The Lockdown Gang - carry on chatting ⭐️

My first 2022 news and so much to catch up on. I’m having a lazyish day, as the next few will be quite hectic. I need to gird my loins as it’s full steam ahead around the build.

Six days of your news to catch up on. I think instalments will be necessary for my post. See you all soon.

I would love to think of us being related Grammaretto but Norfolk is a funny place. I keep finding my DH's tree ancestors living close to mine and I'm expecting to find a link sooner or later! My Nan (that one) married her step-cousin but somehow managed not to be related by blood. I did work it out but it's very complicated! The only saying of hers which comes readily to mine is her description of the colour my DM had painted their new front step as "babies yella". It fitted perfectly and the step colour was changed the following week! Its a colour description I use at every opportunity.

I'm so pleased that Panache has such lovely friends to help get over Christmas although I never doubted that she wouldn't have.

I do hope the chemo isn't making you feel too yucky Mamissimo and agree its the probable cause of your biscuit based nightmare. I wonder what the link is? Does the chemo make you feel terribly nauseous? Do too many Oreo's make you nauseous?

I'm now off to get back into Ancestry.com to see if the 1921 census has reached there yet.

Kaimoana DH said he’ll certainly send a picture when he’s looked at them. He has only recently got into the night sky and we don’t really live in an area remote from light pollution. He was very interested in your link and I have forwarded it to him. Thank you.
My French is more about conversation than grammar too but I have trouble remembering some words. I have two very good books that help if I forget but I am trying to use my own sluggish brain to work things out. It’s not used to so much activity ?.
Waiting impatiently for my latest order of fabric. I always like a new delivery I find it exciting opening things up and seeing the colours.
I couldn’t cope with the heat you mention. I would never have the energy to do things. Hope you get your filter film soon (do you stick it on the windows?)

Muse hello again. You must be getting excited now at the prospect of finishing your build and moving in.. I think you mentioned Easter time.
Hope your DGD is ok and she gets some help resolving her worries.
Nfk I think the census should be there as I think Anniebach has already accessed it already for her research.
Dyslexia and a slightly weird literal mind had me thinking your husbands ancestors lived in trees. I was a bit puzzled for a minute until I realised what you meant. ?
Time to log off for a bit. Waitrose have turned up to replenish the cupboards……I wish they’d pack it away too. ?

I Skyped with the family and as Gubbins was running around, she broke wind.
She stopped, looked at her brother, giggled, then waved her hand up and down in front of her nose, as if he'd made the smell!

Good morning ?

I'm back in the land of the living......all AC on an even keel....Mr M happily dipping his egg...the cleaner busy cleaning and Sainsbugs on their way.

I've got my fourth jab sorted at last and by the time my next chemo comes round it will be early spring!

Today I will prune the blackcurrants and goosegogs and try to be nice to everyone restore my equilibrium in the fresh air.

Life feels good today ?

That's excellent news Mamissimo . ?About the family, yourself and the goosegogs.
Muse it's good that you are getting on with the build.
Please share progress reports.
I can hardly believe young Gubbins can understand so much at her very young age but I guess her older brother teaches her a thing or two.
Snow on the ground today but it is melting in the sun. I should get out walking but I'd rather stay safe in and eat.
I've been asked out to lunch tomorrow but foolishly offered to bring something.

I think perhaps all our ancestors lived in trees Doodle nothing to do with dyslexia.
I love having ancestors from Norfolk because the villages are so pretty there. All those round tower churches which they leave unlocked too.

I had better stop now and get some vit D before sundown.

Kaimoana I bet that made them laugh.
Mamissimo that is good news. Nice to have a bit of a rest from worry for a while. Glad they’re all ok and MrM is enjoying his eggy soldiers, ?. No need for the leg of lamb today.
Grammaretto I love snow but not much chance of it here. We have just come back from a walk and I have a frozen nose and fingers so I think your decision to stay in and eat was a good one. If you bring food you are welcome to come and eat here too ?. What are you planning to take?
My latest fabric order finally arrived today. Pretty combination of colours. I am hopeless in selecting colours that go together so find it easier to buy from a range that is colour coordinated that way I don’t have to worry. I bought a kit for making a fabric picture. It looked very nice in the photo. Now I have the pattern and just pieces of fabric I’m not so sure mine is going to end up looking much like it but we will see. Keep safe all.

Hello Lobstars, I'm recovering from Covid and haven't been really poorly but don't cope with any infections very well. I'm still coughing, have lost my sense of taste and smell and can't breathe through my dose! I know I'm lucky, the early treatment I had kept me out of hospital and I have had regular phone calls from the NHS checking up on me and recording my oxygen levels.

