The Lockdown Gang still chatting

Hello all. We are at sea and it’s very misty and chilly. Hope it warms up a bit.
Ixion love the cartoon…..I’ve made a good start on those calories already . What do you mean it’s very quiet in the southern hemisphere….are you suggesting I’m noisy 🤣
Grammaretto pleased your MILs funeral went well. Nice to have people coming up with their favourite memories.
So pleased your DD got her camera back.
Cherry thank you. So far I don’t think I’ve forgotten anything 🤔 mind you the cases were jammed full I couldn’t fit in anything else.
I wonder what sort of plant you’ve got. You should have open days to your garden to see your tropical plant. I wonder if your flower has come out yet. I Hope it doesn’t turn out to be anything like a Venus fly trap but on a bigger scale 😮
And there’s me thinking your WP was going to be spying on the neighbours through his fence with holes in.🤣
Kiamoana only you could come up with that…a place where we make rude noises 🤣🤣🤣
Glad you had a good time with your DGS. He still enjoys his cooking then.
I’m sure your cakes for the stall will be excellent.
We are off for a surprise meal tonight. In a speciality restaurant. Have no idea what the “speciality” is but it comes accompanied by county music. Yee ha

A very quick message from me this evening as I've got a blinding headache, flashing lights, the works 🙁

Just wanted to say that as good as any funeral can go I think your DMiL's gave her a good send off Grammaretto.
I'm pleased that your DD got her camera back 👍

Kaimoana I'm pleased that you and your DGS enjoyed your weekend together ☺️

Two words for you and your DH Doodle - tuck in. I hope you enjoy the delicacy, whatever it is 😁

I'm off to a darkened room ... night lobStars.

Thank you Lobstars for your sympathy over the death of DMiL. I appreciate it so much.

So you are at sea Doodle is this the same cruise you've been in before? I hope you enjoy your speciality meal and the country music!

Poor poor Cherry a migraine on top of everything else in your life. I hope it leaves you soon

I chuckled at Rudi Valli Kaimoana glad your weekend was fun.

Df (German( has left his toothbrush at the place he stayed on Sunday so has run off to fetch it leaving me to cook.
What is the world coming to!

Good evening 🙂

Mr M has packed his bag and left for his annual sailing trip on the Essex/Suffolk rivers with his old chum - for two whole weeks. I'm just glad he's well enough to go because last week's Covid booster flattened us with temperatures and general flu type symptoms.

DD2 - with the enormous beach ball under her tee shirt came to stay for a couple of days. She's doing well and Spud seems to be developing on target so it's beginning to look as if it will be end of July - unless the gods change their minds! He's a big chap - 6lbs now. At half a pound a week he will be 8.5 - 9lbs. I'm quite pleased for her sake that he's coming out through the sunroof 🙂

The school my DGD1 attends does a great thing by collecting lots of regifting items for Mothering Sunday and Fathers Day - the pupils choose a gift and pay £1, and the teaching assistants and dinner ladies all wrap it for them.

On Sunday she proudly offered Mr `M the gift she'd chosen herself - a Super Dad mug with a removable cape! He smiled broadly and held out his arms to give her a big hug - only for her to burst into tears because she thought she'd bought him chocolate. Life is so serious when you're 5!

It was my bi-monthly day in hospital today and DD1 kindly drove me as I get so sleepy. I nodded off as we left the hospital and awoke on my own driveway - she said I have no conversation skills but at least I don't argue!

I still researching for a new to us dog but Mr M isn't ready yet....but I think he will be when I find the right one - this house is missing a dog too much - and so am I.

Good to hear all is well at Mansion Mamissimo.

Not so good at Chez Cherry though; migraine or precursor to a seizure? Neither being welcome.

Just been reading about potassium treatment for same, no doubt you've already been down that and every other similar road.

One of the ladies at the elders group, where I was knitting (eyes closed which seemed to amuse everyone) said she wished she could knit.
It was out of my mouth before the brain could stop it 'I'll teach you!' but I have no regrets.

I am by no means a knitter in the full sense of the word; I could knit hats, slippers and scarves and that's it.
No idea how to read a pattern but the knits I'm doing now will go onto our fundraising stall.

