The Lockdown Gang - carry on chatting ⭐️

Thank you for updating us on Kaimoana's Dr's assessment Doodle. I did have a pm back yesterday evening - which typically I saw this morning. You're right, of course (typical Kaimoana) she completely shielded her DGS from seeing. She's one Indomitable LobStar GangStar that's for sure!
You'd better be resting Kaimoana x

Muse that's the type of hernia my mother's cousin had, she was fine for at least couple of years and whilst it wasn't giving her any problems the plan was to leave it be. When it did start to be troublesome they placed her on the waiting list for surgery. She didn't join the bottom of the list and didn't wait long to have surgery. Her recovery from surgery did seem to take a while but then she was one to milk a situation - she had my mother running around after her and liked it, if you get me . My mother was so concerned she had the go come out to check her over ... she was fine the next day ?. I hope MrMuse gets it sorted soon.

I hope your DD2 is enjoying her and DSiL's change of scene Mamissimo.
Medication is a strange thing, it can do good and it can do harm. Some people never have many if any side effects and others ... well ?. It's a wonder the GP gave him something that he's previously had nasty side effects from. Okay, I'm just going to say it - bloody stupid GP!

I'm glad you enjoyed your Stratford upon Avon break Nfk. In a way, I was nodding away in agreement at your surprise that Norfolk is a tourist destination. I don't mean Norfolk itself, I mean anywhere we ourselves live. I know that I live in an area that attracts tourists and I must admit that I know why - the Gower peninsula is beautiful. I'm not ignorant of that fact and I do appreciate its beauty but it is also happens to be just the place I live.

Doodle I have neglected to comment on your upgrade to a fancy cabin on your next cruise. How great is that ? Other voyagers will realise, just as we do, that you are a VIP ?.

Another dratted leak Grammaretto ?. Ours happened a short while after your last one, hope we don't have another ?. Seriously though! Enough already, eh? And you still haven't been able to locate those deeds. My mother's cousin kept a key in a clock that opened as box that contained her house deeds. The box ... eventually found behind the wardrobe in her bedroom. Not to worry you as it's highly unlikely that anyone else would ever do what my mother's neighbour did - she burnt hers in the open fire in her living room ?

Thank you gang for good wishes for my appointment tomorrow, I just want it over and done with we need to go shopping after it .

Jeeves I'll have a hot chocolate and marshmallows please. What do you mean there's no marshmallows ?

Oh dear I seem to have missed lots of news both good and bad in the last few weeks.
Poor “Kaimoana” what a dreadful shock for her. Hope she is now resting and getting her strength back.
Lovely to hear from “Panache”. Yes Christmas certainly won’t be easy for her this year. Afraid I think Christmas is a bit overrated. Lovely when the children are small but for some people it can be very sad and lonely. I enjoy the run up to Christmas and of course Christmas Day itself but really hate the bit between Christmas and the New Year. Every year I say next year we will go away for those few days but we never do. Mainly because I can never think of anywhere to go!
Well “Doodle” all those cruises! Hoping that when we cruise next February we will be allowed to get off and do our own thing. Think that is beginning to happen already. We quite enjoy the cruise lines trips but also like the option of just wandering.
“Cherry” lovely to see you about again but a bit worried about your slightly vicious kitchen! You do make me laugh!
We are off to the Yorkshire Dales later this month. Just to say that when we booked it it seemed a good idea! With the dark nights and colder weather I’m beginning to think we’ve lost the plot! Actually it’s fingers crossed we get there as Mr J had 2 cancerous patches taken off his scalp last week. It’s never ending - he’s had bits taken off all over his body and believe me I really mean all over!!! Just hoping it will be healed up before we go but not entirely convinced.
Well better stop chattering and will be back soon!

Good morning ?

Mr M and I are off to Wisley this morning as the sun is shining and the colours should be vibrant. I have last Christmas's gift vouchers to spend and he's promised lunch so a day to look forwards to.

