The Lockdown Gang - still chatting ?

Mamissimo sorry you’re not feeling too good. I hope you get those antivirals soon.
Dinner sounds nice. I hope the family are looking after you now.
Grammaretto how is Brunhilde settling in? Hope she will be as useful as Cushie. Any sign of Sparky yet?

Oh dear. The virus has hit the Mamissimo household hard.
Are the small DGC ok?
I hope you all recover quickly.

Brunhilde is settling in. She hasn't done any work yet but I am sure she will tomorrow.
Sparky was here for several hours. Not much obvious progress. We had burnt egg omelette and potatoes for tea.
I drove to the churchyard to see the newly inscribed stone for DH and found a bank of primroses.

I would hazard a guess that if a family can eat a roast pork dinner, there's no real 'crisis' .
Are you sure they're not just pressing your buttons, as children and husbands do Mamissimo?
'Peel me a grape Mama'

It's the day of the funeral and I'm trying, unsuccessfully so far, to get into a frame of mind to go.

Attended the viewing yesterday and did the required Maori (Christian) blessing, at which everyone breathed a sigh of relief. It's such an important thing for all concerned, so now Heather can go in peace.

BJ and Grammaretto I've been invited to Whaea Titewhai Harawira's 90th birthday Fancy that!! 'If you go♩ ♪ down to the party today, you better go in disguise...♫ ♬

Footnote Whaea Titwewhai Harawira is an activist of many years but her rude and offensive manner has alienated many.
I have a deal of respect for her achievements though not the way she's gone about it.

Her sister, part of our elders group, is much the same: outspoken, uses very bad language but at least she'll hug me with genuine warmth.

If Titewhai came at me, I'd be looking for the dagger

Karen will be here soon. I do hope she's a lot better, poor lass.

Kaimoana - I hope all is well with the tangi, and that Heather has departed this life surrounded by much love and caring. What an honour to have been entrusted with the blessing.
And to have been invited to Whaea Titiwhai's birthday! Just wow! Yes, she was slways somewhat abrasive back in the day...
Many years ago I was warmly embraced by Dame Tariana Turia, a lady who, frankly, scared the heck out of me-for the same reason. She was so unwilling to call a spade anything but a spade, and her entire life, and words, were dedicated to her people. She had the most amazing presence - like an avenging angel at times, A young Maori lad I taught, from a challenged background, but with huge ability, was in deep merde for reasons I won't go in to. He was expelled from the (private) school, where i taught and which he attended on a scholarship, as a result of events. He asked me, (I was so very touched) to speak on his behalf at the appeal meeting. I knew that it could jeopardise my employment, (no other (male) staff member was prepared to do so) but knew also that the school would be his saviour. if he could stay on. So I spoke, all the honest truths about him, and with the greatest passion, about his future. After I had finished, Dame Tariana rose to her feet, walked around the table and embraced me. She whispered in my ear what it meant to the lad, and we hugged, in tears.
The lad stayed on, and I kept my job. I had the most wonderful hug from him, and whispered to him that he'd better behave or I'd be out gunning for him. He grinned, and promised.
I'll be back soon-it's been a very busy day.
Take care folks x

This, frankly is some dystopian nightmare! Entire family still testing positive. All adults staggering onwards, both dear little people very needy and whinging. Strangely everyone starving!

Do not ever get ill at the weekend! 111 becomes the out of hours service and can't cope or follow process. I have been triaged three times now and each time referred for urgent clinician intervention. None of these have happened. My GP doesn't know who to contact to get me the help. They aren't allowed to be part of the service.

A very helpful lady at 111 has just started the whole process again for me and hopes that a nurse will triage me later this morning and I may then get to speak to a clinician later today....

My head hurts from banging it on the wall.

Oh, Mamissimo, I'm so very sorry to hear what an awful time you are having, and so very much alone. And, on top of all the worry, phoning, waiting and frustration, having to soldier on with the catering and mothering and accommodating of neediness. I really hope that someone, soon, comes up with a plan for you. Keep strong, Kia kaha. x

Grammaretto I hope you find Brunhilde a helpful person. Another chance for romance for Sparky?
Is there any chance your cooker will be connected and working this year?
What lovely primroses. I hope your DHs headstone was what you wanted and are pleased with it.
Kaimoana I expect the funeral is now over. I hope all went well. I’m glad you managed to do the blessing as was your friends wish.
Hope Karen is indeed much better otherwise I fancy you’ll send her home again.
Titwewhai sounds a bit of a formidable character. Nice for you to have been invited to her 90th birthday. Will you go?
Obviously she is someone well known. I did try looking her up on Google but after several tries of trying to spell her name I gave up. ?
Boadicea what a wonderful story about that young man.
Sometimes all it needs is for someone to give encouragement and support. What a difference you must have made to that young mans life. I hope he succeeded.
Mamissimo so dreadfully sorry to hear how bad things are.
I have had my own experiences of calling 111 so can fully understand your frustration.
I hope by now you’ve had contact and someone has been out to see you. Hope the family are on the mend soon before you run out of food supplies.
Please let us know how you’re doing.

