The Lockdown Gang - carry on chatting ⭐️

Hello Gang-stars,
24 degrees is perfect.
I am sitting here in my new coat.

There is now a nice new woodpile thanks to the girls and I have set them to another outdoor task while I get on to other important things like reading your posts.

I have bought a new cooker!!
It isn't the lovely red one in the photo. I bought this after an hour looking at and trying out every one in the shop In the end I chose the only one whose oven door could be opened without crawling on the floor. Now to find someone to come and remove the rayburn so I can prepare a space and remove the mouse droppings

One of the old radiators became a barbeque but there are still five or six around this old pile.

I also hope the eye clinic appointment goes off alright KM and your hip pain assessment muse.

Muse. Our oop North is a bit further oop! Yorkshire Dales in fact. Yes I love Derbyshire too but haven’t been for a while. Derbyshire to Cornwall is a long way. Why did you move to Cornwall? I’m always curious as to why people move to different parts of the country having very boringly lived in Norfolk all my life!
Grammarretto. 2 French students? We had a French student many years ago when the girls were teenagers. Nice girl but so difficult to make out if she was happy or not. She spoke perfect English which was just as well as my schoolgirl French was negligible but the only time I saw her look happy was when she and my younger daughter played in the garden on a thing called a Kumback!! It was a tennis ball on a sort of elastic attached to a pole and you hit it to each other! As I’m writing this I realise how daft it sounds but honestly it was good fun. Anyone else have one?
Kaiomoana hope your eye soon improves and Doodle isn’t it time you were on the high seas again?!

muse between your hip pain and your DHs leg and hernia problems I’m amazed how you’re getting on with your new home. Ah another with artistic talent. Do you not do your fused glass anymore? Have you got any pieces to show us?
Glad your DHs leg had healed that is good news. As is your Dd having a good counsellor. Hope your son is coping ok. We always worry about them don’t we.
I think I’d better get Jeeves to make sure we have a fully stocked cellar for the Winter. Spiced rum sounds warming.
Kaimoana I’m sure that young lady will realise soon what a special person she has for a grandma.
I can understand how the lure of having your DGS over surmounts your requirement to rest. Precious times not to be missed. I like the sound of your magnetic fishing game, Hope Gubbins does too.

Grammaretto I gather the new coat is a success. Hope the French girls are getting on with helping around the place and keeping you company.
Shame you didn’t get the red one but I know what you mean about getting on the floor with the oven. I have my oven built in under the worktop so it’s high enough up to have a drawer unit underneath.
I think using an old radiator as a BBQ is the ultimate in re-cycling.
Hello Jan yes we’re off in about 10 days. Hoping we’ll be allowed to go ashore on our own but will obviously be taking full precautions. Glad to have had our Covid boosters.
Oh yes I remember that tennis ball thing well. We had one too. Great fun. In fact we bought one for our DGC too.
Must be difficult to have someone living with you when you don’t know whether they’re enjoying themselves or not.

Something amazing happened today. DH and I were walking in our local park on one on the paths and a squadron of green parakeets flew straight across in front of us about an arms length away. They were quite close to the ground as they swooped past and there must have been at least 30 of them.
A wonderful sight. I know we have some around here and there are 6 that I’ve seen on a tree near our house but to see so many flying in formation was stunning. Such a flash of colour.

Right time for coffee and a piece of chocolate I think ?

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202111/medium-124048-candle-juno.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202111/medium-515089-screen-shot-2021-11-11-at-21-04-12.png https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202111/medium-768817-screen-shot-2021-11-11-at-21-04-30.png

Doodle I made marketable pieces such as hangings and candle holders but for my own interest, my 'hole" ?design were ones I experimented with. I brought the kiln to Cornwall with the intention of making more but the competition was too great and I struggled to find a suitable place for a studio.

If you're ever doing commissions, Muse, I should like order one of dark red pieces, please.
Seriously.

Beautiful?

Thank you ixion. I used to do commissions but I sold my glass stock and kiln two years ago.

