The Lockdown Gang - 🦞 Lobstars Unlocked 🦞

Disappointing that the boot didn't help your DH Doodle but I'm pleased that the patch and/or tramadol is helping him a bit. Using the e consult sounds like a frustrating experience. A friend of mine used it recently and she said felt like she was going round in circles because the line of questioning is so repetitive. She eventually submitted it (she said it took far longer to do than claimed) and ended up receiving a phone call from her practice anyway "to fill in the gaps" 🙄.
Sorry, I couldn't help tittering at the big round thing with a green light - it sounds like a spaceship to me 🤣. It would be good to know how it works, it's intriguing isn't it, but as long as it does and sends them the information that they need then that's the important thing.*

Well done Grammaretto 👍. I know where to come if we need a mechanic even if it's a long way to travel without a car. Interesting sign at the community woods, donations are forwarded to all the organisations listed I take it or have I misunderstood? It's great if that's the case.
Yay, you've got a 🌲 😁. I'm so pleased you got one in the end. I hope the decorations were in an accessible place ours live in the loft and because I'm so short I can't even reach the hatch with the tool to open it.

I'm sure it won't surprise you that today we braved the shops, well one, to get the coffee ... and came away with a few extra items 😄. Yes, we didn't forget the coffee.
Doodle I empathise, I've been wrapping presents today using one of those inordinately long rolls of paper. I thought I'd got myself organised - large flat surface to use ✅ sellotape ✅ measuring and cutting off what I needed for each present ✅ ... and kept ripping the paper when it came to the actual wrapping 😤 I've reached the conclusion that I'm useless at wrapping 🤦.

Don't worry Doodle dear, you were meant to laugh - I did as well.
It may not surprise you that in my salad days (I was dieting at the time) I was a guest of the Research & Development section of the British Army, based at Colchester.
I was completing a project on all aspects of military design.

I actually did part of an assault course (not very well but they praised me anyway) and was also buckled into a dog-attack suit. (see pic)

They didn't unleash a dog but as you can't get out of these garments without help, they sloped off for coffee and left me, stumbling like L'homme *Michelin across the parade ground - the monkeys.

I was staying in a guesthouse nearby and a Middle Eastern chap took a fancy to me, even chasing me up the stairs when I spurned his advances, shouting, "But I like thick women!"


I'm waiting for my family to arrive; it's 10am and they still haven't left home. As the roads were absolutely jammed yesterday, it's going to be even worse today, it may take them until midnight.

*aka Bibendum

Cherry, DH got a letter from the hospital a while ago saying he was on the list for a neurology appointment. They weren’t writing to give him a date but just to say if he no longer wanted the appointment to let them know as they’d take him off the list. One way of shortening the waiting list I suppose.
Shall we be brave together? I’m going to make my way to the shops tomorrow for my raisins and also a cake that I need for visitors that I didn’t know were coming
Dh has abandoned the morphine patch. It didn’t help enough to not need other pain relief so he’s gone back to the cocodamol.
Hope our team are in better form (see I’m learning technical terms) for this weekends game and your PomPoms are cheering them on.
Grammaretto, well done on fixing your car. Pleased you’ve got a tree. That’s a good idea at the woodland. Have you decorated it yet?
No the tree surgeons weren’t sheltered and the branches were waving about quite a lot. Mind you I suppose being in a built up area we don’t get the sort of winds that you would have from being more open. It still looked scary to me though.

Good evening Lobstars,
I wonder how the cousin video call went ixion?
I perch my phone so it's looking at something more interesting than my face.
I am feeling proud of myself having thought my car would be stuck with the brakes jammed, I followed my mechanic's instructions and it became unstuck! I didn't even have to take a hammer to it which was the next instruction if the other didn't work

So I took my car for a drive , filled up the petrol tank and stopped for a walk at the community woodland. Then I couldn't resist picking up a Christmas tree and bringing it home. So I shall have a tree!**Now I shall have to invite people round to enjoy it but that can wait until next week.