I had fun at the committee meeting yesterday......--best polished pearls to the fore-- . It reminded me of that work thing that I used to do and I was pleased to be able to offer some solutions. What a pickle the NHS is in! Sadly I think it's no longer fit for purpose because the world we live in is so very different to when it was set up. If social care is our current unsolvable problem I think our children are going to have to grasp the medical care nettle.

Why do we try to teach our children that they need to buy what they can afford to avoid getting into financial strife and then refuse to accept that we can't expect a gold standard NHS if we fund it and manage it properly?

Sorry, soapbox moment over!

Doodle have you seen the new Patisserie counters in Sainsbugs? They're now selling Patiseerie Valerie cakes and pastries. The Black Forest number is rather goo-ey good!

Sending sandwiches......

Good morning. I am sorry I haven't been around. I have scanned other posts and saw that Cherry is back and sounds like her bouncy self. I wish you luck today at your appointment. I have my annual mammo coming up this month I believe.

I am envious of all your cruising Doodle I would love to get away although I don't like water very much and we used to ferry across to England every Christmas for 18 years and the one cruise I went on reminded me of that.

Good to see Panache too. I am pleased you are keeping on keeping on. I know it can be a struggle.

I am sorry to hear about Kaimoana. I hope she will be back to posting soon.

Mammissimo I am sorry to hear your DD is still struggling. It is very hard for her.

We went down to Brighton to see my DS and the GC a couple of weeks ago and my DH came home with the cold from hell which he then gave to me. I have not felt as ill as I do now since I had chemo. Meanwhile the family down south have been diagnosed with Covid which is adding to my stress. Whenever my son is ill he is usually really bad and for reasons too numerous to mention they only had one jab.

Anyway enough about my troubles. It is a lovely cold sunny day out there so I may wrap up and venture out.
Sending my best wishes to you all.

Dear gangsters, before Kaimoanan’s incident at the weekend, she had asked me if I could remember a link I had posted about a glass sculpture. Not having the best of memories, I only had a vague recollection of something made by a woman and in a big building. Not wanting to let Kaimoana down, I have been searching back through past threads for some days in an effort to find it.
Cherry do you realise the thread we started at the beginning of lockdown has now been going for over 6000 posts and we are now well into our 7th thread. Who would have thought.
Thanks to all of you who have helped get us through these months.
Anyway, back to the looking glass or the search for the mysterious sculpture. I couldn’t find the link and DH asked me what I was searching for. He suggested it might have been something I sent to him too. Amazing man that he is, within 30 seconds (I kid you not) he had found it.
I really hope this is what Kaimoana wanted, otherwise I don’t have a clue ?
marybranson.com/newdawn

Nfk yes my washing always ends up inside the duvet cover too unless I button it up before I wash it. 1 still can’t believe that big padded ironing board cover worked it’s way out of such a small hole but it did.
I can’t cope with clock changes either. On our cruise we had to change two forwards and two backs and then a fifth one when we got home. Is it any wonder I don’t know if I’m coming or going. ?

