The Lockdown Gang still chatting

Hello Catterygirl Your SiL sound to have a sad choice: earthquake or bankrupcy!
Twenty people is a lot to buy for but would the Baghdad relatives really want them to be in danger?
I wish them all the best anyway and hope they don't suffer.
March is also Nowroz and my friends give sweets, or flowers or pretty candles at this time.

I’ve often heard the expression ‘he oozed charm’ or was charismatic but until today I’d never met it face to face.
Oh, my goodness he was lovely: curly grey hair, soft accent, sparkling eyes and most importantly, he told me the truth.
On a scale of 1-10, this aortuc stenosis is 5-ish.

He’s sending me for a heart scan which will tell us a little more than today’s ECG.
My BP was a little elevated. I’m amazed it didn’t go through the roof when he held my hands.

Did you see the Northern Lights Mamissimo?
I’m beginning to suspect your training of Mr M is slipping if he thinks a trip to IKEA is a treat!
The mind boggles at his bag full of random bits and meatballs.

Glad you got the upgrade Doodle - I hope that visit results in real help for your DH.

Grammaretto sharing a pathway with Tom Hanks eh? It’ll be 50p to talk to you next!
How is your dear MiL?

Got a nice letter from Phil's mother to tell me his house has been sold.

She hoped a nice family would enjoy it but it's far more likely a developer will raze it and put 14 town houses in its place. That's what's happening all over Waitakere now.

A dishy doctor Kaimoana! I hope he looks after you very well indeed. We need you..

Hello Catterygirl sorry to hear about your family's earthquake fears and think the idea of giving them sweets and small tokens sounds good enough. I didn't know that quakes were so predictable.

DS in Wellington live with frequent earthquakes. The cricket was exciting apparently. An ancestor of mine, Caroline Ashbolt, was instrumental in introducing cricket to Wellington. She was born in Gloucestershire in 1820. More bazaar facts!

Not too long to wait for that appointment Doodle
Pity about Phil's house Kaimoana
Our first house was a townhouse on a small estate squeezed onto a plot where once a large house had stood. No wonder our neighbours were suspicious of us . We loved living there.

I was sad to see my DM old home in Cambridge looking neglected and overgrown. It would be perfect for another old person but looks empty.

Did you glimpse those elusive lights Mamissimo?

I had the helpful sisters rottweilers round to begin the declutteration yesterday. It began by me taking a drawerful of DH medicines to the pharmacy. I honestly thought everything like that had been disposed of. I was also told there was no need to keep ancient receipts...
These people are so very practical.

Feeling a bit mingy and anti-social this evening so I'll keep this short that'll be a first.

I hope you're over your snotty period cold Grammaretto.

I'm pleased that your DH has a neurology appointment Doodle and that it's only two weeks away, though I wish it was tomorrow for both your sakes. I hope you both managed to have some sleep last night.

I'm pleased you're finally getting the medical attention you should have been having for a while now Kaimoana Do you know how long it's likely to be before you have the heart scan your dreamy Dr is sending you for?

Jeeves is doing the rounds with the drinks, I know because he's just brought me a lovely frothy caramel coffee, unusual for me this time of night. I asked if he'd cook my batch of Welsh cakes, as I made the dough earlier today, but he looked at me with that expression on his face and said he had other fish to fry

Catterygirl I’m sorry for your sisters. They must be anxious to leave the area. I’m surprised relatives would expect a gift under the circumstances but realise other people have different traditions. I hope they will be ok. Worrying time for you.
Kaimoana wow he sounds nice. Nice to have a consultant you feel confidence in. Charming and good looking is a bonus 🤣
Grammaretto it must be fascinating to know so much about your family history. Not sure I’d be comfortable with earthquakes but I suppose it’s all what you’re used to.
Is this the sisters who are taking the beds? I hope they don’t throw out anything special. (I trust you've put your copy of the deeds somewhere safe……………..and know where that is 🤔)
Cherry sorry you’re not feeling in top form.
St David’s day tomorrow. It was my dear dad’s birthday. Being Welsh he liked the fact it was a special day.
Hmm I wonder what Jeeves is up to then. 🤔
Please send a batch of Welsh cakes here. My mum used to make them. 😋. Hope you feel better tomorrow x

Good evening 🙂

Grrrrrr - No northern lights here last night because our neighbours left their searchlights security lights on when they went to bed. Normally they're movement triggered but for some reason they were on all night.