These tree surgeons are amazing to watch aren't they Doodle. But were they working in the high wind or are you sheltered?

How annoying Doodle about DHs poor heel and useless 👢 boot.

How annoying too Kaimoana to have to listen to a chorus of barking dogs.
Did you have the hip operation eventually? I do wonder about mine. I will try to hurry them now I have much more pain.
I've enjoyed hot chocolate and red wine tonight. not in the same cup
Thanks Jeeves.

.

I don't know why it's the case Grammaretto but Orthopaedic waiting lists are ubiquitously long, habitually so. It's becoming an increasing theme across the NHS. We were astonished in the autumn of last year when my WP had a letter from a hospital department (_not_Orthopaedic) giving him an appointment in the spring of next year! I'm wondering if it'll actually exist on the system by the time it comes round because he was informed so far in advance. Like ixion, I too am wondering if your GP can try and get an appointment expedited, do you think it's worth a try? I'm pleased you managed to get a physio appointment they're like hen's teeth here and I really hope it helps.

Oh ixion, your cousin sounds a lot like an aunt I had 😬. You didn't dare divide your attention from her even when her back was turned or she did it to you. I like Kaimoana's idea, cameras can play up with a little help 😉. It sounds like that plant self destructed 😏. There's no way that should have happened to a healthy plant. I hope you've taken photos so your cousin can put in a complaint.
Our team can't play much worse than we did last night, can we 🤔 We'll bounce back on Saturday I'm sure famous last words.

Are all Drs related I wonder Kaimoana, yours sounds an awful lot like my designated GP. I was talking to a woman in my GP practice the last time I was in there who told me that her grandchildren call him Dr Meany because he says the same sort of things your Dr said to you. It's a very glib way of treating people. I hope you're not waiting too much longer for those tests 🤞

The final package for something I ordered turned up today but I'm still rueing the fact I forgot to get coffee 🥴. Dare I brave the shops just to get coffee or shall I add some unnecessary items to a list of must haves as an excuse to 😬.

Cherry, the big boot is going back. It didn’t help DH despite its size.
I’ve been busy wrapping Christmas presents today (including 3 for the dogs 😮). I seem to have acquired wrapping paper that comes in a very long roll. It is completely unwieldy and can’t think what made me buy it. I always wrap on the ironing board which is just as well as I needed a really long surface to work on. Wish I’d just bought gift bags it would have been easier.
Glad you had a better night and got all your shopping done. I’ll swap you a jar of coffee for a bag of raisins if you’ve got one. That’s what I forgot

Grammaretto, my machine is like a big round thing with a green light. It has to be within 10 ft of where I sleep and at some point in some way it will tell the pacemaker people what is happening to my heart. I have no idea how as the literature just says how I set it up but not what to do with it. It’s very bizarre. Hope the physio helps you.

Ooh ixion you sound so laid back and relaxed. I am envious.
How did you get on with the scary cousin. Did you manage to stay awake and look suitably interested. 🤣
i didn’t know I should put the patches in different places. I suppose that’s sensible. Each one lasts a week. Something is helping a bit, could be the patch or could be the tramadol.
Not keen on him having both but the doc said he could if really necessary.
I had to do an online consult e consult for DH with the surgery today. What a lot of silly questions.

What part of the body do you wish to discuss, answer foot.
Do you have a problem with a foot ….Yes.
Is the foot painful …..Yes
Where is the pain ….in the heel
What part of the body is the pain……in the bl####y foot.
Or words to that effect.

I have a similar effect on plants .
I wonder what Argos have got for you?

