The Lockdown Gang - carry on chatting ⭐️

Hello dear friends. Doodle & Cherry I hope you're right about Gubbins. She now tries to talk in such a comical way. Her brother will say something to her and she answer seriously with, "googlialabaclooifar..'.. She's been saying Dad and Mum for a while but this is very different.

Oh, Nortsat that's such a shame I do hope you feel better soon. Do you report side-effects in the UK? We are encouraged to as they are collating them all and we can also get compensation or paid health care if needed.

Before I forget, I see Grandmafrench sent a kind greeting - that was very sweeet - thank you There are some nice people here

And poor muse a bit of good and some not so good in your life. Wishing you all hapier days.
My hip op was in 2004 and I've had no trouble; this X-ray is for the other one.
As you will know by now, I'm a talkative old bird and was able to ask questions as the surgeons worked on my bones - fascinating stuff. ​

Grammaretto I bought a cosy winter coat and I think I've worn it 3 times in 12 years! Mainly when we elders are required to be atop a mountain in the predawn of winter.

Despite my promise to rest more, my dgs is coming again this weekend and there's a lot to do - but I did go for a wee lie down at 2:30 and was so restless I was up at 10 to 3 repairing a wicker basket. Must Try Harder

I'm off to make a magnetic fishing game for young Gubbins (as I did for her brother in times gone by).

Twenty four degrees and sunny.
Cherry we used to melt crayons on our school heater - and put our frozen bottles of milk on it for playtime.

Stay cosy y'all.

Lovely to see your post Kaimoana. Hope all goes well at the eye clinic on the 12th. That makes two of us for hip x rays. I had a replacement 5 years ago and something is amiss with it. A lot of pain recently. Doctor's visit tomorrow for an assessment.
Grammaretto I have a hot choc tonight with some spiced rum in it. Sleep guaranteed. You talking of the kiln temperature made me fondly remember my fused glass days. I loved experimenting with ramping and annealing times.
What a terrible reaction you had Nortsat . I struggled for 24 hrs but nothing like that. Hope you are fully over it now.

DD has now been off work for two weeks but seeing an excellent counsellor. No news from my DS so the concern still lingers. MrMuse's leg is fully recovered. Compression bandages are amazing. After 6 months of struggling - 3 weeks with the bandages and the ulcer is heal He now has to wear compression socks for one year to help the skin heal fully.

I'm from ooop North Jan16 (Derbyshire). 7 years ago I moved darn south to Cornwall. I still miss the Peaks and the Dales.

I've sent Jeeves back down to the cellar for the spiced rum CherryCezzy *?.

That looks so nice and cosy Grammaretto I love the colour.

Evening all. We had a day in today so I decided to tackle the lounge and dining room and give them a good going over.
Had to have a few breaks in between to rest (and read a book ?)
Been wet most of the day so wouldn’t have been good walking weather anyway.
Cherry I’d forgotten infant school till you mentioned it. Yes we had those big radiators too. Everything is so sleek and streamlined these days.
Yes I want to know about Grammaretto’s coat too.
I am a coat person not a shoe person. I have a small number of shoes and sandals one pair of boots but I do have a few coats/jackets that I’ve acquired over the years. My serious coat for when something smart is required, my wax jacket, for when it’s likely to rain but not be too cold, my long Seasalt coat for the worst of weather, my pink raincoat, lilac pacamac, grey smart and light weight, beige light and not so smart……….I have too many coats. ?. We went to London one year to stay for a couple of days and see a show. It was freezing and I’d only got a light coat so we went int M&S and DH bought me a beautiful rich red coat which I loved and had for many years till the moths ate it. Whatever am I waffling on about. Sorry you don’t need to know my coat saga. Your fault Cherry, you started it ?
Ooh new bedding. What colour is it? I hate changing the bed but love the feeling of clean sheets.
I’m sure Jeeves will find some decent stuff somewhere Cherry ……….even if it’s not our cellar ?
Grammaretto I’m glad the girls have arrived and enjoyed a hearty breakfast. I hope all works out for you.
A few giggles will be good as long as they get the work done.
Hope you enjoy their company.
Just off to look at your coat in a minute.
Nortsat I hope you’re feeling better today too.
Jeeves have you found that bubbly yet?
Take care all.

Hello lovely folks,

Poor Nortsat to have such a nasty reaction. I hope it wears off soon and you feel much better. My DDoL (Daughter outlaw) has had a frozen shoulder since her jab and can't easily move her arm because she says the injection went in too high up and into the muscle.

The French girls arrived and are very sweet. Rather young and giggly so far and look about 15. However my other df is still here so is helping me to direct them. She cooked a pan of porridge which they had not tried before and seemed to enjoy finish

I am leaving them today to move a wood pile. I have already made plans for today.