I still have all the family Christmas presents. I'm not really up to having everyone here to give them out either - it all seems a mess and a step too far. DH and I have started eating the Christmas cake I made - DH says it's really rather good - I think I may have been able to taste the marzipan and the cake seems quite moist. It's just there is rather a lot of it! The decorations have been and gone - all unseen by anyone but us.

I hate to say it but the injury to my thumb didn't happen last year but in 2020! It has healed quite well although opening knurled bottle tops is difficult and there are times when I am aware of the injury.

I'm glad to see that Kaimoana is recovering too.

There have been some lovely, cheery posts and I'm glad that Mr Mamissimo has been spared the leg of lamb.

Good on you Doodle - still putting me to shame with your needlework. I have had a jumper on the knitting needles for 4 months now, untouched. I suppose that finishing it should be my New Year's resolution - except I haven't had Christmas yet.

My thoughts are still often with Panache, I'm always pleased to see Cherry posting and admire Grammaretto's ability to cope with various domestic setbacks. I hope my fellow Lobstars are all as well as they can be.

Gosh Missedout was it really 2020? Hard to believe it happened so long since.

Here's a little knitting project for those with the talent. Especially Doodle

www.allfreeknitting.com/Knit-Accessories/Knit-Nose-Warmer

I am sure she's someone's teenaged daughter pressed into modelling and dreading the picture being put on Facebook

Say it very quietly in case it gets jinxed but I think I'm being taken swimming tomorrow - ssshhh.

Grammaretto that child makes us all gasp sometimes, she's like a little woman in a baby's body...well able to make and understand jokes....and much else.

Yes, it IS good to hear Panache is doing so well and I love to see Cherry's posts - well, all of youse (as they say here) posts.

Not so hot today, only 25 degrees; I can handle that

Missedout sorry to hear you’ve got Covid but pleased you don’t feel too bad with it. Good your being carefully monitored.
Your Christmas sounds a bit like ours the previous year when DH was in hospital with his broken ribs. I think we just skipped over the holiday all together. Everyone got their presents at some point. Sorry you’re not able to enjoy the food much hope you get your sense of taste back soon.
Wow was your thumb really that long ago. I can remember the situation well.
Hope you start to feel better soon.
Kaimoana ohh Hope you get to go swimming that would be lovely. I know how much you enjoy it.
Will look at your link in a minute. ?

Somehow I don’t think a knitted nose warmer is for me. It would make my nose itch. ?

We have RAIN! Real, heavy, soaking rain that has filled the tanks and given the trees a real boost. Too late for some, sadly, which have succumbed to the heat and dryness. I can attest to the rain's wetness, as I have just come in from feeding chickens.

Fortunately though, the weather was perfect for our French group's pique-nique at the beach. Epiphany, Fête des rois, and a great time was had by all, as always. Much fun and laughter, good food and good fellowship, all under a huge shady Flame tree.

Missedout - I do hope you're recovering quickly-great to hear how on the ball the NHS is. Keep snug and warm, and enjoy that cake!

Doodle, how exciting to receive a parcel of lovely fabrics. So delightful to enjoy the colours and textures. When I was a child, my sister and I used to spend 1/- on a big bag of factory fabric offcuts, just to relish the delights of handling beautiful things. Choosing which bag, breathlessly, clutching the shilling coin, was a highlight of our lives. How sad is that!

Grammaretto enjoy the snow while it lasts! I think the decision to stay in and eat was an excellent one. Yes, aren't the churches of Norfolk just wonderful! So old, and so many undamaged by war and vandalising Victorians.

Mamissimo -wonderful to hear that things are going well for you. Long may it last. May Mr M never know just how close he came to an encounter with a leg of lamb.

Muse - exciting about your build - progress report and photos please!

Kaimoana - little Gubbins sounds like a potential genius, or else, a master criminal. That little mind is as sharp as a tack, is it not! How entertaining she must be on your Skyping sessions.

Have a great day/evening, girls. x

Hello Lobstars,
I hope you got your swim Kaimoana
I did go for a snowy walk but wore my yaktrax, -things that you pull on over your boots for extra grip plus 2 poles. A runner passed me in his shorts. (sigh)
The pud I'm about to make is Cranachan though it's really a dish for the harvest time Toasted oatmeal, honey, whipped cream and raspberries. Most recipes have whisky too but for lunch I'll serve that separately.

Your fabric order sounds interesting Doodle
I'd love to see what you are making. I've not picked up my knitting for weeks.

Missedout how horrible for you to have covid especially managing to avoid it and being so careful for so long. S'unfair!
It seems to leave people very tired.
Here's my snowy view from the last walk

Good morning Gang-stars, I am sitting with all three Molls.