?
?

So there I was, ready and waiting to be picked up by the woman who confirmed last night she'd be here to take me to the eye hospital.
And I waited and waited......and she just didn't bother to turn up, or let me know.

When I got in touch with the organsation who pays her to support me and others, they were cross about and said I should have been given a taxi chit if she'd ben uable to help.

She hadn't told me about that either.

The the hospital rang and were cross with me
'This is your vision we're talking about, it's important'
As if I didn't know and care about it more than they do!

So we've rescheduled for next week and I'm hoping that under our new, relaxed rules the St John's shuttle will be allowed take me.
They I can rely on.

That's awful Kaimoana but at least the rules are a bit more relaxed now and you will get there to the ball, Cinderella next week.

My French girls are really nice and have been making space for the cooker's arrival tomorrow. Just creating a passageway through stuff, not actually making a space.
I did have to part with some Stuff though which is good.

Your glass is beautiful muse I especially like the blue one.

I will be back later to finish reading and I may have something to report. We are going for a walk now, in the rain.

Drat! I logged in, wrote my message but it wouldn't send because I wasn't logged in . I'm not really up to writing my message again either so it's annoying.

Short version - I popped in to see how your appointment went Kaimoana. I see it didn't! Sorry that that happened to you but you'll be better off with St John's next week.

I had paramedics out this morning but managed to evade A&E ?. I've been hit by a double whammy of a shed load of seizures and complications from my prn medication probably poisoned by the death row pharmaceutical ?. I'll return when I've recovered as long as the poison doesn't get me ??

muse those are beautiful. Quite different from others I’ve seen. I love the blue one. Such a shame you’ve stopped doing it.
ixion they are lovely pieces aren’t they?

Oh Kaimoana I’d be steaming if I were your. Fancy not turning up. That is really bad. I hope everything goes according to plan next week.
Good to hear the French girls are a success Grammaretto
Enjoy your walk. Fancy leaving us in suspenders like that. I wonder what you have to report ?
Oh Cherry no. I hope you’re ok. We’ve only just got you back please don’t get poisoned. Keep safe. Perhaps I need to come up there (please note , no sense of direction. Everything apart from the Isle of Wight is “up there” to me) and sort your
Pharmaceutical company out.

Doodle

muse those are beautiful. Quite different from others I’ve seen. I love the blue one. Such a shame you’ve stopped doing it.
ixion they are lovely pieces aren’t they?

Oh Kaimoana I’d be steaming if I were your. Fancy not turning up. That is really bad. I hope everything goes according to plan next week.
Good to hear the French girls are a success Grammaretto
Enjoy your walk. Fancy leaving us in suspenders like that. I wonder what you have to report ?
Oh Cherry no. I hope you’re ok. We’ve only just got you back please don’t get poisoned. Keep safe. Perhaps I need to come up there (please note , no sense of direction. Everything apart from the Isle of Wight is “up there” to me) and sort your
Pharmaceutical company out.

Yes, aren't they just, doodle?

When does Muse finish their house???
Maybe, just maybe...

Easter I think Ixion… ….?

Thank you Doodle.
Diary note made?

Good morning ?

Only two more weeks till the big day - first day of advent, my 66th birthday and getting my state pension! The family are pouring over my extensive old lady birthday wish list and I'm looking forward to seeing if they go off piste and come up with something far more imaginative but I'm not holding my breath

It's been a busy week of chemo unit, another random hospital appointment, a night out with the great Tim Minchin in concert, a dinner out, a spot of baby sitting and general life stuff. I like weeks like that!

This morning Mr M and I are going to get divorced build some flat pack furniture. ? I needed another cutting table in my sewing room as I was having to come downstairs to cut anything out. I'm getting fitter but a tad frustrated so I bought a folding table that will take up all the floor space meet my needs.

We are trying to work out our travel plans for next year and have a long list as we need to catch up on missed holidays. I stumbled on a fab world cruise for only £80,000 each but my meanie of a husband says I can't have it for my birthday. AIBU ? ?

