The Lockdown Gang - carry on chatting ⭐️

Hello Kaimoana . I heard you had been wondering about me. Thank you. Too many family concerns at the moment but they are slowly resolving themselves.

MrMuse's leg ulcer has responded excellently to the compression bandage. He has it changed 2x a week but this may drop to once a week soon.

My DD has finally got the agreement for the child maintenance. He ex has been a first class pain in the derriere.

Hello Doodle. Peeps have been asking after you in the kitchen ?I'll keep?

Just time to read everyone's news before I climb into bed.

Hi Gang,

Thanks for the champagne last night Jeeves. I overslept.
Ah Muse we hadn't forgotten you and I am glad things are slowly improving.
It's very good to see Cherry after 4 months - really?
But not so good to hear you've been assaulted by your new kitchen!

I went into John Lewis yesterday to look at new cookers but they were really only able to point me to their website.

Once in the city I went to see a retrospective exhibition of the art of a long departed friend and met some of her family and friends who gave me tea and sustenance.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Po6kcjLXfto
Then I bought more wool for the moths to chew and arrived home to find a young woman in my garden wilderness looking for a route to join the riverside path. There isn't one so instead we chatted and drank tea. She is part of a pilgrimage to Glasgow from London for COP26 and she is from Sweden. What a magic thing to happen.
www.pilgrimagefornature.com/

Do we know if Nfk's tests were negative? my fingers are permanently crossed.

Sending a cwtch to all who need one today.
Haste ye back Doodle to dry land.

Results came through yesterday = both negative! Off to see the family!

Because I haven’t posted for some time I got locked out again and had to get back in via Google - what a faff.
I’ve been trying to catch up on everybody’s interesting news - took me some time, but I think I’m up to date now.
Boadicea I was interested to read that your grandmother (?) was in Malta during WW1. Our family have long links with Malta - in fact I was born there, and we spent the whole of WW2 there. It’s only since I’ve been an adult that I’ve realised what an ordeal that must have been for my parents, bringing up and keeping safe a young family amongst the terrible war conditions which Malta endured. My mother lived there for most of her life as my grandfather was in the army, as was my father. I’ve been back many times as a tourist - Malta will always be special to our family - in fact my brother got married there four years ago.
The saga of my DH and his move to a care home has been continuing. The one which we initially found fell through at the last minute as they decided he needed too much care for them to cope with as they wouldn’t have sufficient staff - this was a great blow. However, we have now found another very nice place, a bit further away from home, but not too far, and all being well (fingers crossed) he will be moving in there next week. This has been such a stressful time, I’ve been feeling quite drained, physically and emotionally, but hopefully he will settle down quickly and I can relax a bit.
Best wishes to everybody. I’ll try and keep in touch more regularly, and hopefully avoid getting locked out again!

Kaimoana hope you are feeling better today. Hope you are well enough for a visit from your DGS this weekend.
Lovely to have Cherry with us again isn’t it ?
Hello muse nice to hear from you too. So pleased your DHs leg is improving, leg ulcers can be a problem to heal.
How is your home building coming along? Glad your family problems are easing a bit.
I will be back in the kitchen soon. Too many to keep up with when the internet connection is hit and Miss. It takes ages to post anything.
Mamissimo I am wondering how you are and your DD. Hope you are all coping.
Missedout you are missed too.
Nfk you must be jumping for joy, have a wonderful family weekend and enjoy yourselves.
Grammaretto we found the same problem with our search for a new fridge freezer. Looking on a website isn’t the same as examining things for yourself. I hate to think that with all the shops closing that we will at some point only be able to buy online. I miss browsing in shops and chatting to others.
Please make sure your new oven is of the non martial arts variety, we don’t want you being attacked like our Cherry ?
How lovely of you to offer tea and a chat to a lost pilgrim. What an unexpected end to your afternoon.
Missimac oh dear. Glad you found your way back in again.
It is stressful finding a home for your DH. My SIL had the same sort of problems finding somewhere for my brother. It’s hard enough to come to terms with your DH living somewhere else let alone the battle to find a suitable and comfortable place you think he will be happy. Hope your new find works out well for him.
Don’t forget to take care of yourself. It’s easy to concentrate on looking after others and forget you’re own welfare.
Talking of which, I wonder how you are dear Panache. Don’t think we have forgotten you because we haven’t. It would be nice to hear from you when ever you feel you can post.
Take care everyone. Home tomorrow. ?