I'm gearing up for my big bake-in and putting all aside so I can spend whole days at it. Such fun and having the oven on will keep me warm as well.

I'm also downloading Matariki crafts: folded stars and such, as I'll be tarting up decorating the packaged brownies, flapjacks, biscuits and so on to make them look posh.

It's funny (funny peculiar that is) how I've been telling myself I can't do crafts because I can't see well enough but then, when there's a need I find simple things I can do after all.

Not sure about having open days to my garden Doodle 😅
It's funny to think that it is actually a thing though. Where I live there are many people who are part of the National Garden Scheme and one weekend a year they open their own gardens to everyone. Our local councillor once suggested we should join, as she likes our garden. Not something we've ever fancied doing.
I hope you enjoyed the speciality restaurant and are both having a wonderful time.

That's a bit of a strange one from your dGf Grammaretto, couldn't he have bought a new toothbrush, or was it a case that it was an expensive electric one? I hope he appreciated the meal you cooked.

I think we've all opened our mouthd before engaging our brain at some time or other Kaimoana 😬, but still if you have no regrets it'll be something nice to do 😁 You say you're by no means a knitter but I can tell you this - you can knit better than me. I can't knit at all. A few people tried to teach me but they were all right handed so it wasn't easy for them. My DSiL was the best and I did manage to knit four lines of a scarf once but it was incredibly hard work trying to do it the wrong way for me and impossible to convert the instructions to do it the right way for me. I gave up.
I hope you've been enjoying your big bake-in. You're putting in a lot of work into making it special and I'm sure it will be 🙂

My headache wasn't a precursor to a seizure Kaimoana. I don't often get headaches but the weather was very oppressive, cloudy, humid and warm yesterday on my walk - I'm pretty sure that's what did it. It did leave me quite soon, thanks Grammaretto After I took myself and had a good night's sleep I was fine.

I had an appointment with the nurse today for a routine blood pressure check, I've got to go back in a month 🙄. We also went to the garage recommended by the one that carried out the service on our car to see when they can fit us in to do a repair on our car (because the service garage doesn't do it). The garage they sent us to doesn't do it either 🙄. They did recommend another so we went there but ... they don't do either 🙄. They told us the one next door to them does .... but they're on holiday 🙄. The car still needs a repair. Not good for my blood pressure 🙄

Good early morning Lobstars. Even with blackout blinds, the sun has been up for hours.
Great to read all your news.
Kaimoana the knitter! Is there any skill you don't have

Cherry's garden open to the public. I would find that stressful though I like it when others open theirs.
How frustrating that none of the garages do repairs Grr.

The Mamissimo household getting very expectant now. Happy days

We had a small dinner party last night which was very nice. The Simnel cake was pudding.

DGS is performing in his school musical this week and I have a ticket for tomorrow night!

Evening all. Had a lovely day today. Sunny al day but strong wind. Had dinner with another couple very friendly. Been chatting for an hour or so before we discovered we had lived in the same town and knew some of the same locals. Small world as they say.
Grammaretto we had bright sunshine last night until about 11pm when the clouds came over. Hope you have a lovely time at your DGS’s concert. Bet you will be so proud of him.
Cherry speciality restaurant was nice. Lovely pianist to accompany our meal and country music to follow. We enjoyed it. Your poor car is being treated like pass the parcel. What do garages do these days if they don’t mend cars,
Kaimoana I have enough trouble knitting with my eyes open. Nice of you to offer to help someone learn . I think it’s funny how you can find that you manage to do things when it’s helping someone else. Your packages will look lovely with your stars on.
Mamisimo hope your DH has a good trip. He must have been thrilled with the present from your DGD even if it wasn’t chocolate. Hope the hospital visit went well and Spud arrives safely. Could we have found a new way of naming children. Kaimoana has Gubbins. Mamisimo will have Spud 😊
Hope all are safe and well.

Small dinner parties really are the best aren't they Grammaretto ☺️
I hope you enjoy seeing your DGS perform in his school musical tomorrow. What's he performing may I ask?

