The Lockdown Gang - carry on chatting ⭐️

I watched a bit of Jacinda's daily bulletin. We only get an update occasionally now though covid numbers are sky high. Nicola is more interested in the next referendum I suspect.

Our bus went through central Edinburgh yesterday and the streets were thronged with mainly young people for their night out. DB and I had a night in, watching an old film.

It is a good place to live, I agree - with great contrasts. DB who lives in flat Denmark, loves our hills.
Well done on the trousers Doodle. You are so clever.

I hope your DD is enjoying her cruise. Missimac The waters yesterday looked choppy here and the lifeboat was out.
I hope your DH is getting better. 65 years married. Wow! You must have been children.

Talking of weddings. I had better do some more work on the garden before the marquee arrives.

Back soon.

I hope those Gangstars with poorly husbands and other relatives soon see good outcomes. A worrying time for sure. missismac and dragonfly keep us updated, we'll be thinking of you. Maria59 as well.

Grammarettto I cringed to read you had such a bad experience at the dentist. I hope you too recover quickly; you can rest now with guests having gone. Look after yourself.
What are you famous for? Staunchly keeping on

Lockdown goes on from day to boring day and I certainly miss doing the baking but I watch the daily bulletin, remember the reasons for incarceration and how lucky I am.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3Y_o5zH3c0&t=1s

I'm going to make some sugar free Rice Krispie Crackles for the people next door (he is diabetic) to say thankyou for getting milk and gluten-free bread today.

Stay well and happy my lovelies

Kaimoana that is a strange problem you have. It sounds as though something shifts in your ear when you are laying down and then rights itself when you get up. You need to be checked by a GP I think. Hope it is resolved soon.
Shame your cooking is no longer required but perhaps the elders will be called upon again soon.
Grammaretto yes I did finish the trousers and am quite pleased with them. They are far from perfect and the waistband has a very uneven edge but overall they have two legs and fit and are light and comfortable. I will post a photo tomorrow as I am too full to move at the moment. ?
I am about to embark on pair two. This time I hope to make a better pair now I know what I’m doing.
Nice that you had a lovely time with your American cousin and brother but I can understand your need for a bit of time to yourself. Ouch that is a big bill. I haven’t got any implants (I haven’t got that many teeth left either) ☹️ I have chosen on a couple of occasions to have a tooth out and not replaced.
What a beautiful photo. Looks so peaceful and calm. What a lovely place you live to be near such views.
Missimac I’m so sorry to hear about your husband. I hope now he is in hospital he will get prompt treatment and be on the mend soon. I too have had problems when dialling 111. It’s not a service that I am too happy with. I much prefer the old days when you could talk to GP even if it wasn’t your own doctor. They ask such a lot of questions. I know they are following a script but it doesn’t give me much confidence to be honest.
Do you have anyone else around to help while your daughter is away. Hope she enjoys her cruise but I expect she will be anxious about you and her dad.
Hope things are ok with you dragonfly and all the gang.

Oh Missimac how worrying.
Can you visit him? I do hope he can be home with you soon.

I don't know what the covid rules are anymore.
I heard today that DiL's mum, who has been shielding since the start due to low immunity levels/lung problems. has been twice vaccinated but has just tested +ve for covid19. How does that happen?

Another energetic day for me. I was collapsing at the end of a very long walk and DB suggested I need a medical check!!! The rude boy.

I have forgiven him because he is cooking tonight and I have opened my birthday wine in his honour.

I haven’t been posting the last few days because we’ve had a bit of an upheaval and DH has been in hospital since Wednesday. He became increasingly unwell during the day and about teatime I phoned 111 for some advice and they decided an ambulance was needed, so he was whisked off to our local hospital where he has been ever since. They were originally treating him for an infection but have now decided he hasn’t got an infection but his symptoms were probably caused by dangerously low levels of sodium. He’s currently waiting for a scan and the results of some tests. I had to hang on the phone for more than an hour to speak to anyone at 111!

Grammaretto. I know exactly what you mean about visitors, These days I’m always pleased to see them and even more pleased to see the back of them! Dentistry is ridiculously expensive - bad news that you have to have two extractions.

Kaimoana Sorry to hear about your deafness - how worrying. I’m quite deaf in one ear and my family are always moaning at me to go and get some hearing aids, which I will do eventually, but in the meantime I tell them that it’s because they don’t speak clearly that I can’t hear.