Nfk - wonderful about the results! You must be over the moon!
Grammaretto - I looked at the clip about Marjorie Campbell- what beautiful paintings, and such a serene and lovely woman. Another one lost before her time - how very sad. The pilgimage is just so moving-wish I was there to take part!
Doodle - I hope all is well at sea, and that you are having a wonderfully relaxing time. Nothing like sea air as a cure-all!
MuseGlad that MrM's ulcer is responding to the dressings. They can take so long to heal. I heard a funny story from my pioneering grandmother, whose leg ulcer refused to heal by modern conventional teatment, and so she applied a bush remedy of her own concoction. She used to use it on cows injured by barbed wire and so on. Her doctor hit the roof on hearing what she had done, -"Mrs X, we are in the 20th century now!" and removed the bandage, to find a beautifully healed ulcer. Not sure what was in the magical remedy, but she knew a great deal about native plants. How stressful for your DD that she has to go through the ordeal of getting child maintenance from a reluctant father. So sorry to hear that.
Kaimoana - I hope that you and DGS enjoyed the pizzas! What a splendid idea, to save yourself the trouble of cooking when the weather is so horrible - and to spend the time with your delightful lad instead. It's still raining here, my poor girls are flooded in their henhouse, the avocado trees are under water, and the Fluffy Ones raced out to perform ablutions, then straight back in. They are now sitting in a row at the glass door, staring mournfully at the puddles. I see that the Kaeo River is in flood, and presumably the road is impassable. And to top it all off, it looks like we will be back joining you back Level 3 soon.
Missimac - echoing Doodle - I hope that you are looking after yourself, after all the stress you have been through. Also that the home works out for MrM. Such a sad and stressful time for everyone.
I was so interested to read of your family's association with Malta. What a dreadful time it must have been for your family during the war. Such heroic people, and thoroughly deserving of the GC. I can understand why you hold it in such affection, as it has that effect, doesn't it. MrJ spent quite a lot of time stationed there as a young sailor in the 60s-70s. We went back a few years ago, and he went all misty-eyed at the thought of "the Gut" - which of course is no more. We seriously considered going to live there for 6 months on retirement, but rescue cats intervened. Granny served in the Great Ward of the hospital of the Knights of St John, which was the most amazingly evocative place.
I'm supposed to be going to an exhibition of the local art group this morning, but it's just too wet. Do you think it would be too awful to stay snuggled up indoors? I was soaked through going out to feed the chickens, and a coffee and the online papers seem much more attractive just now. Perhaps this afternoon...
Hve a wonderful Sunday, everyone. Thinking of you all who have worries and pain. xx

Hello muse nice to see you posting. Yep, family issues get to us every time hope they are resolved soon.

I may have mentioned that treatment here for ulcers often includes Manuka honey which works wonders and hyperbaric chambers but it sounds as if your DH is responding well.

Grammaretto there's a B&W photo in the link you sent, maybe Margorie's mother - what luminous eyes she has.
What a wonderous meeting with your pilgrim but I shuddered to read they are travelling from village to village, the very thing we have been told not to do

Nfk Hurrah!

missismac I remember reading that poor Malta suffered worse than London in the Blitz. The Germans were determined to destroy everything but reckoned without the wonderful spirit of Malta.

I'm glad you've found the right place for your DH at last; everyone will be so relieved when he's safely in his new home.

We seem to have so many M-Gangstars now and all battling in one way or another.

Thinking of you all and sending heaps of good wishes your way. AND to those whose names begin with another letter too

My dgs and I are having a great time. We cooked - his favourite meal of the moment is camembert in a flaky pastry case and ginger shortbread, plus cinnamon rolls.

We put up the Christmas tree - actually he did all the work, I just handed him tinsel!
A bit early I know but it's miserably wet outside so our entertainment must be indoors.

