The Lockdown Gang - carry on chatting ⭐️

OOh no! I don't like the thought of you on the High Seas, Doodle

I spoke to NZ DS about the shootings in Auckland and he said NZ doesn't have a high crime rate, it's just that as it's a small country, everything bad is reported.
If there's a car crash - it's on the news whereas it would have to be a pileup with multiple deaths to hit the headlines here.
But whatever the truth is, I am glad you are safely indoors Kaimoana

I am also sorry for your DGD muse. I would not like to be a teenager again apart from perhaps their knees

Doodle hope the seas calm down soon. Must admit if we’re cruising and the Captain mentions rough seas I immediately take a pill! Bit windy here today and no sorry wouldn’t get much more than a houseboat in our garden! Boadicea I love raspberries too. Think they are my favourite fruit. Oh for some warm sun!
Norstat hope you’re soon feeling better. Missy sounds lovely bless her. Our Theo has taken to sitting on a pouffe which is right in front of a radiator! Anyone would think our house is cold!
Hope Panache is ok. Not an easy time of year for her.
Must admit that after listening to Boris last night I felt quite down last night. Just as it seems we’re possibly getting back to normal up comes another variant. Fingers crossed we don’t get another lockdown. I know lots of people - including me - found the last lockdown incredibly difficult.
We are out to lunch with friends again tomorrow! Got to do it while you can!
Haven’t done anything about Christmas yet. Need to buy more cards to say nothing of presents. Really can’t believe it’s December already. Must get a grip!!

Well folks, we're opening up all our borders and allowing people to travel freely, despite Omicron and its acknowledged virulence.

Clearly the government has thrown its apron over its head and is leaving us to cope as best we can.

Kaimoana - rebellion is brewing, the social fabric of Auckland appears (to us bucolic yokels, at least) to be about to be torn asunder, the vax v unvax divide is causing much strife, the iwi are about to take matters into their own hands about closing off the North...no wonder they have thrown their pinny

6.30 a.m., sun just peeking over the grape vine, kitties fed, chickens fed, 2 cups of tea inside me…all good to go on a post.
First , Nortsat, I think Missy sounds absolutely adorable – noisy, but who could resist an elderly cat doing her best to chat amicably with her Mummy? I think you are very wise to be cautious, and just think of this time as a cruise, aboard a lifeboat which may be your lifesaver. I hope that Theo is keeping warm and cosy, Jan, in that bitter Norfolk weather. Also that your DD is doing well. Our little girls are finding summer nights on the bed just too warm (and I have to confess, 2 cats are the equivalent of 2 blankets), and have taken to sleeping outdoors on the veranda. I have to leave the door open for them, so it’s just as well we live in a safe neighbourhood.
Doodle, I hope life at sea is calm and relaxing…and that the food is still gorgeous and yummy-enjoy!
Muse keep on planning your trip to NZ! When my Dad was very ill, he loved nothing better than to spend his time while he was confined to bed, planning trips just for fun – to Africa, South America and Asia. My sister made a very good friend in the UK on a dog lovers’ site online, and she has been out to visit twice already! It must be such a worry about your DGD. Is there a teacher that she trusts who she could confide in? I used to find that a lot of my students enjoyed chatting through issues with me, especially girls, of course, as it sadly wasn’t “manly” for boys to do so. I remember doing oral French exams with 14 years olds, when we had a strict 10-minute slot to discuss the weather, their pets and hobbies etc, and one poor wee lass broke down in the 1:1 situation, and started unloading all sorts of issues, while the next child waited for her turn, and the next and…So much more important to seize the moment and allow the unburdening, and the other girls were quietly respectful and understanding. I used to teach boys, and was their house mother in the boarding school, and more than a few cried all over me…at least they had access to a woman who they felt able to open up to – some boys’ schools are still relentlessly macho, no female teachers, and no permission to be human.
Kaimoana-your story of the tattooed men and the flowers was infinitely touching. And being the person they could open up to. Grammaretto - as was your anecdote about the little boy taking flowers home to his Mum. Isn’t it lovely, though, now, that young men have society’s permission to be softer, and to show their human side. My father’s generation would never have dreamed of hugging their sons or pushing a pram…the great Kiwi Hard Bloke syndrome, presumably one of the sad effects of their experiences at Monte Cassino, Crete or in the Pacific theatre. My sons absolutely adore their children, read to them, play with them. One of them even bought himself pink pyjamas at the request of his little Tilly, so they could match. He also constructed a fairy walk through the bush for them, with hidden lights and little fairy houses made with sparkly paper and glitter. They remember the Starlight Walks we used to do when they were children, in the bush, totally dark, with torches, and only the amazing night sky.
Yesterday was busy, with end-of-year U3A group meetings, at the Packhouse Café, with lots of laughter and fun. My Roman History group have decided that as soon as the world is back to normal, we’ll have a school trip – to Turkey and North Africa, to see as many Roman sites as possible. Well, a girl can dream! The image of a gaggle of old ladies, sensible walking sandals and shady hats, striding out over the sand, is quite fetching, is it not?
Some much-needed rain last night has refilled our irrigation tanks, but I must go out and check the tomatoes for blight, with all this humidity. After the very hectic few weeks, I’m going to take today off and get back to my family memoirs…I’m conscious of mortality, and the need to document everything for future generations, especially as my own kids are very interested in family history. One day soon, I’ll tell you all about the elopement of Gt Aunt Annie, back in 1907!
Love to all, and apologies to those I’ve missed out. Have a wonderful evening/day, all.