Kaimoana, I know it’s not funny but your tale of falling in the car park and dragging your shopping home did make me laugh. I think you could do combat training with the Army. 🤣*Your appointment doesn’t sound particularly helpful. It would be good if you could get those tests done.
Not another barking dog. Perhaps you should go out when the neighbours with the dogs are at home and stand and bark outside their windows and see how they like it.
Your tree looks lovely . What a good idea
Talking of pruning, I’ve been watching the man trim our huge hornbeam trees in the grounds. He was standing at the tops of the branches and it was quite windy. I watched for a while but when he started wielding the chain saw I decided I couldn’t bear it anymore 😱

Oh dear, ixion your poor plant. Shedding is common in many plants if they have a shock such as moving but for leaves to go yellow? that is a puzzle. Couldn't be that a cat got there before you?

I had to laugh at you and address books. I keep all mine and when I could read handwriting, it was fun to look back on names (and now obscure addresses). Compuserve used to issue long numbers and letters instead of names on emails. Whose barmy idea was that?

If you know how to disable your camera in 'Settings" do so then fake surprise when manipulative cousin starts trying to control you the chat. I have an exteral webcam, easy to cover lens but to tell the truth anyone brave enough to look at my face for more than 10 minutes, is beyond help anyway.

Grammaretto I hope your experience doesn't mirror mine. I waited so long for my hip operation that eventually, half-way across a supermarket carpark with a full trolley, it just gave up and I fell forward onto my comestibles.

A dear lady ran over and as I draped languidly and in extreme pain, on the cart, helped me load the car.
When I got home, I was, of course alone but with the blessing of a garage which opened automatically with a zapper.

From then, I did a series of SAS crawls, even carrying a bag of cornflakes in my teeth and rolling tins ahead of me, to get groceries from garage to kitchen.
Despite the pain, what slowed this progress was that I couldn't stop laughing.
I still had another 2 months to wait for the op.

I've just had my 6 month check at the doctors and told her about the chest pains.
"On a scale of 1-10 how severe is it?:
Me: 6 or 7 but as soon as I get up and move about it goes away.
'Is it a sharp pain?'
Me: No, it's just as if someone is sitting on my chest and stopping me breathing.'
'Are you worried about it?'
Me: Not really, I just get out of bed and move about.'
"Let me know if it gets any worse."
Thinks: I'll send my ghost to inform you when it kills me.

Of course she knows I was diagnosed wih AF and Aortic stenosis in 2019 and have been waiting many, many months for the tests the cardiologist wants me to have.

On the bright side, someone else locally has acquired a young dog for Christmas. It yaps constantly.
Now I have canine angst in stereo what fun.

My Christmas Tree is the prunings from my beautiful Manuka.

I compose this from an afternoon of luxuriating in the knowledge that I can do no more - well, til tomorrow at least😇. Save only to acknowledge the passing storm and to ponder what might be blown off or seep into the very fabric of the house. The only other thing to distract me is the annual catch up with a very scary cousin. One who, fortunately, can talk for England and which makes interaction minimal. The drawback is that she insists on video messaging ('I like to see your face'🤷‍♀️), which precludes any sort of multi-tasking. This I learned the hard way after once sneaking a sideways glance to check the clock on the mantle piece. Are you looking at the clock? Don't you want to chat? '😳.

I am struck by the fortitude and Dunkirk Spirit of many who post on our thread
Soldiering on amidst all nature of poor health, personal life events, the worry for loved ones. All with humour and good grace, presumably in the knowledge that we are amongst our friends
Blimey, I sound like an extract from the Queen's Christmas speech. But you know what I mean, I hope.

Doodle, I am heartened to hear your explanation of the disconcerting health results - but it was so unnecessary to impart the news in the way it happened. None of us would want unexplained bombshells to arrive so close to Christmas and the general shutdown over the festive period. I hope the boot provides help.
Don't forget to apply the patches to different sites - remember 'Pin the tail on the donkey'. May be better to keep your eyes open tho'.

Cherry and I slunk ignominiously away after last night's ⚽️ match. Don't bother to check that score out. We hope for greater things on Saturday btw.

You have experienced a lot of disappointment recently, Kaimona *for which I am sorry. But expect a posse of 🦞s around for your truffles. I still have everything
peeled for Trevor's arrival*.

