The Lockdown Gang still chatting

Gosh, Grammaretto what a journey! So glad your week turned out well enough for you to want to go back – fluent by 2024 eh? Fabulous photos.

Excellent news about the chair Doodle, what a relief, in all senses.
I’m afraid I got it, wrong, this moko is a boy!

I am nowhere near this particular shooting, though there have been, as you know, incidents closer.
I’m about 22 km from the CBD and never go there.

Grammaretto I don’t think Ray’s moko and mine will be playmates but if he's still here in summer, maybe.

I did a foolish thing.
There’s a new American craft shop some distance away and Karen very kindly offered to take me so I didn’t pay for delivery on the wool I needed for the Marae Slippers.
I left my bank card there when I paid. so we have to go all the way back tomorrow to retrieve it.
Fortunately, Karen loves the place and said she could spend a lot of time and money there. She bought a skeleton for her dgs.

The USA makes a big fuss about Halloween and this shop is having a huge, money-making Expo to promote it.

It not so big here and in the last few years, all NZ schools and many parents have dissuaded children from ‘trick or treat’ as it’s unsafe, encourages children to beg sweets from strangers and do damage if householders don’t cough up. I can’t see any good in it at all.

But no doubt the $$$ will win.

I must be gearing up for that awful long journey next year. Getting in some practice
Doesn't seem far away.

It's like autumn here. Summer has been missed out.
I am pruning chopping the rose bushes while I can still reach them
I have been organising more helpers.

I am glad the Dude is making use of playing on his new chair. They are great aren't they Doodle

I hope Lobstars are enjoying Sunday.
I haven't seen anyone today. I shall pop into a shop.

Good evening all!
Hoping Gangsters are coping with all that life has to throw at you, to those pained in body or soul and those who are able to see little snippets of sunshine through the gloom.

May I join the queue for your delightful Marae slippers, Kaimona ?They are lovely. I wonder what will tempt you when you return tomorrow? I was intrigued by the prospect of dogs receiving a skeleton pressie - was this peculiar to NZ, I wondered? Then decided to re-read more carefully and found it was for a dgs🤦‍♀️

Talking of dgs, I received a frantic FT message from our 7 year old in Oz a few days ago.
Nana, please will you record yourself singing 'Happy Birthday' for Papa? Just by yourself, no-one else.
Ooh, I thought, I am special 😊. Transpires the same message was sent to many family members across the globe ...

The conundrum continued. I am doing a presentation for Papa's birthday 😳.
It was brilliant - a slide show with lurid music with 'interesting' spelling in parts, lots of singing and a photo I chucked in of Papa at his 4th birthday party. Even 'Credits' at the end. He is a dear, thoughtful little chap Papa as well😉 and I was inordinately proud of his planning and execution.

Has anyone given any thought to the wonders of basic modern technology?
My dear friend from our University days, half a century ago, possesses a basic phone (with texting, granted) but no interest in laptops, tablets etc. Never used the internet, même.
She is a keen reader, and I wanted to send her a couple of my recommendations. Couldn't send links, photos, didn't want to write out laboriously all the cover blurb, and am too tight thrifty to text photos as I have pay mega-bucks on my phone plan.
🤦‍♀️

Kaimoana so you have a little boy as a neighbour for a while. That’s nice. I wonder if he will come and visit you.
The craft shop sounds a fascinating place. What a shame you left your card behind but at least you know where it is and aren’t worrying about losing it. How old is Karens DGS.?
A skeleton is just the sort of thing mine would have liked when he was younger.
I don’t like the idea of Halloween either. The only bit of it I enjoyed was carving pumpkins 🎃 with my DGC.
Grammaretto yes i am pleased with the chair. It was expensive but I hope it will provide benefit for DH. He has a lot of problems with his back so something more supportive is helpful.
Must be quiet for you this weekend after having the Gaelic class round you last week. Ooh I wonder who your next helper will be 🤔. I will guess….a French man…. Good at cooking.
ixion you’re like me, I often misread something.
Yes I love those slippers too.
Your DGS sounds a clever youngster. What a lovely surprise for your son to have such a birthday gift. No wonder you’re proud of him.
Does your friend do email? Short of that, carrier pigeon? 😊

No 🦅 ✉️ Doodle , 'just' this -
Take photos➡️email to PC➡️fire up printer➡️print off➡️find envelope/stamp➡️locate umbrella➡️paddle to post box➡️home, dry out.

