The Lockdown Gang - 🦞 Lobstars Unlocked 🦞

Doodle I would guess this is the way your body is now forcibly slowing you down after the prolonged time of stress and anxiety.
I used to explain to my little boys that our internal soldiers rush to where they are needed and if they are busy keeping us going (or warm, or alert) they don't always have time to fight off germs.

ixion Did we win?

Cherry if we did, that will have cheered you
Hope you are feeling better.

I wasn't too bothered about missing the injection (apart from the rudeness of running out on the doc - I've written to apologise.)

My nurse, Anila, as is usual, asked if I could read the top line (and further) of the Snellen chart. I couldn't even see the wretched chart with my right eye.

Left did a little better but not much.
I have little hope of finishing It's Funny Being Old
but should a publisher be interested, I'd try
But they aren't.

Christmas Lunch at the Sallies was, astonishingly, very poorly attended but the roast lamb followed by Strawberry Pavlova was delicious.

We were each offered new and interesting versions of the NT. I took one for a good friend who will be driving me to the Ball on 8th.
No Doodle not in a converted pumpkin

ixion try putting a ping-pong ball in the bird bath. It'll freak the birds out until they get used to it but it's said to prevent freezing.

Waiheke Island on Tuesday - I'm looking forward to the 2 hour ferry trip.

♪ ♫ "A life on the ocean wave" ♬

We’ve had a very quiet day today and done nothing. I am convinced I have some sort of cold/flu/ chills but without sneezing. I have developed a dry cough, temperature up and down, shivers and aching limbs. Maybe it’s just exhaustion. I do feel a bit better today though.
Got DH washed in bathroom today and after he was dressed I noticed a small drop of bright red blood on the floor. Clothes off again I inspected him from head to toe. He has numerous dressings all over. Back, arms, legs but all seemed ok. Then he remembered his feet. Sure enough one of his huge blood blisters (caused by being in bed so long) on his heels was leaking. Another dressing applied. That will keep the DN busy Monday when she comes.
Kaimoana how lovely to have such positive feedback from your book. What a lovely picture and how nice of someone to send it to you. Such a shame about your eye appointment. Hope they sort it out soon
Grammaretto hope your son is safe. Yes a very troubling and sad event. Your dinner party sounds a very pleasant evening. Is anyone due to arrive soon? Sorry it’s been a lovely day here. Sun all day.
Ixion, all the best for our team today. May your PomPoms be in fine fettle (?)
Hope your bird spa isn’t damaged
You might have to invest in a bird sauna next 🤣

It does sound, doesn't it, that good things are on the horizon for many Lobstars! Maybe Our Team will win this afternoon to add a little oomph to the proceedings. Mind you, if we can't beat the lowest placed club...
I expect a panoply of photos for our gallery over the forthcoming days.

I hope the Doodles are chilling I believe that is the phrase these days and unwinding from the stresses and strains of hospital life and commuting. To sit in companionable silence is all that it takes, really, even when the other half falls asleep in the chair.

Off out this morning but will nip back this afternoon to catch up to see how poorlies are progressing and the crafty ladies. I wonder what the men folk will be doing?
Firstly, I must inspect my posh bird bath, which I see from the kitchen window, has frozen over. Bit of a b**mer, actually, as the instructions said to remove in cases of hard frost. We shall see how hard the frost actually was🤨

That's lovely Kaimoana. Your latest Trevor fan looks fully appreciative. 👏👏😊

Not so good that after much effort you didn't receive the eye injection. I hope it happens soon.

Doodle I trust you both had some good rest if not a delicious sleep.
I slept a lot better than the night before so thanks for all the good wishes and embrocations. I hope you did too Cherry after your wonderful 🚿

Mamissimo, a new dog arrives! Spud is coming with his gang! And you are getting to grips with ixion's Irish forebears. Thy cup runneth over 😍

My DS in Dublin is not at all happy about the situation there.

Tang leaves tomorrow. We had a tiny dinner party . Df brought food and cooked with Tang as comis chef. He told her she was the most interesting Chinese person he'd ever met which made her look pleased blush
I lit the fire and sat back with my knitting.
I wonder how you are getting on with Keira Nfk? She sounds pretty perfect to me.

Sending warm hugs from this icy landscape

Through a series of mix ups (not mine this time) the eye was never jabbed, nor did I see the ophthalmologist, instead was haring down the corridor to catch the last shuttle at 2pm just as the nurse yelled at me, 'But he's waiting to see you now!'
By the skin of my teeth I caught my only chance to get home.

I know it's hard at Christmas when much is going on but please, Grammaretto look after yourself.

I was so happy to receive this picture from people I've never met and be told Trevor is the baby's favourite book. What a little treasure he is.

