The Lockdown GangSTARS still going

Doodle it's a good job cats have 9 lives, Mark must be on his last by now.

Kaimoana ??. Yea poor kitty.

Oh yes I forgot about the 9 lives. You are very patient with this tricky moggy Doodle

My plain square has found a place on a very fancy wall hanging on display in an
exhibition. One of the clever stitchers has made sure everything was included.

Hans came back and regaled me with stories of his visit to the Surgeons museum.
I have been once and really don't need to see the gory exhibits.
He told me I was faint hearted!

I really hope I get heating soon then I may let the flat again.

Hello all. Mark 8 ½ here. Been a busy day. Had to go in for a nose job. It’s a bit better now but I’m tired so my eyes are shut because I’m going to sleep.
I do hope her doing the crochet hasn’t forgotten I’ve got no ears yet …..let alone a body. Night night all ?

Has Mark 8 and a half come through the anaesthetic?
It looks like he'll need time for the swelling to go down.

Hansel wants to stay an extra few days here. He has realised how expensive accommodation is.
He had bad dreams last night I'm not surprised after his day at the Surgeon's Hall museum

Grammaretto I’ve been put all day today so Mark 8 ½ has gone another day without ears. I’m hoping when he gets them it will improve his appearance ?
Hope Hansel will be good company if he’s staying on. Hmmm surgeons hall museum doesn’t sound a pleasant place to visit. ?
Glad your knitted square has been put in place in a wall hanging. What’s the exhibition about?
(I Hope you’re piece had good lighting and a sign saying you’d contributed it ?)

YAY! I passed my dog test!

Next step is submitting my details, including a video of me walking, to the BLV Committee. They need to match me with a quieter dog befitting and elderly lady.

Ironically, after all my worries, I didn't need to walk the full 30 mins due to the wild, cold 5º winds from Antarctic and frequent rain. We found a 5 minute sunny spot though, enough to get a recording of my hobble.

Whanau Day, (there are 3 this week, today's about a kilometre from my house) was postponed too. Sadly, I'd been given incorrect details for every single one, so Mepa and I won't be going anywhere on Friday as that was held on Wednesday.

Doodle, your kitty looks as if it's going to be 'animal unspecific' what I can see is a very adaptable animal which may be kitty, puppy or piggy.

Congratulations on your square in the exhibition Grammaretto

Perhaps Hansel would like to be your new, paying lodger ? He's worked things out very well, hasn't he? Does he aspire to be a politician as well?

You may remember my getting a new hob (or 4) over the past couple of years. I noticed a crack in one of the elements of the newest, beneath the ceramic surface.
The electrician has just replaced the whole stove top, again. I don't know if things are simply not being made properly these days but at least it's nothing I've done wrong.

The family is coming over on Sunday and dgs will stay for the rest of next week. I'm dying to hear about his Island adventures.

How excitingKaimoana I am really happy for you.
What with your dog and Doodle's cat, we may have to change our group name

Seriously, I am very pleased that you will have a furry friend.

I led a walk today. We had all weathers. A rainbow ? followed by torrential rain, then the sun came out and finally the wind got up and it was wild. One of the group had organised lunch at the golf club.
Now I must write a walk report and a conference report.
I'll maybe have a nap first
Here is the wall hanging.
I left my phone behind so could not take photos on the walk.

kaimoana yeah! That’s wonderful news. I do hope you find a suitable companion soon. So excited for you.
Yes I’m afraid Kitty Mark is much like many of my projects not quite what it set out to be. Nevertheless I shall continue. Poor thing has one ear (not attached yet) I must get a move on. Been for haircut today so not achieve much.
So pleased you are having a family visit and extended time with DGS. You will both enjoy that so much.
Grammaretto that wall hanging is very pretty. Which square was yours ? Third down on the left……..or right?
You seem to have had all weathers during your walk. Hope you enjoyed it though. Nice lunch I hope…….did you burn off enough calories in the walk for lunch ?.
We went shopping today and bought a thicker tog duvet and a small fan heater. I often feel chilly in our bathroom and DH usually turns up the heating but I thought a quick blast with a fan heater might be more economical. Only bought a 7 tog duvet. We have had 4.5 for years summer and winter. 7 should be enough for us I think .

Yay Kaimona. Fantastic progress on your canine companion - well done!?

I feel, Doodle, that a step-by-step explanation of progress on Mark is very helpful? I see that you have successfully added his features finally. I have found that if you need to tunnel your way through layers of body parts and stuffing using wool (not embroidery silks), something like my skewer is the fearsome tool of choice! Adds a bit of welly to proceedings- and the stab wounds can be massaged away with no ill aesthetic effect!