Just like the Olden Days ☹️

🤣🤣🤣🤣

8ixion* you are a delight and of course you are special.

It's 7 degrees as I sit here in this unheated room, so a short message but more later...maybe.

Grammaretto do you have local people with whom you can practice the Gaelic?

If anyone knits, even very basic, I can give the pattern for Marae Slipper (aka Cosy Bed socks)

When I realised at the weekend, my ATM card was not in its place, I turned out my purse and handbag thoroughly, removing all contents to make sure. Nothing.

Then looked online for the last place I used it. Rang them, "Yes we have an ASB card here."

So today Karen and I went on a 22km jaunt, to retrieve it. It wasn't mine.

I had enough cash to buy fish and chips as compensation and comfort for us on the way home. Whilst Karen was getting that, I opened my purse and the wretched card almost fell out. How could that happen?

We're more than 800 pages into this thread already. Talkative lot ain't we?

Mamissimo what news?

Hello lobStars

I would play catch-up with you all but I think I'd be here all night if I tried so I won't.

Despite your initial trepidation at having to speak Gaelic all week you thoroughly enjoyed your week on Skye then Grammaretto 😊. It certainly looks like a beautiful place and I get you learnt a lot.

Your Marae slippers are proving popular Kiamoana*, and I can see why - they're beautiful 😊 If I could knit I'd definitely be asking for a pattern.

I'm pleased that your DH"s chair has arrived Doodle and I so hope it helps 🤞 As you know my WP had a back injury, he doesn't have his own special chair he did but found it didn't suit him but he gets on brilliantly with our reclining sofa. He also has a couple of those microwaveable wheat bags which help.

What a thoughtful and clever DGS you have ixion, to be putting together such an elaborate and well executed gift for your DS's birthday. Happy birthday to your DS (whenever that is/was) 🥳. As for your df is there a tearing hair out emoji , can you take comfort in not being the only one who has the same problems with someone, in my case my WP's sister? No, thought not frustrating init 🤣

It was lovely to hear from you Missedout, I hope everything with you and yours is okay.

How are you Jan, did you manage to get round a bit more on your latest visit to Norfolk?

Thinking of you Nfk

Well .Kaimoana I did knit but might not be doing so for a while. Went for follow up with ortho consultant today.
We had to wait for an hour and a half. Wasn’t too bad. The waiting room was busy and I love people watching. So many interesting characters.
My wrist is very stiff and may or may not loosen up. The numbness in some of my fingers may or may not get better. I’ve got another appointment in 3 months to see how I’m doing and I may be referred to a hand surgeon if I wish. I’m hoping over time it will get better I’m just glad he agrees with me that my wrist isn’t moving much and there isn’t too much I can do about it. Hopefully the physio will take that onboard.
I Hope you’re wearing some of your cosy bed socks in that cold room.
No!! 😱 It wasn’t your card after all. 😱 what a surprise. So pleased you’ve found it now though. What did Karen say? 🤣
I’m wondering about news of Spud too.
Cherry glad your Dh gets help from the wheat bags. I’ve tried freezing DH and heating him up but that doesn’t help. His problem is mainly shoulders but I think it all stems from when he fell on the stairs. He didn’t have a problem before.
I was trying to think of something fun to tell you, then I remembered. A couple of days ago it was swan upping near here on the Thames. Lots of fancy boats sailing past and then………… a huge white plastic swan went by. Huge as in massive (about 6ft high). Went before I could take its photo.
Like to have seen them try and out a tag on that one.🤣

Hello 👋
If life was straightforward it would be dull. I do wonder what mischievous elf made you go on a 22km trip to retrieve the card Kaimoana

My df had a similar wild goose chase on Skye
We set out at 6.30pm to climb to a local viewpoint, made it and returned about 9.30. I went to bed but df couldn't find her glasses and searched everywhere was sure she'd left them on that hill top so set out again only they weren't there. She got back about midnight and found her specs were hiding in her room after all.