Missy is getting more and more frail and it’s a struggle for my partner to get the meds down her … but we’re hanging in there. She ate an extremely hearty breakfast, so while she still has some quality of life, we’ll continue.

I have had a reasonable few days, health wise… so hurrah.
Morning Muse, I second BJ, do update us on progress with your build.
Nfkdumpling it will be interesting to see what emerges from the release of the 2021 census. Hope your Tree-ing is progressing nicely.
Mamissimo it’s good to hear that you are on an even keel and planning a bit of gardening. Hope you enjoy/ed the fresh air.
Kaimoana what a lovely anecdote about Gubbins passing wind and then looking accusingly at her brother.
(Our cats do that, often.)
Missedout it’s good to know you’re recovering and managed to eat a slice of Christmas cake. I am sure the family will enjoy their presents, when they know you are up to receiving visitors.
Doodle I look forward to hearing more about your fabric picture. You have shared some lovely photographs of your previous craft projects with us.
BJ your ‘pique-nique’ under the shade of a flame tree, sounds delightful. It’s a world away from grey east London, on a wet January day!
Grammaretto your cranachan sounds delicious. I haven’t had my lunch yet and feel I could easily manage a portion.
What a lovely snowy photograph.

Thinking of Panache as ever.

I spent most of yesterday afternoon online with HMRC. After several attempts and several hours, I completed my Self Assessment Tax Form and settled my account by addressing my under payment. I owed them £1.20!
I was so exasperated by the experience that I opened a bottle of wine and drank a glass whilst I was cooking the supper … then of course we had to finish the bottle. Thus we had a jolly evening.

Have a pleasant and safe day Gang-stars with good wishes and purrs coming to you ??‍⬛?‍⬛?‍⬛ from rainy London.

I'm reclining in my dear old worn out chair at the wide open glass doors of the sitting room. First cup of tea of the day beside me, breathing in the wonderful smell of damp earth and rain-soaked trees. Perfect.

Evening all. What a wet dismal day it has been here today. Still we stayed in snug and warm. Hopefully, going for a meal tomorrow night with DS 1 and family. Hope it’s not so wet then as we plan to walk to the restaurant.
Boadicea can I admit to being a bit jealous of a picnic on the beach. It sounds lovely.
I used to have picnics on the beach with my mum and dad when we were on holiday. Holidays usually on the south coast. Shingle beach, sitting in deckchairs with our plastic macs on waiting for a glimpse of sunshine, wind blowing, sand in the aptly named sandwiches followed by ice cream wafer from the van. Bliss ?
Not sad at all Boadicea children delight in things at that age. A bag of sea shells at the seaside and I was happy so can understand you having fun with your fabric samples.
Ooh Grammaretto I saw a similar picture (same one maybe) from you, on the GM thread today. I was hoping you’d post it here too.
What a glorious photo. I can almost feel the crispness in the air and the snow under my feet. Beautiful blue sky. Wonderful view. What is it with men and shorts these days. Even in freezing weather you see people out in them.
Pudding sounds nice, save some for me please.
I plan to start on my fabric picture kit next week. If I make any decent progress I will include a photo.
Nortsat oh poor Missy. Have you had her a long time? It’s always sad when beloved pets get old or ill.
Glad you are feeling a bit better in yourself.
Wow Nortsat you were lucky you weren’t arrested. Owing HMRC £1.20 could be serious. Can you pay it in instalments? ?. Little stroke for all the Molls.

I did add whisky - couldn't not really - and lunch finished at 4pm when I remembered I had to do a food hygiene course and test. I think I have failed. Honestly who knew that dropping glue into soup constitutes a chemical hazard.
I am not hoping for a posh hotel job, just to be able to volunteer legally at the community open house in the town hall on Saturdays. with luck I have failed

Oh Nortsat poor little Missy. I remember when Emily was nearing the end and stopped eating. It was so sad.

Do let us know what you find on the census NfkD. I don't think anyone in my family was in England or Wales at that time so not much use for me personally but I am ever nosey about other people's families. I love watching who do you think you are. When is it next on or has it finished?

BoadiceaJ that deckchair and morning sun with smell of damp earth and a cup of tea sounds blissful.

I did post a very similar photo on GM Doodle It was very pretty. Just rain today and the roofer didn't come.

How do other people get tradesmen to come? Do they bribe them? I don't think I sound desperate enough.

Here's a photo of my pudding. If it comes out. I haven't worked out how to reduce the size of pictures I take on my new phone. The last one had an option to reduce size before saving.

Like Doodle I don't think rummaging through scraps of fabric is sad at all.

We used to have a 'rag-bag', Dad's old kit bag in fact, full of old clothing.

