The Lockdown Gang - still chatting ?

Doodle (and Cherry) that wee poem exactly epitomises this Lockdown thread and its participants.
It's an anchor, a candle in the dark and a source of endless interest and joy.
Thank you.

Grammaretto You deserve a bouquet of your own:

Kaimoana, your post has prompted me to post. I do still read! This thread was exactly that to me too. I still think of you, Doodle, Grammaretto and Panache, Nortsat, Missedout, Nfk, Jan and dragonfly too.
You are all Stars ?

Good Morning from sunny Cadiz. Have once again thrown caution to the winds and paid for wildly expensive Wi-Fi on this ship!!!! Can’t bear bring cut off from family and friends!
This is our last port then 2 days at sea and home on Saturday. We’ve had a great time with friends but somehow have struggled with this cruise. We have a short one to Norway over Easter then I think that will be my cruising finished. Trouble is DH doesn’t think the same!
Yes the situation in Ukrain is appalling. What is the matter with Putin? Dreadful man to inflict all this suffering.
Good to hear from you all.
We are off on a coach trip later. Most people go into Seville from here but we have done that on previous trips so we are off into the countryside. I’m not a fan of cities!!!
Love to all the poorly people and those with poorly relatives!
Be back again when I have both feet firmly on English soil and have Theo cat back from the cattery!!!

G'Day Lobstars,

Thank you Doodle for the poem and for your warmth and empathy. in bucketloads

Thanks for my special bouquet too Kaimoana
I needed it last night. I feel stronger today though I am going to a funeral for a woman who was once strong and brilliant but sadly developed Alzheimer's and when her husband died she had to move into a care home.

I have decided to offer DMiL one of my old velvet curtains though DD warns me not to introduce moth! I will have it dry cleaned as I am sure those chemicals kill everything.

I dithered so much about worktops that when I bid for one on gumtree , it had gone. However when I took some test pots out of the kiln yesterday one glaze looked like a mock marble worktop!

I am sorry your cleaner has left you Missedout. I could post Cushie to you when she arrives. I think she will turn tail and run when she sees the state of this place on Monday.
Left with the tenants' possessions for company, I wonder if they are smokers. I was sure I smelled tobacco. I got myself into a state last night but as I say, things are not so gloomy in the daylight.

Hello Cherry Hello Jan somehow I missed seeing you there. I should have gone to specsavers.
Bring back some oranges please Jan. Nothing like the real thing.

Good Afternoon to all Lobstars ?

The busyness with me has eased slightly today so I've just wandered through all your posts. ?

Thank you Doodle for the kind and caring words. How are you doing with Nerdle? I haven't posted my result very often, as with Wordle but do enjoy the morning challenge whilst waiting for MrMuse to make the breakfast. There are still occasions when I do it just after midnight. The grey cells seem to work quite well at that unearthly hour and they do take my mind of the stresses of the day.

I dropped off some first aid items and blankets at a local hotel last night. They are collecting for the Ukrainian refugees. A large van was leaving this morning for Poland, where about half the refugees have escaped to. Judging by the amount of items there, they will be sending a few more van loads.

I shall return to your posts and make a fuller response before the day is out. Just made an appointment for a much needed hair cut at 2:00pm. See you later when I shall look and feel presentable ?‍♀️ ? once more.

I am glad you have your hair done for the Lockdown Gang Muse - quite right!
Pictures please.

Another odd sort of day catching up with people at the funeral. Someone who didn't realise that DH had died and I didn't realise she had remarried. Even the gossip isn't as good as it used to be. The service was really nice and the burial and the wake. I was reminded that we couldn't have anything like that for DH. because of covid.

The lodgers are not moving in this week after all - another holdup with solicitors/agents/buyers.

Meanwhile they are sleeping on an airbed and I still have no kitchen.

I do semantle everyday now. It appeals to me more than nerdle and wordle.
semantle.novalis.org/

Oh Grammaretto, here it is - 4cm shorter. Any chance of a happy replacement for Colleen yet?

Any chance of a cleaner for fewer hours MissedOut? That mood will lift. I shut the door on the world when I get like that. Keep dropping in here as I do though. It lifts my spirits no end.

Good to hear you survived the stormy seas Jan. Only a few days left. Surprised to read "no more after Norway". Will you be able to persuade MrJ to do a different adventure?

My tip ?? Doodle is to put two different operations on the first line.

Reading through your posts BoadiceaJones you seem well on the road to recovery. I'm afraid I can't call porridge delicious. It is MrMuse's favourite breakfast and he gave up trying to tempt me with a bowl full years ago. Does the collared dove have a name yet?

You can't hold up the postie Kaimoana. Their legs would get cold. They all seem to be in shorts (Cornwall) all year round.

Looking forward to the quilt photo Mamissimo

Good to see you Cherry - thinking of Panache too.

