The Lockdown Gang - carry on chatting ⭐️

We have had some good times Grammaretto and so many laughs. Remembering those has helped us through the rougher times.

I have almost achieved a full year with GN. By the skin of my teeth sometimes! I found Lockdown thanks to Doodle and do so appreciate the camaraderie every single person shows towards each other.

You're right about Suzie Dent Doodle.

Excellent post Kaimoana. Good to read you're you again. ?

See you all in 2022. I don't think I'll keep awake long enough to see the year in. Glorious weather today so I spent an enjoyable few hours with pots and plants. My lovely stellata magnolia is now in a new pot outside the new build - full of tiny buds.

Just a quick visit to wish everyone a happy new year.

Grammaretto reading your post made me think of this:
"We didn't realize we were making memories we just knew we were having fun" AA Milne
Which is exactly what has happened by Doodle creating this thread.
There's been fun, laughter, humour, hardships and heartaches during the time that this thread has been running and mostly care, comeradery, comfort and companionship.

Cheers Lockdown gangStars ?☕

Here's hoping 2022 is a good year!

Oh muse and Cherry what lovely posts.
Yes we have had fun together and a whole range of emotions too as you you say Cherry .
Cheers to you all as well ?

Big cwtch to all of you x

A very Happy New Year to all! The sun has risen on the most perfect summer's day. No seeing in the new year for us, just a good night's sleep.
Doodle I blush to admit that my chickens did not receive Christmas gifts, but in my defence, I hasten to tell you that they eat like queens every day - all manner of treats - which i assume is the reason why they lay so well. They have all been named now - Maureen, Doreen, Flora and Jill. Jill is named for my mother, because she is fat and bossy, and at the top of the pecking order. Flora is the little one at the bottom of the heap - very self-effacing. Maureen and Doreen have very little personality, hence the names. They merge into each other. The little quail do have meal worms every day - they were used to just quail seed mix, but now they have meal worms and green peas in addition to their boring rations. Yes, some of my students use Duolingo and enjoy it, though find being marked wrong for using British spelling/vocabulary rather than American is very annoying.
Grammaretto - loved the book suggestion, and it answers so many of my questions-why can't I use gruntled and feck in my scrabble games??
Kaimoana - MrJ fell about laughing at the EIEIO, and the Initialisation is very interesting. Loved the cheeky comment about the drip! Meant in the nicest possible way, naturally.
I had an email from my American nephew in Seattle this morning-he's accepted a post at Auckland Hospital (he's a surgeon), starting in June - the whole family, with two little ones are moving- they've had enough of everything that's gone wrong, and now especially the omicron situation. And who wouldn't, with dual citizenship? So exciting, as they are such a lovely little family.
Time to get on with the day. Still avoiding excessive exercise and ticker ticking nicely. Have a wonderful start to what has to be a better year, everyone. x

Boadicea Happy New Year to you too. We’ve still got two hours to go.
I love that your chickens all have names and your reasons for naming them. They sound well looked after too.

I wish I could get the Dean’s cockerel Russel Crowe to stand still long enough for a photo. He has the most spectacular colouring and when he’s catches the sunlight the greens, reds and oranges of his plumage are stunning.
That’s exciting news about your nephew. Hope you get to see more of them when they move close.
Enjoy the rest of your day. ?

Good evening ?
I found a leg of lamb that I must have been saving for something so Mr M is enjoying his last dinner! Bless the dear man, he told me that he felt that he'd been a good patient and that I'd managed quite well.....and he hoped I wouldn't take it the wrong way but I was looking rather tired......

I'm raising a glass to each and everyone of us this evening - may we keep on gliding on the surface and continue to be buoyed up by Lobstars.

Happy New Year!

Good morning Gang-stars on this first of what I insist will be a good year.

Excellent philosophy from your DS Grammaretto - I sped to the library site to find Susie Dent. Alas, as so often happens, nothing in a format I can access.
Hōhā!

Yes, Nfk we did used to blame the Russians didn't we? But how can we now when the place is run by that benign ex-KGB benefactor the handsome Mr Putin (now where's that icon which denoted extreme sarcasm?)

However, I did eat a lot of Chinese food at one time; maybe that's why I can't see, or hear too well now? 面条太多

Mmmm, that's quite a new twist on a Boxing Day feast Doodle: steak and cleaning fluid. No wonder your DH has to check his peak flow.

My peak flow is usually about 5:30 am, but as you know, I drink 750ml of cold water each night

Mamissimo your DH seem quite oblivious to these near-death experiences doesn't he?

BJ How lovely that the American contingent is joining us. Even our cold winter weather can't match that of Seattle. At least if they wish, they can "go to the snow" at the Ruapehu ski fields, where everyone from the city is fighting for an inch of the piste (and by lunchtime, most of them are, as newts).

As it was a public holiday on Monday, I had no homecare to take me shopping but got my put-you-right vitamins by mail and now have so much iron(y) in my blood that the fridge magnets now leap off and stick to me.

