The Lockdown Gang still chatting

It all sounds to be taking an upswing now: cast off (aye aye Cap'n) wheels spinning out of the pottery; fish suppers to delight the tastebuds and even the old faithful pepper pot with a new hat. Grand.

I invited my neighbour, Ray for dinner and he accepted with obvious pleasure, so we enjoyed slow-cooked mutton chops with gravy and a variety of vegetables and mashed potato.

I have some very crispy, sugar- free chocolate chip biscuits, so as we are both diabetic, they were dessert with a cuppa tea.

Meanwhile outside a wild storm raged and although we tried to wait for a break in the weather, it didn't come so I suppose the poor chap got soaked going back.

In the short time he's been here, he has deteriorated so much, it's sad to see. I am trying, gently, to make sure he doesn't isolate himself as he's not driving now either. His sister up North has just died at 63. He's 2 years younger.

Grammaretto I have a recipe for a sugar-free Lemon Drizzle cake should you want it.

I am, as far as I know, being picked up v.early tomorrow to take part in a Dawn Blessing. The forecast is for rain and 12 degrees but the blessing may be indoors.

We've just had Pink Shirt Day "an anti-bullying campaign that celebrates diversity and creates environments where all people can feel safe, valued and respected."

As I was testing the meat and gravy yesterday, I couldn't understand why it tasted sweet. The only additive was a couple of Oxo cubes. But when I checked, they've increased the sugar content! .
I've used Oxo cubes all my cooking life but no more.

Does anyone remember Katie? I bet there wasn't sugar in her Oxo cubes.

Excellent end to the pepperpot tale!!
Well done the Doodles

I did drive the couple to Currys. We were disappointed. The young man "serving" us couldn't have looked more bored. He was chewing gum and seemed to know nothing about cookers.
The only thing he was sure of was the cost of installation. £100
Cost of delivery £30
Cost of disposal of old one £30

We left without placing an order.

Tonight Louis et Camille took me for an Indian meal. It was at our nearest restaurant and not too bad.

Nonstop eating today. I shall be too fat to fit into any of my clothes.

Ofcourse you live in the beautiful Gower Peninsula Cherry. I have only seen pictures. It looks wonderful.
Sorry about the awful neighbour. I hope you get to sleep tonight.
I had 13 wheels at one time
I taught big groups.
I have sold 2 and given 3 away. This one was free but the young man has offered to do some gardening for me.
So now there are 8 or will be soon?
I do so hope none of the Lobstars are in pain.
If you are, Jeeves is available to administer any medication or delicacy you can think of to ease the pain and to cheer you up.

Crossed posts Doodle didn't we always used to do that .
Ah, so you're having a check up/assessment on Monday then. I suppose they may remove the cast and replace it if they think it's problematic but otherwise it is early day yet isn't it.
I'm pleased that you saw your DS and DGS today and will see the other tomorrow ☺️
Thank you for revealing the conclusion to The Pepperpot Tale. Great ending 👍

Buying a pottery wheel after only trying pottery once -that's incredible Grammaretto. I hope he puts it to good use. You've got a taker for the other one early next week then?
In answer to your question/refresh your memory - my local coast is the Gower Peninsula. We have some beautiful bays, a favourite of mine being Rhossili.
Your MiL sounds like she's quite poorly now and I can imagine that's difficult for you to witness, I'm glad you bumped into an old friend and had her company on the way home from seeing her.
You're only meant to be speaking Gaelic when you're in the cafe aren't you? How did you get on today?

Ooh your bread looks yummy 😋 Kaimoana, I love the smell of freshly baked bread. Oh yes I remember those small Hovis loaves 🙂
Everything is going up in price. I suppose it's not really surprising that the kuamatua group have put up the annual fees. It's great that people can pay the cost in three payments, it will be a help to people.

