The Lockdown Gang - carry on chatting ⭐️

Good morning ?

We had a lovely day yesterday at the garage well I did, Mr M hid behind me and they are now working hard to put their mistake right. Such a shame that they never actually said the 'sorry' word but tried blame us for the fact that when we asked them to check the bonnet catch they checked the boot. My sweet smile came into play......and they didn't sniff the danger. The sweet smile got several outings and grew even sweeter when presenting them with my receipt from them for the service they claimed was never done. It's been a while since I 'inspired' a group of naughty boys to mend their ways but teaching and group management, once learned is never lost ?

I booked places for both DDs to come wreath making with me at the wonderful Watts Gallery and Artists Village. If you don't know it have a look....

www.wattsgallery.org.uk

H beagle is doing well and stole and ate three frozen chicken thighs that I was defrosting......so she's obviously fine with crunchy food!

Someone took 3 courgettes from my road side box.....but I have nine more to add today.......making 15 in the box. I hope there are plenty of ramblers tomorrow as I plan to add some running beans to it. It comes to something when you can't give organic veg away.

My sister rang last night to inform me that she's coming to visit next week for two days. I haven't seen her for nearly three years and don't remember inviting her. I have never worked out how my parents produced my nemesis I'll be pleased to see her for five minutes so I've invited all the ADC to come for a meal at separate mealtimes so that she's not quizzing and goading me all the time she's here. She's the only person on the planet who pushes every bad button on my control board!

I'd like to do some sewing today but laundry beckons yet again and the fridge needs restocking for the weekend....with something other than courgettes!

Jan I didn’t know Theo was a rescue cat. He’s found a lucky home for himself. Hope you get some dry weather on your trip to the Cotswolds. It’s a lovely place to visit.
Grammaretto shame the nice couple didn’t want the flat. I’m sure someone will come along who’s a good choice soon.
What a shock about your friends plumbs. Do you think someone has been in and harvested them because they knew they had gone away? What a cheek.
We don’t have any pets now but have had three dogs in the past (not all at the same time) we now have three granddogs so can always visit if we want a furry friend to play with. So sad when you lose a pet though. That’s a lovely photo. I assume it’s your DDs corgi. Do you think she might get another?
Boadicea your story of your cats is lovely. Poor mummy cat to be so badly treated. We get very attached to our pets because they show such unconditional love.
Kaimoana that’s a lovely gesture for the new mum. I’m sure the baby clothes will be well received and some of your lovely baking. Wow you’ve been busy too. Baking and bed changing.
I hope you get to see your family again soon. You DGS will enjoy his melting moments. ?
Don’t go overdoing it please.

Mamissimo I love the description of your encounter with the garage today and your sweet smile. It reminded me of a Fawlty Towers sketch when Sybil got mad with the builder.
I’ve attached a link
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aaDjSiuKO-o

Nice idea to go with your DDs to the wreath making.
Oops I see that Honey beagle had recovered sufficiently to be back to her usual tricks. Frozen chicken indeed. ?
Perhaps you can send your sister on her way with a boxful or courgettes and beans.
Oh dear, a complicated relationship. Hopefully your children will be able to distract her. Rise above it and keep calm ?
It’s amazing how there is always housework of some kind to be done.
We have had visitors today too. Im quite hoarse tonight as I’ve been talking too much (no surprise there). Having had lunch together I was putting things away in the fridge when I came across the ham and mozzarella which I forgot to take out earlier ?. No prizes as to what we will be eating for the next day or so. I could send some to you Mamissimo I’m sure they’d go well with courgettes ?

Go Mamissimo !
Courgettes are currently $10 a kilo here – can you send some marked “Emergency Supplies”?

Doodle my parents used to like Fawlty Towers but Basil's humiliation painful to watch. Schadenfreude is not my thing at all.

Boadicea No, not knackered just a bit weary but I soon recovered. Not with alas, just a cup of Rooibos.

