The Lockdown Gang - still chatting ?

Kaimoana - I would recognise you immediately! It's the bunny slippers wot gives you away. Good news about the Matariki visit too.
Nfk - sorry to hear about your DH's wounds - you are so kind and patient - but good news that things are improving and you have so many loving visitors.
Doodle - so sad to hear about the ongoing family issues - thinking of you, and sending prayers and positive thoughts.
Thank you for the kind offer for the woolly jerseys! The Girls have found little hidey-holes all around the house where they can peer into the windows and keep track of the next meal.
Grammaretto - I am in awe of your multifarious skills and talents - even IT issues, on top of the arty things!
Thank you all for your kind words of advice and reassurance about the agent issues. Minor really, just gave me a shock.
Have had a friend here all afternoon, with husband issues...oh dear dear...such a lot of sadness in the world.
Enjoy your day, everyone, there is so much to be happy about, and we all live in beautiful places. xx

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My question exactly Nfk
Amphorae were usually stuck in sand, there was a lot of it about at the time.

There were amphorae with feet (see pic) but it still looks very unstable to me and I wouldn't trust Gubbins within a mile of it.
How annoying in the Roman kitchen when they fell over!

Here's a photo of Monte Testaccio the Amphorae Mountain. That hill behind the town is just millions of broken pottery sherds going back...well, how many decades to make a hill that size ?
An archaeologists dream.

BJ showed us a photo of an amphora so large a family could have lived in it and the man beside it looked tiny.
How they moved that I really don't know.

Great news that your DH's leg is improving. Long may it continue

Morning All

Woke up just after four this morning and couldn't get back to sleep. I can't believe your (ex)agent BJ, I thought it was only in the UK that such things happen - at least that's the impression the media like to give! We have a friend who has a couple of rented properties and he has said in the past that the only reason he keeps them on is the legal backup they can give when a tenant is a problem and he needs to evict them.

I've never understood the logic of amphora Kaimoana with their pointy ends. I understand that packing and transportation when they're sealed up would be easier, but once open for use they must have had wooden stands? And must have been for single use as they'd be impossible to clean out.

DH is at last showing signs of progress, his leg wounds still look horrendous but he can now move around more comfortably and confidently. And the sun is shining this morning and we've more friends coming for coffee this morning. Every day this week one or two visitors have called round for an hour or so, chat, cheer and leave, so afternoon is nap time. We are so very blessed.

No, it's not about garden waste BJ it's that you found them out on their 'absent landlord-money for old rope' scam.
Ask DS, or as Doodle suggests, the local tenant, to find a better agent.

And I cannot imagine for one instant PO BJ saying it doesn't matter about clearing away the rubbish. Ye Gods, they made a big mistake with that particular lie.
Sorry you've had all this as you prepare for your trip.

Sad about your continuing family issues Doodle I do hope the family work it out...very precious they are to you, I know.

Do you remember when my Dgs was about 6, he found this picture and said it was how he sees me?
I have the bunny slippers but I wish I really did have a magic wand to wave for you all.

DGS is coming for the long weekend of Matariki - Yipee!

Matariki is a much bigger celebration than was the low-key Jubilee.

There's a nice wee video about it here:
www.newzealand.com/nz/matariki

Grammaretto why are all these online forms so hard to fill in. I wonder if the person who invented them ever had a go at filling them in themselves.
I know you’ve mentioned it but I can’t remember. Is it August you son is coming over? Hope you get the insurance sorted out.
That would be fun for your daughter to have a holiday home but perhaps a flat close by would be easier to manage.
Kaimoana now I know what they are. How unusual. I would have thought pointy ended things would be more difficult to store.
Boadicea well no, in my opinion you are quite right to be annoyed. Your agent doesn’t sound as though they’ve been doing a good job. With a monthly retainer I would expect more for my money.
Is it possible you could liaise directly with your tenant to sort out problems and go without the agent. As you get on with the tenant it might work better.
We have managing agents here too but we ourselves are in charge overall. I must admit im beginning to wonder what we are paying them for too.
Not been such a good day for us. We have family issues that are very troubling. Managed a quick shopping trip to buy some bits for friends who are coming over Friday. Unlike all you wonderful cooks, I get all my stuff from M&S and Waitrose. ?
Oops DH has just woken up. Time for me to get his evening coffee before he falls asleep again. Take care all.

