The Lockdown Gang - still chatting ?

That is great BJ. just lovely.

I do hope you don't call off a visit Kaimoana. After all you are going on behalf of the gang - it's your duty and anyway ask a busy person is a rule of thumb I use!.

Oooh rice pudding, with a crust and creamy taste. The best comfort food ever.
I am getting oven envy though......
Where is Sparky??
I bet your house is ready to move into long before my kitchen is finished muse
I have a friend who worked as a gardener on Tresco. She's the same person who now grows rare daffodils in the north of Scotland. She visits Cornwall at least once a year though.

I gave my DS loads of rhubarb which he took home and made a crumble. I invited myself to tea! It is a long trek, by buses, across the far side of Edinburgh but worth it. I wanted to see the Botanic gardens in their May day glory and got to see the DGC too.
Our community cinema showed West Side Story and I was home just in time for that. I enjoyed it and wasn't expecting to , having fallen in love with Natalie Wood in the 1961 version.

We had some rain so I didn't need to water the garden.
All I have to do is wait for the smart meter fitter and do heaps of "paperwork".

I looked everywhere on-line for the message sent about the meter and then remembered it was an actual letter in the actual post!

Wait! What? Not coming?? Surely not!?

Back from hospital...all went well. The patient was just coming out of anaesthesia when I arrived at the recovery room. In his fuzzy state, he stretched out his arms and with a lopsided smile and slurred speech, he said "Hello beautiful!" The nurses all cooed. If I didn't know better, I'd have said he was falling-down drunk.

I am seriously wondering if our family trip to Northland should take place. I can just imagine the inconvenience and upheaval we would cause BJ in such a busy household, even though we are only dropping in for a meal.

Good evening Lobstars ?

Oh Mamissimo you have brought memories of my gran making rice pudding that included a tin of evaporated milk. She would bake it the oven heated by an open coal fire. I love the skin and the crusty edge around the dish.

What a full diary BoadiceaJones. Good luck with the surgery MrJ.

The gardens on Tresco were started in 1872 Kaimoana and the owner of the island, Thomas Algernon Dorrien Smith planted shelterbelts and woodland areas before introducing plants from around the world including Australia and New Zealand. The garden is sectioned to show where the plants are from.

The tiredness is still with me and MrMuse Doodle and I'm regularly having an afternoon nap. I have tonight been sorting out dates for May and June for the house build. We seem to be creeping into July now before the prospect of being signed off is on the cards. Oh well! It will happen - one day - I tell myself.

The rain today was most welcome. The raised beds were starting to look very parched.

Kaimoana I bet you and your DGS had a great time. The karaoke sounds like good fun. Nice people you know came to chat.
Boadicea I’m exhausted just reading your post. I’m glad MrBJ has a date for his op. It sounds as though you will have a busy week.
What are you painting for your art class? Fancy your DGD having the same birthday as her father. Lots of celebrations I expect.
Don’t overdo things too much. You need to keep your own health safe too.
Mamissimo funny you should say that. I’ve just been lengthening a pair of evening trousers. Ones that I shortened before. I decided I’d taken too much up so have to let them down a bit….Hope I didn’t cut too much off when I shortened them before ?
I don’t like rice pudding so won’t be pestering you for some. Now if you were making custard, that would be a different matter.
I wonder what an instapot is. I will have to look it up.
Boadicea is your husbands op today/tomorrow? Hope all goes well.

Mmmmmammissimo - rice pudding! Food of the gods...When I was living in Japan, a friend asked me, (drawn aside, as if suggesting an indecency) if it was true that Westerners ate rice cooked in milk and sugar? When I confirmed that yes, such a barbaric practice was actually popular, the look of disgust on her face was quite comical. Just like the young Japanese lady to whom I offered porridge...
5.45 am, and we're just off out to the hospital, in the dark chill morn.

Good morning ?

Today I will be channeling my inner Doodle as I have trousers to shorten, a tunic to alter...and some chicken to cook. ?

I've also decided to make a rice pudding in the instapot because I've found a recipe that includes condensed milk. I love condensed milk - it's a childhood thing. I once found humbug shaped 'berlingots' of condensed milk to keep in your pocket for greedy moments emergencies in a French supermarket. They were plain, chocolate and strawberry. Decadent!

The recipe includes a caramel topping sauce but I feel that is too much....I shall go for a nice traditional skin with nutmeg.

It will be the highlight of my day which will otherwise be spent doing stuff! .