I was so overwhelmed to be woken by Tui this morning that I
leaped fell out of bed whilst it was still dark and set about making quiche and more shortbread….It seems to be in demand at the moment .
The reason for the joyfulness? I’m not deaf.

Change begins with the person in the mirror, so the knobbly fruit will now be Makrut Limes.

Most days I have a lot of energy and endless nosiness which comes from a life-long craving to know about, and do things.
The Internet was designed for me
I don’t regard being old(er) as a reason to slow down. Unfortunately I’m not immortal, so it’ll have to stop one day - but until then….

Thanks to the lady from Waipareira, 2 big boxes containing many goodies were delivered to my little family this morning.
My Dil rang to say they were a lifesaver as their immediate locality now contains a number of hot-spot Covid cases, making her wary about leaving the house. My DS has to go into the city to work though; I envisage him being doused in sanitiser before he’s allowed through the door.

Our clocks go forward this weekend. Moe time to write

Greetings everyone. I hope that you slept well/enjoyed the day.
Goodness, everyone seems to be so busy and engaged with life!
Kaimoana - how lucky is your little family that you have filled those boxes and the kind lady from Waipareira did the delivery. So hard on the young families with the strictures of lockdown and worry about the hotspots. I do hope that Jacinda got it right, dropping down the level. It would be a disaster if the virus reached Northland, with the poverty and
lack of vaccination among the Tangata whenua. I have to say that the Runanga in Kaeo are doing a sterling job in encouraging the jab among the isolated and the deprived.

The rain appears to have passed, leaving everything sodden - but the water tanks full for the summer drought. The growth is phenomenal, especially the weeds. My tomatoes are romping away - so far I have Beefsteak in, as I love the huge, meaty fruit, which can be roasted. But next will be a row of Grosse Lisse and Moneymaker. Maris Piper potatoes all sprouting like mad, and kumara (sweet potato) about to be planted. I can't believe the clusters of blossom on the citrus - more white than green, the trees are. The previous owners, who built the place, installed a highly sophisticated irrigation system which automatically waters the veges and fruit trees from the rainwater tanks. It also delivers water to the chickens and quail.

I have planted some plumbago in the hot dry areas of the garden. We had some at the previous house, and it is such a well-behaved plant-gorgeous to look at, with its trails of glorious blue clusters, tolerates clay, heat and lack of water. It looks amazing with the copper-leaved orange canna lilies and the palms and bromeliads I've been gifted.

I've just had an Ancestry update! Gone (partly) is the boring British/Scots/Irish combo (sorry...nothing personal), and now I have an exotic mix of Swedish/Danish/Cornish and Welsh, along with the others. DH, Welsh surname, Welsh speaking, always considered himself a boyo from the valleys, now has a huge chunk of Scandi in his ancestry. Suddenly, he's watching "Vikings", building a dragon ship, and recording ancient Norse songs- "the music of my people" !! Honestly. I think you can take it a bit far, no? He also has some Middle Eastern DNA!! Quite fun really.

My two other little strays, little girls, much loved and very, very happy, are waiting for the "Red Thing" (Laser pointer-their favourite plaything) Janey is sitting here beside me, huge eyes fixed on mine, little paw extended imploringly, patting my arm. She would rather have the Red Thing than any amount of food. Strange, for a little stray who was starved almost to death. Even now she has bandy legs from babyhood malnutrition, poor darling.
I have been summoned and must obey.
Have a great day/great sleep everyone.

Hello Gang,

NZ coming into Spring certainly sounds gloriously fruitful Boadicea
I don't understand how a cat could be malnourished when there are mice about but there is lots I don't know.
I can relate to the Ancestry update

I have lost my 2% Welsh and just have a bit more Scots/Irish.
No Viking for me. My sister had hers done and its similar to mine but not identical. Perhaps this is why your sister and you are so different Mamissimo
There's an explanatory video I tried to watch.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUF0Stujq6M

I didn't sleep well. The pully fell down in the kitchen last night with a rumble and a crash bringing a full load of wet washing with it. The rope has broken so I don't know how I am going to fix it manage without it.

