The Lockdown Gang - still chatting ?

My message vanished but here's a photo from today's walk.

Evening all. Just had a Face time from DS1 on holiday in France. Having a great time. In a lovely villa with pool. Three families in total….it bet it’s noisy. ?
Boadicea not gone yet. Tomorrow morning. Packing done just about. I know I won’t use half of it but with the weather due to be hot and cold it’s so difficult to decide what to take.
Your trip must be so exciting. We are looking forward to our holiday but you are going to see family which is the best.
I bet you can’t wait to see the little ones.
A volcanic eruption in Alaska? I didn’t know they had one.
When we were in Iceland I didn’t think about the chances of eruption even though every day we were visiting geysers, volcanic rocks and sulphur pits.
If I don’t get to post again before you go. Have a wonderful time with your family and enjoy yourselves.
Kaimoana, as my granddaughters used to say when they were little “what a palaver”. Glad you are sorted and back online again. Well done your family for helping sort it out.
So pleased you have a lovely visitor, that will make you both happy.
I have been to Russia before. Twice in fact. Not sure I want to go there now.
You made a cake out of our Cherry ? how could you! I hope you didn’t singe her Tigger tail.
Hot milk and a shot….that sounds interesting.
Shots all round I think.
Grammaretto what have you been up to today? Have you been off walking somewhere beautiful?
Take care all.

I have been offline yet again No phone, no internet, no nuffin' so when my dil tried to ring and got 'out of service' tone, she put Gubbins in the car and came straight over, imagining the worst, poor soul.

Found me sitting in the dark feeling very old, helpless, sorry for myself and a bit scared because had absolutely no way of telling anyone what was going on.

When the system first went down, and after I'd stopped squeaking, I'd used my St John alarm (medical emergencies only) to ask if they'd mind telling my son I was incommunicado again.

They very kindly left voice messages which he didn't get, being between jobs and phones.

So from 5th to now, my DS has been dealing with all the different people who could fix it, and did 30 mins ago.

Trouble is, you can't have just a landline any longer, it has to be a 'bundle' including Internet.
So when one thing goes down, everything goes down.

What about older people who only want a simple, old fashioned phone and no web?

Mostly the answer is 'hard luck' but a couple of businesses do provide landlines only - at a heck of a price.

It was extra hard because Phil couldn't contact me either but I did manage to request the staff to buy batteries for his oxygen machine, which put my mind at rest (a bit).

Unfortunately, as the hospital got to the end of the first 5 day lockdown, another Covid case was discovered, so more isolation.

Gramaretto
"At least too cold for midges and they are not camping."

I can just imagine them when they are, in their little midgey tents, making tea over wee camping stoves and warning each other to watch out for human with insecticide sprays

My dil carried me off for dinner at their house and as its school holidays, I came back with a companion for the next 7 days. He was here when the techie came and found insects in the fibre optics box outside.

So in the space of a month, 2 separate things went wrong to put me out of communication.

Doodle I think you're going to Russia some parts of which are quite warm...aren't they?

Now, now BJ, "no pure, white an deadly"?
Surely I wasn't hallucinating those apple turnover so beloved of CPO?
Or your French cafe pattiserie treats?

Mamissimo where are you? And all the others, are you just too busy to write? We miss you, please pop in for a chat.

Lovely to see fairfrasie and sandelf still posting.

Cherry I thought of you today as I made a cherry cake for my dil. Hope all is well Sweetie. xxx cwtches.

Ah well, it's taken me ages to catch up with email, bill paying, downloading audio books and more, so I'm ready for my bed.

Jeeves, may I have hot milk tonight, with a shot of something calming?