Doodle lovely to have you back on dry land again.
Have you got your sea legs or should that be land legs? I know after sailing, I often feel I'm still at sea but then, some would tell you being all at sea is normal for me

Had a call from one of our kaumatua who seems to think we may still be able to have our Xmas Party in December.
Optimism is sorely need right now but I fear reality may take over....

Stay cosy everyone

Hello fellow gangstars/lobstars, I'm sorry I haven't joined in for a while, I have been reading your posts. It's so good to see that the gang is mostly all here and to see Cherry's post - it sounds as if you have really been in the wars.

I've just been fed up really - not much to see here. I'm still vulnerable, I've battled successfully to get my 3rd primary COVID vaccine dose and will test myself again in a few weeks but am not hoping for much.

I've recently had my flu' vaccine too, that made me feel poorly for a couple of days.

I followed the sad story of Georgette BJ. I had a similar experience with our next door neighbour's two remaining, elderly chickens. Although they lived next door, as soon as they heard us about, they would pop through the wire fence (that the badgers kept digging under and opening up) and follow us round the garden. They were very tame and friendly. One day our other neighbour told us that he had seen 3 of the local cats stalking and chasing the chickens in our garden while we were out. He made a lot of noise to distract the cats but he chickens were so frightened that they wouldn't leave their run any more and went to a better home for elderly chickens (not a euphemism). I really miss them and hope they are OK.

DH and I are planning a couple of visits to family soon but they will be short and, everyone is testing themselves (including us) before visits. The COVID numbers are soaring here and, because I think I will eventually have protection through my treatment, I am prepared to 'sit it out' until that happens - but it is difficult and it feels like cowardice. Poor DH turned down a car club meeting the other day (something he really enjoys), it was an indoor pub lunch and he didn't want to take the chance of bringing COVID back to me. I said that I really didn't mind if he went, I trust him to be careful but it was his decision not to take the risk. I just feel guilty.

Like Kaimoana, I am looking for optimism but staying cosy.

Gentle thoughts to Panache

Glad you and The Dude are safely home Doodle and warm, optimistic thoughts to all the Gangstars.

Welcome home Doodle!

Great that you were negative and able to get away to see your family Nfk

Lovely to see Missedout, Muse and Missimac. Thinking of Mammissimo
I'm all oven-ready after spending hours on-line and have decided on a red cooker.

Don't know which red cooker yet but I thought if I can't have a cosy kitchen at least it can look cosy!

My phone has stopped charging so I must urgently find a shop which can either repair it or replace it. It's terrifying how dependant we become on our devices.

I talked myself into going to the garden centre today to buy some new shrubs and then I talked myself out again.
I do plenty of talking to myself
I am sure someone will have a cutting or shrub locally.

Marjorie was a very talented lady and all 4 of her DDs are too.
Her DD Mairi is a well known Scottish singer and performer.
mairicampbell.scot/

Grammaretto - I love the red cooker! Just the thing to brighten up a dreary winter's day. Is it gas or electric? We bought our house 6 months ago, and it had a red kitchen, which initially dismayed me, as I'm not really a red room person. However, once I took down the red lightshades hanging over the island bench, and replaced them with neutral glass/chrome, and added a red-based Persian rug and lots of pictures and a palm, the red looked amazing! The red-wall in the bedroom was just a bridge too far, however...it's been replaced by a lovely forest green. I like the idea of sharing cuttings - the price of plants and shrubs has gone up outrageously since lockdown - what is going on?? Good luck with the new phone!
Missedout - So sad about your poor terrified visiting chookies. I hope they are living out their days in a happy retirement village for homeless hens. I'm so sorry that things are so difficult for you, and that your life is so curtailed. Where are you that cases are rising so fast? I hope that you will soon be able to venture out and enjoy life a little more very soon.
Kaimoana - I see a lot more manuka is actually being planted up this way, as opposed to being ripped out ot burned off for pasture. There are a lot of bees up this way, as my lavender is humming a happy bee song. They love the orange blossom also - and the trees are absolutely loaded with flowers this year. I hope they have not been damaged by the rain. Has it stopped down your way? It was the most gorgeous sunny morning about 3 hours ago, but now the clouds are gathering again, just as the flooding dried up. I had no idea the clouds could hold so much water. What fun to be getting your Christmas tree up with your dgs - who cares if it's early-we need some fun and anticipation just now.
Have a great day/evening everyone.