Sorry you have lost so much income BJ and still have the problem. How often do you use the holiday home? Had you thought of having a long term tenant who would look after the place or does that create new difficulties?
I am interested as DD is thinking of buying a holiday home . It would be their first purchase because they live in tied accommodation. She has heard some stories though like yours which have put her off and thinks their best option is a flat fairly nearby so that she can service it herself and not rely on an agent/property manager.

The holiday house we are going to in France later this year belongs to NZers. I shall report to you on its condition

Well, I'm cross. Very cross. Excuse me if I vent. Am I indeed being unreasonable?

We have a little holiday home at one of the central North Island lakes, 7 hours' drive from here. It's rented through a property manager. They put a new tenant in last September, charged something like $500 "finder's fee", (tenant also paid same amount), had someone clean it, contrary to my instructions, as my DS had cleaned it thoroughly- cost : $350, they said there was a huge pile of tree prunings and garden rubbish to be removed - we paid agent commission for the contractor for that, then $520 for the removal, assuming that it was all tidied up. Then a week ago, after an inspection, the agent said that there was still garden rubbish to be removed, because the contractor had been ill. That was 8 months ago. Evidently, no-one had done a proper inspection since last year. I talked to the (very nice) tenant, who said that the contractor had taken away some of the stuff in his van, then had said he couldn't be bothered with the rest. Still charged us full whack though. We pay $145 p.m. in fees to the agent...for very little. Every time ANYTHING needs to be done, it costs pretty much a week's rent, as the agent takes commission for finding an electrician, plumber etc. The garden waste removal will probably cost another $520!!!

I emailed the agent and asked for an explanation - I admit that I did say that in my opinion, their /their contractor's performance to date had been "dismal", "tardy" "expensive" and "inefficient", but supported by the evidence, of course. She said that MrJ had told her that he wasn't concerned about the removal of the garden rubbish - I asked for the evidence for this very unlikely statement, and she has now, without further response, said that they have ceased the agency because they think I'm making too much fuss about garden waste. ??? What??? It's not about garden waste at all!! It's about the fact that they employ contractors who don't do their job, and then they fail to follow up on it. I need to know whether things that need doing have been done. There are no itemised inspection reports. Some of the issues I have dealt with directly with the tenant, such as a new letter box, and getting a plumber to sort out a leak.

Now tell me, dear friends, have I been unreasonable in being annoyed? Did I overstep the mark in saying that I felt their performance was inefficient, tardy etc etc? Being a landlord at a distance is so very difficult. Arrgghhh!

Apologies for the rave. People not doing their job really annoy me. Maybe I put my foot in it...I don't know...Thanks for your forbearance.

Did I really get that pic from you Grammaretto?

BJ was giving the Roman lecture about amphora in which Roman's transported everything: olive oil, wine etc., and there is a mountain of them, all broken.
One of the ladies there explained they were made in two parts, the pointed end first, then the top joined by slip.

So that picture, Doodle looked to me just like the pointy end

If I'm not mistaken the lump of clay in Kaimoana's photo was taken in my own studio. In its case, it was the beginning of a large flower pot.
Those coach steps! They are awful even for able bodied folk. I am also glad you went to BJ's Roman class.
The online forms. The Dude and I are screaming in unison.
I was nearly at the end when I was asked to upload 2 attachments. I tried but they weren't in the correct format. I had to convert them or lose my form and have to log on, remember password, all over again.
It's a first world problem but best avoided. Now I'm trying to add DS to my car insurance when he arrives from NZ.
When is the Australian trip BJ?

Your walk sounds perfect Doodle.
I just did the zzz ing. After blind fitter and df had gone I was overcome with weariness.
I watched the jubilee highlights on TV so I know what everyone is talking about. I liked the number 70 drawn in the air by the red arrows. How do they do that!
Camomile tea again for me please Jeeves

Grammaretto form filling online is one of DHs big hates. I hear sighs of exasperation to start with then he starts talking to the computer and telling it off ?
Glad your friend is coming back soon. Have you known each other for a long time?
Boadicea I’m glad you and Kaimoana had a good time together. The scrambled eggs sound very lush (Welsh word)
Oh I didn’t know you’d been to the Roman history group together. I bet that was a really nice thing for Kaimoana to be invited too. I’m not surprised she was a hit with the group.
The Jubilee celebrations were far better than I expected and we enjoyed all four days. Lovely to see the Queen smiling even if she wasn’t able to attend everything.
If it wasn’t quite so warm here I would be drooling at the sound of that stew and the open fire. Does the wood your using have a particular aroma or is it whatever you can source locally?
Oh poor girls. Would Doreen and her little band like me to knit them some woolly jumpers for the winter? ?
Kaimoana we have been on some coaches like that when on holiday excursions. The gap between the steps seems huge and I have to haul myself up as though I was scaling a mountain.
Glad you’re back home safely now and had such a lovely time.
I have no idea what an amphorae is used for but from the shape of it I suggest, if used incorrectly, it could cause someone serious injury. ?
You love the theatre visits. Hope you have a good time.