Hello lovely gang,

I wish I could help you Mamissimo. It does sound an utter nightmare. Things can only get better?

The story of the Maori lad is so positive BJ. You are one brave woman. I also hope he kept his side of the bargain.

Hmm Jury is out with Brunhilde, Doodle I am blaming the language barrier.
I asked her to move a pile of sticks yesterday and showed her where they were to go. She moved another pile of sticks which didn't need to be moved.
She emerged from her room at 10 am yesterday, claiming she required a lot of sleep. She is already up so that is good.
She is also looking for night life and to meet people. Really!
She has met Sparky but she is a teenager and he is probably older than her parents. I always tell myself that I won't host teenagers again but somehow this one slipped through my net.

Today would have been our 53rd wedding anniversary. I am very pleased with the gravestone - there are no spelling mistakes! I think that was the stone-carver's biggest fear. He is left handed and possibly dyslexic so not easy for him.
www.facebook.com/eyecutstone/

How was the funeral and how is Karen Kaimoana?

Good morning ?

All still testing positive here and apart from me they are free from isolation. These new regs are daft! Apparently the logic is that they're nowhere near as infectious now.

I need to get the builders in because I'm close to knocking a hole in the wall with my head over the antivirals. I have been assured this morning that a referral was made yesterday and that someone will call me as soon as possible to work out which drug combo I will get.

These drugs have to be started by Thursday........my thinking is that by the time it's sorted it will be too late to start them and the nhs will have saved a few quid.

To the original lockdown gang - please take care of yourselves because the system's broke!

Hello lobstars ?
A week has passed and there’s lots of lockdown news to read. MrMuse has the kettle on so I’ll read it all whilst I sip my coffee.

Since my last post we had workmen into the build and MrMuse was there doing what he wanted to finish. Two days later he tested +ive. I’ve tested every day since and am still -ive.
He sleeps a good part of the day, eats well and the aches are disappearing. The worst ache has been around his kidneys. I battle to keep him resting but he’s stopped disappearing over to the build now! Impossible to be apart from him in our one room cottage but I’ll continue to keep isolated until our holiday a week on Monday ?.

Just had the Sainsbury’s delivery and I’ve ordered an extra one for later this week. I swapped covid woes with the driver as he left all the shopping on the garden table. He had it three weeks ago and still feels tired.

I’m off to make that coffee. Take care all.

Very very pleased to report that the drugs have been delivered and are not horse medication too big. ?

Sorry to learn that you're suffering too Muse. I'm thinking that Doodle and The Dude should be incarcerated for a bit until the rates really go down!

Grammaretto this must be a sad day for you. Sending you a little ?. I’m glad you are pleased with the gravestone. I can’t follow your link because I’m not on Facebook.
Hmm I wonder if Brunhilde is going to be more of a liability than help. Let’s hope she bucks her ideas up.
Are you still doing Wordle? I’ve moved on to Quordle now. I prefer it.
Mamissimo I am mightily relieved that the drugs have arrived at last. I was beginning to wonder what you were going to do. Hope they help your to avoid any serious consequences from Covid.
How are the others feeling, have they improved at all?
We don’t mingle much to be honest. Still wearing masks and testing regularly.
Muse that’s a shame. Hope MrM is ok and your building work isn’t delayed.
I hope nothing happens to spoil your trip. We are isolating now prior to ours.
I’ve whizzed round our hallway with my new gadget today. A sonic brush. It’s got 4 different heads and looks very much like a very large electric toothbrush.
I’ve used it for cleaning where the carpet meets the skirting board. Got lots of fluff and dust up so quite pleased with myself. Hair wash, which takes about an hour along with drying and then shortened a pair of trousers. Sadly I am too tall for M&S short and too short for M&S regular length which means I am constantly shortening things.
Repaired DHs sweatshirt that was coming apart from the seams and made spag bog for dinner. Relaxing with a glass of wine ? now.
Boadicea on my French course I am now getting into the nitty gritty of being in a restaurant and ordering my food. I am concentrating on my priorities ‘I un verre de vin, s’il vous plaît’ ?
Kaimoana how was Karen, is she feeling better now?
Take care all

Doodle & Grammaretto Karen is a little better, thank you for caring.
Not exactly bouncing but certainly not as sick as she was.