I didn't mention the filthy windows, weeds everywhere, fruit rotting in boxes, cobwebs which have the knack of presenting themselves in a sunbeam, in a manner guaranteed to humiliate on the arrival of a visitor, tax return not filed, cars need washing and hoovering, cat fur under the sofa,...I've been having far too much fun going through family photos and letters and diaries...transcribing and preserving them for future generations is a much better legacy than a spotless house and garden. Maybe.

Not much going on for you then BJ

Hello everyone - at last a few minutes to scribble some lines before getting back to the work.
I've read and thoroughly enjoyed everything you have written,
What a lot of amazing adventures and sights and sounds and experiences you have all had! So many places I'd love to go, and never will now. So reading about it all is so enjoyable.

I did go to the Orkneys, though Mamissimo and Grammaretto - the most amazing and fascinating place...and so much archaeology going on there, so many fascinating finds. Rewriting Europe's history.

Grammaretto - so impressed by your grafting skills. I was looking at apple trees on Friday, as I have to replace my tree with collar-rot. I've plumped for a Bramley - we had one in the garden in north Norfolk, and the whole neighbourhood dropped in for the windfalls. Wonderful apple and blackberry crumbles!,

Kaimoana - it must be sad for you to be boy-less after a week of fun and frolic. Love the "drunk old people"!
Doodle - sounds like you had a wonderful time in the Nordic regions. One day you'll have to come and see the NZ Alps and our own spectacular Sounds.

It's all go here, as MrJ is finally getting his surgery, after 3 cancellations. 5 days' notice of a cancellation slot! Unfortunately, it's at Kaitaia Hospital, 1.5 hours from here, and he has to be there before 8 am. However, such a relief that it's finally happening. I have to wait around in the town for 7-8 hours, or more, so will need to take all my stuff with me to prepare for my Roman history and French groups on Thursday - lots of things to sort and print.

On Wednesday I have my painting group, and I promised the tutor I'd have my piece finished for crit...not completed yet, though.
Friday is the U3A History group. It's also my son's, and his daughter's birthdays on Wednesday. I'm going to be nurse and bottlewasher for some time, I suspect.

Grammaretto - we went to an Open Home a couple of weeks ago, just to be nosy, and the folks were selling their furniture as well, to go into a retirement home. We both fell for a lovely recycled oak sideboard, solid and heavy, and just what we were looking for, for our new place. It looks divine in our sitting room!

Off I go, to get stuck into a presentation on Portus and Ostia, at the mouth of the Tiber...to be finished for Thursday - Eeep!

muse that lovely red flower you photographed on Tresco looks like a Waratah (Australian).
We have them here too though.

Grammaretto I can understand your reluctance to take a long trip alone. I used to take audio books with me when I went jaunting. Nice having someone tell you a story as you drive. I miss those exploratory trips; stopping where I wished, looking at local sites.

Dgs has gone home but our last evening was a hoot. Dinner and karaoke. Not my scene but I didn't say so.

He informed me I'd love it as there were "old, drunken people singing out of tune". How he knows that, I have no idea.

But we did have an excellent evening and several people I knew came up to greet us.
We seemed to be in the middle of 2 birthday parties.
Eat local, greet locals. The food was superb as well.

Yes, the taxi was 40 mins late each way but I'm getting used to that and at least they eventually turned up. Didn't dent our evening.

Dgs has obviously had a super week staying with Granny and we've done many things he enjoys. All good.

Logged into GN the other day and found I was BradfordLass again

Tried to change to Kaimoana and it told me I couldn't, there was already someone of that name.

Searched for Kaimoana sorry no one of that name registered.'
GN were helpful; I re-registered as Kaimoana2
read all the gang's back mail but was then too tired to post.

I miss the boy but it's good to have my home (and fridge) back.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmEvKo3iYH0
This is the link if you’re interested

Hello all. I think Kaimoana has somehow got locked out of GN and is coming back as Kaimoana2. Hope we get to have a visit from her soon and Boadicea too.
grammaretto if you have the space a Welsh dresser would be lovely. We used to have one (we as in mum and dad).
I have finished the holiday washing and ironing today and taken DH for a walk. I’m a bit low with worry about one of the family so not on cloud nine at the moment. Hope it will be ok.
Did you make your own little apple tree? Where will you plant it?
I think grafting trees is a good idea. I have seen some examples and it works well. Your cooking apple one sounds good, hope it grows successfully.
I thought the hailstones looked lovely.
Have you ever done acrylic pouring art? I have been watching some videos on you tube and would love to try it but DH said it would make too much mess (which is true) but I thought as you have a studio it might be the sort of thing you could do. I will post a link to a video if I can. I find it quite soothing to watch.
Photos will come. DH has to do month end accounts first then photos. He’s a very organised man.?
Muse so glad you had a lovely time. I was so afraid you would miss it. The beach looks lovely as does the flowers. So pleased you made it. Hope the house is progressing well.

muse what a heavenly place! I'm so glad everything went well. I bet you wish you could have stayed a little longer.
Thanks for the photos.
I'm sorry about the hailstones. I must have thought it funny. I didn't take it myself
Grafting trees is a bit like genetic engineering but it is interesting.
I chose a variety called Beauty of Moray. An old fashioned cooker. It was grafted onto a vigorous crab apple rootstock.
Win win. If it doesn't graft successfully, at least I'll have a crab apple.