Boadicea in years past, herbal remedies were the only thing people had available to them . I’m amazed in this day and age how many current medications are based on different plant properties.
Your tales of your fluffy ones always make me smile. I can just picture their antics. I can’t remember if you’ve told us but how many do you have?
I would stay in snuggled in the warm if I were you.
Kaimoana I love your grandson’s ideal menu. I would join you if I could.
Why not put up a Christmas tree. Who cares if it’s early. I love Christmas and the lights so always enjoy that time. Nice thing for the two of you to do together, these special occasions are what memories are made of.
Missedout it’s good to hear from you even if you are not feeling great. I hope your third jab gives you better protection.
I’m not surprised it brings you down when covid is still going strong. It is not cowardly to try and keep yourself safe. I too do all I can to keep DH safe. Don’t feel guilty if your DH wants to protect you too. I have read some good results in the papers about this third job so hoping it helps to improve the situation. We are having our third Covid jab next week and our flu too.
Grammaretto that’s a wonderful cooker you have chosen. What a lovely colour. That will cheer your mornings.
I couldn’t watch you links onboard so I will go and and have a look now.
DH and I gradually getting back to normal. Washing and ironing being done today,
Thinking of all the gangsters and wishing you a good night.

Thank you for your wonderful welcome back Kaimoana, I'm profusely x I hope Jeeve's choice of champagne went down well and met everyone's approval ?. Thank you so much for your lovely welcome back too Grammaretto x
and Missedout x

It sounds like you and your dgs had a lovely time together. Too early for a christmas tree? Nah! Fun to dress, lovely, sparkly, cherry and extra light. What's not to like ? I like the sound of the camembert flaky pastry, your dgs has good taste. Given me an idea for a christmas day starter - a mini one mind ?

Grammaretto is that a picture of a Stoves cooker? I looks very similar to my Stoves cooker, except mine is black and the main oven door is different. I love my Stoves cooker, it's over 12 years old and still going strong. The only thing wrong with it is that the light for the main oven had stopped working but that's no biggie. The whole cooker functions pretty much like it did when it was new I hope I haven't jinxed it by saying that. I like the idea of a red cooker - something different. When I was young my mother had a lovely blue cooker, I remember it fondly, seems like an odd thing to say about a cooker but I do ?

Sorry to hear that you are feeling so fed up and low Missedout. This dratted virus has gone on far far too long and it's difficult enough for you at the best of times. It will be lovely when you see your family even if the visits are short or shorter than you'd like. They will be so pleased to see you you know. I'm sending you a cwtch, it is virus free x

I hope you and Mr D thoroughly enjoyed your cruise Doddle and return refreshed and relaxed. Are you planning your next one yet ?

Hello Missismac, I am sorry to read that you have been having such trouble trying to find an appropriate care home for your DH. I'm not at all surprised that you feel drained. I hope that this time you have found an appropriate one and that it's a very nice place I really do. You will both benefit by it, you will be able to spend time with him being his wife and him your husband and not carer and cared for

Is everyone sleeping well and having normal dreams? Last night I had an odd dream that seemed to be all about milk! My WP said he was nipping into the shop to get some. Next thing I know he's ringing me telling me the shop doesn't have any and can I nip in the other one and get some. Next, I'm opening the car boot to put the two four pint containers of milk inside and discover that there are already four four pint containers inside ?. I turn round and in front of me is a faceless woman concerned with our plight to find milk offering a six pint container of milk and then my WP arrives and he has one six pint container and one four pint container. That's 40 pints of milk ? What do two people do with 40 pints of milk? ??

I hope you and your family are alright Mamissimo and that Nortsat and dragonfly are okay.
Thinking of you Panache.

Doodle our posts are crossed like they used to often be ?.