Kaimoana, Mr M is maturing nicely.....he understands that he's allowed to choose useful things like lightbulbs and screws and batteries from IKEA and he always pushes the trolley or carries the bag. The meatballs were a small aberration which I shall overlook on this occasion as he cooked them for dinner tonight. I always knew he was a keeper!

We're in our silly birthday season now and for the next few weeks there will be family get together all over the place. Lovely! We kick off this weekend with DS's 30th, have a two week gap then Mr M is 75, then one week and DGD1 is 5.....then a week later we are all off on our annual week away together.

We're hoping lovely H Beagle will still be with us as she makes such a fuss of all her favourite people. She's doing ok.....the decline is gentle and her pleasure in anything edible life is undeminished. Her appetite for dog food has declined dramatically but a little lightly poached chicken or fish seems to be acceptable.....and roast beef.....and bacon sandwiches......

We're manuring this week so best if you don't all drop in! DD1 has asked if the youngest DGD can come for the afternoon tomorrow so I've asked for her to be warmly wrapped and hoseable 🙂 her plastic spade will make all the difference!

Mr M has gone to turn on his blanket so it must be Jeeves time...coffee and a small brandy I think....

Cherry You did keep it brief, would that I could follow your example.

Gramaretto PLEASE tell me you made at least 137 copies of The Deeds and lodged the originals with your solicitor.

When I had to move from my country cottage, I missed it and the environment so much and still do but didn't want to go back for a look until 3 years later when a friend suggested I get it out of my system and just do it

The farm had been bought by a vet; his wife and grown up children lived in the farm house and he, supposedly, resided in 'my' cottage, several fields away. If this sounds odd, ten years before he’d run off with a busty blonde and his wife was none too pleased. The blonde eventually ran off as well.
The cottage looked empty and very dirty outside.
The garden and trees were overgrown after 3 years of total neglect. There was no vehicle present so we risked looking through the windows.

What a shambles: clothing thrown about, tattered curtains, several days worth of dirty pots, numerous bottles and takeaway cartons on a filthy, stained carpet.

My poor home.
The longing was replaced by a sad mourning – so I know how you feel Grammaretto

How sad that your neighbours spoiled the Northern Lights for you, Mamissimo. Was there no way you could travel to the heart of darkness and look up?

Is IKEA diversifying into food or have they always sold kit set meatballs?

Your birthday season sounds wonderful, there will be lots of fun and laughter and of course a new wee boy, hidden safely, will be with you this year.

St David’s Day Doodle?
What a coincidence that I made Leek & Potato soup for my tea. It’ll go well with Cherry’s Welsh Cakes and the fried fish her WP promised.

Here's one of the most beautiful of all songs to celebrate it.
I used to sing this, though never as good as this.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qr2kXwROk-Q

Beautiful song Kaimoana. Thankyou.
I hope you have all had reasonably nice days and nights.

For my part, I wish I was warmer. It gets to this time in the evening and I just want to go to bed. "I'll do it tomorrow" is my mantra.

The man came for my clay mixer so there's a lot of rearranging to do in the studio. I may need to sell or give away more equipment. I am scaling down.

My lodger invited me for supper tonight. She's an excellent cook.

Poor DMiLis still not back in the flat but it should be this week.

Happy birthday to all the Mamissimo clan
Good night all and sweet dreams.

Tête a tête for St David's Day

Mamissimo shame you missed your chance of the northern lights,
You’ve got lots of lovely family celebrations coming up. Where are you going on your family getaway?
I see Honey beagle is getting the best possible care. I’m not surprised she turns her nose up at dog food with such tasty alternatives. Does Mr M dress up as a butler to take her order for dining requirements each evening. 😊 I’m glad she’s still enjoying life.
I er hope you’re having the manure delivered……😲
Kaimoana must have made you sad to see your lovely cottage so run down. We bought two copper beech trees for the front garden of one of our houses. Over the years they grew tall and into two beautiful specimens. We always had them shaped and cut by tree surgeons and they were stunning in the sunshine.
A few years after we moved we drove past our old house and we’re so shocked by the state of our trees. They’d had all the lower branches chopped off to about 4’ from the ground and the top cut flat. Looked like a leafy lampshade on top of a base. We were so upset. We had really nurtured them
You made me smile at the thought of Mr M buying flat pack meatballs and having to assemble them before cooking. I hope there weren’t any bits missing.
Wish I had some Welsh cakes, I could do with one right now.
Thank you for the video.
Grammaretto I get cold in the evening too. I have a long pink fluffy dressing gown with a large collar. I tend to snuggle into that in the evenings to keep me warm.
Useful having a lodger that is a good cook. It’s good you get on well. Do you see much of her?
Jeeves came up with a suggestion to warm you up ………. I told him I thought a hot drink and a tot of whisky would be more appropriate 😲