Nfk, I am intrigued at how Keira can sleep in the car for an hour without you, yet not settle at home? You'd have thought that she wouldn't have relaxed with all the comings and goings past the car. Or perhaps it's bustle and activity which gives her reassurance.

So sorry, Grammaretto, that your op is so elusive. Would your GP not put in his pennyworth to the Orthopaedic bod to expedite your position on the list? (Assuming, tbat us, that you have managed the list thus far). I see you propose to create a new address book. A word of caution. I did that after last Christmas (partly on the premise that if something happened to me, all entries would be up to date and relevant for others to work through). So saying, I have left two names and addresses off, AND discarded the old book, so sit reading their chatty letters with absolutely no ability to reciprocate. 😡😡.

Yesterday was a day of mysteries and surprises.
Two courier parcels left unceremoniously on the step (too busy to stop to ring these days, I guess). One was a plant, a berried plant from a(nother) cousin - as ascertained once we'd prised it from its container (THIS WAY UP, it optimistically printed). Lovely, but exotic, hence unknown to me. Likes a temperature above 7 degrees. Should do fine here then, Mr. Grumpy proffers, who thinks my insistence on what he calls sub tropical temperatures is unreasonable. Said plant took one look at me and promptly shed all its berries. Its protests continued over night when its green glossy leaves began to turn an alarming yellow. The second was a text from Argos, giving reference number and code and instructions to collect said item by 24th December.
Not me, Guv.
What to do?🤔

Hello Lobstars,

I am greatly relieved that heart failure means different things to different people and the kind you have Doodle is not the dangerous one. At least I think that's what it is. I hope your remote controlled monitor behaves herself. or is it a he?

Thanks for the empathy Cherry. Because the orthopaedic waiting lists are so long, GPs are happy to dish out painkillers. Even if I had managed to get through I daresay it wouldn't have shortened the queue.
I did manage to get a call back from a GP and have a physio appointment tomorrow. I'm very glad to hear that you had a good night's sleep.

Your time with the family sounds lovely Nfk although as I scrolled over your post I read that Keira had done most of the cooking 😄 what a clever doggie

I'm glad and sad about the explanation of your df no show Kaimoana. I'm always disappointed when things like that happen.

Cards keep arriving with sad news. I guess it's not surprising as we get older to hear of illness and death.

Ixion, congratulations on your wordle result!

That's not good Grammaretto. Sometimes I think these departments have these numbers because they have to seen to provide a way to contact but nobody actually mans them. Autocorrect just turned mans to means, Freudian slip perhaps 🤷. Interesting ancestry 🧐, I think there's a few of these naughty men as I have a naughty lord like that in my ancestry.

I'm pleased you had such a lovely weekend with your family Nfk and that the antibiotics are working. Keira sounds like she is settling in well with you, I'm sure she'll settle in even further as I think she knows that you care 😊.

Kaimoana, I'm sorry to hear about your friend. The others should have contacted you though I think, poor no show from them. I have small feet and often find women's socks too big but children's socks too small so no socks seem to be fit for purpose for me- it doesn't sound like Santa's socks would be either 🤣

Ah, now I see why the message told you that you didn't have lung cancer Doodle. I'm glad you've been sent a gadget, it'll tell them and you everything they and you need to know. The message was a little misleading there as they don't actually know whether you do have AF and you might not. Ah, it's the op' to fix the wire in your pacemaker - you did say they were going to have to do that. You said all will be revealed - most of it has been and what hasn't been - there may not be anything to reveal. From your description I think I've seen those type of boots as a df had one for a short time which he said did magic tricks 😁. Sounds like it was a bit of an exercise obtaining those patches. I think it's getting harder and harder for pharmacies to get hold of some medications, it's certainly the case where I live. I'm so pleased that you found one that had them.