You may have your cast off on Monday then Doodle 🤞

I very nearly posted in the middle of the night. Courtesy of my neighbour I was awake until gone 4am 😤. We are so worn out that we've done something me don't usually do on a Saturday and went to the chippy. Incredibly long queue 😱. Lovely fish and chips though and it meant we didn't have to cook as neither of us felt like it and we might not have bothered 😂

Kaimoana I cannot understand how people are expected to pay for care. If you have the funds that’s fine but not everyone can . I can’t fault the care DH has had from the NHS over the last few months. All the tests etc. If we’d have had to pay I don’t know how we would have afforded it.
Not sure I will get away cast free on Monday as it will only be 11days post break. Be nice to have it off though.
Well……as you asked about the pepper pot I will continue the saga. So there we were a pepper mill with no knob. DH was a bit upset as he bought it in 1988 and it has served us well. Anyway we needed one so we ordered one from Amazon. A very sleek design much smarter than the old wooden one whose varnish had worn off. DH, being a bit loath to part with his original left it on the worktop for a few days. New smar pepper mill. Was duly filled with corns and used for the evening meal. Come day two and dinner time we found our new mill wouldn’t grind. Full of corns but wouldn’t twist no matter what we did.. 😡 However……the knob on top of the new mill perfectly fitted the old mill so now we are both happy. The old mill back in service sporting a shiny new top. As for the original, still no trace.
Love your little loaves. Yes I do remember the Hovis ones. Always thought they were special.
Had lovely visit from son and DGS today. Other don comjng tomorrow.
Ooh Grammaretto what an honour.
Are you getting rid of all your pottery equipment or just some extra pieces?
That’s kind of you to offer a lift. When I first read your post I thought for a minute you were going to collect the cooker in your car 🤣

Those loaves look very nice Kaimoana
I have reached the zenith of my baking powers - Louis has asked me for the recipe of my lemon drizzle cake.

I am also glad to hear you will be getting an ankle splint Jan I hope it helps.

A busy Saturday for me. The first pottery wheel left this morning. A young man who has tried pottery once wanted it. The other will hopefully leave early next week.
Gaelic café this afternoon. Louis et Camille are getting ready to leave tomorrow. I will miss them.

Then I offered a lift to a couple who have no car and need a new cooker.
The only showroom is at Currys which is at an out of town shopping centre not handy for buses.
They are very proud so may not accept a lift especially with someone awaiting a cataract operation!

Ooh I am glad your cast comes off on Monday Doodle

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202305/medium-81279-bread-002.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202305/medium-358521-bread-003.jpg

Glad you're getting an ankle splint Jan that should really help. If it's a Bauer, they come from Germany (you'll be goose-stepping in no time like Basil Fawlty ) Have you tried a crepe bandage?

Cherry not quite Tiggerish? Mountain lionish maybe? I’ve never had Hazelnut ice cream but it would be my favourite. I envy those who can put that flavour into their coffee, I’d love to try it. Real rum? I suppose that get the sailors’ custom.

It amazes me, when staff are leaving the NHS in droves (thus saving salaries), how the government (all well covered by their free, private insurance) still gets away with cutting funding to us peasants.

There are very obvious moves here to get everyone onto private care. It'll never happen because some just don't have the resources. The poor you'll have always with you.
Our annual fee for the kaumatua group has increased to $25=£12.56 from being $20 for years and at our latest meeting it was decided this could be split up: $10, $10 & $5 as so many had said the full whack was beyond their means.

It'll be lovely to have your NZ cousins with you Grammaretto - and they'll escape our winter too.
I do feel so upset for you about your dear MiL, poor lady. I know how you love her.

Doodle you’re to become a castaway on Monday, what a relief!
Due to your health problems, can you get home-help for a while?
Did you ever find the top of your pepperpot?

Remember when we used to be able to get tiny Hovis loaves (and maybe Turog as well)? They were such a treat when I was a child.
I made some for the dgc. You may not be able to tell from the photo but they are small, pumpkin seed loaves.