Thank you for the daffs. 😊

How lovely those daffodils are. Thank you Grammaretto

I told myself I wouldn't' forgot that it would have been your dear father's birthday on St Davids day Doodle but I did, sorry 🙁. Definitely a special day to be born if you're a Welshman, as he was. I wish I could really have sent you some of the Welsh cakes I made yesterday. Sorry I didn't send any virtual ones, is today too late probably, and I don't even have a photo, I do have a few left, please enjoy them but you have to imagine the plateful.

The daffodils are gorgeous Grammaretto, thank you. I love the dwarf varieties, not so keen on the non native blousey ones.

Thank you for the link Kaimoana, I haven't been able to listen to it yet as for some reason it'd freezing on my tablet ☹️. I'll try to listen to it on my phone later, 🤞 I'll be able to do that.

Talking of freezing, I agree with youGrammaretto and Doodle it gets really nippy in the evenings, as the sun goes down. I have a warm knitted throw permanently sitting on the sofa so I can snuggle under it in the evenings. It's not exactly that warm in the daytime at the moment though is it, it's a beautiful sunny clear day here today but was only 4°c at 11 am this morning. Brrr!

I'm sad that you, Grammaretto, Kaimoana and Doodle have gone back and seen your old family homes or gardens in such sorry states. I haven't gone back ... just in case.

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202303/medium-739906-faausi.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202303/medium-8364-what-is-taro-1667340125.jpg

I am, at this very moment, nibbling fa'ausi with fa'apapa for the first time. Artoa, who has Samoan heritage brought it as a treat and it is delicious

It’s a cakey bread made with grated taro, baked and then cubed and added to a coconut cream caramel sauce. no, I'm not diabetic today
The taro gives it a most unusual consistency, very chewy and dense.

Cherry I hope you were able to hear that lovely song.

Grammaretto I’m worried for your poor Mil. Just moving house was stressful enough but when it falls from beneath your feet that’s horrible. She must be wondering if it’s all worth it. I’m sure the family will be making sure there are regular joys in her life to compensate but it cannot be easy for her.
What is that intriguing ‘through the gate’ picture you put up?

My neighbour Ray and I went to the Sallie’s lunch yesterday and he was impressed and happy to go again.

Our elders group is going to the theatre on Saturday. A noon performance followed by a splendid Afternoon Tea. No fa’ausi unfortunately.

My doggie visitors are coming again on Sunday, to consolidate our friendship, so that’s all looking good as well.

Wishing you all a warm and cosy weekend.

The photo was peeking through the gate at my DM flat in Cambridge. It is winter. Maybe better come the spring.

Yes I too am worried for my DMiL. She says she'll be going soon but she has said that before. She recited some beautiful poetry tonight.

Cherry the Welsh cakes are lovely thank you. I have licked the plate clean of crumbs 😊
On the path by the river here, someone has planted hundreds of daffodil bulbs of all sorts. I never realised before what a variety of sizes there were. Last year they were spectacular from the normal ones you see cut in the supermarket to tiny little ones only a couple of inches high yet perfect in miniature.
I like to think of you all warm and snuggly wrapped up in your throw.
Kaimoana knowing I have given up all cakes and biscuits and chocolate for lent you tempt me with that delicious looking dish. What is that pink thing? Is that taro? I’ve never heard of it. I shall have to Google.
I’m glad you are meeting up with your new neighbour Ray. Must be nice for him to have someone to show him around.
Do you know what you’ll be seeing at the theatre?
I’m sure your doggie pals are looking forward to seeing you.
I’ve been sewing with my friend this afternoon. We had a nice snack of fruit and nuts instead of our usual cake. It was really nice.
Had a phone appointment with a cardiologist this morning for DH. A really charming man so very pleasant. He is ordering more scans and monitoring for DH as he wants to change his medication. Double one drug and halve another hopefully to reduce his heart rate.