Setting up open studios today. We do this each year in our town. It's an opportunity to visit artist's workshops nose around and hopefully spend a lot of money on some --mediocre artwork.

Kaimoana I’m so glad your hearing has come back. Sorry what is Tui? Not some man you’ve forgotten to mention who sneaks in to wake you up in the morning?
You remind me so much of DH. He has endless fascination for different things. He is always looking things up. In the day of real paper newspapers, our place was always littered with cuttings of things he found interesting and wanted to know more about.
Hope your family keep safe. Does your son drive to work or does he have to mingle with others on transport?
Boadicea I watch a daily Church service here from the garden of the Dean at Canterbury Cathedral. I have watched his service almost every day since lockdown began. He was saying the other day that his potato crop had failed miserably although his greens were sprouting well. Hope your potatoes do better.
It sounds as though you have quite a large area given over to fruit and veg. You must be quite self sufficient.
I have never heard of plumbago (you will have gathered by now that I am not a gardener though many in the lockdown gang are). It sounds a beautiful plant.
I watched the Vikings too. A bit bloodthirsty for my taste but I found the background story interesting.
Your cats sound pampered and loved, what more could they ask for. ?
Grammaretto your mention of the pulley, reminded me of my aunt and uncle who lived on the second floor of a house in London. They had a back stairway that led down to a small garden. Hanging from the ceiling in the stairway was a large tin bath that they used to let down by pulley and swing into the kitchen where it was filled with water from the kettle and they had their weekly baths. There was a separate toilet on the ground floor which they shared with the other flat.
Sorry about your washing though.
Are there many artists in your town that have studios? Hope you have a successful day with yours. I seem to remember you doing this before. Hope it goes well
I am tired tonight been chatting on the phone and visiting a friend. What with all the chat yesterday too I am talked out.?
Have a good weekend all.

Doodle I hope you're not talked out, we can't do without you.
Here's what wakes me, along with Chaffinch, Thrush and Grey Warbler, each morning:
www.doc.govt.nz/globalassets/documents/conservation/native-animals/birds/bird-song/tui-song-42.mp3

And the territorial call heard later in the day:

www.doc.govt.nz/globalassets/documents/conservation/native-animals/birds/bird-song/tui-song-50.mp3

And a picture of the far-less-vocal Plumbago, a blue climber I too love. It grew all along the deck when I lived out in the country where I would give almost anything to live again

Yes, B-Jones I was lucky indeed that I got to send goodies to my family.
They were also given a free hygiene pack which contains boxes of disposable gloves, similar in masks, bacterial wipes, soaps, toilet rolls, paper towels and probably protective glasses and a face shield.
Just what my anxious dil needed after reading about her local supermarket being a hot-spot.

Gramaretto THAT's where your Welshness went - it migrated.

Shame you were pulleyed awake. I hope you can repair it; with winter coming you’ll need it.
We used to have one in our living room when I was young. It took the strength of ten to haul it to the ceiling filled with wet laundry.

Yes, Doodle my DS drives to work. You may remember he recently bought a hybrid electric car. It's been a godsend in these straightened times, as everything, petrol included goes up and up.
He's been working from home but this week had to go into the university to rebuild servers.
Not actually an IT Manager's job but waiting for an outsourced technician during Covid would take ages and of course, the servers are needed NOW. So as he knows how to do it - he did it.

I almost fell out of bed this morning. When Mepa makes it, everything is tucked in neatly, me too.
When I do it, sheets and counterpane are just draped, ao this morning there was no holding me!

Hope everyone is doing well.

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202109/medium-3698-plumbago.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202109/medium-565518-tui.jfif

DRAT! forgot the pictures.