I managed to get a good night's sleep last night, yay 😁.We also completed all(ish) our Xmas shopping, included the groceries - except we forgot the coffee we meant to buy 🤦. How I'll cope without coffee I don't know 🤣.

ixion I’ve had more news today. The Gp sent me for a 2 week scan as she was concerned about the fluid in lungs. They automatically check for cancer so that was where that came from.
The cardiology team have sent me a gadget to use at home which remotely monitors my heart (? Big brother) to see if it really is AF and I have an appointment with cardiology in February to discuss it all and they’re going to fix the dodgy wire in my pacemaker. Seems like some of the news got to me before they thought it would.
To be honest, I’m not that phased by it. Had so many different diagnoses with DH (who also has heart failure) that I’m used to this sort of thing.
Cherry, you can’t function on so little sleep. Is there nothing you can take to help you?
The boot arrived and it is HUGE. It fits snugly round the foot but whether it helps or not remains to be seen. The DN came today and said I should get morphine patches from the GP for DHs foot. Had to trawl through the chemists till I found one that had them in stock. Patch now applied and waiting to see if it helps
I think Jeeves needs to give you a double shot of hot chocolate every night to help you sleep. Hope tonight is a better one
Grammaretto, could you try ringing the hospital directly and go through to the department via the operator. Sometimes they have different numbers.
What an interesting ancestor. I wonder how many other distant cousins there are 🤔
Thanks Nfk I think you’re right about the AF and heart failure been under the same umbrella. Yes DH just has the one (very expensive) boot just for his poorly foot. You’re right it does make walking very lopsided but her only going about indoors and his beautiful assistant hovers encouragingly behind him all the way just in case,
What a lovely weekend you had with your family. So pleased Keira settling in well,
Kaimoana, I agree they could have let you know. So sorry you’ve lost a friend. You’re right it would be better if people explained things more. I agree heart failure sounds very bad.
Ooh Cointreau chocolate truffles sound delicious. That’s making my mouth water
Take care all.

That's a lovely post Nfk, what a happy time you had.
Keira sound like my son - cried and cried if I went anywhere without him but Grandma told me the minuteI was out of sight, he settled down
However, if he was going on a playdate without me - not a backward glance

Do they have dog playparks near you?

There was, it transpires, a very good reason why my friends didn't turn up but I still feel they could have rung, even included me. A close, long-time friend of ours died in hospital at lunchtime yesterday.

I don't think young people know that in our day, 'Heart Failure' was deadly serious. 'How did he die? Heart failure'

One of the motivations for giving my air purifier to my gentle friend Maureen was because she was so frightened after that phrase was shot at her by the hospital.
She has AF and not all that severely, but she was petrified. Why didn't they say exactly what she had and reassure her it was easy to treat? Now they have - but she waited weeks, scared she might die and leave her chronically ill DH alone.

Artoa and I made a quick visit to the Blind Support group this morning. We were each offered a 'freebie' - a pair of sock or a shopping bag. I could go into business selling the free shopping bags I alread own so I chose the socks.
I would guess they'd fit a 7 year old and are so ugly I'm not even going to put them away for Gubbins. Santa must be blind.

I'm going to make Cointreau chocolate truffles for my DiL as soon as it cools down a bit.

From memory Doodle, I think AF may be put under the heading of heart failure as its a symptom of the heart not working as it should. But it would have been nice to have had this explained face to face - along with the operation it seems you may be being pre-op'ed for and that you don't have lung cancer - did you think you had? Unless, of course, you've got the wrong notes which, as Cherry implied, does sound rather likely!

I do hope Mr D's feet improve with his magic boot. Does he get just the one? Doesn't that make him lop sided?

I love the nails Mamissimo, Lovely colour too. Does it have a sparkle as well as a Father Christmas? And the hall with it's Harry Potter candles is wonderful. Will you keep them permanently? Or at least until spring. Everyone seems a lot more Christmassy than me. It's sort of sneaking up on me again.

It's so sad that your DGS can't make it Kaimoana and disappointing that your friends didn't arrive. Perhaps they misunderstood or got the wrong day? And to top it off with having to listen to that poor dog. Poor thing, why do people do it?

