The Lockdown Gang - still chatting ?

Ooh Grammaretto I knew you’d have been off somewhere lovely. That is beautiful. So peaceful.

The beautiful fine weather was so enjoyed yesterday...21 deg in the garden. So 3 loads of washing done, and I dug over a large part of the very muddy veg garden. Kumara just kept on coming...eventually I gave up, after digging nearly 40 kilos of beautiful, chunky, golden sweetness. Then I had to wash all the sticky mud off them, and dry them in the late afternoon sunshine...quite an undertaking. Now here's the problem - loads of my favourite vegetable, one of the superfoods, loaded with every goodness, fresh and organic and bursting with vitality, but also very carb-laden. As I said earlier, MrJ is off sugar and carbs, on the keto diet, by strict order of the doc because his diabetes was out of control. He's already lost 4 kg in about 10 days, and his blood sugars have plunged. So no, apple turnovers have been replaced by stirfries and salads. Thank goodness for that.

It always puzzles me when people talk about diets for health reasons, then immediately equate that with weight loss. Scientifically, there's very little connection - unless one is so heavy as to be immobile - even then it's the immobility which is the salient factor.

Far more risky is the myth that if you are thin you're automatically healthy.

What a beautiful photograph Grammaretto - as Doodle said, very peaceful.

Dgs was late to bed and snoozed until almost 8am, which gave me time to have my shower, spruce up the bathroom; get all the laundry washed and hanging out; the vegies prepared for lunch and the kitchen cleaned.

No Doodle our own dear Cherry was not baked into that cake, which turned out really well. DS and Dil took it home after sampling.


So far, fingers crossed, we've had a mild winter, even the flies are still around
Sunny and 17 degrees here - lubbly jubbly.

Hope to Skype with Phil sometime today.

Hello Lobstars,

I am having a quiet morning but have various things on the horizon.
I spoke to my lodgers yesterday and they have bought a house so although happy for them , I am anxious about finding new tenants.
I have arranged to take everyone (mum, brother, cousin) to see DH's gravestone later today which hopefully will be a peaceful time.
I have had the go ahead for a loan for a new boiler. Having no heating at all is OK for now but I notice American cousin never takes her cardigan off! It says 19°C here so not a lot warmer.
I hope you managed a skype call with Phil, Kaimoana
My DiL has covid and since we were together last w/end I think I should test myself before this afternoon's outing.

2 of DH's (and my) friends are coming here soon. The Frenchman and the German. Why am I learning Gaelic?

All those wonderful Kumara BJ I hope you find a way to use them without involving too much exhaustion. I took a load of rhubarb to the storehouse to give away but they have put a price on it and it is still there!!

Happy sailing Doodle we'll be thinking of you.

It’s sooooooo hot in sunny Norfolk! Shouldn’t complain but we are sitting inside in the cool and I must admit to a glass of white wine by my side!
Seems to be holiday time at the moment and we too are off on a cruise to Norway in just under 2 weeks time. Bit like Doodle it’s a mixed bag of clothes - not that I’ve started thinking about packing yet.
We seem surrounded by people with Covid at the moment. My eldest daughter and her husband both came down with it yesterday and a friend has it as well. Hopefully none of them will be too ill but it’s certainly rife around here.
Theo cat doesn’t know what to do with himself in this heat. Vanished for 3 hours this morning then came in and stretched out in the cool but has now gone out again! Bless.
Grammarerro your photo is beautiful. We went to a little staithe about 15 miles from us on Thursday and watched all the locals getting their boats into the water and sailing off. It was another gorgeous day. Our coastline is tidal so the sailors have to wait for the tide to come in and transform the sea of mud into glistening water. There is also a “Crab Hut” here where they sell amazing seafood baguettes. We had a crab one each and it was yummy!!
Hope Doodle and. Boudicea have great holidays and anyone else who is going away also.

Having a mother who was an obese smoker and who died at 96, yes, I agree, longevity is not all about weight. However, I wouldn't say she was healthy, being at the mercy of her hip and knee arthritis. In the case of MrJ's diabetes, it's imperative. I've lost 2kg, and feel so much better, and since my (older and very fit) friend and I are planning another trip to Istanbul early next year, I need to lighten up and fitten up. Last time, 3 years ago, we averaged 16,000 steps a day - not easy if you're creaky-jointed. Hence, I'm going all out, while MrJ will join me in the regime, to lose the persistent 12 lockdown kilos.
Lovely photos, Grammaretto...what a beautiful place you live in. And Jan - Norfolk at this time of the year is simply gorgeous, isn't it. I hope you enjoy your cruise to the North.
We're just off out to sort the prerequisites for the Aussie trip, so must away.

