The Lockdown GangSTARS still going

Drat Kaimoana, full blooded drat! I'm really sorry about the dog. Like Grammarettosays though I completely understand why you won't appeal. On a positive note - your RAT test wasn't and you won a raffle 😄. I know, I'm behind the curve typical of me .
The ceremony on Saturday is bound to be an emotional affair but a wonderful thing to do. I hope you're well enough to attend 🤞

Grammaretto, I'm getting concerned now like your family are about you sorting out the junk 😯. Have you been selling the family silver to pay for Xmas presents 🤣
What an interesting and heartwarming part of your family history. I hope you do find a family member of your DFiL who is interested and indeed would treasure in the letters and photos. After all they're something to add to their own story.

Doodle I hope you both enjoyed the coffee with your friends Sometimes these simple things in life are blissful peace in comparison to a hectic affair of clashing elbows sit down meal with a multitude. Oh, and I hope the church decorations were looking great.

I'm proud of myself according to the GP I should be I haven't had a doze, a wink or anything so hopefully I can sleep on a washing line tonight (not recommended--. Not planning an early night quite yet though 😂 The fiery patches have spread yet again yes I'm feeling sorry for myself now, it'll be spot the clear skin next 😱. Don't know whether to laugh or cry ..... 😂

Thinking takeaway tonight, can't be a@$€d bothered with cooking (or cooking going on around me) ...

Oh, nearly forgot 😂, apparently my Dr worked it out and it sounds about right, my allergy is a bonus gift ... left by that self-serving virus 🙄

What a wonderful story or book that would make Grammaretto perhaps your very talented dgs would work on it with you (if not now, at some later date)? Make copies before any original letters and photos are passed on. There speaks a life-long writer-researcher!

Have you tried contacting dental schools about your tooth. Often the university courses offer good, economical dental care by students, overseen by experts of course.

Oh Cherry you no soon get over one hurdle than another looms up to trip you. Poor lass. I do know how red patches in uncomfortable places affect one's wellbeing and you've every right to feel sorry for yourself. Keep smiling my friend.

I am all togged up in my best funeral gear for the kawe mate but I feel pretty grim, with that 'other-worldly' feeling typical of infection. I'm still coughing (I have lozenges) and sneezing (plenty of tissues to hand) but as almost everyone I know has the same bug and as it definitely isn't Covid, I'm going, masked up of course.
Now...will I be able to get a taxi to take me?
I shall report later.

Grammaretto I cannot see the point of spending a lot of money on a meal you won’t enjoy (buy yourself a box of Turkish delight instead) .
That a a pain about your boiler loan. Keep chasing is all I can suggest. What a Christmassy type story about your dear FIL being taken home by the midwife. Shame the family didn’t keep in touch with her. I hope you get to trace them.
I have had a nice day. Coffee with my friend this afternoon then we both went to church for a festive evening of mince pies and raffle for children’s charity.

Cherry the church was beautiful. We had a really nice time and got to chat with some lovely people. DH is going to hospital tomorrow for his echocardiogram so he didn’t come too as he’s avoiding mixing at the moment.
I’m concerned about the spread of your red patches. Does it hurt a lot? Well if the Gp is right, that’s a virus that just keeps on giving. I would ask for a second opinion if it keeps on into next week. I do hope you sleep tonight. I will send Jeeves to sing to you………well perhaps not. 😖 Take care lovely lady. Hope you feel better soon.
Kaimoana you don’t sound at all well either. Hope you manage ok. I certainly hope the taxi takes you there and back and you’re not left stranded anywhere.
Please take care poorly lobstars.

All good wishes to MrDoodle for tomorrows test.

I refer you to my previous famous last words though I'm sure you all know me far too well to think that'll shut me up!

If you wish to read the Saturday Saga, read on:
If not, skip this post

As you know, it was important to me to attend the Kawe Mate, despite our chairman's best efforts to prevent kaumatua going, by denying us the community van.

It’s hard to explain just how big an insult this was: to the Marae hosts who invited and expected kaumatua to be there; the bereaved families and indeed, to our elders themselves.
And in Maori terms, an unforgiveable slight to those who have died.

The ceremony began at 10am and although it’s just a short distance up the road, I can’t easily walk that far and the weather was dreadful.
So at 8.45 I phoned for a taxi, giving a bit of leeway for Saturday traffic and time for me to have a cuppa in the wharekai before the ceremony.

When the taxi hadn’t turned up by 9:40, I phoned - to be told there was no booking.

