The Lockdown Gang - still chatting ?

Ouch! Stinging eyes BJ I hate it when I do that. Chilli peppers are fabulous but not when rubbed in the eye.

Cushie continues to be very helpful. She and I have cleared out of the flat ready for the tenants who move in on Monday.

I had a visit from a helper from 8 years ago.
She seems happy and fulfilled.

muse I am keen to start sowing seeds but it is not nearly warm enough here yet so I shall need to be patient.

I am going to a vigil for Ukraine in a few minutes. I think it better to meet together to pray and cry than to sit at home feeling helpless.

Sparky has been here all day finishing the lights in the flat. My kitchen is still a long way off. It will be takeaways for us although Cushie thinks she'll cook us some things we can freeze. I will still have a microwave, a ring and a kettle just nowhere to prepare food.

Grandma's birthday tomorrow and I rashly said I'd bake a cake.

Evening all.
Boadicea hope you are feeling better now.
Dh and I were both surprised they said he could have his cataracts done. Mind you, we haven’t got a date yet, I’m still hearing of long waiting times but they seemed to imply it wouldn’t be too long.
To be honest, the Dean, I think, is a quite remarkable person. I watch because he is such a good speaker. I doubt anyone else would be so articulate and interesting. I’m hoping that maybe he can continue his broadcasts in some way. I will have to wait and see.
Nice to have your French group round. Must be a bit of light relief for the lady whose husband is so ill.
Your animals are so lucky to be so well looked after. Each with their own characters. Brave little Dottie.
I’ve given up reading more than one book at a time as I keep losing the plot and have to go back again. Easier if they are non fiction but as I don’t have much time to read I tend to read fiction. Just finished a very unusual book called The Binding. about a book binder.
Ouch ? chilli peppers. That must have hurt.
Muse I can picture you now in your overalls, spanner in hand and hard hat on being a plumbers mate.? Hope the build is going well. When do you plan to have the kitchen put in?
Your trip sounds lovely. I do hope the weather is good and you enjoy it.
Semantle….11 ….wow. That is good. I did a 60 yesterday and gave up today. I enjoy it but find it frustrating at the same time.
Hope things are ok with your son. I expect he will be in touch when he has something to say. Saw ours last week for the first time since Christmas. Hope things are ok with your DGD.
Grammaretto so pleased you and Cushie are getting on well.
I hope the tenants really do turn up this time.
Have you had lots of helpers over the years?
The Vigil sounds a nice supportive way of being with others and praying for all those poor people in Ukraine.
I do hope you get your kitchen sorted soon.
Hope Grandma has a good birthday.
I’ve been busy cleaning windows ready for our new blinds.
Went for a walk but didn’t wear my hat. Big mistake as my ears are quite painful from the wind now.
Hope everyone has a good day.

Despite the fact that I can see all the faults in this tart, and couldn't get green grapes as a contrast to the Morello cherries, I think I've done fairly well.

When it came to the cream, dgs pointed his finger where I needed to put a blob and we did the tart like that, moving round in tandem

It's been a lovely but very tiring weekend.

As BJ said, a growing young man of 12 needs his kai and can't live on a piece of cheese and an apple as I do.

So it was roast lamb on Friday evening when the family were here, with fig cake (I shall make it again it was yummy) and on Sunday we all had chilli con carne and all the Mexican trimmings ...with this tart to follow.

In between, dgs made an apple crumble and after I'd made a prawn and mushroom sauce, he filled 24 tiny vol au vents as appetisers before the chilli.

He'd had hot X buns for breakfast with apple slices, then tacos and quesadilla for lunch.

We take it in turns to wash up

We've had a lot of fun together and it's quite sweet that he will still ask for a cuddle - he is so tall he hardly fits on my knee but I love him to pieces.

BJ Your chillies went into the con carne - thank you

Oh no Kaimoana I think that tart looks dreadful and you can’t possibly serve it……just to save it going to waste, I’ll be happy to take it off your hands ?. Seriously it looks delicious. You and your DGS are obviously a good team.
Your post made me smile. It’s lovely to read about the bond you have with each other. Sounds like you had a really good time. Cuddles are good at any age. Glad you had a lovely time.