A meat skewer works as well?

ixion how could you ?. Stab poor Mark the kitty with a skewer. Yes sewing his nose on with wool wasn’t a problem. It was the embroidery where things got tricky. Very tempted to go somewhere and buy a b***dy cat but having started I am determined to get it done.
Hope you and yours are ŵell

Not done much today (Mark still has no ears). I have had terrible tinnitus nausea and headache, it’s a bit better now but the tinnitus is still lurking in the background.
Boadicea I was wondering how you and your DH are getting on. We miss your tales of the mean girls.
Kaimoana do you have any idea what breed of dog you might get?
Nfk thinking of you and your DH. Hope your DH isn’t feeling too poorly and you can enjoy some quality time together.

I'm late tonight to say hello.
I was watching the fire burn down in the grate.
Sorry to hear you are not too well Doodle
DD thinks she has covid. If so this would be the second time. Could you have it? The headache is the main thing and taste.

I met up with a school friend today and we went to the art gallery to see the Impressionist exhibition.

I hope our missing Gang members are alright.
Any news?

I too have been thinking about our poorly gStars and hope they are keeping their respective chins up. All love to them and many comforting cwtches of course.

I had a letter from BJ who has been told to take it easy, she sounded sad so please keep her and DH in your thoughts.

It's likely I'll get a Labrador, Doodle (no, not a Labradoodle!) and it will be 2 years old, so not a giddy puppy, but still young.

Oh, the Impressionists Grammaretto that's a school I really love. When I look at Monet's Waterlilies series, I'm sure he had the same eye problem as me - colour perception deteriorates quickly and I see this in his work - but the genius still comes through.
Was the exhibition wonderful?

I've been baking and preparing all day for my visitors: a fellow writer from Tauranga. She was originally a student in my Creative Writing classes and we've stayed friends for almost 30 years.

And then my family for lunch on Sunday.
Dil is now strictly carb and sugar free, so I've made a special dessert for her with fresh cherries and almond yoghurt. The rest of the tribe will have the usual crumble - this time, apple, pear and cherry.

I did^ ask if they wanted a different dessert - and got very funny looks in return!


Hope everyone has a good weekend xxxx

Well Grammaretto you asked if I had any news and I do. ?
Double delight for me as I had PMs from both Cherry and Panache.
Kaimoana, Cherry is over the moon about your dog walking success and the fact you can stay in your home and your rent reduction.
Grammaretto Cherry is still feeling poorly after her recent Covid jab but she sends her love to us all.
Panache also sends her love to everyone. She has some possibly serious health problems and is waiting to go to hospital for removal of a cancerous skin growth. Apart from health issues Panache says she is joining local groups and slowly building up new friendships and is quietly contented. Which is lovely to hear.
Grammaretto I envy you your real fire. We can’t have one here obviously ….no chimney for a start ?. Nothing quite like the real thing. The warmth, flames and the crackling noises ….not quite the same effect from a radiator.
Don’t think I’ve got Covid again though I might do a test. I do get tinnitus like this sometimes. It’s easier today but still quite high pitch. I am trying distraction techniques by doing some water colouring. Don’t tell me, you didn’t know I was an artist. If you saw my paintings, you still wouldn’t know it. ?. No chance of an exhibition here.
Glad you had a nice time out with your friend. Was it a local gallery you visited?
Kaimoana of course BJ is in our thoughts, so sorry things are so difficult for her and Mr BJ. If you’re reading BJ a gentle hug on its way to you.
Ooh a Labrador. That would be nice. My DGS’s first beloved pet. Such nice characters.
See you’ve been busy in the kitchen again. No doubt a delightful array of goodies for your various visitors.
Have a lovely time with all the family and your friend.
Have a good weekend all ?

A labradoodle would be fun! But a 2 yr old lab will be lovely. Our lab was so very nice. Greedy though.
Yes the Impressionists are great. It was the Scottish collection so most are available to see all year but here they were given pride of place.
There were pre and post Impressionists too to pad it out.
I am sorry to hear BJ is sad. Sending her hugs.

Your Sunday lunch sounds great.
I'm taking DMiL to her church tomorrow. She's not been for ages.
DD hasn't covid after all so that's a relief.
Hans has cycled to Musselburgh today.
He leaves on Thursday.
I shall probably miss him.

www.nationalgalleries.org/exhibition/taste-impressionism-modern-french-art-millet-matisse

Gosh Grammaretto a new Van Gogh, that is exciting.
I love the boy in the tackety boots, 'Nothing Doing' - gorgeous.

Lovely to hear from Cherry & Panache, thanks Doodle. Sorry to hear poor Cherry reacted badly to her jab.

Quietly contented is all any of us can hope for. I am so glad Panache has reached that stage.

Utter (happy) chaos in my kitchen today as the family arrived before anything other than the meat, was cooked. Anne and Dil sat chatting with Gubbins (Anne had been dying to meet her and thinks she looks pre-Raphaelite with that wonderful hair); dgs did the stir-fry vegetables, I made custard for the crumble but forgot the leek sauce to go with the pork and didn't have time to make the requested Yorkshire puds.

None of this really mattered because everyone was happy and laughing and tucking in to delicious food.

We all moaned a bit about the horrendous price of food and how it's affecting families but there's nothing to be done it seems.

