The Lockdown Gang - still chatting ?

What great stories and those photos Kaimoana . Such an intense green.

Have a brilliant time with your DD and safe journey tomorrow Grammaretto. Is there still a possibility Cushie will be back? What a help she has been. I am so thankful I made the decision last year to have help outside one day a month.

BoadiceaJones. What amazing photos. I do wonder how many photos, letters and diaries have been lost from way back when. Your research is bringing forth such tender, happy and I should think sadly, sad news at times.

Both MrMuse and I have escaped covid but with our desperately needed break in four weeks getting closer, I have decided to cancel all visits out that mean being in close contact with others. MrMuse remains busy on the house build and he wants certain jobs finished before we go away as it will leave the place ready then for the final touches from the electrician and plumber.

We had some rain the other night. The garlic and shallots soaked it up. The sun is here again today but has brought with it a very cold north chill in the air.

Mya is always on the look out for visitors coming down the track and her favourite place is to lie under one of the cherry trees in the photo. On Monday, one delivery truck man had his dog with him and asked if Billy could have a run walk around. Billy was a 14 year old spaniel. Mya thought it was great fun, even though she was doing all the running. She tired herself out and after they left she fell asleep in the middle of track after watching them leave.

Still trying the word games Doodle. I give up with semantle when I approach 100 tries. but I've succeeded at Octordle a few times. Nerdle is still my favourite.

Take care all Lobstars ?

Dorset 1908. 3 Biker Brothers.

Chur bro

Handsome jokers, eh BJ?

Canterbury Mounted Rifles, NZ

Egypt 1915

Scruffy bushmen of my acquaintance, 1909, Note the safety pins.

Kaimoana Great stories! . Hope you're enjoying the peace and quiet. x

Grammaretto Have a wonderful, happy and love-filled break. Get lots of rest-you deserve it.
When I read that Cushie was moving on, and that Sparky had gone AWOL, I have to confess I had a suspicion that they’re on their way to Gretna Green as we speak…though perhaps Cushie is of more mature years, if she’s heaving logs about with such impressive strength. I do hope, that whether there is a Happy Event or no, Sparky will be back to complete his task. How interesting about the cousin and the illegitimate DGF…I’m sure that there was a lot of it about back in those straight-laced and moral days. Family histories can be so all-engrossing, and it’s always so exciting to find skeletons, and to realise that our ancestors were human after all.

We’ve had, in our family archive, a letter from a tentmate of my DGF and his brother, written after the battle for Hill 60 at Gallipoli, in 1915, an action in which DGF was severely wounded and his brother killed. He writes, so movingly, of his witnessing the death of Jack as they went over the top, and raced across open land into the face of the Turkish machine guns. DGF was carrying extra ammunition, being the tallest of the group, had fallen behind in the attack and was hit by at least 6 Turkish bullets. We had no idea who the man who wrote the letter was, except that he was a mate of the brothers, until DS1 thought to look up the name in the records at Auckland museum. By sheer good luck, he tracked the family down, and they were SO excited about the letter, as their DGF, like mine, had never spoken of the awful trauma of Gallipoli. They had photos of the tentmates, but had no idea who they were, and to their joy, we could fill them in with the names. So we keep in touch now, exchanging any details I have been able to find in my research.

Have a lovely break Grammaretto your dgds will be so excited.

I have been asked why I came to live in such a potentially dangerous country Doodle, usually just after an earthquake or an eruption.

The truth is, I knew nothing about Aotearoa in those days, not even that the seasons are reversed. I don't suppose young people are so ignorant nowadays but I certainly was.

Besides, I didn't really have a choice and was glad of that as my life's ambition was to get our of Bradford, at that time one of the most dismal cities in UK.

My fil came home from an interview in London and said, "Pack your bags you're going to New Zealand."

But I have to confess, if I'd known it was a land of shakes and explosions, I'd have come anyway. I'm not entirely joking when I say we like to live dangerously.

My sons have chased excitement (DS1 in the army) and DS2 only resisted the urge once Gubbins came on the scene.

He always says his 'best' job was working in London where he was regularly confronted by guns, knives, broken bottles and various levels of the the angry, fighting underworld.