Wild English campers, Grammaretto?? Wow! You sure are going international with all your visitors - what fun!
Doodle- are you on your way? I hope you sorted your packing ok. Remember the maxim-pack what you want, then take everything out and put half back in the bag. But being on a ship makes it all so much easier, doesn't it. Not too much manhandling of weighty bags.
I'd hoped to go to Aus with just a carry-on, but by the time I put the little ones' gifts in the bag, it was full. Merino children's clothes are so cheap here. Freddie turned 2 on Wednesday, and is growing so fast...goes through warm clothes at quite a rate. DD loves art deco things, and I've found a few nice pieces for her in charity shops, so they weigh a bit. I'm also taking over heirloom things that I don't want throwing out because no-one knows what they are, if I'm hit by a bus tomorrow
A busy, very busy few days. Taxes almost done, two sessions on Thursday, while the rain hammered and the wind blew...tropical storm temperatures though...weird. We had great fun discussing ancient pandemics...and I discovered something fascinating - there was a volcanic eruption in 43 BC in Alaska which drastically altered the world climate and caused all sorts of plagues and epidemics all over the world. And measles originated as a disease of cattle in Africa (rinderpest) and leapt the species barrier to humans. French was, as always, a hoot.
History yesterday- great fun, though it was even better to come home and hunker down by the fire, not because it was cold, but because it was so wet and miserable. Today is fine and sunny, and I have loads of laundry! Off I go...TTFN.

Grammaretto sewing machine at the ready. My sons used to always have patches on their trousers. Have you been out climbing trees again? ?
How lovely your French helper wants to come back for a visit. I hope you both and the American cousin have a great time together. Will you be showing off your Gaelic?
What a beautiful place for a walk. That is my sort of scenery.
I’m hoping we get some lovely scenery on our holiday.
It seems very quiet in our Lockdown Gang at the moment. I hope someone pops in to keep you company while I’m away.
Been a day of packing again today (I wonder how much weight a ship can take before it sinks?)
As usual, we are no where near ready to go.
Hope the NZ contingent are ok.

Back from the pub crawl
Can you leave your sewing machine out please Doodle I need to sew a patch on my trousers.
I wonder if you are away now? Have a great holiday and you can always buy a sun hat or woollen jacket while you are there.
I took DD to France camping when she was 6months old and worried about what to pack for her and then remembered they have babies in France too!
French disposable nappies were far more advanced than ours.
Talking of France, our French helper from 2 years ago has booked a flight here next week!!
American cousin will still be here so we'll have to have a party.
I walked the coastal walk yesterday with the U3A walkers from St Abbs head to Eyemouth and back with a stop for lunch. It was hot but with a sea breeze.
We passed several groups of wild campers who had come up from England. They looked very happy

Why does packing take so long? I sorted out my clothes for holiday. Then I read the weather forecast and re-packed. Then I thought perhaps I might need some warmer jumpers so the thin ones came out and the thick ones went in. But what if we have some warm weather, so then I found some sleeveless T shirts to add to the mix. Should I take my waterproof shoes or the shoes that are more comfortable for walking in. I, exhausted already and we haven’t gone yet ?
It’s still very warm here and the patio doors are wide open. Been a nice day but quite hot on our walk. Stopped to have a lovely chat with some people who had come here for the day to celebrate a birthday. They hadn’t been to these parts for a few years and were surprised at the changes.
Supposed to be having an early night tonight but my mind is buzzing. Hope you are all ok.
You haven’t all gone off with Jeeves for a pub crawl have you? ?

No deliveries today but interestingly a text message purporting to be from DPD asking me to click on a link to get my parcel delivered. Nearly caught me out but I am a suspicious soul so checked online and it is indeed a scam.
No Kaimoana it’s not my trousers. They have been delivered, tried on, shortened, ironed and are ready for packing. ?
I’ve had a manic kitchen cleaning day today and am now exhausted. Just been out to water the hanging baskets which are full of lovely flowers. DH is sorting out his holiday medications. Considering he takes 16 different pills a day, they need a suitcase of their own. ?
Oh poor Phil. I hope someone can help him with his batteries. It’s worrying the staff don’t know about the Covid.
I always crave a salad when I come back from a cruise. After rich food for a while I start dreaming of salad. I can get salad in the ship too and often have that for lunch but it’s not like making my own.
Grammaretto I hope your DD has better weather for her holiday. Shame it’s so wet but hopefully they are enjoying themselves.
I like your garden visitors. They are walking round looking as though they are checking the place out to see if it suits them ?
The lady must have been very pleased with your letters.
We have a book of photos of our town from years ago. The old toll station for the bridge over the river and how it looked years ago. I love looking at those sort of pictures and try to imagine life as it was then.
Boadicea ooh the dreaded tax return. I hated doing those.
Wow you certainly find some good subjects for your courses. What a good idea to think of something like pandemics. Can’t believe it’s cold in Adelaide. I always think it’s hot there all the time. Hope you enjoyed your stir fry.