We have indeed had much fun together and kept each other’s spirits up.

Doodle and Cherry you did such a wonderful thing starting this thread; may it never unravel.

Ooh Mamissimo that made me splurt my coffee, ?
I expect another leg of lamb will be on order soon.
Cheers ? to you too and Happy New Year.

Kaimoana peak flow at 5.30 indeed. I will tell him that he will find it funny.
You’re in good form must be the iron. ?
Yes we have had lots of fun, interesting times. Learnt new things and kept ourselves going.

Thanks to all who have posted on the thread for the company and caring.
Another hour to go here. Will I stay awake I wonder

? ? ? ? ??

You just beat me Cherry ?. Happy New Year all ????

Kaimoana 面条太多 !!! hahaha!

Isn't google translate great!

Hope everyone's NY is going well, and that the Christmas chocolate and booze supplies are holding up.

Doodle - Chickens' treats tonight included:
Leftovers: salad, ham, cat food, porridge, egg sandwiches.
Mince pies. Laying pellets. All major food groups. No wonder they're chirpy. A pair of collared doves have now joined the happy party and get stuck into whatever's there.. They are very sweet, and the chickens are happy to share.
I wonder what the Dean's girls had for their NY feast? Russell Crowe sounds a very handsome lad. I hope he's not too noisy!

Still so hot, and even hotter tomorrow. No gardening after 8 a.m. I think. More rain please!

Good morning ?

Mr M passed a peaceful night and has woken up fairly perky. Yippee!

However DD1 rushed to hospital this morning by ambulance with abdominal pain that hasn't responded to treatment prescribed for a mild UTI.

2022 was good for the eight hours I was asleep!

DS is with DD2 and they are swimming.....will they get pneumonia?

Children and husbands are worries I couldn't do without ?

Mamissimo oh dear, sorry to hear that about your DD. Hope she is ok.
Glad MrM is in good form today.
Er…where are DS and DD2 swimming today, not outside I hope? ?
Boadicea yes I guess your animal family are well looked after too. ?
Sounds funny to read about you being hot whilst I am sitting here well wrapped up against the cold. Grey and drizzly outside.

I am on a mammouth task at the moment of sorting out all our iPad and iPhone pictures that we have taken since 2013. We seem to have multiple copies and backups so I’m trying to get one copy of everything in date order. I have completed 2013 to 2018 so am well on the way.
Have a good day all.

What a worry Mamissimo. I hope DD is responding to treatment now.
At least DH is somewhat improved.
Well done to Doodle you get the prize for most organised Lobstar of 2022.

It's the last day for my visitors. Boo hoo.
We did a hilly walk today. We heard grouse.

Mamissimo I do hope your DD is improving - what a worry for you. I think I'd be pretty worried, too, about family swimming at this time of the year! Are they those daredevil all-weather swimmers who defy arctic temperatures to set records? Glad that you had a few hours, at least, of peace of mind in 2022.
Doodle when you've done there, would you like to come here and work your magic? It's such a laborious task that I've put it off til a rainy day. Ermm..sometime, anyway.
Grammaretto what a stunning photo! It looks as though it might have been a bit chilly, too. Grouse! did you see them or are they too well camouflaged? Are they about the same size as quail? I could never see the point of shooting them - it's not as if they bite and scratch, carry rabies or endanger wildlife. Human nature, eh.

Good evening ?

Bit of a worrying day as DD shown to have no UTI but has been referred to a colorectal team. She was sent home with some morphine to await an appointment on Wednesday. I am on full worried mother alert as I had to have most of my colon removed about six years ago. My DM also had similar issues. I've told her not to hesitate to ring 111 if the pain changes. They didn't want to keep her in because of the covid situation.

Like Mary Poppins I've packed a bag.......

boudica it was the North Sea in which they swam - and I think I understand that it was jolly cold......my DS was referring to parts of his anatomy receiving a great shock on FB this morning. Daft Eejits!

Mr M has made further progress today and I am minded to suspend his appointment with the leg of lamb. He cooked dinner tonight! Yippee ?

Mamissimo I’m sorry to hear that about your DD. I bet she can’t wait for Wednesday to find out what it is. I hope in the mean time she isn’t in too much pain.
North Sea ?. It must have been freezing.
Ok, what have you done with Mr M? You’ve replaced him with a dinner cooking model. Don’t think we won’t notice. ?
Grammaretto your walks are always so scenic. Lovely photo.
Hope it’s not too quiet without your visitors. Have you got things to do this week.?
Boadicea I think you are wise to leave the sorting of photos.

I have spent days going through our folders of photos on my Mini Mac (MacBookAir). I thought I was doing such a sterling job, trying to get them all in chronological order and removing duplicates until today ?. I suddenly came across two photos with the same number ……but they were different photos.
DH explained that because we both have iPhones and iPads the numbers of the photos could be duplicated. Anyone with any sense would have realised that…..anyone that is, except me. I just thought each one would be unique so deleted the duplicates. Back to the drawing board. Have loaded the original files again and start from the beginning tomorrow ?.

