The Lockdown Gang still chatting

Good afternoon ☔️

This morning I went to market and bought 2 books, 1 birthday card, I bottle of teak oil....--and did none of the vital errands on my list-- This afternoon I went to market again and did my errands and bought 2 doughnuts to cheer us up

Grammaretto I do work with originals when I need to. Poor Mr M spends many hours with me in archives big and small - and has worn out his wellies poking around in overgrown churchyards. Most of our holidays include an element of both. He calls it visiting the dead rellies!

I use the online sites for the basics and then go digging. I usually have two or three trees on the go and spend an insane amount of time doing the research. Every day is still a school day for me. I love the chase in solving little mysteries.

In my own family research I am currently wrestling with the suggestion that my Irish Quakers took up with the French Huguenots when they were awarded land in Portarlington. The records I am dealing with are written in early 18th century French, by a Frenchman but in all other records of these people their names have been 'anglicised' by an Irishman. I sleep well at night 🤣

Spud was registered today so he's official now. DD2 says that it made her feel grown up.....I know what she means - but I didn't really feel grown up until I registered my DM's death.

Mr M and I have decided that we're ready for a new dog and will be choosing one next month, after our next "dead rellies" trip to Ireland. We have decided on make and colour and are just a bit sad that the rescue organisations now put so many obstacles in the way of adopting that we're buying brand new for the first time. One rescue organisation thought we needed to get rid of Fergal Cat before we could have a dog! Poppycock!

If your tender ministrations don't work Doodle tell The Dude that I'll pop round with the arnica and give his bruises a good seeing to with my pummelling machine.....soon have him under control!

You are a very thorough genealogist Mamissimo
Full of admiration.
I did a lot years ago but not nearly so much now. Mostly our own families but I branched out to help others, getting into trouble on a couple of occasions.
Once was a woman in NZ whose father had jumped ship years ago as a young man and had since died.
She had his birth certificate from Scotland where the date and place of the parents' marriage was shown. But there was no marriage. It was a lie! 😲
I discovered her dad was illegitimate, the result of an affair but foolishly decided to pursue the "bigamous" father who was a funeral director in Glasgow, most respectable and I got rather carried away and via his will I located living relatives. I wrote a letter and had no reply so I phoned their number. It was an easy find and I got very short shrift. Who can blame them. Why would they want to know their respected DGF had fathered another child
.
What's worse than accidentally defrosting a freezer? I'll tell you what. I left BZ to clean my bedroom and she did a wonderful job but put my best and favourite woollen fairisle cardigan in the washing machine. It is now felted and shrunken and I am really sad.

How exciting that you are going for a new dog Mamissimo we want to know all

That's fantastic news Kaimoana about the book. Well done. Sorry your weather is dismal. It makes such a difference to your mood.

BZ cook sometimes. It's mostly rice or potatoes and rice, pasta and potatoes and rice but he has made me a birthday cake!
How was the hospital visit Doodle?

Grammaretto how lovely to watch your DGS singing. I bet you felt proud. Nice to have a meal together but fancy then being locked out of your own home 😱. Was he trying to tell you you were out past curfew.
Lovely photo of the castle.
Hospital visit fine, just another transfusion for DH. He should be full of beans now. 🤣
Oh no your lovely cardigan. You’ll never get it back in shape. I did the same to one of DHs jumpers once. He’d have had to lose 10 stone to get in on again.
Are the BZ leaving soon ??
Is it your birthday? Did I miss it?
Kaimoana that’s a good looking young man. Is he the chef?
Sorry you haven’t had a good day and your plans were cancelled.
Glad you are feeling a bit better. Fantastic news about the book. That’s so exciting.
Mamissimo that’s the sort of shopping I do.
I Hope you have better luck with graveyards than we do mostly. We have a few very old churches locally and sadly many of the stones have worn away completely.
…..two or three tress on the go and then go digging……. So of course I immediately think you are back in the garden planting an orchard. I’m a bit slow on the uptake some times.
Ooh how exciting. You’re having a puppy. I’m sure Fergal will let the newcomer know who’s in charge within a few minutes.
Gracious you’ll have DH quaking in his boots at the thought of being pummelled. He is now a delicate shade of purple from waist to knee. 😊

Afternoon all

I've retreated from gardening for a coffee and to give my back a rest. It's my one day in this week. I seem to be busier now than ever, but not sure with what. I've also just had a second rejection letter from a different dog charity. That's two dogs who don't like me. Perhaps it's not a good idea after all, so many have anxiety and can't be left which will be difficult.

I went with a group of friends on Sunday to see The Comedy of Errors. Picnic and Prosecco in an open air production -with a cast of four. They were brilliant. It was a bit poignant to start with as I'd come to see them last year with DH. It took a cast of five then to do justice to The War of the Worlds.

It's starting to look like rain (not forecast) so I just need to finish that last bit of weeding.

That sounds lovely Nfk the comedy of errors with picnic and prosecco!