Jan I’m hoping to have the cast off Monday but whether it will be replaced with another one or a splint I don’t know. I’m wriggling my fingers but they still seem very numb.
Hope the splint helps and makes you feel a bit more confident.
Cherry I don’t think my knuckles are really grazed and there is a layer of some sort of padding under the cast. I think it may be the nerves coming back to life. The back of my hand sometimes feels the same. Still quite numb in places.
Well that’s cheered me up 😊 you feeling more like yourself. Good news. I envy the walk on the beach and your lovely ice-cream. Funny enough DH really likes rum and raisin but I hate it.
Grammaretto quality of life is important and I do think your eyesight is something worth taking care of.
I don’t actually think my cast is heavy, I’m just a wimp. It’s only half a one. It just feels so heavy to cart around. I’m going for follow up Monday so see what the say then.
Glad you had a nice catch up with an old friend. Your DMIL doesn’t sound too good. Must be sad to see her like that.
Have a good weekend all

Good evening Lobstars,
What is the local coast for you Cherry?
I feel I ought to know but have forgotten. Sounds like a perfect day.

Thanks Jan for the encouragement about cataract ops. I have a pot of money for a rainy day and I think this is definitely one. sorry DC about your inheritance

I am sorry about the heavy cast Doodle. I remember it well. In fact I even rang the hospital after 4 weeks and said I was sure it must be healed. I went in and had the cast taken off and replaced by a much lighter one. It's always worth asking.

I went in to see DMiL today but she hardly woke. I met an old friend by chance at the bus station and we travelled back together. She lives further south and I'd not see her for years.

Edinburgh was bathed in sunshine today.
My NZ cousins come the week after next.

I am so very pleased that everything has turned out right for you Kaimoana

Never feel guilty for having a good day Kaimoana, I think we're all more than happy that you have 😊.
I too like the alliteration in the title of your book and from what you've revealed to us it seems fitting.
I'm really pleased for you that Kaumatua are meeting in the old building, I can feel your relief in coming home. I hope you can get transport to take you to the new Tuesday group. The computer course sounds good too. I need to hone my skills really, they're pretty basic!
Ooh, and congratulations on winning in the raffle 👍.

I don't like the sound of your knuckles feeling like they're grazed Doodle. If they weren't injured in your fall they shouldn't feel like that. Perhaps the cast isn't as smooth inside as it could be, I hope I'm wrong. I'm sorry you're finding the cast on the heavy side. It could be a factor exacerbating your tinnitus, but I'm not Dr. In my time I've dislocated both my shoulders during seizures and if I have a bag on my shoulder when I'm out and about it really takes its toll. I'm not saying you dislocated your shoulder when you fell but could you have jarred it? Take it easy 💐

Gosh C & L's time with you has gone by quickly '*Grammaretto*. They've certainly done a lot to help whilst they've been with you. They'll be a tough act to follow I think.
When are your NZ cousins coming to visit?
That's no wait at all really is it if you have your cataract surgery done privately. It's so wrong to have to wait 2 years (or more) to have them done on the nhs. It shouldn't be this way! It's a lot of money to be spending on a medical procedure you need. People shouldn't be in a position whereby they are forced into going private. What has happened to "free at the point of need". I know I'm not there yet, haven't reached the point that they're willing to refer me, but I will be eventually. I feel for you 💐

It's ridiculous that you have to wait several weeks for something that's not bespoke Jan. Brexiteers will be calling me a remoaner by saying this - but perhaps it's coming from the EU, all the new additional red tape. It can't be easy for you at the moment.