Yes but I still caught you. You can’t escape me ?
So wonderful to have you back with us.
I love baked Camembert too.
I’m embarrassed to say we will be cruising again soon (tell you when closer to the time). We don’t normally go on so many cruises but with all the lockdown cancellations they’ve all rolled into one another. Hopefully on the next one we will be allowed ashore independently. We much prefer having a potter round the local area than being in a coach all the time. Having said that we need to make sure the local population are happy to have us there. We don’t want to turn up uninvited.
Having spent ages shortening trousers for the trip I now need to lengthen them. Have I grown taller, no, just didn’t get the length right for sitting down ?
DH went to the optician today and I went into town with him and spent the time on M&S. Turned out to be expensive. I don’t usually have time to browse but I bought some soft fluffy socks for my DGDs for Christmas. A light up house full of shortbread for my DIL and a new belt for DH. Didn’t I buy anything for myself I hear you ask ……..well actually a new hat with a Pom Pom on top and a pair or black cord trousers. ?
Oh how we’ve missed our Cherry humour. A virus free cwtch ?
I will arrange for Jeeves to visit in your dream tonight with a large tin of custard powder. You are obviously having custard withdrawl symptoms to dream about so much milk.
Please can you dream of blackberry and apple crumble tonight to go with the custard. One of my favourite puddings.
Sleep well and sweet (extra sweet for Cherry) dreams all x

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202110/medium-137575-6mqqyulsgerpkmbo4zllw.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202110/medium-994045-shcvup7vs3afapmjyibgg.jpg

It's so late and I should be in bed after a strenuous but successful day.

Missismac. It's such a stressful procedure to find the right care home. My brother and I went to see three for our dear mum who had dementia. She tried one of them for two weeks whilst I was away. My brother couldn't fit in the daily care she needed and then we were told there was a waiting list for a permanent place. Eventually she returned there and settled well. I do hope the same happens for you and your DH.

Doodle MrMuse continues his improvement and is now down to just one dressing change a week. Now his leg is improving, he has turned his attention to a hernia he's had for some while. He puts me to shame with the energy he has. Our house build is on hold whilst we get prepared for winter. A decent path is needed from our cottage to the track. Stepping stones of odd pieces of slate have sunk into the ground and the area, when we get downpours, becomes a quagmire. The photos are of today's work. The weeping silver birch had to be moved. It is now the first addition to our new garden over at the house. Moving in day is possibly Easter. We await the availability of plumbers, electricians and carpenters. Spotted your post in the kitchen. I love the word cwtch ?. I don't think there is a Cornish word for hug.
I may be a grown up but I still love my M&S fluffy socks. Must dig out my Christmas ones. I can see a photo coming up soon of me in them.

Grammaretto. Wow - Fantastic cooker. I love a splash of red. Excellent choice of colour. I've successfully grown some viburnum snowball cuttings this year. Wish I could wiz one over to you.

Sorry you have struggled through the two vaccinations Missedout and also the rising number of cases. We turned down a family gathering of 10 last weekend because we were both about to get our booster and MrMuse can't risk being positive and not getting to the doctors every week.

Hello CherryCezzy. I'm fairly new to this thread but I'm starting to think of myself as a lobstar. My visits are very hit and miss but I love the company here.

Hugs for you all lobstars.

It's lovely to see you more cheerful muse, and of course you're a lobstar. I am sending you a Kernewek byrlans to keep you that way!
Glad DH is doing well, a couple of byrlandow for him too.

missismac We have a wonderful place a bit up country from me, The Animal Sanctuary. They take ex-cage hens from egg producers and re-home them on farms where they can live free, happy lives.

I don't know the Covid numbers in the UK but my New York friend maintains their media state numbers are rocketing. I take it the press in Britain are keeping quiet about that?

Grammaretto I LOVE your red cooker. Everything cooked in it is bound to taste extra nice. Once your weather gets cold you be able to have mixed roast root veg and humus - one of my most favourite meals.

BJ great that Manuka is being planted again; it's invaluable as a natural remedy for so many things - as the bees have discovered!

Today is the first dry day we've had for a very long time. I hired a Sherpa to help me climb the mountains of laundry and managed to get 3 lots done today.

Cherry what an odd dream. Next time, make sure there's a bath handy and you can bathe in the milk like Cleopatra. She knew sour milk contains alpha-hydroxy acid, excellent for the skin ...as long as you don't mind being mistaken for a yogurt.