I quoted the booking number and was assured I’d get a call-back. I’m still waiting. Is it Domesday yet?

By 11.15 it was clear there would be no transport but I’d found live coverage of the Kawe Mate and tried to content myself with that, gnashing my teeth to see the smug chairman sitting there but NO kaumatua. Grrr.

Then I heard my neighbor start his car. He regularly walks round the park adjacent to the Marae.

I asked if he was going walking. He wasn’t but said he’d take me to the Memorial service.
I knew it probably wouldn’t finish until at least 12.30 so I could catch the last hour (sitting outside in the porch) a presence representing kaumatua...and then have lunch with everyone.

I hate imposing, especially as Ray’s not well, which is why I hadn’t asked him in the first place but he was very sweet and we were there in 5 minutes.

As usual, there was a Covid testing station at the entrance where every visitor had been poked up the nose before being allowed in.
So despite my negative test on Wednesday I was more than happy to take another, knowing how capricious this virus can be.

It was positive.

They very kindly found transport to take me home and said they would provide a food parcel for me because now of course, I must isolate.
Bless their hearts.

I gave Ray a box of RATs for himself and family but I’ll never forgive myself if he becomes ill through doing me a good turn.

This result also means I can’t have any homecare next week but I have A Cunning Plan. Karen doesn’t need to come into my house. She can collect the paid-for groceries and the Xmas gifts from another store and I will open my garage door remotely so she can deliver them.

A flawless ballet of no-contact. Neat eh?

Of course no housework gets done except by my sickly self, but who cares?

I haven't felt too bad until now, at 4pm and it's clear my temperature is going up like a rocket.

I've drunk enough water to float a battleship and will continue to do so - and probably toddle up the Wooden Hill to Bedfordshire by 6pm.

I'll listen to audio books and ponder on the kindness of strangers.

And friends.

Dear Kaimoana . How awful for you but unsurprising. I only hope you can rest and recover quickly. It's a shame that you missed the funeral.
Cherry too. I hope you aren't feeling too awful.
I don't know why I m wide awake at this hour but I am so have been reading GN.
A strange day yesterday. I decided to take the bus to the terminus - Granton harbour - and stroll along the shore. It was perishing cold but interesting to see the boats in the Forth and hills of Fife. I enjoyed the ride on such a bright sunny day through Edinburgh.
I'll be thinking of you and the Dude later today Doodle

Just popping in between coughing bouts to wish all those suffering buggerations of any kind a gentle day. I think we've all had enough! Good luck to the Dude 🙂

Kaimoana, no! I'm so so sorry to know that your nasal swab revealed that you have covid after all, but yes as Grammaretto says unsurprising 😟. What a saga Saturday turned out to be, indeed. I'm glad you they found you transport to go home though transport there couldn't be, funny that, or am I confused who found that transport and more importantly they're going to provide you a food parcel - they'd better. Drat, but of course you'll be without your home care. I like your cunning plan 😁. I'm sending you a virtual 💐 cwtch xx

I hope your DH's hospital appointment went well Doodle 🤞.
I'm pleased that you had such a lovely day with your friend yesterday and the church looked so beautiful 😊.
Yes the red patches are quite angry Doodle, they're burning and itching (similar to hives). The GP said I might have them for a few days or a few weeks. An early xmas gift that might well last beyond Xmas 🙄. Someone okay, more than one person once said that I don't do things by halves 🤣

So your saga re the grant re. a new boiler goes on Grammaretto. Bureaucracy! They tell you to provide one/some thing/s and you do, then they always want something else on top! Call me a cynic but I sometimes think they do these things to put people off especially when in involves funding for it. I'm glad you enjoyed yesterday 😁 even if it was 🥶

Oh Kaimoana I’m so sorry. Not only did you miss the service but you’ve got Covid too. I hope you recover soon and aren’t too poorly with it.
Grammaretto you were an early bird this morning. If I can’t sleep I often pop into GN to see what’s going on.
Your journey to the harbour sounds nice. I love visiting harbours. Watching the boats and seeing what’s going on.
Mamissimo it seems we have lots of poorly lobstars at the moment. Hope you all start to feel better soon.
Cherry I’m so sorry for your red patches. It does sound painful. I wonder what has caused this. I do hope it’s days rather than weeks before it clears up.
Thank you all for asking. DH got on well at the hospital today. All went quite quickly. We won’t have any results until they write to the doctor.
It was bitterly cold outside so we didn’t go for a walk. Just a quick trip to Sainsbugs on the way home. Got stuck in a queue to pay behind a man who bought huge boxes of beer, several bottles of wine and 6 four pint containers of milk. Perhaps he’s in a liquid diet.
Hope you all have a good nights sleep. I think you all need it.