I love the sound of the tuis, Kaimoana and BJones also the bellbirds.
I don't know that I ever saw a bellbird but the sound as we tramped through the bush near Rotorua was something I will never forget.
I don't suppose I will ever go again now. DS thinks the earliest they could come here would be the middle or end of next year.

Other son has a hybrid car now Kaimoana he leases it to avoid the hassle of buying and selling as the models change so often.

Oh goodness me Doodle I am picturing the bath on the pully!
Ok I will shut up now about the inconvenience of having nowhere to hang my laundry indoors. Anyway now that the Rayburn is defunct, the kitchen isn't warm enough to dry the clothes overnight. I must hurry up and bully the tradesmen to sort out the cooker.
The plumber has "one man injured and another off sick" The electrician stayed until midnight a week ago , left the smoke alarms and spare wiring on the floor and I've not seen him since.
Meanwhile I have to open the front room to the public today to show off and maybe sell our pottery. It's not just mine. There are 6 of us now.

I never knew plumbago was such a pretty plant! It sounds like lumbago and its common name of leadwort doesn't conjure up anything pleasant either.

I may even have some growing here but I doubt it. It likes warm places.

The last potter hasn't arrived to set out her ware yet. She has to drive her DS to the other end of Britain to start uni today and I can imagine she will be in a rush tearing her hair out
What a lovely thing to do with your DDs Mamissimo
You will need to show us how its done- wreath making as well as how to deal with the garage.

Have a lovely day everyone and rest your voice Doodle

Kaimoana how lovely to wake to birdsong. What a combination of sounds. Some sound like percussion instruments. You should stand on your balcony and conduct them ?
The plumbago is beautiful. I love that shade of blueylilac
Yes I remember now your son bought his new car recently. Glad he doesn’t have to go on transport with others.
No please don’t fall out of bed. DH has done that twice in the last year or so. Last time he damaged his back and was badly bruised.
Grammaretto I agree the birdsong is lovely.
Do you not think you could visit again in the future? Be a shame not to visit a country you love so much especially as you have a son there. Must be hard to live so far apart.
Sorry about your pulley and your Rayburn. Not sure if it’s of any help but living in a flat we don’t have a garden to hang out our washing. I don’t like using the tumble drier so I bought a heated airing frame from Lakeland. We have had it for years. I often don’t have the heating on but just use it to hang the clothes on. DHs shirts dry overnight and anything that needs more drying I plug it in for an hour or so and that usually dries things off well. It folds up quite flat and gets put in a cupboard when I’m not using it.
What is it with workmen these days. Leaving a job half done.
I was going to ask you how your open day went. Was your studio open too?
Do the other 5 use your studio to do their pottery? Any buyers or commissions?
Mamissimo hope you are resting after sorting out the garage yesterday.
Warm and overcast here today. Been for a nice walk.
DH and I have both bought some packable waterproof jackets and a light rucksack. We got fed up being caught in rain showers when wearing light jackets or sweltering in the sunshine when we’d gone out prepared for rain.
Very pleased with the new jackets. Mine is pale lilac and DH bought a nice bright blue.
We have been eating a strange combination of things due to emptying the freezer. We must have chips tonight and tomorrow as I had a large bag in the freezer. What a shame
Have a good weekend all.

www.lakeland.co.uk/21736/Dry%3ASoon-3-Tier-Heated-Airer
My heated dryer

Mornin' all,

Up in the dark dark this morning, (it's normally the light dark) owing to the onset of daylight saving. Chickens don't seem to have realised the change in routine, as they would normally be clamouring for breakfast about now, and there's not a peep. Silly me, I lit the fire because it was just a little chilly, and now the sun is coming up and it's beginning to warm up so I have to put on shorts. At least I boiled a kettleful of water for tea on the hob while the fire was burning. Not sure whether it's wishful thinking, but water boiled on the fire tastes so much better than the stuff from the electric kettle - is there any scientific basis for such an observation, I wonder?

