The Lockdown Gang still chatting

Grammaretto I’ve heard of that film. I agree about the Oscars. I’ve seen a couple of Oscar winners that did nothing for me.
Be nice if your French helper can come back. Is anyone else lined up for a visit?
Kaimoana Karen must be pleased she’s doing so well stopping smoking. I’ve never smoked. Probably because of having asthma.It’s certainly a long journey for your son. I didn’t realise he lived so far away. The traffic sounds awful. It’s quite bad where we are too. Hope he does make it next week.
Can’t wait to find out where you’re going. Bit like a magical mystery trip.
Mammissimo how exciting to see the scan. A little boy, that’s lovely. Amazing the details the scans provide these days.
Not surprised you are missing the lovely Honey beagle. She was so much part of your lives for so long.
Well at least your son was watering himself 🤣
Cherry I am sleeping better with my arm having its own pillow and blanket. 🤣 it still feels a bit like an alien being that I keep having to drag round with me.
Sorry about another round of seizures. Your talk of reins in bed suddenly brought to mind my first son who used to roll onto his stomach every night much against the guidance for children sleeping positions at the time. So, I made him a pair of braces attached to some leggings with straps that I could tie to the cot bars to stop him rolling over. Pink knitted leggings for some reason. I can still picture them 50 years later 🤣
Hope you have a nice walkie talkie.

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How amazing to see a 4D scan, I bet it was so clear, not like the old fuzzy images. I miss Honey Beagle as well. She featured on my PC wallpaper for a while. You could have her printed on a t-shirt for your moko

My trip this morning was to the Trusts Stadium Conference Centre where the CEO was hosting his annual awards breakfast.
The awards went to outstanding workers who had given above and beyond expectations during the Covid and Flood/Cyclone disasters.

First time I've been to one of these brekkies. Many complaints about the catering. Over cooked scrambled egg, under cooked sausages, rubbery bacon and burned toast. All of it cold. Shambles – especially as we have some wonderful, professional caterers in our own marae communities.
Me, I’ll eat owt

At our kaumatua group later, we celebrated two birthdays. One celebrant brought in a 5-layer chocolate fudge cake. I was far too full so saved my piece for later.

Decided not to be diabetic for the day!!

I’ve found a home, at last, for my 6 self-seeded native trees. They will be uplifted with appropriate ceremony this week and will live and grow on the atea close to Tumanako, the carved house you saw earlier.
Pic is a quarter of the breakfast attendees.

The atea is the green sward in front of the house, visitors wait at the gate (photo taken from gate) and are then called on. So the atea is a very sacred place.

Wonderful and so exciting to see spud in 4D Mamissimo
We didn't have anything like that in my day or even my DC day.
I wonder if a baby beagle is being born somewhere about now to grow up with spud.

I've been making a Simnel cake according to DMiL own recipe. I hope it will be recognisable.

So sorry to hear about the dratted seizures Cherry I hope to hear more about your Walkie talkie.

Getting across your city Kaimoana is akin to ours. Especially the roadworks. My DS lives the far side from me so it can take well over an hour each way.

How are our injured ones faring?

I don't think I've ever been to one of those type of breakfasts either Kaimoana but I'm pretty sure I've experienced the same lack of standard of food at other types of events 😬. Still, what was lacking in the catering department wasn't lacking in the annual the awards themselves as they were to worthy recipients 😁

It's interesting how advice on the best way to do/not do things has changed over time Doodle. For example, years ago people were advised to put their/a patient's head back when they were having a nose bleed or if someone was having a seizure have them bite down on something, both of which are advised against doing now. I wouldn't advise against pink leggings though, they sound warm and cute 😁.

Ah, so that's the cake from your DMiL's recipe book that you've decided to make Grammaretto, and I'm sure it's turned out fine. I haven't made a simnel cake for years, but then I don't bake like I used to, and you don't seem to see them in the shops much anymore, which is a shame.

Well, I moaned yesterday about why everything had to happen at more or less the same time. I needn't have moaned as only one of them happened at all 🙄. The guy didn't come about our fence like he said he would, he did eventually ring to say he'd come and couldn't get an answer he's lied and has now promised to come next Wednesday. I'm not convinced. I couldn't go on my walkie talkie 🙁 but that was because the one thing that did go to plan, my appointment with the epilepsy nurse, overran. It was a good appointment and she's sending me a lot of info about seizure alarms, something I've been thinking about having for a while.