Cherry glad you heard back from Kaimoana. I’ve just emailed her and said the same about resting.
The Gower is certainly a lovely place…..all the lovelier for having you live there ?
Oh thank you. We will enjoy our upgrade. Some of the suites (we are in a delux cabin not a suite) have a butler. I am so glad we don’t, I wouldn’t know what to do with one and apart from that it would put Jeeves nose out of joint. ?
Oh no ? fancy burning the deeds in a fire……..you haven’t had a fire going recently have you Grammaretto? ?
Everything crossed for you tomorrow…….Jeeves has just run off to the corner shop to get your marshmallows
Jan we don’t normally go away so often. Just with all those trips cancelled in lockdown they all came together. Hopefully, unless we go backwards, you should be able to do your own thing on your cruise in February. Like you, we far prefer to wander round the local town on our own rather than organised trips.
Poor MrJ. He’s certainly going through it. I hope these patches don’t cause him too much discomfort. Hopefully, he will heal well and you will both enjoy your trip to the Dales.
Mamissimo we’ve been to Wisley too. Lovely place. Hope you have a good time. Are you looking for new plants.
Lunch out will be nice too. Good to have a change of scene.
A good day at the committee. I have a feeling you are right and there is no simple answer to the problems of the NHS.
Ooh no I haven’t seen the pastry counter at Sainsbugs . Black Forrest gateaux is DHs favourite, I think we may be mak8ng a visit there soon, ? Thank you for your sandwich and sending one in return ?
Dragonfly nice to hear from you. As mentioned up thread, I have been scanning through some old posts and I as thinking of you. There was a lovely picture of Dexter sitting at the top of the stairs.
We do like cruising and at the moment will continue to do so while we can. With DHs medical conditions, insurance is always a problem so as long as Saga cover us we will carry on for a while.
So sorry to hear about your awful cold. I know others who have been quite poorly with one too.
That is a worry about your son and his family. However, treatment options for Covid are much better now than they were and I’m sure even one jab will help protect them. I wish a speedy recovery for them and for your colds and hope you all feel better soon.

Hello gang-stars!

I hope you got on OK today Cherry and managed some shopping.
Sorry to hear of more colds and covid diagnosis Dragonfly
I hope the family recovers quickly, including you.

I hope you had a good time at Wisley Mamissimo. A great place to relax recover after your public speaking and all the recent worries.

I sent off a letter today to claim some compensation for the damage to my garden from the year-long scaffolding and tramping. I enclosed a quote from a local nursery for the plants. It isn't very much money really but it felt like a good thing to do. I won't replant until the Spring now apart from some bulbs.
I picked a bunch of roses and sweet peas again today.

A few of us, including a man who plants orchards, visited a site for a possible new community garden today. It's quite a small area but very central and I hope will be a happy place for people to meet together and grow things!
www.theorchardproject.org.uk/about-us/
Night night everyone. I'm off to bed. Thanks for the drinks Jeeves.

Good Morning Gangstars,

I'm not on the wrong thread, but I have heard from Kaimoana that she had a fall and bumped her head so probably will take a couple of days to recover, She was lighthearted in her message as always when talking about herself but I am sure plenty of cwtches from us will speed recovery.

Good morning Lobstars.
What weird weather today so far. Woke to sun, then hail mixed in with stair rod rain. Back to sun now. Keeping the log fire well stocked up.

NfkDumpling Yes, we did manage the tree transplant. Not easy and a couple of areas of bark got rubbed. I have a solution to paint on it. There was a good root ball and with lots of compost so I have my fingers crossed. Winds were expected so we have three guy ropes on it.

Doodle The build work won't have helped the hernia. He's having to have a CT scan first (two weeks time). Catching up with the news about Kaimoana but now pleased to hear the doctors diagnosis. That rest and quiet will help. Could you please pass on best wishes to her from Grandmafrench and me too.

Grammaretto We are gathering quite a collection of lovely colloquial words and phrases. I'm from Derbyshire and use "gadding about" a lot. Such beautiful chimneys and I'm very envious. I have a passion about architecture.

Mammissimo I wonder what you have in that Christmas drinks order. I searched last year for some Salted Caramel Bailey's. Never found any so will try again this year. Wisley is a place I'd love to visit. It's so far to go from Cornwall but I will plan to do it one day. Perhaps see Kew too.

I read about that horrible cold of yours on the GM thread Dragonfly. It seems to be spreading around people so quickly. Hope the family are coping with Covid. May your troubles be less soon. I remember that photo of Dexter too ?

I'm hoping for a call from DD today. We've sent a few texts over the past few days but I love to hear her voice to gauge how she is feeling. After the horrible business with the maintenance application, it has left her feeling very low. Anxiety level went sky high. I'd hoped once she had agreement and the allowance level set, it would ease her stress levels. The doctor has signed her off for a week and she is looking for counselling support.