I'm feeling much more myself, not exactly Tigerish but much more myself 🙂. We went for a walk along the coast yesterday, it was a bit breezy but otherwise lovely. We stopped to have an ice cream at the Italian ice cream parlour. I had a luscious hazelnut ice cream and my WP, predictably, had rum & raisin (which contains real rum) and yes 😱 he drove home. Today we went to the garden centre I think it's my WP's favourite place and yes we bought more plants. Goodness where we're going to put them but my WP always seems to find a space.
I did try to take some pictures of the garden but unfortunately my tablet doesn't like the outdoors 🤣 🙁

Hello Everyone. Oh dear we do all seem to have problems at the moment don’t we? But good news that Kaimiana is a happy bunny. About time you had some luck Kaimoana . Your new groups sound fun too and really like the new title of the book. Good luck with that.
Doodle. I was pleased to get my plaster off too. Hope your arm is in one of the good slings that actually support the
weight of your arm. I was told to take my arm out of the sling and exercise it a bit and also to wiggle my fingers. Don’t think I did either of those enough tas my fingers are very still and swell overnight and my shoulder hurts a bit. But yes it’s difficult to know how much to do.
Cherry hope you are feeling better and sleeping well. I sleep for England since this stroke and sill nod off during the day!
Grammaretto I have had both my cataracts done and couldn’t believe the difference in colours afterwards - everything was so bright in fact it was very sunny and I had to wear sunglasses for a bit. Good luck and enjoy your next visitors!
Have been to the hospital today to see about a new splint to hopefully support my wayward ankle. It’s not being made especially for me and is obviously taken straight off the shelf in the factory so what Indont understand is why it will take several weeks to get to me? Maybe it’s coming from China?! But seriously I haven’t got time to waste - just need a stable ankle so that I can carry on with my life.
Have been wondering how Nfk and her DH are. Hope things are going well for her

Kaimoana. Wonderful a much better title. Well done.
Nice you won the raffle. Hope there are some tasty things in there.
I’m sure those dogs love being with you. Nothing they like more than being the centre of attention.
Hope you get on the course. What a good idea.
Grammaretto bet you’re sad to see the Frenchies leave. How soon before the NZcousins arrive?
We went and had the car washed at the local garden centre today. Meant we could have lunch in the cafe there while we waited. I thought I’d have a little wander round and was surprised how exhausted I felt after a shot while. I’m sure it’s the weight of this cast in a sling round my neck that’s causing me problems. My tinnitus is on full volume due to tension in my neck I think. My knuckles under the cast feel grazed. I’m not sure why as they weren’t damaged in the fall.
Cherry hope you are feeling a bit more like yourself today.

When you are all a bit down in the dumps, I feel guilty telling you about my Good Day.
But perhaps it will cheer you up. Meanwhile I do hope you all feel better soon.

Scholastic asked me for some suggestions for a title and I submitted several. They chose 'Trevor the Daring Duck - a true tale from Niue'. I think the alliteration gave it the required 'snappiness' the ad men wanted.
So I'm much happier about all that now.

The kaumatua met in our old cosy building and the atmosphere is totally different from the huge space where we used to go. So lots of socialising, laughter and a lovely seafood chowder for lunch. I won a big box of goodies in the raffle.

Tomorrow I have the wee dogs again. Amy was so pleased on Wednesday to see they seemed almost reluctant to leave!

I'd noticed Richie was none too steady on his legs and she said he has arthritis. I remembered reading MSM was given to dogs and horses as well as humans, so sent her a link and Richie will try it.

I put my name down for a free computer course run for kaumatua and I hope I can see/learn enough to deal with one of these new-fangled devices.
In fact we get a free iPad or Tablet at the end.

There's a new social group for kaumatua on Tuesdays as well and I'm going to try and find transport for that.

Apart from Bingo which I dislike, they have interesting things going: speakers, trips and more.

I never knew hot water and milk was called 'kettle tea'; I have that a lot, or just hot water. Does that have a name too?

Of course it does you wally, it's called hot water!