We’ve been out for a walk today. Much warmer. Got back home and tackled shortening DHs trousers (the right pair this time) then had a lengthy phone call from DS1. They have DGD back from University for the weekend. Other DGD finished her mocks so was relaxing.
Tomorrow I need to tackle the window cleaning before the new blinds come.
Grammaretto how did Grandma’s birthday and the cake go?
Did Cushie cook you something nice for dinner?
Boadicea hope your eyes have recovered from being chillied.
Hello to the rest of the gang wherever you are and whatever you are doing we are still thinking of you. Hope you are all ok.

Delicious looking tart Kaimoana and I agree, your loving relationship with DGS is so special.

Plenty is going on chez Doodle

It was a really nice party at DMiL's. apart from a noisy disagreement over Ukraine
The cake turned out OK. She had so many flowers it looked like a florist shop. 4 of my DGC were there and they sang and danced for their gt grandma who also sang. It's quite something to be 97. A group of singers had come to her day centre and she chose the songs!.

Meanwhile the tenants came with boxes in advance and sparky is here again hopefully finishing in the flat today but still no kitchen for me and Cushie. She has cooked a big vegetarian dish which should feed us for a few days.

I am really tired now. too much champagne? I wish sparky would go home now.

The rest of the tart is on its way to you Doodle although the postal system may prove something of a sticky situation

Your dgds are doing very well aren't they? And good to hear your dgs is also finding Uni interesting. Young people are so wonderful, especially when you think how much academic pressure they are under at the very time in their lives they are learning to be a teenager-adults!

I'm also pleased to say Gubbins is, at last, getting to know me.

Since she was a few months old, my dil has been teaching her Baby Signing, you may have heard of it.

So if she wants a drink, something to eat, help or a few other things, such as, "I'd like fruit" - she will sign. It's very cute.

Yesterday, she needed help getting onto her little push car and came to me to sign for help.
I was so pleased.

She now says a few words, the first was Dada but she understands so much more, even very complicated requests. '
I think they test here with ever more complicated requests.

She's also very cheeky. She went out onto my deck, got a few specks of soil from a pot and brought it to me.

Mummy said, 'I don't want you to touch that soil.'
Gubbins went back onto the deck and with an eye on Mum, touched the rim of the pot, the wall, then the trellis....and laughed.
Little minx.

But she's still not sleeping any better
We thought, when she went to kindergarten, she'd tire herslf out but apart from a very brief, two day break when she slept through, it's been the usual screaming

Ah well.

Good morning ?

I'm still around but not wishing to dampen your indomitable spirits with stuff....so....the carrots are going in this week, I need to eat a lot of cauliflower......first sowing of beetroot.....bored beans are rubbish my own fault for using left over seed

We move out to DD2's house at the end of the week and we're both running on empty as both the moving family and the dog loss ivf family have been overwrought. DS has sensibly hidden on his own sofa and is maintaining a safe distance from the grump and the banshee.

As DSiL is unable to lift after his surgery last week we are going to empty their attic today as the removal people won't do that for them. We will return home with everything the removal people won't touch....like the bbq gas and jewellery and also everything they will need whilst squatting here. Mr M thinks we will make the trip a couple of times this week.....

Thank you for listening - I feel better for a moan!

Grammaretto glad grandma had a nice birthday. I can imagine all the singing going on. At 97 she must be an amazing lady.
Your mention of Cushie and the vegetarian dish reminded me of my cousin in Canada whose husband used to cook a huge pot of stew like ingredients and then just keep it going and add to it as the week went on. Not sure how healthy or hygienic that was.
Hope you enjoy your meals. What are you and Cushie up to today?

Kaimoana the way our post has been recently I doubt your tart will arrive anytime soon ?
Your post about Gubbins made me laugh. How well I could picture that young lady going out and touching the pot and fence etc having been told not to touch the soil. My DGC were just the same, testing the boundaries and with a cheeky look.
Glad she is responding to you better now. I knew she would.
The problem of all the screaming at night is puzzling. She looks like such a happy soul and is obviously very loved and cared for. I wonder what it could be.
Mamissimo nice to hear from you. You are certainly having a tough time at the moment. You must both be exhausted with all that’s going on.
I hope everyone manages to get sorted out soon and you can relax a bit. Hope your SIL is improving.
Reminds me a little of when our DS2 moved house and decided to do it without the aid of a removal company. He hired a van with the intention of doing it himself.
DH and I were horrified when we arrived and saw the size of the van he had hired….. fortunately they weren’t moving to far and the 40 or 50 trips he had to make were finished just before we all collapsed.
Hope your DD and SIL come to terms with the loss of their dog. It’s hard I know.
Take care and keep yourselves safe. Come and unload here whenever you feel like it,

Another busy week for everyone I see - so many posts to read, all action-packed!