You have all been very busy over the last few days! Grammaretto - what a frightening experience to have things that go bump in the night! And what a disaster when you're trying to get things dry. I hope it works out for you.
Little Janey was abandoned before she had a clue about hunting mice-she was also too malnourished to have the energy to hunt, apart from moths and insects. Hence the bandy little legs. Now of course, as the Princess, she doesn't have to bother her pretty little head about any of the boring stuff, with staff on hand to cater to her every whim. Nice work if you can get it.
How did the art business go? All done and dusted now? What a palaver for you!
Yes, the bellbirds and tuis, and if you are really lucky, the kokako in the bush near Rotorua are stunning. How wonderful that you went tramping there! My eldest was a crazy ornithologist-wannabe as a kid, and we used to have to spend every weekend going on bush expeditions to hear the kokako. His goal was to single-handedly save the kakapo! Instead, he's a teacher. Years ago, when my kids were all still at school, we canoed down the Whanganui river - 4 days of total isolation from the world in the mountains and canyons - totally awesome - and the dawn birdsong was beyond belief. The bellbirds especially were stupendous.
Mamissimo - I'm in awe of your ability to sort out the garage men. Well done, you! Do you give private lessons? And I can totally relate to your trepidation re the visiting sibling...
Kaimoana - thanks for the lovely images. Can't wait for my plumbago to start blooming. Thing is, once they start, they go on for months and months, don't they? Almost continuous, year-round flowering. I hope you are keeping safe there, along with your little family. I have no idea when I'll be able to get down to Palmie to visit mine. Once i have the cortisone shot in my shoulder, (on Tuesday) I'll be raring to go...it's 900 km from here to there-just too far to drive for me at the moment, to say nothing of the roadblocks.
Oh...the sound of chickens. Breakfast is served, mesdames - just one minute.
Bye all-have a great day/night.

Well, this ancestry stuff is great! Just heard from a distant cousin in Brighton - we are related through our common gt grandmothers! AND - we are both gt gt gt nephew/niece of Thomas Hardy! Yes! He of Tess fame-one of my heroes of English Lit! I'm all aflutter! Up till now, my only famous relative is Keith Urban (cousin) and Nicole Kidman (missus of cousin). I think Nicole is a terrible actress, but don't tell her.

Morning All

All the Ancestry chat has had me back onto my site to find hundreds of 'Hints' in the form of leaves across the board. I love looking at the Census forms filled in a hundred or so years ago and the wedding certificates with crosses and 'Her Mark' written beside. Interesting that it's usually the woman who puts a cross while the man has a laboured painstakingly practiced signature. It brings it all alive. I'm mostly, well, entirely north west European. That's to say Saxon and a lot of Scandinavian/Norman from when they invaded. East Anglian through and through going way back. Boring really, no famous ancestors like you Boadicea. Or famous relatives either. In fact the workhouse is mentioned on the odd occasion and my great great grandfather deceased in the local lunatic asylum at only 35. I suspect that, as most of that part of the family seem to be connected with horses, he may have been kicked in the head. I like to think so rather than anything which may prove hereditary!

Love all the chat about NZ too. Its a very long while since our two month tour of the islands and it's lovely to remember back. I can hear bell birds in my head. I used to follow a Facebook page Save the Kakapo, but haven't seen anything from them for ages. I shall have to look them up.

I'm feeling ever so slightly full and uncomfortable still this morning. We had an Afternoon Tea at the Maids Head in Norwich yesterday which was delicious. A treat for DGS's birthday. And then an Indian Takeaway with friends last evening to help celebrate their wedding anniversary! I'm not going near the scales for a day or two - there's still a couple of scones and rather wonderful cake type creations in a doggy bag in the fridge!

I hope the Open Studios is going well Grammaretto. There's a lady near here who's showing off her silver jewellery work. But I daren't go and see it. Its quite expensive and very lovely, and I don't need any more jewellery, really I don't!

No more GNing for now. The ironing calls! Have a good day everyone.