I'm so pleased that you're enjoying your holiday Doodle. The speciality restaurant sounds like it was lovely.
Small world indeed! Funny to think you can go on holiday only to end up meeting people who live in your own backyard and who know people you know. Not something you expect is it, it sounds like you all enjoyed your time together 😊

I had a totally pointless Dr's appointment today 🙄. If you think our journey from pillar to post to find a garage to do work on our car was an exercise in futility and it was then .....
On Monday my GP practice rang me to tell me my GP wanted to see me about letters he'd received from my neurologist 🤨. I told them I'd already had one with him about those a few weeks ago. I was told he'd received more letters since then and wanted to see me 🤔. I duly made an appointment. I went to see him today. I waited three quarters of an our to see him. When I saw him he had no idea why the practice had triggered the appointment, he didn't need to see me, he apologised and I came home 🙄. I hope tomorrow is a more productive day 🤷

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202306/medium-786514-kniting-eyes-closed.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202306/medium-73985-2-suns.png

Haven't started my bake-in yet Cherry - the stall will be at the big Matariki Festival on 13th so to make sure everything is fresh I can only start 3 days (max) before then.

Have you enquired about Repair Cafe's who do motor repairs? Many of ours do.

The Samoan lady didn't turn up, so no knitting lessons but here you see me starting a scarf.

Even just the thought of country music would have ruined my meal Doodle. But I'm glad you had a lovely time.

I think we all have incredible stories of the small world. I may bore you with tell you mine some day.

Yesterday, Tawhirimatea and Ranginui worked overtime to bring us a special Matariki phenomenon - 2 suns.
Met Office say it's not been seen for over 20 years.

If I recall, Gubbins was Mamissimo's idea in the first place.

Your grandchildren come from very talented stock Grammaretto I'm sure he'll excel. Enjoy being proud.

You have my current psychology down to a T Doodle my first reaction is to say I can't. Then up pops a reason to try- and sometimes it even works.

I was never like this before but lack of sight goes hand in hand with lack of confidence (for me).

I had a wonderful interview/assessment this morning with Shirelle, a rongoa practitioner. Rongoa is Maori natural medicine; like a herbalist/masseuse with a few other traditional bits thrown in.

She has already given me things which almost instantly made a difference to my chronic sinus trouble, something conventional medicine has failed to do (as it has with psoriasis which rongoa cleared in days).

Then, at the Sallies, I paid $4, though I offered much more, for a big box of heritage linen.
Embroidered damask linen napkins; dressing table sets, lace edged mats and cutwork table runners with tatting edges.
My DiL and dgd will be pleased

I have a quiet weekend in prospect, though I may try to get my IPad to the Repair Cafe, who meet locally - they have a 'device' specialist.

That word always makes me laugh. When I was a child, women spoke this word in whispers:
"He wears a device you know." Looking round to make sure no one was looking, before nodding downwards.

I imagined all manner of weird things going on, down there and was quite disappointed when I learned, much later, it was only a truss.

My posts keep being stolen by an Aldi popup which blocks my screen just as I try to press post! 3 so far.
I'll keep reading but fear I can't post yet.

You need an Ad Blocker Grammaretto they are free to download.

The Aldi popup has its own thread now. I hope I don't see it again.

I wanted to ask Doodle about the speciality restaurant.

The musical was very good - high energy. It was Sister Act DGS was on piano in the orchestra.

Hello lobStars

I hope Doodle and DH are enjoying themselves on the high seas.
I hope Jan is having a good weekend .
I hope ixion is recovering and isn't kicking any footballs.
I hope the Nfks are doing as well as they can.
I hope Kaimoana got her iPad repaired.
I hope Grammaretto (or gnhq) managed to get rid of the pesky Aldi popup!
I hope nothing else goes wrong for me this week.

Yesterday .... the delay setting on our washing machine stopped working so the washing I thought I had put on overnight didn't wash .... I got a nasty cut when I was cutting a white cabbage .... and the postman delivered what must have been the mail for the whole street, and more streets besides, to our home.
This week has been cursed or I have 🙀
At least it rained overnight 😁

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202306/medium-998046-img-20230624-145457241.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202306/medium-755112-img-20230622-193636951.jpg

Hello Lobstars,

I do believe the Aldi popup has gone.

Cherry that is quite a catalogue of disasters this week!
Not a lot to report here. My cake sank again but i served it anyway. I was told to put poppy seeds into it to help with heat dispersal. I did but there wasn't much difference.