Sparky was supposed to come today but he must have got stuck in someone else's house.

I'm looking forward to seeing your photos too Doodle

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202204/medium-142842-moryvjcvsaund8quvdaava.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202204/medium-785161-gwigpjenrzmqoeu48oun7a.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202204/medium-347682-ujvgpsb5ro2uolgm2zzhw.jpg

Hello Lobstars ?

Well it came and in a flash it has gone but we had a glorious time on Bryher. A little island hopping was done and I have such lovely memories of all the white sands and blue seas, vivid flowers and delicious crab and lobster. Two photos from Abbey Gardens on Tresco and one of the many deserted beaches within a few minutes walk.

We both feel quite shattered today and I have attempted to catch up with gardening and MrMuse is back doing a little plumbing. I feel it is the remnants of covid still with us.

Well done with the grafting Grammaretto. I have a spot here! I wondered that too Doodle about the eggs. Wow!

Hello little gang,. Kaimoana must be having tinternet issues. Hope she's ok.
Are you recovered from the holiday now Doodle?
I went on a journey of discovery this morning.
I was thinking of getting a Welsh dresser for the kitchen now that I seem to have less storage than ever.
So I followed up an ad on Gumtree and found this local company who do house clearances, decluttering, and sell on things they find.
I didn't buy the dresser but I was pleased to find this enterprise.
www.NewGenWaste.co.uk.

Then after helping at the town hall and visiting a street fair, I learned how to graft apple trees at a workshop.
I am tired now but so pleased with my little tree.
Now where to plant it......

Kaimoana I gather you’ve had problems connecting hence you have come back as number 2. Twice as much Kaimoana that’s nice.
Hope you are ok.
Mamissimo that’s sounds to lovely being able to walk your DGC home from school. It must be lovely having them so close to you. I do expect your house seems quiet now. Good you’ve got something to look forward to. Hope the family are happy in their new home.
The trip to Scotland sounds lovely. Are you driving yourselves and just stopping off where you fancy overnight. Have you got some planned stops?
I’m still doing my holiday washing and ironing but at a lazy pace.
Grammaretto yes we did have a lovely trip.
How lovely your DGD wants you to pick her up from school.
Hope you enjoy your trip to Orkney. Will your friend be moving back close to where you live? That would be nice.
I have been wondering what that picture was of. I thought they were some kind of translucent eggs. They are massive hailstones. Hope the weather is good for your trip to the Orkneys.
Boadicea and Kaimoana hope you are both ok.

Hello Gang!

I am so glad the Doodles enjoyed the cruise. I can imagine those mountains, fjords and pretty red-roofed villages.
I am glad that the dude isn't any worse and hopefully benefitted from the sea air.

You, Mamissimo have your house back! I am envious that your DGC are a mere walk away!

My 4yr old wants me to pick her up from nursery because her best friend's grannie comes to collect bf. I intend to try one day next week and surprise her
.
I'll be in Orkney in June for a few days to stay with my friend before she retires and moves back here. I will travel by bus like I did once before. I don't enjoy driving long distances anymore now it's just me.

Much to do before that though.....

Brunhilde asked me if it got hot in Scotland in the Summer. I had to explain that we don't really have Summer but just occasional warm days. I didn't tell her that there can be snow in any month of the year. The biggest hailstones ever recorded were in August.

Good morning ?

We have our home back.....and it feels a bit like the week in January when you take the decorations down. The space is lovely and the quiet was nice for about ten minutes before we missed the lodgers.

Never mind, I can pop into the village and walk the small people home from nursery school this afternoon. A new life beckons.....?

Mr M and I are getting ready for our next jaunt in two weeks. We're off to Scotland because Mr M has never been and were a bit unsure about long haul in a plane full of people with covid

We've got a long loop drive all around the coast to look forwards to and some great seafood dining experiences to come. The furthest point north is the Orkneys. It's proving a challenge to pack for....could be wet, cold, hot, windy.