Kaimoana - love the tart…what a masterpiece. All the better for being a committee effort. Little Gubbins is a handful, isn’t she! Interesting about the screaming at night…DD in Adelaide is having the same issues with little Freddie. He’s such an easy-going little character, but just won’t settle at night. DD is exhausted, what with the temperatures in Adelaide being 33 deg by day, and she’s working from home, a 40-hour week, over 4 days. Young mothers have a tough time these days, when they’re trying to get on the property ladder, don’t they. Fortunately, both the DGC love their daycare, so DD has no idea why Freddie should be so stressed. The baby signing is such a wonderful thing for little ones, to avoid the frustration of being unable to communicate. So lovely that DGS still loves his cuddles. So many problems of the world would be solved, I’m sure, if boys were allowed/encouraged to be more openly demonstrative. When I was teaching boys in single-sex boarding schools, they were so responsive to being shown that they were genuinely liked and respected. (x10 for you with your prisoners, I bet) I would walk around the classroom doing oral language drills, in a fun way, armed with a rolled-up piece of paper, and bop them on the head with it when they gave a correct answer. A proxy hug. They loved it. Maybe you had to be there – but it sure got results.

Grammaretto - you are still facing so many trials. You and Cushie must be very enterprising to cope without any real cooking facilities – I do hope that untenable situation is resolved very soon. And fancy Sparky still doing his thing! You must be so over it…and the prospect of the bill for his time, too. Lovely that DGM had such a good time – she sounds much loved. I do hope your tenants get sorted and settled so that you can start getting back to normal. It must be such an asset to have Cushie there as an ally.

Mamissimo! Oh my goodness…what a lot of stresses you are undergoing. Don’t go overdoing it with all that heaving of boxes. Lovely to have the prospect of the seeds going in – such a positive action towards the prospect of spring. I hope all is well with your DD and DSiL. A sad time for them.

Doodle - the Canadian self-renewing stew sounds …ermm…interesting. I’m guessing, though, that our ancestors did exactly that throughout those long cold winters they had to endure, thousands of years ago. Being able to dip into a hot savoury stew when the wind was howling outside must have been so comforting. Not sure if I fancy it these days, though. I hope your DS2 has no plans to move again! Or if he does, to get in the professionals. Do you have your new blinds yet?

It’s still hot here, and very dry. I’ve had to use all the water in the tanks to keep the fruit trees going. There is such a good crop of citrus this year that I don’t want to risk the trees dropping their fruit to cope with the drought. I’m still using the seaweed/fish liquid fertiliser, and am quite happy to put up with the smell because of the results. The growth has been phenomenal.

Not quite such a busy week coming up. History yesterday…a little controversial for a number of reasons. Not going to the Tudor session today, as I’m sorting out a truckload of bark mulch for the garden, and a friend is dropping in for lunch. MrJ bought a lovely desk on Trademe online, and the Man with a Van is dropping it off, having picked it up from Auckland yesterday. My muscles are needed to help with lifting new, and removing old desk. Thursday is French again, and I’m just hoping that our lady whose little DGS died of cancer a few weeks ago will feel like coming back to us. So terribly sad.

I see Maureen and Doreen peering in the window, and the dove sitting on the garage roof, giving me the hurry-up. Dove has brought The Gang, including some columbines. Our place is turning into an Open All Hours café for birds.

Tiger figs. Almost, but not quite, ready.

Oh, and RIP G. Julius Caesar. Pity he didn't listen to his DW. Beware the Ides of March.

When Brutus struck him, Caesar said, Tu quoque, fili mi, (You too my child?) Sad.

Caesar had been the partner off Brutus' mother for many years and helped in B's upbringing.

I've often though how brave you are Grammaretto taking unknown persons into your home. Helpers too are taking something of a risk
when they don't know thier hosts.

Mamissimo your final sentence is the most important. We all share the good and the bad, isn't that what our thread is all abou?