Sorry Cherry being out of sorts is no fun.
😕
I hope your tonic picks you up. I had kettle tea hot water with a drop of milk.
Happy birthday to your DGD Kaimoana
🎂🎉🎁

Really Cherry fancy you confusing penguins and puffins 🤣. What a pair we are.
Arm is quite painful tonight. By the end of the day it usually is.
I think we are all in need of Jeeves attention tonight. I’ll send him round with the beverage trolley.
Shame your helpers are going so soon Grammaretto
Oh dear. I expect they may well want to go back and comfort their DD.
they sound like good workers. Have the NZ cousins been before?
Wow two weeks. Is that your cataract? That’s amazing. It will make such a difference I’m sure. DH had both eyes done and said he didn’t feel a thing and didn’t realise they’d started till the told him they’d finished.
Kaimoana yes I see the problem with the walker. They are difficult to get in cars.
I do hope your protest works. To be honest I cannot see who in their right mind would think Trevor the stuck duck would work. Apart from the fact that stuck and duck rhyme it’s a strange title to come up with. I Hope they change their minds.
The illustrations are lovely.
Many happy returns to you DGD. The bag is really pretty.

Happy birthday to your DGD Kaimoana, I hope she likes her present.

I hope your arm isn't so swollen today Doodle

That is sad Grammaretto, so difficult for C&L - what if anything can they do except support 🙁

I'll have a restorative tonic please Jeeves as I'm feeling a bit out of sorts.

Jeeves just brought me some Ovaltine, a nice, milky change from my usual decaf coffee on this very cold morning.

I am off to my Kaumatua meeting today and wondering what will bubble to the surface this time

I adore Puffins, have since I was a child. In fact, I think all children probably love Puffins, they are so much like cute, colourful little toys.

It's my eldest grand-daughter's 30th birthday today. I sent her a colourful cloth tote bag, hand made by a local lady. It is decorated with parrots rather than puffins though

I approve of your protest Kaimoana.
Well done!
I love those illustrations.

Camille et Louis worked hard again today chopping wood, filling the skip and painting but are sad this evening because their DD is sad . Her relationship has broken down.
Once a parent, always a parent
I wonder if they will cut their travels short.

I had an eye appointment. I can have the operation privately in 2 weeks
A bit different from the 2 and a half years on the NHS. 😢

What delicious drinks are coming round tonight Jeeves?

I genuinely thought they were puffins Grammaretto, sorry, and I did lead you astray Doodle by making you doubt yourself. Whatever I may think them to be they are very cute.

Your protest might have worked then Kaimoana ?

I don't think trying to use your fingers is against the rules Doodle ; hospital staff always err on the side of caution in case you decide to suddenly run to the gym and start lifting weights.
I have a walker but it’s usually too large and cumbersome, even when folded, to fit into a car or boot. So I make do with a stick. It’s my fault, I should have said, ‘Could I take your arm?’

Cherry yes, publishers usually choose the title. I don't know about it being legal but they certainly know the market better than most authors, and know what attracts buyers. Not just individuals like you and me but the big wholesalers like Amazon. Profit is, after all, the bottom line.
I knew that and accept it but thought we had agreed on one. And yesterday, the letter with the appalling “Trevor the Stuck Duck” didn't give any hint I had a choice.
I have, as someone higher up the food chain rushed to explain at 8am this morning. I think the fact I said it sounded like the name of a porno pub did the trick!

So I've dried my tears and am hoping for the best.

These are Nikki Slade Robinson's illustrations. She is a superb artist. I like the little worm, "Phew, the duck didn't see me!"

Dear Lobstars
The ones in the photo are penguins. I didn't show you my puffin. She didn't want to be photographed minus her chests.

I am pleased with the Frenchies. They are working hard. We all went to the folk club tonight and they both sang! Others sang French songs too.
They are leaving on Sunday. I shall miss them. A hard act to follow.

Next guests are my NZ cousins.

Sorry you didn't get to do your walkie talkie. Cherry

Where's Jeeves? I hope he's ministering to Doodle and Jan maybe singing a lullaby..

Please miss, it’s not my fault I thought the were penguins it’s that naught Cherry leading me astray. 🤣. Sorry Grammaretto i should have looked at them more closely.
I had a bad night too. Sorry you weren’t up to your walkie talkie We could have had a chat.
Hmm I’ve noticed Jeeves limping today. You didn’t kick him did you ?
Now I know why walki talki didn’t look right when I wrote it earlier.