I’m not sure the parcel is anything we have actually ordered. From what I have been able to find I think it’s an unsolicited item from Google. Some sort of plug in device. DH is very sceptical and says even if it comes he won’t plug it in. We have visions of coming home from the cruise to find the fridge has turned itself off, the heating on full blast, , the lights flashing on and off and our electric blinds going up and down.?

Oh my! What a busy, frustrating, irritating, exhausting time you have all had, to be sure!

Sorry, I have been working on tax returns for the last 2 days – my absolutely most hated task – and now am ploughing through preps for my Roman History and French groups tomorrow. Two in one day is a challenge. Specially as we’ve “done” all the exciting Romans and events, or so I thought. So I decided that what would be interesting is to look at the pandemics of the past…I’ve been so fascinated that the tax returns went by the board (I did get one of them filed on time). I had no idea that the Bubonic Plague had such a fascinating history! And apparently the Antonine Plague, which killed up to 10 million people, may have been measles! (or smallpox). I wish people who refuse to have their children vaccinated would realise just how dangerous a disease it can be,

Anyway, Grammaretto, what amazingly beautiful pictures. I have fond memories of being a young thing, camping out in someone’s harvested barley field in Scotland, and the oyster catchers are so sweet. You are working so hard! Don’t go overdoing it and not being able to go to France! How lucky you are to be planning such a trip!

Kaimoana What a time you and poor Phil are having! I really hope that your system is up and running and useable now…I can only imagine how lost you must be without proper visibility in your eye on the world. How very strange that staff were unaware of lockdown! It’s all a bit of a worry with the talk of being back in Red…the poor little ones have had enough. I hope Phil manages to sort his oxygen so that he’s not worried by the noise.

Oh my goodness Doodle, what a performance! And how frustrating to miss your parcel. I really hope that you have a wonderful time on your trip, and that you find your boots and woollies. My daughter warned me to bring lots of warm things, as it’s absolutely freezing in Adelaide. Not that cold where you are going, I’m sure, despite being North.

I really must just finish off my stuff for my classes, and MrJ has made a magnificent stirfry for our Keto diet supper. No Pure White and Deadly in that diet. Sugar intake is half a mandarin…

I don't know whether to laugh or cry reading the tale from Doodle towers.
You must be coming to Scotland if you need clothes for so many climates?
Or perhaps NZ?
DD is on holiday in the far north of Scotland where it is very cold and wet. At least too cold for midges and they are not camping.

Incredible Kaimoana that Phil's carehome staff are unaware that they are lockdowned. Is it perhaps just his area? I hope he gets the oxygen - quickly.

I had a visit from a lady who hopes to write a history of our town. I handed over those old letters for her research. She will do a good job I'm sure. Fingers crossed.

I also had a visit from a couple of oyster catchers! I have not seen them around here before.

Gosh, exciting news from The House of a Thousand Trousers! I hope it wasn't your new cotton ones languishing in some depot and kicking the sides of the parcel in frustration.
I think a note about the dopey driver would get it re-delivered - probably while you're away travelling

Ah yes, Prof John Yudkin, his career and reputation were deliberately smeared and almost ruined by the not-so-sweet sugar corporations.

Phil asked me to buy a pack of batteries for his little oxygen machine as the hospital one is huge and clunky and its clattering keeps him awake.

As he is in lockdown, I can't do that so rang to ask if someone there could nip out and buy some for him (I had left some money last time I visited).
His breathing is laboured enough but if he gets Covid....
Astonishingly, the lady I spoke to didn't even know they had Covid and were in lockdown.

Mind you, it is a very big place, even having 3 massive multi-story blocks of apartments as well as rest home and hospital.

I've just enjoyed a most unusual breakfast for a cold, winter's morning - a large mixed salad. My body was craving it.

