The Lockdown Gang - still chatting ?

Oh, Blimey,
Someone at my elders group was Covid Positive yesterday I have a RAT but can't see well enough to do it.
I've told my DS and he'll do a RAT with Gubbins.

Beverley has just gone as well. We both wore masks and she wears gloves. Could still have passed it on? (if I have it).

Life is never simple is it?

Lovely to see all the holiday photos; how clear the air was Doodle makes everything look pristine. Your DH certainly has ‘the eye’ for a good photo.

The weather was not as kind to Atlantic Bridge where fog seems to have obscured not just the 18th century construction itself but Mr & MrsM too. Or was it due to the many bottles of opened hooch and the prospect of an hotel with 1,000 more waiting?

I would love to believe Damp Squib (formerly known as Sparky) has a reason to leave that vital piece of kitchen equipment, the cooker, until last but for the life of me I can’t think of it.

No cold nights here BJ in fact I haven’t needed any covering other than a cosy sheet. Mind you, the weather has forced me to shut my front door against driving rain, so that’s a factor too.

Yesterday was busy but interesting. Out at 8.30am in the Community Van for an hour’s round of pickups.
Our Fearless Leader has taken Auckland Council to court and brought in The Human Rights Commission because, yet again, Council reneged on a promise to provide housing for the lowest socio-economic sectors of the community.

Back home at 1.30 to whizz round and get all ready for The Magnificent Roast Pork Lunch and the arrival of DS & Dgd.

Gubbins excitedly opened a gift from Auntie BJ and was ecstatic to discover socks and a pretty dress… was already pulling off her t-shirt before Daddy explained the latter was for Age 4-5.
She is not a patient child and we had screams until I asked her if she was ready for lunch – at which they were turned off like a tap and she ran to secure her place at the table.

She came to ask me to do 'Walking Round the Garden' but when I did, she sat stony-faced as if I were forcing her.
She asked for several repeats but wouldn't smile, even when Daddy zoomed in with the camera. She's a funny little stick.

Wow Doodle - such beautiful photos! And lovely weather - none of the grey, misty stuff you so often get in that type of landscape. You must have had such a perfect time, enjoying those vistas. I loved the story of the curtains-the young seem to be so taken with the 60s trends, however bright and loud. I did try to persuade the girls to pose in the pin-up manner, but they bluntly refused. They did however provide entertainment for my French class yesterday, strolling in the dining room door.
Grammaretto - you must be so happy about Sparky's resurrection. Let's hope that the end is in sight. That elusive cooker has just GOT to be installed...I don't know how you cope. Yes, selling/moving is just soooo stressful...best not to do it too often! As, of course, is keeping the place immaculate. Good luck with that, and with the new potential potter. I really must wear my new glasses - on first scanning your post, I read it as "nutter".
Mamissimo - lovely landscape photo! That coastline is so beautiful. We took the ferry from Ullapool to Lewis, out through the Summer Isles. It was so incredibly special, especially as the Hebridean Folk Music festival was on in Stornaway, and every pub was hopping with ad-lib musicians. Callanish was a place I had on my bucket list for many years. The cherry on top was finding a remote graveyard with the graves of generations of McKs -ancestors from way back. The place really resonated with me. But it's no wonder they emigrated en masse-such a bleak place to try to scratch a living in.
Kaimoana - how did yesterday go for you? So happy that managed to get to your special event, and saw the family too. Have you heard anything about Karen? Is Beverly still working out well? I hope you are keeping fine and dandy and enduring these cold nights of 11 deg.
I'm not going to History today, as I need to do some preps for the arrival of the family this afternoon. Also need to set a trap for the mouse that jumped out of the chicken food bag. I just don't understand why these lazy layabout fluffy ones can't do something about it. Though Dottie - tiny little thing that she is - saw off the big ginger tomcat that is still hanging about. Her expostulations as he tried to come in were truly worthy of a fishwife, and she chased him right down the path. She must be only 25% of his total bodyweight, but as feisty as they come.

Gah!

Here's the photo of Atlantic Bridge....and yes that's the Atlantic!

Still in Oban but off to Skye tomorrow. It's competition time! Today we crossed the Atlantic Bridge, built in the 1700's, and visited the site of the world championships for pebble skimming.....where were we?

Doodle we need no more whisky! Mr M likes Oban but has umpteen different bottles of hooch open for sampling already. When we get to Speyside we're staying in a well known hotel with more than 1000 whiskies available......please don't encourage Mr M to excess!