Gubbins is walking!


On Tuesday she was in the middle of a room and stood, without holding on to anything for the first time but sat down again.

Today she did the same thing but my son was filming her just in case she dared step out.

In fact she turned 90° and took 7 steps towards him, squeaking with delight.

Evolution in action - remarkable.

((Applause)) Yay for Gubbins!!!

Applause for Gubbins
Hooray for Gubbins.

Any more happy stories?
I enjoyed the glimpse into life at the BJoneses
You are so right about seizing the moment when someone is ready to open to you. Sitting beside someone while driving or walking beside them can be good as it removes the need for eye contact.

I am glad I didn't go to a birthday party last weekend. Everyone there has gone down with covid.
This Saturday DGD and I are going to a forest families wreath making workshop. Her hockey has been cancelled due to ice on the pitch.
Hope the gang are in good spirits today.

I'm seizing the moment to just send congratulations to little Gubbins on those first steps at such a young age. It can't be more than six months since she was born.

Our electricity has been off - then on - then off, now on, since half past ten this morning. Its worrying how quickly the house cooled down. Luckily we have an open fire and a gas hob. Apparently there's a.big mobile transformer parked up to keep us going until they find the fault. Hopefully it does! Its really brought home how dire it must be for those Up North who've been off for a week. And especially those who are all electric - and those families with the kids off school with no tablets or screens!!

I'm seizing the moment to just send congratulations to little Gubbins on those first steps at such a young age. It can't be more than six months since she was born.

Our electricity has been off - then on - then off, now on, since half past ten this morning. Its worrying how quickly the house cooled down. Luckily we have an open fire and a gas hob. Apparently there's a.big mobile transformer parked up to keep us going until they find the fault. Hopefully it does! Its really brought home how dire it must be for those Up North who've been off for a week. And especially those who are all electric - and those families with the kids off school with no tablets or screens!!

NfkD The Scottish news just now showed families and older folk who have survived more than a week without power. Very cold weather too. Just when we should be going green and electric, I am most reluctant to ever lose my open fire. Though I may change it for a wood burner as DD says they are far more efficient. and she knows everything I can dream.
I hope you keep cosy. You have the cats to keep you warm

I managed to post a parcel to NZ today. The postage was almost as much as the parcel was worth.. You have to pay though. There is no choice
I have booked a train to see DS3 and the English DGC next week.
I am very excited. I hope it isn't cancelled.

Thank you all for the congrats to Gubbins. Nfk she's nearly 13 months, that's about average for walking I think.

Grammaretto there is an alternative to postage and one which is being used more and more.
You find a store in NZ which sells what you want to give and many even have free postage. If you pay, is a small courier charge from shop to recipient.
There's even a Scottish Shop here
www.scottishshop.co.nz/

Cold enough for a cardi here today but not by UK standards.

When I lived in Corwall, I had my trusty Trangia stove, on which I could make a full meal if required - and in winter it was often required

I even devised a safer way to use candles (we couldn't afford safer light sources).
The tea towele in the mug is kept fairly damp and this method is safer than the old 'candle stuck to a saucer' affair.
Batteries in the CD/radio, hot water bottles, and we laughed to scorn the pesky power cuts.