Puffins! Yes, that's them. Thanks Grammaretto by now you're looking quizzical 😁. Even though I wrote the word penguin I knew was pretty sure your Raku pieces weren't penguins but I couldn't mentally locate the word puffins. Trouble with my worbles again 🙄
I've seen some interesting stuff in skips .... but archeologically significant - not so much. There's nothing with a metallic or sparkly glint going in there is there 🤔

Is it even legal for the publisher to change the title of your book without your agreement Kaimoana? Not paying you your advance as promised is one thing (and wrong) but changing the title is interference with a writer's work surely. It's a pretty fundamental change to the work itself I'd say! That can't be legal surely? I would definitely protest.
The behaviour of these publishers is so disheartening for you at the moment. I'm quite sad about the fact you've stopped writing your latest book too, especially knowing the efforts you put in 💐

What was done to your DSiL was wrong too Grammaretto. They should have made absolutely sure her name was spelt right! I think she should have been able to choose her own illustrator but it's arguable (by them) that it doesn't fundamentally interfere with the work itself. As for playing peanuts 😡. There is nothing right about that!

You didn't get much sleep last night Doodle😔. In a sense it's a good thing that the bruising has come out but the swelling must be so uncomfortable. I hope it comes down soon 🤞.
It can be hard for anyone to know if they're doing the right thing or not when trying to use an injured hand I think. I'd say as long as you're definitely not bearing any weight or trying to do anything quite fiddly then it's normal to try to use it. Whether that's the right or wrong thing to do is another matter 🤔.
Sorry but I did titter about your DH having no concept of anything other than short back and sides as I had visions of you sitting in a traditional barber's ... 😳. It's clean though 😁
No, unfortunately I didn't manage my walkie talkie today. I didn't have a very good night, when I woke up this morning I felt like I'd been in a boxing ring and had a bad toe. Goodness knows what happened in the night .....

Well after the missing post last night I’ll try again.
Not a good night I was awake a lot but I think it was all the swelling and bruising coming out. My upper arm grew very swollen and my elbow is huge. The cast itself isn’t tight though so I’m not concerned.
I’m managing quite well just hope I’m not doing the wrong things. Not lifting or weight bearing just using my fingers a bit.
Grammaretto your tiles look lovely and the penguins are really sweet. I think fennel and coconut soup sounds nice.
L & C sound like good workers. Between them and your lodger they seem to have done a lot in the garden.
A lovely walk for you again. Nice photo.
I just had a fit of the giggles. I was imagining a dinner party and into a lul in the conversation somebody was heard to say ….
My puffins chest blew off in the firing…… now there’s a conversation piece 🤣
Kaimoana have you ever considered a walker like DHs Rolly. It does give him more confidence and helps when the ground is uneven.
Oh I’m so sorry about your book. It’s your work and your project and to have someone change it without any consultation is so wrong. And why haven’t they paid for it. That’s wrong surely. As Grammaretto says can you complain.
Hope the dogs provide their usual level of comfort.
Cherry DH did my hair for me today 😳. He has no concept of anything other than short back and sides and it was a mammoth effort for us both. We were both exhausted after.
It’s ok……ish but will have to do. At least it’s clean.
Hope you are feeling better. Did you manage your walki talki?

Dear Lobstars,

Can you protest Kaimoana?
I think the way you've been treated is cruel.

I hope the dogs are a comfort. 😊

DSiL wrote children's books and had an awful time with publishers.
She wasn't allowed to choose her own illustrator, had her name spelled wrong, and was paid peanuts. She still has some books in her but lacks the energy and the will to promote and proceed. She's looking after her DM now. DMiL

Doodle I am so sorry your arm aches and your post was eaten by the cyber monster.

Sending hugs to you and to DH aka the Dude.

ThanksCherry for your kind words about the Raku pictures. My puffin's chest blew off in the firing so she looks a little strange.

I hope that nothing of archeological importance goes in the skip. I hope the rubbish fits!