Keira is coming on nicely - except for being left. She stayed in the car today while I delivered some stuff to the Salvation Army, and stayed for a coffee and chat. Nearly an hour and, although she was very pleased to see me back, she'd just curled up on the back seat and slept (I had a spy keeping an eye on her). But she can't convert this to indoors. Sixteen minutes of concentrated door watching is the longest she's managed. Shortly after that she starts barking, howling and whining. Early days though. Hopefully she'll eventually learn that I do come back without her calling for me.

I had a lovely weekend with the family. DH has done most of the cooking for the last 30 plus years but my three course meal actually made it to the table on time and was eaten with relish although timings need working on - the sprouts and broccoli were far too a bit over cooked, and the antibiotics kicked in soon enough for me to eat it. The nice wine chosen by DH last year helped. The dogs (and family) all got on well too. And then DD2 and family took me to Holkham Hall to see the lights on Sunday evening (her DFiL dog sat). It rounded the weekend off wonderfully.

This week I feel quite content!

Oh Doodle, what a mysterious message
I think you must investigate. It's not acceptable to leave a message like that.

Sending you encouraging hugs and cwtches. I hope the boot helps DH.
❤️

I tried to chase up my hip replacement. Ha! I got nowhere. I was told by the GP reception that I am on the waiting list for surgery since February. I was given 2 numbers. The first just rang and rang. The 2nd rang and went dead!

Oh poor Cherry. Lack of sleep is so debilitating. At least your team is doing well 😁

My displacement activity is writing to a newly discovered cousin met via our DNA. She lives in Wellington and we think we are both descendants of this naughty man who fathered several illegitimate DC! His family came from the Scottish Borders, very near where I now live.

Meanwhile the toilet roll still has no holder.

Your mistletoe wreath is charming ixion. Lots of kisses 😚 for you.

Do carol singers call?

Can you make enough hot chocolate for all of us please Jeeves.

Evening lobStars

I'm very tired this evening 😴 after only having has 7 hours sleep since Saturday possibly because I'm anaemic . My brain is fuddled no change there then so it's better for you all that I abbreviate

Oh Doodle what an odd and disconcerting message. It's great that you don't have lung cancer but have you even had any investigations for it in the first place 🤔. It's very strange. What's even stranger and obviously worrying is that the message says that you have heart failure and also that you are booked in for a pre-op that you clearly haven't even had any discussions about. I know nothing about the message system you're talking about but surely a consultant (from any field) would discuss. Yes, I'm sure all will be revealed in due course but all this should be clear in the first place and you can't be left partly in the dark worrying, I'd be contacting the consultant's secretary. I hope the soft boot helps your DH 🤞. Sending you my warmest gentlest cwtches xx

I'll have my hot chocolate now please Jeeves. Night night everyone

I am so very sorry, Doodle.

If this is the approach that the NHS now takes with its 'Breaking Bad News', I am, frankly, appalled.

Can you get anywhere with the GP for a full discussion before the Christmas break? Could the DN intercede for you?

Those nails are very glamorous Mamissimo. I’ve only ever had mine done once. Love Santas hat.
Ido hope you’re not overdoing things too much but it’s easy to get carried away. Even though we’re having a simple Christmas just the two of us I seem to have been busy.
Kaimoana, I’m so sorry your DgS isn’t coming. What a disappointment. I hope you get to see him soon though.
When the DGc start working then it does get more difficult to plan things. He’s very conscientious for his age though.
Sorry your friends didn’t arrive. We could all have popped over to be with you if we could. That poor dog. Not fair on him or the neighbours. Some people shouldn’t have pets.
Thank you for the festive budgies.😊.
People don’t seem to have them as pets as much as they used to. Probably just as well.
Grammaretto, a slower pace for you today, Hope the lunch was enjoyable. Have you managed to put up your toilet roll holder yet?
You and I of the same mind Ixion. We would both have been round for mince pies and a good natter
Yes my DGds always had pretty nails. Mine are just short and stubby.
Well that’s a very nice wreath. Did Mr I do it by himself? Very pretty. Does the postman have to give you a kiss now every time he delivers a letter 😊
Well I had good news tonight and some puzzling news too.
I received a message today from my personal account on the hospital system telling me the good news that I don’t have lung cancer (!) but I do have heart failure. So, I wonder, is that in addition to the AF, or are they one and the same?
I also have a pre op assessment in February it seems but pre op for what it doesn’t say. .
i expect all will be revealed in due course. Dn visit again tomorrow. I do wish DHs feet would show signs of improvement. We are waiting (10 minutes to go) for the delivery of a soft boot for people with ulcers or tissue injury to the foot. Whether it will help or not remains to be seen.