Hello all. Quick visit from me but not sure if you will get the message.
Beautiful day on the ship today. Sunny but with a warm gentle breeze then about 5pm totally still. Calm flat sea with hardly a movement and nothing else around as far as you could see and totally still and quiet, you could hear a pin drop. A few of us were out in the very top deck and it was so peaceful we just sat and looked at the sea. Lovely sunset too.
Boadicea your DH has had amazing weight loss in such a short space of time. I would have thought Kumara being plant based would be good for you. Hope you find something to do with all, your produce. Hope your trip to Australia goes well. When are you going?
Kaimoana for me it’s not so much how much I weigh but where it is. My weight centres solely round my middle and thighs. Also I think your build has a lot to do with it. I am quite small and squat (if I was 6ft 2 I would be stick thin ?). Also I think weight is what you are comfortable with. If I put on too much it affects my breathing. I can feel it almost straight away. Not that that has stopped me piling on the pounds since lockdown. Not eating more just exercising less. Going on cruises doesn’t help either ?
Hope Phil is doing ok. Have a lovely time with your DGS.
Grammaretto I hope the visit to your husbands grave was a peaceful one and some quiet time for the family.
Good thing to get the heating sorted before winter.
Sorry your nice tenants are going. Hope you find someone good to replace them.
Hope you have a nice visit with your friends. Talk Gaelic and confuse them both ?
Jan hope things go well with your cruise. The sea seems very calm at the moment, Hope it stays like that for your trip.
Do you put a wet towel down for Theo? We used to do that with our dogs, or just make their fur very wet so it keeps them cool. One of our dogs had breathing difficulties. He used to lay in the sofa with 2 fans blasting cook air over him while we sat elsewhere without fans and baked.?
Take care all and keep safe. Thinking of you all and you too Cherry x

Lovely post Doodle . I could feel your peaceful glide through the water.
I hope it continues well.
I have been so busy with no time to stop and stare.
The Canadians came today and we had lunch at the store after I came off my shift. He is Ukrainian and by chance one of the Ukrainians living locally met him and they chatted. I love it when that happens and barriers of language come down.
It was warm here but American cousin is amused by the BBC weather reports with their dire warnings about the heat.
I hope you Jan and you Boadicea enjoy your trips/cruise/ holiday.
Better get to sleep. 'erb tea for me please Jeeves.
I hope all of you and the animals are cool enough to sleep.

Your lovely, peaceful post was exactly what I needed tonight Doodle. I went off into an imagining on the still water

Oh yes indeed, weight and its loss or gain is a very individual thing.
BJ felt better after just 2kg; I lost 30kg and never felt or looked so ill in my life.

Dgs and I had a good day. Went to lunch with the BlindLowVision support group and had a mediocre meal but a good laugh as well.

My DS came to collect him at tea time. I was sad to see him go. He was sad to go but missed his wee sister so was looking forward to her squeal of delight when he walked in.

Yesterday was also happy as dgs and I went to the mall (not my cuppa tea but the boy likes it). I bought Gubbins a hobby horse.

It's her favourite toy at day-care but as the other little ones like it too, she doesn't get much 'horsey time'

There's an old joke in which a mother writes to her son overseas, 'I had all my teeth taken out on Tuesday and a new gas cooker fitted on Wednesday'. .

I'm having a new electric cooker fitted tomorrow morning, still have all my own teeth though .
The old cooker was never reliable and it's taken months to persuade the Sallies to replace the rusty thing which had perished seals and didn't keep the heat in.

I sat with Phil this afternoon, holding his hand. I had to be togged up in full PPE as he had Covid as well as the cancer.
His breathing was very bad but he was full of morphine, so unaware of it. I prayed he wouldn't have to suffer too long – and it was answered, he died at 7pm.

Rest in peace Phil. How glad am I that you were able to sit with him and hold his hand for that last time.
Sending hugs and love xxx

Sad news Kaimoana. Pleased you were there with Phil. Take care x

Really sorry to hear that your good friend Phil had died Kaimoana. I am glad you got to see him and hold his hand once more though. He's at peace now ?️. Sending you a warm cwtch X

Grammaretto, sending you a cwtch too. I understand it would have been your DH's birthday a few days ago ?

I hope you are having a fabulous time on your cruise Doodle.

? to the rest of the LobStars .

Dear Lobstars,

Always nice to receive a cwtch from Cheery . I hope you are not doing too bad yourself?

My Frenchman arrives today. I had to warn my lodgers that they were not to be alarmed if they met a tall dark stranger on the stairs! He is escaping the heat of the South.
It is positively chilly here. Having patched my summer trousers, I don't think I need them after all.

I began to fill in the 25 page acceptance form for the loan for a new boiler and then lost the will to live. I do admire people who take this kind of thing in their stride.