Hello lobstars. Been so warm here today. Not sure if it was the heat of the sun or the steam issuing from DH.
We received an email a couple of days ago from DPD saying they had received our parcel and it would be out for delivery Monday (yesterday) . As far as we know we weren’t expecting a delivery so had no idea what it was.
DPD duly arrived outside our gates at about 6pm and the driver rang DH on his mobile. DH opened the gates (remotely) and told the driver we were in the building on the right. Driver promptly got out of his van (leaving it blocking the entrance) and went into the building on the left. ? Soon after Sainsburys arrived (also delivering to us) but couldn’t get in because the DPD driver blocked the entrance. Then two more cars arrived and also queued up in the driveway trying to get in.
DPD driver returned to his van with the parcel and phoned DH again. DH again said you need to drive through the open gates and we are in the building in the right. DPD then got back in his van and sat there doing nothing. The Sainsburys lorry beeped, the cars beeped, the DPD driver then got our and waved his arms about indicating they would need to reverse to let him out (gates were still open). Whereupon he reversed his van down the drive and drove off. 2 minutes later DH got a text to say DPD tried to deliver your parcel but you weren’t in. Please collect it from your local depot. ?.????
Needless to say we will not be collecting it and they can do what they like with it, whatever it is.
Grammaretto that’s a lovely picture. I do envy you your views. I also read Pure, White and Deadly.
I’m not a great lover of sweet things but I do like my chocolate. Dark and very high percentage cocoa.
I hope you enjoyed your shift at the store. Do you get to meet lots of the local people while you’re there?
Kaimoana I know exactly what you mean about techi people too. What a shame he didn’t listen to what you actually wanted him to do. Hopefully, whatever he learnt from you may benefit others.
I quite like the sound of oofi-oofi. Sort of like the noise I make after I’ve climbed a flight of stairs. ?
Hmm I may have to think again about brioche. I do like them but wasn’t aware of all the sugar. Back to the rice cakes for me.
DH and I are off on our travels next week. I may be gone some time…….?. I will try and stay in touch but tinternet is often intermittent. I am busy trying to sort out clothes as we will need both warm and cold weather clothing. I also need my waterproof boots but I put them away at the end of winter and now I can’t find them……?
Hope everyone sleeps well. Jeeves has some bedtime drinks ready if you need them. He’s sulking because I wouldn’t let him watch the tennis on the TV. Too much excitement isn’t good for him .?

Hello Lobstars,

Thanks for the lesson on sugar Kaimoana. I read Pure, white and deadly by John Yudkin, years ago but I am sure the science and the food manufacturers have updated since then and not in a good way
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pure,_White_and_Deadly

I know what you mean too about techie "teachers". Good for you to elicit some changes.

The usual staff weren't there yesterday to guide me so the manager stepped in. I had to keep telling her what I didn't know and really didn't know. We got there in the end and I finished my shift at 12, exhausted.

A day of catching up for me between visitors. Wash tons of bedding, water the greenhouse, and more exciting stuff ...

What's everyone else up to?
BTW Jeeves' potion worked and I slept like a log.

Before I have a wee rant, let me say the young man (Triistain 22) was lovely and he did make some improvements.

The first thing I told Tristain, from NZBlind Foundation was that bigger is not better for me but BOLD text is.
The second bit of advice was that I'd learn better if he told me what to do rather than sit at my computer and whizz through improvements himself. After all, he's not going to be here if, as in the past, the MS updates have obliterated all the good work to make it easier to see.
We had a 2 hour session (in fact it was it was only 80 mins) and of that time, 5 mins was spent teaching me and the rest him whizzing through, not changing things but making it bigger.

It's taken me a laborious, eye watering 2 hours to get my system back to one I can actually see.

He did his best, bless him and even told me I'd taught him something as I have a program he'd was unaware of but which improves a lot of what I need every day. This will be useful to other partially sighted persons.

Doodle those are yams and yes, they do look like fat bugs don't they but simmered in a stew or cooked round the roast they are absolutely delicious.
www.vegetables.co.nz/vegetables-a-z/yams-uwhiuwhi/#:~:text=Yams%20grown%20in%20New%20Zealand,slightly%20shiny%20and%20ribbed%20surface.