Back at hospital today to have DHs 24 hour heart monitor fitted. He was quite shocked that in this new hospital he was fitted with an antiquated model out of the arc with wires trailing all over the place. DH is used to better things. His last one, done at the geriatric unit, was like a flying saucer stuck on his chest, not a wire in sight. It all so had a pretty green light flashing in the middle that kept me awake all night 🤣
Back to hospital to have it taken off again tomorrow.
Church first then an important call from DHs haematologist with an update of his anaemia status.
Kaomoana shame such a fancy occasion was spoilt by such poor food. Lots of people there by the look of it.
Sounds like you had a much better time later. A five layer cake. Now that is indulgence.
How lovely to think your native trees will be re planted somewhere so lovely where they can be enjoyed by all.
Grammaretto my DIL made one once it looked very good. I don’t think I’ve ever had any. What’s it like?
I’m getting on ok but want to see what the report is when I go for follow up next week. I keep looking at it and thinking is it supposed to look like that. Meanwhile the wrist is still sleeping in its own bed with a little blanket in case it gets cold.
Church in the morning. With coffee and a natter after.

Cherry you crept in while I was typing. Yes pink leggings were cute but he was a boy and didn’t appreciate them in photos viewed years later.
Yes I remember both bits of that advice. As for nose bleeds now I’ve been told just lean over the sink and let it run for a bit then pinch the nose tightly till it stops.
Well it sounds like the one thing that did work out for you yesterday was the best one with the epilepsy nurse. How do the seizure alarms work? Sounds like it could be useful.
My hand is itching and driving me mad. Can’t scratch it as it’s where the scar is. If it keeps misbehaving like this I’ll take its blanket away 😲

Doodle My Mum always used to say that when a wound itches, it's getting better.
Karen told me when she broke her wrist, she always soaked it in warm-hot water before starting physio exercises.

I'm sure the simnel cake would be delicious Grammaretto. Today's recipes are very different from those in 1042

The alarm sounds good Cherry - who does it alert and what can they do for you?

Sallie's elderly persons' lunch tomorrow.

DS is definitely coming on 15th to fill in our forms but we have to wait until next month to attend an interview with the solicitor to put it all in place.
What a faff. Worth it though. I can then go ga-ga in peace.

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For those of you who've never seen one - here's a picture of last week's scan.....😍

Grammaretto make sure that you have the right number of balls on your cake - only 11! Happy Easter 🙂 one of my favourite cakes....

It's Peony time here - DD1 says they're 'floofy' which I think means something that produces a positive emotional response - I just think they're lush. This one is Shirley Temple.... who wasn't lush

Tonight we are taking DS and his partner and DD1 to Tim Minchin's latest offering - a very simple 90 minute set with just him and his piano. Can't wait!

But before that I have to wash the patio.....

Cherry oh dear. So sorry things aren’t going well. Really hope the epilepsy nurse can help. So annoying when people say they will do a job and then don’t turn up. Makes you wonder if they really want the business.
Mamissimo. A 4D scan. That’s amazing. Didn’t have scans in my day!
We are still on holiday and I’m still trying not to have a panic attack whenever I’m walking outside! Just had a lovely meal at a little restaurant we found which is overlooking one of the Broads. It’s great to watch the boats tying up and getting in a muddle!!
Doodle my wrist strangely itches now I’ve started wearing my watch again. Driving me mad too. My fingers just don’t want to work properly. Impossible to hold a fork. Think it’s a combination of stroke and broken wrist. Grrrrrrr!
Hope DH gets good results from his heart monitor and his blood levels are ok. There’s always something to worry about isn’t there?
Last day here tomorrow then home on Friday. Charlie is still around! Just hope the next holiday makers feed him as well as we have!! DH goes out to him every morning talking away to him! Think Charlie is a substitute for the cat as he chatters away to him too and actually so do I!!

Hello Lobstars,
I lost a post so this will be just a quickie.

Mamissimo the 4D scan is truly amazing. Thanks for sharing. I love the peony too

Kaimoana hope your Sallies lunch was good and that you see DS soon and get your paperwork in order.

Cherry it's a shame about the delivery and missing your walk but the epilepsy nurse sounds helpful so let's hope the alarm works. Not sure how it works but then I'm neither a scientist nor an engineer.