Home is indeed quiet and I am feeling very lazy. I have some people coming to glaze their pots tomorrow which may spur me on to do something myself.

There's a Gaelic café once a month here and it's on Saturday so ample chance to speak. We are going to try to keep in touch too.

I would love your slipper pattern Kaimoana I'm sure I could use a pair.

I have had a visitor to my garden while I was away. He's a handsome boy I think or maybe she.

Your knitting pattern, Kaimona - er, how many needles, please?
I should welcome the opportunity to upgrade my less-than-glamorous welly boot socks. Sometimes I look at myself togged up at bed time in cold weather and think how different things used to be in my bloom of youth, dressing to please you-know-who or wearing nothing at all 😱

How bizarre about your card! Pleased that all was happily resolved.
Doodle, do 'they' still do that technique where you stick your affected extremity (no sniggers, ladies) in a trough of water and then run an electric current through it til you feel the tingling?
I had that for a broken ankle many decades back - supposed, IIRC, to stimulate the nerves. Under supervision, I hasten to add. Would that help?

Your visitor is gorgeous, Grammaretto. It's been a bit Springwatchy here today. A red admiral and a raptor-y type bird, possibly, according to my resident Peter Scott, a sparrow hawk.
Ooh er.

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202307/medium-340757-close-up.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202307/medium-248111-selection.jpg

Pleae remember I am not a knitter don't understand patterns or jargon.

*Marae Slippers*: A very flexible pattern. 2 needles, any size. I use 3 ½ for smaller slippers but also for close-knit adult ones.
I also have needles twice as thick which seem to be 28N. This means nothing to me. I just used what I had left after giving away all my knitting equipment earlier this year.
It all works, whatever size you use.

The pattern is T-shaped. The top bar of that T is the back of the heel to the front of your ankle. (see neon yellow picture)

Adult size: Cast on 52 stitches. Knit about 4" or so. Cast off 10 stitches at beginning of next row. Knit to end. Cast off 10 at beginning of next row.
This bit is the top of the T- and represents the cuff at . Subsequently you choose to wear it up or turned over.
You can make this cuff deeper/longer by casting off more than 10 stitches each side but as the rest is going to be the body of the slipper which runs from front ankle to toe, you must have enough stitches to go round your foot when made up.

Knit a little smaller than your foot length (back of heel to toe) . If it’s too stretchy it won’t stay on your foot

You can begin decreasing about 3” from the toe if you wish, or leave as is and sew up as a square toe or draw the toe up by threading wool through and pulling together like a drawstring bag. All methods seen in photo.

Lay the T-shape out, fold it in half longways, knit up.

Make pompom for decoration or a drawstring round the ankle for better security (as with multi-pink at the front of the table.

I can now knit a pair in and evening, 2 pairs if I knit during the day. So it's easy-peasy. Has to be for me.

For not a knitter Kaimoana you do a pretty good impression of one!
I simply don't believe you. That display is phenomenal. I will attempt one pair when I have finished my scarf.


Nice to see Cherry and ixion
I do love to see the wildlife so long as they keep their distance.

I have heard of swan upping Doodle but never knew what it was. What is it?
I am sorry that the experts have no explanation for your stiff wrist. I remember, even with dough kneading and comfrey cream, my wrist took nearly a year to be properly healed and even now it is a different shape from the other one. So keep your spirits up!

My NZ family are excited to be watching the world cup (women's football) in Wellington.
Hoping our dear Nfk is okay.

For Grammaretto (and any else who may be interested) - this dropped into my inbox this morning.
spitalfieldslife.com/2023/07/25/swan-upping-season/

Hope that's OK with you, Doodle

Many thanks for taking the trouble to write out the pattern, Kaimona .I shall certainly give it a try.

Welsh whisky?😱
www.euronews.com/culture/2023/07/24/cheers-to-welsh-whisky-single-malt-awarded-uks-official-protection-origin-status
We must keep 🍒in our sights as Christmas approaches.

Hope Jan's hols went well, and thinking of Nfk, of course.