The coat Cherry in XXXL is mustard colour and very cosy.
www.trespass.com/celebrity-womens-parka-jacket?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=shopping_feed&utm_content=free_google_shopping_clicks&gclid=Cj0KCQ

? Happy (belated) birthday dear Gubbins ? ??. A year old! Crickey, time does fly!
Kaimoana, Gubbins may be reserved with you now but she won't always be - wait 'til she finds her feet properly and her world opens up, as *Doodle says her own DGD was the same with her. The eldest of my three great nephews was the same with me - the two younger ones not so much as they followed their brother's lead and he was much less reserved with me by the time his brothers came along ?
Sorry to hear you're worn out before the day had hardly begun - you obviously overdid it early on. I did tell you to get plenty of rest! Please, please take it easy xx

That's some throwback radiator Grammaretto. There were ones like that in my infant school! I hope your visitors arrived safely and are settling in, most of all I hope they are lovely people and are pleasant to be around.
Ooh, you can't leave your take of your coat purchase sale there. You didn't say whether you managed to find what you were looking for or the colour you bought. I'm nosey, do tell ?
Hope your English DiL has enjoyed her birthday and their DD enjoys hers tomorrow.

Sorry to hear that you haven't been feeling too good Nortsat and had such a terrible reaction to your booster and/or flu jab. Sounds scary and horrible ?. I'm glad you recovered well but take it easy with that labyrinthitis!
Yes, I'm a West Ham fan and I know you live not far from what was the The Boleyn ground (? it's gone), I remember that from the gn morning thread ☺️.
Thank you for letting us all know how Panache is doing and that she is sending us her love. I'm sending love to her too and a cwtch to you both.

Fireworks ? are still being set off where we live. It's odd though ... since they are being set off in the daytime ?. Don't see the point of that myself. They even woke me up this morning, and no it wasn't still dark because I had already had a lie in ?
We had to nip out yesterday to an area we don't go to very often which happens to have a Matalan shop very nearby. Before we went out I should have stripped the beds but feeling #lazy I didn't ?. To provide incentive to do that ? we nipped into Matalan and bought two new sets of bedding ?. Okay, okay, I know the beds still had to be stripped to use the new bedding .... but it worked ?

I hope Jeeves finds some decent stuff in the cellar ....

Hello Nortsat and Missy (I know how you feel Missy ?)
I’m sorry you’ve not been feeling great recently but pleased to hear you feel you are improving. That would have been a good guess for the cog. Glad it wasn’t one of my sofa buttons though, that would have been difficult to repair.
Ooh that’s a good idea to celebrate Mamissimo’s birthday.
I will send Jeeves down to the cellar for supplies.
Thank you for letting us know you’ve heard from Panache.
Sending love back too.
? oh my goodness that must have been a shock.
Were you ok with the first couple? Apart from feeling tired the booster doesn’t seem to have caused me a problem.
DH often says the same. He has umpteen conditions and finds what helps one upsets the other.
Hope Missy and the Molls are keeping a close eye on you ?

Good afternoon Gangstars from me and Missy … (who is stalking backwards and forwards to the kitchen, asking for her supper but it’s 1.5 hours too early).

I haven’t been posting (not too well, though improving) but have been reading.
Kaimoana I was so sorry to hear about your eye. Glad you’re recovering but quite understand that your energy is low. Take good care of yourself and try to rest.
Gubbins is almost 1 … where did that time go to?
Doodle I thought the mystery object was one of those buttons that you cover with fabric or leather in upholstery.
Cherry glad you’re enjoying the football. Do you support West Ham? We live quite close to their ‘old’ ground.
Grammaretto oh my, I looked at the lovely things on the Toast website, sadly they’re outside of my budget, but beautiful.
Congratulations on the sales of your pieces at the exhibition preview.
Mamissimo what are your birthday plans this year? If a Gangstars soirée is off the cards, I think we need Jeeves to, at least, bring us some champagne and non alcoholic cocktails, so that we can raise a toast to you. A slice of birthday cake too please, Jeeves.
I have had a couple of nice emails from Panache, who is facing her challenges bravely and sends her love to us all.
I know we send it back too, of course.

I’ve had my booster and flu jab and had a bad reaction. I came round from unconsciousness to find our living room rather crowded and my partner discussing me with two v large ambulance men. Very confusing.
I have made a decent recovery but I had an episode of labrynthitis today, which has slowed me down again. Some days I feel like a collection of disparate medical conditions.

Hope all the Gangstars are well and in good spirits ? ?