My friend Ali rang this morning, a little panicky, having lost the sight in one eye overnight. It's a detatched retina but she'll have an operation in a hour which should put it right.

And I'm a bit glum because almost as soon as my dgs left yesterday, I was hit with an arthritic flare - and can hardly walk.

I do hope Mamissimo, dragonfly and all the missing Gangstars are battling on. Our thoughts are with you.

Muse - you are so brave, taking on such a project - but so exciting! All that anticipation of a lovely shiny new residence for next spring. And fluffy M&S socks- pure luxury! Cwtch is a wonderful word, I agree.
Doodle - how exciting with another cruise on the horizon. Lovely to have something to anticipate. You can still find wild marijuana plants growing around abandoned overgrown homestead sites - it was the go-to pain killer for remote settlers. I guess that it might have also been a useful recreation from the backbreaking work of farming back then. Mind you, they said that in 19th century NZ, the only causes of death were drink and drowning.
Kaimoana - sorry to hear about the arthritic flare - does your magnesium help at all? Have you tried Green Lipped Mussels? Please just flob and rest up! I didn't know about the Animal Sanctuary- will keep that in mind. I guess we can't replace my dear little Georgette with a poor little ex-egg machine, because the others would give her a hard time, as a stranger.
Cherry - that was some dream! I wish mine were like that. I don't get a chance to dream, because the Fluffy Ones keep waking me for a snuggle and a purr.
We have three cats, all by accident, as it were. Initially, we went to the SPCA to get a dog. We walked in and a tiny kitten was racing around the office. The kitten looked at MrJ, and MrJ looked at the kitten, and it was love at first sight. "We'll have that one", he said. This is the MrJ who has always declared that he doesn't like cats. The SPCA lady then said "Well, he has a mummy who needs a home, too, would you like to see her?" I said that we really wanted only one cat, but we had a look anyway. The mummy cat was sitting forlornly at the back of the cage, head down, back to us, looking horribly depressed. Whe she heard her kitten, she whipped around, and came over, chirruping at him. Well, that was it, wasn't it. Readers, we adopted both. They had had a terrible life, abandoned on the streets, an 8-month old mummy with two starved and very ill kittens. She had been trying to eat crisp wrappers to find something to feed her babies. Heartbreaking. She turned out to have terrible teeth, as a result of her privations, and had to have them all extracted. Sadly, too late, and her kidneys gave up before she was even 3 years old. We have to have her PTS, such a sad day. But she had a wonderful life, once the agony of her teeth was sorted, and was such a loving and devoted little girl. Her son, Pudding, became very depressed when his mother died, and went into something of a decline. He's a new boy now, though, with his adoring little adopted sisters - the Fluffy Ones. More about them another time.
Have a great day/evening, all.

Hello lovely Stars,

Quite a good mix of news from the gang.
Mostly hopeful. Fingers tightly crossed.
I wonder how Nfk's weekend went.
So glad your Sherpa managed the backlog of laundry Kaimoana and that the rain has stopped.
I think you are amazing Muse and MrMuse too. That;s a big tree to have moved. I would love a viburnum cutting. I shall pop in if I am passing. We once did a detour (from Gloucestershire) to Scotts of Merriot, a specialist rose nursery in Somerset to see the home of the roses we were ordering from their catalogue.
I hope I will be able to get a red cooker and that Stoves one does look lovely. I haven't seen the electrician for a few days. He last told me he was working on a house even older than mine. Really? yes it is Newbattle Abbey College which is in part 11th century. newbattleabbey.com/filming-historical-tours-scotland/

Cherry your fantastic milky dreams!!! now if I were to interpret that.....

Missimac I hope the care home saga resolves soon and the right place can be found and that you feel better too. That applies to all the Gang who are feeling down.

I usually blame the weather.

I was persuaded to replace my lovely phone yesterday as the battery wasn't lasting and it refused to charge. It will take me a while to get used to the new one. It is enormous. Why are phones made for huge hands nowadays?
I don't have a pocket big enough.
Here is one I like. Especially the drawer in the base where numbers were stored.

I probably should have asked you, the gang, first

cwtchs to all of you today.