Thank you all for your kind wishes.
We have done nothing today. Both exhausted. Kind neighbour and son have picked up meds for us and neither of us have done anything. It’s certainly helped my shoulders not doing anything.
Thanks Ixion it means so much to have him back.
Grammaretto, you sound really poorly. I’m so sorry. Have you got anything for the cough. Good you’re not doing much you need to rest while you feel like that.
Jeeves come on, get yourself up to Scotland and produce a sizeable batch of your old grannies cough remedy. Your services are required.
Cherry, what I found bizarre was that all morning they said not sure he can go, forms have to signed by this one and that one and then suddenly it’s all systems go and he’s out the door without even having the chance to say goodbye to his ward pals (the quieter ones that is). Still all behind us now and a peaceful day.
Kaimoana, we didn’t arrive in quite such style 🤣
To be honest I didn’t have the energy today to even stand under the shower. I’ve tried a hot water bottle and pads but that doesn’t seem to help. I’ve taken some pain killers. Just enough to get me through.
Mango and passion fruit are my favourites too.
Oh you’re poor eye. Hope all goes well
I’ll be in touch about book. I’m determined to have a copy .
Trevor is part of the family
Mamissimo glad the research is interesting you.
Have a lovely visit with SPud. Hope we I’ll see a photo of your wreath making efforts too.
ooh another dog in the family too.
Hope this one gets up to all sorts of adventures too. Please tell us all about him/her.

I think Jeeves stocks are in serious disarray, I've got the sniffles and a tickly cough now and all he said he had available was Virol 🤢 and I don't think that would work on a cough anyway. I'm sticking to my own measures of honey and lemon and the odd paracetamol and an early night.
The plumber did turn up yesterday and did fix the shower 👍. It was so good to have a shower I felt like dancing under the spray but didn't 😁

The Waipareira have come up long way in the last 16 years Kaimoana. The way you describe it, it sounds like that had a good AGM with positivity at the heart of it.
I'll have to have a think about Berocca, I take a folic acid supplement but not the other B vitamins, but I'm not sure I my WP could cope with additional fits of hysteria 🤫
I haven't checked out whether Amazon-Oz post/ship to the UK but I did check to see if Scorpio Books do (as I found they stock Trevor) but they don't 😕. There is an outlet in the UK (Suffolk) so I'm wondering whether they'll stock Trevor at some point 🤔

How's your cough and cold Grammaretto? I hope you're over the worst of it💐

I hope the pain in your poor shoulder is easing now are not back and forth the hospital Doodle💐. How is your DH doing, is he able to move about okay? I'm sure he's happy being home.

Welcome home to the Dude - glad to learn he's back at the ranch!

I have been a busy body person this week and have made progress in my travails.

Ixion must be sick of the sight of her inbox since I started poking about in her attic - a fascinating history and I've been in dusty online places I haven't been to for years...but my brain cells are well and truly stimulated!*

Spud is coming for the weekend with his entourage and I'm hosting a wreath making event for all the ladies of the family. We're going to try our hands at the bauble ones this year.....can't be that hard as the You Tube thingy make it look a doddle....will report back!

Kaimoana oh yes please to a private arrangement for the book - as, long as the postage isn't as daft as from the USA! I really want Spud to have a copy as you were such a supporter of journey

and we have a new dog arriving on Thursday! It's been a long search but we're excited!

I've sent Jeeves on a mixology course to make cough soother coshes.....

I'm told Amazon-Oz won't post to UK. Has anyone tested this?

If it's true and anyone wants a copy of my book, I'm happy to sign and post it direct.

If you don't want to divulge your address perhaps the UKPost office has 'Poste Restante'? Or you may have a P O Box number.

Drop me a line and I'll enquire about postage.

The books themselves are currently selling at between £8-10 so if that's high, wait until after Christmas and I'm sure they'll be marked down

I can sell at £8 +p. Packing comes free.

What welcome, wonderful news, our dear Mr D is home at last.

I found a picture of your son, grandson, the two walkers giving him a lift home.

Have you tried easing your poor shoulder under a hot shower?

Berocca is a vitamin supplement sold as effervescent tablets. Many flavours, mine is mango and passionfruit and contains the B Vitamins.

They are sold in the UK but going by this website, seem to make Brits semi-hysterical, so watch that if you decide to take them.
www.berocca.co.uk

They do seem to be very effective though - and sugar free

I'm off for another delightful jab in the eye now but will rejoice all the way at this fantastic outcome for Mr & Mrs D.

Halleluia!

A pretty major exercise involved by sound of things Doodle but such lovely news that your DH is home 😊. Hopefully you can mentally relax and physically recoup yourself now, a cuppa and a biscuit is a good place to start for you both x.

Wonderful news! He's home where he belongs.
Well done all of you

You don't sound at all well though Doodle.

