The Lockdown GangSTARS still going

I've been reading up about peripheral neuropathy! Doodle Not nice for the Dude. Not nice at all.
I hope that the acute attacks can be controlled.
Sending cwtches.

DMiL is resting and being observed incase there's a turn for the worse.

DD and the gang called round after lunch. DGD tears around my house finding things she recognises . I must have mislaid a little pink car or given it to charity
I asked how her Gaelic is getting on and she broke into song loudly. Wonderful ☺️

Cinema tonight. I don't even know what the film is. The stacking seats are so uncomfortable at least I'll not fall asleep.
I hope Cherry is better.
Speak later

Grammaretto that’s nice of you to be concerned. I don’t know much about PN either other than it being something that those with diabetes suffer from a lot. DH doesn’t have diabetes (wow, something he doesn’t suffer from 😊) I’m wondering if it could be to do with heart problems or circulation issues. We will have to wait and see. Fortunately, he isn’t in pain with it. Just balance and walking problems.
Hope your DMIL improves soon and she is being looked after well. Nice to have a visit from your DD and family. Could you get your DGD involved in a treasure hunt ….deeds for example?
Hope the film is interesting enough that you don’t think about the seating.
Cherry any sign of improvement yet.
I’ve been making a snowman hanging bauble today and putting up the last of the Christmas decorations. I always feel sorry for the ones left in the box so find somewhere to put them.
Been so cold here today (though probably a lot warmer than where you are Grammaretto) I need to move more and keep the blood flowing. Sleep well all

I sat watching the film American coming of age movie but couldn't stop worrying that I had left the gas on keeping the pan hot. At half time I rushed home half expecting to find the kitchen aflame. Luckily I had switched it off but it's something I have to learn to check.
When I cooked on the Rayburn I could leave things for days and the worst thing to happen would be a lump of charcoal where a loaf had been.
I haven't thought about Christmas yet. I must buy a few cards and write them.

Sorry that your DMiL has got covid Grammaretto. It's good to know that she's being observed and hopefully that's all she'll require. I'm crossing my fingers that she's got a milder dose and she makes a strong recovery soon.
Your DGD obviously loves exploring your home children love a good nose 😁. Do you think the Americans could have thrown the pink car away when they were with you? It did sound like they were keen to throw everything away.
Glad you didn't leave the gas on! You didn't say, but did you enjoy the film?

Sorry to hear your DH has peripheral nerve problems, it's not a pleasant condition. It's possible but may not have anything to do with a heart or circulation problems. I'm just glad he's not in pain with it.
I'm getting Xmas decoration envy! The decorations you are making sound fabulous 😊.

You've got a very busy week ahead Kaimoana, I hope you don't overdo it. It sounds like there's plenty going on to enjoy and I hope you thoroughly enjoy all that's there to enjoy excluding the poke in the eye 😊

I'm feeling quite a lot better as today has worn on. I've got an unrelated GP appointment tomorrow and I'm glad I'm feeling better as I don't want to miss it.

I'll have one of your special hot chocolates Jeeves.
Night night gang 😴

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Hej! ....and good morning!

🥂 all round this morning......have just heard that DD2 has a positive pregnancy result 🙂 , so we now wait anxiously for three weeks for her scan. No chickens to be counted yet but at least the journey continues for her.

We loved Iceland except for the no show Northern Lights ! We spent the evening of my birthday in a car park 40 km north of Rekjavic ......in the rain with 300 other people.

We loved the geysers, the waterfalls, the Rift Valley, the ice cream and the Christmassyness.

Photos include the Yule Cat who eats anyone who doesn't have new clothes for Christmas 🙂

Mr M has brought home a duty free cold 🥶 so I'm moving into the spare room for a few nights. Hope all your patients are doing ok today

I can't help but rejoice Mamissimo and I hope and hope all will be well.

One of your photos looked like the Canterbury Plains (see pic), another seems to be upside down so I had to stand on my head to half-see it.
I miss that Christmassy feeling you describe. Xmaas in summer isn't the same, although in hot sunshine, far more like the original one .

Grammaretto how is your DMil?

I had an excellent time at the Coffee Morning yesterday, although it wasn't at the place described
I felt like Fanny Robin in Far From the Madding Crowd waiting for ages in the 'wrong' place.
Nor was it for the people I'd been told would be there.

I may have eventually been taken to a completely different get-together - but I enjoyed it anyway. Middle Eastern breads fresh from the oven (and me gluten free too!) with dips and Lemon Drizzle cake, with a lovely hot chocolate in a glass which burned my fingers.

Why don't cafes put good sense before fashion? But then they say 'Would you like a panini?' So there's no help for them

Someone I was in close contact with at our Xmas party has tested positive for Covid and feels grim.
I have the RAT here but can't see to carry it out.