Perhaps I'm not quite up to that at 75, but I still take little risks knowing it would be wiser not to do so, and once had a knife held at my throat by a very drunk gang member (female).

She was disarmed, so to speak, by my remark, "Go ahead, we all have to die some time."
I think it helps that I never panic.

Blimey, all I meant to write was good wishes to Grammaretto - so don't bother to read this post LobStars.

Good evening gang,
The days fly by and I don't get much done. NfkD will know how I feel and Mamissimo who also get engrossed in their family history. This time I have been contacted by a cousin who didn't know his DGF was illegitimate and seems to be rather surprised.He wants to have his DNA tested to see if he can identify his correct DGF.

Cushie is still here and worked so hard today moving heavy logs in the garden. Her next host has covid so she may be able to stay on!

No sign of Sparky since I paid his bill and still not finished.
I love your stories Boadicea of your chooks and their antics and your gorgeous fruit and veg..
Doodle what a day you and the dude had running for trains to get to the hospital. Well done!

I hope Kaimoana is doing well. How exciting about the book. I can't wait to hear.

I haven't adjusted to the clocks changing but I guess I will.
I will have a sleepy-time tea please Jeeves.

Kaimoana that picture of the chicken helmets made me laugh. I can just imagine Doreen stomping around because she got a blue one instead of the pink one she wanted ?
I am interested in volcanoes but not that knowledgeable,
The professor on our cruise was a charming lady and so interested in her subject her enthusiasm was infectious.
She had been to sites all over the world monitoring seismic activity,
Her collection of photos was amazing including a very tragic series which were taken by another volcanologist who caught caught out by a pyroplastic flow ( I might not have spelt that correctly). He knew he wasn’t going to be able to escape so continued to send linked feed on a film as the cloud came towards him rather than running away.
We saw lots of volcanic activity in Iceland. Lava pools and sulphur springs. Lots of black volcanic rocks.
Thank you for the link I will look at that.
I suppose living with volcanoes near by is a bit like a great great aunt who used to live in Wales in a cottage on the side of a mountain under a big overhanging rock that could drop at any time. Apparently she said she wouldn’t know about it if it did so she didn’t worry about it,
I would love to visit NZ but think it’s a bit far for us.
I could easily be catered for by you and Kaimoana with all the lovely dishes you cook.
What a lovely trip out you had. The girls will be very pleased with all their delicious treats.
Doreen strikes me as an attention seeker. ?
Grammaretto hope you had a good day and are getting ready for your trip on Thursday.

Re-reading, I notice that it appears we lunched on grit and meal worms. Not us. Chicken and avocado. I write that, glancing around to check that none of the Girls are reading. Kaimoana - that's deffo a stopping place for us when you're up.

Kaimoana - the cynic in me says that the priority is the care and maintenance of their investment. I can't believe that no-one was checking on you during lockdown...
Lovely photo of Taranaki. Thought to be dormant, it seems now that it’s actually potentially very hazardous, and erupted last in 1854.. Oh well, I’d rather be at the mercy of nature than an insane person with his finger on the button.
Thanks for the info about avocado cuttings…I’ll definitely give it a go…though having to wait 8 years for fruit is a bit off-putting!

Doodle Well done you, making it to your appointment! That was quite an achievement! I too am impressed with your volcanic knowledge…when you come to NZ for your visit to Kaimoana and me, we can show you all the volcanoes in our respective areas. I hope you are taking it easy.

We went out to replenish all the requirements for the Girls this morning…they have to have so many dietary this and that. Well, they don’t HAVE to, but they are producing wonderfully…beautiful fresh brown eggs, and are very happy chickies. They deserve it. While out, we noticed a lovely little café that we hadn’t seen before…opened recently…shady courtyard, gorgeous smelling coffee. So we had a one. "I can resist anything but temptation". Then we came back with a heap of laying pellets, meal worms, grit, wheat, millet for the quail, and had a lovely lunch. Then came home, picked a heap of figs and put them in to roast with brown sugar and cinnamon. Just yum. Well, I hope yum, because after the lunch –and the fresh raspberry icecream—I can’t eat anything more till tomorrow. After that, I had a zoom seminar with Auckland Uni, about finding the unheard voices of slaves in the Dark Ages. I was a bit distracted by Doreen jumping up and down at the window, “noticemenoticeme”, but it was very interesting. The zoom, I mean, not Doreen's acrobatics.