Dragonfly46. I must check out The Midnight Library and I’m dying to know what you’re reading next. Being an avid reader myself, I’m always nosey about what other people are reading. I’m currently reading Miss Benson’s Beetle which is written by Rachel Joyce (who wrote The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, which I loved.) This one is very good too.
Sorry to hear you’ve had a health scare - hope everything turns out alright.

Nortsat. Happy Anniversary - it certainly does help from a legal point of view to be married. We will have been married for 65 years later this year - I find it hard to believe it’s been so long.

My daughter is off on a short cruise tomorrow. She nearly cancelled it because her Dad was ill, but we persuaded her to go ahead with it. My brother and SIL are in Malta, no doubt lapping up some sunshine, so it seems as if holidays are gradually happening again.

Keep safe everybody.

Hello Gang-stars,

Dragonfly Let's hope that no news is good news and your anxiety levels are back down to normal.

I hope you enjoyed your special day Nortsat

Doodle how did the trousers work out? Any photos?

Kaimoana good to see you again. Sorry about the baking and more sorry about the deafness. Do you know what is causing it? How is Lockdown?
Covid levels are really high in Scotland. Df is going to stay with her sister while BiL is in ICU.

Jan I love that you are famous for drinking coffee and going out for meals with friends. I wonder what I am famous for!

I am now waiting for a call from the garage. I've been driving around with two almost flat tyres. I am actually relieved it was nothing worse. There was a bumping noise as I drove home from the Highlands.
I have decided on the bus today to take DB to visit DS as the thought of driving across the city again does not appeal.
D cousin arrived home with amazing speed.

I took DB for a walk yesterday. That makes him sound like a dog. We did see a few dogs.

I have enjoyed the visitors but will be glad to slump into a chair and fall asleep when he departs.

The dentist was bad, bad, bad. 2 extractions booked for early October. Why did no-one warn me that I wouldn't escape false teeth? Implants cost £3,500 each apparently.

Hope you all have a good weekend. Panache and Cherry I am thinking of you both.
The photo is from our walk yesterday in the Pentland Hills.

dragonfly hopeful that you haven't been contacted. Let's hope the results, when they come, are cheering.

Grammaretto didn’t your DB think of looking? .

My stint of being useful is over I thought the baking was an ongoing thing but apparently we elders only do it for 2 weeks then someone else takes over. whether we like it or not


Still deaf.
It goes completely after about 30 mins of lying down which is a bit of a hassle as I listen to CDs or podcasts at night (I don’t have TV) and if I wake in the early hours. It's total deafness too the CD player is 2 feet away and I can hear absolutely nothing. Weird.
By the time I've had my shower in the morning though, it's restored, so not all bad.

Take care everyone

Thanks Nortsat that was very good. My goodness, the timing.
I would never have been able to keep up. ?

Gang-stars a GN posted a funny video of kittens on another thread today.

It made me think that you might enjoy this, which a friend sent me yesterday.

The title is The Silent Monks and the Hallelujah Chorus. I hope that’s intriguing enough to cause you to open the link ...

youtu.be/pRhjWdr-LAA

Nfk haven’t forgotten you either. There’s a lot of us to keep up with. ?

Jan hope you are ok too. I go so caught up spelling all the Ms I nearly missed you out and that would never do ?

Grammaretto I hope the trip to the dentist wasn’t painful for you or your pocket.
Did you have a good time with the American cousin? Hope your DB puts all your tools back where they came from otherwise you’ll be looking for them as well as the deeds.
dragonfly it’s worrying waiting for results isn’t it but I hope they are ok. We certainly want you with us for some time to come ?. I will be interested in your next book choice too.
Hope your walk was good. DH and I walked into our local shopping centre and got soaked on the way home. Trouble was it was still so hot even though it was raining.
Nortsat and the wonderful molls how are you?
Thank you for your concern. Yes DH seems fine now, no idea what caused his problem. I am checking off my meds every night now just to make sure I don’t forget.
Congratulations on your anniversary. How lovely you’ve been together for such a long time. My cousin and her long term partner got married last year for the same sort of reason you mentioned. When she was seriously ill in hospital he wasn’t allowed with her as he wasn’t her next of kin and had no ability to discuss her treatment with the doctors.
Have a good ride on the exercise bike. Try and avoid the pot holes ?
Kaimoana until I read Nortsats post I had completely missed the sentence where you said you went deaf. How awful. I’m pleased your hearing has returned ok.
I think Mamissimo is in Ireland visiting family now.
Hope Missedout Missimac and Maria are ok. We’ve been taken over by the Ms ?
Dear Panache thinking of you and Cherry too.