I hope my germs haven't reached you.
I've been coughing my guts up all day.
I think I am relieved from my shift tomorrow. I sent Tang away to have the day off as I fear she'll get sick around me.
My df didn't come as she is also not well
She may come on Saturday instead.

The bar is bare Jeeves. No restocking has been done. 🥺 It's been replaced with benylin and lemsip though my tipple is fresh orange and honey.

💃💃
Words fail me Doodle you'll all be pleased to know.
Back where he belongs💐
Enjoy x

Hello all. DH has escaped and is home. Hurrah 🥳
Our son and grandson came to get him today and with the aid of walkers, two wheelchairs and a lift they brought him home.
He is now in his chair drinking coffee out of his mug and eating his biscuits. He is happy.
My back and shoulders are so painful I’m afraid I can’t write much. I think now I don’t have to drive to the hospital and back every day or sit in those hospital chairs then I will start to mend. Such a relief. I think I may have damaged a nerve in my shoulder, I also think I’ve got a chill. Not Covid (I’ve tested). Should have worn my liberty bodice 🤣
Grammaretto, you have my sympathy. I hope Jeeves is giving you plentiful supplies of hot drinks.
Custard and Mustard, oh my goodness what culinary disaster awaits you 🤣🤣
Cherry, so nice to be home again. Thinking about normal stuff now like….what are we having for dinner🤔
Kaimoana not heard of Berocca what does that do.
DH has been swamped with the arrival of weight bearing mattress, a zimmer frame and a dog bed (well it looks like a dog bed ….its for his heels I think)
What lovely news from the AGM. Amazing group.
ixion, I’m on co codamol and voltarol at the moment. I’m sure I have flu like symptoms as I feel chilled and shivery but haven’t got a temperature. I prescribe rest and a hot toddy. Jeeves hurry up and bring round the medicine (🥃🍷🍹) trolley.

Embrocation, Goose Grease, Thermogene - happy, smelly memories

The greatest of news, Doodle. We will raise the flag when we get the bulletin tomorrow. Life will be so much easier for you both.
Your florals are beautiful, Kaimona. Anyone used silver tissue paper? I have just binned the remaining two sheets that I had, the smell was absolutely vile - a heady mixture of chemicals and staleness. I was embarrassed to be wrapping gifts with it.

How are you now, Cherry? And Grammaretto - how's the lurgy? We should be loading Jeeves up with a range of medications rather than tipples.

I have instructed him to put on board a bottle of Sloans Liniment for the shoulder, Doodle. (Remember that? My father swore by it to get him badminton match fit).
Best apply it before Mr.D comes home🤭.

Poor you Gramaretto it's so wretched having a head cold, especially when you've run out of whisky and honey

I hope you feel better soon.

I got a multi-pack of Berroca from Waipareira, never tried them before but they seem to be helping.
Would that work for you too Gram?

I attended the Waipareira AGM last night and heard they have an ambitious 25 year plan with a more-than-healthy bank account to cope with it.

Sixteen years ago they were working with only collective personal funds and an empty bank account to help vulnerable families in my area.

They have a vibrant team of accountants, financial wizards and and attitudes which has people at its heart so they will neither be done down nor outdone. Lovely, lively young people they are, many from Asian countries who not only adopted 100% this altruistic philosophy but most also learned to speak Maori - it is not compulsory.

Okay, I'll get me coat.........




Very few employees seem to leave; Waipareira is a good employer and totally accepting of all (even my white face I feel quite proud to be part of it all.

Brilliant news that your DH will be coming home tomorrow Doodle, I'm so pleased 😊. Sorry that you're still struggling with your poorly shoulder though, I'm glad that your younger son literally took some of the weight from you by bringing a load of stuff from the car. Hopefully with no sitting in hospital chairs and carrying heavy bags around your poorly shoulder will get better over the next few days.

Poor you too Grammaretto, having a cough and cold is miserable. I'll tell Jeeves off for not keeping up his stocks of something a bit stiffer to drink than hot chocolate when he brings me mine shortly. Sending warm cwtches and a get well soon 💐

Those paper flowers are wonderful Kaimoana,. You may have cursed and swore your way through making them, it couldn't have been an easy thing for you to do, but my word they're beautiful. Well done 👍
I really don't get why home care workers are exploited so badly, it's the case in the UK too. Minimum wage, little time to travel between clients, no time for a break, long hours. Many are women who came from overseas to work in the UK and a lot are single mothers. It's not work that's valued, it's so wrong.

Good evening fellow Lobstars

Great news that DH is coming home tomorrow Doodle. 😄😍

I hope it all goes smoothly and you can recover from sitting in hospital chairs
It's all good 👍

Kaimoana your handiwork is really remarkable as is your compassion for the poor, overworked home care ladies.