I didn't know the Maori name was uwhiuwhi which sounds cute, 'oofi-oofi'

Grammaretto chocolate certainly IS sweeter now, as I discovered when researching for 'Healthy Kids, Happy Kids' because the big food conglomerates want children addicted.

This is no conspiracy theory but based on good, sound scientific facts.

The latest thing, I'm sure you've seen it, is 'brioche'.
This isn't true brioche at all but just bread, buns and rolls laden with sugar and often marketed for children's school lunches.

Oldies like me simply could not eat them with a savoury filling but children, my dgs included, are now demanding 'brioche style' bread, rolls and burger buns.

We have known since the 1940's that sugar leads not only to addiction but violence - famous experiments done with rats and what used to be called 'soccer hooligans' in the 60's proved this.

As always, it's up to parents and other carers to look out for and limit sugar but as its in soups, savoury foods of all kinds as well as aisles and aisles of confectionery in supermarkets, I fear our children are rushing sweetly and obediently to their doom.

PS: excess suagr doesn't always cause obesity, whatever you've read or hear but it does make diabetes more likely in every child, thin or fat.

BJ you are awful you had me almost reaching for my child rearing manuals not that I have any
Sorry that covid has spoiled things for Phil, Kaimoana and I just hope it won't be too long until you can see him again.
I went to bed far too early and now am wide awake with 8 hours to get through until getting up time.
Please Jeeves bring me a sleeping potion.
Here is a view from my walk today - the barley waving in the wind.

Oh my word Boadicea you certainly had me going there. I thought you were talking about children ?
Oh poor little sister. At least big brother got his share of attention when he ran into an immovable object. Glad he wasn’t really hurt and I’m sure the extra cuddles and biscuits made up for it. ?
Hope the Mean Girls are all behaving (badly) ?
So warm here tonight no breeze at all. Got the door ajar but with the light on I don’t want to attract too many flying objects.

Two words: sibling rivalry. However do you deal with it? Brother is a terrible bully towards his little sister, and just won't stop picking on her...he's jealous of the attention that daddy gives the little one. Little sister lives in constant fear. Yesterday there was ongoing pick pick pick, then he started chasing her around the house...refused to listen to me telling him off. As they ran past me, in frustration I stuck my foot out to stop the pursuit, and big brother ran right into my leg and it hit him on the jaw, with an awful thump. His head shot back, and his jaw looked all out of line...he was inconsolable. I felt so, so guilty, and gave him lots of cuddles and some biscuits to ensure that he could still use his jaw. He's much nicer to his little sister this morning, and is eating well. Honestly, who'd have cats?

Kaimoana I wish you luck in finding Phil’s medals. Like many things put somewhere ‘safe’ they can often go missing (like deeds). Hope Phil is feeling more comfortable today.
Fairfraise yes Boadicea’s talk of all her lovely fruits and vegetables get my mouth watering.
Grammaretto my brother and SIL used to get visits from our American/Canadian cousins who used to descend on them in the summer months and use their house as a base for going out visiting different parts of the country. They usually stayed for about a month coming and going over that period. As they did very little to help and as my brother and SIL were still working at the time, they often wished the visitors would stay in a hotel ?. Hope you enjoy your cousins visit.
The Outlaws is on BBC. There are two series. It’s a comedy about a group of people doing community service for various misdeeds and the trouble they get themselves in to. I enjoyed it but it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea.
Have a good day at the store.
Kaimoara oh no. What a shame about poor Phil, and you. I do hope he doesn’t catch Covid or you or Karen either.
How sad you won’t be able to visit.
What a lovely treat to get tickets for the ballet. It will be nice to go with your DIL and DGS.
What are the little red things in your photo? They look like little bugs to me. I don’t fancy eating them.
I ordered some more trousers from Cotton traders on Saturday. They seem to be arriving today which is good. Hope they fit.
I can hear the sound of men with chainsaws in the background. I have a tall Poplar tree in sight. It waves beautifully in the wind and I can watch the birds landing on it. I will be really upset if it gets chopped down. I sit and look at it ,any times a day.
Hope everyone is ok. Take care all

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202207/medium-997069-yam.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202207/medium-642563-kumara-orange.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202207/medium-379942-kumara.jpg

Kumara, like everything else here is soaring in price, so no longer a cheap option fairfraise and yams are totally different in NZ (see pic).