German df is still here and in a mounting anxious state finishing his PHD. He has a Monday deadline to present 2000 words to his tutor but online, not in person so that may mean he's here for a while longer.
He cooks us nice meals so I'm not complaining. Stuffed cabbage leaves one night.

The rose which Kaimoana sent me when DH died is flowering prettily.
Thanks so much for that and to all of you for supporting me through that awful time.

I hope Doodle and the Dude are enjoying their cruise.
I also hope healing of limbs is going well for her and for Jan and Ixion
.

Hello all. Read lots of posts from people who are having trouble with the Aldi pop up. Let’s hope someone reports it and GN can sort it out.
Cherry thanks. We are enjoying our holiday but DH not been feeling 100% for the last couple of days. I asked for a lighter duvet today as I think he’s getting too hot at night and not sleeping.
What a waste of time for you at the Drs. Who generates these appointments I wonder. Hope you eventually found someone to mend your car.
Goodness what disasters you’ve had. Obviously you had a particularly violent cabbage to deal with. All that post coming through your door reminds me of a scene from Mary Poppins……… or was it Harry Potter 🤔
Kaimoana you look so serene doing your knitting with your eyes shut. Your hair looks shorter than I remember. Very nice.
Each to their own music wise 🤣. It was more slow country music than the ye ha variety.
Please could you send one of your suns to us as we have a severe shortage here.
Your purchase certainly sounds a wonderful bargain.
I’d forgotten about trusses. Not mentioned much these days.
Grammaretto the speciality restaurant is one that serves different types of food to that in the main restaurants and doesn’t publish a menu so you don’t know what’s on offer till you get there. I had a Toblerone piece of pate with blueberries.
A chicken dish with cashews and vegetables in a sweet sauce and orange Cointreau sorbet. DH had…….steak …..happy man.
Didn’t realise your gf was still with you. That’s nice especially as he cooks. Hope your cabbage was a more agreeable variety than Cherry’s. Mind you the thought of being stuffed might have invoked a violent response 😊
What a lovely rose . A kind gift.
Jan and ixion thinking of you too.
Mamissimo waiting on baby news.
Nfk very much in our thoughts.

Nfk and DH are, as Cherry suggested, doing as well as can be expected and send love to all.

Oh dear, a week from Hell - poor you Cherry. When I have times like this I just try to remember it’ll pass. Eventually.

No, I didn't get my iPad fixed because I didn't go. The weather was abominable, so perhaps I'll try again in August.

I cannot imagine enjoying Toblerone with pate Doodle.
I don’t dislike all country music – I was being facetious. It’s very popular in Maori circles. I love the fiddle music and a bit of Bluegrass but can’t tolerate the schmaltzy stuff and the ‘boot scootin’ music we have for Line Dancing (don’t like Line Dancing either – old curmudgeon!)

I made a leek, asparagus, cheese and courgette pie at the weekend as I'd been given a sachet of Crème fraîche.

I'm glad your rose gives you joy Grammaretto, it looks beautiful.

I've had a quiet weekend, no visitors, no phone calls, just a quick chat with my US friend.

Did I tell you the pesky editor for that anthology, after complimenting me so effusively I suspected her motives, wanted so many changes, including the title? Had I agreed to them, it would have been her story.

In the story, Claire’s abusive ex shoots her dog as a punishment. The loopy editor suggested the dog could remain alive, "and be laying on her bed as Claire's surrogate lover" I got 9 emails in 4 days from her about changes she wanted, including one which I saw as a veiled threat when I declined. So maybe my story won't be forwarded to the judges. She’s a mad woman.

Ah the speciality restaurant is the one I would choose too Doodle 😍

Sorry that DH wasn't' feeling too good.
I hope the lighter duvet does the trick.

I'm sorry that the rose, called love and peace , is being hugged strangled by the everlasting sweet pea Kaimoana
I have a cutting of it though which will hopefully flower next year. And then there'll be two!

Your book publishing saga is not sounding hopeful Kaimoana. What a blimmin cheek!! She is effectively wanting you to write her story for her, like a ghost writer.
Mind you, you could probably do that standing on your head!! metaphorically speaking

I'm being taken to a garden party this afternoon with German df and another df. It's a fundraiser for the church where DH is memorialised and in a fab I8th c setting. I'll try to take a picture.