That's all Lobstars.

Wow what a busy thread today. Made all the better for a visit from our lovely Cherry. So lovely to hear from you. Hope your Tigger tail is in good health and lovely and glossy x
Jan so pleased to hear you are having some sun. Hope the cruise is going well. I’m sorry you’ve found it difficult.
What is it that’s putting you off? Hope you have a nice coach trip. I’m not a fan of cities either which is why I like cruising Norway. Hope your trip to Norway is one you enjoy.
We are going in April and I can’t wait to see the fjords again.
Hope your sail home goes smoothly and you get Theo back safe and happy.
Grammaretto glad you feel a bit better today. It’s not a good time of year especially with all that is happening in the Ukraine.
Wow that could be a new line for you. Marble effect worktops.
Perhaps you could make one for yourself.
Smokers smoke does linger in things for a long time. Perhaps a good spray with an air freshener might help. Sorry you are getting agitated. Is it the thought of these people moving in.
DH and I find that anything out of the ordinary affects our equilibrium these days.
Sorrry you are being messed about so much by your tenants. These house moves never seem to be straightforward. At least Muse has got the right idea, build your own ?
Oh I haven’t heard of Semantle. I will try your link.
Hello Muse how are things with you?
I’m doing ok with Wordle and Nerdle. I don’t bother posting my results every day either. I usually average a 3 or 4 with them both. I do it over breakfast when I can pick DHs brain on Nerdle. I always start with / and * in the first line and Hope the / doesn’t feature in the answer ?
Well that’s a good idea sending things to Poland. I must see if something like that is happening here. Such an awful situation.
I hate to think of the impact it’s having on them all especially the children who must be so scared and puzzled.
Wow Muse you are so glamorous. What lovely colour hair.
I’m off to the hairdresser tomorrow. Won’t look much different I’ve had the same haircut for years. ?
I am sitting here feeling so full. It is always a mistake to go food shopping on an empty stomach.
DH and I popped into Waitrose on our way home to do our food shop and we picked up a curry each……and some rice….and Bombay potatoes ……and some onion bhajis (can’t spell it)
I’ve been ashed at church today. I keep seeing myself in the mirror and wondering why I’ve got a big mark on my forehead,.
Have a good evening all.

Just tried Semantle Grammaretto ? Did today's in 80.

Muse and Grammaretto gulp. ?. How did you come up with that Muse? I was cold to the point of freezing ?
I will try again tomorrow.

Well done muse I took 195 go's - and you are looking so glam too.

Thanks for the sympathy. I am longing for an early night but I think sparky may be coming over later to do yet more electrics.

My new Colleen is Cushie ( a Somerset lass) who is due to arrive on Monday. I have warned her about the lack of a kitchen.......

I donated money to the Red Cross for the Ukraine appeal - this seems to be the best way to help from here.

A tip please Grammaretto and Muse do you just pick random words till you get some success or is there method in your choices?
I didn’t realise you still had sparky. I wonder what Cushie will think of him. I hope she’s a bit more cheerful than Colleen.
Have you stocked up with cider? ?

The glam will last till 9:00 tomorrow morning, when I scrunch it up under my waterproof beanie and take Mya for a walk.

Doodle. I haven't got my head around the scoring yet. It was my first attempt today. Random words but then tried to find a word that was similar/related to my highest score which was 37.69. If my score went down I went back to the one that gave me the 37.69. After a few more goes, a word got me 42.28. It then says you're getting close. I had a much clearer idea of what the word could be.

Hello to your Cushie Grammaretto. I hope she doesn't live up to her name!

A word game in which you can guess the definitions and donate rice via the World Food Programme as you play.
https://freerice.com

If it looks too easy, keep playing there are some obscure words too.

You don't have to join unless you want to see how much you've donated at the end.

I've been playing, on and off, for 14 years.

Yes Doodle you pick random words until you strike lucky - at least I do.
My next nearest word was blood yesterday when the secret word was liver. and I went through a lot of organs first

I like the sound of the rice game Kaimoana and that it benefits someone.

Sparky did come last night when I had already gone to bed! He has a key. He finished the lights in the flat - they are a bit industrial looking. .....

I have been invited to hear my DGS playing clarinet in concert today - a schools competition - because his DM is still isolating from covid although she is now negative. I am looking forward to it. I literally haven't been to a live concert for years.

Better get up and dressed. I discovered I was using a bar of conditioner thinking it was soap. It hardly lathered at all.

I do like the industrial look Grammaretto. Love to see a photo of your lights.

I’ve bought 3 of these for our new home. They will go over the table.

Enjoy the concert.

I too will look at the rice game Kaimoana. ?