Zieh deine Socken hoch Brunhilde! du bist da um zu helfen. Nicht schlafen und auf Partys Kontakte knüpfen

Hello Gang,

Glad to hear most of your clan is on the mend Mamissimo and perhaps can give you some TLC.

Doodle you give me a giggle, thankyou. It's the thought of all those trousers being taken up, or down. You must look immaculate. I didn't even know they came in different lengths but that does explain why some of mine have to be rolled up and others barely reach my ankles!
I can only find Gus on facebook or there is this from an exhibition. He worked on the British Normandy Memorial too though I didn't know that before I asked him. He was a good friend of DH.
www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/in-this-image-released-by-the-normandy-memorial-trust-as-news-photo/1217748397
scottish-gallery.co.uk/artist/gus-fisher

I am glad Karen is getting better Kaimoana

Brunhilde worked hard yesterday she moved the correct sticks and for a treat I took her on a long muddy walk where we met some "dangerous looking" animals. She was quite uneasy, poor lass.

muse what a worry about Mr muse. How is he today? I hope it doesn't spoil your holiday plans.

Take care everyone and rest up. I'm off to my yarn group for some old fashioned nattering over a cuppa and work a bit more on my sweater

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202204/medium-406939-img-20220412-144442564.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202204/medium-320437-img-20220412-143909847-hdr.jpg

Here are the animals

Well I must admit I’d be a bit wary around cows too Grammaretto. They are so very……big.
Mind you I think I’d perhaps enjoy the scenery more. Looks like a nice place for a walk.
I hope Brunhilde is proving to be a bit more useful.
We’ve been out twice today. Once to collect DH prescriptions and once for a short walk. It really was quite warm. Hottest day so far.
DH is taking so many tablets for his various complaints. Fortunately, he is sleeping so much better now. The quantities need adjusting because he’s very tired. He fell asleep in his chair again this evening while typing an email. His fingers were still on the iPad even though he was fast asleep. I hope he didn’t press send when he woke up I can’t imagine what he typed while he was nodding off ?
Hope you had a nice time with your yarn group. Is the sweater for you? What colour is it?
Kaimoana glad Karen is a bit better. Let’s hope she continues to improve. I don’t do German either but somehow I seem to get the gist of what you are saying ?
Mamissimo I hope you are feeling ok. Have you started the antivirals yet? How are the rest of the family?
Boadicea I’m waiting for more tales of Doreen and her pals.

Grammaretto thank you for the link. What skill is required for such tasks. The lettering looks lovely. How nice he was a friend of your DH. It makes it more special.

Good evening ?

Everyone here still testing positive but Mr M, DD and DSiL are no longer required to isolate. I'm only required to isolate for another two days. Daft!

I'm on Paxlovid and this combination drug is a thug! I have the most horrid taste in my mouth but can't taste food, and it has a certain purging effect. However I will persevere because it is saving me from severe covid. I'm totally fatigued and pass out for a couple of hours every afternoon.

The great thing is that we're on the up and will survive!

Just for you, Doodle
Doreen and Jill, the Mean Girls, in the ponga (tree fern) courtyard, where they've managed to dig up all the bark chips and the pebbles, create chaos, and then walk away.Good luck with your French ordering...et Joyeuses Pâques!

Sending hugs and very best wishes for speedy recoveries, and for keeping happy and healthy. I have to dash, as I have my French group shortly, and there are some, ermm chicken deposits at the front door.

Oh and, Doodle - here's today's useless fact. Cinderella's glass slipper was actually of fur. "Vair" = fur was confused with "verre" =a glass. It's a very ancient story, back in the days when fur slippers were the creme de la creme, owing to the icy conditions without. And it's been highly sanitised for children too, owing to the significance of shoes/slippers. Which is why old shoes are attached to the car of newly-weds.

Well I never knew that BJ I had read about the fur as being more logical but not about hanging the shoes on the newlyweds car(t)

Hooray Mamissimo is on the mend.

My problem today is my laptop. I can't get it to open and display where I sign in. Can any of you suggest a remedy?
It's not the battery as there is a picture but the box where I sign in, doesn't appear.
Brunhilde has headlice!
I sent her to the chemist yesterday and she disappeared to her room for a long time, reappearing with her hair in a towel. All her bedding has gone in a hot wash but yet I keep scratching my head
She was with a family of small children before she came here so I blame them.
I am very glad to hear Karen is somewhat better, Kaimoana and I hope you are ok?
Don't like the sound of the Dude though. Doodle
I hope he is ok for the cruise.
Sending hugs to you all.

What a week I've had .
Didn't get to Heather's funeral but the following day took a taxi out to Waikumete cemetery, at 109 hectares, the largest in NZ -see photo.
We had been told to follow red marker flags and I explained to the taxi driver he’d have to look as I am functionally blind.