Hope everyone has had a more productive day. ?

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202201/medium-457212-baby-quail.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202201/medium-471998-salequails.jpg

Oh dear Mamissimo not another illness , your poor family - and you of course. You must have no nails left to bite. I do hope this isn't a sign of the year to come. Wishing you all well and happy soon.

Missedout I've been meaning to ask - did your thumb recover completely? That was one of the most tummy-clenching moments of 2021 and I still shudder at the memory.

Grammaretto I can just imagine singing, 'In the bleak mid-winter' to that photo. It's beautiful.

Cherry & Doodle You were off with the starters gun . I don't usually stay up for the NY but happened to be awake - and it was quiet as anything in this crowded suburb, no parties anywhere and very few fireworks at midnight.

There were fireworks about an hour ago which caused me to dial 111 (999 in UK) as a violent and destructive argument, complete with screams and swearing went on just over the fence.
I hadn't been the only one to phone and the police were already on their way. They too got a mouthful from the antagonist but all is quiet now.

BJ What kind of quail do you have, the tiny ones? Their chicks are so cute, like little cotton balls.

Is there a connection between grouse the bird and 'to grouse'? Do they sound as if they're grousing?
'I'm sick of crouching in this damned heather. Every time I pop my head up, some beggar shoots at me...'

A shaft of sunlight, taken (not by me) from the site of the new Marae at Te Atatu and looking out over the Waitemata Harbour towards the distant city.

It's over 50 years since Jack Te Huia put it to the city Council that the people of Te Atatu (the name means The Rising up of the Morning - ) needed a marae.

The Council didn't agree but the community didn't let go of the dream. Mihi Te Huia carried on when her husband passed away and when she got too old, the fight was continued by others in the community.
Finally, in 2002 we got a Council prepared to listen and support but the land they gave was contested by developers (it’s prime land, as you can see) and started court proceedings to prevent a Marae going ahead. In addition, families who had been forced to move in the 1950s by the Council who had plans to develop a deep-water harbour there, were still lobbying them for compensation. And so it went on….
This year, we hope, the first sod will be turned and the Marae, a multi-cultural, multi-use community centre, will rise up as with the morning sun.
In the meantime, Te Ariki shines upon this now sacred site, a true symbol of hope and perseverance.

Kaimoana What a beautiful photo, and good news that the marae is hopefully going ahead. The West is so desperately in need of something like this. Not surprising that the developers have their beady eyes on the land, though, with the totally absurd property prices in Auckland.
I have a little brown Japanese quail, known as Kawaii (="cute"), and a little black one, of unknown provenance, that I call Olga. Because she has a sleek Russian look. Kawaii is terribly shy, but managed to escape while I was cleaning their run today. It was frightening to see the way my mild-mannered girls flew at her, pecking and mobbing her. Poor little thing was terrified, but thankfully I managed to corner her in the rhubarb bush and return her to her little friend in their run. She had some extra mealworms to help her settle. Being the parent of so many fragile little beings is fraught, I can tell you.

BJ

Mmmmmmmm rhubarb.....

Which reminds me of a story.
My mother was always very strict about our not speaking 'scruffy'.
So when everyone around me said 'bu**er' or 'wa*er' with a glotal stop, Mama insisted we sound those tts in the middle. Quite right too.

The old lady next door had a strong Yorkshire accent and 'spoke scruffy' including referring to that fruit as 'roobub', and of course, as a pre-schooler I picked this up.

The first time Mum heard me say it she swooped in like a Valkyrie, 'What did you say?!'
I thought for a moment then corrected it to, 'rood-bub.'

Ok Kaimoana, rood-bub coming up in the next goody box. They seem to like chickie poo, as they look remarkably bonny, considering how little water they've been getting.
My avocados have finished now, but someone is selling them up the road for $5 for a bag of 5 huge ones. That's 50p each, in real money That inimitable Kiwi institution, the Honesty Box, which I've never seen anywhere else in the world. Stick your money in the (unattended) tin, take the change, if you need it. Deal done. No-one checks.

Mamissimo any news of your DD? I hope she is getting good care.
Wow Kaimoana you’ve got a good memory. I’d forgotten about Missedouts thumb. Yes I wonder how it is now.
I’m sorry your evening was disturbed by your neighbours. That must have been distressing. We once had some tennants downstairs who used to argue and shout a lot. No violence but I did find it upsetting. Do your neighbours do this sort of thing often?
That tiny birds is so lovely. What is it?
I hope your community centre goes ahead. Something for the local population.
Boadicea you have so many creatures to tend for. Your poor little bird. I’m glad you saved her and she’s back safe with her friend now.

I have had a slightly more productive day today. I started on reorganising our photos and videos again after my previous mistakes and have found a more accurate and quicker way of doing it. So from despair, I am back on track now and making good progress (at least I would be if I didn’t keep stopping to look at the photos ?)