Cherry the Cynic Taxi services in my area are notorious for not picking up disabled persons, so they ignored me.
As the Gangstars know, this is not a new story - they wouldn't even fetch me when Phil was dying in the hospice - an historical low in human lack of care.

The ride home: Hoani Waititi Marae is a Maori community centre and allied to Waipareira Trust, a huge, Maori-run welfare organisation. I have been involved there, on and off, since the late 80's when I was taught to be a bone-carver.

hoaniwaititimarae.co.nz/

One of their kaimahi (workers) grabbed a HWM car to take me home and promised the kai (food) parcel.

Marama? Is that clear?

By the way, I hope no one takes it amiss when I use Maori words, it's so natural a part of my everyday speech and I try to remember to translate when I write it here.

That expression 'Marama?' is used all the time at the end of any explanatory sentence. Literally it means 'Is there light? (light of understanding)
Marama also means the moon.

I often wish there was more moonlight in my brain, I'm getting very cloudy these days.



Mamissimo "buggerations" what a splendid way of describing all the slings and arrows which outrageous fortune has hurled at us all lately.

It's still raining but Tāwhirimātea (in charge of weather) has promised sunshine for Monday so I may get the laundry dry.

It's a white wonderland here. I expect the store to be busy as there are few places open on Sundays.
The Maori community centre does sound good Kaimoana.
My Kiwi son is involved in their community centre in Wellington and there is always something going on. NZ is so cosmopolitan these days.
Doodle I am glad the hospital went smoothly. We hear such awful stories about delays
Cherry I hope the red patches fade and the pain with it.
What a horrid legacy the virus can leave.
My invalids up the road are doing ok.
I meant to sit and write cards yesterday but got a last minute invitation to a df for dinner.
What a treat despite my missing tooth cronelike appearance She is a splendid cook . Her fire was warm and her little dog politely moved up the sofa to make space for me!

Kaimoana I’m glad they got you home quickly. Hope you aren’t feeling too bad.
Grammaretto in some ways I envy your white wonderland. I love snowy scenes and walking through snow. DH and I have done a few winter trips to Norway and enjoyed them so much despite the -22 temperature at night. Sadly nowadays we daren’t go anywhere where it’s too cold. DH gets the shivers quite quickly and has trouble warming up. Again this morning he is not 100% but I think his blood pressure has dropped due to new medication which is why he’s feeling the cold. We will stay in today. It’s frosty and foggy outside.
Hope you get on well in the cafe. Nice evening for you by the fireside with a friend.

How lovely to have dinner with a friend Grammaretto - cards can wait. I didn't think cards were still sent, a strange tradition anyway, isn't it?

Doodle I am worried about you and DH, please do look after yourselves, you are both very precious.

Snow can only be enjoyed in the right circumstances: in the countryside; in a foreign country you can leave behind and when you are a child.

My enduring memories are of slushy, mucky stuff piled up at the sides of roads and hiding all manner of detritus - city snow cannot be enjoyed - yuk.

I am feeling physically much better today; my perspiration trick worked as it usually does.

I am sad though. I've just deleted all the bookmarks I made after thoroughly researching dog care in all its forms. Google is sending me its useful links to all things canine and although I know I've made the right decision, I wish it was not so.

Odd how when you want to avoid a sad memory, the world pushes it at you.

The library has just bought in all manner of new dog-ownership books, so they've popped up as well.
Everything from dogs which saved lives to how to train a puppy.
,sigh>

This too will pass.

Kaimoana DH and I still send cards. We’ve been doing ours this afternoon. Thank you for your thoughts. We have had a quiet day today. DH is getting ready for bed. I think an early night is called for.
I love the picturesque snow and the softness and quietness of the air in snowy conditions. I don’t like driving in it or the slushy icy bit either.
I’m so sorry you are feeling down about not getting a dog. Can well understand that. Hope something lovely happens for you soon to cheer you up like a visit (when you are better) from a certain young lady. 😊
Take care all. I’ve sent Jeeves out to grit the footpaths to keep us safe.

Thanks for Jeeves. I made it through the ice and snow and am now safely tucked up.
I wish my feet were warmer.
I wrote a few cards but not the usual amount. When I see the letters at the back door, I do get excited and wonder who'll they'll be from. Guessing the handwriting or more likely trying to decipher it.
The shop was lovely today. There's always a nice atmosphere on a Sunday. 3 musicians sang and played guitar.