My DS rang the other weekend to say the company he now works for is not getting tenders accepted for projects. That means a drop in salary and possibility of no job. He's had to pull out of a house he was going to buy.

I long for the longer spring and summer days. I'm not a winter lover but perhaps this will change when we are in our new comfortable and cosy home. Fingers crossed again. The build could be completed by Easter.

I too hope things went ok for Cherry today.
Grammaretto your community garden sounds like a nice idea. I seem to remember you had one before that you had to give up. It’s nice for people to have somewhere to meet and chat whilst gardening.
I hope you are reimbursed for all your plants. Has the building work next door been finished now?
Oh no! Poor Kaimoana whatever next. Thank you for letting us know. Sending cwtches by express delivery.
Muse our weather has been much the same today.
Please will you pass on my best wishes to Grandmafrench when you are next in contact. I haven’t seen her around for a while.
Kew Gardens is a lovely place to visit too. I used to go there a lot in my younger days with my boyfriend (DH)
We always worry about our children don’t we, I’m not surprised if your DD is stressed with all the worry over the maintenance payments. Hope, as you say, things settle down now.
Oh what a shame about your son and his house. My sons have both been made redundant twice and had to put their plans on hold. Hope things pick up for your son too.
You must be excited about your build being finished. If it is ready by Easter will it be finished inside too or is that something that will be tackled when you are in?
Busy day for us tomorrow. Flu jabs am, John Lewis and hairdressers pm. Up early for a change.
Keep well dear gangsters. ?

I have just looked at your link Grammaretto. What a good idea for a project. I love the name Witchhazel Wildwood. Mine sounds so plain by comparison. ?

Evening to anyone who’s around. I’ve been for my flu jab and haircut today. My arm is a bit sore but otherwise ok. DH’s arm has a big lump at the site of the injection but it doesn’t hurt.
I a just really tired. Don’t know if it’s the injection or the freezing cold weather today that’s made me a bit chilly.
I hope all the gang are ok and no further mishaps for anyone.
I’m off to bed soon with a hot chocolate …..hurry up Jeeves.
Sleep well all ?

Hello lovely gang friends,

You have given me your cold Dragonfly but I hope that means yours is getting better?
I'm sneezing and snotting sorry too much info and swigging uisge beatha whisky and literally water of life.

DGD has a vomiting bug. She is such a stoic. Apparently ( this is the 4 yr old) was sick in the night and in the morning, changed her pyjamas and came downstairs having pulled up the covers the sea of vomit which wasn't discovered until the night!! It's on two walls as well. Poor wee soul. She must have thought she'd get a row. I wish I lived nearer and could give her a cwtch.

Fireworks are going off hereabouts already.

I took MiL out to meet her cousins for afternoon tea. I think she enjoyed it. She says she doesn't do as well as the Queen. I pointed out she is older than the Queen.

This morning I helped to make gallons of apple juice at the community carbon challenge shop. It was such fun and attracted plenty of curious onlookers. It was a lovely sunny autumn day. I took a big bottle to MiL.

Dear Muse I am so sorry you have to worry about your DC. We all do and we celebrate with them don't we..
Last year I was worried about all of ours.

Doodle you must be tired. I hope your hair looks gorgeous?

I wish I could go to bed but I am waiting up for my kiln to get to top temperature. I knew I had taken on too much today.
Hot chocolate for me too Jeeves. I'll join you.

Forgive me if I'm not yet up to reading all the posts I've missed.

Just dropped in to say many thanks for the good wishes relayed by dear Doodle. I am bouncing back!

I have an appointment at the Eye Clinic on 12th; my GP has referred me for a hip X-ray (I'll be 90 when that comes around ) and
my family will visit at the weekend.

Hitherto, I could ignore Good Advice about not lifting heavy boxes but now BoadiceaJ is within striking distance on GN, I fear she'll send a Flying Squawk of her chooks to peck me into submission, so I better do as I'm bid....