Mum cut off all the buttons first (the Buton Box was another delight) and then later the fabric came in handy for all sorts.
They even made tab rugs from the coats and tweedy skirts.
Mum had been a bit of a fashion plate in her day, so the dress fabric was lovely.

I also had an 'Auntie' who put aside things such as empty scent bottles, single earrings, bits of jewellry she no longer wore and other trinkets. When there was a little treasure trove, she passed it to me.

I absolutely LOVED those boxes and looked forward to them all year.

When, 40 years later, I did the same for my grand-daughter (the one who is now 28), she looked at her Mum and said, 'Grandma's just given me a box of her old rubbish.'

The magic had gone.

Nortsat I'm so sorry to hear how frail Missy is becoming. It's truly heart-wrenching to see a dear little friend coming to the end of her life, isn't it. They have such a capacity to twine themselves around your heart.
Grammaretto - your photos are simply gorgeous. What a landscape you live in! It's beautiful to have snow and a blue sky, rather than grey, greyer and greyest. Like the Norfolk coast. My brother used to live in Minnesota - ((why??)), but said that the days following a snowstorm, despite temps of -30 f made life worth living - brilliant blue skies, getting out on skis, pink-cheeked, frozen-nosed, home to hot soup and something containing alcohol. The pudding looks divine.
Kaimoana - I used to do exactly the same-collect little things like shells, pretty scent bottles, coloured glass worn by the sea to resemble jewels, fragments of lace. My treasure box of pretty things. When my daughter was small, we decorated her dolls house with things we had found, and adapted, and made into pretty furniture and decorations. So important to encourage children to see beauty in the smallest things. So a wee vase of tiny dried flowers, a persian rug made out of a chamois spectacles cleaner, embroidered all over with tiny leaves and roses, tiny lace edging painted gold to make picture frames, little curtains with proper rails made from painted twigs . My daughter and her wee girl made a fairy house out of a shoe box, steeply pitched roof, scraps of pretty coloured wrapping paper, kitchen foil, frilly bits from a Christmas cracker, little chimney from a matchbox. Quite a project.
Have a great day everyone, and sending best wishes to all who are under the weather from the South Pacific.

I got me swim. I managed a full 20 minutes before my breathings went dodgy.

Gubbins loves the water so she was in heaven.
We came home and raided the fridge for a selection of cheeses and salad components, then Gubbins got tired and they went home.

My DGS stayed and we made a pizza (supposed to be for tea but who can resist pizza straight from the oven?)
Then as a lovely surprise my eldest grand-daughter called in, ate the last piece of pizza and stayed talking and playing games (Who Would Win?) until sunset.

Now Dgs is watching a Billy Connolly movie, I am writing this and there's a hot chicken waiting for supper.

BJ I made a doll's house and all its furniture (food included) for my eldest Dgd 28 years ago, so am well versed in miniature invention and seeing tiny things in the innocuous. Fancy beads with press studs on top, make cut kitchen cannisters.

Now Dgs loves it; we've added to it and we're keeping it safe for when Gubbins is old enough to enjoy it.

Some days are very good indeed.

sorry cute not cut. I was too tired to proof read.

G'day Gang,

I just had to say how much your happiness shines through in your post Kaimoana I hope the smile stays a long time!
Such a perfect day.

Evening all.
Grammaretto that pud looks delicious. Im sure if you presented that at the food hygiene test you would pass.
Did you watch Judi Dench on Who do you think you are? She was overcome with her connection to Shakespeare.
I have heard others say it is hard to get people to come and quote for jobs let alone do them.
Kaimoana I’d forgotten about the button box. We had one of those too. Lovely fun. So glad you got your swim. Know how you love it and to have Gubbins with you was the icing on the cake I’ll bet. Lovely to have your DGS with you and a visit from your other granddaughter too. What a wonderful day.
Boadicea I used to make things with my DGDs and shoe boxes. Little beds for their dolls or homes for fluffy animals. Bits of tissue for beds and cotton wool pads for pillows ?
We’ve just been for a meal with DS 1 and family so nice to see them and a lovely evening. Tired now so hot chocolate and early night I think. Take care all .

? I’m a lonely little petunia in an onion patch ?
Cooee anyone about? ?
Had a nice meal with family last night but didn’t get back till late and I’ve felt sleepy most of the day. Went for a walk late this afternoon but we weren’t out long, too chilly.
Been sorting photos again. Trying to delete duplicates and get some sort of order to our collection. I’m beginning to see the benefit of old films where you had 24 or 36 shots to a roll of film. I wouldn’t be sorting through thousands (well it feels like thousands) trying to find pictures for our granddaughters album.
Hope all the gang are ok.
Jeeves, Jeeves …. Are you about anywhere ?