Grammaretto glad you got home safely.
When I got up in the night I looked out of the window and couldn’t believe it was snowing here too. Quite a surprise for us. A think blanket of snow this morning. I saw a fox running across the lawn too leaving little paw prints. It is really cold here but probably much worse where you are,
Have you got any thermal socks or hot socks. DH and I bought some when we went to Norway in the winter, they are nice and cosy and keep your feet warm.
Your shop sounds lovely with the singers . Hope you are getting lots of customers.
How are you getting on with your new tenant? Will she be there for Christmas?
Kaimoana how are you feeling today? Wish I could send you a big hug via GN. How are you managing for food? Hope your cunning plan with Karen is working.
Cherry hope your red patches are cooling off a bit now. Are you feeling any better?
Boadicea Mamissimo, Missedout, Nfk and Jan can’t help thinking about you all and wondering how you are getting on.
Muse and Ixion too. Take care all. x

Winter wonderland for you Doodle .
How exciting.
The snow is deep here and my car is almost buried exaggeration alert.
My tenant has parked her car out in the street and she's getting snow tyres.
Her drive to work is challenging.
A neighbour called tonight to apologise for her car across my gate! It became stuck.

It's DD's birthday so I phoned her and remembered the night she was born. What a joy to have a girl. We were lucky it wasn't snowing then.
Has the parcel arrived? Of course not

Jeeves, when you've finished looking after Kaimoana , she needs food and Cherry who needs some balm . I would like hot chocolate and a hot water bottle. Thanks

The image of people singing Christmas songs as happy shoppers throng about. Lights twinkle and snowflakes sailing softly from the sky, is so evocative of the Christmassy things I miss.

Coincidentally, just before I read your post Doodle I'd just written to BJ. Like you I am often thinking of ALL our gang who are unable to post as regularly as they would like.

Your ‘hot socks’ sound wonderful – how do they work?
Yes Doodle the Marae delivered a box of goodies Let Jeeves know I don't need him, please.

As I shall be free of infection by 15th, I may try to bake.
I’ve promised my Ddil a Black Forest Gateau, so will begin with the chocolate bases for that and assemble it on 24th, the day we are together. My son loves Bakewell Tart, so that will be his special foodie treat.

Some Christmas traditions will be bought in or even ignored this year. I’m not up to making pork pies for which a very sharp knife is essential and I really want to survive this season.
DS is smoking a salmon (makes a change from Woodbines I guess) and I’m doing the easy stuff: cheeses, crackers and salads.

Grammaretto I was born during the Big Snow of 1947, when the village of Huggate, near Driffield was completely covered by 20ft drifts, with only the very tops of telephone poles poking through the snow.

My Dad had to dig himself and his bike out to get to work and every night it snowed again and undid all his hard work.

I was wrapped in an army blanket and then a eiderdown at night and slept in a drawer beside my parents bed.

That drawer, in the dresser inherited from great-gandma, is still in my bedroom. I no longer fit in the drawer.

PS: Neither of my sons smoke and my elder boy doesn't drink either, never has, even in the army.

Good morning 🙂

cough, cough, splutter, chooooooo we're still here and sounding liKe a sea lion enclosure! I've never known an autumn like it for coughs. My poor little DGDs are on their third set of ear infections and .....enough!

We are off to DD2 for Christmas this year and it's the first time we've not had Christmas here since the twins were born.....and I'm lost 😞 I can't work out what I want to eat when we return, what I need to take.....I can't be ar**d. I never realised what a control freak I am.....but I think deep within is the anxiety that the very same DD2 will have her viability scan to see if this pregnancy is heading in the right direction. If I feel like this I can't imagine what's happening in her soul. I lost several naturally conceived potential babies but the poor girl is so full of injected hormones it makes her very hard to deal with so brittle. Do continue to keep your fingers, toes and knees crossed!

Going to put some X inside Christmas cards today having managed to print the labels yesterday.....and do the ironing.

We Lobstars are thinking of your girl Mamissimo with our digits crossed.

Those Nordic socks sound just the ticket Doodle . I have asked Santa
The wee girls are needing piggy banks according to their mama
I don't think there's time to make clay pigs now so I shall roam around the internet.

That's quite an image of you, newborn in the snow, in an army blanket, popped in a drawer Kaimoana!

DD was born in hospital but we brought her back here and the first few weeks we moved into one room to keep cosy. She had a stuffed up nose so I had a pan of water boiling on a camping stove for the steam.