I have no symptoms but I will put it to the BLV people today and if they send me home un-dined, I shan't mind.

Hospital tomorrow - let joy be unconfined .

Grammaretto you’re not the only one who goes out and then spends all the time worried about leaving things turned on.
Glad it was all ok. Was the film any good? Doesn’t really sound like it.
How was your DMIL today? Hope she’s being well looked after.
Cherry thank you for your kind thoughts of DH. You Christmas envy made me laugh……as would my decorations if you saw them. They look very home made. 🤣
So pleased you are beginning to feel a bit better. Hope everything went well with the GP today.
Jeeves is doing hot chocolate with marshmallows tonight if you’re interested……that’s if he hasn’t eaten them all. He has a sweet tooth.
Mamissimo that is good news about your DD.
Your photos are lovely. Your northern lights expedition is similar to our experience. Sitting in a car park waiting for something to happen. Hope you had a great time and a very happy birthday. Hope MrM feels better soon.
Kaimoana lovely photo from you too.
Glad you enjoyed your coffee morning even if it wasn’t the one you expected to be at. Oh I love lemon drizzle.
Hope you don’t catch Covid. Good luck at the hospital. Hope you are ok.
I think I have gremlins in my kitchen. Just before dinner tonight,I bent down to get some peas out of my freezer and an empty bottle of wine leapt from the worktop and smashed on the floor in front of me. Don’t ask me why I still can’t see how it happened. It took me ages to clear up all the glass fragments. An hour later, I was clearing up after dinner and the small microwave bowl I use for my peas, suddenly leapt from my hand, did a nice somersault in mid air, bounced off the open door of the dishwasher and smashed on the floor.
I don’t think my kitchen floor has ever been so clean after another round of sweeping. 🤔.

Oh dear Doodle!! Are you competing with me for the incompetence prize?
I didn't tell you that earlier in the day I had spilled a pint of milk over the tea tray I was carrying through to 2 of my potters. An unusually clean floor here too

Just heard that DBiL now has covid as well so Dsis-i-L is looking after both now.

Lovely news from the Mamissimo clan.
I'm glad you enjoyed Iceland. The geyser looks impressive.

I hope you are better Cherry and I hope Kaimoana is having fun.

Men were crawling about among the rafters in the attic space today laying insulation. More tomorrow. I expect to be instantly warmer.

I was on shop duty today and was really tired by the end. I made several frothy drinks which seemed to go down well. I have discovered a penchant for the industrial dishwasher is that a thing? it takes just 3 minutes and the dishes come out sparkling!

Tomorrow I have the first of the Christmas lunches. I should probably learn to say no.

Jeeves hasn't been seen for a while. If you spot him send him over with a bedtime drink/story.

I hope the BLV helped you with the test Kaimoana and it was clear 🤞 and that this meant ou were able to stay and enjoy your meal.
How are your DMiL and DBiL Grammaretto? Fairing not too bad I hope. I hope your DSiL doesn't succumb too 🤞

What an interesting coffee morning*Kaimoana*. Do you think they did possibly take you to the wrong place 😯 🤣. An unexpected but enjoyable experience I'd say 😁.
I hope your hospital appointment went well, I take it that it was for your sharp poke in the eye the eye injection.

Was your loft insulation finished today Grammaretto? We've got an engineer coming out to service our boiler on Friday. Our heating seems to be really efficient and fine so I hope there's no extras required 😁
Any shop duty or stall minding today?

Sorry Doodle and Grammaretto I hope it wasn't me who inadvertently pointed the Gremlins in your direction 😬. A few days ago my partner stripped everything off the dining table to give it a thorough clean it was overdue. He put our glass candle stick on the sideboard out of the way. You guessed it ... I came into the room and swiftly knocked it off and it smashed 😤🙄.

Yes, I am feeling better, all the main symptoms I was experiencing have gone but do feel quite weak. I'll probably be fine tomorrow 😃. My appointment at the GP practice went okay but I am being referred for further tests, most probably in the new year. I won't say anything else as I don't want to think about it this side of xmas 😉

Lovely photos from the gangStars 😍

Jeeves brought me a lovely hot chocolate Doodle, I hope he brought you a lovely bedtime drink last night too Grammaretto.

Thanks for asking Cherry. The invalids are a bit better and able to eat so can't be all that sick.
DSiL is hoping she won't succumb. again
I have been out gadding today. I did some Christmas shopping and went to the gallery of modern art and then to a meal with DH ex colleagues one or 2 have died since we last met. I sat next to the only woman there and she was very deaf.