Oh, poor you, Kaimona. You must be devastated that your DGS can't come, especially after all the hard work you put in. But important that he has shown a commitment (and calling) to his employers which won't, I am sure, go unnoticed.
I'd have been round like a shot for the invitation to coffee and exceedingly good any old mince pies.

Mamissimo, she of glamorous nails, what lovely festive effects! I trust ownership will excuse you henceforth from any heavy duty all jobs for the next few weeks. Oh, I couldn't possibly ..... The only nail art devotees in our family are, curiously, our DGSs.
Hey Nana, do you like my nails?. Aged 5. Do you go to school with them?, I ask hesitantly Oh yes.*
I am just relieved my DM isn't here to eavesdrop.

Here is the photo you asked for, Doodle.
Divorce papers in the post.

I enjoyed the festive budgies too Kaimoana. 👋😃😄

Mamissimo is very amusing i hope she's as amused as she makes us!

I'm sorry DGS isn't able to come to you at Christmas. As you say, it's good that he is in demand as a barista.

So sad about the barking dog.
How's Keira settling in Nfk? Any more playtime?
I am relishing the fact that I don't have anything I have to do or go to today except read the meters, go to the post office, make a couple of phone calls and put up my new toilet roll holder.

I managed to get the printer to work yesterday so gave the lady her pottery voucher. Small achievement.😊
I was taken to the golf club for our walking group lunch.

I am glad that the dude is back to normal and didn't need those hallucinating drugs.

Off to find a screwdriver.

Just for you Doodle
Festive Budgies

Mamissimo you are a hoot!
Just the kind of smile I needed since I learned my DGS won't be coming for Christmas after all as his shifts (he's learning to be a barista) have been extended.

I'd finished the treasure hunt clues moments before the email arrived with the bad news. I'm telling myself it's a good thing he's doing well enough to be asked to work extra hours; that it's a good work ethic to have at 14 - and it's more money in his savings. But the sadness is still there.

I also invited friends round today on a casual basis for coffee and mince pies but so casual it seems that they didn't bother to turn up. Mr Kipling's "exeedingly good" Mince Pies (with brandy butter) languish unappreciated.

The poor, barking dog was shut out in the garden today, his owners obviously out from early morning. He barked non-stop until lunchtime, clearly with no response, so has been whining sadly since then. It's now almost 8:30pm.

ixion I used to belong to a rather superior pen-pal service for professionals. Hand written letters only and no idle gossip. I imagine the letters treasured and in 150 years, issued as a book

It cheers me to learn MrDoodle didn't need the trippy drugs,
let's hope the pain continues to abate.

Good evening 😴😴😴

Picture is my Christmas manicure with a nod to the old fella.

Ah Ixion - they're magic candles that come with a flakey remote control that we keep in the glory drawer with the old table mats, a pair of dice, my DFil's old pipe, a monopoly wheelbarrow and other useful stuff....

Mr M is exasperated with me again because I have apparently bitten off too much for one superwoman to do in a week. He keeps asking lovely questions in the "have we ordered.....are we having......did you remember to..." vein and was surprised when a leg of lamb escaped from the freezer and the utility room and flew towards him at supersonic speed.....

Tomorrow I shall try to play nicely.