We went for a nice walk this afternoon. Warm and no wind well that is until there was a sudden torrential downpour and we came home soaked through. ???
DH is watching a photography programme that he’s interested in…at least he was ???? ?

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Slight delay as we hit the city, BJ, causing the grumpy driver to re-programme his device with a few muttered oaths.
Fact is, those buses are not designed for people with disabilities, especially osteo-arthritis. Ideally one needs to have room to change position and as you saw, there isn’t. Just as on an aircraft.

I hope you get the nice driver who took me to Northland…and perhaps a modern, comfortable bus?

One difficulty, though not insurmountable (ha ha) were the steps into the coach. See picture which shows the first lot; there were 2 more before I got to my very narrow seat, although I was very glad to have a few inches of leg room on the way back; my knees weren't quite so 'seized-up' on arrival

Clearly, no one with a physical disability can use these coaches, which is probably why the majority of passengers, both ways, were agile and under 50.
However, such discomfort was small price to pay for your hospitality for which I am very grateful

Glad I didn't disgrace myself during your Roman history class. It was excellent, thoroughly enjoyable and all participants very welcoming to a stranger in their midst.

By sheer coincidence, yesterday I came across a photo which illustrates what Jeanette told us about the making amphorae. Funny how things come across ones path eh?

You are so right Grammaretto there is still joy and I'm not moping, just naturally sad to lose very good friends.

I’ve been able to arrange, at Phil’s request, a lady to go do some essential cleaning for him. That should help.

No family visits scheduled Doodle but I have agreed to go to Communicare tomorrow as Te Rehia Theatre is performing. That'll be a cheery thing.

Kaimoana - that's such awful news to greet you on your return. How really sad that two of your friends are so poorly. And after such a long and tiring trip ... Was there a problem with the traffic or with the bus? I've done that trip so many times, commuting to Auckland for the working week, and it always took 4 hours 45, and the bus was very comfortable. You must have struck a dud, which was very bad luck. I'm actually taking the bus down to pick up my flight to Australia, because the early flight is often delayed by fog, and I don't want to miss my connection, as I did last time. It meant a 20-hour day, waiting interminably (no pun) for a connection in Auckland, then going via Sydney to Adelaide.
Well, what a busy few days, involving wine, French pastries, MrJ's amazing scrambled eggs, with ridiculouslylavish lashings of butter and cream, loads of stir-fried veges and salads, fish and chips, pizza and lamb shanks, and hours of chatting and laughter. Kaimoana impressed the Roman History group with her knowledge of amphorae and Roman trade routes, and one lovely lady even said that I should encourage her to come up and live in our little town, because she is such an interesting person! It's a pity that she wasn't here for the Mediaeval History group yesterday - such fun we had with Alfred and his awkwardly-named daughters.

What a great time you have all been having with the Jubilee celebrations – I hope you’ve all recovered from the excesses of tea and sticky buns. I have to say I enjoyed our al fresco celebratory breakfast, to the amusement of the other guests. No, that’s not my garden, but is typical of the greenery around our paradisical little town. Grammaretto - such a beautiful photo of the garden!

Jan - I know what you mean about plants that leap into your trolley and insist on coming home with you! I really don’t understand why plants from the nursery have gone up so much in price since lockdown…yes, I understand about transport costs, but 25%?? My cuttings are coming on well, as a consequence of this massive price increase.

Mamissimo - “How sharper than a serpent’s tooth…” The Bard got it right every time. Sorry to hear about your family troubles. I hope everything is now soothed.

Doodle - So lovely to read your posts – always full of gentle kindness. I hope all is well with you.

It’s drizzling and cold (well, 12 deg). MrJ has lit the fire with our newly-delivered load of redgum and macrocarpa wood, and is making a delicious stew with shin beef and lots of veges. The aroma is divine. The Girls are huddled miserably under the window, from where they can view proceedings indoors…quite forgetting their substantial 3-course breakfast of only 2 hours ago. It’s very cosy and perfect for a day of reading, and preps for my French class by the fire, a very nice Sauv Blanc on hand.