My DC are alarmed that I seem to be on the brink of getting rid of clutter valuable antiques They think I am a stupid old woman.
I have an appointment with the orthopaedic surgeon for my hip in January. That's much sooner than I thought. We'll both be off for tests in the New Year.
Here is the gallery of modern art. I love the sign

In case you can't read it it says
EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE ALRIGHT

Grammaretto what a pair we are.
I hope all the Covid patients are not too poorly. Is your DMIL any better?
You are doing well with your duties in the cafe. We’ll have you in the Lockdown bar pulling pints yet. 😊
Hope you had a good lunch although you might have spent most of it shouting.
The answer to your children worrying about you throwing away valuable items is to tell them to come and collect them and keep them in their homes. Bet they don’t think they’re so valuable then 😊
Hope you had a good time at the museum. I like the message.
Cherry we’ve just had our heating checked too. Good to know we will be warm and cosy ….if we can afford it. I’m wearing more layers this year and for the first time since we moved here I am drawing the curtains at night…or should that be pulling? 🤔
Ooh perhaps it’s a lobstar gremlin that’s out to get us all.
Sorry about your candlestick though.
Glad you are feeling a bit better but not surprised you are tired. Take it easy for a few days. Glad the GP went well hope things are ok.
Ah Jeeves was with you was he. I think he’s avoiding me because I know he’s eaten all the marshmallows.
Kaimoana hope all went well at the hospital and you are safely home.

Ha ha Grammaretto but the sign doesn't say when

My hospital appointment was cancelle; the Ophthalmologist has Covid. So I asked the shuttle to take me to my doctor's, first to hand in my re-enrolment form - and to leave a box of Xmas biscuits for the staff.

I also took a RAT kit with me. This is a selftesting kit but needs eyesight I don't have.
I asked at reception if anyone could help me with it.

"No, sorry, no clinical staff are available for testing".
"But this is a self-testing kit, you don't need clinical experience" said I, beating my head against the brick wall of indifference.
They didn't even say thankyou for the biscuits.

I asked at the adjacent pharmacy with the same result, even though I am obviously in the vulnerable category and almost 5,000 new cases of Covid were reported last week and we are still being urged to 'stay safe' and have the RAT.

I'm not ill and if pozzi, I shall be out of the isolation period by Saturday, so can attend the Kawe mate. The test was to protect my homecare ladies really, so I'll warn them before they come in - I can do no more.

I'm very happy to hear your MiL is improving Grammaretto

I wasn't going to ask the BLV to help me with the test, Cherry as they are all blinder than me . Perhaps I should have asked the dogs? I needed to tell them I could be pozzi, just in case.

They didn't care.
So I had a wonderful Frangelico cake and rich chocolate ice cream for dessert. Yum.
And I won a raffle box of Xmas goodies.

Glad you are feeling a lot better dear Cherry long may it continue.

Yes, I now think there were two coffee mornings and they got mixed up. Doesn't matter to me who puts free coffee and cake in front of me! I had fun.

It’s still quite chilly, windy and wet so I’m glad to stay home and keep warm, complete the gift-wrapping and listen to an excellent Frances Brody book. She writes about Kate Shackleton, born in 1891, a Yorkshire war widow turned detective who lives and works in all the places familiar from my childhood. Lovely.

And to complete this wonderful day, I have at last heard from the BLV that I am not going to be allowed a dog.

Oh no Kaimoana That is such a bummer.
I am so sorry for you.

The sign may refer to the universe when the human race has expired.

Oh Kaimoanna I’m so sorry. You must be so disappointed. Did they say why? Is there any chance of appeal?
That’s a sad end to a frustrating day. You would think someone could help you do the rest wouldn’t you.
Sending you the biggest hug. x
Grammaretto how are you getting on with your tenant? Hope all is going well.
I’ve been Christmas shopping today buying chocolates for all the family. I have locked it in the cupboard outside ……..but the temptation is still there. DH bought me some Fry’s Turkish Delight covered in chocolate. My favorite. There are two bars. Wonder if he would notice if one went missing…….🤔

Kaimoana I'm gutted for you and really hope you can appeal. Could your son ask them what they would suggest as an alternative? I think when organisations say no they have a responsibility to suggest a different way forward. You are so pragmatic I think he might get a little more irate emotional !

Mr M and I have been blessed with the dreaded airplane flu. We're hoping that having it now means we will be perky for Christmas.

Doodle I'm picturing you now lying on your sofa and The Dude bringing you a Turkish Delight to win you favour......🙂

Mamissimo 🤣 if only. Hope you feel better soon.

Aw Doodle.
I love Turkish delight too.
I'm sure it isn't vegetarian but I have to make exceptions

I've had a rather horrible day . The broken tooth was extracted this morning so I can neither speak nor eat.
luckily I can drink so thanks for the red wine Jeeves

Golly Mamissimo there's always a price to pay for fun. the protestants were right all along
How dare you get flu!

There are some lovely things. DS sent a video of DGS playing Mozart on the clarinet. I can listen to it endlessly.

And Kaimoana you enjoyed the Frances Brody reading.