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Skjolden Norway

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Flam Norway from our cruise

Mamissimo nice to hear from you.
Thanks for the photo. Such beautiful scenery and the weather looks good too. Hope you have a nice relaxing time.
I’ve been to Oban. Are you visiting the distillery?
Boadicea your girls are really looking at the camera. They need to put one wing posed on their side and have one foot slightly in front of the other. At least that’s how most of the females I see in the paper pose. Never seen anyone do it in real life though.
Grammaretto well I hope Sparky does your cooker before he moves onto a new job!
Yes moving house is quite traumatic. It’s hard to keep it tidy all the time. However, all it needs is one buyer who loves it.
We once sold a house to a couple who loved our lounge curtains so much they pleaded with us to include them in the sale. They were brownish colour with huge (and I do mean huge) orange flowers on…….. I was glad to let them go.
Ooh is you new potential potter someone who wants lessons or just somewhere to throw something (if you see what I mean ?)

Hello Gang,

Sparky was here today! He has finished fitting the worktops and cleared away his tools from the hall so at least open studios can look tidy ish.
I don't ask about the cooker but he knows it's important. I think he wants to turn it on as his final flourish but he also told me about his next job which suggests he may be moving out soonish
I have mown the grass and it doesn't look too bad.
A yarn group friend is exhausted from preparing her house for sale and warned me not to do it.
She had to move everything out of the photographer's way!

If I ever do put this place on the market, I think it would need to go to someone who either didn't care about its condition or better still, someone who loved it.

Cryptography sounds fascinating Kaimoana and just up your street.
Your picture of the ladies in waiting is wonderful BJ
I'm glad your DGD has bounced back from covid Doodle and hope DiL recovers soon.

I must nip to the shop for supplies. A new potential potter is coming early tomorrow morning

Forgot to post this yesterday. Today I see the girls lined up again. Thanks for the giggle BJ and, a bonus, first installment of Mamissimo and the great Tour of Scotland.
Looking forward to part 2.

For our fanbase...a posed shot this time. Did you get our best side? Profile is so much more flattering than back views, as our bums look big in that.

Hello! And greetings from Scotland where Mr M and I are currently cutting our capers!

Yesterday we circumnavigated Glasgow successfully (I waved to Marydoll but she didn't know I was there ?). We made it to Lock Lomond and today, in American fashion, have done Glencoe and are now in Oban. I think I'm not a million miles from Soop and*Baggs*.

The picture is of Castle Stalker which we found by fluke today. It needs work and Mr M keeps reaching for his cheque book. It won't do for us.....too far for Sainsbugs and Ocado to deliver! Perhaps Sparky should be sent there......

Will post again when I have some WiFi! X

Oh Boadicea thank you for the lovely photo of the girls. It really made me laugh. All of them lined up and looking through the window.
Sorry your DH had his appointment cancelled.
I am so sorry to hear about your son. That must be worrying.
Is he in hospital. I hope things settle down and the transplant is successful.
So glad you enjoy the Dean too. I think he’s a very special person. A one off really.
I smiled to myself at the thought of you going round tucking the girls in and reading them a bedtime story then lining the kItties up for supper. All cosy and snug with the fire on.
It’s warm here. I’ve got the patio door open been a lovely day.
Oh I love your ideas for your French class. What fun they will have parading their outfits.
I can’t be bothered to read about the two wives doing battle. So much else going on in the world. I’m not keen on football anyway?
Hope you have a good time.
Grammaretto I think we should re name Sparky to damp squib. When ever will your cooker work?
You are obviously still feeling poorly, Hope you will be well for the open day.
Keep your eyes open for a giant descending from your South African plant…..you never know. I wonder what the flowers will be like. Will you show us a photo when they come out?
Kaimoana lovely to have a visit tomorrow. Bet you can’t wait and so lucky you get to go to your lunch as well.
Shame you can’t take Gubbins to the lunch with you I bet everyone would love to see her.
Lovely sounding lunch. What are yOu serving with the leek sauce? Your son will enjoy it.
And more backyard entertainment to come too. That’s nice.
I want to church this morning and had a lovely natter with coffee after. Then back home to take DH for his routine blood tests.
Had a nice walk and sit on the balcony . ? Sleep well all.