Where is Spud, do you reckon?

ixion what an amazing link. Thank you for including it. It love the fact it was written by “the gentle author” . I forgot that Swan Upping is only known by those close to the Thames. The boats and the Uppers are lovely to see ……not sure what the Swans think about it mind you.
Welsh whisky 🥃 well I wonder what Grammaretto would have to say about that. 😊.
Please let us have a photo if you knit your slippers.
Er… no, I didn’t have any electric therapy but I did have my very young, handsome Consultant stroke my hand which gave its own tingles 🤣
Lovely to see you posting here. Hope you stay 😊
Grammaretto glad you enjoyed your trip away. Got to keep practising now. What a lovely photo. Your visitor looks so alert And posing for the camera too.
Thank you for your comforting words about my wrist. I am hoping it will improve over time. I can bend my fingers more than a few weeks ago so it is improving.
Hope the glazing goes well today. Let us know if you “pot” anything 🤔
Kiamoanna I love your collection of Marae slippers. So pretty. Seems like a simple pattern to follow. You certainly have your own cottage industry going now.

Sooo, that exercise video which appeared at the end of Doodle's post yesterday is a GN thing and wasn't put there by Doodle? Did everyone see it? I did start to watch it (with my feet up on the sofa) but when she sat down on the floor I just started laughing. Floor exercises? Don't be daft. I need to firemen (in uniform) to get me up!

Anyway. I had a strange experience yesterday. Got up and ate breakfast sitting on the sofa watching breakfast tv and thought I'd just do a few rows of knitting. And the tv went off. No signal it said. It needs a booster disc to get work in the room I was in so I checked the disc light was on - yes, turned the set off and on again. Nothing. Checked the router and re-booted it. All the lights were on. No signal. Tried to ring BT - twice - went through the option thingy - and then the line went dead. So, I thought, I'll just have to get on with some more of the paperwork, changing details, etc. There was a click and I noticed the light had gone out on the booster disc. The disc was switched off at the socket!!!!! How? I hadn't been near it! Switched it on and of course the tv worked fine. But I decided that DH was right! I shouldn't be sat there knitting and prevaricating and I obediently got on with a load more of the paperwork and sorting out! I even found the copy of his will which I'd been searching for. It somehow appeared where I swear I'd looked before. There are more things, Horatio ....!

Only me 🙂 a hasty update..but first I must send my heartfelt sympathy to NFK it's a long and individual journey you're on but I think being a bit Kaimoana is never a bad idea!

Spud.......is still not with us! But he will be here early on Friday morning.

I have been here with DD2 for weeks now as she's been on complete rest.....and had the builders in....and the garden landscapers.....the daft pair thought it would be a good idea to get the house perfect for the arrival of the sleep destructor.

She has endured the full range of possible pregnancy disorders and is sporting splints on her wrists and ankles from a pregnancy induced type of meta carpel problem. So Mr M and I galloped over here to keep her company and lying down.
She has high blood pressure, gestational diabetes, and a ligament issue in her pelvis. She will be 38 weeks on Thursday and deserves a great big gin medal.

Looking after her has been a privilege, a joy and a huge worry so I'm glad we've reached the gate and now we're all focussed on getting her to hospital at 7.00am on Friday. If you're up and about can you put in a word with the authorities upstairs? I think we will take her dog down to the beach and throw stones in the sea until we get the call......

Will be back with a newsflash on Friday.

Love to all, a very tired Mamissimo x

Nfk me and exercise videos don’t really go together 🤣. I wish they did. I can’t get up off the floor (without a crane …..although the firemen sound a better option) either.
Certainly a strange occurrence with the disc in your Tv. Obviously you spent too long doing nothing and needed a reminder to get moving. Glad you found the will.
Mamissimo goodness Friday morning. Bet you all can’t wait.
You DD has certainly been through it all. How lovely you’ve been able to be at hand to make sure she’s resting and keep her company. Will certainly be thinking of her and hope all goes well.

Your story Nfk is similar to dozens I've head (and experienced) over the years.

When my Dad died unexpectedly at 54, Mum had no idea how to progam their very complicated central heating system which had a series of dials and needed to be adjusted daily according to weather. Timer to come on, what temperature, timer to go off etc It was like the controls of an aircraft!
Moreover, it was in a very dark, windowless area of the pantry so not easy to see.
Dad had dealt with this rigmarole and unbelievably continued to do so until Mum eventually found the manual and taught herself. She said she could hear all these dials clicking and moving as she listened to Radio 4.