Grammaretto it’s not my usual sort of treat but I do love the texture and taste of Turkish delight. I have no idea what it’s made from but I’m not asking. 🤣
Oh I’m so sorry about your tooth. Hope you are not in pain. Are you allowed to eat? What about soup and soft bread.
Wow your DGS is very talented. I bet you were so proud of him.
Waitrose delivered today….sort of. I finished unloading crate one and the started unloading crate two when I thought hang on a minute this isn’t my order and sure enough crate two belonged to someone else. All was dealt with quite well by our lovely driver who nipped back to the shop and sorted it all out for us. Good job I spotted it though otherwise we would be eating some unusual things for dinner tonight.
Went out for a walk but didn’t go far. It was so cold I didn’t want DH to get chilled. Spent this afternoon writing Christmas cards. Going to friends for coffee tomorrow then church in the evening to look at the decorations.

No, my dear gangstars, I shan't appeal to BLV. When I first instigated the request for assessment, I had not been told I had AS. Now I see it would not be fair on the dog.

Actually Grammaretto Turkish Delight is not just vegetarian but vegan, if you make it yourself.

That characteristic taste Doodle is rosewater, available in Tesco for £1.50. Use it like any other essence to bring a touch of Eastern Promise to your porridge.

I haven't flown anywhere but have 'the bug' as well Mamissimo: sore throat, cough, sneezing, runny nose and lassitude. The whole pack of cards
I hope you feel better soon.

I was lucky that Artoa was able to do my RAT, which proved negative.

Our weather is still miserable but I have few plans for the weekend.
The kawe mate on Saturday will be emotional, remembering the many we lost during Covid, some from my kaumatua group too.

Want to try making your own Turkish Delight?

www.nzwomansweeklyfood.co.nz/recipes/turkish-delight-28294

Kaimoana I’m sorry about the dog but I understand your reasoning. It’s a shame though.
Are you trying to tease me putting a big plate of Turkish delight on the thread 🤣.
I like that sort as well as the Fry’s Turkish delight which (apart from being covered in chocolate) is a different texture and more jelly like.
Thank you for the recipe.
I’m sorry you are feeling poorly too. Glad you managed to get help with your test and it’s negative but you don’t sound too well. Please take care of yourself and try and get better for Saturday. That sounds a nice ceremony of remembrance.

Hello Gang

Been a curiously mixed couple of days. I recovered from whatever dreaded lurgy virus I had only to break out in fiery red patches all over my body some in uncomfortable places 😱. Fortunately I managed to get a GP appointment on the morning I rang. I walked out of the practice armed with a pile of prescriptions and then out of the chemist carrying a sack, well pretty sackish. I've got an allergy to something, haven't been able to work out what though yet. Anyone got any ideas? Yesterday was better (no, the red patches hadn't gone) as I went to the Epilepsy Wales Christmas Lunch. Nice to see some faces I hadn't seen in a while, as well as those I have. The Lunch itself? Enormous! This morning the patches are worse and after not receiving much in the mail the post was enormous and not any better than the fiery patches 🤨

The heating engineer is due any minute so I'll return later, unless I fall asleep as I haven't slept a wink one wink would have helped. If Jeeves decides to play early Santa and hands out Turkish delight save some for me, I love it.

Oh Cherry I’m sorry to hear you’ve gone down with something else. It sounds so painful (especially the uncomfortable places). Have you bought a Christmas tree, could it be an allergy to pine needles. New soap powder,
I hope your sack load of meds helps soon. I will send Jeeves over with Turkish delight and soothing words.
So pleased you were able to enjoy your lunch. Nice to catch up with friends and acquaintances.
Please contact the GP again if you’re not feeling any better.
Gentle hug x

Poor Cherry
I can't think what the rash might be unless a reaction to some of the sackloads of medications you are on?
I have called off the Christmas lunch on Monday.
bah humbug
I said perhaps by next year the tooth fairy will have left £3000 for a new front tooth.
Before then I shall be a recluse.
Anyway I am cross with that particular place, a golf club, in the Borders where they have nothing veggie on the menu and I have to ask the chef to do me a meatless alternative which isn't even very nice. With a glass of wine it costs £35 so that can go towards my new tooth.
paying my debts
I still haven't received my boiler and insulation loan. I sent another letter to them (Scottish Government) today with all the extra things they have asked me for but I bet it won't be enough.

On a happier note I have been set a mission to trace relatives of a lovely woman who brought up my DFiL.
She was the midwife who took the baby home when no-one else wanted him.
His mother had died in childbirth.
We know there are relatives because they appeared at her funeral in 1980 but didn't want anything to do with us because she had bequeathed everything to him. She didn't marry or have children so these would be gt nephews and nieces.
There is a box full of letters and photos which we would like to hand to someone in her family. rather than chucking it out.