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202303/medium-800416-ronopai.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202303/medium-829241-rongopai.jpg

Good news about your DH's cardiologist Doodle - do you think they are all charming or are we just lucky? I do hope the tweaked meds give your DH some rest.

Your fruity sewing session sounds lovely. I really miss that comfortable feeling of sitting quietly and embroidering.

This is what we're going to see.
www.tepoutheatre.nz/events/hemo-is-home

It's a ghosty comedy based on ancient Maori legends. I saw a rehearsal video where some of the actors were painted with that stuff that glows in black light.
(An urupa is a cemetery)

Does anyone remember the shark slippers I made for this boy? A toddler then, a TV and theatre star now.

Today I worked from 8am to lunchtime on my book.

Fomerly, 6 pages of revisions and additions would have taken less than an hour.

The Word program is, of course set up to auto-save every couple of minutes but when I came back after my cuppa and opened the file, every single thing had gone.
Technically that should not be possible.

So disheartening.

Gives me a chance to do it better next time but I have a very full weekend and an even busier week ahead so heaven knows when I'll get a good run at it.

Ah well, these little things are sent to try us - as the criminal said when the wee judge came into court.

What a lot going on in Gangland!
So glad that DH has had a consultation Doodle
That change of medication sounds promising.
Spring is springing! The daffs are coming out
On my walk yesterday I saw primroses too and millions of snowdrops.

I am pleased about your doggy friends Kaimoana. And I hope you enjoy the theatre. Sorry about the disappearing texts.

I drove DMiL back to the flat at long last. I don't know if she's happier there really but her Carers, in the form of her DC, are.

Today I am going to the potters weekend in a castle. I have been asked to pick up a woman from the airport on my way which I am not looking forward to but I shall be brave.
There's to be a fancydress ceilidh tomorrow night. The theme: what you were wearing when the ship went down

I may have to take a bed sheet. I'm supposed to take home baking but Doodle has reminded me it's Lent
I had better get up.
I'm on shop duty this morning.

Good morning 🙂
A sensible and charming Cardiologist Doodle ! Lovely - snap him up quick 😁

We're getting ready for DS's birthday weekend so I can't linger but I wanted to send this for you all to enjoy....

Susie Dent’s favourite foreign words and untranslatable gems revealed

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/59d3b770-b90c-11ed-89e2-a4c715f4739d?shareToken=cde356801e67cb87e390897f7390d6c9

It's made my day already.....

Kaimoana maybe we’ve reached an age where any young man seems charming 🤣
I don’t remember the shark slippers but they obviously helped propel that nice looking young man to stardom.
Oh no. All that work gone. These sort of computer blips happen but they are so annoying. What is your book about?
I love your joke 🤣🤣
Grammaretto is your BIL with his mum in the flat? Your MIL isn’t there on her own is she?
What an exciting weekend. Are you going to be making anything or is it just a chance for all of you to get together and exchange ideas?
I hope you’ll wear some thermals under the bedsheet. Those castles can be cold, Hope you have a great time.
I was going to send Jeeves with you to help with the luggage but he won’t come. He thinks the castle could be haunted by the ghosts of butlers past. 👻
Mamissimo hope you have a nice time with the family. Many happy returns to your DS.
Thank you for the link. I will have a look.

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202303/medium-34172-demon.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202303/medium-677980-to-hawaiki.jpg

When I went to that link Doodle The Thunderer stopped me and demanded I pay

I’m not an old Yorkshire miser for nothing so opened it in an incognito window, snuck in under its guard and copied the whole article.

And saw this:
Nahuatl, from the Aztec language. It means “hug with the soul” and is used to describe a supportive, comforting embrace.
Isn't that what the word 'cwtch' conveys as well Cherry? More than just a hug.

The theatre performance was abso-flippin-lutely mind blowing. I came out quite shaky (even after we’d had a prayer) but I’ve been like that since a child. I have to let the emotion dissipate in its own good time.

We were on the front row and it's 'intimate theatre' no elevated stage, the action takes place right there sometimes only inches away from the audience.

The story is about a little boy who was placed for safety in a cemetery when his parents were being attacked. The ghosts have taken care of him, choosing not to go on to Heaven until he’s old enough to look after himself.

Now he’s nearly 10 and of age so can leave and go into the world. BUT a demon wants him and she prevents the ghost souls moving on until they hand him over.
I won’t tell you what she intends doing with the boy.