Doodle I hope the itchy wrist means it's healing. Your description of the heart monitor with the dangling wires made me 😊. I imagine the dude is a robot.

Jan you are enjoying your holiday so much. It's a joy to hear.

I have a pottery class tomorrow so had better get some sleep. Could do with hot chocolate.
Where's Jeeves when you want him?

Kaimoana no danger of you going gaga just yet. 🤣
Yes must be a common saying. My mum said that too.
Hope you enjoy your lunch……or have you had it by now?

Good news today. DH has been given the go ahead from his haematologist for our cruse in a couple of weeks time. Talk about last minute packing 😱
Grammaretto DH was very pleased to get rid of his wires. He couldn’t shower with it on so had to wash standing there with nothing on except the belt from his trousers round his waist to clip the monitor on. …..shouldn’t laugh 😂
Sorry had Jeeves doing my ironing. I’ll send him right over.
Have a good time at pottery.
Mamissimo thanks for sharing. Not seen one of those scans before. Amazing detail. Is that his hand against his forehead? Obviously going to be a thinker.
Hope you had a good time at the show. Love the peonies.
Jan you’re naughty. Just like me. We love watching people trying to get their boats through the lock. Amazing the number who end up coming in sideways 🤣
Glad you are enjoying your trip. Don’t be surprised if Henry follows you home.

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Doodle the vision of your poor DH in the shower wearing just a belt tested my self-control but I ended up smiling anyway. Sorry.

I'm also sorry I gave you the wrong impression of my wardrobe. you don't care but my conscience must correct these inaccuracies

I bought a new dress for my 75th birthday but as I haven't worn it since, I completely forgot about it. I like my old stuff, they're all comfy.

No, unfortunately the Sallies lunch wasn't up to much today: frozen veg boiled to a mush; 4 chips and something breaded, solid and vaguely fishy but not fish. The poached pears in cherry juice were nice for desert.

I came home in (not on) a beautiful, purring blue Mustang. Yee-hah!

Shane came to take my precious little trees; I am so happy they will be on the Marae which means so much to me.

DS is coming over on Saturday with Gubbins, what a nice surprise

My grandson rang me this evening, 'Hi Gramlyn...' and I thought someone was playing a trick - his voice is a deep baritone now . He's coming to stay for the weekend on 17th - double-happy.

All good things come to she who waits - albeit very impatiently

Doodle I misread your message about your DH being shocked at having an antiquated heart monitor fitted as being shocked by it 😬. I'm so glad he wasn't! . I empathise with the problem he had with washing/showering. In my time I've had multiple telemetry wires glued to my scalp which were cabled into a box strapped to my waist (with another strap across my body to take the weight). It's almost impossible to wash. One time I had this fitted for eleven days I felt very stinky 😳
The more modern one he had fitted that kept you awake sounds very sci-fi, like a mini spaceship attached to him and he was being primed to be taken to planet Zog 🤣
Great news that you can go on your cruise 👍☺️

Shame about the Sallies lunch but I'm pleased that your DS will be coming to fill out the forms so you can go ga ga in peace Kaimoana. Wonderful too that your DGS is coming to stay for the weekend a couple of days later too ☺️.

Aww, you have made a holiday friend of Charlie Jan, DH goes out to him ever morning talking away to him .... and actually so do I 😊. I'm so pleased that you're having a lovely time.

I hope your pottery class went well Grammaretto. What were you teaching this time?

Seeing how you're all intrigued so am I about the seizure alarms I'll tell you a bit about what I know. There are different ones available, some work by tracking movements whilst others track changes in the body's salt levels, temperature and other changes. You can buy ones that go under a mattress that tracks movements but if you naturally move around a lot in bed they're not much use. Others you can wear, which track movements or changes in the body. Unusual changes trigger alerts to a monitor system or via an app to a designated person so they can respond to assist. Some are quite expensive and require a monthly subscription but after the initial cost the subscription costs are reasonable.