It was raincoats and umbrellas but cleared enough for us to stroll around the stunning walled garden.

What a beautiful photo Grammaretto.
You are surrounded by good friends, that's so lovely.

I have always liked arches, especially looking through them to 'the beyond'.
I wonder what this says about my psyche?

I have photos of Cornwall and small Paris arches.
May I add this to my collection?

A successful day.
*Had my foot zapped, very painful but necessary.
*Changed a pair of new shoes for a size smaller.
*Bought edible glitter for the Matariki star biscuits I'll making and was tempted to some long, rainbow gloves which will come in handy (ha ha) for our coldest months and exactly match my rainbow socks.

Hope our sailors are having a cruisey, peaceful time.

Ofcourse you may add the arch to your collection. I'd love to see the arch collection. Kaimoana

DGS in NZ has written a poem about the Matariki.

We call them the Plaiedes.

DL that's dear Lodger is hosting a NZ couple this week so poor German df will have to vacate his room again
He didn't come yesterday. He is locked into tyranny of meeting deadlines.

He leaves on Wednesday anyway so won't mind moving upstairs.

A potting day today.
How are all the Lobstars?

Hi Everyone. At least the so hot and humid weather has gone. It was really oppressive here yesterday so we just sat around moaning all day about how hot it was!!
Hope you are all ok and Cherry hasn’t had anymore disasters over the weekend.
Doodle. Hope you are continuing to enjoy your cruise and that your DH is feeling better. Se like the specialty restaurants on board too but they can get a bit expensive. But as we say “well we are on holiday”! And my eldest daughter says “There’s no pockets in a shroud!” My daughter and her husband are here from Nottingham next weekend. Unfortunately at the moment we can’t go to them as I wouldn’t be able to get upstairs to bed! They seem quite happy coming to us as Sil can go bird watching and they enjoy the walks round here. They also take over all the cooking which is great for my poor DH!
“Gramaretto” what a beautiful photo. Would love to go into that garden.
I now have a very ugly splint thingy on my dodgy leg! Looks like long skirts and trousers in the future! Good excuse for buying new clothes! 😀. Can’t tell yet if it’s doing any good as it was only fitted on Friday but it’s quite comfortable.
“Kaimoana “ sounds as if your publisher is being a nightmare. It’s your book after all. Surely she should go with the way you write it. Good luck.
“Mamissimo” Your DH isn’t far from us if he’s sailing the Suffolk rivers. We are back to the Norfolk Broads soon for a week. We should have been on a cruise but cancelled it when I had the stroke. Then booked a week in a hotel but after thinking about it decided we would enjoy the Broads a lot more. We love watching the yachts and boats plus all the wildlife including Charlie the heron! Nothing better than sitting by the river outside a pub with a glass of wine or two!
Hope everyone had a good weekend and all are fit and well

This lobStars is okay, thanks Grammaretto 😁

Kaimoana's lovely gift is looking wonderful Grammaretto 😍. 🤞 Your cutting does well and blooms next year.
What a beautiful location for a garden party, there's something special about walled gardens I think. You've taken a fabulous picture too. I hope it raised good funds for the church.
I hope your dGf met his deadline today to this day I can still remember that tyranny 🙈
I have a vague recollection that your DL was going to host a short while ago but this got postponed if I recall, are the NZ couple the helpers that we going to come originally?

I hope you managed to get a lighter duvet as you requested Doodle and your DH has been sleeping better🤞, and you are both thoroughly enjoying your holiday 😊

I don't blame you not trying to get your iPad mended if the weather was horrible Kaimoana. Our car is yet to be fixed too, still yet to find the right garage to do the particular repair our car needs 🙄 ... what are mechanics doing these days if they're not fixing cars 🧐
That book editor! I can think of other things to call her, if I was inclined. What a cheek!
🥂 to a successful day 👍 😁

I took so long typing my post got distracted that you crept in there Jan. They've fitted you with a splint then ... okay, it might me ugly but it's comfortable 👍. Great excuse to go and buy a lovely floaty summer dress or two 😊

CherryCezzy I’m hunting the internet now! Think I’ve earned a couple or three new dresses!!