What's up with these dog charities?
I know when we were in the market for a rescue dog we were told we would have to take 2 and we really didn't want to. Maybe it's a ploy to test your suitability determination. If you say oh yes I'll have as many as I can.

I'm glad the infusion went well Doodle but I do feel sorry for your purple husband.
It wasn't my DGC singing but the DGS of my friend. He's at university but I've known him since he was a lot smaller.

I'm being taken to see Paul Merton the comedian, tomorrow which is my actual birthday but I'm going for celebrating at every opportunity.

Tonight the BZ are cooking a BZ dish and he's baked a cake.
It doesn't altogether make up for the shrunken cardi but it's a nice thing to do

.They leave on Thursday but he is asking to come back another time while she goes back to Brazil to be a bridesmaid.
I'm pretending not to understand.

Happy Birthday for tomorrow Grammaretto. Have a lovely day and enjoy Paul Merton, I like his humour.

I think one of the problems with adopting a rescue dog is that they're looking for a companion for the dog and not the other way around. I suppose my demands are exacting as I can't have a dog which pulls strongly on the lead, and can't be left while I go shopping or to the hairdressers or such. And one which can fit into Camperbubble would be useful!

Just calling in to wish Grammaretto a lovely day tomorrow.

A while back, I tuned in to watch a well-promoted series on a Grand Tour of the Scottish islands, expecting to see said comedian. Er no, it was Paul Merton Murton, and a jolly decent series it turned out to be. Lovely chap and easy viewing.
Must've done wonders for the tourist industry!

I hope the Hound Hunt goes well - four footed friends to welcome now that Spud is officially with us.

Not much to report at this end. My car passed its MOT, my son collected it and was greeted by the garage with the paperwork and a jaunty 'it's fine, just give her a couple of paracetamol if she has any problems!' 🤦‍♀️

Night all!

Nfk I’m sorry you had a set back with the dog charities. Do you pick the dog or do they offer one they feel suitable?
I’m sure there must be a dog out there who would love to keep you company.
The rescue centres will all start off looking at the dogs best interest first but I wouldn’t have thought your list of requirements was too onerous. All dogs need to be left for a while at some point in time surely.
Presumably a smaller dog would fit in the camper bubble and be less likely to pull you over. Hope a suitable one comes up soon.
The open air production sounds good. I Hope the weather was kind to you. Sounds as though you all had a good time.
Grammaretto ah sorry I didn’t read it properly misunderstood what you wrote about who was singing.
What a lovely treat for your birthday. I like Paul Merton
Hope the cake is nice. The BZ have had an ………interesting visit 🤔😲
Have a lovely birthday tomorrow. Hope you enjoy your trip out. .

Ah I thought I heard someone creeping in behind me. It was you ixion
I love thé sense of humour at the garage. Our car is going in for service tomorrow (and not a moment too soon) however I think it will need more than a paracetamol to fix its brakes. In the last week they perform emergency stops at every set of traffic lights and DH and I have been ricocheting backwards and forwards every time we put a foot on the brake pedal.
It’s staying on the naughty step till it’s fixed.

You may remember, when I was looking for a foster dog, how many, well over half those registered with the agency, stated they had rescue dogs?

Some had only been with the new owner a matter of weeks. So I'm all for stricter rules as I believe it's cruel to get a dog, a herd animal, then leave it alone all day. Not that you would Nfk, that's clear but rules are made for a general situation so genuine people get caught too.

Your Shakespeare and picnic is exactly the sort of thing I'd love - though not in the pounding rain which is currently hitting my roof.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Grammaretto
Are you looking for a new Fair Isle cardigan? Perhaps one of the DGD's dolls could wear your old one.

Oh dear Doodle I do hope your DH has a run of good health very soon. It's miserable to battle poor health.
I'm plagued with sciatica at the moment, all this sitting around writing books and knitting Marae Slipper is wot does it. So I am touching my toes every 15 mins and it seems to be easing.

Yes, that was a picture of Gersom the chef - in his younger days.

Just had a call from the girl next door (she's the carer for her disabled father) telling me a man tried to get into their home a few minutes ago. As he put his hand round the door to push in, she closed it on his fingers. She sounded very shaken.

Since the Sallies fitted all our homes with metal mesh security doors, I've noticed that many residents leave them open.

I only unlock mine if a visitor known to me arrives.
Peddlers of religion, world breaking new electricity and power deals and others are either ignored or asked (very politely of course )to go away.

Kaimoana I hope the girl is ok. Must have frightened her.
Good thing you keep your security door locked.
Sorry about the sciatica. Hope the toe touching helps.
My knees are bad at the moment so I’m doing some sit down stand up exercises to get them moving a bit,
DH is ok (apart from his purple bits) thank you. His infusion went well and hopefully the next blood test will show an improving in his results.
Friend coming for craft tomorrow. I’ve been gluing some pieces of wood together and myself to the wood in the process. 🤣.

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Thanks mucho for birthday greetings. My cold has turned into a streaming cold with additional aches and raised temp. I don't possess a thermometer but I would guess it's higher than it should be . Bother!!
Poor Paul Merton won't have the pleasure of my company but I can't inflict this on my df. I hope she can use my ticket.