Cherry I have no idea how that little wheel escaped as far as it did. A heroic effort. Perhaps I should enter it into the next dishwasher olympics.
Still can’t get over how good it is to have you back with us ??
Kaimoana I hope you are taking care of yourself. Getting more rest is a good idea.
Gubbins one. Seems like only yesterday we were eagerly awaiting her birth. My DGD was pretty much the same with me too. When she started walking well and getting around a bit more she became more happy to engage with us.
I’m sorry about the estrangement with your other son. It is the case for so many people. At least you are doing all you can to tell him you love him.
Hope Gubbins enjoyed her birthday. Did she have a cake?
Grammaretto I expect your visitors have arrived by now. Hope they are settling in well and the radiator is warm and cosy.
I agree with coats. I dislike the ones with a nipped in waist too.
My favourite is a long black waterproof coat I bought from sea salt. It has padding inside and a fur lined back and hood. It is very cosy and being so long (about calf length) keeps my nether regions warm too. Hope you found something you like.
I can just picture you out in your football kit jogging up the hill.?
Hope all the birthday people have a nice time.

Hello lovely Gang -pals,

The Frenchies arrive this morning off the overnight bus so I am not, but should be making their room beautiful and welcoming.
The only way to turn on the radiator is to turn a nut somewhere near the ground on the antiquated radiator - similar to this.

I agree about larger sizes Kaimoana.

When I bought my warm coat last week I had to ask what they had in for XXXL or in the mens, having tried on all the coats I fancied first. The girl apologised and agreed that some other women also looked in the mens. Well there's a surprise. The coats are designed for skinny people with very long arms and nearly all were black or grey. It was an outdoor shop and I wanted warm, roomy, waterproof and cheap with a double-ended zip!
As a df told me years ago you can cut off the size label if you don't like the look of it.

I spoke to NZ last night so I know the weather was wonderful. DS was hanging out the washing and DGS was about to go to school.

It's my English DiL's birthday today and their DD's tomorrow. I bought DGD a voucher on-line but I think I have shipped it to myself. It's for football kit so not sure if I have much use for it.

Happy birthday Gubbins!!
?

.

I forgot to mention.
Gubbins was one year old on Sunday.
Standing and balancing but not quite walking.

Still doesn't want much to do with me but allowed me to kiss her hand as long as Papa held her.
The wee minx.

My estranged son's 51st birthday today and I sent the same, 'Happy Birthday - I love you' email.
No doubt with the same silent non-response.

Ah well, c'est la vie for so many of us.

My day began well but has gone downhill as have my energy levels and I'm going back to bed soon.
The weather is gorgeous, as are Grammaretto's night clothes.
I notice Toast's "ethical policy" doesn't extend to providing fat-girl sizes you thin women are so lucky to have pretty things to wear.

Laundry's done and out in the sun; kitchen's cleaned; emails's answered, recycling sorted and now my little greeting or moan today to my friends here.

G'night all!
It's 11.30 am !

Back again ...
I'm pleased that the exhibition went well Grammaretto and I'm sure you enjoyed the meal with your friends afterward. Well done for selling three pieces of your work ?. I hope the french students you are hosting are lovely (and well behaved).

Doodle, how on earth did the runner perhaps the Clue's in the name get there ?. I'm glad it's found it's way back (well okay you worked out what it was and put it back) and the dishwasher's working ?.

I haven't worked out exactly which nightie you bought Grammaretto, they have some lovely ones, and PJs, and if Mamissimo's daughter was to buy a pair from them she could hardly claim it wasn't sybaritic. To be fair Toast have some lovely clothes full stop. Good for you treating yourself ?

That’s a very glamorous nightie Grammaretto. I’d be tempted to wear it to a posh dinner ?

Grammaretto well done to your DGDs team. That’s a big change becoming a teenager. Does she live far away?
Yes sorry, the burst corset would be more exciting. I’m just glad we found out what it was. I kept looking round the flat wondering what was about to fall apart or land on my head.
Glad your exhibition was successful and well done selling three pieces. Nice to go for a meal after with the others.
They don’t make things to last like they used to do they? ?
Oh nice nice to have some visitors. Will they be helping you round the house and garden? Do you speak French?
Hope you get on well with them.
Ixion there is so much stuff laying around (I am not the tidiest person in the world) that the Borrowers would have a field day here. ?
Mamissimo I didn’t know what sybaritic meant so I asked DH, he didn’t know either so I made the mistake of asking Alexa. Her response “ An attempt to damage or interrupt a computer or computer network”
She thought I said cyber attack ?
I now know what it really means. ?

Are you sure it wasn't the Borrowers, Doodle, cruelly interrupted mid- borrow?
Maybe leave them a couple of really useful alternatives?