Kaimoana, im pleased to say DH avoided the tramadol last night and has been much more himself today. No imaginary conversations with neighbours that I know are in Florida 🤔
I bet you enjoy doing the clues for the treasure hunt. I always used to love thinking up things like that for our DGc.
Glad you had a successful day.
What wonderful news about Karen’s daughter. You must be so pleased for her
Well I’m feeling smug. All my cards written and posted. I ran out of stamps so had to go and buy some. The nearest place is Waitrose as our post office is quite inaccessible in the middle of town. On the way I passed one of the local charity shops and dropped off some winter coats that DH and I acquired during out visits to Norway. Far too thick for us to wear but I thought someone would appreciate them.
Wow, our team is doing well. Ixion, you and Cherry must be sprinkling fairy dust over them.
Dyslexia strikes again……I did wonder, in what way, expensive looking budgies could possibly hinder your festive lunch …….hoping they weren’t on the menu 😱
Ive always wanted to do my own wreath for Christmas. Not got round to it yet. Maybe next year. Please post a picture of Mr I’d masterpiece when it’s finished.

Santa most assuredly does visit old people, even if he has to leave his gifts in a designated safe place like the parcel delivery people, when everyone is still up when he wants to do his drop-offs. DD was never one for the idea of Santa entering her bedroom. Her stocking had to be placed firmly at the other end of the landing.

No need to run round nekkid, Kaimona. Our Team is covering itself in glory recently, our pom-poms are shimmering in perfect synchronicity and the tinsel round our ra-ra skirts likewise.

Today has been particularly self-indulgent. Festive brunch with a dear friend who I have known since Playgroup days (our children's), hindered only by wet dogs (a particular pong) and expensive looking buggies. The all terrain ones are particularly impressive. All sorts of matching accessories, drinks holders ... Used to leave my Silver Cross and baby outside, plus shopping, when visiting the next shop on the list. Funny. No one seems to do that any more😉.

Returning home, I opened cards, established that Mr.I had gone out and not finished made a start on the festive wreath I suggested he might like to make a start on. I left him mistletoe, a wreath frame, wire, snips, ribbon, door hook, small baubles, THE picture to copy and a work cloth to corral all the bits and bobs together
I wasn't sure if you wanted holly, he asked🙄.

Then the Christmas catch up with a special University friend I met on our first day in 1969. Still a deep and lasting friendship, even tho' our paths ended up going in very different directions. But how do you communicate effectively with someone who has no tv, no mobile phone (text, WhatsApp etc), no PC or tablet (no Internet, email, search engines, ability to receive photos or links), it's really hard AND really time consuming. But, she is very well-read🤭.

My star anise(s?) and embroidery hoops have now found their place in the Ixion household Christmas panorama. Just the goldfish bowl to go.
Pondering how Mamissimo controls the on/off status of her floating candles?

Hello Lobstars,

Thanks for clarifying Santa and his progress Kaimoana 😂
I'll shut off my chimney I think as he'll be very drunk by the time he reaches here.
My df, who came for dinner t'other night had endured a break in last week.
He's a light sleeper and heard a faint noise, looked out and saw a figure with a torch in his garden. He called 999 and the police arrived quickly but didn't catch the potential burglar. they were far too noisy The patio doors had been forced. I don't think it was Santa!

I wonder what they were after? Car keys are popular especially when expensive looking cars are parked in the street.

Did our team win? I prick up my ears when the sport comes on now but it still doesn't mean a lot to me. I've no passion!

I've been printing vouchers for pottery sessions. I've had several requests so have relented and agreed to run some taster sessions. People want to make their own pots. rather than buy mine

Tramadol sounds impressive stuff. Is it analgesic or for sleep? Perhaps both. I would like something to take away my arthritic pain and send me to sleep but at night please. Not in the daytime.

I hope DH is more his usual self today Doodle

What does a multi millionaire look like Kaimoana? 😂 I hope Karen's DD will be happy ever after.

I must now finish writing Christmas cards. Nearly done but I have letters to write in some.