Have a great day/evening, all.

Oh dear. So sorry Kaimoana such sad news.
Sending hugs
There is still lots to look forward to. Gubbins is a joy!
I've been bogged down with online form filling today. I succeeded eventually but not without tears of frustration.
I have the blind measurer coming tomorrow so I had to dust and hoover. not that he will notice, but I will

Df leaves tomorrow but she's coming back soon so I can leave her bed ?

Grammaretto what a beautiful garden. Glad you enjoyed your tea and cakes. The Jubilee celebrations were excellent I think. I loved the Queen and Paddington.
Kaimoana oh I’m so sorry. Two lots of sad news one after the other and both friends of yours.
Hope you are ok. Are the family visiting next weekend? You could do with some cheering up.

Beautiful picture Grammaretto just what I needed.

The first person I knew who bought a drone, took photos of the top of my head. He also stalked the neighbour's cat . Boys and their toys, eh?

He rang last night to say his chemo hasn't worked and his drone flying days are limited.

Just as I was wiping away tears from that awful news, I was told my sweet, quiet neighbour who has, for years, been supplying me with silver beet from his garden, is in the same situation.

He seemed fine the day I went North but fell soon after, was taken to hospital where they found advanced carcinoma.
He's already moved out of his home to live with his daughter.

Did the sunshine arrive?
Your picnic sounds good fun Jan
Today's garden party was superb. I'm definitely all caked out. There was Pims to drink and copious cups of tea. It seemed as though all the guests bar one had brought a cake.
I will post a photo of the lush garden.
Camomile tea for me please Jeeves. My stomach can only cope with that. Night night.

Grammaretto I expect you looked very regal in your silver crown dispensing drinks and cakes. ?
Must have been a shock for the chap who fell and his wife. It happens so easily.
So you have sunshine. Please send some this way. I hope your meeting goes well. Did you say you were going to a garden party today? Is your DF still with you? Hope you have a good time.
Kaimoana those parrots are amazing, what colours.
I would never have managed your trip. I couldn’t go so long without a toilet break. I’m glad you got there and back ok.
Hope you and Baodicea and MrBJ had a lovely visit together.
NFK yes such a shame about the rain. Hope you manage to go and enjoy some of the celebration. Hope your DH is ok and recovers from his over exertion yesterday.
Hope you both have a relaxing day.
Jan your park picnic sounds fun. Friday was a good day weather wise here. I expect you might have a busy time planting all your new plants that just were desperate to have a new home with you. Do you have a big garden to care for?
Hope you have a good day too.
Mamissimo glad you are managing your leftovers. I bet your trifle was lovely too.
I thought the lighting of the Palace was wonderful. Quite spectacular. I will be very impressed if MrM can manage anything like that.
Does he do much Ariel photography?
Oh no not the ironing mountain. Have you got a good film or something you can watch or listen to while you do it. I often do that then get so distracted with what I’m watching I forget to do the ironing.
We are having a quiet day (again). Had a nice walk by the river yesterday and a sit on the balcony. Not the weather for that at the moment. I may indulge myself and have an afternoon reading. I’m into a new book at the moment and want to know what’s happening.
Have a good time all

Good Morning ?

Last night Mr M and I sat down to a supper of leftovers cold chicken and salads, having had a leftovers lunch. Supper tonight should see off the edible remains! Only ten more portions of trifle to go!

Having watched the Platty Joobs concert last night Mr M is planning to get his drone out to see if he can do some arty lighting over the house.....he's asked the family to bring any other drones they may possess. Well that will make 2! I'm thinking our light show will be more search lights at dusk than spectacular but if he can do a beagle with a sausage roll over the house I'll give him a cheer......?

Kaimoana you are a super woman! BJ has real star appeal to endure that! So glad you had a good time.

As I was so tied up with cooking last week I have to face the post holiday ironing mountain today. I am beside myself with joy ?

Five hours plus with the thought of only one loo stop would result in my wanting to pppeeeeeee all the time! I have used the on-board coach loo a couple of times (although usually they're locked these days). It isn't easy!