I seem to remember hearing about my farming ancestors having a pot boiler on the back of the range too. As long as it was always bubbling, it killed the germs.
Regularly cleaned out on Saturday, it was then started anew with left overs from Sunday lunch.

BJ Do you have a plum tree? If so, start saving all the dregs from your wine as I've just read that the best thing for them are the '3 Ws'.
Wine, Water and Wee. I don't suppose you need add the last until just before you douse the tree.
If you then made alcohol from your plums, you could claim you 'made water' into wine.

My annual checkup on Monday showed (apart from being covered in bruises from my fall), I'm doing well. BP and bloods all good, diabetes still well shackled. Can't ask for more can I?
My sweet doctor wrote a request demand for the State to pay the bill for my alarm. She seemed to have no doubt it would be allowed. Phew.

Whilst I have every sympathy with your DD in Adelaide BJ it's heartening to know other parents have this problem. Gubbins has been like this from birth and seems to adapt to everything they do to comfort her.
During the day she's a happy, outgoing little soul, albeit with a will of tungsten - but at night a screaming wreck (as are her parents).

Let's hope by the time she gets to university, she's grown out of it

Yes, we have been left with an historical questionmark (as usual...). There was always a whisper that Brutus could actually have been Caesar's son, "mi fili/fili mi" literally means "my son". After all, Julius and B's mama had been ...ermm...friends for quite a while. But also, "my child" in some contexts, as in recognising closeness.. But being a Brutus had always been a lot more upmarket than being a Caesar, so...
Not much to choose between the meanings of their names - "Animal-like" as opposed to "Hairy".

Kaimoana - interesting about the 3 Ws! Certainly lemons are very responsive to a morning sprinkle. On their roots, of course.
AND, young lady, whatever makes you think that there would ever be wine left over, chez moi?? Do I look like someone who would let a good drop of plonk go to waste?

Indubitably BJ you are a shelf-confeshed tippler.

Only in NZ!

‘Nothing was stolen’: New Zealanders carry on borrowing from closed, unstaffed library
Door security error meant one of country’s largest city libraries was left open for hours, allowing hundreds to browse shelves

The Tūranga library’s self-checkout machines started up automatically while it was unattended, enabling nearly 150 books to be borrowed.

From The Guardian -Mon 14 March

At least you are a country of readers BJ. I would be surprised if any books were stolen from a library here. They are all diversifying and closing down in equal numbers.

Caesar came up in the history talk I attended yesterday. On a different note. A poor local lass died whilst giving birth, in 1800. The baby lived and was named Caesar after the procedure. apparently it was so rare that every surviving child was thus named
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7520072/

The tenants moved in and I/we moved out . It was a last minute rush but they seemed to be happy relieved
I bought them a pretty cowslip - not an indoor plant but I couldn't resist it.

I am about to go to Glasgow to meet up with the Glesgu grans today. Cushie has the day off
Better catch the bus.

I followed your link Grammaretto and was appalled to read the poor woman (if it is her real skeleton), hasn't even been given the respect of a name but is part of "The Bell Collection" - an exhibit for goodness sake! Is this true?

Boadicea I haven’t read your post yet but saw that picture of figs and my mouth is watering ?
I agree with you about showing affection to boys. My son and his son have a lovely bond and it does make a difference.
No o don’t think my son will make the same mistake when moving again.
The blinds are coming tomorrow. Getting quite excited now.
Oh I’m so sorry one of your French students has lost her little grandson. That is so very sad. Sorry if you mentioned it before I must have missed that.
I misread you post and thought you said Dove had brought the Gang and some concubines. I was wondering how you knew.
Sorry can’t send you any of our wine dregs…we never have any.
Wow what an honest lot all you in NZ are. All those books being borrowed. I wonder where the staff went.

Kaimoana I’m still not sure I fancy an ongoing pot meal.
It would get like turkey at Christmas……..oh not again!
Hmm don’t fancy weed on plumbs either ?
Glad to hear you passed your MOT. I do hope the state will pay for your alarm. I certainly think you need one and it’s quite expensive.
It’s always a comfort to find someone else going through the same thing. Would Gubbins sleep in a rocking chair do you think? My son always used to rock himself to sleep.
Grammaretto I wish libraries would go back to being like they were when I was a child. Somewhere peaceful where you could go and sit and browse for a while.
Well I never new that about Caesar….glad I had mine without as it’s not a name I would have chosen.
What a fun idea for a day out. Hope you have a great time with everyone. I bet you’ll be worn out with chatter by the time you get home.