Of course they won’t give him up so potential they are doomed for eternity unless they can beat her.

When the demon, a glamorous lady in a smart red pants suit, came on and began her evil spells (see pic) she was a yard away from me and it took all my self-control not to get up and bash the wretched woman.

The ghosts win in the end and two of them can be see here on their way to Hawaiki (Heaven).

There's more to it than that, many threads woven together and a lot to think about afterwards.

It covered racism, intolerance to gay people (the two men going into the light), suicide and its consequences and our fear of death.

It was billed as a ghosty comedy and parts of the dialogue were funny but it was very dark, often disturbing - hence the prayer at the end and a bowl of water near the exit.

All the best theatre should move you though, shouldn't it?

Your DH's cardiologist sounds like he's got a good bedside manner Doodle 😁 I hope that the rejig of his meds suit your DH better. Oh, I noticed your thread on Pregabalin, I didn't know it was used to treat RLS. I only knew its used as an epilepsy drug (or analgesic). It's amazing that so many epilepsy drugs can be used for so many things! Apart from your DH I only know one other person who has taken Pregabalin (for her epilepsy) and she gained a lot of weight. It's quite a common side effect. Has your DH's consultant ever prescribed him Topiramate (another epilepsy drug) ? It has similar qualities to Pregabalin and when I did a quick search it is mentioned as being used to treat RLS. I used to take Topiramate and, if anything, lost a little but hardly a lot of weight.

At last your DMiL is back in the flat, great news Grammaretto. I hope she's feeling better but if not that she starts to now as she settles back into her home. Your DBiL is there with her isn't he?
Ooh, a weekend in a castle 🏰. I hope you have a fabulous time on your potters weekend 😊. How shall we address you when you return 😉

What a wonderful experience that theatre performance sounds Kaimoana. I've seen a few performed in that type of setting in exactly the same way as you describe. One I saw was an avant garde performance of The Tempest a load of rubbish and another was a brilliant production of Macbeth.
You asked about the word nahuatl - yes it appears quite similar to cwtch. I'd say with the word cwtch you can extend the meaning a little bit more to encompass heart: heart & soul, support is with heart, comfort is with heart, embrace with all heart 😊

Talking about heart ... my heart is 💔 again today as my team lost 4 nil 🙄. Why oh why do I bother supporting this shower, #disgruntledfan 🤣
It added insult to injury not really after my neighbour went on one of her rants, which lasted 24 hours and kept me awake last night 😤. I know she can't help it but it doesn't make it easier for me. Last night she was knocking heavily on her own bedroom door (I could hear exactly what she was doing ) and then answering it and shouting obscenities at her unwelcome visitor 🥴. Great fun not . Wish her ex would swap houses with her, but he won't because he shares it with his brother, and of course his two girls. I'd move but nobody's going to want to live here, #disgruntedneighbour!

Kaimoana I found lots of interesting words in that article. I too picked up on the hug with the soul. I think it’s a cwtch too.
So pleased you enjoyed the theatre performance.
What a dramatic storyline. You were certainly in the thick of it.
I hope you didn’t have bad dreams that night.
Cherry thank you for taking an interest in DH and the pregabalin. Poor DH is not in a good place at the moment. I think the mixture of drugs he takes is quite potent and some of them have begun fighting each other. He has put on a massive amount of weight and his legs are getting full of fluid. He is having coughing spasms that lead to him being exhausted.
Monday morning I shall be on the phone to the surgery.
I’m sorry our team lost. Not a good score at all.
Your neighbour causing ructions again. She will have an endless supply of people to shout at if she keeps answering her own knocking on the door.
I’m hoping for a much better night for you tonight,

Grammaretto hope you’re having a lovely time at your castle. Can’t wait to hear how you got on when you’re back home again.

I did have a lovely time thanks but very tired now.
The pottery demos were fantastic, the company was very friendly, the food plentiful and the fancy dress ceilidh was a highlight.

I hope the Dude is better than he was Doodle.
I hope you are all having a nice weekend.
I may go to the film tonight. Or I may not

Hi All. Just a quick note to say I’m still struggling on trying to get back to some semblance of normality. I’m permanently shattered which is normal after a stroke as allegedly my brain is healing. Actually think my brain is dead as progress is very slow. I do read all your posts each day but as all I’ve got to say is boring information about me I will just read your posts and shut up!! Hope everyone had a good weekend and Doodle gets a GP appt tomorrow!