She’s supplying me with wonderfully health-giving citrus so I am bound to get my fizz back soon.

All good wishes to my lovely LobSTAR friends; stay cosy as winter creeps up on you. xxxx

“Kaimoana “ good to hear from you and great to hear you are bouncing back! Hope the eye clinic offers some help - sounds as if your health service is much like ours regarding replacement bits! Ok getting the X-rays here but waiting for the ops can be a couple of years.
As you say winter is closing in. Been a beautiful morning here - if fact it was so sunny we decided to drive to the beach but it was so cold we didn’t get out of the car!! Lovely to see the sea though.
Tonight is the dreaded Bonfire night - well and tomorrow and probably the next few nights too. Theo cat will be put outside in the next hour and told NOT to go off mousing for hours! He will of course take no notice and reduce me to a nervous wreck thinking he is hiding somewhere terrified of the bangs.
Quiet weekend coming up then next Fri we are off “ooop North” for a week. Not sure who’s idea this was - probably mine - to go away in November but sure we will be snug in the cosy cottage we’ve booked.
Hope all those who are feeling a bit yuk return to their usual bouncy selves especially “Doodle”!

Just a quick message from me.

Sorry to hear you fell Kaimoana you've not meant to do that, it's my trick . We all know how indomitable you are so we know it won't keep you down for long. Great news that you've got appointment at the eye clinic so quite soon ?. Jan sounds right ... re your health services being like ours -- ? -- you have to be patient to become a patient and when you become a patient you have to be patient to become an inpatient!

My appointment on Tuesday went fine. The preliminary results from the mammogram were clear and I would have heard by now if the full results indicated anything wrong .. so ?

Can I ask you all a question ⁉️ Who stole this week and where did you put it!!
I hope you an MrD are both fine now after your flu have and you had a good night's sleep last night Doodle.
I'm, after a non-stop week, very tired ?, so tired I can't think straight or crooked so I'm just letting you know that I'm still alive ? and sending you all sandwiches ? x

I’m almost ashamed to come in here tonight, DH and I had our flu boosters yesterday and I felt a bit chilly and cold last night so we went to bed early. I forgot to set the alarm clock.
We didn’t get up till 11 am ??. Half the day was gone before we started.
We have our booster Covid tomorrow……..I may sleep for the rest of the week. ?
Grammaretto sorry you’ve got a bad cold. That must be miserable, mind you the whisky might help.
Your poor DGD . The vomiting bug is horrid and makes you so ill. Poor little love. Hope she improves soon.
Glad your MiL had a nice afternoon tea and a good natter with her cousins.
Lots of lovely apple juice (mind you I still wish you’d made cider ?)
Hope all your pottery came out of the kiln ok
I wouldn’t exactly say my hair looks glamorous. More sort of that just shorn look. Fringe too short, bangs too short, top too short. It will be perfect soon, just in time to go and have it cut again ?
Kaimoana how lovely to see you posting again. Please don’t over do things. I’m glad you are getting that x Ray and a visit from the family will cheer you up no end.
How kind and thoughtful of Boadicea to be sending you supplies. That must lift the spirits too knowing how you love your fruit and veg.
Please be careful now and no rushing about doing things.
Jan shame it was too cold for a beach walk. We went for a walk earlier and it was indeed very cold. Much more so on the beach I imagine.
Bonfire night is always a problem for pets. We have fireworks going off all around us and as you say, probably will for the next week. Be good if it was over and done with in one night.
Your cosy cottage sounds lovely. Is it near a cosy pub where you can sit by the fire and have a nice meal?
Cherry so pleased to hear all went well on Tuesday and the results are ok. Must be a comfort.
Yes where do all the days go. It’s kind of you to pop in and let us know you’re ok.
Thank you for your sandwiches.
Have a good peaceful and safe night all

Good morning ?