It’s obvious I’m elderly and walk with a stick but he decided to abandoned me, in pouring rain saying, ‘Here’s where you need to be’. Of course I believed him. I paid and he drove away.

When he’d gone, the silence was profound.

I couldn't see a thing or hear any sounds of life. I stood in the road calling my friends' names in the hope someone would answer and I could follow their voices. No one replied.

As I can’t see the ground and usually have someone with me to warn me of obstacles, I was very frightened and dare not move.

How on earth would I get up if I fell in a place like this? If I fell, how long would it be before anyone drove along this remote road?

Fortunately, after stubbornness took over from dramatic imaginings and I hobbled very, very carefully until I came to a maintenance shed where a lovely man was having lunch.

He very kindly agreed to take me to find the burial party.

It was miles away, the taximan hadn’t followed the flags at all.
We got there just as all my friends were leaving.

I broke all the rules and hugged my wonderful Guardian Angel - and my friends brought me home in a state of shock (and very wet .

To make a horrific afternoon even worse, when I got out of the specially adapted van, Jeremy, who thought I was going to his house for lunch was so distressed to see me leave that he had a total meltdown
Jeremy, unable to articulate well, has a very piercing scream when distressed and it went straight to my my heart. Having let him down for the funeral and not arrived in time for the burial of his wife, I was now making it worse.

Sue, his long-time carer tried to comfort me by saying, 'He needed to blow. He's been so good and kept it together since Heather died, so this last straw will actually be cathartic.'

Not for me. I was still shaking 4 hours later and only on Wednesday was able to talk to a dear friend about it without too many tears.
Thanks BJ.
*

My family won't be coming over at Easter but dgs will arrive next Friday and wants to stay a week.

Meanwhile, I wish you all a peaceful, happy and restful Eastertide.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nKYRMJC_qg

Mamissimo sorry your treatment is so awful but I hope it does the trick and keeps you safe. Just read in the GM thread that Marydoll has now caught Covid too but cannot have first line antivirals due to her other medication so is off to hospital for 2nd line treatment. You are the only two people I know on GN who are so clinically vulnerable. How strange you should both get Covid at almost exactly the same time.
Hoping you both make a good and speedy recovery.
Hope the rest of the family are taking good care of you.
Boadicea thank you for the photo of the Mean girls ?. What a pair they sound. Have a good time with your French group.
Wow what an amazing fact about the glass slipper. I never knew that. Thank you.
Grammaretto I had the same problem with my laptop. I let it run out of battery completely and then pressed the On/off button a few times and it worked again. Hope you get it fixed soon.
I’m not surprised you are scratching your head. Only the mention of lice makes me do the same. These days I think it can be dealt with effectively with the treatment from the chemist. Hope she’s clear soon.
Thank you for thinking of DH. He takes controlled drugs to help his shaking hands and another for his restless leg syndrome and also something to help him sleep. To be honest I’m amazed he’s awake as much as he is. He is in transition from one medication to another so has to take both for a while and then gradually reduce the other. I think it’s just a matter of getting the combination right. Thing is his quality of life has improved considerably. The RLS was driving him mad. Far worse than anything else he has wrong with him so to get some relief is such a help.
OhKaimoana I am so upset for you. What a dreadfully sad and upsetting experience. That taxi driver should be reported. How bad to leave you in such a place on your own. I can only imagine how frightened and alone you felt.
Thank goodness for the man in the hut. Your friends must have been so shocked to see you in such a state.
I know you will have been devastated not to have been at the funeral, have missed the burial and to hear Jeremy in such a state. You went to such lengths to be there. I’m so sorry you had such an awful day.
I am sure Jeremy’s carer is right and the outburst of grief and sadness may well help him.
You must have been so shaken.
I suggest a massive big group hug from all the gang is needed right now. I’m so pleased your DGS is coming over. That will be something to look forward to and hopefully ease your mind a little. x

Good afternoon Lobstars ?

I hope you have still escaped covid Mamissimo and are on the up and up. Take care.

Kaimoana I was so shocked and upset for you too. After all your careful planning. I hope Jeremy is more settled now.

Doodle you are doing the right thing in complete isolation before your holiday. I had planned such for us. No shopping or even the many click and collect orders for MrMuse. He continues to improve and is back working on the house but still feels he has no energy. After testing -ive for 6 days, and thinking I had a bad cold I tested this morning and am +ive. As we have 10 days till we go away, I remain positive but have to admit to having a little melt down this morning. I'm sure MrMuse now regrets spending the two hours in the build when those workmen were there.

I have just had a steady walk with Mya as the sun is out and doing it's best to perk me up.

A group hug is an excellent idea Doodle.