Grammaretto, the old telephone took me straight back to my grandmother's home! She used to 'take bets' (horses and dogs) for others and I remember answering the phone (identical to the one pictured) and taking messages. I don't think my grandmother always sent the bets on to William Hill. I remember the telephone exchange name was 'Arnold'.

iPhone minis among many are pocket sized but you will soon get used to your bigger phone and will see the screen better. My phone tends to fall out of pockets so I keep mine in a handbag but have a house phone with a loud ringtone as well.

I appreciate the cwtchs that have come my way. Thank you for being understanding gangsters.

Muse looks like there is still a lot to do in your new home but it must be exciting seeing it all take shape and knowing it is exactly what you want.
Cwtch is a lovely word. Not mine but from our lovely Cherry. It has its own special meaning.
We are having our boosters next week. Hope all goes well with yours.
Kaimoana ok you’re at it again. I will be fluent in so many dialects by the end of this. What please is a byrlandow? And if Muse is having one, I want one too. ?
Yes Covid cases are rising. Not sure the Uk press ever keep quiet about anything. Doom, gloom and depression seem to be their main aim.
Oh you do make me laugh ?. A Sherpa to climb your mountain of washing.
Gracious that must have been a shock for your friend. Hope her op goes ahead and her sight is restored soon.
Sorry to hear your arthritis is causing you a problem. Is there anything you can take to help ease it?
Boadicea what a lovely story about how you came to have your cats and kittens. I think MrJ is a big softie at heart and the little kitten knew she’d be safe. How lovely you took her mum too and made her remaining years happy ones.
Grammaretto I do hope you get your red cooker. It would brighten up any morning.
What sort of phone are you replacing. I thought you meant a mobile until you talked about a drawer in the bottom for storing numbers. What is happening in the pottery world at the moment, do you have any plans?
Missedout your grandmother strikes me as a bit of a character. Did she do much betting on things herself.
I hate changing mobile phones. I only just get used to how one works and DH wants me to change it for a more up to date one.
I’m sending a cwtch your way too.
Mamissimo I hope you are ok. I keep thinking of you and your DD and hope she’s ok.
Lovely gangsters, Jeeves is heating up a big batch of hot chocolate tonight as it’s getting chilly. If you want a little something extra in it ? just let him know,
Sleep well all.

Doodle it's so good to have you and Cherry back, just like old times.
A byrlans is the Cornish word for cwtch. Byrlandow the plural. I left the county only weeks after joining a Cornish language class, so I had to look that up! cheating!

My arthritic flares were much, much worse before I started taking MSM. They completely disabled and depressed me.
Now I can, in most cases take a pain-killer and carry on. I used to take NZ Green Lipped Mussel capsules; they're good but MSM works better for me.

I made seafood chowder for my dil on Monday and the marinara was imported. My dgs laughed at the size of the mussels, about an inch long! Ours are a wee bit bigger.

Alison's operation was successful, she now has a patch on her eye for six weeks. I shall buy her a parrot.

Good morning ?

I have no excuses for my silence but many reasons.....I'm reading and thinking but my poor DD and SiL are struggling so much since her PTSD diagnosis and getting them the help they need is so hard. They are geographically isolated from the rest of us but I am determined not to let that get in the way of us supporting them.

Mr M and I are wearing out the M25 .....and ourselves.

DS however is getting much better and can manage five hours a day at work. Very very relieved.

Hopefully I will be back soon, but in the meantime, thinking of you all.

Mamissimo reasons have more validity than excuses in my opinion and goodness know you've had and continue to have reasons for not posting. You have a lot to contend and concern yourself with, try to look after yourself too! You have your own health problems to consider, don't make yourself more unwell than you are - you'll be no help to anyone if you don't. Lecture over! Sending you a gentle cwtch you've no choice in the matter .