Oh dear, dear Grammaretto, you are having a bad time of it. I really hope you get rid of that awful cough very soon. However, your garden sounds wonderful, with all the flowers. Sparky had better watch his step, as there's a posse of GNers prepared to stamp their collective feet and throw in a little eye of newt in order to get the show on the road.
Kaimoana - I'm so sorry that it's been disappointments to the max for you recently. I was going to get your parcel in the post today, along with clothes for the littlies and lemons for the post-covid sufferers. That was to be after MrJ's appointment, which has been cancelled-again-owing to the doc having covid. But the rain came down when I left painting, as you can see from poor Maureen, Doreen, Flora and Jill. I'll try again tomorrow, before French. One of those feathered offenders had pulled your plumbago out of its pot...all ok though, safely repotted, and the warm rain is encouraging lots of growth.
Muse - what bad luck for your DS, to miss out on his 50th celebrations. I hope he's not too crook. My DS2 just messaged me to say that his second corneal transplant is faltering, and he's confined on IV steroids until things stabilise, which I pray they will. He's had such a rough life with his health and other stuff that he could use a break. Otherwise, he will lose the sight in his right eye...
Lotte Glob's studio must be a wonderland...what magnificent work.
Doodle - thank you so much for putting us on to the Dean's Youtube. I just loved it, and will subscribe too. An exceptional man, at an exceptional time. I hope you and DH are well, and the eye is doing well.
It's grey and drizzly as evening falls. The fire is lit, the Girls are in bed, the Kitties are in and having their supper. I'm frantically scribbling activities for tomorrow's French. They don't know it yet, but they're going to pirouette on the (makeshift) catwalk, while their partner describes the latest "tendance" that they are wearing. Easy, really, as everyone here gets around in un short/un jean/un pull/un tee-shirt...all masculine adjectives of colour to be used, because "franglais" is masculine! Then clothing ("les fringues" = "gear") crosswords, some discussion about the latest looks - I don't like short skirts because I don't like cold knees type of thing -(en français, bien sûr) some Youtube clips, then tea and cakes. Vardy and Rooney would make a great subject of discussion when it comes to "gear". Silly, silly girls.
All the while, Jacinda's Budget is going on in the background...

I'm happy to say my DS is coming over and bringing Gubbins on Thursday.

As he's at a cryptography lecture in the morning, he won't be here until 2pm which means I can actually go to my Kaumatua hui after all.

I can't wait to hear what he learned as I have always been fascinated by cryptography and steganography and hope to learn more about it I'm envious of his ability to learn and work on such things

BJ that photo is a gem

muse your poor son my boy missed his 21st so I know how dispiriting it can be.

Thanks for the update on Nfk, Doodle I hope things get better for her soon.

I'm keeping Missedout's thumb in mind too - please be careful.

Grammaretto I think you are training for sainthood. Sparky may have a good reason for stringing you along like this but do you actually know what it is? You are a braw wee heroine the way you keep going in spite of feeling crook.

I'd be lying in me bed calling for tea and crumpets lightly boiled water.

I hope I still have the same energy tonight as last night because I have Leek sauce to make (won't thicken it until just before we eat), onion jam to prepare, fruit to peel and crumble to mix.
All the veg are done: roast butternut, silver beet, sweetcorn.

I've made gluten free stuffing and used BJs fresh Sage.

I will be out from 8:30am tomorrow and back at 2pm and anticipating DS will be here before me - hungry.

Another Backyard Concert is planned, they are coming to me on 23rd. Yipee!

Dear Lobstars,

Nice to see some less frequent posters and hear your news. Happy birthday to your son muse and sorry he has had to postpone celebrations due to covid. It's still around and although I have now tested negative 3 times, my DSiL tells me she only began to test positive when she was over the worst.
.
I am glad that Beverley is doing the honours so well in the absence of Karen, Kaimoana

Do I have any news? Sparky says he'll be back in the morning to fit the edges to the work surfaces. still no oven

I have been preparing for the open studios and enjoying lovely weather and flowers galore.

A South African plant, I have had for years and has never flowered is this year 10ft high and covered in buds.
I don't know the name of it.

I'll have hot chocolate and cough medicine please Jeeves but not in the same cup

It's raining...can we come in please?

Hello muse we’ve missed you. What a shame about your son’s birthday. Hope his celebration can be rescheduled soon.
Hope he’s not feeling too poorly. My DGD bounced back after testing positive but my DIL is still feeling very tired.
Glad you liked the Highwayman. I love listening to the Dean read.
Hope you and your DH are doing well and Mya too of course.
Yes please come back and tell us about the house.