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Gosh, what a rush-around you must have had to get to the consultants but an excellent outcome apart from the stress to you.

I don't know about the rest of NZ Doodle but the Sallies do it every two years.
Wish they'd take care of residents and indoor work as well.

BJ I've sent you a link about taking cutting from avos. Get a few going and you can earn enough on Trade Me to get a bought one

Here's another 'solution' for avocado

The very last thing I would have guessed Doodle is that you'd be a keen vulcanologist. You seem far too genteel and gracious for those dangerous things.
Here's a link which may interest you. If this one really blew, most Aucklanders would be toast. Another Pompeii.

Maungawhau, however, hasn't erupted for 150,000 years.

Ruapehu causes a wee bit of concern to winter skiing tourists and locals. It likes to tease:
News a few hours ago, just as the skiiers are planning their holidays!

www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/300552187/slow-ruapehu-temperature-rise-hints-at-risky-pressure-build-up-at-volcano

And another picture of it looking deceptively innocent next to Mt. Taranaki which Japanese tourist love because it's similar to Mt Fuji.

We like to live dangerously here !!

Good evening all.
DH and I have had a very eventful day. Fist we had an appointment to see DHs consultant, then it got cancelled so we planned to go shopping instead. Go a late morning phone call from consultant saying cancellation was a mistake and if we could make it in time he would se us. The hospital is in London. 3 train journeys away. What a panic. Hastily got ready and set off just be for 3pm. Had a good chat with consultant which made the trip worth the effort and arrived back home just before 9pm. Aching knees, back and legs now so such a relief to sit down at home and unwind.
Kaimoana I have always been fascinated By volcanos. We once went on a cruise with a volcanologist (always made me thing of Spock from Star Treck) and had some wonderful lectures.
I’ve never heard of anyone having their house power washed before. Is this something that often happens in NZ
Hope you had a lovely time with Miss Gubbins and her dad.
Like Baodicea I think that is exciting news. I hope you hear something positive from the publisher.
Boadicea I think your girls are very spoilt. Do they have garden loungers to relax in during the day?
It amazing what you can find on YouTube isn’t it. I often watch train journeys round Switzerland spotting some of the places we’ve visited.
Lemon trees have thorns ……well I never knew that. Those trees certainly look full of fruit. A good crop I would think .
Grammaretto I bet you will miss Cushie. She seems to have been a big help. Hope are you getting on with the new tenants?
Nice to have a visit with your DD. Are you going by train?
Hope you have a lovely visit.

Ohhhhh "Kaimoana*! Exciting!! Sounds nothing like a brush-off to my (untutored) ear...

Best of luck with the generator ...

Is it a hopeful sign when a publisher says "We look forward to being in touch with you again soon"? Or another brush-off.

Back later - generator noise is driving me mad here

Good Morning gang,

I quietly go to bed and over in NZ there is a rush of activity all night!
How very thoughtless to wash the houses without warning Kaimoana I hope you were able to enjoy Gubbins' visit.

The volcano right in the city. I had assumed it was like Edinburgh and they were all long extinct. 1886 is not all that long ago...
DH and I joined a walk to see one of your volcanos when we stayed for a few days in 2009. It was a bus trip from Mount Eden, where our B&B was. This is when I wish I kept a diary.

DF left before I woke today. She needed to catch her train. Cushie and I both leave on Thursday. She on her travels and me to visit DD.

I hope all Lob-stars are well and just too busy to write.

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Quince and olives. The quince must weigh close to a kilo each!

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Kaimoana - that's a spectacular view of Maungawhau. What a sight it must have been when it blew. Every time it blew. "Aunt" Mary, who witnessed the 1886 Tarawera eruption spoke of the red sky, the flames from the crater, the terrifying ash clouds and the lightning. What a horrible time for you with all the noise and chaos...specially with the family coming. Did you eventually have some peace to concentrate on your loved ones? I hope you had a wonderful, fun-filled time with your little poppet. Did you save all of us a little sample of your delish crumble?

Doodle good thinking about chicken casualties…maybe avocados in the chicken run might be better avoided. Specially at $60 for a tree! Next summer I’ll set a picnic area up for the girls, with sun umbrellas and a fruit counter. They have found the amount of sun a bit trying at times, and spend a lot of the day under the rhubarb.