I like your lights muse mine is minimalist in the extreme

Off to the hairdressers soon. Be back later but just wanted to tell Grammaretto and Muse I got the word in Semantics today on my 59th go. I am so excited ?
Back later to catch up with everyone.

? Very minimalist Grammaretto.

Well done Doodle ??

? I'm truly shocked at what I got today. I deafened MrMuse with my whoop whoop.

Good evening ?
I've finished the quilt! ....and in the nick of time because it's his birthday tomorrow. Where did those 29 years go?

We're all going to DD1s for lunch on Sunday to finish up the booze because this family firmly believes in moving house with an empty freezer and and empty booze cupboard. We think the tradition started two generations ago when various family members went to live abroad and we've all kept it going. We then take gifts for the new freezer and booze cupboard when the house move is over.

Loving those lights Muse!

Here's Mr M holding up the quilt......

I did enjoy the concert though it was not what I expected. It was like an exam with an ajudicator picking out their faults afterwards. All brilliant. "Mine" was by far the best but the judge didn't think so
It was piano and I went to the wrong hall at first.

I found the secret word in 46 today.
Any hair photos Doodle??

Muse - what a glamorous lady! I love the style, and the colour is beautiful. A good hairdresser is above rubies, without a doubt. And those lights…I wish I could have found sometime like that when I was replacing dining room lights recently. One of the few disadvantages in living in the last outpost of the world.

Grammaretto - what a good Granny you are. Lovely to be able to go and watch DGC doing things like sport and music. I like your understated taste in lights! Your sparky is a real star, coming out to work at nights to get things done. I do hope that you are feeling better now, and that the thought of spring just around the corner is a positive inspiration.

Doodle - You must be getting very excited about your Norway cruise…sounds a lovely thing to do in April. I love the way you are always so positive and cheerful. Any news about what the Dean will do with his little menagerie? I do hope he manages to find homes for them, or a big property for him to be able to keep them together himself.

Autumnal here already, though still very warm during the day. The grape vines are turning, and the light takes on a whole different character. One of the fig trees has been invaded by little silvereyes/tauhou, who adore the fruit, and have polished them off. They are very sweet little birds. My collared doves are becoming more and more bold, and have meal timings sorted perfectly. Pears have finished now, and apples are just coming on stream. I have a few figs left, that I’m going to convert to chutney today. The other tree, a tiger fig, is not ripe yet…they are beautiful fruit, with yellow and green stripes. I see that the orange, lime, grapefruit and mandarin trees are absolutely loaded with fruit, but a long way from ripe yet.

DS2 is healing well, and his sight is improving daily. I’m so grateful.

Off out now for bloodtests and more chicken feed. MrJ has my virus and is feeling awful. I have nailed him to his chair today…that felt good.

Well I’m really grumpy now. I thought I’d done so well in Semantics but Muse went and beat me. ?….only kidding, well done Muse that’s an amazing score.
Kaimoana I must have a look at your game soon. 14 years….you must have donated a lot of rice.
Been a busy day today. Off to the hairdresser but just a trim. Nothing different. DH been updating our computer so lots of sighs but it seems ok.
Grammaretto your sparky works some late hours. I hope he didn’t scare you coming so late.
Your new light fittings are ….what’s the word….oh yes thank you Muse minimalistic. Are you expecting a lampshade any time soon ?
What a lovely treat to go to your DGSs concert. I expect you were the proudest gran in the room. Shame the adjudicator got it wrong.
I expect you’ll be all soft and fluffy today after using the conditioner.
Hair photo next time…I came out of the hairdressers into a gale of rain and wind which even the hairspray couldn’t control. Then came home and did the steam ironing…..it’s all gone frizzy. ?
Well I don’t think I’m speaking to you or Muse …46 indeed.
Muse I like your lights. We have 3 huge glass balls over our dining table. They are really heavy. Have to be careful you don’t knock yourself out getting up from the table,
Mamissimo that quilt is wonderful. I bet your son will be so pleased. What a great selection of memories whenever he looks at it.
I’m tempted to say MrM looks fetching in his new outfit. ?
If you have any trouble getting through the booze I know a couple who would be more than willing to help. ?

Hello Boadicea just crept in the back door behind me.
Yes really looking forward to Norway. I love the fjords and I like the culture too.
No news from the Dean. He hasn’t mentioned his departure since but I do hope he finds somewhere for all his animals.
He is a very kindly man I’m sure he will make sure that those who don’t go with him will have a good home.
All that fruit sounds lovely. I can’t imagine going into the garden and picking what you want. My dear Dad grew veg and had apple trees but not the lovely fruits you have. I would be out there with the fig trees every morning.
Good to hear your son is doing well but sorry to hear MrB is now poorly. I hope you won’t overdo it looking after him and all the animals. You’re not long over the virus yourself.
Please take it easy and nail yourself down if you’re doing too much