And you may remember how Phil got the iPad going again after experts had said it was kaput and it had been unplugged and uncharged for weeks.

Shakespear certainly knew such stuff happened.

Mamissimo THANK YOU for your update. Friday will be marked!

Your poor DD. I had the same sort of pregnancy and in my final year at uni so was also trying to complete graphic design projects from my bed

It all goes away after baby arrives - and if you have a 'sleep destructor' as I did, you can even find yourself wistfully remembering the peace of being back in that bed of troubles

I'm to be taken to the Parakai Hot Springs again next week! Happy happy, joy joy.
I just hope we don't have the violent thunderstorms and hail as we had today. Rain won't matter but I don't want to be struck by lightning as I swim.

Not sure if this is an over-dramatic but serious site, or an hilarious spoof.
Can you imagine rushing out into a storm to throw all your furniture into the pool?

pooloperationmanagement.com/swimming-during-a-thunderstorm/

DH and I went to the hospital to see the cardiologist as per DHs hospital letter only to be told the appointment was with a nurse on the team as the Cardiologist only sees those who are in need of specialist care. Nurse was very good and nice but talking to DH about possible surgery. DH said at his age he wouldn’t consider surgery without first exploring all the options with the Consultant. No problem it seems and he has been booked an appointment in October. Heart seems to be doing ok at the moment so fingers crossed it stays that way.
Kaimoana life is strange at times but in a heart warming way.
So pleased you’re going to the hot springs again. You love your swimming so much and I’m sure it does you good mentally and physically. No we certainly don’t want you struck by lightening.
I tried to watch your link but my WiFi is on a real go slow at the moment and won’t let me. I’ll catch up with it later when someone has wound it up.

Good evening Lobstars

Good to hear the dude isn't doing too badly Doodle.

Nice that you Kaimoana are going to the hot pools again. I loved those so much.

I had some unexpected but lovely visits today. One was the plumber who has fixed the boiler in the flat so that when it gets really cold, the heating will work and he fixed an annoying drip from an overflow pipe.
A French girl who stayed with us years ago was passing through on her way south after a highland holiday, came to the community lunch, bringing her DH and their little boy and finally my df who usually comes for Friday dinner turned up. He just fancied coming out for the evening while it's still light.
Such a sociable time I'm having.

We are all excited about spud Mamissimo what a journey it has been for your little girl. I am so happy for her.

Sleep well dear friends.

Grammaretto thank you. We were quite pleased with the visit too.
What a lovely day you had yesterday. Your community lunch sounds a jolly occasion.
We are out to lunch today with a couple of friends. Haven’t seen them for a while so a big catch up on news.
Thinking a lot of Mamissimo and her family. Special day today.

Evening lobStars

I know I've hardly posted in the last couple of weeks .... all that palaver I had to go to for the new meds my consultant put me on and they've messed me up 😕. As a consequence I had to have emergency blood tests yesterday in case they've done something to my liver 🤨. I jolly well hope not! I should have the results back tomorrow (but have been told to rest either way). I've had a problem (liver function impairment) with a previous medication so it's precautionary I think personally. It could be (and probably is I think) just a very bad case of vertigo - I've been staggering around as if I'm rolling drunk and no, before you all ask I haven't been sampling the Welsh single malt whisky when in actual fact I'm teetotal. It's typical, now I've got to reduce the meds back down again before I can stop them altogether 🙄
I'm feeling very very tired so resting isn't a problem 🥱. Can someone please send Jeeves to make me one of his delicious hot chocolate's ...
Take care all, I am thinking of you all, night night 🌃

Cherry meds can cause so many problems. We found out Monday that it was 90% likely that a combination of two medications DH was given which caused him to have catastrophic heart failure and anaemia. All that treatment and testing he’s had done since January due to two drugs that had a really bad effect on him.
And now you too. I do Hope thé tests come back ok and it hasn’t affected your liver. Vertigo is horrid my dear SIL used to suffer from that.
Sending Jeeves over with a lorry load of hot chocolate. He will be on hand to plump up your pillows. Take care. Much love 💕