Happy Birthday Gubbins - the first year is the longest of your life! Relish each moment as by the time you get to my great age every year flashes past in about five minutes. I'm thinking of leaving the Christmas Tree up this year as it always seems to be nearly time to put it up.

Crunchy nut cornflakes and banana this morning to fuel my action packed day of arguments screw driver holding.

Bellbirds are spotted in Auckland

www.stuff.co.nz/environment/126920618/korimakobellbirds-spotted-in-auckland-for-the-first-time-in-a-century?fbclid=IwAR2xMC9yqdwMF4uu9QNfdAmo3JeJHugQlQQD8GcjF3gKsHXZQDw4CGaD1og

Such a pest when our best literary efforts are consigned to the bin Cherry
What a bu**er that you have been so unwell to invoke the Paras.

My new cooker has arrived in the kitchen, still in its wrapper.
It's destined to be a surface until such time as the plumber/electrician can remove the old one and install it.
I did ask for before Christmas but didn't specify the year....

Anyway I have been invited out for a curry tonight so not being able to cook has its advantages. The French girls will fend for themselves.

Someone came to look at the granny flat as a prospective tenant. She stayed for several hours but didn't make up her mind. How will 2 indecisive people manage to share a house?
I got the impression that she would like her own cottage in the country with a view.

I have just refreshed the page to find a week in the life of the very interesting Mamissimo

Good luck with the flatpack.

Have a nice evening /morning everyone. I shall be home in time for hot chocolate.

Mamissimo I will miss the big event. We are off on our travels again soon (not saying where but hopefully a bit warmer than here). I will try and join you but in case I am incommunicado please accept happy birthday wishes from me now ?
You have had a busy week. Hope Tim Minchin was good and the chemo went well.
I too have a folding table for cutting out my quilting stuff. Good luck with the flat pack stuff. Is MrM still in one piece.
Oh no what a spoil sport. £80,000 each, perhaps we’ll all go. ?
I was just sitting here quietly reading posts and no I have a raging desire for crunchy nut cornflakes and a banana, neither of which are in the cupboards. ?
Grammaretto at least your new cooker will not require cleaning for a while. Hope you get it installed soon.
Funny the people who come to look at your property isn’t it.
When we sold our house many years ago we had people come and say I really want a flat garden (so why look at a house on the side of a hill with a tiered garden). I got fed up with the kitchen is too big, small, dark, not in the right place (?) but the one that really annoyed me was when the estate agent phoned at 5.30 saying they had a couple desperate to view and even though it was short notice could we accommodate. We turned off the oven. Dashed round tidying before they came. They duly arrived and took a leisurely look round the house but when asked if their house was on the market they replied “No we’re not moving but someone we know has a house like this down the road and we wanted to know what it looked like on the inside……… ?
Hope you find someone nice to share with soon. Enjoy the curry…..I quite fancy that myself too. ?

Oh no, poor Cherry that's awful. It's not as if admonitions to be careful do any good as it's out of your control. I do hope it settles soon.

I can't imagine why your DH is so mean to you Mamissimo when you are unfailingly kind to him. .
At an ancient 66 this should be reported as elder abuse .
I urge you to push for that world cruise, I shall never forget the one we went on.

muse you are a very talented lady; I hope you have turned to something else creative.

Grammaretto how wonderful that the Korimako is back. I followed the link but for reasons I shall never understand, there was a lot of annoying and unreadable text across the film and loud music masking the Bellbirf's song. Why do they do that?

Doodle off to sea again, obviously your DH is kinder than Mamissimo's Hee hee

When we sold my mother's house, we had nosy time wasters like that as well.

One couple came in and whilst the agent was showing him the bedrooms, his wife stayed in the kitchen and criticised everything.

It was beautifully fitted in polished Rimu, with all new appliances, less than 2 years old and immaculate.
I told the agent, possibly in Mr & Mrs Nosypoke's hearing, 'I don't want these people living in my mother's home so please don't accept any offers from them.'