Nowadays I reckon I'd just go to bed!

Good morning Gangstars from Missy and Ollie (the Gangstars Molls) and me.
Jan I can imagine Theo sitting on the pouffe next to the radiator, where else would he sit?
BJ it was lovely to hear about the ‘Starlight Walks’ through the bush with torches, watching the Night Sky.
We live in London and hardly ever see stars because of the pollution levels in the air.
Kaimoana what lovely news about Gubbins taking her first steps. Bless her.
Grammaretto how awful to hear about people catching Covid at a birthday party. You must be really thankful you didn’t attend.
Will we see pictures of the output from your wreath making workshop? Hope you have a lovely day with your DGD.
NfkD glad you have electricity. It’s a reminder of how dependent we all are on electricity and gas.

I hope Doodle and the Dude have had a wonderful holiday.
Thinking of Panache.

I had coffee and a lovely mince pie with a friend yesterday.
It’s bright and sunny here, so we’re going for a walk along the bank of the Thames and a pub lunch (outside on the patio).

Have a pleasant weekend, all. ? ?‍⬛?‍⬛

Thanks Kaimoana. I shall do and have done what you recommend before but Nobody in NZ sells our local calendar and poetry book (with my poem in it )

The wreath making and reindeer workshop was just perfect, although driving there was hair raising because on the way the sun was in my eyes and on the way home there was a snowstorm. At the end we swapped wreaths as presents to eachother.

My df's DH is a whizz with woodwork and taught us how to use the traditional tools. No electricity allowed. He has even built his own portable vice and handsaw. He buys drills and hand tools off ebay, very cheap. The kids were enthralled except his own who was on his phone most of the time!!

I still think Gubbins is amazing. DD walked at a year but the boys were slower.

I came home just in time to sing carols in the town square, listen to the band and watch the Christmas lights.
But why is it just once or twice a year we see the families out in force? Where are they the rest of the year?

I hope you enjoyed your walk along the Thames Nortsat and your pub lunch.

Thnking of Panache this weekend and Cherry of course.

My DD didn't walk till 14 months. She had two adoring older brothers who waited on her like little slaves, so had no desire to go fetch things for herself. Eldest DS took his first step at 10 months, younger DS at 12 months. All so different. All so exciting for Mas and Pas.

Hello all. Be back on dry land tomorrow. Be good to get home. Nice to go away but be nice to get home again.
Grammaretto your comment about teenagers knees made me laugh. I know exactly what you mean. Getting out of a chair is a slow process for me now.
Glad you didn’t go to the party. Just shows covid is still doing the rounds a lot.
Glad you enjoyed your wreath making and the reindeer and finishing off with singing in the square and the town band sounds lovely. Christmas lights. My goodness I hadn’t realised Christmas was so close, never been away at this time of year before so it has come as quite a surprise. Hope you didn’t get too cold.
I have read about the poor people without electricity. Feel so sorry for those who have been without for days. I hope they get it fixed soon.
Jan yes we have been taking the sea sick tablets which have worked well. It has been quite rough seas and high waves but apart from staggering round a bit (no not the drink ?) we have been ok.
I think Theo, like most cats, knows where to sit to keep warm.
Hope you had a nice lunch out with friends during the week, we have a few meals booked for when we return too.

Boadicea you too have had an interesting life. Teenagers so often need to talk to someone and parents aren’t always the ones they feel they can confide in. I bet you were a good teacher and house mother.
I agree with you. Men these days seem to be much more hands on with raising the children. My sons don’t like working far from home so they can be with their families,
Your U3A groups sound fun. I loved the description of your imagined trip round the Roman sites. Be lovely if it went ahead ?
Yeah! Well done Gubbins walking now but I expect to see her dancing soon I’ll be bound. ?. Now the fun starts to see if mum and dad can keep up with her.
I thought the picture was of a new drink you had invented. I wasn’t quite sure what purpose the candle served, now I know. We have our trusty torch in our hall cupboard. Always a good idea to have things close at hand in case of emergency.
Nfk hope you are ok and not being too affected by the power cuts. Yes it does get cold really quickly. At least you have some form of heat and cooking. If the iPads and tablets and phones aren’t working I wonder if the old board games will come out and be played by candle light. It’s what we used to do in the “olden days” ?
Nortsat and the Molls, hello ? is Minnie ok?
Hope you enjoyed your Thames walk and mince pies. It must be a bit warmer on your part of the Thames. My son sent me a picture of the snow where they live. I don’t think it lasted long though.