I am even thinking of asking my Frenchman or indeed my German friend to help. One is training to be a lawyer, the other is well on his way to becoming a Cambridge don.

I hope the cruise is going well Doodle we love stories on here.

Love to you all. You are all Stars!

Evening All

I just started to read where I'd book marked last time I called in on GN and thought, "Oh, Sunday, I'm not too far behind at all", then realised it was Sunday, 3rd! Doesn't time fly when you're not doing much! I seem to be spending an awful lot of time on a couple of Zipper Club and Cardiac Support Facebook pages. They've been great. So much support and advice on there. We've had virtually no help from our GP and I've only today managed to get hold of DH's surgeon to find out about getting him signed off.

DH is upstairs resting at present as he was suddenly overcome with the flops just after lunch and is sound asleep. Sudden spells of no energy are apparently common, but he seems to think he should be getting well much faster than he is! We've been doing a turn around the town each morning this week and it has made a difference, but he had a blood test appointment this morning so escaped. Back to it tomorrow! And, who knows, that elusive Rehab Course may appear any day now!

I yearn to be able to go to the beach and paddle at least. We've so many wonderful beaches within easy reach, but in hot weather like this I know they'll all be packed. We only ever go to the beach in the evenings as everyone else is coming home and leaving space on the car parks! The nearest to here have cliffs and steep paths so we'd have to travel and Himself is not overly enthusiastic about the idea! Still, there's plenty of summer left!

I hope you're enjoying your cruise Doodle and in case I don't drop in before you go, that yours goes wonderfully well too Jan . We went on a Hurtigruten cruise to Norway and it was very enjoyable. I didn't think I was going to enjoy a ferry trip in January, even if it is a very posh ferry, but it was great.

And Kaimoana, it is very sad news to hear that Phil is gone, but it sounds as if it was a good passing. I hope it was.

Well I don’t know where the calm of yesterday went but today the waves are high and the ship is rolling.
Not ventured far out of the cabin today. Hope it calms down tomorrow
Grammaretto hope you and your visitors get on well. How nice for the Ukrainians to meet for a chat.
Oooh the Frenchman is coming. Talll dark …..and handsome?
Sounds like you will have a full house. Is the Frenchman just visiting the area for a while?
Form filling is DHs biggest source of frustration and anger. Hope you manage to keep going long enough to get the loan.
I’d like to think of you being nice and toasty this winter.
Kaimoana I hope you are coping ok, so sad the news of Phil but at least he’s at peace now. Hope your new cooker works well and is a source of much creative cooking with you DGS
Jan how are you getting on. Are you packed yet?
Cherry apart for today, cruise has been going well. You have to accept when cruising that sometimes the sea decides to show you what it can do. It’s still beautiful and right now seems a little less choppy. I’ve went to a craft class yesterday which was fun. Didn’t make anything productive but it’s the company I go for. Lots of laughter.
NFK hello again. Hope your DH is improving. Major surgery does take some time to recover from so tell him not to loose heart. Take it gently. My DH never went to rehab classes as he went once and they said his BP was too high and they wouldn’t let him go. Surgeon said they were being silly but DH managed despite not going to the class.
Hope you get to enjoy some time in the beach soon.
Take care all x

Electrician arrived with "the oven" - a ceramic hob, identical to the one he fitted a month ago. He'd been given the wrong information.

So I have to wait a little longer for my new cooker which will be self-cleaning, halleluia! ]smile]

Grammaretto maybe you can copy what I now need to do: take the form to the bank and say, 'Could you please help me fill this in?'

I was hoping to go to a Trivia session tonight to take my mind off all the unhappy stuff but the taxi company can't guarantee there'll be a cab to bring me home at night, even though I gave them a 10-11pm leeway.

Nfk Hope all goes well with your DH. It's true we don't recover as quickly as we get older.

Gosh Doodle you are being tossed around. What sort of crafts did you do?

Good to hear from you Nfk. Sorry DH not doing as well as he had hoped but major surgery does take some getting over. When my DH had his heart attack and a subsequent stent put in our local hospital did a sort of rehab for heart patients. It was gentle exercise and talks and was really good. Partners went too so we learnt a lot as well. Like you we don’t go to the beach during the day at this time of year - love going in the autumn when most of the holidaymakers have gone home!
Doodle. No haven’t even thought about packing! We have another week yet but suppose I need to think about it. Norwegian fjords are difficult cause it could be sunny and warm but it will very definitely rain at some stage! Sorry to hear you’re having rough seas. Hope it soon calms down for you.
Hi Cherry nice to hear from you and hope things are going well for you.
We have been out all day today. It was a friends birthday and she asked us if we would like to go out for a meal with them to a “posh pub” round the coast! So far so good but then came the catch. Our friends love using the free service buses so off we went rattling round country lanes and boy do those bus drivers put their food down! Took an hour and a half to get to the pub and I definitely needed my glass of wine when I got there! It was ok but I’m so used to jumping in the car although with the price of petrol now maybe buses are the way to go!
Hope everyone copes in the high temperatures we’ve got coming. Personally I’m not keen on very hot weather - today has been just right. Have a good weekend all and keep out of the hot sun

Looks as if the UK got the hot summer we experienced. If so, you are in for a mild winter .