Boadicea you describe your early start to the day so well. I could just picture you lighting your fire and making your tea.
So apart from all that fruit and veg growing you have chickens too, do you have any other animals?
Princess Janey sounds much loved and cosseted. Does she have a velvet cushion to sleep on?
Your canoe trip with your family must have been a wonderful experience,
Palmie, is that where all your family are? Quite a journey to get to them.
Well we didn’t realise we were in the presence of such an important person. Not only a relative of Keith Urban but Thomas Hardy. That is impressive. ?
Nfk your grandfather could have been perfectly fine. People were committed to the asylum for all sorts of weird reasons that wouldn’t occur today. Interesting history though.
Oh what a lovely day you must have had yesterday. Firstly celebrating with your DGS and then a meal with friends.
Scones too ?. My DH loves scones with lots of jam and cream.
Been a frustrating day sewing again today. I have decided to concentrate on another pair of trousers and have cut them out ready for sewing. Now as long as I don’t get the legs muddled up, I should be ok.
Hope the men can replace the FF on Tuesday. DH and I tried to shift it and it wouldn’t budge an inch.
Hope everyone had a good weekend.

Good afternoon Gang-Stars, from Missy the Moll and me.

It’s my sister’s birthday today, though sadly she died in 2003. We have put a bottle of fizz in the fridge and will raise a glass in her memory, this evening.
I have sent a nice bottle of Barolo to my nephew, so that he can do the same.
Mammissimo the Watts Gallery looks lovely. The wreath making day sounds equally lovely.
Oh, Honey Beagle ... you are a scamp (and obviously frozen food holds no fear for your teeth!).
Kaimoana so pleased to learn that you woke up with your hearing present. What a relief.
Your DS and DiL must have been delighted to receive your emergency boxes.
I love the plumbago, too ... indeed any blue flowers. Blue is my favourite colour.
BoadiceaJ your garden sounds lovely. Do let us see some photographs, if you have time.
What an august family tree you have ... how thrilling.
Lovely to hear about your cats.
We have three cats, Missy, Minnie and Ollie. The girls were rehomed from a rescue centre and Ollie arrived in our garden as a stray 2 years ago and is now a valued family member.
My partner named him Oliver, because when he first came here, he would just eat and eat and eat. So he was definitely an Oliver Twist type ‘please sir, I want some more’.
Grammaretto, how did the Open Studio go? Well, I hope.
Your talk of pulleys reminded me of the one we had in the kitchen, when I was a child. We had a range fireplace, with an oven heated by the coal fire and the pulley hung above the fireplace. We also had an electric cooker but my mother loved the ‘coal oven’ and did significant amounts of roasting, braising and baking in it.
Doodle, tired out from too much chatting? Is that physically possible?
We watched the Vikings too, though it was blood thirsty. Having been to Norway makes it more interesting I think, don’t you?
We have the same heated clothes airer as yours, from Lakeland and it’s so useful. It’s a bit too big for our tiny utility room, so we have to erect it in the kitchen. I am now beginning to crave Grammaretto’s pulley.
Nfk it’s sad to reflect on how hard our ancestors lives must have been, to end their days in the workhouse... and your poor great, great grandfather dying at 35, in an asylum. How tragic.
I see there is a film being released starring Benedict Cumberbatch about the life of the illustrator, Louis Wain, who also ended his days in an asylum. www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzDr_tbL-es
I enjoy so many ofLouis Wain’s paintings of cats.

Well Gang I must do my exercise bike session.
Good wishes to Cherry, Missedout, Jan and Panache and to all of you, from Missy and me ???

Hello lovely gang,

I have read about your doings and now about your ancestors and eminent relations!
I have lately (through Ancestry) discovered that my aunt died in an asylum in India in 1944. That must have been awful but perhaps no worse than anywhere else. I hope she wasn't alone. I have a photo of her somewhere. She was beautiful.

The first weekend of open studios went very well. The weather was perfect which helped and we had a steady stream of visitors who mostly bought something.