MrMuse made me a coffee one hour ago as I settled to read some GN. The rain had forced me to stay on the sofa with Mya.
My coffee is now cold as I became engrossed with Lockdown Gang news. So often I digressed from writing a comment or two or taking a sip, to follow links and research names. It's now almost time for an afternoon Earl Grey tea but I've caught up with all your news and will finish my message to you all...

Sorry, if it becomes a little disjointed at times.

Hello to Jan16. Like you I drop in to read occasionally. I promise myself I must say a few words then life around me kicks in again and I have to shut down the laptop. Hello again to Missedout and I hope the infections are clearing up.

It's good to read that MrBJ is recovering from the op but I kept reading of so many disappointments for you Kaimoana.

One lovely distraction was Lotte Glob. Thank you Mamissimo. Her home is amazing and I would love to wander around her sculpture croft too. One of her pieces has given me an idea for our garden for the new house.

A few of us have dear sons with birthdays this month. BJ Grammaretto and myself. My DS was 50 yesterday. We had a lovely long chat last night as he had to cancel his celebration with some friends. He had tested +ive three days ago. I could hear the sadness in his voice. I'd had a call a week ago from him but he was so busy with work we didn't catch up with all our news. It had been two months since I'd heard from him so yesterday I just let him chat away.

I did laugh at the photo or the version of flying ducks Grammaretto, or pee pots as my family know them. How are the shivers now?

My next diversion was due to Doodle and Kaimoana. In fact, the first diversion was then diverted itself. The Dean's garden in the link is beautiful Doodle and I had to listen to him reading the poem as it is one of my favourites. It was a set poem for my year 6 class when teaching 20 years ago. They love the drama and imagery. The Dean has one of my favourite trees too: snowball viburnum. It has a latin name which I can't recall. Mine is now in full bloom. I then saw the image you posted Kiimoana and remembered the Highwayman song I had found. I had to look it up and listen to it again.

I promise to return soon with house and feet news. More later.

Kaimoana The man sitting next to the Dean is Tim. I don’t know who the other two are on the other photo. Although the one with the grey hair could look a little like the Dean.
I usually recognise the Dean from his mop of silver/white hair. ?

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These were the pictures which confused me, bearing in mind this old bat is blind as.

Don't you think the man on the right looks like Dean Robert? Is that Tim then?

It's after midnight and I'm still at my computer which hasn't been off since 8am yesterday.

You'd think my eyes would be sore but it's actually the other extremity!

Must try to get some sleep - these new vitamins are filling me with energy - too much of it

www.youtube.com/channel/UCQpJdsPB5R0S5LYH51hv6Sw
Link to the new Garden Congregation website where all the past videos will be posted and anything new added.

Kaimoana I’ve just looked and the man sitting next to the Dean at the service is Tim the Cannon librarian.

Kaimoana the Dean’s last service was the one I posted yesterday. I’m glad you watched the tributes to him. He deserves all the praise.
You have probably found the new YouTube channel called The Garden Congregation. Over the next few weeks, they will upload there all the videos they have made since the start of lockdown so they can continue to be viewed. The Dean said he will be making some more videos of book readings perhaps and will add those to the site too so we can keep in touch.
I will probably go back to the beginning and start again when they’ve all been uploaded. I will miss his gentle presence every day especially the bit at the end of every service when he called upon Gods blessing for us and all who we love and all who we pray for.
It’s such a shame he will have to leave that beautiful garden. I would love to know where he’s going. I hope it’s somewhere with a nice garden too.
I like the sound of Beverly. Glad you are getting on well with her. Hope Karen is ok.

It will be the last one tomorrow Doodle how sad.
I heard him say all the videos will be online and I've subscribed - but then what?
Are 6 million fans really going to lose him?
In my opinion they/we tuned in to see him, his animals and the garden - it wasn't Canterbury Cathedral which was the attraction, beautiful though it is.

When the other bishop was pouring praise on his head, I though it was the Dean sitting there at the side. Then the Dean got up to reply and there were two of them!!
Was it his brother ?

Another dull and wet day here but muggy, not cold.

No word from Karen but Beverly is an excellent stand in. Small, wiry and very efficient. I asked her to prepare a Butternut and, having difficulties, she said, 'Alexa, prepare this pumpkin.'

Talked to my friend Bernie in the UK and we reminsed about old film stars with fine voices: Peter Cushing, Denis Quilley and so on.


Perhaps I'm being selfish to want the Dean and Fletcher to carry on at their age; it must be quite a responsibility and a little wearying at times.