chore
And shut the open greenhouse door ?

Of course, Anzac day. My DC didn't get to the war memorial at dawn this time either.
We can still remember them.

Sorry you hurt your funny bone Cherry . Were you jumping at the time or bouncing?

I put my yoga mat on a thick rug Doodle. When the classes begin again in the school hall, I am going to find it painful.

I left the greenhouse door wide open all night -again!
I need a bedtime mantra. The Birnam oaks are beginning to grow, but there are only 5 tiny trees from a load of acorns

For the first time in several decades, I've not been able to get to an ANZAC Day service and parade.
Makes me sad.