Did I forget to thank everyone for their concern and condolences? I am sorry because I DO appreciate your thoughtfulness.

To tell the truth, my brain seems to be coughing and spluttering at 30% at the moment; I am so foggy and unfocussed and sometimes have to stop and just try to pinpoint what I'm doing and where I'm going. Covid for the brain maybe ?

No word from Phil's family about "arrangements" - all in the hands of the NZ solicitor as they are in UK. I suppose he's in the hands of an undertaker somewhere.

Oh Kaimoana you are not yourself at the moment. A huge emotional turmoil is bound to send your brain into a spin.
I advocate doing nothing!

Well that's our mini heatwave gone. It's back to rain and wind.
I am going to tackle the form today.

American cousin leaves later today so we shall have a final coffee and say farewell. We enjoyed a jaunt to the Highlands yesterday apart from the motorway drive and seeing the DGC is such a tonic. They modelled the sweaters which our cousin had knitted for them and swirled about in their new summer dresses. Then we climbed a small mountain - 4 yr old leading the way.
I shall be back later when I have done that darned form!

Good afternoon All

What a difference a couple of days make! Yesterday DH was called into the surgery for tests - ECG, oxygen levels, etc - as his blood test (for ulcerated colitis medication) showed him to be worryingly anaemic and they suspected an infection. Another test and a call from the doctor (!) this morning showed he's not anaemic and all is well! We're confused, but having been thoroughly and properly checked over for the first time since the operation, he's feeling a lot happier and better. Amazing what a bit of reassurance can do.
At the same time a call came through on my mobile to say he's been referred for rehab by his surgeon's secretary! Not until the 31st August, but better late than never! We're assuming the colitis med test is ok!

Hope all in the Uk are ok. I gather it’s heatwave time tomorrow. Not likely to be a heatwave where we are. It’s raining today but we had a good day. Got off and had a walk round the port. Back on board now and waiting for sailaway.
Kaimoana shame your oven was the wrong one. Hope the correct one arrives soon.
It’s a shame you can’t get a better taxi service. It’s so restricting not being able to go out and socialise. Shame you don’t know someone else who is going you could get a lift from.
The craft was fun. We were making necklaces but it was more chat than craft really.
Jan I see you’re a last minute packer too. Yes Norway is always difficult but rain is almost always guaranteed. ? we usually take a thick fleece and a pacamac in the rucksack to cater for most things,
Hope you have plenty of sunny days too.
Hope you enjoyed the lunch after your whirlwind drive. Hope you didn’t lose it again on the drive home.?
Grammaretto good luck with the 25 page form. Is the idea that if you can’t fill it out you can use it as fuel for the fire.
What a lovely trip to the Highlands. How nice for your cousin to see the knitting displayed so well,
NFK what an unsettling couple of days. Hope your DH is feeling better in himself now. The rehab is a bit of a long way off. Hope you cope well with the hot weather .
Oh the Captain is on the tannoy saying we are about to set sail.
Take care all. Be back when I can. ? ?

Just had the Cruise Entertainment Director on the tannoy telling us about tonight’s entertainment. Nice chap but I wish he’d learn to pronounce pianist without making it sound like a male body part. ?

What a hoot Doodle peenist indeed!
I am exhausted! I did an extra shift in the shop with Friday shoppers who are more abundant than Monday ones. I managed to charge someone double for something, but luckily she noticed sold out of scones and cakes, learned how to give someone a receipt and met a woman who has been buying my pottery.
My cousin has gone home and the Frenchman has already had more invitations than I get in a month.
I sent off the awful form but not before I had screamed in despair.

I agree that it rains a lot in Norway Jan hence all those fjords. I am sure you will love it anyway.

Mr Nfk seems to be receiving some good attention. So nice to have the rehab to look forward to.

I hope your new proper oven arrives soon Kaimoana. I had to wait too long for mine but it works now and the Frenchman knows how it works. He has already cooked some delicious food. He remains a beanpole. He did a 14km run before breakfast which is perhaps why?

I hope all missing Lobstars are well and not overcome with heatstroke.

Hello all. I'm just wondering what the mood is in NZ after Ireland won the test series. I usually support both NZ and Ireland when they play other teams, except Wales. Sounds like a sombre time for the home team and jubilation for the Irish!

What test series?