Last night we watched a really fun Youtube thing, the cameras on board the no. 36 bus from Hunstanton to Wells-next-the-Sea filming the route. It was very nostalgic to see the landscape. We loved living in that part of the world, despite its being very twee and fashionable these days. I LOVED “The Snow Goose” when I was a kid, though of course, I had no idea what the North Norfolk landscape was like in reality. I just loved Paul Gallico’s evocation of atmosphere.

Today we decided to tackle the citrus trees that had been devastated by the storms and high winds. It seems a crime to have to pick off and throw away half the crop, but the trees won’t stand the weight. MrJ (aka Isambard Kingdom, for his ingenuity) and I worked on a mechanism of ropes and knots to brace the mandarin tree against its neighbour, a bay tree. Quite a workout. Lemon trees have such nasty thorns.
Pictured: overloaded citrus and the solution

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Speaking of coconuts, I was in my mid-20's before I realised they did not fall from the tree hairy.

I picked one up off the coast of Mexico and the crew told me what it was. Naively thinking I could take it home, I was disappointed when Customs had other ideas

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Doodle you made my day with the jolly image of you and your DS2 having a go at whizzing blinds up and down. That should be something to make dgs laugh too, bless him.

Although it's not so scary as BJs tale, I sat with my feet dangling over the edge of a volcano, Maungawhau, in the heart of Auckland, so we have to hope it really is extinct.
I marvelled at the idea I was actually looking into a volcano.

The residents here are furious. Early this morning and with no advanced warning to protect plants from toxic sprays, a team came to wash the houses.
Some had already left for work, leaving windows open, so the washerboys won't be able to do those.

It has meant huge, noisy generators and water battering the houses for the past 3 hours - and it will go on most of the day and tomorrow if they have to come back.
I do not react well to constant loud noise and neither does Karen. Fortunately she's not here today.

DS just rang to say Gubbins is asleep in the car so he's gone to the local park so the cacophony here doesn't disturb her. Grrr.

I've had 8 different phone calls so far this morning and it's not quite 11am. The best laid plans...eh?

But all will be well when DS walks in with his wee darling.

Grammaretto what a lovely day for a little trip out.
I think you’d better sit down when you get Sparky’s bill. He seems to have been with you a long time.
I think it’s lovely the bond you have with your DMIL.
Enjoy your wine and have a good evening.

Boadicea the dreadful war is prominent on all newscasts. Such a waste of all those lives.
Fancy being 5 and going to see a volcano erupting. What an amazing sight that must have been but scary too.
Yes the new blinds are wizzing up and down. DS 2 came today so he had to have a demonstration and try them out too.
I love passion fruit. I didn’t know they grew on vines.
Do avocados drop from the tree like coconuts or do you have to pick them? I just had a picture in my mind of Doreen being bopped on the head with an avocado.
Hope all the girls are ok and the little fluffy ones.
Muse hello again. Hasn’t the warm weather been wonderful.
How nice to sit on your new verandah. I imagine you a bit like the Waltons. Will you get a swing on it? I’ve always wanted one of those.
I bet you can’t wait for your trip. Not long now.
How are you doing with the games? I am hooked on Quordle now.
Kaimoana oh dear hope you are ok. Sounds as though it might sting a bit.
Your crumble sounds delicious. Hope you have a lovely visit.

All this unaccustomed sunshine! It is exhausting.
You did tell us about the Scilly Isles Muse. Is it quite soon?

I took DMiL and DSiL for a drive to some old haunts again today.
Cushie has been out it was her day off we had a huge bonfire on Friday, and df is cooking the supper. Sparky has warned me he is about to send me a bill.
How lovely that the family are coming again soon Kaimoana. It must be such fun at yours. So many stories.

The garden and vegetation at yours sounds tropical BJ
I can't imagine accidentally removing a sweet potato vine.

I replenished my seed trays and bits and bobs at the garden centre and then today SiL says I can take all the ones from her parents' place as they won't be doing any more. There is a gardener who brings her own tools. It was sad because I like to think that DMiL will last forever.

I think we will open a nice bottle of NZ wine tonight and celebrate all our mothers.