Happy Anniversary Nortsat I shall raise a glass to you this evening.

I will let you know when the next book has been chosen!

Good afternoon Gangstars from me and the Molls.

Doodle so pleased to know you’ve heard from Cherry, incase she’s reading, I am sending her ?
I hope you’re well Doodle and back in the rhythm of taking your night time asthma meds.
How is The Dude, hopefully over his attack of the shivers and the elevated temperature.
Dragonfly, what is your next book club read going to be?
I note you had snacks left over from your last session ... Jeeves could have brought a selection to the Gangstars Kitchen, so that we could help you out with them!
Hoping all went well with the Echocardiogram.
Kaimoana, you must have been concerned about your sudden loss of hearing. I am glad to know it had passed off by morning. Are you going to seek medical advice on the matter? Hope all is well today.
Grammaretto, I agree it’s lovely having visitors but it’s also nice to get your normal life back.

It’s our 7th wedding anniversary today. We don’t celebrate it per se, but will probably raise a glass of something sparkling tonight. We only remembered when we received an anniversary card from my cousin.
We have been together for 44 years and not having a religious faith, never saw the need to marry. However, when I developed cancer 7 years ago, we realised from a legal and financial point of view, that it made sense to get married.

We do celebrate the day we met on 12th December. This year will be our 45th together.

My partner is at the dentist this afternoon and I am going for a spin on the exercise bike!

Have a good day Gang-stars.

Hallo Lobsters - and hallo Cherry.

They didn't give me any results yesterday although they did say they would go instantly to my oncologist and heart specialist. I haven't had a phone call telling me to report to the hospital at once so hoping i have another few years!

Your DB doing the garden Grammaretto is like my son cooking in our house. I spend all my time showing him where everything is and how it works! Still it is lovely he is doing it.

I am hoping the weather stays nice as I am going for a walk with a friend this afternoon. I will take an umbrella though as black clouds are looming!

No Kaimoana for a couple of days - I hope you and the other lobsters are okay.

Just put American cousin into a taxi for the airport and home and now i am on a bus to the dentist. DB is tackling the garden but asking me where various tools are kept so it's quite hard work
It's been great having guests but my daily life has been on hold which is why i haven't had a free moment to catch up with your doings.
Back soon xxx

Yes dragonfly it was lovely to hear from Cherry. I think she still reads the threads so hope she knows how much we think of her. ?

So good you heard from Cherry Doodle.
I often wonder how she is.
I also noticed she sent a message to be posted on the GM thread yesterday.

Hello all. Pleased to say I have heard from Cherry
Cherry said I could let you all know she misses us all and sends her love to everyone and a welcome to our new posters. I know we all miss her so much too. I am not giving up hope that one day she will able to come back .
Kaimoana no good my DH doing anything like that, he suffers from vertigo. We once got stuck on a mountain in Switzerland (many years ago and much fitter than now) where he couldn’t go forward and going back wasn’t an option. He had to close his eyes and I had to lead him.
I can see why it’s called the cocoa cola lake. What a strange colour.
dragonfly pleased your GP has helped. I expect the thought of the echocardiogram is hanging over you and making you anxious. I was wondering what book you were reading. Do you take turns in choosing one? Will you be meeting regularly from now on?
Good luck with the echocardiogram and hope the results are fine. Difficult not to worry but having things checked out is the best option for any concerns. Hope you get on ok.
Very tired tonight. I was planning an early night last night when DH got an attack of the shivers and a slightly high temperature ( I know, in this heat ?) fearing it could be sepsis again, I made him take two paracetamol and get into bed to get warm. He then fell asleep but I made sure I kept awake for a long time checking he was ok. He seemed fine this morning and his temperature is back to normal so don’t know what that was all about.
Hope all the gang are ok

Good afternoon Lobsters.

I am sad to report I now have a house full of nibbles and biscuits!
How will I ever lose a bit of weight.

It has been a sad and strange day. I got it into my head that something was seriously wrong but my lovely GP set my fears to rest.

The book I chose for Book Club was The Midnight Library. We all enjoyed it and gave us plenty to talk about.
We only discuss the book for half the time then we get onto more interesting topics - gossip!
It was good meeting up again.

Tomorrow I have my echocardiagram and I am hoping they can give me the result then and there. I hate waiting for results.

Have a good evening everyone - I shall be in bed early as one of the gang stayed until midnight last night!