Thanks Doodle for the link to the clothes drier. I may invest in one because now there's no heat underneath, clothes on the pulley take much longer to dry.
It's lashing with rain here now.

Nortsat what a nice way to remember your sister. You must miss her.
We had a pulley in our kitchen when I was young too. Funny how you forget about things until someone mentioned them and it triggers the memory.
Yes it is possible to be tired from too much chatting if you overdo it. Haven’t seen my SIL for ages so a lot to catch up on.?
I loved Vikings. I started watching it twice but thought it was too bloodthirsty but then I got hooked on the story and enjoyed it. The scenery is beautiful.
We have a washing machine/tumble drier but I seldom use the drier bit. It takes such a long time to dry things I only really use it to fluff up towels. Our little airer suits us us well
On yer bike I could say …..where are you heading this time? ?
Grammaretto so pleased your open day went well. It sounds as though there are more planned. Good thing people were interested in buying too.
Tomorrow is new fridge day and DH and I have to be up at the crack of Dawn as we don’t know when it’s coming. Anytime from 7am to 5pm. I think we have done quite well in not wasting food and I have two pieces of chicken which were in the freezer which are now in the cold box with some ice blocks. I’m hoping that they will still be ok to cook tomorrow. Apart from that and one small packet of veg, the freezer is empty. I am just hoping they can get it out. DH and I tried to shift it so I could clean behind it but we couldn’t move it at all.
Hope all the gang are ok. Take care all

Hi All. We are on holiday for a week in the Cotswolds. Just wrote you all a long - and probably boring missive - but as WiFi is so dodgy here I lost the b…..y lot!! Will do it all again when we’re home!

Morning all,

Up at light dark this morning, because the moon was shining on my face and the two little princesses had begun their playtime, after sleeping on me all night. I'm all excited because I'm off to get the cortisone shot in my shoulder, after waiting through lockdown and months before, to get it. Hopefully, at last a decent night's sleep tonight.
Living in paradise has its drawbacks, as it's a drive of 90 minutes to get to the city hospital.

nfk What a tragic story about your gt gt grandfather, dying so young in an asylum. Mental health was so misunderstood back then, when you think about the number of women who were consigned to an asylum for PND, menstrual and menopausal difficulties, the sheer frustration of a wasted and pointless existence. My gt grandmother was born in the workhouse in Lincolnshire, but her family managed to emigrate to NZ in the 1860s. It was a lucky break, I'm thinking. Though she did have to suffer through a marriage to my gt grandfather...a right bastard and remittance man. Right bastards seem to proliferate back then - my gt grandfather on the other (maternal) side was a murderer. Thought I'd just drop that in.
You seem to have had some lovely outings. I'm trying to remember where the Maid's Head is...is it close to John Lewis? I used to so enjoy going down to Norwich for shopping trips and history tours.
I was quite bemused on entering my Norfolk classroom for the first time, to be confronted with a class of lookalikes-all blond/blue-eyed/apple-cheeked Anglo-Saxons, and all named Willy, Tilly, Milly...you get the picture. There's certainly a very strong East Anglian "type" , and no, I'm not referring to "NFN"!

Grammaretto - what a terrible story about your poor aunt, dying in an asylum. Was she born in India? How old was she? The Open Studio sounds like fun, and a great success, even if it was just to enjoy the lovely weather and meet new people. The bonus being to see people buying things!

Nortsat - lovely to hear about your cats. I love hearing about happy endings for rescues and strays. We used to have an Ollie, too, named for the same reason! He was a starving little ginger kitten who ate anything and everything, including cabbages on the kitchen bench. I don't know how he did it, but he used to eat them from the inside out, so they looked perfect on the outside, but hollow on the in! He was the most loving, adorable of cats, and we were heartbroken when he disappeared. We suspect that he was murdered by the grumpy old man next door, who hated animals. My 12-year old printed 100+ flyers with Ollie's photo, out of his own money, and rode his bike around the neighbourhood to distribute them, offering all his savings as a reward. To no avail, sadly.