Morning from wet Norfolk! Yes Nfk it’s very wet this side of our County too! Your street party sounds good. We had our Picnic on the Park on Friday which we really enjoyed probably fuelled by the amount of wine drunk and too much food! Was great to meet up with friends we hadn’t seen for ages! Lovely afternoon. Hope you manage to get to your party and maybe DH too!
Mamissimo. Sorry but I did giggle about your offspring! I have had to threaten my eldest daughter if she and her beer loving husband don’t arrive at my younger daughters on time! They usually make it on the dot after youngest daughter has muttered several times about people being late!
Went to garden centre for more bird food which is mostly being eaten by the squirrels as it is obviously far more tasty than squirrel food! Of course while we were there several plants screamed out “buy me” as I went past and jumped of there own accord into my trolley!
Kaimoana your bus journey sounds an ordeal. Good that you took your own food though. Must admit I’ve never used a loo on a coach. Never fancied going down the steep steps to get there let alone all the other passengers thinking “we know where you’re going!”
No idea what we will do today. Maybe go out for a coffee just to get some fresh air then probably hibernate! Hope everyone has a good day

For some reason I just cannot fathom, I am Kaimoana again.

Did you hear my hoot of maniacal laughter Nfk when you hoped there was a loo on the bus??
Not only is there no loo, there is only ONE stop on the whole journey.

Kaiwaka has superb cafés but we stopped at none of them. Instead we pulled in to a remote and dismal place well outside town.

I took my own food on the way there; just as well looking at the poor choices and unappetising, vastly overpriced stuff in their cabinets.
But there is a clean, adequate toilet.

Actually, there are many stops along the route to pick up and drop off passengers, but as BJ will confirm, if it is not your stop, you’re not allowed to leave the bus, however desperate you may be for a toilet.

Here is bathed in sunshine but no street parties that I know of. I called in at the Church hall yesterday where it was like a street party. Lots of tea and scones. It became hot and noisy after a while so I walked around the Labyrinth for a meditational stroll
labyrinthsinbritain.uk/

Your journey to BJ was long Kaimoana but how great to have done it and been to the exotic parrot park.

You are indeed allowed to put the heating on Nfk
I have set a fire in readiness for the Quaker meeting here in a couple of hours. There is one person who loves to tend it watch the flames.

Morning All

Its raining. And everywhere is very soggy. Half the street parties around here have been called off and the other half are bravely holding on as the forecast varies depending which one you look at. Ours is still going ahead so we'll be enjoying the music from a distance. I'm glad now we didn't get around to organising a table. The whole of the market square will be filled and has overflowed into the churchyard and streets closed to traffic. I may walk in for a while if DH (who is very anti-social about these occasions) is ok - and the rain really does stop. He didn't have a very good day yesterday after doing too much with walking and visitors on Friday.

I suspect Mamissimo that your offspring are well aware that they behaved badly and hope they will think of a way to make it up to you both. Although I fear they don't yet realise how much these family occasions mean to us. Its only really this year that its dawned on our three that time is getting short and these family gatherings are future memories and will be precious.

Kaimoana and Boadica the photos look like you had a really good time, and good weather too - even though there was so much travelling. I hope there was a loo on the bus or loo stops! I'm finding I'm getting a fixation with such things. One of the wonders we found on our trip around NZ was the wonder of clean long drop loos in even the smallest hamlets. I hope they're still the same.

I'm considering putting the heating on. Is that allowed in June? After all, there is an invalid in the house (although he's still tucked up in bed).

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BJ and her DH were very kind.
BJ took me to the Parrot Park and a super art exhibition.
BJ Did you note when the raffle was due to be drawn? Let me know if you win

Five hours and 40 minutes (each way), on an old and rackety bus when you are an old and rackety person, is wearying but dear BJ met me and we had a good evening.
My DS was right, it is scary in the city after dark, so I was glad he met me on the way back.

As you see from the photos, we had excellent weather.

Hello Lobstars, are you platinum Lobstars?
I was given a silver papercoronet to wear as I served coffee and cakes today. I like to do the flowers too and managed red, white and blue.

The memorial gathering went well thanks. Rather sad ofcourse as his DSis spoke about their childhood.
My df is still here and tomorrow there's a garden party to go to. I've never known so many parties.
Mamissimo I was shocked to hear of your unappreciative offspring and their partners. On the plus side there will be lovely leftovers and you'll not need to cook for a week.
Kaimoana and Boadicea How nice it looks at your place.
I was walking home today and an elderly couple crossed the road behind me. I heard a scream and turned round to see the man had fallen. He had bumped his head. I told him not to move and within minutes several other women including 2 uniformed nurses/care workers appeared like magic . The wife was crying and adamant that we were not to call an ambulance. I think she was more shocked than her DH. Finally we helped him to his feet and walked him to their flat.
Life is one long adventure!
I hope the drinks were good Doodle.
We often think of Panache Bellanonna but don't hear from her often