I'm still looking for relatives of DFiL's midwife.
I've written to 2 people who have her brother on their family trees but not heard back.
I hope the absent Stars are ok.

Mamissimo You and DH are only just recovering from an horrific accident and your DD is equally vulnerable, you should all be taking it easy.

Just because some 4th century dude decided on 25th, doesn't mean we should all knock ourselves out to slavishly follow it.

You can celebrate any time.
Screw your courage to the sticking place and say "screw it".

Doing it for the children is no excuse either (quite apart from the fact they too are sick).
It won't do them any harm to have a few presents, have a quiet day playing with them, then look forward to a Grand Hooley later.

Learning to consider others is all part of a good life.

If you really are a control freak, take control and
fight the programing which says following the herd a certain date must compromise your wellbeing.

Grammaretto and while I'm in Bossy Granny mode, why not make (or buy and decorate) a couple of pretty little cardboard boxes for their interim pennies and promise your girls New Year Pigs?

I think I once showed you the money box I made for a friend but I'll post it again.

All good things are worth waiting for and granny-made piggy banks especially so.

Tha mi an dòchas gum bi Nollaig mhath agaibh uile.

That is a good idea Kaimoana
I may do just that all personalised. Your piggy bank is lovely.

I was writing cards today - . My address book is so ancient with torn pages and one address lacked the street number. I decided to phone. my cousin to ask her where she lives and we chatted for nearly an hour. A thoroughly good result!

Let's hope the poorly Mamissimos will be able to relax and enjoy their time with DD

Thanks for the Gaelic good wishes. Thusa cuideachd (you too)

Grammaretto hope your DD had a nice birthday yesterday. You certainly have far more snow than we do.
What a nice surprise for your cousin to have a phone call. I must confess I am in touch with one of my cousins but the other two we just exchange cards at Christmas. We never lived near each other and didn’t meet up much .
I hope you get your piggy banks. We bought tins for our three with a padlock and key. Mind you I think they were a bit older then.
Is your pottery stall still on o has that finished now?
Hope Jeeves will attend to all your needs tonight……..I think he might have been dosing his own hot chocolate with medicinal brandy 🤔
Kaimoana just reading your fist paragraph put me in the Christmas mood 😊 You write so descriptively. I have visions now of little snowflakes with sails steering themselves gently down to earth. Hope you hear from BJ and that all is well.
The hot socks are not actually hot but are the brand name of a particular kind of sock that keep the feet warm. They are very thick and cosy. If I can find a link I’ll post it.
So pleased you got a box of goodies. How are you feeling now?
DH likes Black Forest gâteux too. I too loved the little story of your birth. I know nothing of mine other than until shortly before hand I was considered to be a stomach ulcer. Says it all really 🤣. Love your money box. Very clever.
Oh Mamissimo you do sound poorly. Hope you feel much better for Christmas. Keeping everything crossed for your DD. An anxious time for you all. As Kaimoana says, take it easy and don’t overdo it.
Cherry wondering how you are feeling too. Hope the red patches aren’t getting you down and that they are getting less bothersome.
DH is coughing again tonight. His temperature went up a bit but seems ok now. I keep chasing him round with the gun thermometer and shooting him in the forehead. I might phone the GP Thursday if he’s no better,
Hope everyone sleeps well.

www.amazon.co.uk/Ladies-Extra-Holders-Colours-Purple/dp/B0056UOUOQ/ref=sr_1_5?crid=N0UEUDIDMY7N&keywords=heat+holder+socks+womens+4-7&sprefix=heat+holder+socks%2Caps%2C76&tag=gransnetforum-21&qid=1670970146&sr=8-5

This is a link to the socks. And yes, I do have a purple pair 😊

Ooh, Posh Socks Doodle they do look cosy.

BJ sends her regards.
The surgeon wants her to have an angiogram. The difference between that and the cardiogram I'm still waiting for is that with the former, a catheter is inserted which gets to the site of the problem.
Cardiogram is like a scan.

Sadly, planes both there and back were delayed by bad weather and just when poor BJ most wanted to be home, she had to book into an Auckland hotel and stay over.

This, I'm afraid is a very common story and one of the penalties anyone pays when retiring to somewhere beautiful but far from a centre with a hospital which has resident specialists.

I have friends in Tauranga, another popular retirement area, and they too go up and down all the time because in one's 70's health just doesn't get any better.

And nor, it seems, does mine. Today I feel washed out and a bit sickly, so I am going back to bed. :-)

How are you Cherry?