Today I shall be tackling the dirty bedding mountain and doing a little light pricking out of seedlings which I omitted to label . In a few days the leaves will be big enough to sit Mr M down with a plant identification app and he can label them and tell me what a daft eejit I am . He'll enjoy that! ?

Testing

Grammaretto will definitely share some photos when DH has downloaded them ., We we’re looking forward to going to lovely Flam but before we arrived we went to Skjolden. That has to be the most beautiful place I think I have ever seen. A small village at the end of the fjord. Quiet and so lovely.
I was amused to see a dozen or so motorbikes arrive with young men all in leather jackets. One of them went over to a lady from our cruise who was sitting alone on a bench. She was well in to her 90s but with very sharp wit. He introduced himself and asked where she came from. They then chatted together for about 10 minutes. It was so nice to see them enjoying the lovely scenery and chatting about life in general.

We have had a lazy day today, still recovering from the journey home. Don’t know why but at our age anything out of the norm seems to be exhausting for us. DH is sleeping better now but all the medication he is taking is making his legs tired and reducing his energy. We need to alter his meds by reducing some and increasing others. He must have the constitution of an ox to be able to cope with all the medication that has a sedative side effect and still be able to walk.
I was pleased to see there has been no more tree cutting while we have been away so hope our remaining trees will be left alone. Washing all done but ironing tomorrow.
Hope all the gangsters are ok and keeping safe and well.

Welcome home Doodle and the Dude.
I would love to see some photos. Glad that you had such a good time.

Hello all. Back from a lovely trip. Enjoyed it so much. The weather was good and the scenery so beautiful. Will post some photos once I get myself organised,
What a lovely colour your membrillo and jelly are Boadicea. Well worth the praise from MrBJ I’m sure.
Grammaretto Sparky leaving you pizzas……do you think he feels guilty he’s not fixed your cooker yet?
Are you pleased with your new carpet? I bet it feels nice and soft underfoot.
Hmm not closing the loo door could be a problem. Do you have to push it as far as it can go then sing loudly so people know someone’s in there?
So your new cooker is partially working. That’s good, Jeeves might be put out that you don’t need his hot chocolate any more.
I can. Understand you not wanting long term helpers. Having someone for a week or two is fine but a longer commitment if you don’t get on would be awkward. Are your DGC amenable to helping around the place?
Hope the pottery classes go well. Is the open studio next month just of your work or is it one with lots of different contributors?
Kaimoana I told DH about panini and panino. Neither of us knew that.
Oh dear. Your toilet cleaning suggestion didn’t go according to plan. Hope you’ve got your widget fixed by now.
I’m so sorry your evening was spoilt by the taxi not coming. Must have been a disappointment for you both especially when you’d planned a nice treat for your DGS.
It sounds as though you are having wonderful fun together. Your cooking and other capers, Perhaps you could do your own karaoke show with just the two of you. You will miss him when he goes home Friday,
Mamissimo pleased all is going well for your Dd and the house move. It sounds as though preparing your DGC for school is quite a task. Good job your DD is up to it even if your SIL is worn out by it.
I should think you deserve a holiday. Are you going anywhere nice?
I will be back to catch up more tomorrow. An early night is due tonight. Don’t know why holidays make you feel tired.
Sleep well all. x

Well done surviving for a month with no family fallouts Mamissimo
Your time with dgs is so precious Kaimoana

Yarn group today for me. Someone in the group asked when I did my knitting? "Here," I replied. Everyone else is able to knit whilst doing other things.
I held a small pottery class yesterday and I have 2 more planned plus open studios next month.

No more Helpers on the horizon. Those who write to me sound unsuitable, at least for me. They want to stay for several months to improve their English. I prefer to host someone for a week or two to get a specific job done.
I may enlist my DGC now that they are older.

Where are you off to on hols Mamissimo?

Good morning ?

DD1 and family have completed their house purchase at long last and move out tomorrow. We are all very pleased that we've managed to live together in our home for over a month and haven't fallen out.

This morning the DGDs had to be at nursery school by 8.30 - and that's a new Daddy duty as DD1 had to leave for work at 6.30. It was the first time he'd had to do it and I think it was a steep learning curve. I believe I heard him mutter that he thought Mummy should stop being a teacher and stay at home....?

DD had prepared their bags, made their snacks, laid out their clothes, lined up their shoes, set the table for breakfast.....before she went to work at 6.30. He was dead on his feet by 8.30!

We wish them all well in their lovely new home.....Mr M and I will be taking a well deserved holiday in a couple of weeks time !