Anyway, this is not getting chickens and quail fed, and everything sorted for our drive south.
Take care, everyone, keep warm and safe.
x

Hello Gang-stars,

How are our absentees?

All this talk of Norfolk takes me back to my young days. I was at the art school in Norwich for a year. I loved it, not just being an art student but it was my first time living away from home. Norwich was famous for having a Medieval church for every week of the year and a pub for every night.
norwichmedievalchurches.org/
www.norwich-pubs-breweries.co.uk/norwich_pubs_past/norwich_pubs_past.shtm
Later I found ancestors from Norfolk - Loddon, Hales, Berghapton around those parts. One of my 3 x gt uncles was transported from Nfk to Van Diemen's Land for some paltry crime. But oddly I have no English DNA according to Ancestry and there's nobody left to ask.

The poor aunt who died aged about 35 in the "Lunatic asylum" would nowadays have been diagnosed with schizophrenia though she died from TB.

The family had escaped to India from Burma when the Japanese invaded in 1942. Several missing years but there is a small death announcement in an Indian newspaper when I typed her name saying she died in the European hospital at Kanke, which when googled turns out to be the psychiatric hospital - set up in 1918 for people suffering from "Shell shock" after the war.

Some Edinburgh friends are coming walking with me today and may help revive my pulley.
I have put out another plea to the plumber and the electrician to finish the jobs but get no reply.

FF arriving today Doodle I worry about your ex frozen chicken. Salmonella food poisoning just chuck it out.

That is a lovely way to remember your sister Nortsat
I hope you enjoyed your evening.

Hi Jan nice of you to think of us. Sorry you’ve lost your post, just relax and have a good time. We look forward to hearing all about it when you get back. Hope the weather is good for you.
Boadicea sorry you have had such trouble with your shoulder. My DIL has had similar problems in the past and also had cortisone injections. Hope it helps and you get a good nights sleep tonight.
Wow a murderer in the family. I expect that happens more than people realise. Your family history is very interesting.
That’s a funny tale about your Oscar eating cabbages. Not a normal cat food I would think.
Hope all your animals are doing ok and your injection helps your shoulder.
Grammaretto having heard from my DGD I gather she is enjoying being away from home and out and about with friends. Norwich seems to be a popular spot for many. Funny enough, DH was reading an article in the travel section of the newspaper which talked about East Anglia and the surrounding area. DH wants to do a long road trip (long by our standards) including Cambridge and Norwich and the coast.
From what you say I would like Norwich as I love churches and pubs. ?
Schizophrenia would have been something your aunt could have been helped with these days. I was reading recently about support therapy dogs. One of the people interviewed suffered from schizophrenia and said how if he saw things or heard things he would look at his dogs and if they were calm he knew what he was seeing and hearing was in his mind. His two dogs help him to live independently and cope with life,
What an interesting story to have traced back.
Ooh Grammaretto we may be doomed. We ate the chicken. ?. I must admit I was in two minds but it was still in the process of defrosting last night . I cocked in in the oven in a casserole for 40 minutes and tested it with my thermometer to make sure it was cooked through. If you don’t hear from me tomorrow……….. ?
The new FF arrived early this morning. There were several minutes when I thought they would a) not be able to get the old one out and b) not be able to fit the new one in but I am pleased to say the two young men from JL did a great job and after a lot of effort got it all sorted.
The new fridge is getting down to the right sort of temperature and Waitrose should be coming on Thursday to help me re stock it.
DH has a telephone chat with his Consultant tomorrow. Hope all will be well. His blood results are completely haywire at the moment as he had to stop taking his chemo meds for 5 weeks while he had his legs checked by the vascular team. Legs were fine so now back on the meds again but obviously will need some time to build up the right sort of protection again.
Hope all the gang are ok . We miss all those not posting so come and visit soon if you are able.

Please note I cooked the chicken