Grammaretto Dunedin, like Rome is built on seven hills

Nfk I understand your feelings of vertigo in such clear water.
When I used to snorkel at Goat Island, an equally clear marine reserve, I could launch myself from a high, underwater cliff and it was exactly like flying - a truly wonderful experience - if you don't suffer from vertigo of course.

The only lake I could not bring myself to swim in was Rotopotaka.
Roto means 'lake' so Lake Rotopotaka is tautology .

Rotopotaka is commonly known as Coca-Cola Lake but it wasn't the colour which put me off but the really weird feeling there. You couldn’t have paid me to swim in it.

Algae which make it brown, release toxins but I didn't know that until much later.

Jan I don't believe enjoying your coffee and meals and wine is being lazy.

In fact, I bet you worked darned hard all your life, looking forward to the retirement years when you could do just that. You've earned it all.

When I read about the meals and visits you've all had, I envy you a wee bit, not just because I'm in jail locked down but because most of what the Gangstars enjoy (and of course all my baking) I can't.

I have quite a strict/restricted diet in order to stay as well as possible and only very occasionally do I rebel - then suffer for it

Isn't it funny, we often moan that the weather forecasters get it wrong but when they predict rain which will persist it down for days, they are usually right!

What's on your bookclub list dragonfly?
I'm vastly entertained at the moment by my DGS recommendation, "No such thing as a Fish".
www.nosuchthingasafish.com
Ideal to dip in and out of when I feel like a smile.

Had a strange thing happen last night: I went totally deaf. It lasted until I got up this morning, so perhaps it's a Special Horizontal Deafness?

I can't remember if Mamissimo is in Margate or Ireland - whatever, I hope she's having a great time.

Cherry if you're up to reading this; stay well, recover and come back to us when you can. xxx

Gosh never heard of snail racing Jan. Not sure it would appeal.

What a lovely country NZ sounds Kaimoana. I feel I will never get there now though. Our Aussie SiL wants to take us to his home which may also be a step too far when the open their doors.

Nortsat I have only been to a Michelin restaurant in France. We have one near to us but so far not been.

I have book club here tonight and hope they eat all the snacks and biscuits or I will have to eat them all myself!

Ah dragonfly I now understand why you were so pleased your DGS was coming out of nappies. I’m sure he was just waiting till he was ready.
So pleased to hear your DIL is now well on the mend.
Not sure hot cocoa will help you sleep in this heat….I’d go for a gin and large tonic myself ?
Grammaretto no fortunately I didn’t cut two left legs. The fabric is double sided and I just sewed them back to front as it were. Nothing that some laborious unpicking couldn’t resolve. Mind you I wish I hadn’t French seamed them ?
Those chocolates look delicious. As my DGC used to say..you’ve got to learn to share ?.
DH had to go and see the vascular nurse about his legs today. She was brilliant. Very informative and advised re his compression socks and cream for his legs as he has venous eczema. The dark colouring round his ankles was explained and all in all she was quite happy with him. When asked what she would recommend to help them, she said walking is the very best exercise because of the way it uses the calf muscles in the leg. Good job we are out most days.
Kaimoana what a fascinating group of people you have been baking for. Amazing what they are doing to help others and you in turn helping them by baking. ?
Been baking here today too but of the sunshine variety.
Nortsat I think I would like to be one of the Molls in another life. How nice to lay in the sun and get fed and cuddled.
Yes it is montelukast I take. DH is on the case now. He is checking up on me for a change.
I’m not sure I would like to go on a plane either. I am happy to go on the cruise as we go from the UK and I know all the precautions they take but not sure I would consider flying.
Your meal out sounds just my sort of thing. I love small portions of things to try. Glad you enjoyed it. It’s a shame your cousin couldn’t be there.
Not heard of that wine before. How interesting you had been to the vineyard.
Jan I think I could compete in the snail racing. Just about my speed. No I wouldn’t want to go either.
I often fancy one of the dishes Kaimoana mentions too. Those biscuits sounded lovely.
Glad you think you have overcome your asthma. I find if I forget my meds I am usually ok for about 24 hours but then I start to notice something is wrong.
I wonder if that gadget you describe is an old kind of nebuliser for children. I use a small space chamber now as I cannot take the inhaler directly.
Hope you have a lovely meal tomorrow and make the most of the sunshine. Yes nice to hear of Panache but we all miss Cherry too.
Take care all. Time for a glass of wine soon so might go and sit on the balcony for a while. ?