Phil is in Rata Ward, where Karen and I delivered all the things he wanted from his house.
Two hours later it was shut down and isolated as a Covid case was discovered.
Phil can't leave his room for 5 days and of course I can't visit.

Was I contaminated? I'll let you know if I glow in the dark.

I've just been given a subsidised ticket to the RNZ Ballet and a free one for Dil who will accompany me along with dgs. Isn't that wonderful?

The performance, 'Cinderella' (but with a difference) is in August.

www.aucklandlive.co.nz/show/the-ryman-healthcare-season-of-cinderella

Grammaretto isn't that just like your dgs to volunteer, what a super person he is.

Ah yes Whittaker's! I have only seen it in NZ.
Anton Berg, the Danish choc is nice too but only available at airports. DS brought Green &Black's but they've been taken over by Cadbury alas and promptly changed their formula to more popular taste.
You are right as usual Doodle our cousin is being unselfish and she booked a long time ago when no-one knew what would be happening with covid and travel etc. She'll be on her own and has other friends here to visit. She loves Scotland and wants to retire here.

I did some satisfying gardening after the family had gone, furiously pulling things out and deadheading roses until it looked I felt better.
I then finished the vets' pottery and watched Wimbledon. I didn't watch the Outlaws sandelf Is it a series? When is it on?
I must get ready for my work now. I do like to have a daily routine - a structure to the week. It keeps me from feeling sorry for myself.
DGS may volunteer at the store too but even from Edinburgh, it's quite far to travel for him. He's at camp at present so I will have to wait and see.

Doodle yes kumara is sweet potato or yam. They do sell here in some supermarkets but I don't expect they taste so fresh. I think they were dirt cheap in NZ Countdown but never bought any as they were always from neighbours. I just look at this thread occasionally! Vegetables and fruit home grown always abundant there as Kaimona and BJ say! You can't beat a peach straight from the tree!

Loved the Elephant Hawk Moth picture which brought back memories of when I was illustrating wildlife brochures for Bodmin City Council.

When I eat chocolate at all, which is rarely, I like Whittaker's, a local family firm now marketing world-wide.

Tried unsuccessfully to find Phil's navy medals and those of his grandad. He can't remember where he put them. The proverbial 'safe place'.

My goodness, 904 posts already, we are a prolific lot

fairfraise is kumara a sweet potato? If so, I’m not so keen myself. Nice to hear from you again. How are you?
Kaimoana I used to like The Likely Lads too and The Liver Birds.
Glad you’ve got to see Phil at last. Is he settling in a bit now do you think? I’m sure the pleasure of your company far outweighed having to pay for an Uber. He must have been so pleased to see you. Good he is eating a bit even if only once a day.
Grammaretto perhaps your DHs cousin doesn’t want to put you to any trouble by staying with you. Be nice to have another visitor though. Will you be showing her round while she’s here?
No fortunately my Df was just chatting about her shopping delivery. Doubt she’d say anything unkind about anyone, she’s a lovely person.
Once when I was at work we had phone call from a person in another part of the company who thought our end weren’t pulling their weight. She obviously thought she had cut the call of but instead had pressed the loudspeaker so we could hear all the things she had to say about us. We never told her but sometimes used to slip the words and phrases she’d used into our conversation with her. ?
sandelf Discos and wall art sounds good fun. Hope you enjoyed your walk.
Sat on the balcony in the sunshine this evening for a while. Quite pleasant and the promised rain never arrived. Not my turn to water the flowers tonight so it doesn’t matter to me.

Hello Sandelf I really enjoyed The Outlaws. I’ve watched all the episodes now. I wish there were more. I like Hotel Chocolate too but it’s very expensive.

Grammaretto I know what you mean about the chocolate - since Mondelez swallowed Cadbury. Nasty sugary stuff. For a big treat try Hotel Chocolat. Anyone watching The Outlaws later?