I wondered if from sheer awkwardness they would offer a huge price but they didn't.

Mum's house was a gorgeous 80 year old Kauri villa, completely fitted out by its previous wealthy owners and was a real showpiece, with Victorian coloured glass inner doors and carved wood ceilings, superb.

Well, they say disasters come in threes so perhaps no surprise that my fridge freezer packed up yesterday.
I took heart from your story Doodle but felt very helpless and old for a wee whiley.

My son and dil dashed over with a Chilly Bin to take all the food, so at least that's not wasted.
I've left a message with a local repairman who has brilliant references, so hoping it's not too pricey a repair.

Of course it come just as I also have very expensive (vital) dental work coming up and still only my basic pension to fund it all (unless I start printing bank notes!)

My grandson had the option of going home early when the family did their mercy dash yesterday but shook his head and turned the offer down.

We were in the kitchen before 7am making Melting Moments and he's doing a 2nd batch right now.

Parents will come with their fledgling Gubbins to uplift dgs at lunchtime and asll I can offer them is gluten-free bread and eggs!

Life's an adventure isn't it?

Love to all.

Life is indeed an adventure!
Kaimoana

Typical that the f/freezer dies just when you need it.
Now here, I had to explain to the Frenchies that there was no need to put butter in the fridge.

At the curry night we got talking about inscriptions on gravestones and dedications as you do. One of them which I rather liked read: "if you ain't got socks, you can't pull them up"

How rude some people are when noseying around houses.
I don't want to be here if I have to sell.
Some friends put their house on the market and went on holiday. The agent showed people round and it sold before they came back, a week later. That's the way to do it.

Doodle there are certain advantages to not having a cooker and not cleaning is one of them.

DS is collecting me and DMiL later to take us to his to watch a movie and maybe to have beans on toast?

Go for the cruise Mamissimo. You can call in on NZ unless they are still in Lockdown and on me in Scotland. So many possibilities.

Just popping by to say hi and wish each of you well,hoping you are in good spirits and overall ;life is being kind and productive.

I have recieved yet more unpleasant health reports and quite frankly am in such a turmoil,certainly unable to join in and chat.
But please know you are not forgotten.

Kaimoana your mothers home sounds lovely with it’s carved wood and Victorian glass.
Oh not your fridge freezer too. Good job your son and DIL were able to rescue your food. Hope your repair man can fix it for you. Why is it expensive things all happen at once.
How lovely to have your DGS want to stay with you.?
Such precious moments spent together baking and chatting.
Have a good time
Grammaretto hope your French girls are proving useful and good company.
Hope the curry was good. I like the quote too ?
Yes that is a good way to sell a house. We learnt over time not to believe all we were told.
Have a lovely evening with your DS. I love beans on toast too …..which film are we watching ?

Panache firstly it’s lovely to hear from you but so sorry your health is causing you more problems. You are still very much in all our thoughts. Take care much love x

Hello All. Enjoying our week in Yorkshire so beautiful here. The leaves are changing colour and we’ve had sun yesterday and today so it’s been even more glorious. Think we’ve lost the sun now but at least no rain is forecast - touch wood!
Sadly I heard yesterday that one of my friends had died of ovarian cancer. She was only in her 50s and had fought so hard. Then a bit later a friend messaged to say she had been diagnosed with dementia. Have to say that combined with the emotion of Remembrance weekend has blighted the last couple of days. Life can be so cruel at times. But onwards and upwards - will raise a glass to my friend tonight. Any excuse!

Jan good to hear you are enjoying Yorkshire but sorry about the news of your friends.
If your friend was able to tell you she’s been diagnosed with dementia it must be in the very early stages and accepting you have a problem and accepting treatment options will be a big help.
Unfortunately, my brother refused to visit a doctor or even discuss the possibility for a long time and by the time the diagnosis was confirmed he was long past being able to understand what it meant. I wish your friend well.
The trees sound lovely. We have been out locally looking at the changing colours but there aren’t many round here at the moment.
Enjoy the rest of your trip