We had a wizz bang 5th November and took our DGDs to their first fireworks. DD1 came prepared with ear defenders and we were ready for screams from the little one who hates sudden loud noises but they were entranced.

Our village runs its own secret closed event every year.....the lady of the manor lets us use a field below her terrace.....we all make a donation, the cricket club does the fireworks, their wives provide a hog roast and mulled wine. All is set to music and and at the end some old duffer does the hip hip hooray thing everyone throws their hat in the air and claps. All a bit feudal but rather special. DS said it hadn't changed at all since he was a toddler.

Mr M has been given permission to stop taking the awful tablets and has been given a new one to try. Hopefully he will get his mojo back pronto!

I am hoping to get out in the garden today now that the frost has finally slaughtered the dahlias. There's dead herbage to pop in the hot bin - bliss!

All good things to all of you!

Hello Lobstars one and all!

Cherry I am so glad that the results are fine so far.

Kaimoana you are bouncing back to us. An eye appt and a hip Xray. Golly your health service is more efficient than ours.

I feel a fraud. The whisky must have done the trick because I was right as rain by the morning.

My kiln was a disaster! Ah well I, I have "borrowed" some of my work from another display and hopefully nobody will notice.

My df and fellow artist is driving down from the north today with her work for the exhibition. She's just texted to say, the driving conditions are terrible with wind and rain) so she's holed up at the motorway services.

The fireworks night sounds really fun Mamissimo.
There were definitely fewer fireworks this year but maybe the parties will be tonight.... Another df brought round a stew he'd cooked and I provided wine and we watched the local displays from the comfort of my own fireside .

Enjoy oop north Jan in your cosy cottage.

I hope neither you or the Dude are indisposed for long after the necessary jabs Doodle A good lie in is essential medicine in my opinion. I will try to make cider next time.

My DB says his DD baby due tomorrow. I must get those socks knitted...

Glad the medicinal tincture whisky worked and you're feeling better Grammaretto?. What has happened to your kiln? I hope your friend arrives/d safely - she may be (have been) in need of some medicinal tincture if you've any left ?

I've got my fingers crossed for the swift return of MrM's mojo Mamissimo?. Meanwhile, I hope it didn't pour down okay maybe some of it was mizzle where you live like it's done in the Gower today and you managed to season your hot pot bin with aromatics. Your local bonfire night arrangements sound like a lovely tradition, not feudal at all.

Hope you and MrD are feeling better today than you were yesterday Doodle.
I hope theo cat wasn't scared last night Jan. Hope you will be having a lovely time oop north this time next week.

There weren't as many fireworks here last night either Grammaretto, but there was an unusual late flurry around midnight. No organised display again this year either.

Kaimoana, hope you are resting !!

Mamissimo your firework night sounds lovely. A special family occasion. Medicine can have a dramatic effect on us. I hope MrM is much improved coming off his tablets and trying a new one.
I’m glad you like your hot bins. Your compost will be of the best quality I am sure ?
Grammaretto never underestimate the restorative powers of a good whisky. Oh what a shame about your pottery. Is it a bit like baking a cake? Never quite sure of success until it comes out of the oven. Is your friend staying with you or locally for the exhibition? When is it on?
I love a good stew. Wine stew and a firework display. Sounds good to me ?
Covid boosters today and so far we are fine.
Cherry we have been fine today. Just hope the Covid jab doesn’t have the same effect.
It sounds like a thunderstorm here but it’s only fireworks. What’s wrong with the good old quiet sparkler, that’s what I want to know? ?
Kaimoana I too hope you are taking things easy.

Well dear gang, we have a mystery. DH found a strange object in the hallway between the kitchen and the lounge.
It wasn’t there earlier. It is a small round grey plastic disc with a sort of cog in the centre and was just laying there by the skirting. Neither of us have a clue what it is or where it came from. I don’t remember seeing anything like it before. We have no idea what it is or where it came from ?
Take care all

Photo Doodle?
Lots of aspiring Sherlocks here, I reckon!