However, not even he massively inflated prices we're seeing are quite as bad as this advert.

Hello LobStars

Back by popular request from Kaimoana is ....

Match Report

Today's match is a derby. These are typically high tension affairs.

Bit quiet early doors in this ... No, wait ... our opponents have got the ball in midfield and have played it straight to their striker and he's off! No, no. No! The ball is in the back of the net ?. We only played 5 minutes ?
They come again. Smart save by our goalie there. They come again, no ... don't do this to us! Phew, they hit the bar. That was close! Quarter of an hour gone and we've hardly had a sniff ?. Ooh, wait ... what a lovely ball into the box. Get it, get it. It's attacked ... Drat! The goalie was too quick.
What the heck? A great ball in to our striker. A great header too. Their goalie is there again! No, wait, wait .. our winger takes a strike. It's blocked ?. Are we going to have any joy today. Oh, what's this ... we've got a corner (our defender usually does really well here and has scored a few from a corner). Go on ... on ya' head. Grr, he's stopped getting to the ball. Let's see that again. He was manhandled. Penalty ref' penalty! Yes! The referee points to thr spot. Ker-ching! Up steps our winger ... Goal!
It's better from us now and we keep knocking on their door.
Halftime. All square at the break
Second half.
Ooh! Almost from the KO. Drat, their goalie gets down quickly to save again. He's keeping them in this match! Our opponents are hardly having any of the ball. No! The ball breaks to them, their winger takes a strike ...and guides it over the bar ?
We're an hour into the match now. For all our possession not too many chances ?. What's this? Ooh, what a peachy ball. C'mon get on the end of that! Yes! Eek, the goalie is rushing out ... our striker is taking a touch. He dinks it up and over the goalie and into the net. Goal!!
Time is ticking on now, less than a quarter of the match to go and we're in the lead ?. No, no, No, please not their substitute. Don't let him score!! He takes a strike. Our defender throws himself on the line of fire. Had he done enough? Yes, yes, yes!
We're attacking now ... ? no luck. This game had got a tad bitty now with all the substitutes the managers have made, including swapping our main striker with another . The clock is ticking down. Looks like that may be it, we're in added time. Hold on ... what a bullish run from our striker here. The goalie saves. Quick! The ball is loose. Get it, get it, kick it! Yes, he guides the ball gently into the back of the net.
Full time in the derby
3:1 to the home (and Best) side.

I hope you enjoyed this very long and extremely indulgent match report ?

Ta-ta for now LobStars
Cwtches to all x

? Heck!! I knew it was a long report but I didn't realize quite how long!
Apologies for any harm done ?
Let me know how/if I can atone ?

Come and watch the match said my fellow supporter. Little did I realise I was in the presence of a Not-Your-Average reporter. Such detail!? I was the one who doled out the hot soup and rolls and replaced the reporter pencil as and when - such frantic note-taking ... Little opportunity to yell obscenities at poor decision-making chivvy the boys along.
We were really great and are finally, slowly but surely, elbowing nudging our way up the league table.
Never was the anthem I'm forever blowing bubbles sung so fervently.
Just off to see if I can spot us on the telly in Match of the Day.

Grammaretto I thought Head of a Peasant Woman was a bit hurtful ?
Hope you had a nice time with your MiL.
Hans has obviously recovered well. Is anyone else lined up for when he goes?
Kaimoana sounds like you had a lovely time with your friend and family. Is your DGS staying on?
Cherry yippee a match report. Hold on while I read it.
Phew half time and I’m exhausted already. The tension is building up but at least we have a goal.
Quick slurp of coffee and I’m off to read the second half.
Two , yeah?????
Wow what a match. 3:1 . Well done our team
That was excellent Cherry thank you.
ixion yes a good report wasn’t it. Glad you kept our reporter topped up with sharp pencils and supplies.
Looking forward to the next match ?

Oh my, a virtuosa performance from our Star Reporter.
How do you do it Cherry?
I so enjoy these accounts and yet I'm not interested in soccer itself.
You have the magic touch (and probably the Magic Sponge as well)!

And ixion I can imagine you wiping a frenzied brow and replacing pencils broken in the excitement and offering a speedy drink (water of course) during the most nail-biting play. Love it.

Hello Gang,

I read the match report!
13 yr old DGD also posts her match reports. She was at Wembley last week to watch the Lionesses win against the USA.

I do try to show interest

The church trip went really well thankfully.
DMiL is excellent company. There was another wheelchair so we "raced" from the carpark.
It's a beautiful church, made famous since the Da Vinci Code, but they have no regular priest.
In the afternoon was the prize giving for the art exhibition following an hour of musical performances and a delicious tea with wine.
our woolly exhibit didn't win any prizes

Then in the evening the community cinema showed Love and Friendship based on a Jane Austen story. More cake at the interval

I am going to be waiting in for the plumber all day who has said he will come today.
Have you ever been stood up on a date?
I imagine it could feel like this.