Well done your team!
DGD team won their away match 4-0 yesterday. It's her birthday tomorrow so I must send her something. urgently She becomes a teenager!

How disappointing that the burst corset turns out to be merely a dishwasher part Doodle.

I would not make a good detective after all.

The exhibition preview was lovely. The first one for 2 years. I sold 3 pieces but one was taken away leaving a gap. Afterwards most of us went for a Chinese meal. A novelty for me.
Meanwhile back at the house I left the electrician working away at the lighting in the flat. He has told me I must get new lights. It was falling apart as he touched it. The spotlights were only put in in 1980. Seems like yesterday.....

I love your wish list Mamissimo mm those pyjamas. I bought myself a new nightie recently gorgeously warm and comfy at great expense but I reckon it's the nicest thing I own.
www.toa.st/collections/womens-nightwear
now if I was a clever sewer like some of you .

Did I say that I am hosting 2 French students from tomorrow?
They are coming from London on the overnight bus. It's the work exchange thing which has been dormant since the start of lockdown and Brexit has kept everyone away.

Better go and face the day.

Hurrah ?. Well done our team ?

Is it really two years Mamissimo? Good heavens, where does the time go ... ? Like Doodle I remember your party really well, it was a really enjoyable one.

Match Report
We won! We beat Liverpool Doodle. What a brilliant match it was too ? I think ixion enjoyed it too. The Hammers are flying ? so far this season ?

Hope the exhibits are sorted Grammaretto and fitted the the space you've got to exhibit them.

You'd better still be resting Kaimoana !

Well all., the mystery is solved. DH went to stack the dishwasher tonight and couldn’t get the bottom drawer out of the machine. After lots of tugging and manoeuvring it came out. It seems it had lost one of its Runners ?‍♂️. How it managed to come off the drawer, roll all the way across the kitchen, out into the hall and down to the lounge without either of us spotting it I don’t know. Anyway it’s now back in place and the drawer is working fine.
Mamissimo I do remember your party. We had such a good time. Is it really that long ago? Good luck with the dumplings ?
Grammaretto I think if I was to try and squeeze into a corset there would be more than one piece flying off in all directions.
Fringe and a bob is my hairdo. Only difference is sometimes short and sometimes long,. When I can’t see myself in the mirror, I know it’s time to have the fringe cut. ?
When is the exhibition? I hope it all runs smoothly.
Cherry you were very close with your vacuum cleaner idea.
Not not an alien spaceship unless they were very tiny aliens ?
Quick visit from me tonight. I am absolutely exhausted. I’m hoping it’s the effect of the jab and it will wear off soon. I ache in all my muscles. Early night for me I think. Sleep well all.

Doodle is it an end stop for something? It looks like one of the things that pop on the end of a led or handle to provide a foot or tidy cap. Looks like it fits on a plastic tube like that.

I've been digging up dahlias, tidying up and......planting the bored beans. ? Don't the years go quickly? It's nearly two years since we had the wonderful soirée to celebrate my birthday and Doodle played the triangle with such bravura.

I've sent the ADC my wish list as requested and it's such an elderly list this year.....slippers, candles, pyjamas, a thread organiser.....not one single sybaritic thing! I'm no longer the girl I was!

It's getting dark here and Mr M is painting the exterior of his workshop.....and probably anything near by. He's resisting having an eye test but def. needs one as he can't see where he's left any of his ten pairs of glasses ?

And now I must make dumplings......

I remember that episode of Blackadder well Grammaretto and followed your link and watched it again. There is definitely an element of that with what my mother's neighbour did, #??!

Doodle, I don't know how much of a sleuth I am ... but that looks like it could be a 'component' that connects to another 'component' part of a vacuum cleaner. I know it looks familiar to me and I could be wrong but I've definitely seen something like that before whatever it turns out to be. Put it this way, I don't think it's part of an alien spacecraft but I could be wrong ? ?

Oo! what's the verdict?
I tried looking for similar on pinterest and it suggests a website called How to mend Corsets well Doodle is there something you are not telling us?
the glamourous new hairdo....hmm Do tell

The exhibition has been hung and I'm leaving the party preparations to the others. There are good and bad things about sharing a space. There is not enough space for a start.

A df's children are in Glasgow for the climate march this weekend. I hope it inspires them to work for a better future and not depress them too much. Probably both.

I tasted the apple juice and honestly it's like nectar.

I will ask df to help find the deeds and she will quickly find something else to do be delighted to help.
Your story of the clock Cherry reminded me of that episode in Blackadder and Samuel Johnson's dictionary.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMKxeHZJtJU

Hello ixion how are you?
This is my mystery object. Any ideas?