I can remember going through a period of severe power cuts in the early 70s. I was decorating our nursery room at the time and was sticking little adhesive animals on the walls.
I was halfway through sticking one the wall when the lights went out. I was stuck to the wall with an elephant ear. stuck to each of my hands and a trunk flapping in the wind. Calling to DH to bring the torch cause Dumbo was in mid flight. ?
Hope all the rest of the gang are ok. Take care all.

Oh mum it was soooo cold out there and I got WET!

‘I am just day dreaming in front of the fire … until supper time?‍⬛

Jan and Nortsat - thank you so much for the photos of your lovely kitties - the perfect way to start the day! Doodle - you will be looking forward to getting home now, I'm thinking. Life at sea is wonderful, but homecoming is even better. Grammaretto and Nfk - really hoping that the cold and lack of heating is under control for you now. Those poor people, going all this time without electricity. Your Christmas preps and festivities sound amazing, Grammaretto! And I feel for you, with the cost of postage to the other side of the world. Even to Australia from here is ridiculously expensive, and it's about the same distance to Sydney from here as it is to Dunedin! I'm afraid American and British family just receive festive emails or e-cards these days.
I'm just in from tying up the tomatoes and checking for blight. It was 19 deg c last night, and very, very humid. I'm still in awe of nature - coming in this morning from feeding the chickens, hands full of lovely warm fresh brown eggs, a bunch of asparagus, huge globe courgettes, Lebanese cucumbers, and a handful of raspberries. There are early figs plumping up on the trees, huge clusters of deep green-brown pears, olives, apples, plums and peaches showing promise. The lime and orange blossom has given way to tiny fruit, which will ripen in the winter, and the lemons just keep on giving. It's no wonder that our ancestors were so in tune with the land and the gifts of nature, and that the mid-winter festivals to ensure that the sun would return to continue the earth's fertility were so important.
That's enough philosophising for this time of the morning. Let's get on with the day/evening.
Love to all x

Though since it's a freezing evening for you over there, maybe you would like a story, as I promised? Are you sitting comfortably? Then I'll begin.
The Elopement of Great-Aunt Annie (a true story of colonial NZ)
Gt grandfather (no, not the one who shot the butler, but on the other side...equally unpleasant though), was a remittance man. Now, non-colonials may not recognise this term - it refers to men who had done something to embarrass their family back Home, and had been sent to the colonies to get them out of the way, supported by a quarterly remittance. The offence is uncertain, but appears to have involved a housemaid who was in the family way. This side of the family are notorious for their ermm..excessive testosterone. Anyway, he was a medical student at St Bart's, and failed to complete his course owing to the scandal, and ended up in NZ. However, his skills came in handy, as it was the height of the TB epidemic, and Maori people were particularly susceptible to infection, having no natural resistance. He worked with TB patients in the Waikato (south of Auckland), and was greatly respected, receiving a magnificent greenstone (jade) pendant from the Maori King himself, in token of his work. Nevertheless, he was restless and unsettled, and found himself in the South Island, where he met and married a young lady from Lincolnshire, who had been born in the workhouse, emigrated with her family as a baby, and was barely literate. He then proceeded to father 11 chilldren on her in rapid succession.

They eventually bought a farm on the coast near Hamilton, and set about sheep farming. Their eldest daughter, Annie, was beautiful and clever. She fell in love with one of the itinerant shearers who came for a few weeks to sort the wool crop, but her father was having none of it. He was a landowner, her beau was well beneath her station. Annie was a feisty lass, and loved her Tom faithfully. So one day, she put a few things in her saddlebags, and rode off to the nearest railway station - quite some miles - slapped her horse and sent him home, note attached, saying that she had run off with her Tom and that they were to be married. They lived happily together for over 60 years, and Annie's was the "safe house" for all of her younger siblings who had felt their father's horsewhip too many times. Her mother, Alice, suffered badly from depression ("nerves") -is it any wonder? -and must have led a dog's life with that arrogant and selfish man.