I had an interesting day yesterday. Late morning I had a dentist appointment where the dentist didn't do anything . We went to lunch in a nice family run cafe and were given free peanut butter ice cream because apparently nobody wants to pay for it and something happened that hasn't happened since 1965 .
Yesterday evening my team played in the European Conference League Final and me and ixion were there virtually to watch it all unfold. We didn't play well ☹️. Our opponents had nearly all the possession of the ball. At halftime it was nil nil though. In the second half one of their players handled the ball in the penalty box meaning we were awarded a penalty and our player had a chance to score. He did. Five minutes later our goalkeeper was picking the ball out of the back of the net 😟. At 1:1 the clock was ticking and with 89 minutes on the clock it looked as if the match was going to go to Extra Time and possibly a penalty shootout 😬🙈, then something extraordinary happened .... one of our midfielders played a beautiful pass to one of our forwards and he run half the length of the pitch and sailed the ball into the back of the net 🤩 We Won! 🥳
That hasn't happened for my team in European competition since 1965.

Wow! Exciting stuff Cherry and you make it even more so with your wonderful description. Well done our team, you hammered them

Last night, as I was closing the compuer for the night, up pops Mike (my boy in Atlanta) who doesn't use FB very much.

We were able to talk for over an hour and he is seriously thinking of coming home for good.
It's always been his boy, Jack for whom he stayed but now it seems, he doesn't see him very often and the lad is getting more independent too. Mike's brother has offered him a job, even flew to Atlanta to convince him it could work. I hope it does, that Kiwi has never been happy in the USA.

So that was an unexpected treat.

Kaimoana good job the not so good meal had a nice ending with a ride in a mustang. Wow.
Lovely news of visit from your son and Gubbins and the icing on the cake a visit from your lovely grandson too 😊
I remember Mike from before. Would be so nice if he came back. You obviously get on very well.
Cherry no I didn’t mean that sort of shock 🤣 🤣.
Goodness I don’t know how you managed with such a device. DH only had three wired for the night and he was complaining about that.
Those monitored sound like it’s something worth exploring some more. I think the idea of devices to detect changes in the body are becoming more readily available. Technology is moving on. It’s a good idea.
Wow! Our team won 🥳🥳🥳🥳⚽️. Fantastic. I bet you were so excited that’s amazing. Lovely match commentary. I was on tte edge of my seat. Bet you and ixion had trouble containing your Pom Poms .
Since 1965 …. That’s a long wait.
Grammaretto hope you had a good day with your pottery.
I’ve been to physio. I’m exhausted. My poor hand feels like it’s been practicing for the Olympics. Up, down, crunch, grip, repeat . Still it’s good to get some advice and I now have a complete routine organised throughout the day.
They want me to work on reducing the swelling in my hand by trying to keep my arm up higher than my head……Jeeves I need more pillows!

Ouch your poor hand Doodle does this physio malarkey really help? It sounds very painful.

I gently kneaded dough when I broke my wrist. It seemed to work and I had homemade bread at the end!
the pottery class was fine but tiring. I have decided against another class for 7 people which was to be the day after the funeral.

DMiL house has a sold sign outside after just 2 weeks on the market. That's good really. It's one less worry.

It's been hot here today.
How are the Lobstars?
.

It's always so nice to hear from people that you care about out of the blue isn't it Kaimoana. If Mike is seriously considering coming home I imagine that is what he'll do especially considering that his brother has offered him a job too. Despite the fact that he doesn't get to see his DS very much I should imagine it's not an easy decision for him to make though.

Your physio sounds quite gruelling Doodle. I hope your hand has recovered a bit from it. They obviously sent you home with exercise instructions but will you also receive further sessions from them? What you've said about them wanting to keep your arm higher than your head reminds me of what a friend of mine was told when she broke her forearm. She asked the physio "what did they want her to do, handcuff her arm to the bedpost because if they did she'd have to get her pair of handcuffs back from her daughter" 🙀😉

Grammaretto, I'm not surprised that you've decided not to run a pottery class the day after your DMiL's funeral, if I was in your position I wouldn't either.
That was a quick sale! As you say, one less worry too.

Ah, yes - very hot here too Grammaretto 🥵. I haven't done very much today it's too hot , though we did decide to turn the mattress not a good idea in this heat as I've been waking up in pain for the last couple of weeks and thought turning the mattress might help it might if I haven't given myself a hernia . Tomorrow we may be going to an open house to see a bungalow but I'm not 100% convinced it'll be right for us .....