Doodle - I should have mentioned that I taught both my sons for 6 years all-up in a school that at that stage was boys only. DS1 was slightly embarrassed by it, and if I saw him walking with his mates in the school grounds, he would raise an eyebrow and his chin slightly to acknowledge me. DS2 (the pirate) would come bounding over, mates in tow - "Gidday Ma!" His mates thought it was pretty cool to have Ma teaching there. The first time DS2 earned the bop with the rolled-up piece of paper, he clutched his head crying "Ma! Don't hit me any more!" The class fell about laughing. You had to be there. DS2 was nearly expelled in the last few weeks of his school career because his Housemaster accused him of putting a dead possum in his letterbox. Based on the sole piece of evidence that DS2 had a .22 and periodically went shooting. The police called me and told me that the allegation had been made - a call from the police about your son is a scary thing, until they told me what it was about. He could barely contain his amusement. Some weeks later, another boy was heard boasting in the pub about doing it ...

G'Day Gang,

I can imagine your DS's move with 40 trips Doodle
It is incredible how much stuff accumulates.
DD had to move house during Lockdown and they had to do it themselves. They managed to hire a van from a garage but it wasn't the big one as that was out of commission. DSiL and his dad (illegally but needs must) did it in 2 x 4hr round trips.
She had to stay with her very small children.

The poor lass who had the Caesarean was called Janet Hyslop.
Kaimoana The baby was her 7th child.

Also in the SHM is the skeleton of Janet Hyslop, who died in 1800 after her seventh pregnancy. At the suggestion of her local doctor, two eminent Edinburgh surgeons, Charles and John Bell, had driven down to the parish town of Penicuik to deliver her child by Caesarean section

Why? Because her spine and pelvic region had been so utterly transformed by a lack of calcium and vitamin D she had become a medical curiosity. She was buried in a nearby churchyard, but she – or rather her skeleton – nevertheless ended up in Charles Bell's collection.

It was nice to escape to Glasgow yesterday and meet up with GNers. I spotted a couple of likely ladies on the steps of the concert hall (see photo) and asked them if they were for the gran's meetup? They looked slightly horrified!

Poor, poor Janet. What a terrible life and an appalling death. And the indignity of becoming no longer a person, but a medical specimen. There never was such a thing as the "Good Old Days". For women, especially.

Disappointed today. Our blind fitter has tested positive for Covid so couldn’t come. Doesn’t really matter but I tidied up for nothing ?
Boadicea I didn’t realise you were a teacher. I bet your sons couldn’t get away with anything at school without you finding out.
All schools seem to have end of year pranks on the teachers. Not heard of a dead possum one before though.
Grammaretto that was some trip for you SIL and his father. At least our son could travel between the two houses in half an hour. Our DIL at the time had a really bad back and was walking with crutches. In the move, one of their cats escaped from the cat carrier and ran off (it was after dark by this time) DGS wouldn’t rest until missing cat was found and brought home.
Hmm does that mean they dug poor Janet Hyslop up? I can’t see how else they’d get her Skelton. ?
I read all about the GN meet-up on the thread. Sounds like an excellent time was had by all.
Nice venue…..bet it was noisy with all the GN grannies there.?
I might be missing tomorrow folks. We are off to Winchester in the morning and not back till Friday. Hope the weather is better than today as it rained all day.
Keep safe and well all.

It rained here too Doodle. Have a lovely time in Winchester. Jane Austen is buried in the Cathedral, isn't she .
My attempts at trying to cook without a stove are pathetic. Tonight all the kitchen plugs fused when I tried to plug in the electric ring. Luckily Cushie has a gas camping stove and we made a passable spag bol and enjoyed it washed down with chianti.
I think you are right about poor Janet. It was the time of the Body snatchers and that particular graveyard was well known to be a frequented by them.
Robert Louis Stevenson attended Glencorse church in his youth, travelling over the Pentland Hills from Swanston. He later, when far away in Samoa, described it as the "most delightful place on earth."

Rain?

What's that?

sorry Kaimoana no tact