Well, girls, aren't we lucky to be living in these times?
(Is anyone awake out there?) x

Hello Lobstars and their molls,
I am impressed Doodle that you still find time to remember each of us land lubbers whilst being thrown about aboard.
You truly are a star
I am feeling quite lazy. I set out for a walk but noticed my neighbour, a weaver, had opened her studio so went in and after tea and a good chat to the other customer, bought a truly beautiful silk scarf for DD who has a birthday before Christmas bad planning

I love the sound of your abundant garden BJones do you call it a lifestyle section? My cousin in Christchurch calls hers that. She keeps a few ponies and pet sheep and grows veg .
One of my friends has just acquired a 5 yr old cat. She says he's quite nervous as yet but let her groom him today . We haven't met yet.
She thinks I should get a cat for company. I'm not keen.
Enjoy the rest of your evening or morning, as the case may be.

You will remember I spoke about Ryan, my friend's 16 year old cat who lost his brave fight just before Thanksgiving.
Here are the two cats she's just acquired from the Human Society Rescue.

They are Russian Blue's, brother and sister and she's called them (inevitably) after some characters on TV, Sheldon & Missy.

Missy is very affectionate and looks after her brother, who's abit nervous. They both seem to have settled down though and of course Jayne adores them.

Russian Blue's have a very velvety fur which doesn't shed much.

Good Morning Gang.

Our posts must have crossed yesterday BoadiceaJ as I have only just read about your Annie! What wonderful stories you have. I didn't know about the remittance men.

My inspiration to study the family history came from another Annie. (I wondered if it t'were the same one)

Mine was born in densely crowded, East end of London but emigrated to NZ with husband #1 on a sailing ship in 1866. My dad wrote down some of her story - in shorthand on a scrap of paper- which my mum gave to me when I was 16, showed an interest, we had moved to England and my dad was dead.

The ship docked at Lyttleton and they were cared for, and given clothes, at the Barracks then were told where to go to open a boot making business. They rode on horseback, with a Maori guide, sleeping outside. She recalls the campfire and noise of a Maori Pa. She says it would have been good but a year or so later, DH drowned leaving her alone with a baby. Instead of returning, as her and his parents wished, a Scottish sailor was sent to fetch her back, but instead, he stayed and married her. These were my gt grandparents. Her story doesn't end there because he also drowned, on one of his perilous journeys, and she now with 7 children, had another son 3 years later aged 41. Father unknown
She lived to be 96 and swam in the sea every day of her life.
She told her stories to her DGC and when my dad left NZ aged 23, he had a list of places and people his granny wanted him to see in London!
I took it as my duty to see what happened to the ones she left behind.
Recently, via Ancestry DNA I have "met" cousins whose families remained in London.

Anyway I was thinking of intrepid Annie today as I think of Doodle still at sea but returning soon and of course those boat people trying to start a new life in the UK away from war and desperate poverty.
The photo includes one of her sons (front left).

Jan that’s a cosy looking Theo. Couldn’t get closer to the radiator if he tried. ?
Nortsat I see the Molls like a good fire too.
Boadicea you are so right. The holiday was nice but we like being at home best. Takes a while for us to adjust back into our routine.
Your trip round the garden collecting produce sounds lovely. Such fresh food.
What a wonderful story. I loved it. Good for young Annie having a happy life with her Tom. I agree gt grandfather didn’t sound a pleasant fellow at all.
Grammaretto do you live I a special area which attracts artistic people or are you just lucky to be around like minded people. Fancy popping out and having coffee with your weaving friend.
You’ve bought a scarf for your DD and Kaimoana one for her DIL. Might give me an idea for mine ?
Kaimoana your friends cats look lovely. I had a friend who had a Prussian blue too. I agree the fur is lovely. Sorry, just realise you said Russian blue. I think that’s the right term I must have picked up Prussian blue from somewhere else ( ah an oil painting colour I wonder …..my mind works in mysterious ways ?)
Grammaretto another fascinating story. I can see why you, and others, are interested in ancestry when you find out such interesting facts. How brave some people are, heading off into the unknown and making their own way.
I am pleased to say we are no longer sailing the seven seas. Home at last and on dry land, It was a little rough for the last 48 hours but nothing some sea sick tablets couldn’t cope with.
DH and I even had lunch on our balcony one day. Fully wrapped up in outdoor coats, hats, scarves and blankets with a bottle of bubbly in an ice bucket. It was wonderful watching the waves and the colour of the sea close to the ship. We lasted about 15 minutes before we got too cold.
Thinking of Panache Cherry Missedout Mamissimo Muse and Nfk Hope all is well with you.