Kneading dough sounds a good way to exercise Grammaretto . I’m trying to do the exercises they suggest and after a while my hand does loosen up a bit. The biggest problem is the skin on the back of my hand (not near my wrist) which hurts so much. It’s so bruised.
Had fun time this afternoon with crafty friend. We do daft things that a five year old would enjoy but we have a laugh.
Pleased your MILs house has been sold. Will it have to be emptied first or has that been done already?
Cherry yes I have to go back again in a few weeks. They did want to see me in two weeks but were hoping to be on holiday then. Just got agreement from DHs consultants and had insurance approved. Frantic packing now.
Ooh how exciting. A bungalow. Hope it’s nice.
Love the story of your friend and the handcuffs 🤣🤣
Kaimoana hope you have a lovely time with your son and little miss Gubbins 😊

Doodle, as usual, I'm poking my nose in Would this help? You could even take it on holiday.
www.amazon.co.uk/hand-exercise-ball/s?k=hand+exercise+ball&tag=gransnetforum-21

And for your sore skin: Boots sell it as well.
www.amazon.co.uk/emla-numbing-cream/s?k=emla+numbing+cream&tag=gransnetforum-21
Especially before physion. Also portable

Hope you have a wonderful cruise - it's just what you both need.

Further news from DS about Mike: he hasn't seen his son for a year! No wonder he's thinking of coming home

Yes Cherry it's good when old friends pop up and it's happened again. Lauren Roche is an excellent writer who sent me this (pic) recently. We're the only one's having fun
Lauren has had an almost unbelievable life: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lauren_Kim_Roche

I hope the bungalow is nice. Didn'y you have modifications made to your present house at one time?

Grammaretto That was a quick turnaround for the house. I guess property sells fast these days as it does here - in case the prices rocket again, which some predict they will As you will know, a simple 3 bedroom home here is selling for a million - who would ever have believed it? I know house prices steadily rise over time (my old family home was bought for £300!) but this has all happened since Covid. Crazy.

Well, we didn't get the forms filled in because Gubbins, seeing me so seldom, was very wary and clingy, so Daddy didn't even have chance but boy how she talks! She's a delight.
The forms have gone home with DS who will fill them in when she's in bed and bring them back on 17th when Dgs is delivered.

Then Karen and I will deliver them to the solicitor who then prepares another lot of forms <sigh>.

A face to face interview is compulsory for both parties to attend. What do they do if one lives 400 km from the other? The law is a donkey (only donks are smart)

I gave Gubbins some little squares of bread to put out for the birds, as they were waiting in the adjacent tree (normally I give them wild bird food).

She ate it!

ixion where are you? Still celebrating with the team?

Anyone heard how the Nfks are doing,and Missedout and all the other Lobstars which my memory fails to bring to mind.

Dear Kaimoana as usual you are thinking of others. I much appreciate the effort and have just ordered the egg shaped balls. They come in packs of 3 so will give one to my neighbour for her arthritis in her hand and DH can have one for his hand cramps. Will look into the cream too.
That’s an interesting article. You do look happy. How lovely she kept the clipping.
Glad you had a nice chat with Gubbins . I wonder where she gets her lovely chatty nature from 🤣
Mine always ate the bread for the ducks too 😊

Gubbins sounds like an absolute tonic!
I hope the egg balls help you Doodle and everyone else
I am weary today.
I volunteered at the museum this afternoon. This is our paper museum. We had a visit from a woman who's writing a book about quirky places to visit. She's already had one published.

What's the story of the bungalow Cherry? We lived in a bungalow for 5 years, rather by accident. I loved it when I had young children it was so handy having everything on one floor.
Apart from the bathroom being directly opposite the front door. On more than one occasion, the doorbell would ring while I was on the loo. A child would answer it and say my mum's just here and fling open the bathroom door. Such 😊 fun 😕

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Grammaretto do you get many visitors to the museum.?
Silly question but is it about how paper was made or printed?
Any visitors or helpers coming soon?
We lived in a bungalow too and out bathroom was right next to the front door at the front of the house. Big glass window (frosted) above the toilet. I remember sitting there one morning while the postman stood outside chatting to one of my neighbours…….didn’t dare move 😲.

There were 3 visitors and 3 volunteers!
There's a route around showing the history of papermaking , various gifted machines then a chance to make a piece of paper. More facts and paper to look at and it finishes with a video showing the actual mills in action.

There may be a helper coming soon who's been before. The German who sorted all the maps. In August there'll be a Colombian girl and a Kiwi man.

I'm getting ready for my DC to arrive for the funeral.

Thanks Jeeves for the hot water. I really wanted a hot chocolate. 😢