The other Paul Murton Ixion came to our town on his Great Rivers of Scotland.
The Esk from Carlops to the estuary at Musselburgh. He made some paper in our museum.

I hope I don't have to cancel my gathering on Saturday. My family are on their way.
I had flu on my 9th birthday in NZ and DSis had to entertain my pals while I lay in my bed. I had a coal fire to watch. Perhaps she will do the same.

Poor Doodle with bad knees. Do the exercises help?
What a fright your neighbour must have had Kaimoana I hope she isn't traumatised.

I took the BZ to a fish shop in Musselburgh where he chose fish. None of it looked like BZ fish but he produced a fabulous meal last night . And he made a chocolate cake saying he didn't use a recipe! I can't be so ill if I gobbled that up.

Hip, hip, hip hurray , it’s our Grammaretto’s birthday today.

Lots of goodies and cake for tea. 🍰
Made by BZ who shrunk the cardi.
Hope the candles don’t singe your brow 🕯️
Blow them out quickly, I’m sure you know how.

Shame about the cold, Hope it’s not flu 🤧
No visit with friend to Paul Merton for you
Sorry you’ve missed out your birthday treat
Hope you’re better by Saturday with family to meet 👋

All the best wishes I’m sending your way 🥳
Hope despite cold you have a good day 🥃
I read on GM your age you did say 😮
25 and 25 and 25 today. 🥂🍾

Many, many happy returns (and apologies for the awful poem) With love from Doodle and all of us. 🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂💕

What loverlies you all are. I am truly blessed 💗

And one more 🎂 for good luck to aid your recovery so that you are:
hail and hearty, fit and well, enjoy your party and raise up hell

Wishing you a very Happy Birthday Grammaretto 🍾🥂 xx

Happy Birthday Grammaretto. Hope youre having an amazing day!

Thanks Jan. I woke with a streaming cold but have just done a COVID test which was negative so at least it's not that, just a cold.
BZ after lots of disappointments are leaving for N Ireland tomorrow. They will be helping at a centre for peace studies. It sounds great..

Just hope the BZs are given the task of doing the washing. 😱
Hope you feel better soon .

You are wicked Doodle
He asked me through the translator if I had forgiven him for shrinking my sweater. I said no. He laughed. I think he truly thinks it funny. It was him not her apparently.

My lodger invited us all to supper. We had a lovely meal with wine and managed a little conversation. BZ apologised for mixing up his words but he can't take alcohol as it gives him wobbly eyes.

Happy Birthday Grammaretto maybe you could have an official birthday one day when the sun is shining later in the month.

Poor Spud is in hospital tonight with a bug and they're keeping him overnight. He's on antibiotics and very miserable.....as is DD2. Apparently they had another small baby in last night with the same symptoms so they think there's something doing the rounds. He's heavily congested and can't feed......or settle to sleep. I think DD2 is relieved that they're being looked after.

I was in hospital today for my drug infusion and it was total chaos - 4 out of 6 staff were on holiday or sick so it was a long day on a machine that stops every half hour to be monitored....but there was no one free to monitor it very often. I did feel for the two poor nurses who'd drawn the short straw!

Sleep time now.....bet I don't because I haven't moved around much today.

I’m not sure I would find shrinking someone’s sweater funny Grammaretto I think I’d be mortified.
That’s nice of your lodger to have you all for a meal. Actually I think I have wobbly eyes when I drink too much too……..or is it just the room moving round. 🤣
How are you feeling today? Is the cold any better?
Oh Mamissimo I’m so sorry. Poor little Spud. Hope he’s ok.
Good thing they are both in hospital where they can be looked after. Hopefully he will improve quickly.
I know those machines you mention from when DH has his infusions. They need constant monitoring. Bet by now you could have done it yourself.
Hope you do sleep.
Kaimoana hope there haven’t been any more intruders wandering around. Hope your sciatica has improved.

Sorry to hear you are below par Grammaretto. And that Spud is poorly - but in the right place, for sure.
Hope Mamissimo isn't too flattened by today's session🌸.

Nothing of interest to report on from here, I'm afraid.
But I am intrigued to contemplate how the BZs will contribute to all things Peace through Google Translate🥴.

You don't need strange men wandering around trying doors Kaimona - how scary. Do you have any security 'hotline' you could call on in extremis?

I have been making cushions, Doodle - would one help DH?

Spud is home like a pincushion and pumped full of antibiotics. Apparently they treat all small babies with antibiotics to cover themselves in case they are developing meningitis or sepsis. I guess babies can go downhill quickly but she only took him because she didn't trust her home thermometer readings!

As I didn't sleep well last night I would love it if Jeeves could pop in to tidy up ready for the cleaner tomorrow.....🤣

You are SO talented Doodle what a lovely tribute to our dear Grammaretto - a quite magnificent (and decorative) post.

Relieved to hear the darling pixie is home.