Kaimoana my WP teased me the same way - was I planning an Empress style bath. No, definitely not, the very idea of that makes me feel queasy because I don't want to smell cheesy ? ?
Sorry to hear that you've had an arthritic flare-up, it sounds like a bad one. I think I've said before that I have some issues with arthritis (including the de Quervain's) but it's pretty stable. I have had a couple of instances of Todd's paralysis in the last few months (never had it before) and that not only scary but whilst I had it I worried that it could have been something more and that I might not recover function of my left hand and left leg so I can empathise. It was only temporary though, I hope your flare-up eases quickly.
I'm also sorry to hear about your friend but it's good to know that her operation was successful ☺️. If you can't buy her a parrot buy her a hat and bandana ?
By the way, can I borrow your Sherpa some time? My WP doesn't believe in ironing and I can't and I've come to the conclusion that it's not Jeeve's forte ?

Doodle, how did I guess - I knew you'd already be planning your next cruise. Sounds like it's already booked ?. I hope MrD's optician's appointment went well; what's a 'girl' to do to while away the time - sounds like a successful way to me. Oddly enough, we went into M&S yesterday as I'm looking for a pair of navy cords. They didn't have any in my size ?. I couldn't leave without something though could I ?. I bought a pair of jeggings instead, not navy (or indigo) though but chartreuse ?. They'll look lovely with grey and other neural colours I'm sure. Also oddly enough ... I made an apple and blackberry raisin crumble a few days ago and had any craving for custard sated and ended up giving my partner indigestion ? I love a good crumble and it was nice - for me anyway ?

Do tell Grammaretto, how would you interpret my dream ?. I was right then, that red cooker is a Stoves. Mine is great and I'd say go for it. I like the retro phone too. Don't think I'd want to be carrying a mobile like that though Doodle, not would Grammaretto either I'm sure ?. You're still having problems re. the electrician finishing the work you need done then? I thought the contractors who did my kitchen and bathroom were bad but it sounds like he's messing you about. I'd be dropping two words into my next conversation with him - trading standards.

Of course you're a LobStar GangStar Muse. We were all new recruits once ?. Have you gone through your initiation ceremony yet? What's that I hear you say ....

Well gang ... my help is required so must dash! ?

Kaimoana hope your friend Alison recovers quickly, with or without the parrot ?
My DGD loves mussels. She would love to join you ?
Hope your arthritis flare up improves is getting better and your MSM helps.
Mamissimo you never need to make any excuses to us. We are just happy to hear from you when you feel up to posting. Things must be very hard for you at the moment. All we want is for our children to be happy and when they’re not we are upset too.
I do hope your DD gets the help she needs.
I’m glad to hear your son is coping a bit better. All in alll a worrying time for you. We are all here thinking of you whether you feel up to posting or not, I am sending you one of Cherry’s gentle cwtchs x.
Perhaps you were fancying yourself as Cleopatra Cherry.
I still think a large container of custard is the best option for all that milk ?
Your period of Todd’s paralysis must have been worrying. Anything out of the ordinary makes us wonder what is going on. Glad to hear it was only a temporary thing.
Our next cruise has been booked a long time. Due to all the cancellations, what should have happened over a couple of years has condensed into about 6 months. We did have the option to cancel but the chances were any or all of them might have been cancelled again so we just went with the flow.
Thank you DHs appointment went ok. They have finally referred him for a cataract operation. Whether he is accepted or not remains to be seen (no pun intended). We shall wait for the outcome.
How funny about M&S. I bought my first and only pair of leggings yesterday (jeggins are too tight for my ample thighs)
If you do want navy cords you could try looking at Cotton Traders as I think they have some stretch ones. I bought some
cherry coloured ones last winter and they are nice and cosy.
Wot! You had my favourite crumble and didn’t invite me ?. How could you ?. I must go and have some chocolate to recover from the disappointment.
Funny to think back when we all first came together on this thread. A long time ago now and other lovely lobstars have joined us since.
Last night I was dreaming about searching for a loo and not being able to find one. I wonder if that was due to me drinking much more water these days (Yes Kaimoana I am being a good girl)
Sleep well all ?
P.S. Jeeves says ironing is not in his job description apart from giving the newspapers a quick once over before delivering them. I don’t think he’s quite caught up with modern times yet.

Hello Lobsters,
I have been enjoying your posts from the comfort of my bed while listening to the rain.
I had to go downstairs to make my tea and I will have to get up at some stage but not yet. I may go back to sleep and see if I get a dream to remember. A boot full of milk, needing the loo, what were the others zzzzz