I still have a wretched cold and cough. I even took a covid test today incase it was that but it isn't. Tang is keeping out of my way though we met briefly at dinner where to my amusement she asked me what the difference is between custard and mustard 😋

I haven't the energy to give her jobs to do so sent her to the store again with the latest apples from the trees.

Tomorrow she'll clean the bathroom in preparation for my df who's coming to stay although she, the df may call off as she's not too well either!

I shall stop rambling on and have another early night. Lemsip again for me Jeeves although a shot of something stronger would be nice if I hadn't drunk it all 🥺

ixion, I’ve got a heat pad thanks, it does help I’ve been ok most of the day but it’s come back with a vengeance tonight.
Thanks for your warm hug Grammaretto, much needed.
Good news though. I think DH is coming home tomorrow. So pleased and no more sitting in hospital chairs.
I went in for battle this morning but they all seemed to give in without a fight.
Well Kaimoana I didn’t know that’s about Pontiac. I thought it was just a car. You are kind and caring to your carers but I can understand why.
Their workload seems grossly unfair. They are being exploited. I think the pain in shoulders is due to carrying heavy bags round the hospital, I did try not to but what else can you do.
Younger son came tonight to help get the flat ready for DH to come home. Sorted out all my rubbish for me and brought a load of stuff in from the car,
I love your flowers, how clever you are. They do look amazing. Well done.

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Wait, there's more

I didn't take the photos, that credit goes to Amy.

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Part Two
"Now here's one I made earlier...."

The brief was to make examples for corsages (including wrist version), buttonholes and table deco. From these, we would choose the best and set to as a group to make the 150 or so needed. It turned out that everyone loved everything!
The theme is Black and Gold but the gold tissue was very dull as you can see and the paper not like any tissue I’d ever worked before.
I ‘stole; some glittery gold table runners (to be laid on black table cloths) from the resource box to zoop them up a bit.
Somehow pink roses got in there (I didn’t do the shopping) so I used a few just as an example.
Time constraints meant many you see are half-finished. The ones on sticks, made from bun cases, were the first and I learned or invented as I went along.
I have to confess I descended into fairly bad language at times, angry at myself for not being able to see what I was doing; getting paper, ribbon and tissue stuck to my fingers every time I squeezed the UHU and forgetting, when the temperature climbed, that if I opened the sliding doors to the deck for air, it would rush in and scatter hundreds of bits of paper, glitter, leaves and flowers all over the living room.
But I enjoyed it.

Part One

Kia ora I'm going to try and catch up on some of the posts, so this may be a bit long.

Cherry thank you for the compliment. My acquisition of trivia, comes from a life-long passion to learn and an inveterate nosiness. It can be annoying to some peopleas GN has discovered!
Yesterday, Karen told me her son’s middle name was Pontiac because her husband was driving one when son was born. He never tells people from shame. I wanted to say Pontiac was a great leader of his people, a rebel to the British in the 1700’s. I didn’t.

Nfk How wonderful that dear Keira loves the car and has settled with her two homes so well. It says a lot for your own loving nature. Dogs know.

I don't report back on my homecare ladies. They are lovely and efficient when well. I just sign their time sheets as having worked and send them home. If I told the agency, they'd lose a chunk from basic-level wages. You may recall they each have 5 children.
Yes, there are other jobs but none that allow them to work around schools and family responsibilities. That's the only advantage as I often hear tales of how they are abused by other clients.
The fault lies with Admin. Overstretched themselves, they use blackmail persuasion to get long hours from them, especially the tender-hearted Pasifika ladies who won’t say ‘No’.
A typical workday for Artoa & Mepa: Up at 5am, get breakfast for all; do a school run; start work 7am. Work until 3pm, school run to home. Back at work by 4pm until 7pm or later if client keeps them. Home to do laundry, shopping, cleaning etc., usually to midnight.
This is weekdays, Saturdays they work 7am-7pm+ and don’t even have time to eat lunch as Admin schedules them to have just enough time to drive to next client, some of whom are abusive if they are late. Sunday is morning church and afternoon catching up with domestic work but even then, they are harried to ‘fill in’ if another worker is sick.
Sometimes I used to work similar hours when I was younger but I had only 2 boys (who also did housework) and was much younger than Artoa & Mepa. They are heroines – and I get this service free. So I do what I can to help.

Doodle I hope your shoulder is less painful. Pain from draught doesn't take long to hurt either and slumped, exhausted in a hospital chair wouldn't have helped. The heatpad sounds wonderful. I made myself a long, thin wheat bag which goes around my neck where I have most trouble.
End of Part One.

Oh dear Doodle. Your poor shoulder. You must get one of those heat pads or a massage- or both
Sending warm hugs

www.dreamlanduk.co.uk/collections/heatpads

Get yourself one of these, Doodle. They come highly recommended by DH, Mother (a while back), BUL, neighbour, rabbit's friends and relations .x